FAO Walesrob

[subseastu]

Walesrob

I've read in one of the other posts ("Where would you live" I think) And I see you've got a place at Tacloban. My wife is from near there, Western Samar to be precise about 40min from the city. I was looking at houses on the Island paradise website though things seem to be getting expensive there. How do you find the place? From the limited time I've spent there the doesn't seem to much in the way of expats or resturants / bars etc. I know its only a small town which is a nice factor for me being a country boy. JUst wondering if you can shead some light on the place for me.

Cheers

[walesrob]

Walesrob

I've read in one of the other posts ("Where would you live" I think) And I see you've got a place at Tacloban. My wife is from near there, Western Samar to be precise about 40min from the city. I was looking at houses on the Island paradise website though things seem to be getting expensive there. How do you find the place? From the limited time I've spent there the doesn't seem to much in the way of expats or resturants / bars etc. I know its only a small town which is a nice factor for me being a country boy. JUst wondering if you can shead some light on the place for me.

Cheers

Hi Subseastu,

We've got our place at a new sub-division a few miles outside of Tacloban not far from San Juanico bridge. I've also noticed prices are on the up in the immediate Tacloban area, and even more so now that Robinsons have started building a new mall and hotel in nearby Marasbaras, and there's rumours of the airport will become an International rather than just domestic. They've just finished building a new bus station in Abucay as well.

Property is cheap once you leave Tacloban - Palo is a good place, Dulag and Tanuan as well, I'm not sure about Samar, but I do know there are some nice beaches around Marabut. I'm not sure what your budget is for buying property, but check this site http://www.islandsproperties.com/properties/leyte.htm for some pointers. The best deals I think are at the sub-divisions, I've seen brand-new 1 bedroom homes for about £2500, they are small with a decent sized lot, so there's room for expansion (we are building a garage at our place). There's always a new sub-division springing up in different places, and most are not advertised on the internet, so its a case of asking or seeking out these places, which is how we found our place.

I found Tacloban is ok in small doses, but I don't think I could live there, the noise, the fumes, the traffic, which is why I would recommend some place nearby. Tacloban is a small place, but it has everything you need, and once the Mall is finished, even better. I feel quite safe when I'm there, but like anywhere in Philippines, caution advised at all times.

Most expats in Tacloban are Americans, but I know there are a few Brits living in Dulag and Palo area, but I haven't as yet made contact with them. Restaurants in Tacloban: Giuseppe's Italian is nice, Stephanie's as well. Alejandros Hotel Cafe is a pleasant place to have a meal. An American guy has a good little website about Tacloban http://www.marasbaras.com/ with some useful bits of info about places to eat.

Hope this helps!

[subseastu]

Walesrob

Cheers for the super fast informative reply. Can't believe the house prices are that low!! £2500 for a one bed house is amazing. I think you're right in that sub-divisions are the way to go. I was getting put off by some of the prices on that island paradise website, obviously large expat built houses that cost more than my place in the UK! Don't think I could stand being too close to Tacloban aswell, too many jeepneys, tricylces and what not. I don't think there are many clean cities in the phils, could be the lack of mot's and car servicing.

If there is a mall going up there aswell that would be really good news as one of my main concerns there is a lack of choice of goods, epsecially electrical stuff.

I think the wife wants to go back next year so we'll have to try to find a hire car place and do some local exploring. To be honest I've not heard of the places you mentioned but I think towards the bridge area would be about the best as its the other side of town from the airport. Best to start looking now if these developments do go in prices will soar.

I'll have a shuffty at that website you mentioned to. Anyway thanks for the quick reply again mate and look forward to any future correspondance with your self.

[Marasbaras]

We've got our place at a new sub-division a few miles outside of Tacloban not far from San Juanico bridge.

Technically that's still Tacloban (it goes out quite a ways), but nobody really considers it such.

Robinsons have started building a new mall and hotel in nearby Marasbaras

The dust is horrid. And, land prices are at P3000 per square meter now. We live about a half kilometer from the site.

An American guy has a good little website about Tacloban http://www.marasbaras.com/ with some useful bits of info about places to eat.

I would be that American guy ... if you're looking for what's around Tacloban, I'd recommend my OTHER site ... http://www.mytacloban.com. It's a Google maps mashup with pictures, icons, and a nifty map.

James

[walesrob]

Hi James,

Welcome to the forum, maybe one day we can meet up in sunny, dusty Tacloban!

[fred]

Can't believe the house prices are that low!! £2500 for a one bed house is amazing.

I would have thought that Robs zero key is playing up as that is only PHP200,000!

[subseastu]

Fred

I thought that to but then I hope it could be the deal of the century!

[walesrob]

I would have thought that Robs zero key is playing up as that is only PHP200,000!

Correct. We bought a 2 bedroom unit on the "Pag-Ibig" scheme, only costs us £50 a month.

BUT, and this is a big but, with the exchange rate being so much in peso's favour, the true cost is a higher, which is part of the reason we decided to buy the property through Pag Ibig.

I'll try and dig out the sales literature we had with the house and post it here as an attachment.

[subseastu]

Everyboby is up early today! That'll be great rob. Never heard of this Pag-Ibig scheme before. Mind you you can't complain over 50 quid/month, thats only a night out in the local.

[aromulus]

Everyboby is up early today! That'll be great rob. Never heard of this Pag-Ibig scheme before. Mind you you can't complain over 50 quid/month, thats only a night out in the local.

Bloody hell........... 50 quid worth of drink a night...???

Do you like wine..............????

[walesrob]

Do you like wine..............????

Spammer

[subseastu]

Hollow legs!!! I'm a merchant seaman aswell so I have to up hold our reputation.

[walesrob]

Everyboby is up early today! That'll be great rob. Never heard of this Pag-Ibig scheme before. Mind you you can't complain over 50 quid/month, thats only a night out in the local.

I know what you mean, when I tell friends and family the house costs just £50 a month, they can't believe it.

Keep in touch, maybe one day we'll meet up in sunny Tacloban!

[fred]

but isn't it as easy to get a uk bank loan for the same amount & term and just use that?

Not sure if you would be better off doing it that way anymore considering the exchange rate these days.

Here`s the pagibig rates from that site in case you missed them.
6% P300,000 and below 7% P300,000 - P750,000 10.5% P750,000 - P2,000,000

We borrowed money from credit cards to help finance our build here.
Back then it was easy to get 0% balance transfers and the Pound was PHP106.00..
These factors made a lot of difference.

[subseastu]

True true and if houses are still relatively cheap (in tacloban area) it makes sense. How does this work then. Do you just pitch up at these offices with the house you want and some documents? THey'll sort it out for you. I'm curious because of my job we'd have limited time in the phils to sort these things out, only about 4 weeks at a time.

[walesrob]

True true and if houses are still relatively cheap (in tacloban area) it makes sense. How does this work then. Do you just pitch up at these offices with the house you want and some documents? THey'll sort it out for you. I'm curious because of my job we'd have limited time in the phils to sort these things out, only about 4 weeks at a time.

Which is why I'd prefer the Pag Ibig route as they basically take care of everything or otherwise you would need a decent lawyer out there to handle the whole process.

[subseastu]

Still confused, god I must be thick. From what I've seen on the pag ibig site you (filipino national though I've seen expats up to 60yr on there somewhere) have to be a member of the fund. Does this mean you have to have already been paying into the fund for a period of time before you can buy the house. Or do you just go along to the office, they sort it and you start paying monthly just like any other loan / mortgage?

[subseastu]

Forget that last one. I've just found the one page on the website that explains it. Steps on how to apply for a pag ibig housing loan (retail). Must read things more carefully. Sorry all. JUst one last question. How long does this process take. I'm not to keen on the family doing this for us. Much rather the wife and me take care of it.

[fred]

Rob..
How did you qualify for a pagibig loan considering their rules of membership?

[walesrob]

Rob..
How did you qualify for a pagibig loan considering their rules of membership?

Not me, Elsa did. She's been a member for 6 years now. Foreigners are excluded from the scheme so it seems, but nothing stopping your Filipina wife/girlfriend or even her family taking a membership on your behalf.

[walesrob]

Found a good blog on Tacloban from Gerry:

http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/ with plans of the new DZR airport.

[Eljohno]

Rob if you do not mind me asking what did your house cost you in the end?

Send me a pm mate just to give me an idea..

I am going to have to get my house built from scratch in Ozamiz as i have not seen any new builds for sale.

[walesrob]

Hi John, nice to hear from you again! I sent a PM