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Escape to Paradise - Real
Estate in the Philippines
By Graham
Webb
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South of Taiwan,
West of Vietnam and North of Indonesia lies over 7,000 islands covering
about 110,000 sq. miles. This is the Philippines. This is an area
just larger than the State of Nevada and just smaller than Denmark.
With a population approaching 80 million, these islands are some of the
most densely populated areas in S.E. Asia. One exception is the Island
of Palawan.
| Palawan
is about 270 miles long and 24 miles at its widest. The population
is about 750,000 with 50 % of the populace living in the 5 largest cities,
including 170,000 that live in Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan.
There is a
mountain range that runs the length of the island and beautiful beaches
on both east and west coast. There is an underground river where
many fish and plants are only found here. There are hot springs found
around the island. Also some of the most desirable diving locations
in the world are around Palawan. It really is a paradise waiting to be
discovered by the rest of the world. |
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In the Philippines
a Municipality is not just a city or a town but a much larger area like
a county in the U.S. or a district in other countries. These Municipalities
are divided into Barangays which are more like small towns or communities.
The top official of a Municipality is a Mayor and the top official of a
Barangay is a Captain.
One of the
most beautiful areas of Palawan is the Municipality of San Vicente which
has an area of about 400 sq. miles and lies on the Northwest Central Coast.
Some of the most stunning beaches in the world are located here.
Beautiful white sand and water so clear you have visibility of more than
30 feet down to the breathtaking beautiful reefs and sea life. You
can snorkel just off the beach and see tropical fish and other plants and
sea life. Local guides are available to take you on nature hikes,
deep sea fishing or diving.
Living in San
Vicente, Palawan does have its downside. There are no supermarkets
or malls. There are no local television stations but you can have
TV via a satellite dish. The local schools are not on par with what
is acceptable in most countries. It takes about 3 hours to drive
down to the capital and about 2 hours to drive to Sandoval Airport near
Taytay. The upside is you can have seafood every day, fresh tropical
fruit from your own trees including mangos, bananas and coconuts.
Most of the properties in the area have cashew nut trees also. Water
and electricity are available while a septic tank system will take care
of all waste. Back up power can be by generator, wind and/or solar
power. You can sit and watch the sun set every afternoon over the
South China Sea.
Both the people
and the government of Palawan are the most ecological friendly and protective
of any in the Philippines. You will not see as much complete disregard
of the environment in Palawan as other areas of the Philippines.
The people are of a gentle nature. Only two or three incidences of
theft were reported in San Vicente Municipality over the last 7 months.
They are poor but proud people.
To individually
own property in the Philippines you must be a citizen with the exception
that a foreigner can inherit property from their spouse or parent.
Most foreigners own property through a corporate set-up. There are
many attorneys that can assist with this and for your own protection it
is strongly recommended to employ one. You can also lease property
for 25 years with an additional 25 year option.
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There
are many small parcels of beachfront property for sale in the Municipality
of San Vicente. Most of these have frontage of less than 300 feet
(90 meters). Many are less than 2 hectare (5 acres). We have
one piece that is really desirable in that it has over 1,000 feet (300
meters+) of beach and a total area of about 19 acres (7.9 hectare).
Water and electricity is just off the beach. The total asking price
is only $ 175,000. That is less than $ 175 per running foot on the
beach! About 20 cents a sq. ft.; less than $ 2.25 per sq. meter.
This particular property is on the market due to a partnership split. |
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Frequently
asked Questions on life and living in Palawan in the Philippines
Is it safe?
It is very
safe. One incident occurred that brought attention from the world,
the kidnapping from a resort off the East coast of Palawan. The group
that conducted this vile deed has mostly been killed or captured.
This was at the very edge of their capability in distance and now because
of notoriety it is a very slim possibility to happen again.
What is
the political environment?
The Philippine
politics are always volatile. However there is very little effect
outside of Manila.
What are
the visa requirements?
Most Americans,
Europeans Japanese, Australians, and others can enter the country for 30
days on their passport. A residence visa can be had with the deposit
or investment of $75,000 in the country. You can get a year to year
visa but must leave once every year for 2 or 3 weeks.
What fees
would I incur purchasing property in the Philippines?
Attorney fees
can range from $100 to $ 1,000 depending on what he does. A real
estate corporation usually cost about $ 1,000 to $ 1,500. There will
be survey and document fees which are minor. All land taxes are paid
by seller unless otherwise stated.
What type
of vehicles would be required?
It is recommended
that you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle.
What about
real estate prices?
The price
of real estate in Palawan has tripled over the last 3 years. It continues
to go up.
Where can
you get beachfront for these prices?
What is
the accommodation like in Palawan?
Puerto Princesa
has several 3 or 4 star hotels. There several 5 star resorts throughout
the Palawan. There is very little in the way of moderately priced
hotels or resorts indicating a definite niche in the market. The
prices are from $ 100 + per night and then drop down to $10 per night.
The $100 -$200 places are nice. The $ 10 places are clean but you
shower from a bucket and sleep under mosquito nets on foam. Someone
would do well with a $ 35 to $ 50 a night place.
Everyone should
remember, The Philippines is a poor country and their systems, although
better than many, are not like the U.S., Europe, etc. The people
are gracious and friendly and do the best with what they have. There
is no mass starvation nor mass persecution and very little restriction
on personal freedoms. There are many newspapers, radio and television
stations with no restriction on the press. But you can get life in
prison for having drugs or guns on your person. Most all of the people
have a good understanding of the English language. Many of the newspapers
are in English.
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It is a beautiful country and that welcomes visitors.
For more information contact me, Graham Webb, at TexasICS@aol.com
or call 1(281) 339-1595.
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Links
to other related sites and resources
| Philippines - Living
in Philippines - Information about travel, tourism, real estates, banks,
links, economy, business and others. |
| An Aussie View Of The Philippines
-
An Aussie View Of The Philippines - G'day! My name is Craig Beasy
and if you guessed I am Australian, you guessed right. I am 43 yrs young,
very happily married to a beautiful lassie from the ‘Land of Smiles’ and
we have two pre-schoolers. My wife’s name is Brenda and she comes from
Cebu, an Island only 200 miles long and 40 miles across at its widest point.
Cebu-City incidentally is the freight hub for the entire Archipelago. Our
gorgeous daughters are Adele Kristina 3 yrs, Isha-Belle 16mths, and yes
I am definitely in the minority gender-wise in our household. |
| An Aussie View Of The Philippines
Part 2 -
An Aussie View Of The Philippines Part 2 - G'day. Continuing on
from last month, how on earth did I end up stranded in Cebu during my six
weeks there; well let me begin with my departure from Tullamarine International
Airport at Melbourne, Victoria. I was due to fly out at 11:45pm on Tuesday
June 2nd 1998. I had arrived in Victoria’s State Capital a few days before
and was staying with my sister Merryn in the eastern suburbs. A day later
I received a call from Philippines Airlines informing me of a 2-hr departure
delay, which I didn’t find to bothersome. |
| Living In The Philippines - Living
In The Philippines - Tired of the rat-race that America has become?
Tired of being run-down by women dominated by greed and material objects
and who jump into bed with your best friend? Then try something different,
there is a place where things move at a slow pace, where women are feminine
and lady-like, and the cost of living is a lot less. The weather is warm
year-round, white sandy beaches are everywhere with coconut palms gently
swaying in the breeze. Crystal clear waters, you can see the bottom 15
feet deep. |
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