Buying luxury real estate online: is it possible to do? While it is now possible to buy nearly anything you need or want online, ranging from groceries to food, clothing, and even big-ticket items like designer purses and limited edition sneakers, the Internet has also made it possible for homebuyers to find luxury condos or houses and lots for sale online and request for online consultation with a real estate broker. And because of these extraordinary times, much of the home buying process is now done online, including paying your downpayment and signing legal documentation using an e-signature service.

During these extraordinary times, buying luxury real estate online requires more diligence and seeking subject matter expertise from professionals you can trust.

So yes, you can buy luxury real estate online; and even if we weren’t facing an unprecedented situation similar to now, it makes a lot of sense. Let’s say you are planning to move to a luxury home where there’s more room for you to finally have the home office you want or an upscale property where there are fewer neighbors. To buy a luxury home online, you would first want to search all luxury homes for sale in the market today that will suit your needs before reaching out to a real estate broker.

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Digital Tools To Help You In Buying Luxury Real Estate Online

There are several digital tools available today that could help homebuyers come to a decision faster, especially when deciding on buying luxury real estate.

Technological advancements have made the traditional ways of searching for a home and buying luxury real estate over for good. Digital tools now allow home buyers to find a trove of information about potential properties based on what they are looking for and have the capability to make key decisions wherever they are: 

1. Map-Based Search and Research

Listings and property pages nowadays can now be found on web mapping products that offer data points that can help you make real estate decisions.

Most listing websites allow you to filter your search down to the city of your choosing. From there, the search results will display luxury homes for sale within the location of your choosing. 

From here, you can check out and understand the neighborhood of a potential luxury property by studying its proximity to surrounding lifestyle and social infrastructures, to have a good idea of the facilities and amenities available. For example, homebuyers with families will want to check available schools, parks, churches, supermarkets, and shopping malls in the area. A professional will want to check how close it is to the workplace, restaurants, transportation hub, and entertainment facilities to support the fast-paced lifestyle. 

2. High-Quality Virtual Tours

Aside from the property, developers like Brittany also capture aerial views of Crosswinds Tagaytay, a Swiss-inspired community of luxury homes, and the surrounding neighborhood from different angles using drones.

Trippings or appointments – wherein a real estate broker brings prospective home buyers to the location of the actual model of a luxury home or the actual luxury home for sale – are quite popular pre-pandemic. This is because it allows home buyers the ability to fully experience their potential home, including the surrounding neighborhood, so you can see beauty in every detail.

Technology has allowed home buyers from faraway locations to inspect and get a feel of their potential future home via high-quality virtual tours. The advancement of camera technology now enables capturing every nook and cranny of the luxury home for sale in ultra 4K video. Some developers go the extra mile by integrating it with 360-degree interactive panoramic images of the property and the surrounding neighborhood in different angles and stitching it up in a way for potential home buyers to simulate a walking tour with just a few clicks.

3. Verified Properties

You can view verified unified information about a potential property (and more) straight from the developer’s website.

Typical house and lot units can be easily found online, but they sometimes do not contain verified and unified information about a potential luxury home. As such, it is a good idea to get information from the developer’s website so you can be assured that the information is accurate.

Moreover, the developer’s website also has other relevant information about the luxury home that you may have missed during your home search. It could be other luxury homes that have not yet been listed in any other listing platform on the market, to the latest information about the infrastructure that will improve the quality of life in the neighborhood where the luxury home for sale is located.

4. 24/7 Chatbox

Chatbots help home buyers gather more information or make quick decisions about a luxury home they are looking at directly with a real-life real estate associate.

Social media and messaging apps have shifted many homebuyers to communicate with real estate brokers from the traditional calls or SMS via the network. Aside from the fact that they are cost-effective (you only need to be connected via WiFi or your existing mobile Internet plan). You can even share images, files, and other relevant documentation to help speed up the online buying process. 

But not all real estate brokers are online 24/7. To address this concern, developers install a chatbot, which is a software application that pops up from the website and engages in a conversation with potential home buyers about the property they have visited online.  The chatbot is programmed to answer popular questions and requests. In most cases, they can even initiate real-time actions, like sending a quote or help process a downpayment online.

5. Online Payment Facility

Making a reservation or processing a downpayment on a luxury home for sale is now possible via a secured online payment facility, which offers a variety of payment options.

For faster and more convenient payment options, developers like Brittany offer online payment solutions for easier and smoother real estate transactions, including buying luxury real estate from their website or affiliated realty portals. Utilizing an online payment facility with a variety of payment options, including e-wallet and international remittance payments, Brittany helps encourage more home buyers and their families to take the all-important step towards owning a luxury house and lot property for sale electronically.

Are there Cons of Buying Luxury Real Estate Online?

The biggest drawback of doing everything online is being unable to see your potential luxury home in person before you commit.

If you like to do things traditionally, then being able to physically visit the luxury house and lot for sale and explore the property is an experience you treasure. There’s nothing better than being inside the property and imagining a luxury home like yours in the future with all of the things, and people you love. While verified property pages, videos, virtual tours, and high-quality images provide you with all of the information you need to know about the property, there might be some things that you can’t truly grasp, especially if you are doing it for the very first time. Even the richest people in the world rely on experts to ensure that they get the best value of the luxury home they paid for. 

With that being said, a real estate broker can guide you to make sure you are making the right decision for you, from your home search to choosing your financing.

Tips When Buying Luxury Real Estate Online

Start your journey of owning a luxury home with Brittany by checking their property offerings to explore a community you want to be a part of. 

Tips to help you navigate the process online

1. Know what you want, and what you don’t want first, before searching.

Are you looking for specific amenities and features in a luxury home for sale? Noting it down will help not only you, but also your real estate broker figure out what upscale property you are looking for within your price range, or even above that. It is also possible that your real estate broker may have the latest luxury homes available that have not been listed yet, but checks all of your boxes and is situated in a coveted position. 

2. Evaluate your final options.

Evaluating your luxury home options can be a complicated process to do. It can be because they have certain features or aspects that are non-negotiable or that the other might be located in a coveted address with better security. 

You can always organize trips to help you arrive at your final decision if you wish to visit at least your top options. You can make an appointment with Brittany to have a real estate associate correctly endorse your property viewing schedule. Simply complete the form here and wait for a response from one of Brittany’s sales representatives.

Sometimes, it all comes down to pricing and financing, especially for luxury properties that are neck-to-neck in terms of your wants and needs. See the next item to learn how to evaluate using financing options.

3. Consider financing options.

In many cases, buyers are putting down far more on luxury homes. Sometimes, picking the winner means choosing the luxury home that has been prequalified or pre-approved. Sometimes, it also means choosing which bank or lender has a shorter financing approval process. Also, it can boil down the luxury property that requires less financing paperwork. If you have are on a timeline, you will decide on the luxury property that you can own quickly. 

4. Don’t Forget Your Potential Obligations.

Owning a luxury home comes with the obligations of different complexity and scale as compared to a typical condo or house and lot. This means maintenance and upkeep, improvements, utilities, homeowners’ association fees, and even property taxes will be significant. that you need to take these into account should you push through with one of your final options. Consulting experts such as tax and financial planners, bankers, and attorneys will help you provide more insight into your potential purchase.

5. Consult someone you like and trust.

Most agents will be able to show you a property, but the great ones will even have access to luxury properties that’s are not on the market yet and other information that can help steer you through the process seamlessly. 

Brittany takes pride in being the luxury residential arm of Vista Land, one of the Philippines’ major homebuilders and integrated property developers. As the first to design and build modern luxury dwellings, luxury houses, and lots in the Philippines, developments have become rich in character and sophisticated in their thematic appeal. As award-winning modern luxury dwellings, Brittany pioneered these five luxury residential communities. These luxury residential communities are strategically located near vital establishments such as commercial establishments, schools, hospitals, and grocery stores, and are accessible via major highway networks and thoroughfares. They are inspired by the world’s most appealing places.

Brittany’s five luxury house and lot developments

1. Crosswinds Tagaytay’s Swiss Themed Communities

Crosswinds Tagaytay is a luxury estate that offers luxury houses and lots, as well as lots only, townhomes, and condominium units in a secluded sanctuary. Imagine yourself in a peaceful home surrounded by over 35,000 native pine trees in the countryside.

2. Portofino Alabang’s Italian-inspired Themed Communities

Portofino Alabang offers award-winning luxury homes inspired by cosmopolitan Italy’s elegant flair and grace.

3. Brittany’s Old English Themed Communities in Sta. Rosa

The Southern, classic-themed luxury homes in Augusta and Georgia Club, themed luxury residential communities located in Sta. Rosa, calls to mind the sensibilities and serenity of the Old English neighborhood in the US.

4. The grand yet cozy mansions of the Promenade in Brittany Sta. Rosa

Enjoy the quaint English countryside and live in the grand luxury mansions surrounded by hedged cobbled paths at the thriving 300-hectare master-planned community of the Promenade.

5. La Posada’s San Franciscan-Inspired Communities in Sucat

La Posada features Victorian-inspired modern luxury homes within a hilly residential community, reminiscent of the streets of San Francisco. 

Panoramic view of warm Italian houses surrounded by tall palm trees and pine trees, and rising above them all is a classic European orthodox style church.

Final Thoughts

There is no denying the fact that buying luxury real estate is made easier, thanks to the online tools available today. However, you always have the prerogative to supplement your online research with physical offline research, down to the developer’s track record and building quality. With the social distancing guidelines in place, especially with face-to-face interactions,  you can schedule your tripping appointment in advance so you can visit and inspect the actual luxury home safely and have a full understanding of what you are going to buy.

Moreover, it pays to work with experts to help you make informed decisions. From the real estate associate and broker to your banker, lawyer, and even your financial planner, the right people will ensure that you are in the right hands every step of the online buying journey.

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It’s been more than a year since we last enjoyed a completely relaxing experience at a luxury spa, where the sweet aroma of essential oils, combined with earthy toned visual elements and a perfected comfortable room temperature, already unwinds the body, mind, and soul. We go to these establishments for a good massage to loosen up the body, and of course, to maintain perfectly smooth and flawless skin through facials. These are luxuries we truly miss. However, there are ways to duplicate this experience in your very own luxury home spa, with the best skin care tips practiced by supermodels, celebrities, and skin care gurus all over the world.

The most important step, which is present in all the best skin care tips, is to figure out what your skin type is. From there, things get easier.

The best skin care tip is to know your skin type

In the world of skin care, there are generally four skin types: oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. Your dermatologist can easily determine the best skin care tips once finding out your skin type through various examinations; but in most cases, a thorough observation of the skin under bright light, as well as its texture, suffices. You can do this too at your luxury home. Below are the symptoms of each skin care type and how to spot them.

1. Oily skin

Our skin naturally produces oil, especially on the T-zone, and one of the best skin care tips is to know what this is. The T-zone is the area on your face where the bridge of your nose forms the base of the “T” and the part of your forehead above your eyebrows forms the top of the “T”. You have probably noticed that this area is the oiliest part of your face. Check the mirror in your luxury home throughout the afternoon to check if your face is shiny with oil. Another method is to dab your face, especially your nose, with a dry tissue and lets it absorb the oil on your face, hours after it has been washed. Sometimes, even swiping your nose with just your finger and feeling if it’s oily is enough. If you’ve noticed that, plus pimples in your T-zone, you definitely have oily skin. 

Check out this skin care routine for oily skin by Gretchen Gatan.

2. Dry skin

If you’ve been suffering from flaky, rough skin, then you probably have dry skin. Worse cases include red and flaky patches around the face. If you have dry skin and you are washing your face with a foam cleanser (definitely not the best skin care tip or product for you), then your skin should feel tighter after rinsing. It also feels tight when you stretch your skin with your hands or by making big facial expressions. When you use an oil film, which is very popular in teenagers, it should be able to absorb a bit of oil as our skin naturally produces sebum. If the whole film goes clear, then that is a clear sign of too much oil. If the film doesn’t absorb any oil at all, then that’s actually a negative sign which indicates that you have dry skin. 

Check out this skin care routine for dry skin by the stylish Filipinas of PrettyMe.

3. Combination skin

The reason behind its namesake is that the combination skin type is a combination of both oily and dry. If you’re experiencing symptoms from both of the skin care types mentioned previously, then you probably have combination skin. Usually, people who have this skin type have dry and flaky (or even itchy) skin around the face, by their hairlines; but have a shiny, oily T-zone. For severe types, the best skin care tip is for some areas of the skin to require different care or medication compared to the other areas, for a more targeted approach. 

The wellness gurus at Self recommend these products for combination skin.

4. Sensitive skin

A sensitive skin type means your face is easily irritated by different elements; whether that be new or harsh chemical products, dust, humidity, or allergenics like some breeds of dogs or cats. When your face gets irritated, this causes a burning sensation, sometimes causing your skin to redden or itch. The best skin care tip for you is to seek professional help online to discuss your symptoms and be prescribed with correct medication that you can order and apply safely in your luxury home. 

Dermatologist Dr.Sison listed the top soaps for sensitive skin.

Skincare products come in all shapes, forms, and routines, but the best skin care tip is to keep it simple and focus on the essentials.

Choose the right products to incorporate in your best skin care tips

Now that you are aware of your skin type, you may now purchase skin care products according to your skin. Always read the contents that come with a skin care product’s packaging, even if the title claims it’s the best skin care tip in the market. Usually, the skin type it is intended for is indicated on the box. It is also best to search for products that are dermatologically proven to give the promised results. Here are the most important products that make up the best skin care tips that you can practice in your luxury home:

Facial Wash

If you have dry or sensitive skin, do not use a foam-based cleanser, as this strips off the natural oils on your skin, which causes the feeling of tightness after washing. If you have oily or combination skin type, switch to a gel-based cleanser that will refresh your skin as it moisturizes you, without any oils. 

Cosmo PH listed the best facial cleansers for acne-prone skin – from drugstore to boujee.

 Moisturizer

No matter what skin care type you have, moisturizer is essential – yes, even if you have oily skin. However, not all moisturizers are concocted the same. The best skin care tip for those with oily skin is to choose gel-based products, as mentioned earlier. There are gel-based moisturizers out there that won’t leave your skin feeling sticky. Remember that your skin is producing more oil to compensate for the lack of moisturization and care that it needs.  For people with dry and sensitive skin, moisturize as much as you can, especially at night when your skin is doing its best to rejuvenate while you sleep in your luxury home.

Check out the best face moisturizers in the country by The Wedding Vow.

Sunscreen

The sun is more damaging to our skin than we think. Thus, it needs protection on a daily basis, even when we’re just inside our homes. In fact, UV ray exposure from the sun is the fastest way to make your skin age. Think sunscreen is too thick, heavy, and sticky? Worry not because nowadays, gel-based and water-based sunscreens are available in the market to keep you feeling fresh as it protects your skin from the sun.

Preview PH gave us a breakdown of types of sunscreens and how to use them.

You can replicate the spa experience in your luxury home, with the best skin care tips and some essentials that you can purchase online.

Applying the best skin care tips in your home spa

Who says you can’t enjoy a facial treatment without the spa? We beg to differ because if you can have a luxury home gym or a luxury home cinema, you can most definitely have your very own luxury home spa. AllHome, one of the biggest home depots and a one-stop-shop for all your home and builders’ needs, is equipped with everything you need to capture that tranquil indoor experience as you practice the best skin care tips. Here are some products and adjustments you can incorporate in your home spa to elevate your experience:

Diffuser and essential oils

One of the first senses that come to mind when we hear the word “spa” is the calming aroma. Spas use essential oils to give this effect because certain essential oils are scientifically proven to calm the nerves and remove stress. After all, stress tightens the muscles and causes skin issues. That is why some of the best skin care tips out there involve destressing. In this case, we are destressing through a luxury home spa experience.

Scented soy candles

Turn off the harsh lights and romanticize your home spa with warmly lit candles made of soy, because wax candles are unhealthy and not environmentally friendly. Just like a romantic dinner, the warm lights provide the feeling of intimacy, while the scent gives off feelings of sensual healing.

The Beauty Insider recommends five local soy candle brands for the ultimate home relaxation.

Bath neck pillow

Practicing the best skin care tips in the bathroom can be a luxury home spa experience in the bathtub. Apply your face mask as you lie in your hot bathtub in a relaxed position, where your neck is supported by a pillow. Let the warm water embrace you because water is definitely healing.

Surround soothing music

When you’re at the spa, your mind goes blank – it’s just you, the music, and great service. To complete the best skin care tips for a luxury home spa experience, create a playlist of lo-fi or naturesque music, and play it on loop. Of course, you can enhance this by installing surround sound speakers that will transport you to paradise when you close your eyes.

Tatler listed a couple of pleasant playlists, perfect for your home spa.

The best skin care tips can be applied with the best view of nature at your luxury home in Crosswinds Tagaytay.

The home spa experience is part of a lifestyle best lived in a luxury house and lot

A luxury home spa is not possible without the space needed for it to imitate that of a professional luxury spa. The extravagance of beauty and relaxing experiences is not achieved without the lifestyle it requires. And the opulent lifestyle is not best lived without a matching luxury house and lot.

Brittany Corporation, the luxury arm of Vista Land, offers the best luxury houses and lots for sale that replicate the beauty of world-class destinations: the Italian countryside in Vista Alabang, the Swiss alps at Tagaytay, the charming old England in Brittany Sta.Rosa, and famed Victorian San Francisco La Posada in Sucat. All of these are master-planned communities rich in character and thematic in their appeal. Thus, a luxury lifestyle is best lived in a luxury home by Brittany.

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Have you ever been on such a nice vacation experience that you find yourself wishing, ‘Can’t life just be like this every day?’ Just imagine all your days spent on simply living a lifestyle that allows you to take your time in celebrating and valuing all aspects of life — eating and drinking not only for the sake of it but to savor each flavor that pleases your palette, all while being surrounded with the beautiful scenery of a breathtaking landscape, coupled with timelessly beautiful architecture. 

Explore a place that is both a venue and an avenue for the perfect vacation experience.

After an enjoyable dinner spent with your family, you just can’t help but take a lovely stroll around your community. There’s this Italian tradition of going out for a leisurely walk in the evening called ‘passeggiata’. Aside from treating it as a light exercise to keep you fit and healthy, passeggiata also allows you to show off your newest outfit which makes you feel good and confident, while maybe enjoying your favorite drink or two at a local coffee shop or bar to take pleasure in a warm evening with your friends. Simply put, passeggiata teaches you to pause and simply enjoy life and share it with others.

So after such a delightful trip, you pack your bags and almost dread having to ‘go back to reality’. You find yourself accepting that your wish of replicating your vacation experience with your daily life is just about next to impossible. You then go through the motions, working hard for most of your days, always with a longing in your heart to have a vacation experience just to feel relaxed and at ease. You know this only happens for a couple of days or a few weeks in a year for you, so your wish just remains to be nothing but a dream. But what if you find out that your wish can be your everyday reality, once and for all?

Every single day is spent living on a vacation: this is exactly how life is like for the residents in all of the beautiful Brittany by Vista Land luxury real estate properties situated in Vista Alabang, a masterplanned community where you can experience luxury for a lifetime.

Read More about Antonello: How the Antonello offers a vacation experience

Everything is Within Reach with your Vacation Experience at Vista Alabang

Vista Alabang is just within reach as it’s easily accessible through major road networks like Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway and South Luzon Expressway. Upon entering, you also find that everything you want and need is just within your reach. Along the community’s impeccably maintained roads lined with beautifully manicured trees and greenery is The Evia Lifestyle Center. Evia, as it’s lovingly called by the locals, is known to have several food establishments that can surely excite and please anyone’s palate, no matter how diverse or demanding it may be.

The Evia Lifestyle Center in Daang Hari is the ideal spot to unwind with your closest friends and family, providing a vacation experience that is close to home.

Not only that, but you can also indulge yourself in having numerous options for anything that you’ll ever need. At Evia, you can also find AllHome which gives you all the selections you’ll ever need in filling up your new home all the way from furniture and hardware to home appliances as well. You can surely do away with the hassle of having to transport large furniture and appliances far away from home.

Aside from this, you can also find retail stores perfect for shopping not only for clothes but also for more specific things that will truly delight anyone’s heart, no matter what lifestyle you have. There’s AllDigital for your entertainment and technological needs to make your life easier and more pleasurable. There’s also AllBike, fitting for every bike enthusiast and for those who just want to live a healthier lifestyle. Then, there’s also Pet-Buddy to offer you a wide variety of products and services that your pets may ever need or want, as they’re a part of the family too.

For the relaxation of bibliophiles and coffee lovers alike, you’ll also find in Evia the oasis that is Coffee Project Black x Fully Booked, one of the many ideal spots to hang out with friends or for when you just want to unwind with yourself with a cup of good coffee and an exciting book.

Vista Alabang is truly a community built with its people in mind. You can also enjoy the convenience of having top-notch healthcare provided by VitaCare Unimed Hospital, a 12-storey establishment within the community that houses 250 beds and 45 clinics with only the most competent healthcare professionals to take care of you and your family’s health needs.

A 10-hectare business district set to be one of the most advanced business IT parks in the country is also up and coming to further enrich the experience of living within the confines of Vista Alabang. Just within its proximity, the future University Town, a 100-hectare fully integrated development, will be established as a globally competitive educational institution, along with the currently existing educational facilities nearby like De La Salle Zobel, San Beda Alabang, Southville International School, PAREF Woodrose School, and many more.

Palazzo Verde bequeaths you with an opportunity to mount elegant occasions that are sure to create memories that last a lifetime.

Vista Alabang is not only there to perfectly suit all your needs, but it’s also a community that celebrates life in general while giving you the vacation experience without travelling far from home. It’s hard not to miss the stunning view of Palazzo Verde, one of the country’s most famed luxurious events venues. With its exquisite and grand Victorian architecture enveloping high-end facilities, it is indeed the perfect place to be when celebrating the grandest of occasions like weddings, galas, debuts, corporate affairs, and the like.

With Vista Alabang, you find out that you no longer need to travel far and wide to be in a place where everything you’ll ever need and want is just within reach while enjoying a greatly pleasurable lifestyle with everyone you hold dear. Alas, every day can finally be a holiday.

Making Brittany Alabang Your Forever Home

Aside from having the proximity to all these establishments and developments, what also makes the best-masterplanned community are carefully thought out residential communities

A subsidiary of Vista Land & Lifescapes, the most successful and renowned homebuilder in the country and a pioneer in themed luxury property development in the Philippines, Brittany is the luxury real estate arm of Vista Land through an exceptional lineup of luxury homes in unrivaled locations: Portofino in Vista Alabang, La Posada in Lakefront Sucat, Georgia Club, Promenade, and Augusta in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and Crosswinds in Tagaytay.

Brittany has three luxury developments at Vista Alabang: Portofino South, Portofino Heights, and Amore at Portofino. These are upscale real estate developments greatly inspired by Italian communities, offering residential lots and house and lot packages. All are just within a 5-minute drive from the Evia Lifestyle Center, 10 minutes from the Asian Hospital Medical Center, 20 minutes away from BGC and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and 30 minutes from the Makati Central Business District.

Why Invest In A Luxury Home?

Often when we hear of the word ‘luxury’, we associate it with indulgence and extravagant living, to such extent as considering it as inessential. However, luxurious living as it is seen and lived within the upscale Italian-inspired residential enclaves in Vista Alabang, is essential for you and your loved ones to live a comfortable and fruitful life.

With the luxury homes having distinctive courtyards complemented by Italian architectural details like majestic cupolas, gabled roofs, high ceilings, and rounded balconies surrounded by refreshing pocket gardens, situated in such a premier location with everything just within your reach, you get to enjoy each moment of your life with those you hold close to heart amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life.

This is what your life will be like in Brittany’s Vista Alabang. Living in one of its beautiful residential communities also gives you access to world-class amenities and facilities bundled with round-the-clock security with electric fencing, a 24/7 roving patrol, and CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points that will surely give you peace of mind and ease at all times.

In addition to all this, investing in a luxury home with Brittany doesn’t only assure you of a comfortable lifestyle in your everyday life. Ultimately, it can be one of your most prized assets as you don’t only get the best value out of it, you also get to create more value out of it. It is no surprise that from 2017 until just last year of 2020, Brittany properties have seen a 90% increase in its value, having an impressive rate of 30% return on investment for each year.

Living in Vista Alabang is sure to have your heart and mind filled with delight and ease at all times. While you’re living life with a great state of comfort as you have everything just within your reach, only then are you able to truly do more and get the most out of life.

Your Own Vacation Experience in Amore at Portofino

Portofino is a world-class residential community featuring stunning, Old World-inspired luxury homes for sale and top-notch facilities.

The newest among all Portofino enclaves and the first to introduce the cluster and landscaped corridor concept in its development is Amore. Alike with the other enclaves located in Brittany Vista Alabang, Amore features thematic living, with a community that exceptionally mirrors the rustic allure of Tuscany, which is a region in central Italy where its capital is home to some of the world’s most famous Renaissance art and architecture.

It was no surprise when Amore at Portofino was awarded as the Best Housing Development in Manila and the Best Housing Development in the Philippines at the Philippine Property Awards for the years 2014 and 2015, and was tagged as the Best Premium House of the Year at The Outlook 2018: Philippines Buyers’ Choice Awards.

Amore at Portofino is located just 6 minutes away from the Evia Lifestyle Center. Right beside Amore is also the future development and road network known as Vista Avenue, which ensures greater ease of access to more areas, wherever you may need to travel to.

At its amenity center, residents of Amore get to have the benefits of enjoying its pleasurable features such as the sparkling swimming pool, basketball court, community hall, and a lovely meditation garden.

Amore at Portofino also holds the greatest number of remaining inventories as it’s the latest addition to the luxurious residential enclaves in Brittany Alabang. Available lots at Amore range from 195 square meters up to 642 square meters. King Lots or combined lots for Amore are also available if you’re looking for grander spaces for your future luxury home. These King Lots start at 625 square meters and can go up to 1,061 square meters.

There are three types of pre-selling luxury homes available in Amore: The Rafaello luxury house model, the Antonello luxury house model, and the Pietro luxury house model. Each home showcases an elegant master’s bedroom with doors leading to a delightful balcony that overlooks the breathtaking community of Amore at Portofino.

The Antonello: Your Vacation Experience by Vista Alabang

Antonello’s exquisite custom boasts its charismatic appeal and quality in a single masterpiece located in the seamlessly breathtaking community.

One of the pre-selling luxury house models in Amore at Portofino you’ll need to be on the lookout for is the Antonello. With its 300 square meter lot area and 286 square meter floor area, there’s definitely space for everyone.

You can already tell from its sturdy and thoroughly designed exteriors that the home doesn’t only aim to provide a safe and comfortable shelter. Clad in boldly pre-painted concrete roof tiles with undersheeting and insulation, with its robust walls in a complementing stucco and paint finish, adorned with meticulously placed accents such as stone cladding, moldings, and shutters, it will never fail to delight your eyes and make you feel like every single day can be lived like how you did when you were on that great vacation. Not only this, the expansive lot where each home is built and how they’re spaced on the community makes for a bright, clear, and vast view around its whole entirety.

Antonello Luxury House Model Interior Lounge

A charming and wonderfully manicured landscape at home by the front porch leads you to a solid panel door that opens up to the home’s ground floor. Situated on this floor is a den that opens up from the foyer upon entering the home. There’s a spacious living area and a kitchen, right next to the dining area with the view of a refreshing lanai in the large backyard outside.

Further into the main kitchen, you’ll find two staff’s rooms: one which opens up to the auxiliary kitchen adjacent to a toilet and bath and leading to the home’s expansive two-car garage.

Antonello Luxury House Model Interior Living Room

The living area gives you a relaxing and inviting feel as it’s open above, boasting of the home’s high ceilings in amazing finishes. The stairs right by the living area made sturdy with wood planks and wrought iron railings and balusters lead you up to the home’s second floor which houses four bedrooms complete with en suite bathrooms. 

The master’s bedroom accommodates an oversized walk-in closet that opens to the master’s bathroom. Antonello’s impressive balcony is accessible in the master’s bedroom as well. Along with the home’s porch, lanai, and courtyard, it’s also decked with matching ceramic floor tiles with a pebble wash-out border.

Right at the center of all four bedrooms is the family hall, where you can spot that the whole floor is built with engineered wood flooring and the walls with high-quality smooth plaster in an off-white paint finish. that goes along well with the cohesive theme of Antonello that pleases the eye as much as its features provide comfort and ease to you and your family.

A life filled with delight, convenience, security, comfort, and luxury—Undoubtedly, if to live ‘la vita bella’, or ‘the beautiful life’ with your loved ones is what you desire, take the first step by making Vista Alabang your future luxury home, and make your everyday feel like a vacation experience.

To know more about our luxury house and lot for sale developments at Vista Alabang, visit our official social media pages at www.facebook.com/amoreatportofino and www.facebook.com/portofinoofficial. 

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Our health is the foremost important investment in living a long and happy life. It is the main foundation and building block for everything we wish to achieve, whether in our pursuit of a successful career or in traveling around the globe. As the popular saying goes, our health is our greatest wealth in which many successful professionals and billionaires would agree that practicing self-care is the key. 

This is because the direction of our lives is significantly affected by our overall health. A healthy mind and body allow us to do more anywhere else, whether at home, at the office, or even at the local gymnasium or café. It helps us remain cool, calm, and collected under stressful conditions while keeping our creative juices flowing and uplifting our mood and drivenness. 

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle would surely get your spirits going to do more. It begins once you realize the need to jumpstart a healthy change in your life.

For this reason, it is crucial that we appreciate what it means to practice self-care and bring about healthy change in the way we live. Self-care is often misconstrued as self-indulgence and selfishness, but, in truth, it is an earnest concern for one’s own health and well-being. This is especially important in a time when we are faced with troubles and tribulations from all around, where we may feel confined and in need of more space to grow.  And with the current pandemic redefining everything and ushering in the New Normal, what could we do to practice self-care and stay healthy at home?

5 Ways to Practice Self-Care at Home

Practicing self-care today has become a greater challenge than ever before, where our isolation has made it difficult for us to find the space and time to breathe, relax, and escape momentarily. We could no longer freely do the things we enjoyed before, like spending time with family and friends, relaxing at our favorite café, or working out at the gym. Work, too, has changed. Digital technology has made significant disruptions in our daily life, but also meant consecutive Zoom meetings and working-more-at-home (for health reasons), which, in certain ways, have made it difficult for us to maintain a healthy work-life balance. All these factors could drastically affect our overall health and, in turn, influence our productivity, energy, and how we manage stress. 

1. Know when to press pause

It is no alien feeling to feel stressed, anxious and overwhelmed. As a matter of fact, these feelings allow us to better improve ourselves and strive to raise the bar higher. It, however, does not mean that we should embark on an unrelenting journey of hard work and no rest. 

A healthy approach to everything you do is to recognize the value of pressing the pause button every now and then. Why? Because rest allows us to catch up with ourselves, especially our minds and bodies when we are taken away by fast-paced work and the rapidly changing digital world. Even the most successful athletes and professionals take breaks mainly because resting refreshes our senses, nourishes our bodies, and soothes our minds to avoid breakdowns and burnouts. Taking a break for a moment surely would not hurt.

Feeling backed against the wall? A little bit too overwhelmed at work? Frustrated and anxious with everything that is happening around you? Take a deep breath and press pause.

2. Minding the body

According to the peripatetic axiom, nothing is in the mind that does not first pass through the senses. Speaking simply, this means that the condition of our bodies affects how we process feelings, ideas, and experiences. A hungry person would not be able to answer an exam flawlessly, just as a sleepy person would not be able to concentrate on a given task. For this reason, we need to be mindful of our bodies and keep them healthy.

You can start by adopting a nutritious diet suited to the needs of your body. You could also begin a routine of exercises or frequent playing sports and other recreational activities such as yoga or meditation. Even an occasional stroll outside your home does a lot for your body, as long as you follow the minimum health standards and protocols. 

3. Start something fresh

In practicing self-care, it is important to disrupt banal routines and explore something fresh, whether by reading a novel, starting a new hobby, or learning a new skill. The mind, in many instances, hates repetition. It dulls the senses and weakens your creativity and ability to produce something innovative. Invigorating the mind with something fresh not only widens your perspective and skills but also uplifts your behavior and motivation to do daily activities.

You could practice self-care by learning to cook or taking the time to read a new book. Every new learning could go a long way.

4. Reconnect with Family and Friends

It has become somewhat commonplace to frequent work without recreation, especially when you need to tend to your home at the same time. Hence, it is important to reconnect with family and friends, to engage in positive relationships and share the bulk of your experience with others. Isolation can be lonely sometimes, even overwhelming in some instances. Spending time with others helps alleviate this loneliness.

Talking and spending time with a loved one or friends is definitely a good way to stay motivated and emotionally healthy.

5. Changing the space you live in to start practicing self-care

The quality of your health is just as good as the quality of the space you are living in. Investing in your space, whether by sprucing it up or radically renovating your home, does wonder to your overall health. Because, aside from comfort and practical reasons, changing and improving something yourself becomes your own achievement–something that you can claim is yours. It could be as simple as investing in a new more comfortable bed to upgrading the ergonomics and overall look of your workspace to inspire you.

And if you want to go big, investing in a new home that suits your everyday needs and lifestyle is always the wiser and practical choice. A new space spells out new opportunities, especially if the place comes with features and amenities that offer a novel and luxurious experience. 

Indeed, you could find such an opportunity of a lifetime at Vista Alabang by Brittany Corporation, wherein you could live your next years in an entirely sophisticated lifestyle in its enclaves.

Vista Alabang offers a countryside lifestyle like no other, where all the dimensions of life converge and flourish together, whether you wish to expand your business prospects, experience fun, and relaxation, or bunker down and spend the next years in luxurious living. 

You could choose from an impressive portfolio of enclaves that fit a wide range of preferences. Interested in indulging in an Italian-inspired architectural masterpiece that is reminiscent of Old-World charm, then Portofino Heights and Portofino South are for you. But if you are looking for a more rustic vibe, one that is meek, charming, and vibrant, then Amore at Portofino is one worth looking into.

Definitely, the thematic homes and beautiful communities by Brittany Vista Alabang offer a luxurious living experience that is complete with all the comforts, and a vibrant and welcoming community you need to practicing self-care and keep you and your family healthy.

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The best place to live in is in a city that allows you to live your lifestyle how you want it.

Moving is never easy, especially when it is currently essential and normalized during an ongoing global pandemic. The number of new cases that arise on a daily basis has now impelled every Filipino to re-evaluate the importance of the health and safety of our families. Living in the city amidst a pandemic has contributed to a nationwide health scare in every household. Gone were the days wherein what used to be the “hustle and bustle of the big city life” that motivated many in settling in the Metro, is now the driving factor that has influenced opting for residence in a more rural address such as a home in Tagaytay.

Why you should live in a home in Tagaytay

Schedule a spa day for yourself and your significant other, and dine in while you take in the majestic views of the Taal Volcano. Image from Qi Wellness Living / Facebook.

For most city people and tourists, Tagaytay City has always been the go-to leisure destination. With the variety of alternative routes and road accessibility, getting there has never been easier. The journey to Tagaytay from the city has been cut in half, from a 2-hour drive to barely an hour. Furthermore, the most sought-after magnificent natural vistas in Tagaytay City are primarily the atmosphere and pleasant weather, which may be enjoyed all year.

Tagaytay has become a popular real estate destination throughout the years, and it has also proven to be one of the greatest rising cities due to its rural surroundings. It has become a city with booming business opportunities, establishments, and most importantly for luxury real estate properties for sale. Due to the rising numbers of the COVID-19  cases mostly concentrated in the city, moving to a more suburban environment such as finding a home in Tagaytay would be safer and more secure. 

Living in a house or a condominium in the city is not the same as it used to be, cooped up inside your home for days as the pandemic continuously becomes unbearable. Mental health is one of the most crucial factors that have evidently contributed to a great amount of distress among households in the course of the various and numerous quarantine phases the government has mandated. The number of people that have been affected by the pandemic financially and emotionally is drastically increasing and the unavoidable consequences of the pandemic are on the rise. 

We as individuals, have to consider the fact that the situation may not recover any time soon.  However, we, as responsible members of society, have the choice to make the situation easier for ourselves and for our families. The quality of life dampens with the mental distress and escalating depression amongst families most especially for those living in a populated city. Try and visualize yourself living in a  serene environment, waking up to picturesque and scenic views, and consider the best perk of living in Tagaytay City, breathing in the refreshing and unpolluted air of the suburbs. Imagine waking up to that routinely or on a daily basis, just as how people are during a vacation — but turn it into a reality. 

The best luxury home in Tagaytay

Tagaytay has a wide range of residential locations to choose from. Crosswinds Tagaytay, on the other hand, offers the most premium luxury homes and lots in a Swiss-style community. Crosswinds Tagaytay by  Brittany Corporation has over a 20-year track record in building masterplanned estates and has developed various residential communities all inspired by renowned destinations around the globe. Crosswinds Tagaytay is nestled on a 100-hectare Swiss-inspired community surrounded by the lavish crisp scent of 35,000 pine trees. The exclusivity of Crosswinds Tagaytay is what persuades potential investors and homebuyers to own a property notwithstanding the great amenities, the peaceful ambiance, with the safety and security of the family. In conclusion, finding a home in Tagaytay amidst a pandemic will not only be beneficial for the family but choosing Crosswinds Tagaytay is ultimately a prudent investment in the long run.

What Crosswinds Tagaytay has to offer

The view from the balcony of a Crosswinds luxury house in Tagaytay.

Brittany Corporation is the pioneering developer for luxury real estate properties known for its thematic appeal in developing masterplanned communities, such as Crosswinds Tagaytay. It offers luxury lots, luxury house and lot properties, townhomes, and luxury condo units. Lot only allows homeowners to develop houses to their own accord whilst taking into account the Swiss-inspired architectural designs of Crosswinds.

The upcoming luxury condo property,  Alpine Villas, is not your typical condominium. It is a luxury condo in Tagaytay that offers six to eight-story mid-rise villas soon to rise and will most definitely become a great benefactor to the growing community at Crosswinds. Located on the hillsides of Tagaytay you will find Grand Quartier one that offers a greater view of the vicinity with nature’s most beautiful illusions of the sky and scenic pine estates. The Terraces of Lausanne provides a Swiss-inspired mountain resort getaway with a panoramic view of Laguna de Bay, the Manila Skyline, and the breathtaking prolific hillsides best known for Tagaytay. 

Imagine the perfect getaway within the comfort of your community, that is what truly makes Crosswinds the best luxury home in Tagaytay. Why invest in just a luxury home when you can invest in a community with access to all these premium and exclusive amenities within your grasp? The perks of investing in a luxury real estate property at Crosswinds is that family getaways don’t have to be far away from now on. Living in one of Brittany’s masterplanned communities puts a  homeowner’s interests and wellbeing as the utmost priority, as it should and always will be.

Advantages of Living in Crosswinds Tagaytay

The advantages of living in Crosswinds Tagaytay include its accessibility, various road access such as the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), Cavite Express (CAVITEX), Governor’s Drive to Pala Pala. It has shortened the travel time from Manila to Crosswinds Tagaytay by approximately 1 hour and 27 minutes. Tagaytay is a well-known holiday getaway and has been known for its booming business establishments and vacation spots, such as the Taal Lake, Palace in the Sky, People’s Park, and most dined at restaurants such as Antonio’s, Josephine’s, Sonya’s Garden. It has always been the top vacation or holiday destination in the country for its perfect weather and its close proximity to establishments namely Serin and Fora malls, S&R shopping center, the Tagaytay City Market, and restaurants. Crosswinds Tagaytay also has a stretch of retail brands within its communities with cafes and restaurants such as Cafe Voi La, Ruined Project, and Coffee Project, which are recognized as one of the most frequently visited dine-in spots in Tagaytay City. For the kids, there are amusement parks close by specifically Picnic Grove, Sky Ranch, and the Enchanted Kingdom that will most certainly be their go-to activity during the weekends.

Crosswinds Tagaytay also has environmentally sustainable initiatives that abide by Tagaytay’s waste disposal management implementing proper recycling and timely garbage disposal. A 24/7 security system that provides the highest level of safety and monitoring including property management for homeowners to assure the best maintenance for the homes as well as for the entire community. This luxury real estate community has won awards such as Best Mid-Range Condominium in the Philippines during the Philippines Property Awards in 2014 and Best Family-Friendly Development during the Japan International Property Awards in 2018 truly making  Crosswinds the best luxury real estate property in Tagaytay.

Choose your luxury house in Tagaytay

The beautiful view from Crosswinds Tagaytay’s luxury property developments.

So why should you choose Crosswinds Tagaytay as your new home in Tagaytay? Learn to choose a luxury home and not just a house. Learn to choose a community and not just a neighborhood. Upon choosing Crosswinds as your new residential address, you don’t just receive the bare minimum; you acquire the maximum. You get the most out of your investment and that is a fact for all of Brittany’s themed luxury homes for sale in the Philippines. 

Generally, developers would prioritize building amenities before developing homes and it shows the lack of importance they have for homeowners but at Brittany Corporation, prioritizing your luxury house in Tagaytay is of the utmost importance. Creating your dream home before new projects for amenities and facilities in the community allows more room for growth. Crosswinds Tagaytay with its consistently progressive new projects not only does it benefit you as an investor but as a member of the community your property as well will increase in value making it a win-win situation. 

Most especially during this global pandemic, traveling has been restricted which has caused a significant amount of distress for everyone however, living in Crosswinds is like spending an endless holiday in the Swiss Alps. One can never tire from the daily panoramic views of nature, highly valued ambiance inspired by Western Europe’s mountainous central country Switzerland, and foremost the climate at Tagaytay which can drop into 21°C to 26°C. 

To sum up, Crosswinds Tagaytay is the best choice for anyone looking for a luxury home in Tagaytay amidst an ongoing global pandemic. The variety of luxury amenities Crosswinds has to offer is surely an economical investment considering the growing community expansions. All potential investors’ and homebuyers’ expectations are exceeded.

What are you still waiting for? Inquire with a Corporate Sales Officer at Crosswinds Tagaytay about finding and seeing the right property for you and your family.

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In many ways, bringing wine to a social gathering is somewhat like a rite of passage. From the moment you first bring the best wine to the right gathering, you’ve proven that you have the grace, forethought, and skill in maneuvering complex social situations. On the contrary, not bringing any—or worse, bringing the wrong kind—might lower people’s expectations of you.

Now that you know just how important it is to bring the best wine to an event, you might be eager to learn which wine to pick. Unfortunately, there’s no single answer to this question, as there are literally hundreds to choose from depending on your specific situation.

Luckily for you, that’s exactly what we’re here for. In this article, we’ll provide a quick but comprehensive guide regarding what type of wine goes best for every casual and fine dining occasion.

Know Your Lingo: The 6 Most Common Kinds of Wine

There’s nothing classier and more luxurious than busting out a bottle of wine to go with dinner or to celebrate an occasion. But wait—how exactly do they differ from one another? This section will discuss the six main categories that wines will often fall under.

White Wine

So-called because of their distinctively white coloration, white wines are made from green-skinned grapes.

These grapes produce colorless juice that is noticeably lacking the tannins–basically nature’s bitter-tasting coloring agent–that characterize their equally lovable cousins, the red wines. To ensure that absolutely no tannins will be carried over to the final product, the grape skins, where the majority of tannins can be found, are removed during the fermentation process.

White wines can be made in a wide variety of styles. From sweet to dry, floral to fruity, spicy to sweet, or creamy to rich, there’s likely a white wine that fits the bill. This type of wine tends to emphasize the nuances of fruit mixtures, as well as leverage the acidity of the fruit for a more refreshing feel.

Two of the most well-known white wines are Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. Pinot Grigio, also called Pinot Gris, is a crisp, dry, light-bodied, wine with a sweet taste, with just a hint of bitterness in its flavor. It’s good for light drinking and goes well with salad, poached fish, and mild cheeses. It’s also one of the most popular wines in the United States.

Sauvignon Blanc, in turn, is a dry, light, tart white wine that carries an aggressively citrus flavor and distinct herbal undertones. It goes well with most meat like fish, pork, veal, and chicken, as well as French cuisine, among others.

Red Wine

While white wine doesn’t have tannins, red wines are specifically made to extract the color–and thus the flavor–from the grapes’ tannins.

This means that red wine is made from dark-colored grapes, which are often purple or blue. The grape skins are not removed as the grapes are pressed, so the entire concoction is suffused with the characteristic red-to-reddish-purple color.

Just like white wine, red wine can be created in different styles–from spicy to savory, from light to full-bodied, from savory to fruity.

The two most popular varieties of wine in the world are Bordeaux and Chianti. Bordeaux is a catch-all phrase for any red wine that is made from Bordeaux, France, but which is typically made out of several distinct varieties of grapes such as merlot, cabernet franc, and cabernet sauvignon. The taste is generally dry and can range from full to medium-bodied. It’s rich with flavors of dark-colored fruit, such as black currant and plum.

In the same vein, Chianti wine is any wine made in the Chianti Region of Italy. The majority of red wine mixes in that area use the Sangiovese grape–a type of grape indigenous to Tuscany– as a base, although some other types of grapes are mixed in small quantities. Chianti wine is known to be very acidic, with high contents of tannins that make it ideal to pair with food. Over time, it tends to acquire earthy notes, but younger expressions of this wine favor red fruits such as raspberry, plum, or red currant.

Rosé Wines

Rosé wines are somewhat the middle ground between white and red wines. Although this type of wine is made out of dark-colored grapes the same way that red wines are, the grape skins aren’t exposed to the juice. This results in a pinkish tint in the final product, which some might describe as ‘rosy’ or ‘blushing’.

These types of wines are made all over the globe and can range from syrupy-sweet to a drier, lighter-bodied taste. Modern European iterations of the flavors are decidedly drier than traditional Spanish or Italian wines.

Rosé wines, in general, are simply a subtler version of red wine. While a glass of rosé doesn’t quite have the richness and complexity that a glass of red wine has, it’s more flexible and lighter to drink. It’s best served chilled, making it the perfect drink to cool down in style during the summer months. Since its flavor profile isn’t too overpowering as well, rosé is more versatile than red wines in terms of food pairings.

Sparkling Wine

You might already have an idea of what this type is, and you would probably be right. The term ‘sparkling wine’ is a catch-all term for any type of wine that is carbonated, thus acquiring its ‘sparkly’ taste.

Without getting too complicated, sparkling wine can be made in two ways. The first one is by carbonating the wine through a second fermentation process in a unified tank where a lot of wine can be carbonated all at once. The second is by carbonating it in a glass container and then transferring it to a unified filtration tank.

Sparkling wine gives off an easy-to-drink, celebratory atmosphere. Regardless of how they are made, they actually have rosé, red, and white iterations. Perhaps some of the most famous types are Champagne and Prosecco. Champagne originates from the Champagne region in France, while Prosecco hails from Italy.

Regional Wines

Some of the wines already mentioned are already regional wines. As one might have guessed, regional wines are simply those that are made in a specific region in the world. Some of such wines are Bordeaux and Burgundy wine, and the recently-mentioned Champagne.

This is made possible through ‘appellations’, which, at the risk of oversimplifying, functions quite like a patent for wines.

Appellations seek to tie wines to a specific place to stop them from becoming generic. It’s an indication of location, originality, and, to some extent, quality. For example, a sparkling wine made through the same process and with the same materials as Champagne cannot be legally called Champagne, if it’s not made within the region.

Fortified Wines

Fortified wines are exactly what they sound like: they are made stronger with a bit more alcohol content. This is done by adding more grape spirit during the fermentation process of the wine, bringing up the alcohol content to 17-20% of the volume.

It can be made from either red or white wine and generally tends to be on the sweeter side, ranging from semi-dry to fully sweet. Sometimes, as in the case of Vermouth, botanicals and herbs are also added to modify the overall aroma of the wine.

Some of the more popular fortified wines are the Sherry, Port, Marsala, and Macvin varieties.

There’s a Wine for That: Which Wine to Pick For What Occasion

Now that we know the basic categories of wine, we can now apply that knowledge in picking the best wine to go not just with food, but with any worthwhile event.

Red on Red: Red Wine for Red Meat

Red on red isn’t just a general fashion statement—it also works well for food. Say you’re about to host a classy steak dinner at your South American-themed luxury home in Georgia Club or Augusta, which wine should you serve? Well, since you’re serving red meat, red wine is the way to go.

A red Bordeaux is our main suggestion. Most entry versions will be based on merlot grapes with a little bit of cab mixed in. The merlot will bring out the well-rounded texture of the red wine on your palette, perfectly blending it with the earthy and savory taste of cab.

Red Bordeaux is hard to get wrong, especially when paired with red meat. It’s widely available, relatively cheap, and the complex flavor of the tannins will blend wonderfully with the rich fat of the red meat.

The general rule is, the leaner the meat, the lighter wine you choose. If lamb is on the menu, lighter tannins may be called for, such as Petit Verdot.

Fruity and Fiery: Refreshing Dry Wines for Flavorful Barbecue Sauce

Maybe you own a luxury house and lot in Crosswinds Tagaytay, and you want to show off your incredible outdoor view to your visiting family and friends. The sun is shining, the signature Tagaytay breeze is blowing, and all that is lacking is the wonderful smell of outdoor barbecue—which, of course, wouldn’t be complete without a suitable wine to pair with it.

In this case, opt for dry, fruity wine such as Syrah or Malbec. This is because barbecue sauce will have a lot of spices in them, and you wouldn’t want this rich taste to clash with more complex wine.

In addition to this, Syrah and Malbec both have medium bodies, which means they contain medium acidity and tannin levels. They are light, fruity, and well-structured, enough for them to remain refreshing while still allowing you to appreciate the flavor. Syrah in particular will go along marvelously with grilled lamb and barbecue pork, while Malbec can go with almost any kind of meat from chicken leg to lamb.

Sparkles for Celebrations: Champagne or Prosecco for Joyous Events

It’s hard to determine exactly where the strong association between sparkly drinks to celebrations started, but it is undeniable that this association is well and truly established in today’s modern world.

Any kind of celebration can be heightened by the presence of these easy-to-drink, sweet-tasting beverages, whether it’s a wedding, birthday, or even just a celebration for recently buying your dream home from a list of luxury homes for sale.

Regardless if you’re celebrating inside or outside your luxury homes, you can choose either of the two famous sparkling wine brands to complete the feast, Prosecco and Champagne.

Prosecco is generally more affordable and more taste-friendly as it leans towards the sweeter end of the scale. Its refreshing fruity taste plays well with cured meats, Asian dishes, and fruit-based appetizers.

On the other hand, Champagne is on the upscale, drier side. It has a more acidic taste, so it goes well with meat such as oysters, shellfish, grilled chicken, and even non-meat items such as pickled vegetables.

Rosé is Sweet and Uncomplicated, Just Like Love Should Be

When you’re on a date, you’d want something delightfully light, sweet, and romantic. In that case, rosé should be your go-to wine for the occasion.

Rosé is uncomplicated, plenty sophisticated, safe for most taste buds, and just enough for both parties not to get sloshed on the first bottle.

Nevertheless, the changing dynamics of a date means that one should learn to adapt, as well. Rosé is good for the pre and post-meal banter, but during the meal, it’s best to pair your wine with the food you are eating. The rosé could be enough, but you might also want to consider a full-bodied red wine if dining on red meat, as we mentioned above.

The important thing is to be dynamic, with the romantic rosé as your base.

Warm Up the Winter Festivals With Mulled Wine

Too often, the festive cheer of the winter holidays is dampened by the rainy season. To mitigate this, try mulled wine. This is a beverage made with red wine and blended with mulling spices and served hot. A sip will warm you to your bones, and since it’s not as sweet as you might expect, you can drink more of it without getting tired of the taste.

Mulled wine is perfect for those peaceful Christmas season evenings when you’re bonding over at-home Christmas activities, or even just spending a quiet time with your family in the comforts of your luxury homes waiting for the good day to arrive.

Choosing the Best Wine For Every Occasion

Wine is a beverage that should be enjoyed by everyone, especially if you’re a resident of one of the best luxury homes in the Philippines. The rich notes and sophisticated sensations exude a taste of luxury and will serve to heighten the experience of anyone who drinks it.

You don’t have to be an expert to truly enjoy this time-honored beverage. If you apply the knowledge from this article appropriately, then you will soon be bringing the best wine to every occasion.

Many of us have missed different occasions, such as meeting with friends and enjoying other outdoor activities. COVID-19 has left us to stay at home and taught us to do the things we love while staying safe at home. One of the many outdoor activities you might miss is visiting wine bars and enjoying wine with friends. Didn’t you know that you can host your perfect virtual tasting at home? It may be slightly different from face-to-face wine tasting, but you will discover its advantages when you start your virtual wine tasting at home.  

NAPA at Crosswinds 

Brittany knows your dilemma. That’s why they established a restaurant that is inspired by the NAPA valley in California. While Crosswinds Tagaytay is known for its Swiss-inspired residences, a newly-opened place in the area will transport you and will give you a glimpse of another side of the world. With its rustic wooden décor, calm environment, and stunning outside dining area, this new café, inspired by rural residences in Napa Valley, California, will make you feel like a vineyard owner. 

Why Should You Visit NAPA at Crosswinds? 

People from every place want to visit this newly-opened café at Crosswinds. The ambiance will get you into the other side of the world with a taste of luxury and relaxation. With wooden floors, rustic décor, and a fantastic view of the surrounding hills, the café seems like a home. Everyone wants to see this new fashionable establishment, and it becomes crowded quickly. If you’re going to enjoy the place, its food, and take photos, arrive early. 

Feel the Tagaytay breeze as you sip your wine at NAPA.

NAPA at Crosswinds welcomes its guest with a huge parking lot where customers coming from a long ride can park their bicycles. A unique NAPA will greet the customers at Crosswinds gate. Around the place, there are wooden benches that will invite you to enjoy the scenery. Some barrels surround the area that can be used as tables and unique chairs. 

Enjoy al fresco dining with tasteful, quirky decor only at NAPA.

You can choose from their wide range of food, including coffee, cheese, meat, and wine. The whole place is instagrammable. That’s why people are going crazy about NAPA at Crosswinds. Although it’s hard to get a good seat, the best seats would be near the windows and outside the balcony because the scenery will welcome you. Tourists like to sit upstairs to get a good view of the whole Crosswinds and take some good photos.  

The café provides excellent food and drinks and a pet-friendly café that caters to your pet and pet parents’ need for relaxation. Pets are allowed outside but not inside the café. The café also offers free WI-FI, which you can request from the staff at the counter and have it get done in your gadget. 

NAPA at Crosswinds gets more attractive at night. It gives out a romantic ambiance perfect for couples who want to spend time together and families who want to sit down and talk about life. Fairy lights are beautifully spread in the area that adds to the serenity mood of the place. Aside from the scenery, NAPA provides delectable food in an alfresco setting perfectly paired with Tagaytay’s chilly weather at night and glasses of wine. 

Still haven’t experienced the NAPA Valley-inspired experience? Don’t forget to add NAPA at Crosswinds in your next adventure.  

If you are likely to stay at home because of the pandemic, you don’t need to worry because you can still experience a beautiful wine tasting at home and enjoy it with the rest of your family. This blog, we will give you some tips on hosting a perfect virtual tasting at home. 

What is a Virtual Wine Tasting?  

Some other outdoor activities can’t be adapted to our homes, and there are plenty of things we can still do in the comfort of our homes. It may not be as perfect and as enjoyable as what it offers in the natural setting, but what’s beautiful about it is that we can always try and tweak it to our liking and preference. Sound exciting? Keep on reading as we go ahead and list down tips on how to host a perfect virtual wine tasting at home. 

Have your virtual wine tasting at NAPA in Crosswinds Tagaytay. | Photo by WineDirect

Before going into hosting a virtual wine tasting, let’s start by identifying this new concept. The pandemic has brought several changes to the way we live our life even with some of the activities we enjoy. Virtual wine tasting is similar to a regular tasting where participants taste and learn about different wine selections from a winery. Both regular and virtual wine tasting has the same purpose except how they will perform the wine tasting. Rather than going to a winery, the winery comes to you. Wineries handle the entire experience in both circumstances. It is their responsibility to manage the wine shipment and ensure that it arrives on time. The organizers will then provide additional information on how to participate in the virtual wine tasting and platform capabilities for a better experience. 

How to Host a Virtual Wine Tasting at Home 

Set Date and Time 

In every activity, the first thing you need to consider is the availability of your virtual wine tasting participants. Ask each participant if when is the perfect time to enjoy and taste their wines. Instead of selecting a day and time for yourself, allow your audience to do so. Nowadays, there are so many online platforms today that can be used to your advantage. Consider utilizing a tool that will enable you to choose a date and time that works for everyone to prevent the back-and-forth texting from seeing when everyone is available. 

Choose a tasting theme. 

Choosing and deciding what wines you want to taste in your virtual wine tasting is also a top priority.  

1. The regional Wine tasting theme means participants are only going to taste wines from a particular region. 

2. A vertical tasting necessitates a little more work because it contains a producer’s wine from different years. The most important aspect of a proper vertical tasting is to ensure that the wine bottles have been appropriately preserved. However, suppose you successfully put together this type of tasting. In that case, the results may be fantastic, as your audience will learn about a winemaker’s style while also being familiar with several vintage types and how they have developed over time. 

3. Horizontal tasting is a popular concept in both virtual and real-life wine tastings. It includes wines from several producers that were produced in the same year. Because all new releases can be added, it provides additional flexibility. 

4. When evaluating different varieties of grapes, such as Pinot Grigio, Shiraz, Chardonnay, or Pinot Noir, blind tasting works best. It can be used as an icebreaker for large-group virtual wine tastings. The wine labels are hidden, and participants must estimate the nation, grape, and even price range based on the wine’s flavor. 

There are different types of wine to choose from when doing a virtual wine tasting. | Photo by Napa Valley

Custom shipments for your participants 

All of the essential supplies are provided for an in-person wine tasting. Why not customized shipments for your participants? Allow your audience to pre-order their wine supplies to make things easier. You can add a variety of wines to try, meal combinations, and possibly some wine glasses in each bundle. You can have it posted on your website and make your audience choose. Use a tool that can view their choices in real-time.  

Decide what platform to use. 

Deciding on what platform to use is also a priority. There are a lot of platforms which depends on how large your participants you are going to host. Choosing the best platform for your audience should be well taken care of because this is where your audience will interact and exchange their thoughts.  

Adapting to new normal experiences can sometimes be challenging. But as time goes by, little by little, we’ll get used to it. We will be surprised that it’s no longer new to us one day because we have already embraced it and have come to live through it. Who said that regular wine tasting and other regular outdoor activities couldn’t be replicated in a virtual environment? The pandemic may have hindered some of our plans, but people are also taught to respond and act differently. Many physical locations, including wineries and other stores, remained closed due to the pandemic; virtual events have been on the rise and busy. The virtual environment is a new way of interaction and a unique place of growth and learning. It won’t be perfect on the first try, but we can continuously improve. 

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A ready-for-occupancy home in the Philippines is quite popular with both property seekers and real estate investors. Aside from the fact that it is practically ready for anyone to move into, owning a ready-for-occupancy home also allows investors to recoup the hard-earned money they have put into the property by putting it up for lease.

For a luxury house and lot unit that is ready for occupancy, the advantages of owning one are more meaningful for people who are buying it as their primary residence, especially if they are planning to live in it for the long haul. And if the luxury house and lot is the dream house they have been dreaming about for the longest time, the advantages will certainly be worth the while, especially with regards to your financial security, mental health, and overall well-being.

Advantages of a ready-for-occupancy house and lot for sale

1. Ready-for-Occupancy Luxurious Home Features

Portofino Alabang offers ready-for-occupancy luxury houses and lots that showcase elegant exterior and interior features with contemporary simplicity

A luxury home is always defined by features that you normally do not find in a typical house and lot. But what are these features that define a luxury home? Here are some of them that you’ll find in an upscale property:

Large square footage

Large backyard

Gated property

In some cases, homes are often walled with high-end hedges

In some cases, homes have a huge outdoor feature, like a swimming pool, basketball court, or an entertainment section, or all three

Large, open-concept living and dining spaces

Large entryway with a centerpiece fixture, like a grand staircase or a chandelier

Well-curated and themed interior decor

Walk-in versions of storage features like pantry and cabinet

High-tech security and monitoring system

Spa-like bathrooms

High-end construction materials like marble, quartz, and hardwood

Extra bedrooms

Special rooms that complement a homeowner’s lifestyle (i.e. home theater, personal gym, meditation room)

The latest electronic gadgets and control systems

In most cases, not all luxury homes are the same and are often customized to serve the homeowner’s lifestyle. Luxury home buyers have the opportunity to pick and choose what home features they want in their future home. 

At Portofino Heights, the luxury homes for sale exude Old World sensibilities thanks to the beauty in every detail of these upscale properties. The ready-for-occupancy luxury house and lot units feature classic architecture that highlights beautifully detailed eaves, brickwork, and furniture. Some of the homes feature a mini-courtyard and come with lovely, tree-lined, cobblestoned pathways that give the effect of traditional Italian villages.

Aside from the grandiose architecture that marries both the Old World charm and modern taste, the luxury homes feature a fully equipped, cutting-edge kitchen, modern bathrooms, lovely bedrooms, and relaxing, open-plan living spaces that are ripe for customization. You can get carried away with furnishing it with all of the luxurious elements your imagination and desire demands. Simply put, luxury houses and lots offer more than the standard single-family homes and condos cannot offer.

2. Award-Winning Ready-for-Occupancy Developments

The luxury house and lot models at Portofino Heights by Brittany Vista Alabang won at the Property Awards and Southeast Asian Awards in 2015 because of its stunning Italian-inspired architecture.

Luxury real estate buyers will not hesitate to pay more, especially if it is for an award-winning property. The prestige that comes with an award-winning property also comes with the assurance that the luxury property has been reviewed objectively by real estate experts or a legitimate award-giving body and that they recognize the property as exceptional or outstanding with merit amongst other luxury properties in the market. 

The recognition also helps you divest your luxury property should you decide to sell it at a premium in the future. The recognition drives interest especially to a more diverse and unique crowd of people who are shopping around your price range. Not only can the recognition help you recoup your investment and earn a lot of money in the process, but you may even come across some buyers who do not hesitate to pay in cash.

3. Ready To Use Facilities and Amenities

Luxury homes in a premium residential enclave have exclusive access to premium amenities and facilities such as a standard regulation-sized basketball court, prominent water features, and outdoor fixtures like a veranda.

When you own a ready-for-occupancy luxury house and lot, you also have immediate access to all of the facilities and amenities catered to the high-end residents in the neighborhood. This is one of the main reasons why a ready-for-occupancy luxury house and lot is popular among luxury real estate buyers, especially if it is located in a premium residential enclave. 

In a premium residential enclave, the neighborhood is based on an all-inclusive master plan without any spatial limitations on development. This means the facilities and amenities developed in a premium residential enclave exemplify the luxury lifestyle its residents demand of. You will see things such as a central amenity area, beautifully landscaped public areas, and gardens, abundant green spaces, and interconnected pathways, swimming pools and parks for water activities, basketball and tennis courts, and even function halls and other common areas that can be used for outdoor activities such as lounging and picnics. Moreover, the premium residential enclave is gated with guarded entrances and a high-level security system.

As for ready-for-occupancy luxury homes that are located in inner-city locations (densely populated areas like a city center), what they lack in “luxury” from a new development point of view, they make up for by also providing quick access to downtown. This means the residents have the option to walk to or make a quick stop before going home at a shopping mall, bank, supermarket, or restaurant for whatever they need.

The Promenade in Brittany Sta. Rosa is just minutes away from the Sta. Rosa Tagaytay Road, where the top shopping mall chains in the country, including Vista Mall, are located.

4. Exceptional Location

Almost always, luxury houses and lots and communities are defined by the exceptional location. An exceptional location has one or a combination of the following qualities:

A Suburb or Rural Estate

Luxury homes are located in a premium residential enclave in the suburbs or just outside the city proper, like Crosswinds Tagaytay. Because of the location, the luxury homes only have few neighbors that are hardly noticeable due to the wide spaces. This is perfect for people who want a serene home away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Inner City Location

Exclusive inner-city living is achieved when luxury homes are built within a master-planned community. The luxury homes at Vista Alabang are a prime inner-city location close to shopping, dining, entertainment, and amenities in 

Serene Location

Luxury homeowners value their peace;, and while this can be easily remedied by employing noise-canceling materials to block out city noise, nothing beats having a home that also offers serenity visually. As such, ready-for-occupancy luxury homes that are located in a mountainous location or a location that is surrounded by lush natural surroundings can provide incredible privacy and quieter-than-usual streetscapes. La Posada, for example, is an upscale residential enclave in Lakefront Sucat, located near Laguna de Bay.

The views also offer the serenity and privacy one needs in a luxury home. Who wouldn’t want to have the sights and scent of over 35,000 pine trees from your very own Swiss-inspired luxury house and lot? The ready-for-occupancy luxury house and lot units at Crosswinds Tagaytay offer that advantage.

Near a Golf Course

A golf course is almost always indicative of a luxury community. The beautiful luxury homes at Brittany Sta. Rosa, Laguna are surrounded by top golf courses of the country – Canlubang Golf and Country Club, the Sta. Elena Golf Club, and The Country Club.

5. No Surprises

Luxury homes that are ready- for-occupancy are already a completed real estate properties, so you already know what you are buying. This is different from a pre-selling property, where you are offered a digital rendition of the property. Most of the time, the pre-selling property looks different once construction is done, and could elicit buyer’s remorse. 

Luxury houses and lots for sale at Brittany are conceptualized to ensure future homeowners that get what they dream of and want in a luxury home and community. Brittany is known for its thematic communities where luxury homes are inspired by some of the world’s most distinct Italian, Swiss, and American Country Style architecture and design. These luxury houses and lots are strategically located near essential establishments like commercial establishments, schools, hospitals, groceries and can be accessed via major road networks and thoroughfares, complementing the access-friendly lifestyle that every homeowner desires and aspires to have.

6. Ready-for-Occupancy and Ready For Inspection

Ready-for-occupancy luxury homes are already completed, so you can schedule a site visit to check out your future property. Schedule an appointment to visit a Brittany luxury home here.

With ready-for-occupancy properties, you can already see the completed property, thus scheduling a visit is possible. For luxury buyers, this is important as they can see whether the house and lot unit to be delivered is up to what is advertised and up to their standards. And for those who have grander plans for their luxury homes, a site visit will allow them to know the actual lay of the land and plan how to introduce additional features or improvements to their luxury home.

Luxury buyers can even experience what living in the residential community where the luxury home is located feels like. They simply step out of the luxury home and head to the already completed and functioning facilities and amenities of the residential community, and even talk to some residents as well. 

7. Immediate Ownership

Once you have ensured all payment, fees, and documentation, you can immediately own your ready-for-occupancy luxury house and lot for whatever you plan to do. You can immediately schedule furnishing or adding home improvements, or move in immediately if you choose to make it your primary residence. 

Moreover, owning a Brittany property also comes with buyer’s confidence, as a Brittany property carries warranties on functionalities, leak preventions, plumbing, electrical, and structural features. The warranties carried by Brittany properties mean that you have one less thing to worry about and have more time to appreciate your luxury home.

Tips for Luxury Ready-for-Occupancy Real Estate Buyers

If you are on the lookout for a luxury house and lot in the Philippines that is ready for occupancy, here are some buying tips for you.

1. Choose what aspects of the luxury home are important for you.

As the buyer, it’s up to you to choose considerations that are important to you in a luxury home. Do you want to own a luxury home in a quiet, rural location with large, open spaces? How about a property that’s in an inner-city location? Are you considering a residential community that’s a walk away from your place of work or school and also urban conveniences like the supermarket or bank? 

From here, it is easier for you and your real estate broker to refine your options and settle on a ready-for-occupancy luxury house and lot that checks all of the boxes.

2. Find a trusted local expert.

A local expert has a wealth of information when it comes to specific neighborhoods, condominiums, and new constructions. A trusted one will be able to gain insight on the latest luxury properties on the market and help steer you to the right luxury house and lot for you, especially at a coveted address. 

3. Consider the total cost of owning a luxury home.

Even if you can afford to pay more than what you budgeted for, it helps that you prepare for the costs of owning a luxury home. Even the most extravagant buyers look beyond the purchase price to ensure that they are not taking an unnecessary amount of financial risk. Considerations include maintenance costs, homeowners’ association fees, guest parking fees, and property taxes.

4. Hire the services of a lawyer when necessary.

Buying a luxury home will come in with real estate documentation that is full of legalese. If you are not comfortable or finding it difficult to navigate through these documents, running these documents with a lawyer before closing the deal can be helpful. A lawyer with real estate experience will also provide insight into luxury homeownership and other real estate obligations long after you have bought the property.

Find thematic luxury homes that are ready for you to move in at Brittany. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest offerings.

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The global pandemic has impacted our lives and drastically changed our lifestyles, including our sleeping habits. From shifting to a work from home setup, luxury home services, and deliveries, to almost no outside world contact, our bodies have had to adapt to numerous changes, like our sleeping habits, in order to stay safe during the pandemic. Although it is safer and only right to stay at home as much as possible, doing so has also negatively affected our bodies in more ways than none. With the active aspects of our lives decreasing more and more as time goes by, due to the rise in COVID cases, our mental and overall health are very much suffering. 

In this article, we are focusing on the importance of sleeping habits, and how we can better improve them during these difficult times of stress and unrest. It goes without saying that rest is a huge component of our overall health, affecting us mentally and physically. As natural as this may seem, sleeping habits are an aspect in our health that is very much neglected in these technologically advanced and fast-paced times. With the global pandemic still affecting the way we live even in the New Normal, the line between work and life is coming to a blur – especially now that we’re still predominantly working from home.

Good sleeping habits are beneficial for all people of all ages. You should make sure that every member of the family gets adequate sleep every day.

In general, the required amount of sleep varies from person to person, depending on the age. As a person ages, they typically require less sleep to function properly. Here are the recommended number of hours of sleep per night, for each age group:

● Newborns (0–3 months): 14–17 hours

● Infants (4–12 months): 12–16 hours

● Toddler (1–2 years): 11–14 hours

● Preschool (3–5 years): 10–13 hours

● School age (6–12 years): 9–12 hours

● Teen (13–18 years): 8–10 hours

● Adult (18–60 years): 7-plus hours

● Adult (61–64 years): 7–9 hours

● Adult (65+ years): 7–8 hours

 

If you are sleeping more or less on average than the recommended hours of sleep for your age, it is best you start making healthier lifestyle changes and better sleeping habits in order to maintain good health. Given that most of our lives are spent indoors now, it is the perfect time to make these healthy changes.

Good Sleeping Habits Improve Brain Cognitive Functions

Concentration, productivity, and performance are brain cognitive functions that affect any work that we may do remotely from home – whether that involves our businesses, our full-time jobs, or simply taking care of our family in our luxury home. Because of this, sleep deprivation is no joke. This is also the reason why pulling an all-nighter before a major exam or an important presentation is highly discouraged.

On the other hand, good sleeping habits have been shown to improve problem-solving skills and enhance memory performance of both children and adults. You may think that sleeping turns your entire body off, but your brain works better while you’re dreaming away in your luxury home. It restores itself from the strains your body has received throughout the day, and prepares your body to function at its optimum the very next day. During your slumber, the brain consolidates long-term memory, strengthening neural connections, and also pruning back unwanted ones. The brain clears away toxins while we’re asleep, including the ones associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Starting your day off stretching after a good night’s sleep is a great way to keep motivated to exercise and stay fit.

Practicing Good Sleeping Habits Enhances Physical Capabilities

Athletes, especially full-time professional ones, have one thing in common across all sports: routine. Athletes follow a strict routine and diet in order to maintain their performance. The closer to the day of the competition, the stricter the diet and routine become. Together with this is the strict sleeping habits that must be maintained. Many athletes wake up before dusk to train first thing in the morning, and sleep quite early so that their bodies can regenerate and muster the energy to repeat the cycle the following day. To prevent any distractions, the athletes’ coaches or personal trainers usually check in on them frequently and ban them from joining late night parties and drinking sessions. It’s the sacrifices that have to be made if you want to be a champion.

Longer sleep significantly improves speed, accuracy, reaction times, and mental well-being in athletes. Meanwhile, bad sleeping habits are linked to slower walking, lower grip strength, and greater difficulty performing independent activities. Moreover, for the average joe, the lack of sleep is directly linked to overweight and obesity, and poorer glucose control. In fact, there are several studies that relate sleep deprivation to mortality.

Studies show that sleeping comfortably with your loved ones improves overall mood and sleep quality.

Sleeping Habits Affect Your Mood and Mental Wellbeing

It’s no coincidence that whenever you’re running on little to no sleep or have poor sleeping habits, you tend to be moody, irritable, and unmotivated. If you have an existing mental condition, you are also more likely to be triggered on sleepless days. This is because our brain needs to perform its nightly functions in order to balance the hormones affecting moods and emotions. In order for you to handle stress and make objective business decisions, you need to get enough and better sleep.

Mental health affects sleep quality as well. Likewise, if you are suffering from anxiety, chances are that you have trouble sleeping on nights where you feel low. Knowing that the quality of sleeping habits and mental health are highly dependent on each other, it is best to take care of both.

Ready-for-occupancy luxury homes by Brittany exude elegance and comfort, present in each and every room. There are no sleepless nights here!

The Importance of Living in a Healthy Environment Conducive for Rest

With all the information mentioned above, the environment in which you are resting in is also crucial to attaining quality sleeping habits. There are furniture and other products available in the market that help get you in the mood for sleeping, and some of them are even backed up by science. For example, getting a diffuser with essential oils, especially lavender, relaxes the body and calms the nerves for a restful evening. Not convinced to invest in a diffuser? No problem, because you can also purchase the lavender essential oil roll-on which you can rub on your palms and smell every time you feel a bit stressed.

Make sure to turn off all lights in the room right before going to bed in your luxury home, as the light signals your body to stay awake. If you’re still having trouble sleeping, you can play sounds of ocean waves or light rain to calm you down. Of course, the most important piece of furniture in this topic is the bed. Make sure you have the comfiest sheets, pillow, and duvet for you to practice better sleeping habits.

By now, it goes without saying that the home is very crucial to our health – not to mention sleeping habits. At Brittany Corporation, the luxury house and lot arm of Vista Land, your health is of utmost importance. Within a quiet master-planned community, verdant with nature’s kiss, one can experience the best quality of sleep every night. Thematic in their appeal, these charming abodes, available as luxury homes for sale and luxury houses and lots for sale, perfectly embody a healthy and elegant lifestyle.

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What defines a modern luxury home? Is it the number of rooms and baths? Is it the size of the house and how many stories it has? Is it the number of smart appliances that can be monitored and managed by an app or software? Is it the vastness of the gardens, or simply the sheer number of square footage? As everyone wants a home that is both aesthetically pleasing and equipped with features that offer a comfortable lifestyle, a modern luxury home sets itself apart by offering future homeowners features that define the luxury living experience they aspire to have. Because of this, property seekers are now looking beyond the price tag and how huge properties are seen in house for sale listings online.

The price tag is not the only thing that defines a modern luxury home.

So what features make a modern luxury home? Here are the top features that you can only find in an upscale property.

Beauty in Every Detail: What Makes a Modern Luxury Home

1. A Top-Notch Kitchen

A spacious kitchen equipped with professional appliances and furnishings is a hallmark of a modern luxury home.

In a modern luxury home, the kitchen needs to be integrated with function, luxury, and style. Bold textures, rich hues, and exotic materials are just some of the qualities that make the kitchen more luxurious in a modern luxury home. You’ll often find marble, granite and even diamond integrated into kitchen islands, cupboard handles, and even the lowly pantry.

Also cooking up gourmet dishes also require restaurant-grade appliances. Homeowners feel confident and happy to cook up a storm in a gourmet kitchen, and will welcome the rest of the family to join, even as bystanders. Kitchens in modern luxury homes are also integrated with technological advances that make it even easier to do the things you need to do. From refrigerators with temperature control and capabilities to ensure that every food is fresh and accounted for and automatic dishwashers, cooking up a storm in the kitchen is no longer a chore. Moreover, appliances and tools nowadays are more energy efficient too, which is great if you have more than one cook who likes to whip up culinary creations.

2. Spa-Style Bathrooms

No longer seen as just an essential, bathrooms in modern luxury homes are now furnished like a top-notch spa.

We spend a lot of our mornings (and sometimes in the evening) in the bathroom. And as we spend more of our time at home, we now consider our living spaces more than what they function as. As such, bathrooms in some modern luxury homes are installed with the latest furnishings in the market today to help homeowners decompress after a long day: overhead rain showers, sunken tubs, jacuzzi, and even a horizontal massage shower system. The water system is also temperature and pressure-controlled, which is great for people who are temperature and pressure-sensitive.

Luxury also means furnishings that add beauty, comfort, and innovative functionality.

Some modern homes have smart toilets that are customized to make it comfortable for people using them. Massaging bidets, optimal seating height, heated seats, automated seat lifting, contactless flushing, and even health tracking are just some of the many elements of the smart toilet that can sometimes be confusing but makes up for a great experience every single time.

To make the bathrooms more spa-like, gone are the cold white tiles and monochromatic colors. Bold textures, rich hues, and exotic materials are also brought to the bathroom. Glass, bamboo, and rattan, plus mood lighting are integrated as accent pieces to help set the mood and further elevate the experience. Bath spouts and chrome taps are swapped with brass or other aesthetic material to help tie together the look.

3. Plush, Hotel-Quality Bedrooms 

Warm, comfy beddings, mood lighting, and plush furniture of the highest quality material make a hotel-quality bedroom.

Another sign of a modern luxury home is the level of comfort offered by its bedrooms. Whether it has floor-to-ceiling windows or a balcony or outdoor area, the bedrooms feel like a vacation that you wouldn’t mind waking up to (or staying in) every single day. 

One wakes up at a massive California King bed topped with a fluffy headboard, bolster and accent pillows, a duvet, and the softest comforter you’d want to wrap your body around forever. Aside from the comfy bed, the bedroom is also furnished with a comfy accent chair or two, where you can spend time reading a book (if you don’t feel like sleeping). The walls and floor are also padded to help set the mood. 

Some bedrooms even include convenient installations like automatic lighting and window blinds systems, so you can open and close them either by a click of a button or by voice command. To up the comfort of these modern luxury bedrooms, some opt to install a mini-pantry filled with snacks, drinks, and other food items should you want for a midnight snack.

4. A “Secret” Room

Who doesn’t love surprises? A secret room is a mini-adventure not only for the kids but also for the rest of the family.

Modern luxury homes may have all the technology and high-end luxury features you can cram into, but nothing beats having special living spaces like secret rooms. These secret rooms are rooms where the entrance or the door is hidden from the rest of the home, but it can be anything that you want it to be as. A secret room can be behind a bookshelf or an obscure wall, and when opened, is a secret retreat from the rest of the world, or at the very least, the rest of the household. Moreover, a secret room can also act as a security and safety measure.

Having a secret room is an excellent way to transform extra rooms in a modern luxury home.

5. A Smart Home Monitoring System

A smart home monitoring system gives homeowners an added peace of mind, as a luxury home has plenty of things that can attract some unwanted attention.

A modern luxury home has the latest cutting-edge network-connected systems, equipment, and appliances that can remotely and automatically be monitored to ensure safety and security. Today, homeowners equipped their luxury homes with motion sensor lighting, internet-connected security cameras, and software connected to other utility systems in the home so they can all be monitored via an app on your smartphone or tablet. These help homeowners gain insight not only into how much energy their household consumes, but also identify security lapses that you can immediately address.

6. A Walk-in Closet, or Room

The walk-in closet is an extension of the bedroom, but it can be more than that in a modern luxury home.

There are walk-in closets, and then there are mega walk-in closets. In a modern luxury home, organization, luxury, and even security are important things that a walk-in closet (or in this case) needs to have. And for people who has a lot of high-end garments, accessories, shoes, bags, and other valuables, they need to have a walk-in closet that has durable shelves and containers to organize their clothes, mirrors, and proper lighting for them to see themselves trying it on in different angles, and racks to put selected items on display. 

7. A Cozy, Well-Connected Home Theater

A home theater or a media room allows homeowners to have that surround sound, cinematic experience any time of the day.

Most high-end homes these days include some kind of home theater or media room. This is because the living room does not have any and is reserved for receiving and entertaining guests. The home theater in a modern luxury home is equipped with the latest set of cinema-grade speakers, a huge LED, flat-screen smart TV with the latest streaming apps, and a very comfortable lounge and recliner chairs for optimum viewing. 

8. A Game Room That Will Keep You Engaged

The game room is a great place for the members of the household to let loose by playing video games, board games, or classic games like pool, ping-pong, and mini-golf.

A game room may have an entertainment area where you can also watch games, but it is also a room where you can have a good time with the rest of the family by playing games. A game room may be furnished with items dependent on its homeowners, but it usually is a spacious space where you can install a pool or ping-pong table, or a shelf full of classic and modern board games. A video game enthusiast will also ensure that there’s more than one TV screen or monitor so he can play a streaming game while keeping tabs with his opponent or co-player online on another screen. The game room is also furnished with the latest video game console system and popular video games.

9. A Well-Furnished Home Office

Convenience is what makes a home office a must for luxury living.

Home offices pre-pandemic were seen as an excessive addition to a modern luxury home. As more people are now working from home, having a home office fully connected online and has the latest equipment and gadgets help people be productive, especially with these challenging times. Home offices nowadays are equipped with a phone system to make conference calls, an all-in-one printer and scanner machine for important paperwork, and your usual desktop computer setup. An ergonomic chair or two is swapped in place of a typical office chair to help alleviate back pain from sitting too much doing work on the desk. Moreover, home offices in modern luxury homes are well-furnished as they make a great background for business video calls.

10. Incredible Formal Spaces

Formal spaces in modern luxury homes are more subdued, but they still exude the grand opulence the space demands.

A high priority for luxury homes is to provide owners that grand opulence without going overboard. As such, formal spaces are usually with a high ceiling and are well-punctuated with mood and overhead lighting, The furniture may be few but are of a scale that it can accommodate a small party (i.e. a sectional for the living room, a 10-seater dining set). There is always an accent wall that draws focus from the room to the main centerpiece. It could be an art piece or sculpture. The room is always brought together by keeping the colors within the same color palette and/or a large and cozy rug.

11. Architectural Details

The opulence doesn’t end inside the home. Homeowners also invest in a property’s architectural details, and wouldn’t mind spending money on them

Luxury homeowners also invest in their outdoor space as much as they do indoors. They do not mind paying as long as the amount of detail and customization did on the luxury home is amazing. Luxury buyers take relish on the craftsmanship, ensuring that there’s beauty in every detail of the home.

Brittany Corporation is the first in the Philippines to develop and build modern luxury homes and luxury house and lots with rich character and subtle theme appeal. Brittany’s award-winning modern luxury residences are backed by these luxury residential communities inspired by the world’s most scenic destinations:

1. The Swiss Themed Communities at Crosswinds

With over 35,000 homegrown pine trees, this Swiss-inspired luxury resort estate in Tagaytay provides lot only, house and lot, townhomes, and condominium apartments in a private sanctuary surrounded by the tranquil views, sounds, and scents of nature.

2. Portofino’s Italian-inspired Themed Communities

Offering exquisite luxury homes inspired by cosmopolitan Italy’s elegant flair and grace. Its classic architectural feats of these modern luxury homes and beautiful amenities have become Brittany’s signature for its luxury developments in Vista Alabang. 

3. Brittany Santa Rosa and its Old English Themed Communities

Own a luxury home in Brittany Sta. Rosa will remind you of the charming country abodes in Southern American and Old English countryside style.

4. The San Franciscan-Inspired Communities of La Posada

La Posada in Lakefront Sucat offers luxury homes that are a fusion of Victorian opulence and modern-day sophistication, surrounded by peace and serenity of a charming San Franciscan residential community. 

12. The Location

A modern luxury home is located at a prestigious, exclusive address.

Sure, it doesn’t sound like a feature, but the location is a key element of a modern luxury home. As land is a finite resource, and modern luxury homes are built on lots, which offer more acreage than a typical house and lot for sale. Moreover, a modern luxury home is built on a lot so homeowners can have ample room for future expansion.

The placement of the modern luxury home is also important. A modern luxury home needs to offer sanctuary and privacy, which is near impossible to achieve when in a much denser location like the city center or near a busy road or intersection. 

The modern luxury home also offers vantage points that you normally wouldn’t be able to get. For example, a modern luxury home for sale at Alpine Villas overlooks the stunning pine tree-laden vistas of the massive Crosswinds property in Tagaytay.

Located by the entrance of Crosswinds’ exclusive community, Alpine Villas is a cluster of six to eight-storey mid-rise villas hidden in Tagaytay and offers stunning natural views of the southern countryside

Explore more luxury homes and house and lot properties at Brittany Corporation.

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Brittany Santa Rosa is the pioneer of luxury-themed house and lot developments in the Philippines. Santa Rosa City, also known as “The Lion City of the South” is comparable to a lion as it gears up to be one of the economic drivers and to the country’s booming business hubs. Santa Rosa also enjoys the status of being South Luzon’s major commercial, industrial and residential Center. With many establishments in the area, many investors and city-goers are making their plans to travel from Metro Manila to Santa Rosa.

The serene community of Brittany Sta. Rosa offers nothing but the luxury of comfort and ease.

However, every progressive city won’t be free from the hassle of the vexatious sounds of the traffic and busy roads. Living at Brittany strikes the balance of enjoying the fascinating city life with the luxe commercial developments and living in privacy while enjoying the lush, nature-preserved communities.

How to get from Manila to Santa Rosa

Wending your way to Brittany won’t be a problem as Santa Rosa City is a highly accessible location. Santa Rosa is just at the tip of Metro Manila and located at the heart of CALABARZON, surrounded by major roads and transportation centers, which made traveling easier. Here are some ways to get to Brittany Santa Rosa. 

Driving by car takes you towards the fastest routes from Manila to Santa Rosa.

By Private Car

The most convenient and fastest way to go to get from Manila to Santa Rosa is by driving your own private car. Not only you get to manage your time going into the place, but you also get to appreciate the view of driving around Santa Rosa and our master-planned communities. If you’re coming from Metro Manila, the city is accessible via SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) through four exit points: Greenfield City, Santa Rosa, Eton City, and Calamba exit. The estimated travel time from Santa Rosa from Manila to Santa Rosa is around 45 to 60 minutes based on the route if you’re passing through the C-5 extension exit. If you’re coming from Cavite, the Santa Rosa City is also accessible via CALAX (Cavite-Laguna Expressway) through Mamplasan exit, which gives you a travel time of less than an hour drive to reach Brittany Sta. Rosa. 

From those exit points, you can easily navigate your way to the Santa Rosa Tagaytay Road which is directly connected to the master-planned township of Brittany Sta. Rosa. Vista Mall Santa Rosa is right across our exclusive spine road which gives Brittany Santa Rosa homeowners easy access to their daily needs and wants. Other commercial developments are also to be found within a 5-10 minute drive from the community which gives our community members more options for leisure and to answer their daily necessities. 

Suggested Read: The Best Place to Live in Laguna | Brittany Corporation

There are many public transportation options now from Manila to Santa Rosa that offer safe and comfortable travel experiences.

By Public Transportation

By any chance, that you aren’t able to drive by your private car due to coding and other reasons. Taking a bus ride is one of the most common public transportation options when traveling from Manila to Santa Rosa. Currently, Jac Liner is one of the companies that offer transportation services from Manila to Santa Rosa and to the rest of South Luzon and vice versa. Jac Liner bus lines have route trips bound to Balibago, Santa Rosa, where we can find the city’s main transport terminal. 

Due to heightened quarantine protocols, Jac Liner’s terminals in Metro Manila are assigned by routes, and for South Luzon routes, currently, it was limited to LRT Buendia terminal only. 

Via Buendia – Balibago route, the first trip is at 4 am and the last trip is at 11 pm. 

From Balibago Terminal – you can ride a taxi-bound destination to our Brittany projects. Another option is taking a jeepney and tricycle ride to our projects. 

Navigating your way to our projects will definitely satisfy you, as you can enjoy stop-overs along Santa Rosa’s lush community infrastructures and commercial developments.  Indulges in the beauty of elegance and serene communities around the area where charm resides in Brittany Sta. Rosa.

Manila to Santa Rosa is also accessible through the Grab mobile application which makes your trip to our communities more private and exclusive. Brittany Santa Rosa prides itself as the only luxury house and lot development in the City of Santa Rosa as other communities are still under the address of nearby municipalities and not directly addressed at Santa Rosa Laguna.

This master-planned community of Brittany that is strategically located at the heart of Laguna offers luxury house and lot and lots-only packages from 200sqm up to 1,500sqm. Promenade, the community which mostly offers lot-only packages has a minimum lot size of 750sqm which can accommodate a luxury house and lot property with a floor area size of 450sqm. While Georgia Club and Augusta can accommodate house and lot packages up to 350sqm.

Here are some notable landmarks near Brittany Santa Rosa:

University of Santo Tomas

A new UST campus is set to be launched in Santa Rosa, Laguna which sits on a 40-hectare lot, twice the size of UST Manila, and will be the home to 20,000 Thomasions once the campus opens its door. The development of the said campus resumed late last year as it aims to be fully operational in the next couple of years.

Shopping centers like Vista Mall Santa Rosa offers al fresco dining for a safer dining experience.

Vista Mall Santa Rosa

Sprawled picturesquely along the stretch of the busy Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Vista Mall Sta Rosa stands as a marvel to both locals and passers-by that are making their way up to Tagaytay. Vista Mall Sta Rosa is best recognized for its elegant structure and towering sky trees located at the Garden Atrium of the mall. 

QualiMed Hospital – Sta Rosa

Located at West Nature Avenue, Nuvali North, Sto Domingo Santa Rosa Laguna, this hospital is the first QualiMed-branded hospital in Southern Luzon under the QualiMed Health Network. QualiMed Hospital in Sta. Rosa shall have comprehensive capabilities for inpatient and outpatient healthcare services aimed at providing holistic wellness and healing to patients, thus enhancing the quality of life in communities in Laguna. 

Valenza by Crown Asia

Valenza, an Italian word meaning ‘balance’ is a residential community that offers the luxury of living in a serene and secure community while still having access to the comforts of the metro. This 25-hectare community in Sta. Rosa, Laguna reflects the unique charm and romantic vibe of Italy. This development is the premium residential arm of Vista Land along with Brittany as Vista Land’s luxury real estate leader. 

The price tag is not the only thing that defines a modern luxury home.

This travel guide aims to be helpful for city-goers and travelers to be more familiar with coming from Manila to Santa Rosa. Now that we have a good glimpse of the progressive city of Santa Rosa Laguna, it’s time to get on the road and start driving around the city and unravel the beauty of Laguna, with Brittany Santa Rosa. Experience the South-American themed community that Georgia Club and Augusta luxury house and lot developments reflect the image of the quaint English countryside, where edged cobbled paths surround cozy mansions that Promenade Santa Rosa can offer.

Inquire now to know more about our luxury house and lot developments in Brittany Sta. Rosa.