Investing During a Crisis: Is it a Good Time to Buy a New Property?

The health crisis has been going on for quite some time and with the news that the cases are rising again these past few weeks, it seems that we are now back to square one. 

Initially, we thought that 2021 is going to be our recovery year, however, the current situation with an average of 5000+ new cases per day brought out negative sentiments from the market making the economy dive down once again. 

According to Wall Street Journal, as of March 19, the PSEI YTD is down by 9.85% and this may continue to go down as more lockdowns and restrictions are looming in the next few days. Recent NEDA reports also indicate that the unemployment rate is still at 8.7% while other economic indicators and statistics do not really look good. 

What does it mean for ordinary consumers? 

Given that the market is unstable, shaky, and volatile, it means that economic recovery may take longer than expected. However, this is not all bad. 

"In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity" - Albert Einstein

If you are investing in the stock market, experts say that the best time to buy stocks is when the market is down. 

If you are planning to invest in real estate, now is also a good time to invest since the prices are cheap and there are good deals all around. Many real estate companies such as Ayala Land and SMDC are now offering lower monthly amortization and interest rates. 

Is it a Good Time to Invest and Buy a New Property? 

Just like other investments, before you make a decision, you have to be an active investor. Don't be speculative because speculative investing entails high risks as if you are gambling. Instead, you have to study and understand what you are doing. 

In general, real estate is a good investment option as it is tangible and it can produce cash flow without you losing (selling) it. In times that the market is down, leasing or rental income can still continue thus, you do not really have to liquidate it even when the market is unfavorable. Real estate investments can also withstand the influx of inflation. 

To answer the question if it is a good time to invest and buy a new property - it actually depends on your cash flow. If you are planning to mortgage, make sure to check interest and payment computation. There are a lot of free mortgage calculators online. Some even have graphs of loan repayment along with monthly and yearly amortization tables that are very helpful in making a decision. 

Determine if you can afford the monthly payments by estimating mortgage affordability based on income plus your outstanding debts, etc. This will also give you insights into how much you can borrow or how much the bank could possibly approve. 

Thus, as long as you can ensure that there will be adequate cash flow even during a crisis, then it would be a good time to take advantage of the great offers and low-interest rates available in the market today. Having a stable job and  enough savings is a good indicator as well that it is the right time for you to start investing. 

Do you want to be a part of Shopee's Global Leaders Program?

As more Filipinos turn to online platforms for their daily needs, the e-commerce industry continues to take on a greater significance in people’s lives. With the rapid growth of the business sector, there is also an increasing demand for tech talents in the country and globally. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine internet economy will be worth 28 Billion US dollars by 2025, highlighting the need for the right talent to push this growth forward.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, nurtures and prepares students and professionals for e-commerce through its various tech training and e-commerce apprenticeship programs, such as the Shopee Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The Shopee Global Leaders Program, launched in 2018, is a 2-year graduate program consisting of four 6-month local and overseas rotations designed for highly enthusiastic and ambitious young Filipino talents. Participants will help drive Shopee’s campaigns and new initiatives by working with local and overseas teams. They will gain eye-opening experiences, regional exposure and contribute to the expansion of Shopee across the region. Participants will be part of a structured learning and development program and receive dedicated mentorship from Shopee leaders.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “As the need for tech talents rises, Shopee will continue to equip future leaders with the proper e-commerce knowledge through different kinds of training and apprenticeships like the Global Leaders Program. We will ramp up our efforts to provide proper mentorship and an immersive learning experience to all participants of this program. As a mentor myself, I have worked with a lot of promising participants and I look forward to working with the next batch of aspiring tech leaders who choose to join this program.”

Who are eligible to join? 

• Fresh graduates with a good bachelor or master's degree in any discipline with less than 2 years of full-time working experience
• Quick learner who is resourceful and drive to tackle hard problems in a dynamic environment
• Self-starter who is determined to lead change and make a real impact
• Passionate igniter who is relentless in the pursuit of excellence
• Effective communicator who is clear in putting across thoughts and ideas
• A leader who can influence people towards the achievement of goals 

Here are some reasons why you shouldn't miss this chance to be part of the Shopee Global Leaders Program (GLP)

• Very Competitive Salary Package
• Mentorship and Development
• Strategic and Regional Exposure
• Rigorous Training Curriculum
• Highlighly Impactful and Meaningful Projects
• Enriching #LifeatShopee Experience

If you are interested, you may send your application via this link. 

Application is open until March 14, 2021. 

Participants of the Global Leaders Program highlighted how they gained significant professional and personal growth, which will help them excel in their careers in the e-commerce industry.

For Anton, the Global Leaders Program was a vibrant and immersive experience. “Before the pandemic, we were able to go abroad and meet our fellow GLP participants in the other regions and participate in training sessions to hone our leadership skills further. Besides the international training opportunity, I have also been able to work on many impactful projects and initiatives across different departments within Shopee Philippines. Most of all, I appreciate the many mentorship opportunities I’ve had with my Shopee managers,” Anton shared.

Samantha, on the other hand, describes her GLP experience as enriching and packed with learning. “In two years, we get to immerse ourselves in four different teams, which widens our perspectives and pushes us to be more agile as we switch roles every six months. GLP provides opportunities to create impact in the industry and to see Shopee from multiple lenses through different departments, which I believe will help to develop our sense of the industry quite quickly,” Samantha added.

Anton is currently with the program while Samantha just concluded her stint with GLP. Both are now with Shopee as full-time employees. “I consider Shopee as a top choice when it comes to finding a company to join in the e-commerce and digital marketing industry. Many young and bright individuals in the company have exciting and innovative new ideas that make our work fun and interesting,” Anton said.

“Life at Shopee is fast-paced and full of learning opportunities. Shopee fosters a collaborative environment and it is a privilege to work with colleagues who live out our core values,” Samantha added. “If you want an experience that will help you grow both personally and professionally in a holistic manner, Shopee’s Global Leaders Program is the way to go. I think it’s a good and commendable training program for young professionals who want to experience e-commerce fully.”

For more information about the Global Leaders Program, visit https://careers.shopee.ph/GLP