In my ten years in the Philippines, I have lived in five different houses. I’ve mostly lived in rather large houses, since I have a large family. We did live in one house that was quite small, but it was only for about 6 months or less, because we could not find a larger house that we liked. As soon as we found a more suitable place we moved.
In addition to various house sizes, I have also lived in different types of neighborhoods. I have lived mostly in very “Filipino Neighborhoods.” I mean places where you know who your neighbors are, places where anybody is welcome. Places that are, frankly, mixed use, as the article I wrote last week about the new call center that has moved in next door to me. We also lived for one year in a gated subdivision called Woodridge.
Woodridge is a beautiful place. The houses are very nice, and more of the American style too. Most of the houses in Woodridge are quite large too, with many bedrooms. There are a lot of facilities at Woodridge to take advantage of too. But, in the end, we found that Woodridge was simply not for us. Too exclusive. Not as friendly as what we like. Not Filipino. Basically, what it came down to, though, was that if we wanted to live in a neighborhood that “felt like America” – why live in the Philippines?
Now, that said, this was a very beautiful house that we lived in. It was located just next door to the Woodridge Clubhouse too, where there was s swimming pool, tennis courts and other such things. Lots of stuff for the kids to do. The kids would go swimming almost every day during the summer. The picture at the right is the entrance to the Woodridge Clubhouse. In addition to the swimming pool and tennis courts, they also had a restaurant and a convenience store. The club management was also located at the clubhouse as well. Whenever there was a homeowner’s association meeting, it was generally also held at the clubhouse. Being next door to the clubhouse had pluses and minuses, though. The biggest minus was that there were times that it could get a bit noisy with people enjoying activities at the clubhouse.
The house where we lived was one of the larger houses in Woodridge. I suppose there are maybe 200 to 300 houses in Woodridge, and our house was probably in the top 15% for size. From the front view, seen above, the house looked a bit small, but it was very long, though, which you can see from the side view at the left. The house was only a few years old too, so it was modern. One of the things I liked about the house was that it had solar hot water heating, with a storage tank for the hot water up on the rooftop, and all heated by the sun. That was really nice, so that even if there was a brownout, you still could enjoy a hot shower! That always started off a nice day! Also, even if we had cloudy days, it was rare that the solar panels did not make enough hot water, which was nice.
One nice advantage, especially with young kids was that the house had a large yard along the side, where we put our trampoline, great for the kids to keep active! Well, the side yard was not really part of the house, though, the fact was that it was a vacant, unsold lot that was right next door. Now, the lot has been sold and there is another house built there, which is only like one foot away from our old house! So, while it was all open, sunny and nice next door back then, now the newly built house is just inches away, and frankly, I would feel claustrophobic living there now. Oh my, how things can change in the space of just a few years! Having that extra lot along the side sure did make for a nice yard, though!
My home office in this house was quite small, though. I would estimate that it was only about half the size of the office where I am now. There were some nice things about the Woodridge office, though. For example, it had built in bookshelves all around the walls of the office, which I liked, and cabinets along one of the walls. I was a bit cramped, though. In my current office, we have room for both Feyma and I to share an office, which I like. In Woodridge, that simply was not possible, because it was too small. Another problem, office-wise, in Woodridge was that it was very hard to get a DSL Internet connection when we were there. We finally got on, but I did have to survive on poor dial-up connections for several months there.
The kids had a nice play area inside the house too. We had several computers set up where the kids had Internet Access (albeit poor internet access like I mentioned above) and also computer games. We also had an X-Box set up here where the kids could play Video Games. This indoor play area was great for days when it was way too hot outside, or when it was rainy. It seemed we became a hit in the neighborhood too, because the kids always had a lot of friends over playing on the computers or the video games. Actually, this lead to one of the things that turned us off on living in Woodridge. The kids began picking up really bad attitudes from the other kids in the neighborhood. The other kids would tell them things like – “you don’t have to listen to shat she says… she’s just a maid anyway!” We did not like this, and really told our kids that they must respect the maids and helpers at the house!
One of the real jewels of the house, though, was the kitchen and dining area. The dining area, shown in the picture, also included a family room type of setting. Plenty of room for a seating area, a place to hang out, whatever, in addition to putting a dining room table where the entire family could enjoy a meal together. The kitchen was a half floor lower than the dining area and separated by a wall to keep the dining area more private. This was kind of nice for entertaining, because you could have a staff of helpers working in the kitchen, and still enjoy privacy with your guests while eating a meal in the dining room. Another nice thing in this part of the house was that the dining area opened up out onto a patio that was along the side yard. Very nice for entertaining!
Of course, there was a Sala, or formal living room too. We had a TV in this room, and a sitting area where we could entertain guests. Just like the dining area, this Sala also opened up to another patio that was on the other side of the house. In fact, when you went outside to the patio, it wrapped all the way around the house, to the front and to the other side of the house! There was even an enclosed bathroom outside on the patio as well, so it had everything you needed! What a great area for a barbecue party or that kind of thing.
OK, so I am sure that nobody would argue that this is a great house. In many ways, it is a Western Style house, but with the Filipino things that I wrote about the other day. We did enjoy living here, although there were a few problems. As I already said, the neighborhood “feels like the USA” and is not such a friendly place. Also, we found that our kids were picking up bad attitudes from the “rich” kids in the neighborhood. Another problem is that the house had a lot of problems – leaky pipes, rotting wood from termites, this sort of thing. The owner of the house never had the money to fix the problems either. So, because of these factors, we decided to move out, and that is when we ended up where we are now.
The house where we are now living is probably 50% bigger than this house in Woodridge. Yet, it is also much less expensive! It’s in a more “Filipino style” neighborhood. We like it a lot where we are now.
So, now I want to ask you… how much do you think the rent was on this house that I have featured in this article? I won’t say how much now, but after you guys have had a chance to think about it, and post some guesses, I will tell you how much we paid for rent. That was 4+ years ago that we lived there, and the rent would be higher now, but I will tell you how much we paid 4 to 5 years ago.
Any guesses?
Hi Bob;
That is one fine looking house! Rent? I’d hazard a guess and say P36, 000.00 per month. Now I’ll wait until you make me jealous, and tell me it was lower than that. I’m with you though, it’s a nice way to live, but I find living without the gates and guards better for me. But the swimming pool next to the house…….Luxury!
Hi Paul – Ha ha.. if the rent were P36k, I might still be living there. It’s way more than that! In the end, though, it was not really the cost that made us move away, but just that the lifestyle was not for us!
That proves it, I’ll never do well on the “Price is Right” TV show!
Ha ha… Paul, it’s OK… I think you’ll still survive without any big game show winnings! 😉
Houses in upscale subdivisions (almost anywhere in the country) generally range in the 30,000 to 120,000 range monthly. I would only be guessing that this house was about 50,000. Today I would venture closer to 80,000.
Hi richard – you are actually in the ballpark. I’ll give more info after more guesses, or when somebody hits the amount exact.
In true Price is Right fashion, I guess P50,001 😀
Ha ha… Gary, I’m trying to figure out… do I look more like Bob Barker or Drew Carey. Well, I guess the answer is obvious! 😆
I just need some black-rimmed glasses, then I can host Truth or Consequences (haha)
Hi Gary – Truth or Consequences? Did I miss something? 😯
Just joking, Bob Barker was the long-time host of Truth or Consequences until Price is Right.
I should get a pair of Drew Carey glasses though.
Hi Gary – Ah yes, I forgot that Barker hosted T or C too!
Well it looks like a great house. Alot nicer than most I have seen here. The distance between houses though is definately American. From what I have read in recent months for gated American style homes I would guess P64000.
More than I would hope to pay. I like the rural provincial areas myself. Thats where my wife’s family lives. Seems alot nicer and roomier which I definately like.
Hi Darin – Fundamentally, it was a nice house. It had some problems, broken things and such, which made it not nearly as nice as it should have been, though. Your guess is a bit high for the price we were paying back in those days (about 4 years ago).
Oh I guess I was a bit off. P45000 is not bad I guess if you are used to American prices. Seems like a steal to some. I think I will be happy with the in-laws and their standard of 22000 a month total living expenses. Glad I am a simple man.
Hi Darin – 45k is too much for me, and today it would be much more than that. I like a more “Filipino” lifestyle than you will find behind the gates too.
$1300.00
That’s a bit high, lenny….
OK, everybody… lots of guesses already, let me reveal the real answer. In 2004-2005 we paid P45,000 per month to rent that house. Now, 4+ years later, I would say that it might go for P60 to P70k per month or so.
Bob
That type of living may first appeal to newbies moving there in RP but I think I would much rather live in a neighborhood rubbing elbows with the Neighbors. I mean the reason I want to relocate there is to live simple and laidback where I could loaf down to the SariSari store pull up my shirt expose my gut and swill a beer if i so desired.
Hmm My guess is a rent of 87000 P month for that snuffy swanky joint!
Hi Neal – Well, no 87k is almost double what we paid! But, I’m like you, it’s not so much the price, but the lifestyle of a gated community that is not for me.
Between P40,000 to P50,000?
You’re on the mark, Claudette – 45k, but that was 5 years ago.
Bob:
Right now, you can rent something like that in Manila in the 70-80K range. To buy up here, you would be looking in the region of 15MM or a bit more.
We are still deciding what we want to do… We need a bit more space, but I really don’t want to clutter up the house with more junk. I also find the advantages of a Filipino neighborhood outweigh any benefits of a Westernized compound. We are going to stay in Metro Manila for the schools here (I’d consider Davao, but that will never fly… Becky wants to be able to get on a bus and go to Abulug). We are thinking of something like where Dave Starr lives… Just over into Bulacan (San Jose), but we can gave a little dirt surrounding the house so Becky can plant her vegetables.
Hi John – I think that 70 to 80 is what the market would bear for the place in Davao too. I was thinking of what it may sell for, and Feyma and I settled that it would probably sell for P12M here. A bit less than in MM.
I really applaud all of you who find living in a regular neighborhod over a gated one especially you Bob who has embraced (Filipino)life here more than anyone I have seen. I just couldn’t do it. My house is my castle and peace of mind and I relish my privacy which I can only get in a gated community. As much as I love the Philippines I also like the idea of having the best of both worlds/cultures. We are seeing it in the supermarkets with more international foods and in building stores with more design selections. Funny as Filipinos want to be more American in lifestyle with all the trappings and Americans here want to be more like filipinos opting for more simplicity. Interrresting dynamic in play here.
Thank you, richard. You know… I don’t know that it’s that I am adaptable, or just that I have lived here long enough to try a lot of different styles of life, and have settled in on what I find most comfortable for myself. It certainly is an interesting dynamic, though, as you say.
Hi Bob – Too western, too big, too far south, . . . Hehehe 😀
(Actually, anything south of Baguio is “too far south” in my jaded mind! 😉 )
Ha ha ha… anything north of Mindanao is too far north for me, Paul, so we are even!
Actually, though, my article didn’t really have anything to do with the actual physical location, though, just showing people what it costs to live in a gated community. I hear from a lot of people who long to live in such a place, and they also talk about how cheap the living is here… the two don’t go hand in hand, though. And, the lifestyle is certainly not what you and I are each living in the Philippines, is it?
I don’t think I could take 5 minutes of a gated community lifestyle, or any lifestyle that doesn’t have me living among Pinoy/Pinay family & friends.
One of the reasons I’m here is because there were too many “Kanos” in the areas I lived in previously. 😆
(To tell you the truth, I’m still a little embarrassed living here in “my wife’s house” – where I rent a room! :D)
Hi Paul – Being among family and friends is certainly a plus. Sometimes, just being by yourself is nice too! 😉 All in all, though, you and I have similar thoughts about the gated communities.
Hi Bob
The problem with the guessing part of this is that a landlord usually charges what they feel is the right amount and I couldn’t read his mind. I live in a gated community like you previously did but not as exclusive. The homes are townhome types and more of a Filipino type deal. There are still many open lots and I think that is because at one time when they were selling lots it was the best and now there are much more exclusive places to live. I feel comfortable there and to tell you the truth there aren’t many foreigners living there. Also we still have the occasional rooster and barking dogs and a few places with at least eight people living in a home built for four.
Hi Dan – Well, I don’t know that the rental price is up to what the landlord “feels” it should be. If he “feels” too high… well, nobody will rent it. Rent is subject to the law of supply and demand just like anything else. The market tends to set what the price will be. I can’t read the mind of the manager of Safeway, but the price he charges for Milk is probably going to be pretty similar to what Krogers and Albertson’s charge too.
What ever happened to the idea of a grass shack and a hammock on the beach. Way too fancy who needs it?
Hi zeke – some people come here to live cheap. Others come for other reasons. I did not come here with a dream of a grass shack or a hammock. Your dreams and mine are different. There is nothing wrong with that, we are just different.
Well you are certainly right there! All I want in this world is a good woman in my bed and food in my belly. could care less about anything else.
Absolutely nothing wrong with your dream, zeke. Your dream is as valid as mine, but mine is also as valid as yours! 😆
Hello Bob
That house looks like it would rent for $900.00 a month, that is why
I just built my dream house it also has a cute nipa hut in the back were my hamock lies. when I fianaly leave kuwait I wont have to worry about high rent, plus building your own house is the design and size to the owner specification,I guess for me ownership is the way to go
Hi James – I believe in ownership too. Usually, though, I recommend living here for a while first to make sure the area is really for you before making the investment. I am really happy renting for now, though, and I’ve already been here 10 years! I guess that I feel pretty sure that Davao won’t be my final settling place, and I want to keep my options open.
Hi Bob,
I think all those places are way to much to pay. I figured around 40 to 45 thou since I know what you pay now, but still my apartment in Tagum is much more affordable at 6000 (much smaller also). I can live a bit simpler than you. I do want to install a hot water shower. If I get my business making more money then I will probably build a house, but not in a gated community. My own wall and gate will suffice.
Hi Richard – Remember, I have 10 people under my roof. I doubt that I could find a place to rent for P6k that would hold a family of that size. BTW… in Davao City you can’t rent a Nipa Hut for P6K per month! Ha ha….
“Basically, what it came down to, though, was that if we wanted to live in a neighborhood that ‘felt like America’ – why live in the Philippines?”
One of your more profound statements Bob, and one I agree with. However, not all “Americanized” Filipinas are convinced. 🙂
Thank you James, and you are very correct on your last statement.
Bob,
I just posted this on your Facebook News feed:
”
This is not an approach I would use while renting, but something to think about:
http://www.solarpanelstore.com/
This video sheds some light on the cost of solar panels:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYeynLy6pj8
”
It seems to me the Philippines would be a good place to consider manufacturing solar panels. They could be put to good use there, and would be a great source of income from exports. If someone picks up this ball, I hope their business model has provisions to give the Filipino people a break on domestic prices.
–James F.
P.S. I wish I was younger and had more money, like you! 🙂
Hi James – Yeah… I am younger than you are… but money? Ha ha… where is it? 😯
Hi Bob,
Assuming you already owned the land, how much do you think it would cost to build that house today?
Hi hudson – Not trying to avoid your question… but honestly I have no idea on that. I have never built a house here (yet), so I am totally uneducated on the costs involved. Sorry about that…
If you hire a construction company a standard finish runs about 15,000-18,000 per sqm. If you know how to build it and hire guys to work for you your looking about 10,000-12,000 per sqm for a good house.
Hi jason – thanks for sharing that info.
The most rest I have ever paid in the Philippines was p6000 a month, that was for a niceish 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house in it’s own compound half a mile to middle of a coastal town and 1 mile to the beach. I now pay p4000 for a more modest but nicely renovated Filipino style house in a shared compound owned by one of the richest locals. When I go overseas to work, my wife feels very safe there, whereas she didn’t in the previous place.
We are currently buying a 500 msq block in a rural area about 2 miles to town and 4 miles to the beach, we are paying it off interest free; total cost for the block including legals is under $10k US.
I have family in the building industry there. I can get a nice house for my family built for under $50k US. Thats a high ceiling 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom with a flat out the back.
Location is a huge factor in pricing in the Philippines, so is being a local, or being married to one. If you are a foreigner who is new to the area with no contacts, the Kano tax is up to about 100%.
The cheapest houses are bought for cash from desperate sellers. A neighbor of ours recently got family visas for the USA. They had jobs to go to in the family business, they just wanted out and a plane ticket. The place was a Spanish era, planked 2 story house of about 200 msq on a generous town block of 400 msq. It needed work; but was livable, clean and not leaking. The family went from house to house for 3 days saying they would take the best offer they got on the 4th day. They sold for p275,000!!! At the time that was about $6k US. The paperwork was clean, no tax owed. They just wanted the cash. There are very few people in the Philippines provinces who can lay their hands on large amounts of money quickly.
Hi Barry – In Davao City you cannot rent anything for P6,000, I can assure you. Even a nipa hut would cost you more than that here. I’m not talking about skin tax or anything like that, that’s just what the market is here.
What are wages like in Davao for locals? In Zam I know a lot of people earning p3000 a month and hardly anyone who earns more than p10,000. Average would be about p4000. Rent is about double in Subic, with wages being in the higher end of this spectrum and a reasonable number of foreigners around, but cheaper in Iba where there is not much going on economicly/ little manufacturing and almost no foreigners.
I know Davao has one of the largest proportions of foreigners in the Philippines and that will push the prices up, but I find it hard to believe locals are paying p6000 for a nipa unless wages are much higher than in the north.
I know rents in Baguio are expensive too, mostly because of the ‘summer house’ people coming from Manila, who are the emerging middle class in the Philippines. But I have family there and could rent a house walking distance to the city for p8000. If I wanted an American style house up there I would expect to pay a lot more, probably in the range of p35000 to p70,000. This because there are very few of these houses and they tend to rent to foreigners or cashed up Pinoy.
I suppose we have to remember here that even though the Philippines is geographicly small, it has a vast population and wide variety of living standards and situations across the country.
As a foreigner, it depends on what you want out of life there. If, like Bob, you want your finger on the pulse of business; it is necessary to be in one of the key areas for business and growth: Davao, Surigao, Palawan, Baguio, Cebu City, or one of the ‘freeports’. However if you want to settle quietly and garden, build and DIY life can cost a fraction of what it does in the key growth areas.
A note to guys: don’t expect a city Filipina to move to the provinces, or vis versa. A country girl might be happy to move to a provincial capital, but it is unlikely she will want to move to a big city. City girls don’t like the old fashioned thinking and gossip of provincial towns. Behaviour which wouldn’t even draw a glance in the city can result in malicious gossip galore in the provinces.
Hey Bob,
I noticed that the houses there all have a window shaker in every room. Don’t they have central air available there?
Hi hudson – I’m sorry, I don’t know what a “window shaker” is, never heard the term. There is no central air available in that home.
I think I am on the other side of the spectrum. I struck a deal to “otang” or “prenda” credit with a partial land owner/inheritance member. P10,000. For this I got permission to build a wood house on site. I think I paid less than P20,000 for the entire structure. I lived there for 5 years. The neighbors were happy to care for my kids when I had to go to town, also happy to buy a few kilos of rice from my wife on occasion. I felt as though I was the “foreigner” aspect of this community, but a part of it just the same.
Average income in my place is something like P400 a week for a family of 8. The guys across the street have 10 kids and a income less than P800 a month.
I rented some land for P3000 and tried my hand at farming, a nice pastime.
Where I live it is strikingly lush and green. I know of or about almost all my neighbors, thanks to the visits and “information” (what I call gossip but my wife would never call such), of our neighbors shared while getting supplies from our stocks.
Today I have a concrete house 155 Sq M I built to prove or demonstrate some of my construction thinking. I paid P 40,000 for the 400 Sq M lot, P30,000 more to try to actually get a title and have given up, P 175,000 for the house, P 38,000 for the fence ( a god send )28,000 for water development, and lots of extra junk.
For Years I would suggest that every foreigner here rent as rent is way cheaper than owning. couple that with horror stories of those who have had falling outs with their Filipina and received rough treatment by the local court systems… my advise has always been “keep any assets you can’t walk away from in your place of origin” So… here I am owning and yes I am prepared to walk and not look back, as I knew, the wages of sin are death when I went in.
The most i have ever paid for a house/apartment here in the Philippines is 8k and I thought that was way to much. I look for places between 5-7k on average and they are decent living. Once construction of my apartments is finished I will charge 15k… 🙂
Hi Mike – Ha ha.. ok… not sure about the logic, but ok… 😆
Hi Bob
Earlier this year I was looking at some Real Estate sights for Davao and ther was a large house (5 bedrooms) for rent on one of the more expensive gated estates for 140,000 pesos a month.
I get the feeling they want to keep out the riffraff. Not many expats could afford that price.
Marjorie
Hi marjorie – Actually, many of those gated communities are full of expats!
Hi Bob
It would be a bit too expensive for us to pay that amount if we came out there to live.
It is very tempting to move over there, but as one half of the family is here in England and the other in GenSan I think we will be just visiting for a while.
One set of Grandparets to babysit at this side and another set over there to do the same lol
Marjorie
Hi marjorie – I agree, that’s more than I want to spend too!
Hi Bob,
I really enjoyed your article and the comments it has generated. I have a couple of questions that I think would be of interest to the other readers as well.
1. What was your total cost of accommodation when you factor in electricity, DSL,any community or membership fees for the use of the clubhouse (if any) and what would they be approximately at today’s prices?
2. Did you have to pay a 2 month security deposit and did you have any problems getting it returned? I’ve heard that some landlords think up excuses not to return the tenant’s deposits.
3. How is the noise level in general in Woodridge as compared to a non-gated community? Recent difficulties with the call center excepted.
Thanks again.
Hi Randall – Well, let me give that a shot…
1. Rent was P45,000 per month. Electricity was very expensive usually about P18k to P20k per month. DSL is about P1k per month. Clubhouse was cheap, like P200 or so per month for the whole family.
2. Yes, we did put in a security deposit, one or two months, I can’t remember. I have a way of always getting my security deposit back, and will write an article about that soon.
3. Noise level because of the clubhouse was quite high there in Woodridge. Probably worse than any other place where I have lived.