Today’s Guest author is James Browning. James is an American who lives and works in Kuwait, but is waiting for the day when he can move to the Philippines and take up permanent residency here. James and his wife are just putting the finishing touches on the home that they have been building in Pangasinan. James recently e-mailed me and told me a bit about his nearly completed house, and I asked if he can write a short article to share in the LiP Magazine regarding his experience in building.
Hello my name is James an American working in Kuwait and a avid reader of LIP for over a year now. I am married to a wonderful Philippina wife Joy, I always dreamed of living in a exotic area but always was afraid to make the move, but a year ago I bought a 4098 sq meter lot in Pangasian in the province of Pozourrobio with a beautiful view of the mountains of Bagiuo.
The first thing we did was put in a well so they would have water to mix the concrete. The first thing I learned is to stay out of site while my Wife and sister took bids on the well, when ever there is an American in site it tends to be to be a higher bid my, wife and sister did a great job getting several bids putting the house in reach of our budget. Buying the materials during rainy season will give you a lower price, a few short months and we had walls and a roof, there are building material stores like Wilican we used the one in Pampanga everything in the store is already priced so need to negotiate, which is nice the house is around 85% complete. And we have a goal of June to have it complete.
It is a wonderful feeling not to be sitting on a 30 year mortgage fortunately working abroad gives me the ability to pay as we build, my biggest regret as I did not listen to my heart and start years ago.
Living in the province is good for me I realize it is not for everybody, and sometimes can seem boring but no traffic friendly people and fresh air and vegetables out weigh the rest, I hope I can live out the rest of my days there and watch the mango trees grow. If you want to see any pictures you can visit LIP photo gallery under James&Joy Browning.
Reading all the articles over the last year of other couples has helped me considerably, what ever your dream is don’t wait to late and follow it.
Thanks James&Joy
Hello James,
Congratulations on getting started with your house there, must be very exciting. I hope nothing but the best for you and your family.
Also, after moving there, I (we) would love to hear about how you adjust to living there in the Philippines, and your new experiences of living there.
Daghang salamat,
Danny
Hello Danny,
Beautiful house. Great view… It’s funny because we almost have the same house design.
I only hope nothing but the best to you and your family.
Thank you for sharing your pictures.
Your last sentence should be an inspiration to everyone.
May God bless the Browning home and all who enter there.
Hi James – A mortgage-free house in the provinces is a wonderful dream to make come true. Baket-ko (asawa-ko) and I have done the same in Ilocos Norte, and we're in full agreement with the advantages you cite. There's nothing like bucolic, provincial living! 😉
James- Welcome to the group of home owners in the provinces. I definitely don't regret building our house in Bohol. Soon to be working on home number 2. I spent a couple years working in Kuwait myself… Seen a lota crazy things on those roads. I might be passing through that area again one of these days…
Robert- Taking a look at your weblink now. Do you live in Bohol?
Good going James .. Let the women do the talking , prices go up when " Rich Americans " show up to buy stuff … nice looking house .that 's a lot of cement James ? So what does it cost to build the house ?? are there more homes like yours in the area .. Oh James I see you have lots of room for relatives too 🙂 🙂 … Phil n Jess
Hi James and Joy,
Naimbag nga aldaw. Thank you for sharing your dream house. It has such a nice view of the foothills of the Cordillera mountains. My Mom is from Binalonan/Baguio so I know the area. When I was there last year, I saw some beautiful houses near Alaminos owned by OFW and expats.
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the approximate cost of construction per square meter?
Gerry
Hello James and Joy,
I live in Texas and have been researching the Philippines for nearly a year now. My
dream is to live there after my farm is sold. You really made my day after reading your article and viewing your pictures. Your new house is really pretty along with the scenery in the background along with the family pictures.
I do have that fear of moving so far away to another country at times which I know would be normal but it's also like you said, '' don't wait too long to follow your dream". I also like fresh vegetables and fresh air. I am still very healthy for 55 yrs.old and am not ready to be put out to pasture. Again your article and so many of these in Bob's website excite me about the Philippines. My dreams are
to find new friends and to put my strength and efforts toward the people in the Philippines.
Thank you for your comments and I want to wish you and your family a whole lot
of happiness in your new home.
May God Bless Your Family,
Dale
Hi
Love your house….lucky you!!!
You have a very large lot….most unusual for RP
But if you own the acreage you can make your lot as big as you want 🙂 🙂
I keep noticing that the houses all seem to be of the same design style.
Red Tile Roof
Peaked Roofs
Spanish style
Intricate pillars
Is there a reason why everyone's house kinda looks the same????
I am not saying that there is anything wrong with them all looking the same just wondered if there was a reason.
Thanks Danny
My Wife is there now putting the finishing touches on our house paint ,tiles
we are verr excited
Thanks Robert
when I gaze into the mountain in the distance I feel at peace
Hi Paul
it never would have been possible if I hadnt took a job in the middle east, the income gives me more advantages, to build in a shorter time
Hello Mike
There are alot of people from alot of diffrent naionalities in the middle east
trying to build there dreams like all dreams there are sacrafices to be made.
living and working in Kuwait is just a stepping stone to my dream.
Hello Phil
Building in the province was alot cheaper then building in Bagiuo the same
cement block were i live cost about 10 pesos cheaper becuase of transportation
we live near the concreat plant, Also it is cheaper to buy materials during the
rainy season, now not counting my lot I have around 2.5 million invested the house was painted this week and looks great, I will update the photo album today
with recent pics, It is verry important to have someone you trust do make the decisions for you not all family members are honest . I thank God I have a good
sister in law who has all receipt on building materials
Hello gerry
I cant tell you that becuase i dont know, what I do know is that my house is approx 228 sq meters or 2463 sq ft my enginer charged me 5% to oversee it
write now i have 2.5 million with a goal of 3 miilion ant i jaut have a few more details hopefully 1 more month and it will be finished,
Hello Dale
I will be 46 in April and i listen to prople my whole life,but thats water under the bridge I have a great wife and maybey 30 more years so i ma living for James now
Hello Tyleen
I think the reason of the spanish style houses are becuase the spanish settled the philiipines and to be honest with you, I just sent my wife ther picked out a good lot and told her to build me a famiy home not a house but a home.
I think she did a great job although she did let me pick the colurs
Hello i have just added the pics my wife sent me yesterday hope you enjoy
Sorry Dale was in a hurry spelling typo I ment people
lovely home… im sure your family will enjoy it!!!
Thank you Berlin other then picking out the color my wife gets all the credit
Your new home looks great! I have been married to a Filipina now for 20 years and we just managed to take our first trip to the Philippines last Dec 2008. Our kids ( 16 & 14) loved it and I had such a great time that it changed our retirement plans. As a matter of fact, my friends finally told me to be quiet about it, as I cound not stop talking about how great it was. The weather (it's 2 degrees here today), the food and most of all, the people (the kids in the Philippines steal your heart).We now plan to spend 6 months a year in the Philippines when we retire in 8 yrs. Living there all year is not really an option because Canadian law requires that you cannot be out of the country for more than six months, or you lose your medical plan and can lose some of your government run retirement plans. (less money). Owning a home like yours will be the icing on the cake!
Hi
I think you are a very lucky man!!!!
The house is beautiful ….I just wondered about the design.
I saw the same style of home on Luzon everywhere.
Come to think about it I don;t think I saw a home in any other style.
Thanks for the information re the Spanish influence….it now makes sense.
Hello Allen
your plan sounds good your family can have the best of both worlds ,for me I will not get any retirement for 18 years, so next month when I finish the house, it time
to save for buissness and other investments, I would like to be out of the middle east by age 50 that gives me 5 years. I am so glad to here you say you have a great philippina wife of 20 years, sometimes we just here of the negatives and failed marriiages. God Bless
Hello Tyleen
Thank you again I am greatful to have a wonderful wife with family values
she picked out everything except the color, once a month I just send the money
and she continues to build, if you want a will email you the house plan although
she changed ours a little bit she didnt follow the plan all the way
God Bless
Hi James- You and your wife are doing what Marilou and I have already begun.
I hope you can be as happy as we are.
All the very best to you both.
Jim & Marilou.
That is a cool home you built Chris I have a sq. block house 12×8 meters so i fit in with the neighbors . don't want to look too rich .. 🙂 ..Phil n Jess
Sorry wrong name 🙁 James … 🙂
Thanks Jim
I can only hope to be as blessed as you and your wife, it is good to here postive feedback on long marriages and family values
Nice big house! Does it have an elevator?
Sorry its typo name, I mean James not Danny …hehehe. 🙂
Hi James, beautiful home. My hat is off to you and your accomplishments. What is your profession in Kuwait? Is it difficult to obtain employment there? What is available? Finally, do you think that working overseas would be a good jump start to retiring/living and building a home in the Philippines? Thanks, Tony
Wow, Nice & Beautiful house.
so if i figured this correctly u built this for apx. 52,000 USD? What was the cost of land?
Sorry I missed commenting earlier, my wife just pointed me to your article. "good on you" as our Australian friend's say. It's really a small world, one of my sisyers-in-law lives in Possorubio, Pangasian. I drive there at least 4 times a year, always a fun trip, especially when we take back roads. It's nice ountry there and a nice setting, backing up against the mountains with the sea only a short drive away, and a very short distnce up (literally up) to Baguio.
All the best and stick to your dream.
@ brian … P3.000.000 divided by 47 to the dollar (today's approximate rate) is just under $64,000 USD
Very smart strategy. Building a house piece by piece as your income allows is the best way to go. It is difficult to do in the States, but it is possible in the Philippines. Interest on home loans from the local banks is about 12%. Forget debt, you’ll never get out from under it.
In rural Philippines, the income possibilities are endless. You can retail or wholesale products from Manila. You can sell agricultural necessities like fertilizer. You can start your own concrete block manufacturing or lumber yard.
Start an English School. Build a library. Good luck!