Tiny house maker CUBO adds financing options, cuts construction time | ABS-CBN
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Tiny house maker CUBO adds financing options, cuts construction time
MANILA (UPDATED) — Filipino startup CUBO Modular, which gained renown for its modern "tiny" house designs, is now available through the government's home financing agency Pag-IBIG and major banks.
MANILA (UPDATED) — Filipino startup CUBO Modular, which gained renown for its modern "tiny" house designs, is now available through the government's home financing agency Pag-IBIG and major banks.
The company said this aims to help ease payment for its award-winning, stylish prefabricated houses made with "engineered bamboo."
The company said this aims to help ease payment for its award-winning, stylish prefabricated houses made with "engineered bamboo."
Potential homebuyers can now take out a home construction loan from Pag-IBIG that is payable for up to 30 years to secure a custom-made and fully furnished house from CUBO, including its newer models, said Zahra Zanjani, co-founder and chief operations officer of the firm.
Potential homebuyers can now take out a home construction loan from Pag-IBIG that is payable for up to 30 years to secure a custom-made and fully furnished house from CUBO, including its newer models, said Zahra Zanjani, co-founder and chief operations officer of the firm.
The company has also added major banks such as BPI, BDO, Chinabank, and UnionBank, where clients can also apply for a home construction loan to get their dream house, she said.
The company has also added major banks such as BPI, BDO, Chinabank, and UnionBank, where clients can also apply for a home construction loan to get their dream house, she said.
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The banks offer loan terms of up to 20 years.
The banks offer loan terms of up to 20 years.
CUBO also has partner developers in Cavite for a house and lot option, Zanjani said, noting that they have their own financing terms.
CUBO also has partner developers in Cavite for a house and lot option, Zanjani said, noting that they have their own financing terms.
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News This young designer’s YouTube videos will make you want a modern bahay kubo
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News This young designer’s YouTube videos will make you want a modern bahay kuboSHORTER LEAD TIME, OVERSEAS EXPANSION
CUBO, which pioneered the use of engineered bamboo in the prefabricated home industry, started delivering the first units of its modular houses during the pandemic, with a mission also to help solve the housing problem in the Philippines by offering an alternative to traditional construction.
CUBO, which pioneered the use of engineered bamboo in the prefabricated home industry, started delivering the first units of its modular houses during the pandemic, with a mission also to help solve the housing problem in the Philippines by offering an alternative to traditional construction.
Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsIt first catered to clients in the capital region with up to 8 to 12 months of lead time after the initial downpayment. Now, they have served in 24 provinces across the country and can finish constructing customized houses in just 1 to 3 months and build them at locations in a few days.
It first catered to clients in the capital region with up to 8 to 12 months of lead time after the initial downpayment. Now, they have served in 24 provinces across the country and can finish constructing customized houses in just 1 to 3 months and build them at locations in a few days.
CUBO slashed construction time through research and development and by adopting best practices in modular construction. Engineered bamboo, according to Zanjani, is 5 times stronger than narra. A CUBO structure built with this and other materials can withstand fierce winds and earthquakes.
CUBO slashed construction time through research and development and by adopting best practices in modular construction. Engineered bamboo, according to Zanjani, is 5 times stronger than narra. A CUBO structure built with this and other materials can withstand fierce winds and earthquakes.
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CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News 
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News Zanjani said they are also looking to expand in Australia and New Zealand in the second quarter of 2024.
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News Zanjani said they are also looking to expand in Australia and New Zealand in the second quarter of 2024. "When they saw our product ... they were very interested in the [proprietary] design and how it can be applied to places that also have a housing shortage," she said.
"When they saw our product ... they were very interested in the [proprietary] design and how it can be applied to places that also have a housing shortage," she said.
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News 
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News NEW MODELS, PRICES
CUBO Modular's Cavite model. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News NEW MODELS, PRICESThe company opened the year with fresh models, offering more units with generous living and dining spaces suitable for newlyweds or big families.
The company opened the year with fresh models, offering more units with generous living and dining spaces suitable for newlyweds or big families.
"For our 5th generation models, we have 6 new catalog models that started in Bulacan and Sarangani. Now, we've added more options and alternatives for our clients to choose from," Zanjani said.
"For our 5th generation models, we have 6 new catalog models that started in Bulacan and Sarangani. Now, we've added more options and alternatives for our clients to choose from," Zanjani said.
Clients can visit CUBO's website — cubo.ph — and personalize their future place.
Clients can visit CUBO's website — cubo.ph — and personalize their future place.
They can also explore the site's financing section where they can get an idea about their estimated monthly payment and preferred loan term for their CUBO model.
They can also explore the site's financing section where they can get an idea about their estimated monthly payment and preferred loan term for their CUBO model.
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According to Zanjani, the most affordable CUBO they offer is the Bulacan model, which is at P1 million (monthly amortization is P4,669 per month) and has a floor area of 20.5 square meters. Customers eyeing this model will only need a P15,562 minimum monthly salary.
According to Zanjani, the most affordable CUBO they offer is the Bulacan model, which is at P1 million (monthly amortization is P4,669 per month) and has a floor area of 20.5 square meters. Customers eyeing this model will only need a P15,562 minimum monthly salary.
Customizing a unit — especially with add-ons such as solar panels — will lead to a price increase, but homebuyers can adjust it depending on their budget, she said.
Customizing a unit — especially with add-ons such as solar panels — will lead to a price increase, but homebuyers can adjust it depending on their budget, she said.
A CUBO house could be pricey to some — the 95.5-square meter Surigao model is priced at P5.6 million — but Zanjani said that the cost is already inclusive of all expenses in building a house, stressing the firm assumes the dizzying task of home construction.
A CUBO house could be pricey to some — the 95.5-square meter Surigao model is priced at P5.6 million — but Zanjani said that the cost is already inclusive of all expenses in building a house, stressing the firm assumes the dizzying task of home construction.
The house is ready for move-in after assembly, she said, quipping that homeowners only had to bring their mattresses.
The house is ready for move-in after assembly, she said, quipping that homeowners only had to bring their mattresses.
Interested buyers can check out Cubo's new models on their Instagram page.
Interested buyers can check out Cubo's new models on their Instagram page.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article stated that Pag-IBIG is one of CUBO Modular's financing partners. While the company has not signed a formal partnership with Pag-IBIG, its framing system supplier is AITECH-accredited, which makes CUBO models available through Pag-IBIG.
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