Building a House in Bohol Philippines

[z_k_g]

Guys, this topic may have been covered, but I haven't seen it detailed in the archives myself.

I want to eventually move to the Phil Islands.  I am working on some business opportunities in Japan, South Korea and Australia and if those work out as planned I can home base in Phil and build a house on Bohol.

I am an engineer with a construction background so I will probably do my own building and hire labor and buy materials locally.

Questions for guys that already have done this:

1.  Did you build your own houses, hire contractors?
2.  What was the build quality, material quality?
3.  Are there Home Depot or building supply houses that sell in bulk?
4.  I know that property ownership is max 40% foreigner did you have a problem with title and deeds?
5.  Are the building permits expensive and do they have building inspectors?
6.  Any advice on this subject, What was your experience, What would you do different?
7.  Point me to archives for info please!

Thanks in advance!

[Ray]

Zulu,

We built a house recently in the province.

Her brother did the design and supervised the construction. Much of the work was done by family members, with some of the hard labor stuff done by hired help.

I don’t know where they purchased materials except for all of the concrete, mortar, and hollow block which her older brother gets a deep discount on at work.

Foreigners can not own real property so everything is in the wife’s name. She already owned the lot. You could lease the property and build your own house if you wanted to. Talk to a local real estate attorney. I have seen lots for sale in flood plains and slide hazard areas, so you really need local help with land selection, etc.

Don’t know about any permits or inspectors.

If I were you, I would rent for a couple of years, then seek informed advice form some folks you trust. I would not attempt to build anything myself because this is a foreign country with a whole new set of rules and standard procedures for doing things like this, but you could probably do some of the interior finishing if you liked.

Dave H can probably give you much more info.

Ray

[ByChoice]

Questions for guys that already have done this:

1.  Did you build your own houses, hire contractors?
2.  What was the build quality, material quality?
3.  Are there Home Depot or building supply houses that sell in bulk?
4.  I know that property ownership is max 40% foreigner did you have a problem with title and deeds?
5.  Are the building permits expensive and do they have building inspectors?
6.  Any advice on this subject, What was your experience, What would you do different?
7.  Point me to archives for info please!

Thanks in advance!

I have done all this.  but my advise?  If you expect to come here and change this country into a little america you might as well as stay home.  Do not expect consistancy in government, products, building supplies, prices, or the people.  You will probably find some good land values in Zamboanga.  You will experience a huge learning curve once you get here no matter how much you prepare in advance. 

Oh yeah, and keep a tight grip on your wallet.  Even the commoners have 10,000 ways to separate the two of you.  You might be better off moving to florida or the caribbean.  Here you are not likely to even be visited by the police when you get robbed.  These people dont want you, they want your money.  They will all call you friend, few, if any, will care when you die.  If you are used to being protected by roving police cars and umteen thousands of laws, forget it; you will find that you have almost no rights here.  Unless you have millions of pesos to buy off judges and police you will be well behind the power curve.  You want to be a Filippino?  Forget it....You are just another bag of money to most of them.

Read the real history of America from the 1820s to the 1940 and you will start to appreciate this country.  They have traditions and values Americans have left behind.  There are no divorces, and no abortions.  The churches are overflowing at every mass.  Each of the thousands of catholic churches has about 10 to 20 masses a week, give or take.  Business is not always straight forward.  business traditions can be intricate or almost incomprehendable.  They say yes to almost everything you say just to be polite.

And for gods sake dont bring your hip hop and gangster rap crap here.  they have enough trouble with foreign women libers who try to supplant their traditions and values.  These women are the best mothers Ive ever seen, and Ive been 3/4 around the world.  The average Filipina puts American women to shame when it comes to nurturing their children.  Newer generations here are starting to show signs of American cultural sicknesses; gangs, drugs, robbery..
  Two whites and a priest were murdered here in my city not long ago for very little money.  You must learn quickly who not to offend, and where and when to travel.  that big american face of yours is a huge target that says....come and get me.  and they will, eventually.
 

[robert angel]

I saw there was another post here from bychoice and I sincerely hoped it would offer a new beginning--some helpful 'nuts and bolts' information about the many challenges and pitfalls that await anybody not from the Philippines who wants to build and buy a home there. Perhaps from someone who says he actually lives there and understands better than most how it works over there, but that certainly DID NOT turn out to be the case here..

Alas, it was not meant to be--and I should've known better.

Instead, it was another insulting, and this time, even racist post. I just don't see where this venom comes from, directed at people who haven't even replied to your self serving shlock, even. You are obviously a sadly, mistakenly self aggrandized, bitter, mean person, with a twisted, sick mindset.

Yes, a lot of us veer off topic here, but can't recall in recent memory, such a disjointed, mean spirited, out of topic post. As has been hinted at, one might wonder if you're under the influence of alcohol or other substances when reading your posts.


If you're worried about your wife's honor so much, perhaps taking a look at your own might be in order.

Obviously, the moderators here have more tolerance of such spittle than I do. Among other things, I thought there is a specific place here for pitching your business and for posting reciepts supposedly received from said business as has been done here.

For you to even begin to talk about understanding other cultures, or about having compassion and respect for others isn't even laughable--it's pathetic in it's irony.

[z_k_g]

I saw there was another post here from bychoice and I sincerely hoped it would offer a new beginning--some helpful 'nuts and bolts' information about the many challenges and pitfalls that await anybody not from the Philippines who wants to build and buy a home there. Perhaps from someone who says he actually lives there and understands better than most how it works over there, but that certainly DID NOT turn out to be the case here..

Alas, it was not meant to be--and I should've known better.

Instead, it was another insulting, and this time, even racist post. I just don't see where this venom comes from, directed at people who haven't even replied to your self serving shlock, even. You are obviously a sadly, mistakenly self aggrandized, bitter, mean person, with a twisted, sick mindset.

Yes, a lot of us veer off topic here, but can't recall in recent memory, such a disjointed, mean spirited, out of topic post. As has been hinted at, one might wonder if you're under the influence of alcohol or other substances when reading your posts.


If you're worried about your wife's honor so much, perhaps taking a look at your own might be in order.

Obviously, the moderators here have more tolerance of such spittle than I do. Among other things, I thought there is a specific place here for pitching your business and for posting reciepts supposedly received from said business as has been done here.

For you to even begin to talk about understanding other cultures, or about having compassion and respect for others isn't even laughable--it's pathetic in it's irony.

Robert,

Are you considering retiring to the Phil?  If so what have you guys talked about in terms of living there and building?

Thanks!!

[Ray]

Instead, it was another insulting, and this time, even racist post.

That's what I was thinking also.

I thought the gist of his message was... "We don't want your kind here, so stay home!"

 

[robert angel]

Zulu,

Probably a day doesn't go by w/o me thinking about it. Sometimes I lie awake at night and count our savings and possessions and try to figure out if we could sell everything, 'check out', & just move and set up over there, with enough in savings to last the 8 or so years until my pension kicks in and then wait for my social security to add on to that.

I get different figures from different people, but I think I'd have to survive on $25,000 to $30,000 a year over there and while I know it's possible on Mindanao and probably Bohol (at this time anyways) BUT I really don't really know if I'd be living quite poorly. w/o air. con., w/o a decent car, able to eat out, go to movies, shop the malls, fish and do the things I like to do.

Then again, Z., as I recall, we both have kids and remember, when it comes to kids--no matter how old they are--"Money isn't everything--but it sure keeps the kids in touch"--we'll have to keep some moolah aside for them and flights home also.

I'm just not sure what kind of living we could maintain on $25 to $30 K a year there and our own Uncle Dave is too wise (darn him) to map it out and give us a guesstimate--he doesn't want to disillusion anyone and then have it not work out for them, I figure, and he probably knows best--he's living there and not in some westernized enclave either.

Still, I'd LOVE anyone's 'guesstimates' on what it really takes, $$$ wise, to live decently over there.

Building a house? I think the prevailing wisdom is rent forever or for at least two years before building--even buying.

There's 7100 plus other islands to for us to see and less than a 1000 of them are inhabited--we've GOT to put flags on over 6000 of them--or at least stop and take a wee and leave our mark--after all--we're AMERICANS! Isn't there some manifest destiny law or something?

Besides, didn't we win the whole nation from Spain fair and square over some battleship-the Vermont--no---the Maine---that they didn't actually sink down Havana way? ? I thought Spain was supposed to have given us the Philippines, 200 barrels of port and a couple dozen Muela knives. We need another Teddy Roosevelt--booley! Somebody pull Ray out of anger management class before he graduates, God forbid, send him over to Manila and have him work this out--fix it like it was! Dave will work his way down from the south end of the archipelago and I'll meet you guys in the middle, on Masbate--look for me at Humberto's Tiki Hut--I'll have the San Miguels on ice and waiting. What IS this world coming to?


Anyways, where were we? Oh-yea--'building houses'--back to building houses, buying them or real estate, the laws there are screwy, and one sided, (to put it nicely), and if your marriage goes south, you'll probably lose it all over there, anyway.

That said, as long as you're faithful to your wife, and with all the pretty, young temptations there, we need to level with ourselves on that prospect--I think a Kano's marriage to a Filipina has a much better chance of lasting over there than it does in the USA. And as long as I'm neutered and poke my eyes out, I'll be just fine there!

I have read stories from guys who were married to Filipinas over there, with family, social, political and economic connections, having nightmarish experiences building homes there. Even with 'friends and family' doing most of the building and supply, labor quality is often poor to non existent, and relationships ruined or strained. Quality of materials is often as bad as the workmanship.

There are guys on here--you know the guys who have the experience here, hopefully they'll pipe in here--they've forgotten more about this than I even know--but I know enough to say I'd be very careful about buying, never mind building, over there. Like Elvis said "Why buy the farm/cow when you can get the milk through the fence for free"? Or pretty darn cheap by renting, anyways.

Renting sounds like it's more my style if and when I do move to the Philippines. I want to go back to living like back in the days when I could put it all in two suitcases and run away--I was happiest then.. Except this time, I just hope that God lets me a have a little more money


Anyway, Z.,, I looked for a bit in the archives last night to try and help you and I, and no matter what words I put into 'search' I didn't find much for us on building a house--I was surprised.

[Jeff S]

30 to 40K? You'll be living like a king. My father lives fine on his SS (about 12K) on the Mexican Riviera - That's with air conditioning, car, 3 bedroom home with an enclosed courtyard full of fruit trees - close to the beach and fish market, maid and more - wanting for almost nothing. The Philippines is cheaper than Mexico any old day.

[z_k_g]

Robert,

I looked in the archives also and found very little from previous posters on house building!

Honestly I'm not that much worried about "losing it all" to a filipina.  With the amount of $$$$$ I lost from my last relationship to an AmW I could have bought 6 houses in the Phil, that's flat honest. 

As far as renting is concerned, I will probably do that, I don't intend to just go and build blindly or even soon after marry a fitting pinay.  This is just info gathering to see what the current trends look like!

This house building is probably 5 years down the road, 2015 at the earliest, so its not something I am rushing into.  I just wanted to get some input from the guys here who may already have done it or are planning on doing some building so I can work on some preliminary planning for my own.

Jeff,

If i dont find a pinay, i will look into that long term lease option and just renting!!

Ray,

Did you see any itemization of the materials? labor costs? licenses?

Is there a Home Depot like place where you live?

Thanks!

[thekfc]

Probably a day doesn't go by w/o me thinking about it.

I too have been thinking about it, I think that I have mention it before on the forum. I do not have any children & there isn't much "holding me down" or preventing me from moving there part time.

I get different figures from different people, but I think I'd have to survive on $25,000 to $30,000 a year over there and while I know it's possible on Mindanao and probably Bohol (at this time anyways) BUT I really don't really know if I'd be living quite poorly. w/o air. con., w/o a decent car, able to eat out, go to movies, shop the malls, fish and do the things I like to do.

The car I can do without, I have seen & experience the driving & I will leave it to the "professionals". A/C I will need - that would be a must for me. I would also need very good internet service especially to stream my movies - I have a few free memberships right now.

Still, I'd LOVE anyone's 'guesstimates' on what it really takes, $$$ wise, to live decently over there.

I would also like to know too.

Building a house? I think the prevailing wisdom is rent forever or for at least two years before building--even buying.

Renting first is something is something that is echoing from everyone I talked too - including Ahya's family, the LBC guy and a few Filipinos I have spoken too. Ahya family before they built or bought their house  - they all rented. They moved from Pangasinan & some rented in various places in Manila, her sisters settles in Taguig City, some of the cousins & aunts in Pasay & some in Makati.

I have read stories from guys who were married to Filipinas over there, with family, social, political and economic connections, having nightmarish experiences building homes there. Even with 'friends and family' doing most of the building and supply, labor quality is often poor to non existent, and relationships ruined or strained. Quality of materials is often as bad as the workmanship.

I have seen the workmanship of some of the places - some places I wouldn't want to live in as I fear that very strong storm may blow the place away & some I would say 1st class workmanship. There was a house being build next to the place I was staying in & did venture in one day & I inspected their work - it was "up to par". I know a few things about construction, my father used to work for HPD here in NYC & I use to tag along with him when he would go repair the apartments for the city. I did pickup the skills but I never went into the field - I went into computers & retail.

Is there a Home Depot like place where you live?

Zulu, I did come across 4 Home Depots stores & 2 Ace Hardware stores in Manila.

[evoltnvii]

I want to retire in the Phils eventually but my girl and I were thinking about Palawan anyone ever been there?

[Ray]

Ray,

Did you see any itemization of the materials? labor costs? licenses?

Is there a Home Depot like place where you live?

Thanks!

Nope!

They aren't that organized over there. I don’t even know if they worry about licenses and permits to tell you the truth(?).

Everything was done piecemeal, a little at a time. They would finish whatever they could until the money or materials ran out, or the monsoons started, then wait a couple of months or more until the next step was funded and materials were delivered. Then work on the next step, etc. Once the walls and roof were up, then things just sort of poked along. The construction took about 2-1/2 years from start to finish, if there really is ever a finish… LOL!

There is nothing similar to a Home Depot store near us. In fact, there is practically nothing at all. There is a hardware store in the city but that’s at least a 30-40 minute boat ride away. Everything has to be brought in by boat. They just recently got 24-hour electricity where we are.

I didn’t want to get too involved in the construction stuff because I would have gone crazy. The way they do things over there seems insane, but somehow it works for them.

Most of the higher end home construction is of hollow block and reinforced concrete, mostly mixed by hand. You might lose your roof in a typhoon, but the rest will usually withstand the wind and flooding from torrential rains. The biggest worry over there is mudslides.

The house where most of her family grew up is a 5-minute boat ride away. Their house is nice, half bamboo & nipa/half wood construction, but there are no roads, no electricity, no TV, no computers, etc., just peace and quiet, a very nice private beach and pier, a fresh water spring, 2,000 coconut trees, mangoes, papayas, fish trap…just like paradise.

Ray

[Ethan14]

It seems like building a house there could be quite a hassle.

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy one? I was looking at some real estate websites and there seem to be a lot of nice and reasonably priced homes there.

[z_k_g]

Ray,

Sounds like you are in a pretty nice area, but somewhat rural.  The area in Bohol I'm looking at has a bit more infrastructure, in the city, roads, electricity, water, and internet.  I'm not sure about sewers, I may be installing a septic tank.  

i'm looking at SIP panel construction for the walls erected on a poured concrete and raised block slab.  SIP wall panels and SIP panel roofs can take a direct hurricane force winds +150mph.  They ship in bundles and you can put the house up in 1 week.  The panels are pretty reasonable, most of the cost is in the labor to erect them, takes 3 people with simple tools and a small boom crane that is used to put up signs, etc.  If you have enough manual labor and some winces you can erect a temporary boom crane, don't even need the mechanical crane, but will take longer.

The final product is pretty much however you design the house it so its pretty flexible.

The interior of the house will take a bit longer, but this method is very quick, sturdy and very energy efficient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liTV_iLkdl0&feature=player_embedded

Ethan,

I want to custom build, its cheaper and I can design it the way I want.  I agree it is a hassle but not impossible.  My sweetie is an architect (her major) and has some design and construction ideas.  She wants to design the house herself, so thats ok by me.  Her brothers and uncles are ready to assist so I'm ok with the idea.

I want to really want to retire in Phil so this is a great way to look at the possibilities!

[thekfc]

SIP panel construction is a great idea & the quality of house could be A+.
The problems I see are getting them to The Philippines & looking at an upward of 200% customs & duties fees/taxes.

I am planning to be in Bohol in July for my honeymoon (that is if we don't spend all of our time in Cebu), I could keep an eye out on the area's infrastructure, if needed.

[robert angel]

Regarding Ray's RP house and:

 >>The construction took about 2-1/2 years from start to finish, if there really is ever a finish…<<
                                                                  &
>>I didn’t want to get too involved in the construction stuff because I would have gone crazy. The way they do things over there seems insane, but somehow it works for them<<

Here's what works (or at least 'used to'):

The Empire State Building was built in one year and 45 days. It was finished ahead of schedule and cost half of what was orginally expected, largely due to the Great Depression. It stands 1454 feet tall and has 102 floors.

>>When John Jakob Raskob (previously a vice president of General Motors) decided to join in the skyscraper race (and build the Empire State Building), Walter Chrysler (founder of the Chrysler Corporation) was constructing a monumental building, the height of which he was keeping secret until the building's completion. Not knowing exactly what height he had to beat, Raskob started construction on his own building.<<

Obviously, the US Govt. was not involved in building this--how Ironic that a former GM (now AKA Govt. Motors) vice president, had the wherewithall to build it to beat the lovely Chrysler (now owned by Italy's Fiat) building.

However, there is at least one similarity here. While nobody actually lives in the Empire State Building (not even one person--I was surprised) it is because like most places in the Philippines, it has "" inadequate bathing facilities""  

[fathertime]

Most of the higher end home construction is of hollow block and reinforced concrete, mostly mixed by hand. You might lose your roof in a typhoon, but the rest will usually withstand the wind and flooding from torrential rains. The biggest worry over there is mudslides.

The house where most of her family grew up is a 5-minute boat ride away. Their house is nice, half bamboo & nipa/half wood construction, but there are no roads, no electricity, no TV, no computers, etc., just peace and quiet, a very nice private beach and pier, a fresh water spring, 2,000 coconut trees, mangoes, papayas, fish trap…just like paradise.

Ray

Hey Bozo!
Does your property have 2,000 coconut/mango/papaya trees on it? If it does, it must be enormous.  BTW do you have any avocado trees on your property here in S. CA?

Fathertime!

[z_k_g]

The problems I see are getting them to The Philippines & looking at an upward of 200% customs & duties fees/taxes.

KFC, good point about customs, but the thing about SIP panels is that they already have extensive production in Philippines, so no importing!! 

You can get your specs to a producer there and have your panels cut or get the stock panels and cut them yourself with a jig saw.

SIP panel construction was invented by the US military to rapidly build housing in hostile environments.   Civilian contractors adopted it to the private sector and the Red Cross and the UN other agencies use SIP for removing shanties (Soweto, Lagos, Sao Paulo) and replacing with sturdy clean SIP housing because it goes up quick, one day or less for a family and cheap to deploy.  Its already a developing world construction technique, not a new fangled idea from the USA!

I am planning to be in Bohol in July for my honeymoon (that is if we don't spend all of our time in Cebu), I could keep an eye out on the area's infrastructure, if needed.

Sounds great, if you visit Bohol Island, Tagibilaran City is where I am looking at, give me an update!

[Ray]

Hey Bozo!
Does your property have 2,000 coconut/mango/papaya trees on it? If it does, it must be enormous.  BTW do you have any avocado trees on your property here in S. CA?

No, bozo, that's her dad's proprty, across the bay. Have you ever tasted fresh tuba (coconut wine)?

No avacados...sorry! 

[z_k_g]

Guys, I found a forum in Cebu that is exactly what I was looking for in terms of construction and options in the PI.

Check this forum out!!

http://www.livingincebuforums.com/ipb/index.php?showtopic=12631&st=0

Ray,

Is that your way of generously offering coconut, mango and papaya and some fresh tuba to everyone on this thread?  

Gee, what a nice guy!!

[Dave H]

30 to 40K? You'll be living like a king. My father lives fine on his SS (about 12K) on the Mexican Riviera - That's with air conditioning, car, 3 bedroom home with an enclosed courtyard full of fruit trees - close to the beach and fish market, maid and more - wanting for almost nothing. The Philippines is cheaper than Mexico any old day.

You are correct! You could easily do the same in the Philippines on 12k. Of course on 20k you would be considered a millionaire (around P 1million) and could do more. The problem, like anywhere is when people live beyond your means. Almost a week doesn't go by when some "professional" doesn't want to borrow money from us. We politely decline. These people want to use our money to buy or make payments on things that my wife and I don't even own.

An example: Many well off Filipinos and foreigners want new cars. A new Japanese or Korean car purchased here will be comparable to US prices. Used cars are expensive...a 95 Kia Sportage will cost you around $5000...People here can't believe that I was offered 2 for free in the US. The good news is that most mechanics are happy to be paid $4 per day and are quite good and industrious...but then again, who wants a 1970 Pinto clutch installed in your 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser just because "It will work!" In most areas you could easily do fine using tricycles or jeepneys, and buses for long trips. I would buy a motorcycle, perhaps attach a sidecar, and do almost everything you need to do very well. I use the motorcycles much more than the other vehicles at my disposal!

Dave

[Dave H]

Sounds great, if you visit Bohol Island, Tagibilaran City is where I am looking at, give me an update!

Hey Zulukong,

I will be in Bohol in a few days. We will be relaxing and checking out land on Panglao Island and other areas of Bohol. If we move there, we will be neighbors. 

Dave

[Dave H]

I am an engineer with a construction background so I will probably do my own building and hire labor and buy materials locally.

Questions for guys that already have done this:

1.  Did you build your own houses, hire contractors?

Hey zulukong,

I started writing yesterday, but lost everything during the daily brownout, which came 30 minutes earlier than usual.

I did not build the houses myself. For the cbs houses )1-3), we hired a good Civil Engineer (excellent government connections) who is a friend. He recommended the architect that we used. We also used an Electrical Engineer (wife's brother), Plumbing Engineer (wife's uncle) and a very good carpentero we know and his helpers (our relatives). For structures 4-7, we only used the carpenter and his helpers (our relatives).

These are the houses:

1: cbs 2 story, 3 Bedroom / 2 CR (Bathroom)
2. cbs 1 story, 2 bedroom / 2 CR
3. cbs 1 story, 2 Bedroom / 1 CR
4. Rebuilt wood frame house, concrete board external walls, metal roof
5. Nipa hut at farm
6. Nipa garage
7. Nipa hut, no walls

2.  What was the build quality, material quality?

The build quality was excellent, because we wanted it that way and our carpenter takes great pride in his work. He can do a much better job with his handsaw and hammer than I can do with my utility room full of modern power tools! I have him use my power tools to save himself a lot of extra work. My 110V power tools are plugged into a 1000W, 220V-110V step down voltage transformer.

Material quality...you get what you pay for! I avoid most Chinese made products...they look good in the package, but quickly break or fall apart! My faucets are from the US, Italy, or Germany. You have to be particularly careful with concrete blocks! Most are manufactured in an open field and the quality may vary considerably from batch to batch. I have seen some blocks crumble like a sand castle. If you cannot find a reliable source, you may want to manufacture your own onsite, with your specifications as to composition and size. Most concrete blocks that I see here are way too thin for my likes. I don't want my house to fall like a house of cards during a mild to moderate earthquake, which are very common in my area.

I know an American who bought land from a Filipino. The Filipino took the money and built a huge house (P2 million) across the street from the foreigner. The kano built a much smaller house for about $10,000 more ($50,000) than the Filipino's house. Whenever someone comes to visit the American for the first time, they usually pull into the much larger and fancier Filipino's house. But if you look closly at the Filipino house, it is poorly constructed out of inferior materials and cheap fixtures. It will likely be in very bad condition within 10 years. The American's house is 1 story and bomb proof! Everything that went into it was of good quality, The concrete blocks were made to his specifications. There is steel reinforcment where it is supposed to be, etc. It will likely be there in good condition for many years to come. I see this everyday in my neighborhood. Most of the large Filipino houses and mansions are in a state of significant decay in less that 10 years from construction.

3.  Are there Home Depot or building supply houses that sell in bulk?

Yes. I believe there is Home Depot in Cebu, although you probably can't find all of the same products that you are used to finding in the US. I am sure you can do quite well shopping for hard to find items in Cebu. I shopped mostly locally. I found electrical wire nuts the first time the other day at Xpress Hardware after 10 years of searching at many hardware stores. Electrical engineers and electricians thought I was making them up.   Some common Philippine hardware chains in the Philippines are Hardware City, Xpress Hardware, and ACE. There are also many local companies and some that specialize in certain things such as plumbing. I have imported (by balakbayan box) some construction items besides tools over the years. Mostly plumbing fixtures, electrical, security, telephone, TV, and computer.

4.  I know that property ownership is max 40% foreigner did you have a problem with title and deeds?

No...my wife or family owns it. As a foreigner, you can't own land. You can own a condo whose building is 60% Filipino owned. Corporations that own property must be 60% Filipino owned. You can rent the land and own the building...but it might be hard to sell or take the building with you if you decide to move!  

5.  Are the building permits expensive and do they have building inspectors?

No/Yes  That is where a good civil engineer (with good government connections) comes in. Less "fees" paid and rapid approval. There are building inspectors in the Philippines. I have found them more reasonable, cooperative, and honest than many of their counterparts in the US!

6.  Any advice on this subject, What was your experience, What would you do different?

Location...Location...Location!  Do your neighbors burn garbage and create smoke day and night? Is your land located near an unofficial or potential future dumpsite? Is it near a 24 hour, videoke club, dance hall, poker club, or cockfight arena, piggery, motorcycle drag strip, shabu or rugby house, etc? Does it flood when it rains, are their mudslides, bad earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis in the area. Is their enough room to position the house to take advantage of natural breezes, sunshine, etc. Do You have enough room between your neighbors so their kids don't use your firewall as a backboard for their basketball hoop...amazing how annoying that can be when you or your kids are trying to sleep! If you are on a popular beach, people will be picnic behind your house on the weekends and you will spend Monday morning picking up their trash. Forget about trash cans, they will probably not be used and may be stolen. You will not likely find property where everything perfect, but you want to be as close to it as possible! It is best to rent first as Ray mentioned! You will quickly discover what you can live with and what you can't. Some areas that you thought had potential for your dream house, may prove otherwise!

7.  Point me to archives for info please!

I am not sure how much is covered in the archives. But, with the website you posted and talking to other people who did what you are planning, you are well on your way! Just watch out because some foreigners are always trying to "help" their fellow countrymen from getting ripped off by those "untrustworthy" Filipinos. Some of these guys are OK and really mean well. But many sell their products and services at highly inflated western prices. I have seen many overpriced houses, condos, property, cars, etc. being sold by xpats to their trusting compatriots. I don't trust every Filipino either, since many think all foreigners are rich and do the same thing. Personally, I trust the Filipinos that I am close to (some relatives and friends).

Good luck!

Dave

[Dave H]

SIP construction is just beginning to appear in my area (Mindanao) for commercial buildings. It looks very promising!

Dave

[Dave H]

I am thinking about building huge mansion...of course it will only be a facade, like those used in movie and TV sets. Of course I will never let anyone out of the living room or in the back yard!  They will all say "That kano eees berry, berry rich! 

Dave