Well Jimbojac, it seems I'm already a little late to add my comments.
Never mind, I'll go ahead anyway even if it's all been said before.
I think from the responses already made you could begin to think it may not be a good idea.
But....I always try to be positive.
We should not live in fear to grasp someting because what we are doing might not work or might not be risk free. We should at the very least get as much advice as possible before abandoning our ideas.
So I would say make a project, do your own full research to your own full satisfaction.
But as a guide to my thinking:-
I have a number of properties in Philippines. Hopefully, what I have learnt in the last 15 years
might help others.
All my properties are a gift to my wife.
Do you trust your G/F ?? (you don't need to answer that on a public forum by the way)
If yes then make such purchases a gift. If no then don't do it.
Anything else is just delusional. In my personal opinion.
Having any interest or control over the property would be giving you a right that you can never have.
When you get down to it, we foreigners don't have any rights to property whatsoever.
That is the way the government demands it, and they been sure to passed a lot (I really mean a lot) of
laws to achieve it.
You may hear or learn of many clever and innovative ways to get around the law. Forget it.
The problem is that most foreigners believe things will be quick and easy and with legal papers/contracts with weasel words that make things under their control and risk free, regardless of what/who they are dealing with.
In the Philippinnes beware.
Learn, then kick back and roll with the punches is all I can say.
Questions:
1... Is there any truth that i can "lease it" from her to get over any legal ownership from me being a foreigner?
I have heard you can draw up a 50 year lease at a ridiculously low rental rate just to keep it " legal."
As you already know foreigners may own buildings, houses or strucures legally in the Phils but a foreigner cannot
either own the land or control the land on which it is built.
It is legally allowed for you to lease:-
The following is from Presidential Decree 471.
Section 1. The maximum period allowable for the duration of leases of private lands to aliens or alien-owned corporations,
associations, or entities not qualified to acquire private lands in the Philippines shall be twenty-five years,
renewable for another period of twenty-five years upon mutual agreement of both lessor and lessee.
But don't believe that this would 'get over any legal ownership' ... it wouldn't. You own nothing.
If ever you would be legally contested you would lose.
2... What is the normal deposit required in % terms?
Deposit for what? Purchasing? Leasing? Depends on the contract between buyer and seller.
3... How easy is itfor me to open a bank account there where monthly standing orders/ mortgage re-payments can be drawn from?
The banks in Phils are a strange lot. Many regulations. Branches often seem to operate differently.
The best way, in my opinion, is to have someone (known to the bank) introduce you to the manager and see how it goes from there.
The manager is the only one to see. Nobody else has the authority and will only follow their check list and say no.
But why have a bank account?
Mortgages/Housing loans in Phils are very expensive, if you can find one. They are not generally spread over a long term like UK
You'd be better off, I think, making a loan in UK and using that money to fund property purchasing in Phils.
Maybe fred can give better info
Just my opinion Jimbojac, no offence meant by my 'direct' approach.
BTW, if you will go ahead, post again and I'll try to help with how to actually purchase a Clean Title. No simple matter.
Originally Posted by ampy
and believe me that is not a well liked profession { i actually left it after becoming sick of all the lying and back stabbing that seems to be expected from the bosses } What it did teach me was to really doubt and trust peoples motives and we even had courses in body language! So.......after all that i know how to spot lies and deception in others very quickly and believe me i am very careful but i DO TRY not to judge also. Sadly the scams and corruption are indeed an integral part of life to some in the Phils purely because they are desparate simply to feed and cater to their families, a situation that is overlooked here in the very affluent West.
i wam wisshing allthe best,,
} Haha!! 
