Owning a home has often been regarded as a benchmark of making it in life. To many, it is a dream, but to a majority, it is the ultimate goal. Frequently equated with success, a home of our very own is something many of us aspire to have.
However, one should know that finding an affordable house and lot for sale in the Philippines is not exactly easy.
While the process of buying real estate property in the Philippines is not exactly uncharted territory, there are certain things that no one actually tells you until you make the purchase yourself. Aside from the mostly unchanged and obvious things such as getting pre-approved and having your finances in order, what else is there for you to know before affixing your signature on that dotted line?
Indeed, home ownership may be a rewarding and exciting experience, but you should not go into this venture blindly. Without knowing all the ins and outs of buying real estate property, your initial excitement can turn to frustration.
That said, you should do adequate research before making quite an expensive commitment, such as investing in real estate property. Even if you already have your own home, the items in this article may be insightful and helpful to you.
So, whether you are looking to expand your knowledge on real estate buying or are in the initial phases of looking for an affordable house and lot in the Philippines, below are just some of the things no one tells you about buying real estate property in the country.
Things to know about buying properties in the Philippines
1) It is easy to get confused with the jargon once you begin your home search.
Like any other venture, the process of home buying is often peppered with difficult-sounding jargon that may sound confusing if you are unaware of its connotations. Words such as tripping (property viewing), amortization (your monthly spread-out downpayment), loan calculator are just some of the terms you will often hear thrown around when you buy real estate property.
While you can always ask your broker and agents to explain them to you, it pays to know what these words mean beforehand. Before meeting up with your real estate brokers and agents, it is recommended that you add common real estate terms to your research. Apart from having smooth conversations with your agents, knowing these terms will allow you to keep up with discussions.
2) There is a myriad of properties to choose from.
Before going on your home buying journey, it is best to have an idea of where to start looking. You may know what you want, but you likely have no idea of the properties available in the market. While this can be accomplished with a quick search on the internet and typing things such as “affordable house and lot for sale in the Philippines” our “rent find in Metro Manila” in the search bar, you will find that the results are quite overwhelming.
To streamline your search and make it easier, refine your search by knowing where you want your home to be and, if possible, the leading housing developer you wish to buy from, such as Bria Homes and the like. It is also advised that you look for a trusted real estate website, which you can easily get from your thorough research online or through family or friends’ recommendations.
3) There is a likely chance that you will receive tons of messages from unknown numbers.
One of the things you should know about real estate agents is that closing a sale is paramount to them. That said, showing interest in their properties will undoubtedly encourage them to be persistent in getting you to make a decision and accept terms.
However, know that real estate agents are also important in the home buying process, and you will likely need their help in looking for different options. Such information are ere to guide you along the way.
Unfortunately, the daily text messages and calls asking you whether you have already decided on a home when you would pay the reservation or any similar sounding messages can be quite bothersome. To get around this, save all the numbers of the agents you have dealt with on your phone. To make them easily identifiable, indicate the real estate company they are affiliated with along with their name.
If you are no longer interested in an agent’s or broker’s service, inform them immediately but politely. Do not skirt around the issue. Be thankful, but tell them that you do not require their service anymore. If you fail to tell your agents this, they will think you are still interested and continue to bombard you with daily text messages and calls.
4) Finding the perfect broker may not be easy.
Your broker or real estate agent should be someone you are comfortable working with. That said, it can be quite challenging to look for one that is perfect for you. Ideally, your broker should be someone who is there but does not bother you with too many text messages or calls.
Similarly, they should also know your schedule to refrain from calling or messaging you at untimely hours. They should anticipate your needs, does not sound fake, and does not immediately overlook and disregard you when your budget is seemingly just enough.
Finding the perfect agent may be a little complicated, knowing that you will meet an array of real estate professionals during your home buying journey. However, of all the individuals you will meet, only one will meet your requirements. Be patient and upfront when dealing with them. To make your search easier, you can also look upon companies that specialize in matching you with the ideal broker based on your needs.
5) You can make a down payment in installments until the project has been completely built.
One of the things that deter a prospective homebuyer from purchasing a home is the exorbitant downpayment. Indeed, shelling out a massive chunk from your savings to afford the downpayment of a home can be quite discouraging.
However, to ease this apprehension that often dissuades prospective homebuyers from closing a deal, real estate developers offer flexible and more affordable payment terms such as pag ibig fund and bank housing loan. One of these includes allowing home buyers to pay for their down payment in installments.
While this may seem like a more manageable way to pay for the downpayment, it is still recommended that you have at least three months’ worth of monthly amortization reserved. By the time you make a purchase, you are already saving up for the fourth monthly payment.
6) Your broker or agent’s attitude can often influence your home buying decision
While you may think that only internal factors such as your budget and the kind of home would affect your home buying decision, external factors such as your sales agent’s attitude can also impact it. In the event that you meet a broker that falls short of your expectations, it is doubtful that you would like to continue your transaction with them.
That said, you should never settle for the first broker you meet unless they are exceptional at their job. Always get recommendations from other people or a trusted online real estate marketplace. You can also do it on your own by conducting a thorough background check on the real estate professional.
7) Property prices are open for negotiation.
Depending on who you are dealing with, the asking price can often be flexible. This is where your chosen developer or real estate professionals can get generous. Some agents would even go as far as forgoing their commissions so that they can give you a good discount on the property for sale.
To have an idea of how to do this, look for people who have successfully purchased a home or other properties and ask them how they negotiated property prices with their agents. However, it would help if you were brave enough to broach this subject with your agent.
Regardless of a discounted price, a sale is still a sale, and that should be enough to convince most real estate agents to agree on a discounted offer.
8) A pre-owned home can often be high maintenance.
Pre-owned homes may be offered at a lower asking price than their brand new counterparts, but that does not always mean they are the better option. Pre-owned homes are potentially high maintenance. If you fail to inspect them thoroughly, you run the risk of an exorbitant repair bill if you cannot note the damages that need immediate repair before it was turned over to you.
During the course of owning a pre-owned home, you will likely make costly improvements such as repainting, pest control, redecorating, and so much more. That said, if you wish to buy a pre-owned home, be sure to conduct a thorough and proper inspection of the property you are considering to buy.
9) You are expected to pay real estate tax every year.
Depending on where you live, the real estate tax can be quite costly. For this reason, you need to conduct a sample computation and familiarize yourself with the real property tax laws in the city where you intend to purchase the property. In fact, this can be an essential criterion in determining your next home’s location.
BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., .one of the largest real estate companies in the country. BRIA Homes is primed to bring quality and affordable house and lot packages and condominium units closer to ordinary Filipino families. This is the goal that drives every single employee in the company, for which the ultimate fulfillment is seeing a client happily moving into BRIA’s homes.
To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE and WhatsApp, or call
