Last week I was so excited to get a phone call from my agent Mae. She knows, of course, that we are on the lookout now for a new place to live. She told me on the phone that she had a house for me to look at and its not that far from my house right now. That really makes me happy since we like to live in this part of town. Near to everything. Location right now is really a plus for us. She knows that we want to be in a quiet neighborhood and not in a traffic area. She told me that the house that she wants me to see has the specifications that I was telling her about. So we set up the time to meet up and go from there to see the house.
Well, we kind of got lost at first because the address didn’t seem correct. In our neighborhood, all of our street names are gem stones. She told me that the house that the address given to her was in this area. I told her its not because by just the name alone its not a gem stone name. This was also her first time seeing the house. The address was given to her by a friend. We just kept on looking and went to a lot of street and finally found it. It was really on the other side of Marfori. A few blocks from our house.
Mae immediately rang the bell and some lady came out from the house. Mae then asked for Miss Jenny I think (can’t remember her name). The lady said that it was her. So Mae told her that the best friend of the owner told Mae to find a renter for the house, and that the owner wanted it rented as soon as possible.
Just by observing the exchange of Mae and the lady I knew it was not looking good. Jenny immediately asked Mae who was sending us there and did we know that she’s the sister of the owner? Mae told her that “I was told that its just the caretaker were here and that the mom and the sister comes here sometimes.” Jenny immediately told us that she would not let us in and had not been informed by her sister. So Mae then called up her contact and told her that the house is not for rent right now. Mae’s friend talked to Jenny and then Jenny let us in to see the house.
While having the tour Jenny was fuming and saying how dare her sister have this house rented. That she didn’t have the courtesy to tell her. Mae told Jenny “we came here because I was told that this house is for rent. I didn’t know about it unless somebody told me. That’s the only reason why we are here.” Jenny understands what Mae meant, we just came there because it was told to Mae that its for rent.
Jenny told us that she (Jenny) owned the land with a small house before. She said that since her sister went to Ireland to work, the sister told her that she would build a house for Jenny and their mom. So Jenny let her sister tear down the old house to put this nice 2 story house. Jenny told us that her sister said that Jenny and her mom can stay there for as long as they want. When Jenny and her sister made the agreement, the sister of Jenny was single at that time. The problem now was that the sister that owned the house that worked in Ireland got married like over a year ago to a Filipino guy. She petitioned the guy to come and live with her to Ireland. I think Jenny mentioned he just went to Ireland like 2 months or so ago.
While touring the house Jenny wanted Mae to call Mae’s contact. So Jenny talked to the Mae’s contact, the lady told Jenny the people’s name that wanted the house rented. It turned out really that the people that wanted the house rented were the husband and the mother-in-law of the sister of Jenny. As soon as Jenny found out who was behind it Jenny was really mad and told us that she never would move out on the house. Mae asked Jenny who really owned the house and lot? Jenny said that she owned the lot and the sister built the house. But in the title is just in her sister’s name. I told Jenny “you and your sister had to talk about it. You will end up fighting later just over this house. It’s not worth it.”
Jenny said that their mom is not in good health right now. I really had a feeling that the sisters will end up fighting over the house. I’m pretty sure the husband wants the family of his wife moved out on that house. I think he wants his mom taking over the place. I told Jenny right there I am not interested on the house and I will never recommend to anyone I know. It’s just not worth the hassle.
Gosh, I don’t know those people but its a heartache seeing them torn apart by just a house and lot. I really hope that they can resolve their problem before it gets bigger. I will ask my agent for more updates on that. I hope its a better one. Let you guys know.
Cheers!
Hi Feyma- Looks like you’ve had a lucky escape finding out the background story before commiting to anything. I sometimes ask myself is anything straight forward in this country.
I do hope you find something suitable and hassle free very soon.
All the best.
Jim.
Hi Jim – Yeah, luckily I did. Not fun to be in that situation.
Still looking. We still have time.
Good to see you again Jim.
Take care!
Hi Feyma – Yes, there’s nothing like a spat over property to break up friendships and families. Thank the Lord you were able to bow out gracefully from the coming feud. It could still end up in court and you could be called to testify, but I doubt it as some major players are out of the country.
I’m sure the perfect rental house is still out there, waiting for you. May you find it quickly, and may the owner/landlord be a saint.
😉
Hi Paul – Yes, thats for sure. The sad thing this problem keeps on growing. I’m not really surprised to see those 2 siblings end up in court. I think its going to be a big fight. I hope the mom can handle it.
Still looking. Hopefully will find the right place. We still have some time though.
Thank you Paul.
Take care!
Hi Feyma! I think if the land is under the name of the sister, then for all intents and purposes it is owned by the sister. If Jenny says it is hers, then the question would be how? Was it given to her by the parents? Did she actually buy it? If she bought it, why is it not under her name? If she thinks that it was given to her by the parent, then most likely it is neither hers nor her sisters and is still subject to the law on succession (inheritance) and it still has to be divided between the siblings and the mother (surviving spouse). No one owns it. Her share is just inchoate (anticipatory in other words).
Obviously it is a family matter and it is best not to even rent a house where the ownership is in dispute.
Hi Claudette – I don’t really know the law here. But the problem the sister had the title that she can prove to court that she owned the land. I don’t know how Jenny can fight to that. When Jenny said to us that even if the judge awards that house to her sister she said she never will moved out from that house “NEVER”. I know right there that the 2 siblings will have a big problem ahead of them. I hope I’m wrong on this.
Yeah they should resolve the matter first before offering the house to others.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Take care!
Hi Feyma, One of the things that drove a wedge between the ex- and I was the divisive, really nasty, infighting that took place over thier mothers welfare, and the arguing over a 3 family house. The mother needed to be in a nursing home but nobody would pay. The house was in a trust for 2 brothers but the 7 sisters argued it should be split equally among all 9…It’s really ugly when families argue about money and material goods. You did the right thing to back away from that house, most likely that will only become a very ugly situation.
Hi Mark G. That must be hard. Good luck for that. Money can really turn something, good or bad. As they say the root of all evil.
I hope they resolve the problem first before they will think of renting out that place.
Good to see you again.
Take care!
Feyma,
Boy does this story sound familiar! My mother-in-law has tried to sort out the property situation for my wife & her siblings, so that there would be no fighting after she passed. As my Jeanne & I have a few properties, she shouldn’t bother over who receives what. To make things easier, my mother-in-law even bought a few extra properties, so that her “kids” would have more than enough to build on. Unfortunately, two of the properties are near Cebu, one in Argao, one in Dalaguete. Of my wife’s siblings, the ones who live in Davao want to sell those two properties and the ones living abroad want to keep them. LOL
Easy for me to laugh, because it’s not my problem. But, I suggested to my wife that the sister & brothers in Davao have less money, so if they’d rather have the money, than land that they can not afford to visit or develop, they should be the deciders. Yes, they’ll probably all waste the money quickly, but that’s their problem. However, my wife & the sister who lives in France(the eldest) are the bossy ones in the family, and they keep buying land but never sell it. I’m going to buy lots of popcorn to eat while I watch them fight, when I return! My wife’s best friend has the same situation in Tagaytay. When my parents died, we never had these fights, so I find them hard to understand.
Hi Mike – Hey, thank you for sharing your story. It’s really common here, now that I think about it. Sometimes too many properties really gives headache and heartache. Not good to be in.
You will have to store a lot of popcorn then. The bickering will last forever though. 😉
Good luck to you and your wife and family.
Nice to see you again here!
Take care!
Feyma;
My will states, that my wife gets my house, after her, our 2 daughters. we decided to keep in-laws from splitting up our daughters, and causing a fight, so the house is to be sold and the proceeds split between the two girls. Or one daughter may buy out the others half for the appraised value, (not some price an in-law decides.) My mother and father did it that way and not one argument came up between their five sons, their property was sold and split 5 equaly. The house you and Bob are looking for is out there waiting, seek and ye shall find! Good Luck.
Hi Paul – Good for you to prepare. So no fighting at the end. It’s pretty common here in the Philippines to not have a will except the wealthy folks I think.
Yes, we will find it, I’m sure. We will look seriously soon.
As always good to see you here Paul.
Take care!
Feyma…this kinda stuff happens all the time in various ways between members of families…I love the bumper sticker you see on back of cars some times that says something like this….”we are spending are kids inheritance now” hahaha this way nothing for the kids to fight over after we are gone…I am sure you will find a good house with all lined up in the right way so all will be happy.
Hi Dan – Yeah it happens. Its just sad to see them fight over it. I really hope they can resolve the matter soon.
I’ve seen that bumper sticker before when I was in the States. From one of the car and also in the bookstore. Really a good sticker…
Will find the house soon.
Thank you for stopping by.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
Sounds like the in laws have their greedy heads on,sadly,quite a common occurence in the Philippines.
regards,Chas.
Hi Chas – Sounds like it. I hope the in-laws will back off first and let the siblings resolve the problem for now.
Hey, whats up with you? Good to see you again.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
I’ve just been very busy with a few UK related problems of my own,the pressure is easing now.
Thankfully,fingers crossed,i have no Philippine related problems (for now) LOL.
regards,Chas.
Hi Chas – Good to know. Hope to see you soon here as one of the retiree(expats) in the Philippines. 😉
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
Not unusual esp when others come into the picture. Unfortunately for Jenny and his mom.
Alex
Hi AlexB – Yeah. I hope they will talk this over as a family. Will update you more on this saga.
Thank you.
Take care!
Hi Feyma,
My parents died two years ago, and my father survived my mother. According to the laws of the Philippines, my father can only inherit one half of my mother’s property and the other half to be divided amongst his four legal children. My father wrote his will, leaving his properties to my mother and if she did not survive, his properties are to be divided equally among the four children. As his will was written, not in accordance with the laws of the Philippines, the court ruled that he died intestate. The four children are presently the co-administrators to our parents’ properties. This matriarchal law is designed to protect the children, just in case the father transfers common properties from the first wife to the second – leaving the first wive’s children with nothing.
Our present problem is that the other two siblings do not wish to contribute to the taxes, maintenance, and management fees of the properties. As for the rental properties, we legally designated through an attorney a trusted cousin to manage and rent the properties. (The attorney oversees her activities.)
Hi Roselyn – I’ve seen and heard about that first wife’s kids didn’t get anything. Of course they will sue the other siblings. It gets messy and sometimes killing each other. Not good.
That’s really a dilemma to a lot of siblings here after the parents passing. Just wants to get what they can get not even thinking of paying off some other stuff.
Good luck to you.
Take care!
As I understand it, the lot belongs to the person whose name is on the clean Title. The house is incidental as it is considered an improvement to the lot. So, whether buying or renting, demand to see the original of the Title to see who is the actual owner, and if it is not clean walk away.
Hi Steve Hark – Good advice. Thank you.
Have a good day.
Take care!
Interesting story … ummm do you have the cell number of the girl in the picture?
Joke lang :).
As i mentioned this am Feyma I assued the girl in the pic was Mae !! hahahahaha
But when i met Mae it wasnt her !