Comments on: The Condo Craze

By: hill roberts

hill roberts — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:35:13 +0000

Hi, Bob, many thanks for clarifying that one. I’ll let my British friends in northern England know about it….so they do not look down on us, being real “flat dwellers”. Our apartment block is one of the old originals built in Marbella when there was hardly any building in sight or on site! Also, the new ones being built or those that have been built these last twenty years are only nice to look at. But if you do buy one, chances are, you’d have to transport all your furniture via the
balcony since it’s the only way to do it!

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:23:09 +0000

Hi hill roberts – in the US, the word “condo” has no connotation of being for the rich or well to do. It simply is an arrangement of how the purchase/ownership is set up. Even a practical slum could be a condo if that is how the legalities of the building are arranged.

By: hill roberts

hill roberts — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:07:07 +0000

Bob –corection> The swimming pools are for all owners of the apartment building—NOT exclusive for our use—hehehe. Mind you we do not even swim!The garden too is for everybody.

By: hill roberts

hill roberts — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:03:01 +0000

Maayong buntag, Bob. The word, “condo” sounds rather posh to me. Generally speaking, in Spain, majority of the people live in apartment blocks. I, for one, live in one 9with uniterrupted views of North Africa and Gibraltar, as well as the Med. However, I just couldn’t find myself to say, “oh, yeah, I live in a condo…”Why? In Europe it’s a common thing, especially in Mediterranean countries. However, if you have British friends, they sort of “look down (?)” if they found out we “only” live in an apartment block. Although the word “condo” is widely used in the US and the Philippines, my husband especially would say, ” We live in a penthouse…” Indeed we do since we’re on the top floor of a five-storey building, with two swimming pools, large and a children’s pool and a rather large well-kept garden. still, when I speak to my Fil-Am friends they always refer to “condo”—What’s the difference then? I would like to know exactly. Some would say a “condo” has 24 security, unlike apartment blocks. But, in the eighties, we did have a porter-cum-security—but would that qualify as a “condo”? I mentioned the UK because in the past, when one lives in an “apartment block”, they usually refer to people who are rather “downmarket” or “long-time” immigrants. Since all our British friends live in the north, they all live in large houses or bungalows. So when they come to Marbella, which is a resort town, they begin to understand why we are, in fact, “flat dwellers” as the Brits would snobbishly say. So, Bob, should I beat my breast and say, “Yehey, I have been living in a “condo” for the past 28 years!” since it’s quite a big thing in Florida and the Philippines nowadays…The real reason why we refuse to leave where we are now is in fact, for practical reasons: near centre of town, handy for buying daily paper, restaurants and coffee shops below, gym, accessibility to the nearest health centre and USP hospital is just a few meters from our “penthouse”. Above all, because we are childless so no need of a fancy large house on the hills—where celebrities and filty rich live. The “poorer ones live down the valleys and somewhere pretentiously hilly. The new apartment blocks built in major cities here look inviting, but when you actually buy a unit, they are really , really small. They call them “minipiso” and the usual unit is only about 20 square meters!!! The cost before the credit crunch? 100,000 Euros for a teeny-weeny size “condo” unit. Barcelona’s elite live up on the hills, the rest live in apartment blocks. Indeed, they are 99% flat dwellers and proud of it. Regards. Hill

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:21:08 +0000

Hi celso lee – The truth is that I never really go to Metro Manila. It’s been 5 years since I have been up there. Because of this, I know nothing about condos up there.

By: celso lee

celso lee — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:14:42 +0000

hi bob can you compare davao condo from manila condo in terms of prices per square meter? more power

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:11:20 +0000

Hi Piet- indeed!

By: Piet

Piet — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:02:48 +0000

Contractors in Davao should be happy that Philippine construction is on the rise; not only in Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna but also Mindanao.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:33:03 +0000

Hi Ed O’Brien (O’Bie)- Thanks for your comment. Ellen is not a Real Estate Agent, so I doubt that she has a real estate license. Her family is involved in Real Estate Development, among other businesses.

By the way, regarding your house for sale – it’s ok to include a link to your site by putting a link with your name when you sign up to comment. However, please no blatant advertising in the comment itself. If you want to advertise on the site, we can sell you advertising. Otherwise, the comments are not a place for advertising. I hope you understand. As I said, a link from your name is no problem at all.

Take care!

By: Ed O'Brien (O'Bie)

Ed O'Brien (O'Bie) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:09:32 +0000

Thanks Bob, and sorry Rusty, I’ll try very hard to put my 2cents where it belongs!! Does Ellen have a Real Estate Licence? I’ll let Nori know about her.. SF Filipino news paper is saying many of the OFW’s Nurses are cashing in on property in Manila because of the prices have come down in many Condo’s and especially taking advantage of the peso exchange!! Where are they building a SM in Lanang? Nori says that there is a Robinson being built in Lanang…
Anyone thats looking for a 860 sq meter lot with a nice house and a BIG Wet kitchen check out my new web site…http://www.ed.unboxyourself.com
Have a Great week everyone, the Stock market went crazy yesturday here in the US!! O’Bie