Moving to Manila

[sysop]

try craigslist or adpost

Craigslist:
http://manila.craigslist.com.ph/apa/

AdPost Philippines:
http://www.adpost.com/ph/house_for_sale_for_rent/

[scottishbride]

I am also a seafarer, I work for a oil company! I own a house in the UK and rent it out! The IR are no longer interested in my earnings through my work, only the rental income I make, as long as it is less than 6,000 pounds for the tax year they normally leave me alone. There are plenty of places available for rent in the Metro area, of course you can get a place on a short lease and then look around. Have you been to Tagatay? there are plenty of house and lots for sale there and it is a bit cooler than Manila!

[pennybarry]

Hi all

Well I thought I got away with it but the UK gov has now decided to tax offshore seafarers and back date it. So because of this the wife and I are looking to move to the philippines, probably somewhere in manila. We already have a small farm and wood holiday house in the province but this is too cut off for us for every day living.

So we are looking at areas of Manila. Does anyone have any websites for rental / sale houses in manila? I'm thinking in areas around Makati, pasay for starters as they seem to have resonable areas / subdivisions and quality of things to do / ammenities. We've not really spent that much time in manila so I'm only using these as start points and am open to other ideas. I think the intention is to find a studio flat connected to a hotel for some self catering while we look for a rental porperty.

The wife doesn't really have any close family around manila so we can't use them for assistance.

http://www.phlist.com/photos/picture62.jpg

Ideally we'd like a 2-3 bed house with garden. Don't know about rental prices but maybe up to 20-25 thousand / month.

So any ideas???

In my opinion, I think it is better to live close to Makati like Laguna/Tagaytay. I live in Sta Rosa which is about 24 km away from Makati, I know a place in Laguna Bel-Air fully furnished cost about 20 thou/mo. They (Laguna Bel-Air) have private buses going to Makati everyday. So your budget is quite match. BUT if you want more cool place and no need to install aircondition, I can suggest you to buy a property which is boundary of Tagaytay and Sta Rosa. It is overlooking Laguna de Bay It cost 20,000 +/ month but after 5 years it will be yours DP is affordable.

http://www.phlist.com/photos/picture62.jpg

[sysop]

Maybe a motel would be easier and cheaper for the first period you stay there. Then you can look around the various areas without worrying about being kicked out of the house after 1 month.

[subseastu]

THats not a bad idea. I have been toying with the idea of getting a studio type apartment so we can self cater for maybe a month whilst we find our longer term rental. I think there are a few hotels that do this, we should be a bit more central as well so that may help in finding properties.

I'm thinking about hiring a car and driver a day at a time so we can travel different towns / neighbourhoods in relative comfort.

[Pepe n Pilar]

THats not a bad idea. I have been toying with the idea of getting a studio type apartment so we can self cater for maybe a month whilst we find our longer term rental. I think there are a few hotels that do this, we should be a bit more central as well so that may help in finding properties.

I'm thinking about hiring a car and driver a day at a time so we can travel different towns / neighbourhoods in relative comfort.

I know someone who has a house in East Fairview. They accept foreign students of (UP) University of the Philippines, Diliman Branch in Quezon City. There are rooms for rent. It has a separate kitchen for the boarders and use of swimming pool is free. They accept one person per room and accepts couples as well but not more than 2 people. For the meantime that your looking around Manila you can rent a room. They got 9 bedrooms furnished and 2 large receiving rooms. They also has a van for hire and so you can make use of that while touring around Manila eyeing for a property to buy or rent.

[Florge]

Sta. Rosa is nice... more quiet also specially if you live in Laguna Bel-Air where it's near schools, hospitals, and near Brent International School as well.. just that you need to pay for the toll fees whenever you would like to go to Manila for some night out or some shopping... *sigh*

[subseastu]

THink I'm leaning more and more towards Sta Rosa. Pennybarry, you obviously live round there. I've stumbled across a few developments called the
"South Forbes Golf City" (not into golf but the pictures look nice)
"Paramana residental park, Greenfields city.
"Palma real"
Do you know anything of these?

My concern with these is developments is they seem to get half finished and then left. Don't know if its to do with not selling lots etc.

Do you have any info on the bel air development aswell. Is it maintained to a standard, claen and tidy etc? Sorry to be a pain but thanks for your help.

[pennybarry]

THink I'm leaning more and more towards Sta Rosa. Pennybarry, you obviously live round there. I've stumbled across a few developments called the
"South Forbes Golf City" (not into golf but the pictures look nice)
"Paramana residental park, Greenfields city.
"Palma real"
Do you know anything of these?

My concern with these is developments is they seem to get half finished and then left. Don't know if its to do with not selling lots etc.

Do you have any info on the bel air development aswell. Is it maintained to a standard, claen and tidy etc? Sorry to be a pain but thanks for your help.

Laguna Bel-Air is fully developed whilst Palma Real is under Development.
Yes, both of my parents clan are both from there
Not to worry about the development of Eton City and Greenfields. It is owned by one of the richest businesman in the Philippines named Lucio Tan.
He owns Asia Brewery, Allied Bank, Philippine Airlines, fortune tobacco, and many more

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucio_Tan

Nothing to do with his money

There are some properties at Laguna Bel Air to let. Fully furnish cost 20 thousand/month, and 10K-15K if not fully furnished.

[subseastu]

Thanks for the info again. I'm afraid the border house thing isn't really what we're looking for but thanks for the thought.

Thanks for the info aswell about the subdivisions. Its a worry of mine that these things get built then within 2yrs they're starting to fall down around your ears.

A big thanks to everyone who has put forward ideas and suggestions to me in this confusing and difficult time for the missus and me, its much appreciated. I think its now a matter of when we're ready we'll head out and take a look around following the info thats been put forward here.

Again thanks everyone for your help.

[Pepe n Pilar]

If you fancy living near Makati then you may consider the posh villages in Alabang. There is the Ayala Alabang Village. It is a quiet, clean and friendly neighbourhood. There are a lot of foreign nationals living there. AAV is owned by the Madrigals and the Ayalas. The owner of the villages in Makati City lives there (Zobel de Ayala), He ownes the villages like Dasmarinas Village, Bel-Air Subdivision in Forbes Park, San Lorenzo Vill, and Forbes Park to name a few.

Some residents are former Presidents of the the country, some known gov't officials, senior officers of big entities, dignataries/commercial attache of some countries working in the consulate. It has a church inside the village, Rustan's convenience store , a golf course, exclusive schools for girls (Woodrose) and La Salle Zobel. They have their own water reservoir, it has swimming pools for residents only (for those that don't have pools in their backyard).
When you go out of the village you can find supermarkets, cinemas, schools, banks.

Security is superb there are security guards roaming around the village 24 hrs and visitors should stop at the entrance gate before they go inside to visit friends/relatives. Residents are notified first by the guards by giving them a call if they know the person who wants to go and visit their home. So there is no surprise visitors unless the resident gives advance notice to the guards who are they expecting on that certain day.

Alabang Hills Subdivision is just across and also one to consider. If you want to know more about houses for rent or for sale just go to AAVA (Ayala Alabang Village Association). It is inside the Village you can ask the security guards at the entrance gate. You can take the madrigal gate in going to AAVA.

You can also visit their website if you want to know the prices of the houses there for sale and/or for rent. Same with the schools to know the quality of education offered. I don't know the exact link but if you know the address then you can access to it. It's Ayala Alabang Village Alabang Muntinlupa City, Manila Philippines..