A couple of years ago I bought what I thought was a not-too-expensive lot and built a small home for my in-laws. Turns out the lot is one of 6 in a subdivision. Also turns out, while trying to get the title, all six lots have unpaid tax and surveyor costs and some have layers of estate taxes due. The overall lot was never properly surveyed, some had other issues. I can not get the title for my lot until each lot owner pays the money due or I pay it. We are peeling the onion back and paying whatever is due overall so we can get the title. Perhaps the only saving grace may be if one of the other lot owners wants a copy of the survey they have to pay me to get it. Sooner or later (maybe) I will recoup a little. Btw, I was misinformation but a local real estate dude on the status of the title. The municipality property manager is helping us through this mess. Lessons Learned - a clean visible title is mandatory. Our title and the subdivision title was written in Spanish, just another piece of crap in the process. I want to sell the house and lot eventually so I have to clean up the mess. My bad.
Almost identical story with the lot of my wife back at her place in Panay, additionally, the original owner died and the kids have no brains, my wifes layer said to just leave it as it is because it's to much trouble, now some buyers are trying to get into small groups and try to process their titles, the incredible thing is, that she could sell the place without a problem, there are people interested despite the legal situation...
6 years ago i bought a subdivision lot, neighbors are all expats. I waited till one of them process the transfers. Took them 2 years to obtain the title(plenty of fumes went to the air), then i process mine after knowing that dues which i'm not supposed to pay(should be the previous owner) are already cleared. Cost 15,000pesos for the liaison fee to process plus documentation fees with receipts. Now, if a buyer has an experienced of purchasing property like yours, he will probably purchase or, you can offer a discount or 50k-100k for processing. But still it is easy to sell property if its titled and taxes are updated. Here's some tips; ) the quickest and less trouble if the property is tax declaration only/ no title. It will take 2-3months to obtain a title. ) under agricultural land-takes 5 years to wait to transfer a new title but still can be easily to sell if the buyer is not in a hurry to have it transferred, a blank date of deed of sale to avoid tax penalty. If you intend to re-sell before 5 years you may prepare a blank name of deed of sale with signature directly to the previous owner to the new buyer. Your real deed of sale will be canceled thru the same lawyer. And process directly to the new buyer(this is just to avoid long procedure of waiting and less expenses too). Recently, i am buying a small parcel with un-process documents the seller bought his property decades ago and trying to sell it, he didn't want to have the deed of sale directly to the previous owner, so i have to wait for his new title to process before transferring on me. But, i will only agree if his transfer will be process by my liaison just to ensure. Otherwise, no deal. 3.) Its always better to know a trustworthy liaison who knows the processing, as he/she has already a channel to tuned in. It is always hard to deal with the local government unit, they don't know the importance of time! They love to say"Sorry..wait sir...or offline Sir!" O-| but if its somebody dealt with them several times they exactly know whom,what time that the computer will be online...
Sorry to hear this all too familiar story. On another note: For others however it can be a benefit if it stops the in-laws or whoever from borrowing money against the property! We usually build for family to give them security, they can then become a target of social pressure from their extended family to facilitate a loan for hospitalization or whatever? IMHO I also recall having read that this country is in the forefront for patricide regarding property?
