Do you really have to live in a sub division?

[subseastu]

We have bought a new house within a sub division in Minglanilla, Cebu after taking a long look at all the options, including buying a lot and building ourselves. We have spent 9 months in Cebu in the last 2 years so have a deal of experience now. Everyone and his uncle has a lot to sell but I don't trust anyone completely, not even the closest family member. It appears that ripping off the foreigner is considered perfectly acceptable behaviour as all they feel they are doing is getting you to share your "blessings" and cannot understand why you are reluctant when asked.
We thought of building our own place, behind a high wall and with onsite permanent security in place but rejected it for the certainty of the sub division we found. It offers not only security but peace. No chickens, goats, cattle or pigs. A tidy and finished environment.
Our place was ready last October but due to my health problems we have not yet seen it. We hope to by this October.
Please remember that whilst getting money into the Phil is quite easy, getting it out again is almost impossible. Therefore be very careful before you actually send money out there and if you have the slightest doubt that you will really get all the value out of the place then rent first. There are plenty of nice places to rent and with availability high and demand low you can pretty well name your own price.
If you want to take a look at the sub division we have chosen go to www.paramount.ph

David
Thanks for the advice. Renting is definately the way to go at the start then you can see all areas through both wet and dry season, so you can check for flooding and traffic etc. I now think I'm leaning towards a lot on a sub division as like you say atleast there is permenant security so there is piece of mind when I go to work and leave the missus.

[subseastu]

when i was there at xmas in cavite my gf was saying there are places that could be rented long term ranging upto £100 a month thats for a 3 bedroom furnished place in a comunity, the trouble is i would want space outside space to sit and chill and that seems to cost more

Steve

Seems we're after the same sort of thing. Trying to find a house with a lot thats got some sort of a garden seems to be fairly difficult. I think it due to the fact that most filipino's don't really like spend too much time outside in the heat and sun, where as I want to sit out in it and bbq, drink, relax. So it seems that a garden is a waste of usable space to them so why not make your house bigger to use the available space.

100 quid a month for long term rental sounds very good, a lot I've looked at on the net seem to be 20000 /month.

[jimeve]

Steve

Seems we're after the same sort of thing. Trying to find a house with a lot thats got some sort of a garden seems to be fairly difficult. I think it due to the fact that most filipino's don't really like spend too much time outside in the heat and sun, where as I want to sit out in it and bbq, drink, relax. So it seems that a garden is a waste of usable space to them so why not make your house bigger to use the available space.

100 quid a month for long term rental sounds very good, a lot I've looked at on the net seem to be 20000 /month.

100 quid a month, 2000/ month, thats some difference.

[subseastu]

When we were first deciding the buy a house -v-build a house, we looked at sub divisions in Dipolog (my baby's hometown) but to call them over priced shoeboxes is an insult to shoeboxes everywhere. So we decided to buy a plot and build.
Our first foray was a disaster - everytime white face here turned up the asking price was always 1000 peso per sqm so Rebella went looking on her own. Found a beautiful plot , 10,000 sqm 30 mins drive from the centre of Dipolog and agreed 35 peso per sqm!!!! And that's not the best part......the best was seeing the sellers face when I arrived afterwards hehehe.
Building a house comes next, my best advise is to trust your darlings family to arrange labourers, builders, buy materials etc as then it will be "local cost", in other words a fraction of what it costs here to build.
As for security, thats easy, we've arranged with an older brother that when were not there he and his family live in and when we are there they will stay in a guest bungalow were going to build first.
Like any marriage to a Filipino, with the bride comes the family. Its upto you to decide if thats a blessing or a curse. For me, its a blessing as they are all great people

Sound like your a lucky bloke and your wife's family aren't taking the mickey. Good luck to you. You're right about getting the missus to sort things. When we where in olongapo looking for various places to rent I'd have to stay in the tricycle round the corner until LIza had sorted the rent amount, then a quick shout and I'd appear all white and shiny. The look on the faces of the landlords.............priceless.

I think its always going to be a tricky business building in the phils, even more so if they find out about the foreigner who's paying for it all.

[subseastu]

I will give advices as a freelance agent.

If you want to be the first buyer, then you can purchase a property from Developer.
All payments should be direct into Developer's name.
Most Developers do the filing of Land Transfer or they may ask you if you want the one to do this.
This is easier for me and I can save from lawyers fee.
You only need to go to local municipality for Tax Declaration payment, BIR(Bureau of Internal Revenue) to pay Capital Gains Tax, VAT, etc. and Registry of Deeds to be officially recorded.

If you want to purchase from individual, and the property is under mortgaged from PAG-IBIG Fund, Bank Loan, In-House Financing and other financing Institution, you need to sign in a Conditional Sale agreement if you want to continue mortgaged payments until the end of contract period. But if you want to pay cash to the property, you'll sign in a Deed of Absolute Sale Agreement.
But before you buy it, check how much is the arears and interest.
You can do the checking by enquiry from where it mortgaged.
Ask for a copy of the Title and apply for a Certified True Copy at Registry of Deeds.
This will show that title is genuine, under mortgaged, and history of the Title.
It cost only £2 and you'll get it on same day.
You need to be very careful as some sellers are not in good faith in selling their property.
Venue of Payment should be infront of Lawyer and everybody must be present.
The Buyer, Seller and at least 2 witnesses.

If the property is purchase through Realtor/Realty.
They may ask you Reservation fees to put your property on hold for usually 30 days.
Don't pay until you have fully realised it is the property you really really want because once you cancel it, you'll get no refund.
You can pay directly to Developer's Office and not at Realty office. This is much better.
Check if the property is convinient for you, free from flood with nice environment.

Do not buy ancestral property as much as possible. If the name of the Title is under the name of ancestors and if died for ages, you'll discover how much you'll pay for Inheritance Tax. And if they died without Will of testament, all children will be the heirs and usually this is the cause of being complicated.

Foreigners can only own 49% and 51% for your wife.
But then owning of houses or buildings is possible as long as the foreigner does not own the land on which the house is build.
Foreigners may enter into a lease agreement with Filipino landowners for an initial period of up to 50 years, and renewable for another 25 years. This is good if you have girlfriend and if you want to buy under her name and enter into an agreement.

Properties? Click here

Excellant advice Penny, thanks

[subseastu]

100 quid a month, 2000/ month, thats some difference.

Steve
Meant 20000peso / month. Forgot to put that in. My middle finger typing can't keep up with my brain!!!

[jimeve]

Steve
Meant 20000peso / month. Forgot to put that in. My middle finger typing can't keep up with my brain!!!

20000 peso/month thats internet prices, best let your wife go there in person and if she likes the place negotiate with a wad full of cash. Then watch the owners knee buckle.

[subseastu]

20000 peso/month thats internet prices, best let your wife go there in person and if she likes the place negotiate with a wad full of cash. Then watch the owners knee buckle.

I think so as well Steve, well I hope is. Yep I think the best way is for me to hide round the corner and jump out shouting "think what you could've charged me for rent!"

[RickyR]

Great advice Penny, this is one of the most interesting posts in a while.

[pennybarry]

Great advice Penny, this is one of the most interesting posts in a while.

Thanks Ricky.
It's all about based on my experience as freelance agent for a decade.
I am usually the one who do the transferring of title in behalf of my buyers.
I also do the checking of arears and interest at PAGIBIG office for my buyers.
I enjoy both selling and helping them to aqcquire property they dream!
That's always their bonus if they buy my properties to sell.
I had 2 friends in Holland who bought properties close to mine.
Another friend in Holland now is interested to buy in the same village where I live and it's under negotiation.
It's just bit hard in selling online.

To those who want to buy, verification of title is really needed.
Don't just be satisfied in one tripping or one visit to property.

It is more easier and affordable to buy property now in the Philippines thru PAGIBIG financing.
Processing of loans is much quicker now and seems they have more funds now than before.
Non working spouse can avail Pagibig loan as well.
As long as they pay contributions voluntarily at least 12-24 months then they can apply a housing loan with spouse as co-borrower.

They can pay voluntary lump sum contribution for 12 months. And after that, they can apply even millions cost of property.

Pag-IBIG savings program is a fast, easy and affordable way of saving for a member's future needs.
I think i need to make an article to explain more and help others to achieve their dream in easiest way.
Here's Pag-ibig Amortization Calculator http://www.pagibigfund.gov.ph/pop/amort_calc/input.asp

Happy to help and giving info for your dream.

[stevewool]

hi penny so what advice would you give really , buy a lot then build or buy a place already done, say i have 30,000 pounds to spend

[subseastu]

Penny

Thanks for all the advice you've put on this thread so far. I think its answered a lot of questions myself and evidently a few other members have had as well.

Steve

It seems to me that if you buy a lot and build you can do it for maybe 60% or so of the cost of buying an already built house. That would obviously be dependant on what materials you use to construct and for your fitting etc though. We'll see what Penny has to say though

[pennybarry]

hi penny so what advice would you give really , buy a lot then build or buy a place already done, say i have 30,000 pounds to spend

IMHO and honest answer for that is to buy a lot then build the house of your dream.
But you need to be there as well to monitor everything whilst under construction.

Buy house and lot if developers has good reputation in their projects done.
Zobel de Ayala family has the best reputation among all developers.
Some of their projects are Ayala Malls, Ayala Center where Greenbelt is located.
Makati was part of Rizal Province before.
Ayala made the greatest contribution to Makati to become a city ages ago.
Ayala also developed Ayala Alabang, Santa Rosa and other parts of Philippines.
They are well known for its upscale residential projects as well.
But then other developers also agrees to change their materials in favour of buyers.
The advantage of being first buyer is you can change some housing materials whilst under construction.

With your £ 30,000, You can buy 160 lot close to Tagaytay and build 3 bedrooms simple bungalow with your money.

Or you can buy first class house and lot property with that amount.

You have two choices which I can offer you both.

[pennybarry]

Penny

Thanks for all the advice you've put on this thread so far. I think its answered a lot of questions myself and evidently a few other members have had as well.

Steve

It seems to me that if you buy a lot and build you can do it for maybe 60% or so of the cost of buying an already built house. That would obviously be dependant on what materials you use to construct and for your fitting etc though. We'll see what Penny has to say though

Thanks Substea!
Are all british are meticulous buyer?

[pennybarry]

We have bought a new house within a sub division in Minglanilla, Cebu after taking a long look at all the options, including buying a lot and building ourselves. We have spent 9 months in Cebu in the last 2 years so have a deal of experience now. Everyone and his uncle has a lot to sell but I don't trust anyone completely, not even the closest family member. It appears that ripping off the foreigner is considered perfectly acceptable behaviour as all they feel they are doing is getting you to share your "blessings" and cannot understand why you are reluctant when asked.
We thought of building our own place, behind a high wall and with onsite permanent security in place but rejected it for the certainty of the sub division we found. It offers not only security but peace. No chickens, goats, cattle or pigs. A tidy and finished environment.
Our place was ready last October but due to my health problems we have not yet seen it. We hope to by this October.
Please remember that whilst getting money into the Phil is quite easy, getting it out again is almost impossible. Therefore be very careful before you actually send money out there and if you have the slightest doubt that you will really get all the value out of the place then rent first. There are plenty of nice places to rent and with availability high and demand low you can pretty well name your own price.
If you want to take a look at the sub division we have chosen go to www.paramount.ph

Sorry to hear that David.
I have also a friend who bought lot but her white husband trusted her wife to be assigned in all materials needed and they both made a house plan. But they hired contractor to build their house so no much problems about family members.
The house and materials are all classy inside.
Beautiful!

[stevewool]

hi there hope the waves are not rocking and spilling that bottle,yes a plot with a view is a must and just build can always add on when we want too and when there is more money too tagatay where its cooler i think sounds good but if i had more a sea view would be nice

[stevewool]

thanks penny for all your advice, lots there to think about , one more question, buying a lot near tagatay what are the pricing like big enough for a good garden too, i could buy the plot now then wait a few more years to build our place

[jimeve]

If I had my way again, would not have bought land in Philippines again.

Better buying a condominium, much easier and safer.

[triple5]

This is something I'm looking to do a long way down the line, only when a) we're married and I know I can trust her with my life I'm already lucky in the fact that her family aren't gold diggers so I feel I'm on the right track. b) find the right location. I think I have, but security could be an issue. Plenty of nice estates round here but would perefer somewhere closer to the beach. The place I've got in mind I have no idea of the locals. If you're not careful could be a nightmare spending a fortune on a lot and home then finding the locals don't take to you. Anyway, for now its just a pipe dream, but definitely something I will consider further down the road, thats more of a plan than us settling in UK.

[stevewool]

can you say why is that jimeve

[stevewool]

Tripple5 we all start from pipe dreams, i am at that age where i can chose were my final days will be and just a few more years at work, i need england for work but retire early and enjoy whats left , well thats my plan, love to be on the beach but its money and thats got to last me a long time how long wish i had a crystal all for that

[jimeve]

can you say why is that jimeve

Steve, the hassle of getting the title transferred is still taking place after two years, and the cost of the transfare costing more than the lands worth.

Plus the neighbors, if you don't get on with them they can make life hell.

Then theres the trust in your wife, I'm lucky with that thou.

Hard to sell if you want to move on.

[triple5]

Almost everywhere I've lived, mainly in the UK, there's been issues with the neighbours Be nice if you could move in somewhere for a trial period

[stevewool]

thanks for that so just like here then with the neighbours,so realy rent first then if you are lucky buy or go the condo way, i was looking at long term lease too, theres something in them i like

[jimeve]

What ever you guys do, be extra careful, do your research, rent near the place you like before you buy , get to know your neighbors buy them some rice and fish. And get a bloody good Attorney.

[jimeve]

Almost everywhere I've lived, mainly in the UK, there's been issues with the neighbours Be nice if you could move in somewhere for a trial period

Do you have roosters and barking dogs near you.

[stevewool]

thats all we can do really, changing the subject now whats this rep power????

[stevewool]

just dogs and cats in the garden

[subseastu]

thats all we can do really, changing the subject now whats this rep power????

I was looking at that as well. I've got 2 little green dots and 18 Rep power. Confused.

[subseastu]

Sorry one little green dot