When Dr. Reynaldo A. Carpio first visited the city-state of Monaco during a month-long tour of Europe many years ago, he found the country to be the most amiable in the world.

“I consider it one of the best places in the world,” said Carpio.

“The climate is great. That’s why it’s a magnet for tourists — the cars, the food, the lifestyle — they are all there.”

That’s why when he founded his property development firm it’s not surprising that he called it Grand Monaco Estate Developers Inc.

To this day, his memories of Monaco remain vivid. Homes at all Grand Monaco are designed with a specific Mediterranean look, particularly the architecture of Monaco.

“The Monaco look served as an inspiration for the design of our properties,” he said. “But even if they are Monaco-inspired, they are selling well especially in areas like Ortigas because our developments are flood-free.”

Carpio, who is also the firm’s president and general manager, said that while the design of Grand Monaco homes are inspired by Mediterranean architecture, he has been able to adapt the look to fit the local climate.

All homes are designed with wide windows and cross ventilation to bring in cool air into homes. Considering that the weather in the Philippines is markedly different from that of Monaco, homes are designed to suit a tropical climate.

In all Grand Monaco homes, there is also an emphasis on open planning to give buyers the space they need in their homes.

“The use of open planning reflects the hospitality of Filipinos in general,” he explained.

While a Mediterranean design is adapted for all developments, he said all homes are flexible enough to meet the needs of the buyers. There is much space inside and in the back of homes providing homeowners with room for improvement. Only the front of homes is permanent to give a sense of design unity to the different developments.

When Carpio started Grand Monaco in 2003, it was to pursue a vision of helping Filipinos to fulfill their dreams of having a home.

Offering affordable quality homes has always been the company’s mission. Of the eight locations the firm has developed since it started, it has already sold out three, while three more are being readied for delivery. Another four are about to be started.

Projects are mostly subdivisions, townhouses, and single two-story four-bedroom units, with prices ranging from P2 to P4.5 million. Properties going from P2 to P3 million have been selling briskly among the OFW market, primarily because of a unique payment scheme that have made the homes affordable. They have made it easy for buyers by offering on a two-year installment plan their initial 20 percent down payment for the property.

More information is at www.grandmonacohomes.com.