One man’s problems might be another man’s passion.

 

I agree Dave, if you're unable to balance the investment in a house with the need for income after you're gone, then buying might not be a good option at all (whether or not in a subdivision makes little difference then, the maintenance cost and taxes will probably exceed what the widow can afford anyway).
I disagree with singling out SD dues as the prohibitive factor, as you rightly mention the electricity bill would be of much bigger consequence, and so would for that matter the cost of transportation. For that reason alone I would argue that a house in the middle of nowhere where the next trike might be a half day wait is not an attractive proposition at all if the widow can't afford a car.
Moreover, as the saying goes, a good neighbour is better than a far friend, so yes you might get rid of the noise if you buy 10 hectares in the middle of nowhere, but good luck with finding some social support out there, not to mention the thing called loneliness.
Anyway, preferences are a personal matter, but I would say any expat considering only their own preferences when buying a house with total disregard for their better half's preferences is at much bigger risk of the property getting sold at rock bottom price within a year after he dies than those buying a house in a location that's agreeable to all who intend to live there.

 

Never at anytime did I mention buying cheap land in the middle of nowhere, that was never suggested at anytime? what I did suggest is better not to consider buying in an SD, houses tend to be more expensive and that perhaps buying or building a stand alone property just may be a cheaper option and money saved could perhaps be used to buy a larger lot. I have just bought my Wife's Lot 1.2klms from Valencia Plaza.

The last place I stayed in before coming here to Valencia, was Mactan/Cebu in a SD, the dues were P1100 plus p450 for water for two of us in a small 2 bed house it was 40sqm on 110mtr Lot P3mill to buy, some of the 4beds there were priced at 7mill, this was definitely a high end place, every other house had a big 4WD car and a big Dog to match it, most of the Dogs were confined in a tiny yard and all they had to do was bark all day, also there was little of any trees there it was all concrete houses and concrete roads or as they say a concrete jungle hotter than hell.

 

That's the Cebu area - very pricey.Not so sure after the pandemic it will stay that way.

 

I well and truly closed it, bolted it and put on a padlock. Once bitten .....

 

You're a reason why they should stop using the term 'alien'.

 

To be honest that is all all know of Sub-Divisions the ones in Mactan of which there was many, land is very expensive there and they tend to have large SD's with anything between 200 to 400 houses all gated with high walls which eliminate the movement of air.

The other really negative thing I would say about them and this will likely apply to most no matter where they are sited, is; they have you by the short and curlies and you can be subjected to any stupid rules they make, the last one I was in charged you P50 to get in the gate with a Grab Taxi, no charge for a White Cab, delivery's were the same P50 but with a 6 wheeler P150. These rules mostly applied to the Foreigners there, of which there was many, the Filipinos refused to pay the charges and got away with it.

 

Moderators feel free to move this reply to the Controversial area if Off Topic

A friendly "Good Morning" to all who you encounter on your walk helps to slowly overcome fear of strangers and "Bunker" mentality as they respond. Many are afraid of us due to our loud talking they perceive as anger or a know it all attitude.

Most foreigners who live around here are millionaires when they arrive in a PHP world and develop a relationship with a silent partnership with a significant other to stay here. The foreigners manage the dreams and aspirations of the significant others with money in order to live out their fantasy.

Relationships are bonds built on words and and deeds not money. Those whose relationships are based on subservient partners are bound to fail. You are just renting companionship until they can't take your relationship any longer and your attitude of "He who has the gold makes the rules".

shakey aka John

 

Visit the Loan Officer at the Rural Bank of Bacong or the Dumaguete Rural Bank Inc and inquire about Foreclosed properties meeting your specifications. Even if the starting price is beyond your budget they will negotiate.

Banks will not loan money on property with bad title. On good loans when they foreclose the title is changed at ROD to the banks name. A cash buyer at the bank has his/her name registered and receives the title. If part of the property price is used as collateral for a loan the bank remains the registered owner at ROD until the loan is paid then the ownership at ROD is changed to the borrower and the title is released by the bank.

shakey aka John