Purchasing a Condo ... Pros and Cons

[OnMyWay]

On 7/6/2019 at 11:33 AM, Ice Patrol said:

I will be visiting the Philippines during August and plan to relocate there in 2020.I also plan to apply for the ssrv citizenship and I should easily qualify for it.Upon moving I will rent for a time until I determine the best location to live.I am thinking that a Condo will suit me the best and am interested in the pros and cons of owning a condo there.The location will make a difference in the price and availability.But I am interested in your experience buying a condo in the Philippines and / or any advice you might want to convey.... Thanks in advance! / Icepatrol 

I have recently read a few articles about Chinese driving up condo prices in Manila and also even in sub-divisions.  They are working for Chinese online gambling companies and also BPOs.  Often, the company will set up dorm "houses", (condos or houses) where way too many people will crowd in.

We are starting have some controversy here in Subic Freeport for the same reason.  Several dorm houses exist and the regular residents are starting to resent it.

This company bought a huge hotel and fixed it up, but they still are having van fulls of employees shuttled to/from our neighborhood.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/04/29/firm-turning-abandoned-subic-hotel-casino-into-bpo-support-center-for-online-gaming/

Sorry, a bit off topic but something to think about in Manila.

[Gary D]

My only comment is to never buy of of plan.

[Ice Patrol]

47 minutes ago, Gary D said:

My only comment is to never buy of of plan.

[Ice Patrol]

15 hours ago, bamfurlong said:

Thello ice patrol

yes i am happy that we buy on a subdivision because before when we visited and stayed in condos i found that the other people who lived in the condos where very insular, no hello, no good morning and many are not the actual owner, just family members who say OHHHHHHHHHH we will be caretaker and then stay there while the owner is abroad.

I dont know if condo living in the USA is the same , so maybe its normal for you .

 

Buying on a subdivision is not without headaches, i make the developers send me weekly photos of the work because they dont listen and just reply "yes sir" "yes sir" . at least when i see the photos i can correct them.

I have friends who are from Iloilo and they say its a good place , and easy for travel boracay .

Thankyou for sharing your experience John -Its really nice to have friendly neighbors for sure - which I am lucky to have.But its ok if the condo neighbors want to be insular,introverted or downright snooty As long as they don't cause problems such as catching their unit on fire,selling drugs,loud partys all night-that type of thing.I have never lived in a condo or apartment but I think it will be fine for me...   Ice Patrol 

 

Edited July 7, 2019 by Ice Patrol

[Tommy T.]

On 7/7/2019 at 3:21 AM, Ice Patrol said:

Congrats on your purchase.IT sounds awesome for sure.But for me a condo seems like the best way to go.I am retired now and not married so a nice condo would seen to be adequate.And yes...this might be my only option for owning my housing anyway.Its a matter of finding a decent quality unit in the right location for a bargain 

I suggest that you be very careful about the location of your condo building and also the individual unit itself. I mentioned before that many condos are owned by out-of-towners and then rented out or used occasionally by themselves or family. On weekends or holidays - especially Easter and Christmas - the place that seems sparsely populated today may fill up with merrymakers - maybe 10 people or more cramming into a 40 sq meter unit - lots of beer and wine and liking to stay up most of the night partying and watching movies. I would check with management to see how strict their rules and also neighbouring areas.

We were looking to buy a home in a development here in Davao last year. The realtor was showing us a really nice home and the price was reasonable. However - and this was on a weekday afternoon (no holiday) - we could hardly hear each other talking due to karaoke happening on the other side of the subdivision barrier fence where there happens to be a public swimming pool. It was horrible! Visit places at night and on weekends to see what they are like too.

[Ice Patrol]

1 hour ago, Tommy T. said:

I suggest that you be very careful about the location of your condo building and also the individual unit itself. I mentioned before that many condos are owned by out-of-towners and then rented out or used occasionally by themselves or family. On weekends or holidays - especially Easter and Christmas - the place that seems sparsely populated today may fill up with merrymakers - maybe 10 people or more cramming into a 40 sq meter unit - lots of beer and wine and liking to stay up most of the night partying and watching movies. I would check with management to see how strict their rules and also neighbouring areas.

We were looking to buy a home in a development here in Davao last year. The realtor was showing us a really nice home and the price was reasonable. However - and this was on a weekday afternoon (no holiday) - we could hardly hear each other talking due to karaoke happening on the other side of the subdivision barrier fence where there happens to be a public swimming pool. It was horrible! Visit places at night and on weekends to see what they are like too.

Tommy T. - Thankyou for your pertinent advice on a real estate purchase.I realize there can be some pitfalls waiting to zap me if I don't know what to look for..... 

[Tommy T.]

20 minutes ago, Ice Patrol said:

Thankyou for your pertinent advice on a real estate purchase.I realize there can be some pitfalls waiting to zap me if I don't know what to look for..

You're welcome. It's not all bad - as my comments may sound? But Filipinos seem to just love noise in general. Workers everywhere are always singing (some good, mostly not). Most do not either seem to hear or don't care about barking dogs - especially their own. And of course virtually every special occasion brings out the deafening karaoke. Right now - at 10:30 am - I hear some drifting from many blocks away... And schools make lots of noise with their frequent special activities that include singing (and more karaoke) and super loud music. Just don't be in a rush and do your due diligence and you should fare okay. Ingat! (be careful)

[Tommy T.]

12 minutes ago, Tommy T. said:

37 minutes ago, Ice Patrol said:

Thankyou for your pertinent advice on a real estate purchase.I realize there can be some pitfalls waiting to zap me if I don't know what to look for..

 

An addendum... I already said we will be building our own home soon. One of the important things for me (my partner understands my sensitivity to noise) that we will incorporate is a tall fence between us and neighbours, thick walls and heavy curtains for at least the master bedroom and lots of vegetation around the property - all to absorb or minimize sound pollution. There aren't many neighbours - yet - so few barking dogs and karaoke is quite distant. But we are planning for the future as best we can.

[jimeve]

14 minutes ago, Tommy T. said:

An addendum... I already said we will be building our own home soon. One of the important things for me (my partner understands my sensitivity to noise) that we will incorporate is a tall fence between us and neighbours, thick walls and heavy curtains for at least the master bedroom and lots of vegetation around the property - all to absorb or minimize sound pollution. There aren't many neighbours - yet - so few barking dogs and karaoke is quite distant. But we are planning for the future as best we can.

Saturday night extremely loud external disco, paid for the Barangay with permit to play till 2am. We have a tenant on the same lot as me, he was going crazy mad about the noise F' ING this and that blowing a whistle lol

And last night another disco but not a 5th as loud but still could be heard even with earplugs. Got heavy drapes, concrete walls and protected by trees.

When I bought my/wifes lot nobody was here apart from a few nipper huts, that was in 2003. now I'm surrounded by houses and karaoke/ disco. remember. THUD THUD THUD THUD for 10 hours till 2 am if your lucky.  

[Tommy T.]

11 minutes ago, jimeve said:

Saturday night extremely loud external disco, paid for the Barangay with permit to play till 2am. We have a tenant on the same lot as me, he was going crazy mad about the noise F' ING this and that blowing a whistle lol

And last night another disco but not a 5th as loud but still could be heard even with earplugs. Got heavy drapes, concrete walls and protected by trees.

When I bought my/wifes lot nobody was here apart from a few nipper huts, that was in 2003. now I'm surrounded by houses and karaoke/ disco. remember. THUD THUD THUD THUD for 10 hours till 2 am if your lucky.  

Very sorry to here that Jim. Well, I am hoping for at least a few years of peace here before I have everlasting peace (maybe... someplace else?). Your experience is not encouraging.

Our home will be built in a new subdivision that is being sold privately with no developer - just some guy trying to get some cash. There will not be any commercial activities allowed, however nothing can stop that thud thud thud from far away. I know that travels forever and I can feel it in my chest competing with my ageing heartbeat! It seems as if they find one "song?" and it goes on forever also. Or maybe all the songs sound alike? Now I sound like my Mom and Dad did when I started playing Doors, Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones? At least I used headphone when they were home so I only damaged my ears, not theirs!

The area is fairly far out of Davao proper so I think it may take a while to develop much... Maybe wishful thinking?