Buying & Renting Tips
Avoid scams, verify listings, buy smart.
Rent or Buy in Metro Manila 2026: The Break-even Math
Rent or buy in Metro Manila: a one bedroom rents for ₱25,000 and sells for ₱7.7M. The monthly cost of owning, the break even growth rate and the horizon.
Land Title Annotations Philippines: What Each Entry Means
Land title annotations Philippines buyers must read: mortgage, lis pendens, adverse claim, levy, easement and the Rule 74 entry, and how to clear each one.
RFO Condo vs Pre-Selling in the Philippines: Which to Buy
RFO condo vs pre-selling: cash needed now or stretched over 24 to 48 months, construction risk, rent from month one, and the finished buildings by city.
Vacation Home in the Philippines: Tagaytay, Baguio or Beach
Vacation home in the Philippines: condos at ₱70,600 per sqm in Tagaytay, ₱57,200 in Baguio, ₱65,000 on Mactan, with upkeep, climate and rental income.
Documents Needed to Buy a House in the Philippines (2026)
The documents needed to buy a house in the Philippines: IDs, TIN, PSA marriage certificate, cedula, Pag-IBIG number, income papers, and where to get each.
Cancel a Mortgage Annotation on Title After Full Payment
A mortgage annotation on title stays after the loan is paid. How to cancel it at the Registry of Deeds: the release, the documents and the common snags.
Homeowners Association Dues and Rights: RA 9904 Explained
Homeowners association dues need a basis in the bylaws and majority approval. RA 9904 on membership, records, gates, the board and fines up to ₱50,000.
Lost Land Title in the Philippines: How to Replace It
A lost land title is replaced by court petition under Section 109 of PD 1529: steps, documents, 6 to 12 months and ₱50,000 to ₱200,000 in estimated costs.
Real Estate Broker Commission & PRC License Check (2026)
Real estate broker commission in the Philippines: 3% to 5% by custom, who pays, when it is earned, and how to verify a PRC license before you sign.
Right of Way in the Philippines: Rules for a Landlocked Lot
Right of way in the Philippines for a landlocked lot: the five Civil Code conditions, who pays the indemnity, the route, and checks before buying.
Condo Investment for Foreigners in the Philippines: the Math
Condo investment for foreigners in the Philippines: gross yields from 4.3% in Pasig to 11.9% in Davao, the 25% tax on non resident rent, and the 40% cap.
How to Check a TCT Online in the Philippines (LRA eSerbisyo)
How to check a TCT online through LRA eSerbisyo: the request step by step, fees from ₱644.97, delivery in 3 to 7 working days, reading the certified copy.
Beachfront Property in the Philippines: Rules and Prices
Beachfront property in the Philippines: the 20 meter no build easement, why the beach cannot be titled, lot prices from ₱2,500 to ₱30,000 per sqm.
Deed of Donation vs Sale vs Inheritance: Passing On Property
Deed of donation vs sale vs inheritance: donor's tax 6% above ₱250,000, capital gains 6%, estate tax with a ₱5M deduction, on the same ₱3M lot.
Renting Space in a Mall in the Philippines: Costs and Terms
Renting space in a mall in the Philippines: base plus percentage rent, CUSA, deposits of two to six months, fit out, and street rents from ₱458 per sqm.
Foreigner Married to a Filipino: Property Rights Explained
A foreigner married to a Filipino gets a 13(a) visa, not land: what two Supreme Court cases say about money, houses, inheritance and the 25 year lease.
High-Rise vs Mid-Rise Condo in the Philippines: Which to Buy
High rise vs mid rise condo in the Philippines: the 15 meter Fire Code line, why dues climb with height, quake and flood behavior, and who each suits.
Rent Increase Philippines 2026: the 1% Cap and Your Rights
Rent increase Philippines 2026: the 1% cap on units at ₱10,000 or less, what the contract governs above that, deposit limits, ejectment and penalties.
Verify DHSUD License to Sell Before You Pay: 2026 Guide
How to verify a DHSUD License to Sell in ten minutes: PD 957 Sections 4, 5 and 39, the tower by tower check, the documents to demand, and the red flags.
House Construction Cost per Square Meter Philippines 2026
House construction cost per square meter in the Philippines 2026: ₱28,000 basic to ₱75,000 high end, what the rate excludes, and a full 100 sqm budget.
Lapu-Lapu Condos and Houses: Buy or Rent in Mactan (2026)
Lapu-Lapu condos for rent at a ₱30,000 median, houses from ₱1.9M and resort units to ₱8.5M: Mactan Newtown, Punta Engaño, Maribago and Basak compared.
Tax Declaration vs Land Title Philippines: What It Proves
Tax declaration vs land title in the Philippines: the title proves ownership, the tax declaration only shows who paid amilyar. Risks and titling routes.
How to Check if a Property Floods Before You Buy
Flood risk is checkable in an afternoon, for free: HazardHunterPH on the exact pin, UP NOAH for modeled flood depth, the barangay hall for street-level truth, and the waterline stains the seller painted over. The full due diligence, plus how to price and insure a flood history.
DHSUD Complaint Against Developer: The New 30-Day Rule
DHSUD ordered every pending homebuyer complaint against developers and HOA dispute resolved within 30 days: what it covers, how to file, what to bring.
Real Property Tax Clearance: How to Get It in 2026
Real property tax clearance: when the treasurer, banks and buyers ask for it, the documents to bring, the ₱30 to ₱150 fees and how arrears are settled.
Affordable Housing in the Philippines: 2026 Options
The real options for a home on an ordinary income: the 4PH program at around 3% interest, Pag-IBIG's socialized tiers, the provinces where ₱2M to ₱4M buys a real house, and the side doors, pasalo, foreclosed and rent-to-own, with the catch each one carries.
Selling an Inherited Property in the Philippines (2026)
You cannot sell inherited land until the estate is settled: the Extrajudicial Settlement, the 6% estate tax, then the sale with its own 6% capital gains tax. The two-tax sequence, the EJS with simultaneous sale shortcut, and the two-year Rule 74 clause that makes buyers nervous.
Makati Villages Guide 2026: Forbes, Dasma, Urdaneta, Bel-Air
Makati villages guide: Forbes Park, Dasmariñas, Urdaneta, Bel-Air, San Lorenzo and Magallanes, land from ₱300,000 to ₱704,000 per sqm, rents from ₱120,000.
Best Condos in Davao City: The 2026 Shortlist by District
Best condos in Davao City for 2026 by district: Azuela Cove and Lakeshore Drive in Lanang, Abreeza and Patio Suites in Bajada, Verdon Parc in Matina.
Luxury Condos in Pasig: Ortigas, Capitol Commons Shortlist
Luxury condos in Pasig by estate: Imperium, Royalton and Empress at Capitol Commons, the Galleon in Ortigas, Velaris in Bridgetowne, the Grove on C5.
Is DMCI Homes a Good Developer? Projects, Prices, Verdict
Is DMCI Homes a good developer? 85 buildings in our catalog, the Lumiventt design, the 102 point quality seal, Kalea Heights in Cebu, and what owners say.
Mandaue Condos Guide: Gatewalk Central, Mandani Bay, Prices
Mandaue condos guide: Gatewalk Central by Ayala, the Mandani Bay waterfront, the A.S. Fortuna towers and the affordable belt, rents at a ₱25,000 median.
Apartment Building for Sale in the Philippines: Income Math
How to read an apartment building for sale: listings from ₱4.7M to ₱35M, gross to net yield on a nine room example, rental income tax and the title checks.
Condos in Tagaytay: Prices, Buildings, Who They Suit (2026)
Condos in Tagaytay at ₱135,000 to ₱170,000 per sqm: Wind Residences, Serin West, Kasa Luntian, Pine Suites and Alpine Villas, with rents, dues and weather.
West Valley Fault Property Check: Is Your House Near It?
West Valley Fault property check: the cities it crosses, the 5 meter no build rule, PHIVOLCS FaultFinder and HazardHunterPH, and what the result means.
Authority to Sell in the Philippines: What It Is + Sample
The one-page document behind every brokered sale: what an Authority to Sell must contain, exclusive versus non-exclusive, the holdover clause where the money hides, and a free fill-in sample in English or Tagalog from our contract generator.
Selling Property in the Philippines: Costs, Taxes, Process
The seller pays 9% to 11% of the price: 6% capital gains tax on the gross value, 3% to 5% broker commission, plus any unpaid amilyar. What selling really costs, the documents to prepare before listing, and the sequence from offer to transferred title.
Funding a House Construction in the Philippines From Abroad
How to fund home construction in the Philippines from the US or abroad: Pag-IBIG construction loan releases, bank financing and a staged remittance build.
TCT vs CCT in the Philippines: What Each Title Covers
A TCT titles land, a CCT titles a condo unit plus a share of the common areas, and the difference decides what you own, whether a foreigner can buy it, and what you pay monthly. A plain-language comparison with the verification steps for both.
Ending a Lease Early: Deposit Refund Rules (Philippines)
Ending a lease early in the Philippines: when the security deposit is forfeited, when it must be refunded, and the clean exit checklist that protects it.
2-Bedroom Condos in Metro Manila: Prices and Buyer's Guide
What a two-bedroom condo really costs in 2026 with live medians (national ₱8.8M, ~64 sqm; rent ₱45k), the city spread from Cebu to BGC, the budget math, and the checks specific to the family unit.
Warehouse and Industrial Property Philippines: Buy or Lease
The industrial corridors (Cavite-Laguna, Bulacan-Pampanga NLEX, Rizal, Batangas port), real rental and sale rates per sqm, the PEZA ecozone angle, and the checklist that actually prices a warehouse.
Conditional Deed of Sale vs Deed of Absolute Sale in the Philippines
One word changes everything: what a Conditional Deed of Sale defers, what a Deed of Absolute Sale completes, where the Contract to Sell fits, and the clauses that protect installment buyers.
How Much Is My House Worth? Valuing a Home in the Philippines
How to value a condo, house or lot realistically in 2026: the price per square meter method, the adjustments that move value, the three numbers every seller should know, and pricing to sell in a buyer's market.
Buying Land in the Philippines: Titled Lots, Tax Decs, Traps
How to buy a lot safely in 2026: Torrens title versus tax declaration, patent and CLOA restrictions, the relocation survey, zoning and access checks, financing realities, and the scams that repeat.
Security Deposit Not Returned? Tenant Rights in the Philippines
Security deposit not returned? What a landlord can and cannot keep, the written demand that settles most cases, the barangay route and small claims court.
Philippine Visa Guide 2026: Extensions and Renewals
The tourist extension ladder, the long stay visas (SRRV, 13a, 9g), and the logistics nobody prices in: what renewing actually looks like when you live hours from the nearest Bureau of Immigration office.
Condo Association Dues in the Philippines, Explained (2026)
What condo dues pay for, how they are computed per square meter (roughly ₱60 to ₱150 in most towers), what a real unit pays per month, special assessments, and what happens if an owner stops paying.
Can Your Landlord Evict You? Eviction Rules in the Philippines
The legal grounds for eviction, why lockouts and utility cut-offs are illegal whatever you owe, how lawful eviction actually unfolds through the barangay and the courts, and how both sides protect themselves.
Condo vs Apartment in the Philippines: the Difference (2026)
Condo vs apartment in the Philippines: who owns the unit, dues, amenities and cost, which one to rent, and why buying almost always means a condo.
Small Claims Court in the Philippines: Recover Money Without a Lawyer
Money claims up to ₱1 million, standard forms, no lawyers at the hearing and a decision that is final: how small claims works, what it covers, and the one-afternoon preparation that wins it.
Renting Out Your Condo in the Philippines: the Landlord's Guide
How to turn a condo into rental income: building rules, pricing to the market, the lease contract done right, the BIR side of rental income, tenant screening, and managing from abroad.
How to Buy Property in the Philippines from Abroad (2026)
A practical 2026 guide for OFWs and overseas buyers: what you can own, the Special Power of Attorney that lets someone sign for you, the step by step remote purchase, how to pay safely, and the scams to avoid.
How to Transfer a Land Title in the Philippines (2026): Step by Step
A step-by-step 2026 guide to transferring a land title in the Philippines: the documents, the BIR taxes and eCAR, the transfer tax, registering the new title, and the costs and deadlines that trip buyers up.
How to Buy Foreclosed Properties in the Philippines (2026)
Where foreclosed properties come from (Pag-IBIG acquired assets, bank lists), the auction process step by step, the as-is-where-is risks that eat the discount, and who bargain hunting really suits.
Studio Condos in the Philippines: Sizes, Prices & Where to Buy (2026)
How much a studio condo costs in the Philippines in 2026 (around ₱3.4M, ~24 sqm), who they suit, why they are the landlord's favorite unit, and where to buy. With live per-city figures.
Flood-Prone & Flood-Safe Areas in Metro Manila: a Buyer's Guide
Flood-prone and flood-safe areas in Metro Manila by district, how to check any address with hazard maps, and what flooding does to property value.
Commercial Property in the Philippines: a 2026 Buyer & Tenant Guide
A 2026 guide to commercial property in the Philippines: retail, office and warehouse space, whether to buy or lease, what it costs per square meter, where the demand is, and what to check first.
Townhouses for Sale in the Philippines: Prices & Buyer's Guide (2026)
A townhouse sits between a condo and a detached house and lot, an attached home that still comes with its own land title. See how townhouses compare on land, dues, space and price, where to find them around Metro Manila, who they suit, and what to check before buying. Prices vary widely, so verify your area with the tool.
Most Searched Condos in the Philippines and How to Vet One
Most searched condos on BalayHub, May to October 2026: Prisma Residences, Megatower Baguio, L'Oasis Malabon and more, and how to vet a named building.
Renting in Metro Manila on a Budget: Bedspace, Studio, 1BR
From a ₱3,500 bedspace to a ₱30,000 one-bedroom, the real rental ladder in Metro Manila, the costs hiding behind the rent, and how to match what you pay to how you live.
Renting a Condo or Apartment in Metro Manila (2026 Guide)
A practical guide to renting in Metro Manila: how advance and deposit work, what your lease must include, Rent Control basics, real upfront-cash examples, and the scams to avoid.
How to Verify a Land Title in the Philippines (TCT/CCT)
The most expensive mistake in Philippine real estate is paying for land the seller doesn't really own. A step-by-step guide: getting a Certified True Copy from the Registry of Deeds, reading the encumbrances, checking the Tax Declaration and amilyar, verifying the seller's authority, and spotting fake titles.
Condo Turnover Checklist Philippines: What to Inspect
Condo turnover checklist: how to sign the acceptance form without waiving rights, a room by room punch list, the repair obligation and warranties.
Inheriting Property in the Philippines: Settlement & Tax
How inherited property transfers in the Philippines: extrajudicial vs judicial settlement, the 6% estate tax and its deadline, the step-by-step to put titles in the heirs' names, and the traps that catch families.
Earthquake Risk & Philippine Property: Safer Areas (2026)
Earthquake risk and Philippine property: which areas carry higher and lower risk, how buildings hold up, and what to check on a home before you sign.
Pre-selling Condo Showroom: What to Check Before You Sign
Pre-selling condo showroom visit: what the board price leaves out, what the reservation fee commits you to, the turnover balance and the license to sell.
How to Spot a Fake Rental Listing in the Philippines
Fake rental listing in the Philippines: the price, photo, no-viewing and deposit-first signals, the PRC and title checks, and what to do after paying.
Condo vs House and Lot in the Philippines: Which Is Right for You?
Honest breakdown of buying a condo vs a house and lot in the Philippines: ownership rules, maintenance, resale, lifestyle, and total cost over 10 years.
How to Buy Property in the Philippines: Complete 2026 Guide
Buying a house, condo or lot in the Philippines, the full 2026 process for locals, OFWs and foreigners: budgeting, financing, taxes and fees, the paperwork, and the red flags that cost buyers money.
The Impact of New Infrastructure Projects on Philippine Real Estate
Bridges, railways, airports, expressways, the Philippines is in the middle of a massive infrastructure buildout. Here is how it is reshaping the property market.
Why the Philippines Is Attracting More Foreign Property Investors
Foreign investment in Philippine property has been climbing. What is drawing international buyers, and what are the rules they need to know?
How Climate Change Is Affecting Philippine Property Values
Climate change and Philippine property values: Manila sea level rising 2.6 cm a year, flood and liquefaction zones, insurance rates, checks before buying.
Best Locations for Rental Income Properties in the Philippines
Where should you buy if your goal is steady rental income? We break down yields, vacancy rates, and tenant demand across the country's top rental markets.
Philippine Real Estate Market Outlook 2026: Trends and Predictions
What the rest of 2026 holds for property buyers, sellers and investors across the Philippines: rates, prices, supply and the areas to watch.