Selling Houses, Condos, Land Philippines.

 

House For Sale in the Philippines

Retired Real Estate Broker

I was a real estate broker in the USA before coming to the Philippines to meet my wife in person in 2007.  We met first online. A friend of mine picked me up at the Manila airport and took me to his mother's home near Bacoor, Cavite. I checked into a hotel and called her from there.

She explained how to get to her place by jeepneys and several buses. It was so complicated I asked if she could come to Cavite to meet. The next day we arranged to meet at a mall in Cavite. It was love at first sight! 

To make a long story short, we now have three children, a home in Cavite and one live in housekeeper.

Almost nobody uses the MLS here. 

Real Estate business is very different to the USA. There is a fledgling Multiple Listing Service (MLS) here. But apparently most Filipinos try their best to avoid paying any fees. 

There are quite a few property listing services online. Most people wanting to buy or sell are forced to use these. To find properties one must drive an area one likes and write down numbers on signs to contact the owners directly. Or search many listing services.

If a property is in a secure neighborhood (gated and guarded) an employee of the HOA may escort you around to see properties which are for sale. Otherwise, you will need to contact an agent who will show you properties.

You will probably want to rent for your first year here. Narrow your search down to an island or a major city.

Manila, for example, is full of high-rise condos.

A multiple listing service makes it easy to find properties in Florida, USA. Foreigners are permitted to buy properties in the US.

(Coming soon: more details about selling.) 

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This post will be expanded upon. Check back for more information about Selling Houses, Condos, Land in the Philippines. Uploaded. March 30, 2024.

Cable TV Philippines

Cable TV in the Philippines

We lived in Magalang, a smaller farming town, North East of Angeles City.

Downtown Magalang, Philippines

The only decent cable TV service in Magalang was ComClark. In fact they were the only provider that had cable into our subdivision. They provided bundled Internet and Cable TV packages. For internet access we chose a Smart Wireless prepaid plan (find store locations.) They installed an antenna on the roof of our apartment. Each service cost us 900 pesos. That equated to about $20.30 each at today's exchange rate (April 20, 2014); a total of $40.60 per month for TV and Internet. The cable package we selected included HBO, Star Movies, Disney, National Geographic and a lot more. Try to match prices in the US!

There are cheaper services, but neighbors said that the lowest cost providers had lower quality of reception and sporadic service.

Cable and Satellite TV and Internet providers in Metro Manila area.

So, it appears, no matter where you choose to live in the Philippines you will be able to enjoy television. Even on the smallest island or in the most remote village (assuming electricity is available).

High speed Internet in the Philippines.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about cable TV or cable television providers in the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Advertise Cars Here

Advertise your car "For Sale" here with a FREE Ad.

Three or more pictures of your car or other vehicle may be featured.

Advertise your vehicle FREE

on this site.

Many people visit this blog. Since it began in May 2012 people have viewed these articles over 892,100 times. My article about buying and the ones about selling cars have been viewed over 53,708 times (combined as of May 2, 2022). If you want excellent visibility for your vehicle get it featured on this site. Send a message to me. Include your name, email address and a brief description of your car or other vehicle. I will contact you to plan your ad. It can be online soon.

Check out my page about buying a used or second hand car in the Philippines.

Find more places to advertise your used car, secondhand car, van, motorcycle or motorbike in the Philippines. Just click here.

Read about driving in the Philippines from an expat's viewpoint.

Cheapest cars to maintain in the Philippines. 

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about advertise your car or other vehicle for sale in the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Conflicts and War in the Philippines

 

Conflicts and War in the Philippines

Conflicts and War on Mindanao, Philippines

Watch the video above about tension, fighting and occasional "war" on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.

I spent about 1 and 1/2 months with my Filipina wife visiting chat mates on the island of Mindanao. Visited the cities of Cagayan de Oro on the North coast and General Santos City, the Southernmost city on the Island. See my page about Flying in the Philippines. And, check out hotels in the Philippines. We stayed at several hotels on Mindanao. We were stopped at military checkpoints in General Santos City and in South Cotabato.  We were on the way to a friend's family farm which is about 5 kilometers from North Cotabato. There have been occasional clashes between rebels and the Philippine army in North Cotabato. On the way to the farm we passed a Muslim school. After we returned to Manila there was a conflict near a pineapple plantation we passed on our trip.

Give it a go. Visit Mindanao. But stay alert.

See what the Australian government advises about travel to Mindanao. See what the USA government advises. What the Canadian government advises.
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UPDATES (excerpts from Australia's Smart Traveler site):

• On 3 November 2016, the US Government warned that terrorists are planning to conduct kidnappings in areas frequented by foreigners on the southern part of Cebu Island, specifically the areas around Dalaguete and Santander (including Sumilon Island). See Safety and security.
• On 23 May 2017, the Philippines Government declared Martial Law in Mindanao for 60 days. Measures imposed under Martial Law may include the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, the imposition of curfews and establishment of checkpoints. Monitor media reporting and follow the instructions of local authorities. 
• There is a very high threat of kidnapping in the southern Philippines, especially along the Zamboanga peninsula and in the Sulu Archipelago. Tourists in southern Palawan, southern Negros or Siquijor could also be targeted.
• The deterioration in security in Mindanao has resulted in a more volatile security environment in the Philippines. Travellers are reminded of the high threat of terrorist attack in the Philippines, including Manila. Exercise heightened caution at this time. Be vigilant about your surrounds. Monitor the media for information that may impact on your security. Follow local authorities' advice. 

See what Canada says about Safety and Security in the Philippines.

If you are the daring, adventurous type, while you are on Mindanao be sure to visit the beach at Dolores Tropicana Beach Resort on Sarangani Bay at General Santos City. Dine there too!

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about conflicts and war on Mindanao in the Philippines. This page last updated June 3, 2022.

Poverty in the Philippines

 

Poverty in the Philippines

Poverty in the Philippines

Watch the shocking video above to learn about poverty in the Philippines.

Watch a TED talk by Gary Haugen. He discusses the hidden reasons for poverty and the solution.

Read about poverty from the viewpoint of a young girl who is living in poverty in the Philippines. There are many boys and girls who go to bed hungry at night.

I have lived in the Philippines for 5 years and have seen many levels of poverty. From the totally destitute to squatters who live in rather nice neighborhoods with paved streets. From those who are forced by poverty to sleep on sidewalks, to live under overpasses, under bridges, to living in makeshift wooden structures near railroad tracks or living in stilt "houses" over the edge of waterways.

28 percent of the population is living below the poverty level. These people are no different than you or I. They have feelings and emotions just like us. Many are educated. They speak their local dialects AND English! Most just lack employment. Many people travel from the provinces to the big cities in search of opportunity. Some find employment which allows them to climb up out of their meager existence. Many do not.

But most have a great love of family. And immediate family members are very close and supportive of each other. I lived with my new family for a year in a compound in Paranaque City in the Greater Manila area. It is a sort of apartment complex of about 20 attached units around a central "courtyard." About 20 families live there. The children play in the courtyard, the women do laundry and hang it up to dry in the courtyard and the older ladies watch the children play so the others can tend to babies, cooking and household chores. If a family is in need the others will help as much as possible.

See a Wikipedia article about poverty in the Philippines ("Philippines' poverty line marks a per capita income of 16,841 pesos a year.") See another article about income inequality in the Philippines.

"As for social spending to provide better health, education, and other social services, the situation is even worse. At 28 per cent of the population, the poverty rate is at the same level as in the early 1990’s." Excerpt from a Rappler dot com article.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about poverty in the Philippines. This page last updated May 1, 2022.

Adventure in Philippines

Find adventure in the Philippines

Adventure in the Philippines

Are you tired of the everyday routine of life in the USA? Are you burned out from working hard for many years? Do you want a change of scene? Are you ready to begin an adventurous "retirement"? I cannot think of a better place to get away to! Believe me, I have experienced it firsthand.

Everything is different here. After all it is halfway across the earth from the USA. What do you expect?

It is not a carbon copy of the USA. Very little is the same. Maybe some malls and skyscrapers in Manila seem familiar but nothing else will.

Most Filipinos have learned English in school but use it mainly to communicate with us Americans. I actually love not being able to speak their language. When dining out or eating in fast food restaurants it is relaxing not to be able to understand what they are saying. I do hear the occasional "kano" which is short for Americano. I don't know what they are saying, and I don't care. In five years, I have learned enough Tagalog (Filipino) to use for travel but not much more. For example, it helps to learn words and phrases to use when riding in jeepneys (read this article to learn the words and phrases), buses, tricycles and pedicabs. Most Filipinos living in Manila speak "Taglish" which is a combination of Tagalog and English. Outside the Greater Manila area, in the provinces, people speak their own local distinct dialects.

To get a feel for what you will see in the Philippines watch these videos by the BBC.

Watch a video about Conflicts and War in the Philippines.

Watch a video about Philippine poverty at my

Poverty in the Philippines page. 

I have lived in Angeles City and Magalang (both in Pampanga Province) and in Paranaque City (in Greater Manila.) Have traveled to Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Cebu City, Dasmarinas, Mexico, Olongapo, Quezon City, San Fernando and Subic City. Have flown 850 miles South of Manila to Cagayan de Oro and the Southernmost city, General Santos City, on the island of Mindanao without incident. Hope you enjoy your adventures in the Philippines.

If you are a foreigner, please share with our readers your most memorable experiences in the Philippines by entering your comments below.

Check out my

"It's More Fun in the Philippines" page to see why nothing is routine in the Philippines!

Read more about living in the Philippines and about fast food restaurants in the Philippines.

You will probably like some of the Filipino foods that Americans and Europeans like.

Be sure to meet some ladies of the Philippines. There is a very good chance you will meet a lady, who has been waiting for you, while in the Philippines.

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This article will be expanded upon. Please check back for more information about adventure in the Philippines. This page updated June 3, 2022.