Philippines Property Investment For Sale

"The second fastest growing nation in Asia."

Comprised of 7,107 islands in the South China Sea, the Philippines are renowned as a stunning holiday destination with white sand beaches and azure seas. However equally the Philippines has been associated with a tirade of bad press involving corruption, dictatorship, terrorism, economic weakness and natural disasters.  Although the undertones of all these problems do ripple throughout this diverse country, much is changing in the archipelagic nation. 

The Philippines is now the second fastest growing nation in Asia behind the colossus that is China, thanks to the growth of both service and industry.  The government is also making some progress on improving the problems with poverty, education and health although there is still some way to go.  Infrastructure improvements in transport and the growth of tourism will both continue to help fuel the expansion of this emerging market and help to dispel the high unemployment , acute poverty, poor human rights, slave labour, unequal distribution of wealth, regular terrorism, astronomical food prices and corruption.

It is all not gloom and doom for the potential property investor however as property prices are generally low although there are restrictions of foreign ownership and taxes are high for non-resident owners on both rental returns and on sale.  The easiest opportunities for overseas investors are to buy apartments in the capital Manila and the larger Metro Manila region or at the nearby coastal area of Batangas.
 

Geography

The Philippines is a collection of 7,107 islands situated just north of Malaysia in the South China Sea. The islands are grouped under three regional heads: Luzon is the largest and most northerly island and the location of the capital, Manila and Quezon City. The second is Mindanao and the third group is the Visayas Islands, of which Cebu is the central island and a prominent tourist destination, most of the population lives on only eleven of the islands. Manila is the country's capital with a diverse style of living from lively and outgoing to subtle and subdued or traditional to modern. The Philippines offers a range of historic sights, landscapes, energetic cities and the rich culture of the Filipino communities.

Government

The Philippines have a president which is elected for a six year term. The president acts as both head of state and head of government, whilst also taking the role of commander in chief of the armed forces.

Language

Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasina.  The Philippines is the only English speakng country in Asia, making it a very popular tourist destination for English speaking nationals.  Filipinos are a very welcoming people particularly to tourists.

Standard of Living

The Philippines don't have a high standard of living as much of the country lives in extreme poverty with very little money to exist upon. The cost of living in the country is considerably cheaper than living in western countries but finding jobs for foreigners is very difficult so anyone planned on staying in the Philippines for a long period of time must make sure they have enough money to survive the period of their visit.

With the second fastest growing economy in Asia behind China, the Philippines has alot to offer and is making waves across the developed world with much upgrading of airports, rail networks, roads, bridges and ports in progress. It weathered the international financial downturn better than many of its regional peers and has a flourishing and expanding buisness outsourcing industry and its stock market is Asia's second best performers.

Key Industries

The Philippines has large export and import markets, trading with many countries around the world.  Many international companies have offices and factories based in the country, with representatives from the automotive, electronic and computing industries as examples. Its key industries include: semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil and fruits.

Although the Philippines has a large number of coastal locations and rural areas, the most weighty investment gains will be made in a very small proportion of the country – namely around Manila and the larger Metro Manila region and at the nearby coastal area Batangas.

Metro Manila

The country's capital, Manila, is a city of high-rises and high expectations. It is also home to a fascinating historic arena, founded by Spanish settlers in the 16th century. Istramuros is one of the oldest walled cities in the far east and a delight for history hungry visitors. Aside from this are a large number of open squares, parks and public gardens as well as the river which bisects the city in two. On completion of the expansion of the light railway system Manila will also benefit from efficient and swift transport links.

Manila lies on Manila Bay and is part of a wider area called Metro Manila situated on the island of Luzon. Metro Manila is divided into 17 cities and municipalities, including former capital Quezon City and bustling Makati. Manila has the highest population density of any major city in the world including Paris and Shanghai.

Although a popular spot for visitors, foreigners do need to be aware of crime levels especially considering that threats of kidnapping and of religious tension are fairly high.

Palawan

An archipelago of 1700 islands gaining prominence as the eco-tourism destination of the future. Located in the South China Seas, this is a natural safe haven protected from extreme weather in a region free of earthquakes and away from the typhoon belt. It is home to 2000km of coastline, 2 world heritage sites and four marine reserves. 

Batangas

Around two-hours' drive from central Manila is the popular coastal area of Batangas. Offering attractive beaches, decent diving, historic colonial architecture and increasing amounts of tourist resorts, this region has been identified as one of the Philippines' key growth areas. Batanga City has seen a programme of development with the local port being one of the most important trading hubs in the country. 

Cebu

An island in the middle of the main Philippine archipelago, Cebu is arguably the country's most sought after destination attracting divers, tourists and anyone doing business in busy Cebu City. In line with its popularity especially among ex-pats, property here isn't cheap especially in the more mountainous locations which are often more sought after than the beachside locations. 

Boracay

Boracay Island in the Western Visayan group is another popular coastal destination although a particularly concentrated development comprising a number of bars and restaurants has reportedly begun to damage the famous 14 kilometre-long powder-white sand beach and clean seas. Despite this, the area continues to attract large numbers of visitors.