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Escape
to Paradise - Real Estate in the Philippines
Escape
to Paradise - Real Estate in the Philippines
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.
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.
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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