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	<title>Residences Manila &#187; Fort Bonifacio Global City</title>
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	<description>Manila Home Buyers &#38; Home Sellers Guide</description>
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		<title>What&#8217;s the Best Neighborhood in Metro Manila to Raise Kids?</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/07/28/whats-the-best-neighborhood-in-metro-manila-to-raise-kids/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/07/28/whats-the-best-neighborhood-in-metro-manila-to-raise-kids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:56:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alabang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Articles & Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best Neighborhoods in Manila]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Community Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding a Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fort Bonifacio Global City]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Home Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine Real Estate Guide]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Salcedo Village, Makati]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Condominiums for re-sale]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[home buyers and sellers guide Philippines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maita Siquijor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippines real estate]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/07/28/whats-the-best-neighborhood-in-metro-manila-to-raise-kids/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" height="110" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/IMG00487-20100826-1147-195x110.jpg" class="alignleft tfe wp-post-image" alt="What&#039;s the best neighborhood in Manila to raise kids?" title="What&#039;s the best neighborhood in Manila to raise kids?" /></a>What do you think is the best neighborhood in Metro Manila to raise kids? Here are some things to consider.]]></description>
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		<title>After Basyang: Thinking of Selling Your House?</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/07/21/after-basyang-thinking-of-selling-your-house/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/07/21/after-basyang-thinking-of-selling-your-house/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:50:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Alabang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fort Bonifacio Global City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Sellers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legaspi Village, Makati]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Makati]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine Real Estate Guide]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Salcedo Village, Makati]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding a Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[first time home buyer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[first time home buyers]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/07/21/after-basyang-thinking-of-selling-your-house/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" height="110" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/DSC00627-195x110.jpg" class="alignleft tfe wp-post-image" alt="Ayala Alabang after Typhoon Basyang" title="Ayala Alabang after Typhoon Basyang" /></a>If news of yet another typhoon and thoughts of avoiding yet another prospective flood are making you want to move homes, don't rush.  Review your options with the help of these simple guide questions. ]]></description>
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		<title>First Time Homebuyers Find Opportunity in Current Market</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/07/27/first-time-homebuyers-find-opportunity-in-current-market/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/07/27/first-time-homebuyers-find-opportunity-in-current-market/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:13:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles & Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding a Realtor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fort Bonifacio Global City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legaspi Village, Makati]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://residencesmanila.com/?p=111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/07/27/first-time-homebuyers-find-opportunity-in-current-market/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" height="110" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/plugins/thumbnail-for-excerpts/tfe_no_thumb.png" class="alignleft wp-post-image tfe" alt="" title="" /></a>Looking for a one-stop-blog to help first time home buyers in the Philippines, I didn&#8217;t find any!  Doing a bit of research, I found this site from Basta Pinoy  with an article by Charles Covalesky, a Title insurance lawyer based in Florida, with info on helping you...]]></description>
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		<title>One Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Three Bedroom Unit for Sale</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/06/26/one-serendra-bonifacio-global-city-three-bedroom-unit-for-sale/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/06/26/one-serendra-bonifacio-global-city-three-bedroom-unit-for-sale/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:08:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fort Bonifacio Global City]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/06/26/one-serendra-bonifacio-global-city-three-bedroom-unit-for-sale/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dsc00707.jpg?w=300" class="alignleft wp-post-image tfe" alt="DSC00707" title="DSC00707" /></a>Live in this beautiful, three bedroom special unit for sale at One Serendra, Bonifacio Global City.  The special feature of the unit is a specially constructed bay window,with floor-to-ceiling glass wall.  The owner is rushing to sell.  The living room area faces Market! Market! playground; on the left...]]></description>
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		<title>Life and Style in Manila&#039;s Best Residences</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2008/09/30/raffles-manila/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2008/09/30/raffles-manila/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:24:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fort Bonifacio Global City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Makati]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.residencesmanila.com/?p=286</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2008/09/30/raffles-manila/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/living_area_17.jpg?w=1024" class="alignleft wp-post-image tfe" alt="Raffles Residences Manila" title="Raffles Manila" /></a>Welcome to the launch of The Residences Manila. Our blog aims to give global viewers a visual tour of the choicest selections of Manila&#8217;s best-in-class residential condominiums and apartments, available for sale or rent.]]></description>
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Start uga_filter: <div class="socialize-in-content" style="float:right;"></div><p>Looking for a one-stop-blog to help first time home buyers in the Philippines, I didn&#8217;t find any! </p>
<p>Doing a bit of research, I found this site from <a href="http://www.bastapinoy.com/housing_CK_firsttime_homebuyers_find_opportunities_20080827002.htmhttp://www.bastapinoy.com/housing_CK_firsttime_homebuyers_find_opportunities_20080827002.htmhttp://www.bastapinoy.com/housing_CK_firsttime_homebuyers_find_opportunities_20080827002.htm">Basta Pinoy</a>  with an article by Charles Covalesky, a Title insurance lawyer based in Florida, with info on helping you get your first home.  Yes, it was written for the Florida residential buyer market, but a lot of the advice offered can be applied here.  There are a couple of points which the article cites, which are differently practiced here in the Philippines.  </p>
<p>One, in terms of financing, there is NO PHILIPPINE BANK that will give you an approved loan equal to the house&#8217;s selling price.  That means you must put in some equity, equal to at least 30% if the house is on re-sale.  The only time I&#8217;ve seen this exception is when some customers would agree to  an unscrupulous agent&#8217;s suggestion to pay off the appraiser.  What the appraiser does is to raise the value rating of the house, consequently leading to a higher approved loan value.  In many cases, it&#8217;s enough to cover the entire selling price.  But it doesn&#8217;t reflect the real asset base of the Philippines.  We in the Philippine Association of Realtors Boards (PAREB) discourage Realtors from bribing any official or network partner, as it sets a precedent of dishonesty and bad business advice.</p>
<p>Credit ratings for consumers are only visible to the Philippine banks, unlike in the States you can pay for the service for access to the information. Your bank officer will just tell you that you get a pass&#8217; or &#8216;fail&#8217; rating.   Our loan approval system also relies on specific neighborhood information from referred friends or associates,   in addition to a review of the objective details given by the borrower himself.  That&#8217;s where the Realtor&#8217;s role is important as he acs as mediator between the borrower and the bank if he offers bank loans as a mortgage broker. </p>
<p>Lastly is that though there may be an economic recession round the world, in the Philippines most people I&#8217;ve talked to, sellers and buyers, say that it&#8217;s as if  the country is much less affected than its Western counterparts.  You may also attribute it to the smaller supply of good homes  in your area of choice, which keeps buyers on their toes to look for the best house with the best deal.  But my advice is to aim for a fair price or slightly lower than market price, and grab the good property if you find a house worth negotiating for.  Don&#8217;t wait for the seller/owner to bring the selling price way down.  Every seller, remember, thinks that his house is the best.  He can be less objective about the pricing compared to the next seller.   Good houses in any market sell quickly.</p>

Start uga_in_feed
Ending uga_in_feed: 1
Ending uga_filter: <div class="socialize-in-content" style="float:right;"></div><p>Looking for a one-stop-blog to help first time home buyers in the Philippines, I didn&#8217;t find any! </p>
<p>Doing a bit of research, I found this site from <a href="http://www.bastapinoy.com/housing_CK_firsttime_homebuyers_find_opportunities_20080827002.htmhttp://www.bastapinoy.com/housing_CK_firsttime_homebuyers_find_opportunities_20080827002.htmhttp://www.bastapinoy.com/housing_CK_firsttime_homebuyers_find_opportunities_20080827002.htm">Basta Pinoy</a>  with an article by Charles Covalesky, a Title insurance lawyer based in Florida, with info on helping you get your first home.  Yes, it was written for the Florida residential buyer market, but a lot of the advice offered can be applied here.  There are a couple of points which the article cites, which are differently practiced here in the Philippines.  </p>
<p>One, in terms of financing, there is NO PHILIPPINE BANK that will give you an approved loan equal to the house&#8217;s selling price.  That means you must put in some equity, equal to at least 30% if the house is on re-sale.  The only time I&#8217;ve seen this exception is when some customers would agree to  an unscrupulous agent&#8217;s suggestion to pay off the appraiser.  What the appraiser does is to raise the value rating of the house, consequently leading to a higher approved loan value.  In many cases, it&#8217;s enough to cover the entire selling price.  But it doesn&#8217;t reflect the real asset base of the Philippines.  We in the Philippine Association of Realtors Boards (PAREB) discourage Realtors from bribing any official or network partner, as it sets a precedent of dishonesty and bad business advice.</p>
<p>Credit ratings for consumers are only visible to the Philippine banks, unlike in the States you can pay for the service for access to the information. Your bank officer will just tell you that you get a pass&#8217; or &#8216;fail&#8217; rating.   Our loan approval system also relies on specific neighborhood information from referred friends or associates,   in addition to a review of the objective details given by the borrower himself.  That&#8217;s where the Realtor&#8217;s role is important as he acs as mediator between the borrower and the bank if he offers bank loans as a mortgage broker. </p>
<p>Lastly is that though there may be an economic recession round the world, in the Philippines most people I&#8217;ve talked to, sellers and buyers, say that it&#8217;s as if  the country is much less affected than its Western counterparts.  You may also attribute it to the smaller supply of good homes  in your area of choice, which keeps buyers on their toes to look for the best house with the best deal.  But my advice is to aim for a fair price or slightly lower than market price, and grab the good property if you find a house worth negotiating for.  Don&#8217;t wait for the seller/owner to bring the selling price way down.  Every seller, remember, thinks that his house is the best.  He can be less objective about the pricing compared to the next seller.   Good houses in any market sell quickly.</p>

Start uga_filter: <div class="socialize-in-content" style="float:right;"></div><p><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-37 alignleft" title="DSC00707" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dsc00707.jpg?w=300" alt="DSC00707" width="300" height="225" /><img class="size-medium wp-image-45 aligncenter" title="One Serendra 3BR Special MHS (32)" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/one-serendra-3br-special-mhs-32.jpg?w=300" alt="One Serendra 3BR Special MHS (32)" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Live in this beautiful, three bedroom special unit for sale at <strong>One Serendra, Bonifacio Global City.  </strong>The special feature of the unit is a specially constructed bay window,with floor-to-ceiling glass wall.  </span><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">The owner is rushing to sell.  The living room area faces Market! Market! playground; on the left is a view of <a title="Go to International School Manila" href="http://www.ismanila.org/" target="_blank">International School</a> and the horizon of Marikina; and on Master&#8217;s bedroom side, one has a view of the Orchard and playground; with wraparound balcony.  <strong></strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><strong>Specifications:</strong> Size: 211 sqm   Bedrooms: 3    Toilet and bath: 3   With maid&#8217;s room, service area, 2 parking slots </span></span></p>
<div><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Asking price: Php 26,500,000.00    </span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Terms: Cash or bank financing</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Contact:  <a title="Contact us for viewing" href="mailto:msiquijor_mhs@yahoo.com.sg" target="_blank">Residences Manila</a></span></span></div>

Start uga_in_feed
Ending uga_in_feed: 1
Ending uga_filter: <div class="socialize-in-content" style="float:right;"></div><p><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-37 alignleft" title="DSC00707" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dsc00707.jpg?w=300" alt="DSC00707" width="300" height="225" /><img class="size-medium wp-image-45 aligncenter" title="One Serendra 3BR Special MHS (32)" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/one-serendra-3br-special-mhs-32.jpg?w=300" alt="One Serendra 3BR Special MHS (32)" width="300" height="225" /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Live in this beautiful, three bedroom special unit for sale at <strong>One Serendra, Bonifacio Global City.  </strong>The special feature of the unit is a specially constructed bay window,with floor-to-ceiling glass wall.  </span><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">The owner is rushing to sell.  The living room area faces Market! Market! playground; on the left is a view of <a title="Go to International School Manila" href="http://www.ismanila.org/" target="_blank">International School</a> and the horizon of Marikina; and on Master&#8217;s bedroom side, one has a view of the Orchard and playground; with wraparound balcony.  <strong></strong></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><strong>Specifications:</strong> Size: 211 sqm   Bedrooms: 3    Toilet and bath: 3   With maid&#8217;s room, service area, 2 parking slots </span></span></p>
<div><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Asking price: Php 26,500,000.00    </span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Terms: Cash or bank financing</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:x-small;font-family:Arial;">Contact:  <a title="Contact us for viewing" href="mailto:msiquijor_mhs@yahoo.com.sg" target="_blank">Residences Manila</a></span></span></div>

Start uga_filter: <div class="socialize-in-content" style="float:right;"></div><div class="mceTemp">
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<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter"><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/raffles_animated-large.gif"></a></div>
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<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter"><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/living_area_17.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-12 " title="Raffles Manila" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/living_area_17.jpg?w=1024" alt="Raffles Residences Manila" width="717" height="398" /></a></div>
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</div>
<p>Welcome to the launch of <strong>The Residences Manila</strong>. Our blog aims to give global viewers a visual tour of the choicest selections of Manila&#8217;s best-in-class residential condominiums and apartments, available for sale or rent.</p>

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</div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignnone">
<div class="mceTemp" style="text-align:center;">
<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter"><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/living_area_17.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-12 " title="Raffles Manila" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/living_area_17.jpg?w=1024" alt="Raffles Residences Manila" width="717" height="398" /></a></div>
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/unit_5-a_kitchen_063008-02.jpg"></a></dt>
</dl>
</div>
<p>Welcome to the launch of <strong>The Residences Manila</strong>. Our blog aims to give global viewers a visual tour of the choicest selections of Manila&#8217;s best-in-class residential condominiums and apartments, available for sale or rent.</p>

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