A few years ago, I had an employee working for my company, WowPhilippines. She mostly took care of Customer assistance, packaging of customer orders and such. She also did some blogging for me on some sites that I had back then. This girl was from the Davao area, but more up in the mountains, going toward Bukidnon.
One day, this girl told Feyma about some land that was for sale up in that area, just very close to the border of Davao City and Bukidnon Province. The land sounded interesting, and it was cheap, so Feyma told me about it. Well, it really got my interest, and I immediately told Feyma, “Let’s go have a look!” Well, the girl didn’t know exactly where the place was located, but her father did, so she made arrangements for her Father to come with us.
We headed up toward the Marilog District of Davao and picked up the father, and were headed toward Bukidnon. As it turned out, the land that was for sale was just very, very near to a place that I was already quite familiar with, and a place that I liked a lot. In fact, the land that we looked at was just like maybe 1/4 mile off the highway, and at the highway there was a wonderful vegetable stand where you could buy very fresh veggies that also were very cheap. The price of the vegetables here was about 1/4 of what you would pay in the City. So, this place was a real winner, if the land was nice. If you recall, in our recent series of articles about where we live, I wrote that the Buda area was an area where I would like to consider retiring, and this is just 30 minutes from Buda, and even nicer, in that it is 30 minutes closer to the City!
Well, when the man told us to stop, and that we were at the land in question, we got out of the car, and had to walk a short distance. There was no road directly to the land, but it was only a matter of putting in a driveway, and seemed it would be quite easy.
When we saw the land… WOW! Instantly, I think both Feyma and I fell in love. I know that I did. There was just something about this place. Absolute peace and quiet. Something of a down home, country feel. Up in the hills, but a nice piece of flat land. Nice trees, and also cleared pasture land. There were some cows grazing in the grass. This just felt like home to me. There was a fairly simple looking house on the land already, although it would either need a lot of fixing up, or more likely we’d need to build a new house altogether. This felt like home, though.
Well, this land amounted to about 2 hectares as I recall, roughly 5 acres. Plenty big, yet not unmanageable for me and Feyma. And, it was cheap too. As I recall, the asking price was P200,000 (only about $4,000 or so). I was ready to plunk down the cash for the place in a hurry, no questions asked! I had found the place that I was looking for. I think Feyma felt the same way too.
We told the man who took us that we wanted to talk to the owner, so he took us into the little “town” along the highway and we found the old man who owned the place. Yep, P200,000. Then he started explaining to our guide where the land was. Oops… it was not the land that we just looked at, it was further than that. So, we went back for a second look, or actually a first look at the land that really was for sale. We drove, drove, and drove a bit further, and still were not there. Feyma and I realized that it was further off the highway than what we would want, so we turned around and headed back to town.
Sometimes I go back and look at my pictures of that place, and dream about being able to retire on that piece of land. It really is a beautiful place. There is a view, nice crisp cool weather. Everything was so perfect! I guess it just wasn’t to be, though!
Who knows… maybe we’ll find something else near there, or maybe that exact piece of land will become available someday. You never know!
Bob; Was the land you looked at in error for sale? I can’t say I blame you as the pictures, sure looks like paradise. The land I have was not the one I came to see, but after I saw it I asked if it was for sale, I’ve been here ever since.
Hi Bob – I live in Paradise, and it's not for sale! 😆
Hi Paul – I live in Davao, and I love it. However, I have come to realize that there is no paradise on earth! 😉
Bob,
Oh man. What a heart breaker!
I hate to bore you but I know a similar tale so i can relate to your pain.
My parents had a similar, although, a worse really, experience. Where I live, at the time, was completely surrounded by woods. A spring-fed creek. A constant breeze cooled by the forest around us made summers bearable. Idyllic. The woods though were owned by another person. Who one day came by to ask my dad if he wished to buy it. Now, my Dad was disabled retied military living with 3 kids on a Ex-Sargent's retirement benefits. Heck, he was still paying on this house. But he jumped at it. They haggled a price. 5k for about 8 acres. Now you got to remember this was like a 1975 5k. They shook. My Dad and Mum went to bank. Borrowed the money. Brought the money home and was counting it out on the bed when phone rang. The guy said he decided not to sell it. Two days later we heard chain saws and saw surveyors. Next thing you know there are two houses there and no woods. I still feel the pain of that loss.
I'm considering moving there but unsure exactly where I would like to live. I think I'd rent a while until I found exactly what I wanted that I could afford. But I admit, the photos you showed looked like what I'd want.
Sorry to ramble. I really am but seem unable to restrain myself at times
tommy
Sorry about that and I know the feeling as it has happened to us for many other reasons about a dozen times in looking for properties. I would keep looking Bob as there are literally tens of thousands of hectares for sale all over the place only a stones throw from Davao.
A few years ago, my wife found 100 hectares for sale in in a beautiful area from which you can actually see Samal Island in the distance. A concrete roads runs along the top of it and it is perfect for all the things you mentioned. She wants to grow stuff on it. Best thing yet was the price…..17,000 per hectare. I asked her about this regarding your blog today and she said the best thing to do is (wherever you see something interesting) simply go to the barangay captain and talk to them and be very complimentary if you get my meaning. They will steer you in the right place. Most of the land in these areas are owned by native people and finding the property you may like is not so far removed as you might think. We continue to find fantastic properties at fantastic prices as we now have a system that works and everyone wins. Good luck and hope you find something nice like you did in Samal Island
Hi Bill – Well, that was a number of years ago, and I had kind of even forgotten about it. The other day, I was browsing some photos on my hard drive and came upon my pictures of the land, and got thinking about it.
Hi Bob, I think many of us when in search of a special piece of land, encounter false starts and disappointments. People sometimes approach a person with news of land for sale, but it might be a problem of being way overpriced, having no access road or access to running water, like you said, not actually for sale or worse– deeded to someone else etc.
I think sometimes though, when you're not even actively looking, that special land will present itself, and everything will fit and fall into place. It sounds corny, but I think thats part of the magic of the Phillipines. Good luck in your search.
Bob,
I was pretty surprised at how low rent was. Especially in rural areas. The only real reason I'd want to buy would be to leave something to family when I'm gone. But buying land seems such a Byzantine process there.
Hi Bob,
I enjoyed you article and pictures. The place you looked at sounds like an ideal place to live. And I also liked the part about the cooler weather. How much cooler is it up there in the mountains compared to where you live now in Davao? Also, I wonder if you would have looked up the owner of that place if he would have priced it to you? You never know?
Thank You,
Dale
Hi Bob,
That sure looked liked a quiet peaceful spot.
Have you lost interest in Samal Island as your ultimate home?
Hi Michael – No, we have not lost interest in Samal. As I wrote a month or two ago, we are worried that Samal is going to be too commercialized, too touristy, too much traffic, etc, based on current trends. We have not abandoned our plans, we are just keeping an eye out. Also, this incident happened long before we ever bought any land on Samal, maybe 5 years ago or so.
Personally, I think that in the province, if you end up in a certain area that you like living in, and the price is affordable, the logical conclusion is to buy property or land. For obvious reasons, to have a place that you can call your own and do with what you want. Also, in the province, owning property gives you more standing in your community, and a bigger sense of belonging. Lastly, the re-sale value in the future if you chose to sell would be profitable, especially in certain islands like Cebu, there is only a finite amount of land to be had.
Now in cities, or in a large area like Mindanao, that might be a different story. I can only speak from my own perspective.
Kamusta ka Bob,
That piece of property looks very beautiful, nice and peaceful. Someday, you and Feyma will find that place to build a nice retirement home, and have grandchildren running around.
Salamat kaayo,
Danny 🙂
PS, those pics in Feyma's photo gallery of your little niece Nicole are precious, her little school uniform is so cute, and the pic of her crying and you consoling her is priceless…ingats!!
one thing is foreigners cant legally own land in the Philippines so it would be in your spouses name and if your children are all born in the usa neither can they unless they all have acquired dual citizenship.and if there not dual citizens the only way they could own land and yourself is to inherit it from your spouse !
i agree with you rent is so cheap ! why take on the expense of buying and building a house in P.I my wife has 3 property's that we can move to 2 of them need a house to be built and the third one has a house but is in a real rough area that i cant see myself moving half way around the world to live in. renting to me is something that makes more sense ,building and repairing and renovating a home is or can be very stressful how much more in a foreign country ?
Hi queeniebee – Well, the amount of land is finite everywhere in the world! 😉 I have a desire to own some land, and well, we already do own some land. Economically, it doesn't make sense, but that's ok too.
Hi Danny – without a doubt, Nicole is my little buddy. She follows me around everywhere I go whenever she is visiting here. I love that girl a lot!
Hi mike – You are not really correct. There is another way that I can own land, other than inheriting… I am eligible to become a Philippine citizen. I meet the requirements 100%. 😉
Hi mike – I've been living in the Philippines for a decade already. I don't really consider it a "foreign country" anymore. It's my home.
kamusta bob,
i was wondering if you ever did see the land that was for sale there?is the location as good as the pics here?if the land is more distance then wouldent that be better for quiet and peacefulness?
just curious my friend.
salamat bob
Hi Ron – We never saw the actual property. It was just too far, down a bunch of bad dirt roads, etc. We felt that if weather was bad, the roads might not even be passable, so we decided not to go further and look.
Yes, I have one of those too…Rachel, shes my little shadow.
Hi Danny – Kind of a nice thing to have, don't you think? I know that I enjoy it! Especially such a cute one! 😉
hey Bob when buying and watch out for the BIR ..they are nasty to work withj….just went thru hell buying some land …Phil n Jess
Always watch out for the BIR, Phil! 😉
lol … feel sorry for you mate ..don't worry there are a lot of land for sale around the country.
No reason to feel sorry… those things happen!
Hi Bob, Well I guess I mean land that would fit the desires and pocketbook of many expats.
thats obvious if your a citizen of course ,but that takes time ,years and most guys who retire to the Philippines are not really interested in all that !its really cheaper to rent and a lot less complicated!
it is your home !you don't feel like a foreigner anymore ,but the average Filipino who has never met you before or doesn't know you ! thinks of you as a foreigner!
Hi Mike – Yeah, I never said that they did not. But, who care's what they think? I know that I don't.
Hi queenie – No problem, my friend! I understand what you are saying, and I pretty much agree as well.
Nice shoots. You make me miss the Philippines more. I used to travel around the Philippines for my former job and I agree that Davao has one of the best scenic places in the country. Ill definitely stop by Davao once I go back in the Philippines. http://thelivingrice.blogspot.com
hello bob my name is bob bennett im a 71 year old retiree from ohio, im presently living 50 miles south of guadalajara mexico, in a 50 square mile area there are about??? somewhere around 8,000 too 10,000 americans and canadians residing here permenetly,
as for myself im renting a house at $400 dollars a month,
married to a mexican,
and if she dies ive contem“plated relocateing to live out the remaining years in either general santos or, cebu,
for a year ive been communicateing with a person in gen san city,
and after eading just alittle bit of general information about this island place,
certainly it creates visions of something like walking down the yellow brick road looking for the tin man and the lion and the scarecrwo to lead me in the right direction,
surely bob its a very very different world,
and as the basic economic situation of the world gets worse it certainly appears a personas pension might be extended slightly farther in the islands,
if my wife who is 48 dies unexpectedly,
i need to at least make one trip there to get a feel for life in a different portion of gods great creation,
im responding after finding this site accidently, as im simply aquiring bits and pieces of information,
sincerely, bob bennett pob 796 chapala jalisco mexico, 45900
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Hi Bob Bennett – Well, thanks for visiting my site! I hope that your wife remains healthy! But, if you do make it here, I am sure you will like it. No place is a paradise, and the roads here are not made of yellow bricks, I can assure you. But, it's a pretty nice place to live, if you can get over a few of the lifestyle changes! If you have lived in Mexico, you probably already understand that, though.
Take care.
hmmmmmm, i was reading those comment and i want to say, i think it is not good to but property in samal islands. well, for me it is not safe to invest out there. it is a nice place but NO for me.
Much better you buy a property in a exclusive subdivision somewhere in davao city and i assure you,beaches is nearby. or buy a proeperty in povinces of davao.
PS. catalunan grande in davao city the place still awesome. you can still feel the nature and property is not expensive yet. do you know that place bob?
Hi haydee – thanks for sharing your opinion. For me, I used to live in the most "exclusive" subdivision in Davao City. Hated the place. I personally would not invest a centavo there. But, that's what's great about life… you can do what you think is best, and I can do what I think is best!
hallo,
well, i think you are also right above exclusive subdivision. i dont like to live either in that place. i love more to live near in the nature. hahahhaha thats why we bought a property somewhere in catalunan grande.
goodluck and godbless u and your family!!
by the way, is the wow taxi in international airport still there? jjust a Question. we are planing to take vacation by november… wait for me davao city!! hahahha
Hi haydee – I don't know about the "wow taxi" – never heard of it before??
hallo bob!!
do i am msitaken about the name. hmmmm maybe i am getting old. hahahahaha. tc everybody and godbless you all..
by the way bob. i am a frustrated writer. maybe you have a job for me? just joking!
"I was ready to plunk down the cash for the place in a hurry, no questions asked!" I could think of a few questions… "How far is the MNLF headquarters from here?" (smile)
Ha ha… Michael – Two things… Firstly, MNLF negotiated peace with the Govt in 1996, and are no longer a rebel force. Secondly, MNLF is not, and never was active Bukidnon.