Land purchase in Philippines
Discussion
Looking at buying some land in Palawan, which as a non national will have to be put in my partners name. Been trying to find a solicitor to do the relevant searches etc, but to no avail.
Is there anyone on here that lives in that part of the world or can point me in the right direction?
Is there anyone on here that lives in that part of the world or can point me in the right direction?
The whole thing is incredibly primitive over here Simon. Thre is very little by way of 'land searches' as we know it., You need to go to the City Hall and persuade somebody to run checks on the Title of the property. There are more than likely lawyers who can do this for you but everybody is in everybody else pocket over here.
When we bought our land, two years ago, in Luzon, the wife and aunt sorted it all out themselves, went to the City Hall, paid small bribes to get people to actually do their job properly.
We paid by bankers cheque, 1.5 million piso, about $35,000, and were given the title of the land in return, then had to go get it all legitimately transferred in City hall. It was a bit of a scary procedure, even though we were buying from an American who lived next door to the lot we bought.
He owned it through a corporation he'd formed, which is basically illegal, though quite common.
You too can do that if you can find a lawyer to set it up. It is about the only way a non-Filipino can 'own' land in the PI.
When we bought our land, two years ago, in Luzon, the wife and aunt sorted it all out themselves, went to the City Hall, paid small bribes to get people to actually do their job properly.
We paid by bankers cheque, 1.5 million piso, about $35,000, and were given the title of the land in return, then had to go get it all legitimately transferred in City hall. It was a bit of a scary procedure, even though we were buying from an American who lived next door to the lot we bought.
He owned it through a corporation he'd formed, which is basically illegal, though quite common.
You too can do that if you can find a lawyer to set it up. It is about the only way a non-Filipino can 'own' land in the PI.
I think this is going to be more trouble than it's worth. Agreed a price of 6m php for 8 hectares of lovely beach front land in Palawan, but trying to find out if it's his to sell is a PITA.
Rumour has it that his brother has already sold the land to an agent, but I have copies of "land tax verification" and "declaration of real property" but no boundary map or the like.
Tried sending emails to several lawyers out there but I think I'd have more joy if I sent a pigeon with a message attached, not one has responded. That's before I get started of can I build on the land and if I can where to find an architect and then builders.
Rumour has it that his brother has already sold the land to an agent, but I have copies of "land tax verification" and "declaration of real property" but no boundary map or the like.
Tried sending emails to several lawyers out there but I think I'd have more joy if I sent a pigeon with a message attached, not one has responded. That's before I get started of can I build on the land and if I can where to find an architect and then builders.
You really needs 'boots on the ground' to sort this out properly.
You could have a look around this forum.
http://liveandretirephilippines.com/
It is one of the few Philippines forums that does not revolve around bars and girls. There is one member who has built a large maison in Palawan, Colin is his name, may be able to point you in the direction of a lawyer. I've tried to find a contact email but can't work out how to do it from the site.
This is our house:
http://liveandretirephilippines.com/building-real-...
You could have a look around this forum.
http://liveandretirephilippines.com/
It is one of the few Philippines forums that does not revolve around bars and girls. There is one member who has built a large maison in Palawan, Colin is his name, may be able to point you in the direction of a lawyer. I've tried to find a contact email but can't work out how to do it from the site.
This is our house:
http://liveandretirephilippines.com/building-real-...
That's a great help thanks!!! I'll have a look at the site in more detail later on today. I see you're in Angeles City, we'll have to meet for a beer when I'm over next as my partners family are in Tarlac.
I was also looking at land around the Clark area as an investment, as Etihad are flying into there as of October and Emirates in November.
Thanks again for the link
I was also looking at land around the Clark area as an investment, as Etihad are flying into there as of October and Emirates in November.
Thanks again for the link
We paid 5500 a sq m for land in Angeles itself, one of the more expensive areas in the PI to own, and live. There is massive expansion going on right now, with subdivisions being thrown up everywhere. You better get in quick if you want to invest. 
There is massive construction going on inside Clark too, lots of huge factories and suchforth going up.
Koreans seem to be doing an awful lot of investing here at the moment. And they've taken over from the Americans and the Australians as the big bar owner 'mafia' now.
There is massive construction going on inside Clark too, lots of huge factories and suchforth going up.
Koreans seem to be doing an awful lot of investing here at the moment. And they've taken over from the Americans and the Australians as the big bar owner 'mafia' now.
Girlfriends family have a small property in Capas Tarlac and told them to buy whatever they could afford near a main road towards Clark when I was there, doubt they'll pay attention though.
5500 a sqm is way out of my league, I know agents in Palawan are trying to sell pockets of land for that sort of price on the 14km stretch of beach but can't see many locals buying at that rate, I managed to negotiate 75php /sq which would appear to be too good to be true.
5500 a sqm is way out of my league, I know agents in Palawan are trying to sell pockets of land for that sort of price on the 14km stretch of beach but can't see many locals buying at that rate, I managed to negotiate 75php /sq which would appear to be too good to be true.
SimonMaidenhead said:
Girlfriends family have a small property in Capas Tarlac and told them to buy whatever they could afford near a main road towards Clark when I was there, doubt they'll pay attention though.
That means pretty much anywhere on the infamous MacArthur highway north of Angeles. There is an entrance to Clark right off that road in Mabalacat, which is right at the top of the AC area. It is quite a major highway, very busy, but is bypassed to a degree by the SCTEX now. The Subic-Clark-Tarlec-Expressway.
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