How can you protect yourself from fraudulent or spurious real property sellers or developers?

Here are some tips that may protect you in dealings with these unscrupulous people.
First, conduct a title search and check the authenticity of the transfer certificate of title, or TCT, or the condominium certificate of title, or CCT, which represent the seller’s proof of ownership over a property.

If you rely on the seller’s act of showing you an owner’s duplicate copy of either the TCT or CCT, you should check whether 1) the last digit of the TCT or CCT and the page number are the same, 2) the copy bears a security mark that can be seen when the document is exposed to light, 3) the red seal on the copy does not smear even when dabbed with a wet cloth, 4) the registrar of deeds has a copy, and 5) the document is a true copy of the TCT or CCT at the registrar of deeds.

Second, probe the identity of the seller. If the seller is the registered owner of the property being sold and not a broker, then request for identification, especially government-issued IDs like a driver’s license, a passport, or tax identification number card.

If the seller is a company, however, you can still confirm its identity as the owner of the property by asking for the Securities and Exchange Commission certificate of registration, a board resolution authorizing the sale of the property, and an authentic employment ID from the one selling the property on behalf of the company.

Remember that if the seller is someone other than the registered owner of the property, he or she must have a special power of attorney that authorizes him or her to sell the property.

Third, establish the seller’s ownership of the property. There are other, subtler ways to check this than merely asking for identification. One such way is by interviewing the seller about the property. If the seller is the real owner, he or she will have a great deal of stock knowledge about the property, such as history and topography.

Last, if the seller is a property developer, you should establish its compliance with laws by first asking the developer’s representative to furnish you copies of its Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board certificate of registration and license to sell.

I do, but I can't afford it—yet. Here's great news for those who CAN afford it, though. Units at a fully furnished condominium hotel are up for grabs for only 10 percent downpayment. Each 45 square meter unit is priced at PHP 3.8 million (that's around USD 80,000, according to today's interbank rate). Other units, each at 62 square meters, cost PHP 5.1 million, or around USD 107,000.

Here's a list of amenities and facilities: Main reception and dining area, game room, lounge area, spa service, business center with wi-fi connection, audio-visual room, and snack bar.

Each building consists of three-story walk-ups with 10 units per floor. The entire area where the condotel is situated is fenced and 24-hour security is guaranteed.

There are two unit types available: Panorama and Pinnacle. Each unit comes with a queen-size bed, night table, dining table, dining chairs, writing table, console for television, desk chair, easy chair, ottoman, coffee table, balcony chair, balcony table, refrigerator, microwave, television, and split-type air-conditioning unit.



Interested parties may contact me. This will prompt me to send you the contact details of the broker licensed to sell these properties.

Finally, urban living is a breeze. Turn Boracay into your perfect all-season vacation spot. The only condotel-residential community in Boracay, Alta Vista De Boracay assures you a private, secured resort living experience any time of the year, even during peak months.

What exactly does full-service residential suites mean? Here's a description from property developer Antel Land Holdings Inc.:

Imagine coming home after a stressful day at work to have your massage treatment right where you live. Meet up with your friends at the rooftop coffee shop or have your special events at the ballroom or resort spa garden ballroom. No maids to clean up? Then just call the housekeeping. Too tired to cook? No, problem, there's room service.

Get it? It's like living in a hotel or resort. This is probably Antel's premise when they launched the Antel Spa Residences, touted to be the Philippines' first Full-Service Residential Suites "Lifestyle" Tower.

Let's check out Antel's launch announcement for the Antel Spa Residences (thanks to Dave Ballesteros of dbmedia):

The revolutionary FSRS concept pioneered by Antel Land Holdings Inc. in 2005 is a new development category that provides true hotel facilities and services in a residential condominium at the onset, a big departure from the traditional hybrid condo-tel and apartelle style buildings wherein the hotel services are just merely add-ons to the existing structures.

Thus FSRS will soon become the benchmark for future residential towers in the country, spearheaded by fast-rising 29-story Antel Spa Residences and its predecessor The A. Venue Residences.

“The uniqueness and versatility of FSRS separate Antel Spa Residence from our competitors, since it espouses the company’s ideals to offer prospective tenants with the convenience and prestige of a condo address where hotel services are at your beck and call,” said Antel director for sales Miguel Gascon.

According to him, the FSRS features equip Antel Spa Residences with full hotel services, with complete and master-planned “back-of-the-house” facilities, storage, warehousing, offices, manpower support, concierge, and laundry, which further the total pampering experience.

“With the FSRS in mind, Antel Spa Residences even becomes responsive to special needs because it offers guests and tenants a chance to imbibe a wholistic lifestyle that is within reach, 24/7. Antel Spa Residences offers a balanced approach in providing both quality hotel servicing and comprehensive health and wellness program that lets weary city dwellers and even tourists immerse in stress-free environs” Gascon noted.

Modern conveniences and breathing spaces are well considered at Antel Spa Residences, as it keeps abreast with today’s changing lifestyles such as demanding jobs, tight work schedules, and traffic woes. The lifestyle tower, in short, makes condo living in the metro a viable and timely option for tourists, families, and independent urbanites.

Antel Spa Residences houses a wide range of spa and wellness facilities, like a Wellness Academy where you can learn the latest and most effective health trends like yoga and Pilates plus personalized diet programs, alternative healing and detoxification processes, a nature trail, meditative sanctuary, private spa and massage centers, sauna baths, resort spa and kiddie pool, rooftop infinity pool and lounge, and a commercial area for organic restaurants, markets, beauty and medical clinics, and wellness shops, just an elevator ride away.

Designed by architect Edward Co Tan, the healthy lifestyle-oriented environs of Antel Spa Residences is but part of the sprawling 1.7-hectare Antel Lifestyle City. Strategically found also in the enclave are the A. Venue Event Mall that houses a variety of high-end dining bars, clubs, coffee shops, themed bazaars and a 2000-sqm international standard events hall and A. Venue Residences, which also carries with it the unique elements and functionality of FSRS.

Live a whole new way of life at Antel Spa Residences, where the privilege of readily available services and amenities plus a premier Makati Avenue address can be yours in one taking.

The number of millionaires in the United Kingdom will rise by 400 percent in the next few years and the Philippines is already reaping the rewards, a recent survey says.

“The number of British people investing in overseas real estate has increased dramatically in recent years, with some agents in the Philippines claiming that four in 10 of their buyers are from the UK, compared to just one in 10 a few years ago,” says a statement from marketing firm PLC Global Filipino, citing a study conducted by UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research.

“If recent surveys are an accurate indication of the future, then Filipino realtors might be seeing an even higher percentage of Brits buying from them in the near future,” the firm adds.

Commenting on the findings of the study, which suggests that the number of British millionaires will rise dramatically from 376,000 to 1,700,000 in the near future, the Philippine-based condo hotel marketing group points out that the number of British citizens in Manila and Cebu has increased noticeably in the past few years.

The increase in the number of British investments in Philippine real estate has prompted the British diplomatic officials to acquire a large tract of land in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, Metro Manila, where they will build a new embassy.

“While we do expect to see an even higher proportion of British residents in the Philippines, the fact that there is going to be four times the number of millionaires doesn’t mean that there will be four times the number of people looking to buy in the Philippines,” PLC Global Filipino clarifies.

The firm explains, though, that foreigners looking for property investments in the Philippines for retirement purposes can enjoy quite a number of advantages, among which are lower cost of living, housing, food, and labor.

“At the moment, a standard one-bedroom condominium can be purchased for around $60,000, or 32,500 pounds. Where can you find a 350 square foot flat in the heart of central London for only 25,000 pounds and then get up to 18 percent per annum return of investments from rental returns, tax free,” says Beth Collingz, director of the company.

“These figures probably seem crazy to London property buyers unless they remember the prices of flats and apartments back in the late 1970s,” she adds.

Collingz, who used to live in South Kensington before settling down in the Philippines and still owns several Chelsea Embankment Townhouses and St. Catherine Dock Flats, gives the following suggestions to British citizens or those married to Europeans who have $50,000 or 30,000 pounds to invest.

First, to spend it buying a studio condotel suite at the Lancaster Atrium Manila for what she calls an “initial property appreciation investment.” Collingz explains that the suite, which has a total floor area of 28.17 meters, will start earning rental income in 2010.

Second, to purchase a studio condotel suite at the Lancaster Suites Manila which, after its turnover this year, will start earning rental income almost immediately.

Last, to buy a studio condotel suite at the Lancaster Cebu Resort Residences, which, like the Lancaster Suites Manila, will rake in revenue starting this year.

“My phone has been very busy with buyers from the UK, Scotland, and Australia interested in purchasing investment opportunities and holiday homes here. A lot of this interest is being driven by the relatively cheap market prices in the Philippines compared to Europe and the easy payment options available for local condotel developments,” Collingz says.

“Those are not the only factors. Offshore property investors, foreign baby bombers as well as overseas Filipinos are looking for ways to maximize the return on their investments as they approach retirement,” she adds.

According to Collingz, the advantage of purchasing a condotel for a second home is that it can be used as a vacation home and then rented out with the help of the in-house condotel management when not in use.

With today’s purchase prices, these condotel units give a projected return on investments of 12 percent to 16 percent, depending on the mode of payment for the unit.

“International buyers know it’s a buyer’s market in the Philippines right now. There are a lot of properties available and fewer local buyers,” she says. “I’m working with clients who are purchasing their second properties with me. We also have referrals from many of our prior customers and new clients who have found us through our web sites.”