Real Estate: Properties

Purchasing a house requires a lot of consideration and planning. As it is one of the biggest decisions you can make in your lifetime, it can very well affect the way you live your life in the future and the manner in which you manage your finances. Needless to say, it is best to be prepared especially if you are an aspiring first-time homebuyer . Why Should You Build A House In A Rural Area One of the things to think about in homeownership is the location of your residence . You can either choose to live in the city where the center of activities usually takes place or somewhere in the country where peace and tranquility is much more guaranteed. Here are the top reasons why you should have a Philippine property in a rural area. 1.        It’s quiet.  ·         Noise. You will not be bothered by your surroundings ranging from cars going by or horns being honked to close neighbors playing loud m...

Creating New Year’s Resolutions is a popular Filipino tradition. It basically comprises of making a promise to oneself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad on the first day of the year. How To Start The New Year As An Aspiring First-time Homebuyer If you are one of those who aim to buy your first house in the year 2014, this guide will help you jumpstart your plans to do so. Read on and learn how to follow through each item so that your resolutions will be fulfilled before 2014 ends. 1.        Begin saving up. Purchasing a property requires money. Most of it you can get from loans and mortgages, true, but you still need cash for down payment, closing costs and monthly expenses. The down payment rate varies from as little as 5% to as high as 25% depending on the seller. Thus, it’s only practical to cut down unnecessary expenses. If you are used to going out of town every summer and spending thousands of peso...

Whether you are a first time buyer or a repeat investor, choosing between a house and a condo is one of the most important decisions you need to make. There are advantages and disadvantages to each property and you need to weigh them carefully before deciding.   How to Choose Whether you are looking to buy a condo for sale in the Philippines or primarily interested in buying homes in the Philippines , make sure you have five major factors researched and factored in before taking the next step of purchasing. Five Considerations When Choosing Between a Condo and a House Location Privacy Responsibility   Maintenance Budget Choose a location based on your needs. Do you need to be nearer your workplace or does it need to be near a transport terminal, schools, or malls? Consider your privacy. A condo unit is more private but you need to be more responsible and shell out for maintenance and condo fees. Lastly, make sure your budget is within range. When y...

Earthquakes are natural occurrences that not a lot of people get to experience. But for those who do experience it, it is something that they will never forget. Unfortunately, the biggest damages that earthquakes bring are to various structures and properties.  The recent earthquake in the Philippines damaged many Philippine properties ; many of which are old homes, building, decades-old churches. Whether you have experienced an earthquake or not, it is good to be prepared for one because earthquakes will always be part of the hazards of real estate in the Philippines – earthquakes can happen anytime and anywhere. Below are some useful tips to help you earthquake proof your home. Use sill bolts and sill plates . If you have yet to construct your house, be prepared by using sill bolts and sill plates to secure the structure of your house. These are used to help keep your house in its foundation; sill bolts are attached to the concrete foundation every 4 feet. You may ...

A lot of Philippine property owners come to a point when they want to sell their properties for one reason or another. Some of the possible reasons for reselling properties are relocation, profit, or a desire to buy another property. If you are one of those who are planning to sell their house, you will have to prepare your property to make it easy to sell. With the number of Philippine homes that are for sale in the market, your property might be facing some tough competition. Below are some tips to help you give your house the edge that will make it easy to sell. De-clutter. The first thing you will have to do is to de-clutter your house. A clutter-free but average-looking house will have better chances of being sold than a clutter-full but well-designed house. No matter how well-built, well-designed, and beautiful your house is, it will be difficult to see and notice if a lot of clutter is in the way. Put all the stuff that you are not using in storage containers and...

A cquiring your first home is a big responsibility. The most fundamental step is to educate yourself so there would be no room for regrets later on. After all, purchasing a property is not as simple as shopping for clothes, shoes or gadgets. There are a lot at stake here hence you should be careful when you start the process. Below is a short checklist for first-time homebuyers. Be aware of the basics so you will not be overwhelmed with the technical aspects that go along with it. Here are three (3) basic things to guide you. 1.        Market Prices. Learn that there are a lot of factors that affect pricing – size, condition, neighborhood and amenities. For instance, a Makati condo may be more expensive than a condo in Manila . On the same note, a 400-square-meter two-storey house in Liliw, Laguna may be cheaper than a 100-square-meter flat in Quezon City. Understand too that they tend to go up and down. Its value may fluctuate over time. This mea...

Open to all Filipino students and amateur film makers. Registration period - July 20 to August 30, 2013 For the application forms and full mechanics visit http://nuvali.ph/events/ nucinema The Top 15 Film entries will be premiered on a gala at the NUVALI Night Sky Cinema on October 26, 2013 The Top 5 winning film entries will be given a one 1-year scholarship grant from the Asia Pacific Film Institute and also featured in selected Ayala cinemas.