Real Estate in Philippines

"Near the school of my son due to traffic. If International school, stay in alabang of Forbes If Brent-south campus stay in Alabang If Brent Ortigas, choose another school. Use one agent, and let her search. DOnt worry about watersupply. Worry about neighbors and semifurnished. This excludes aircon," said one person in Manila.

"Because our area is in the tropics and and typhoons are a possibility along with termites I had the home made with concrete and steel construction. There is very little wood. We were living here when typhoon Yolanda struck in November 2013. It was the highest recorded winds in Philippine history. Our only damage was our rain gutters were damaged and some older trees came down," said one person in Isabel.

"Yes, a large condo is typical expat housing if you have no kids. No need to worry about security, just get to know the guards and staff in your building well and they will look out for you," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Manila.

"I live in Cagayan De Oro City, Gusa. I have a 4 bedroom 2.5 bath house that I can park 4 SUV's in the driveway. It is a gated and armed guarded complex. I pay 300 usd plus electricity and water. I buy cooking gas every 3 months," explained one person living in Philippines.

"Housing in the Philippines tends to be relatively affordable. The average cost of housing varies from one city to another, but in most places prices generally range from budget-friendly to moderate. Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in a city center can range from about 11,000 to 20,000 PHP per month, while rents in more affordable areas can range from as low as 4,000 to as high as 8,000 PHP. Additionally, outside of cities, costs can be much more affordable, and in some rural areas, rural homestays can be found for as low as 1,500 PHP per month," said one expat in Philippines.

"The cost to build or purchase a home here in the Philippines overlooking the South China Sea is a small fraction of what the cost would have been in the San Diego area where we used to live. The lot is one half acre and we paid $1,800 USD. The same size lot on the ocean in San Diego, California would cost over one million USD," remarked one member in Isabel.

"Bought a nice 2 bedroom home, but the title had liens dating back to 1965 so it was not conveyed. We have a lawyer working on that who will petition the court to expunge these encumbrances and issue a new clean title," said one person in Prudential Village, Daliao, Davao City.

"Research on the ground. Listen for dogs next door (oh there will be!). Roosters (not if but how many and how far away!?). Obviously crime (Iloilo is very cool in that department). Use a lawyer, check title, make sure you are buying in the name of a Filipino (foreigner cannot own land here which is why they can own condos). DO NOT expect the process to be fast or "like home". You aint in Kansas Toto," said one person in Iloilo.

"Yes, there are restrictions. As a foreigner you can not own property in your name directly. However, you can own a condominium with the added advantage of obtaining Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) as a result of a qualified investment. Do research this option. Note: YOU NEED NOT MARRY TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY!!!," said one in Palawan.

"Yes, foreigners are allowed to own property in the Philippines. The Philippine Constitution allows foreign nationals to own real estate in the country, provided that the land is acquired through hereditary succession or by purchase of a condominium unit. However, foreign nationals are not allowed to own land directly, and must instead enter into a lease agreement with a Filipino citizen or corporation. The lease must be for a period of at least fifty years, with an option to renew for another twenty-five years," explained one expat in Philippines.

"Rental properties in the Philippines often come with basic kitchen appliances, such as a refrigerator and a stove. Additionally, washing machines, microwave ovens, and water heaters may be included in some rental properties. Generally, air-conditioners and other electrical appliances are not provided in the rental properties and are the responsibility of the tenant," explained one expat in Philippines.

"There are 4 main ways to find places - Facebook, online realty ads, word of mouth and driving around. There is no MLS per se here. Like other developing countries the real estate is often repped by many people trying for a sale. Going around the agent (all are called Brokers here) is not uncommon (but IMO dishonorable as hell). Unlike N America the introducing "Broker" (who is most times not a career specialist anyway) is not really involved in much more than the back and forth on pricing. After that its lawyer time," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Iloilo.

"Expats can search for homes in the Philippines by looking online for real estate listings, contacting a local real estate agent, or searching for expat-specific housing websites. They can also look for expat forums or Facebook groups to get advice from other expats who have already gone through the process of finding a home in the Philippines. Additionally, expats can look for classified ads in local newspapers or online to find potential homes," explained one person living in Philippines.

"There are many Real Estate web sites. Most are obscenely outdated and worthless. Try DotProperty. Very professional and timely !!! ," said one expat in Palawan.