It begins with…
A Central Address
A Space to Grow
Bonds to Inspire
Room to Breathe

We are pleased to share a profound unique celebration of LIFE with those that MATTER MOST!

We are inviting you and your client to be a part of 

Ametta Place’s first “INVESTORS DAY!”

Let’s enjoy a

“Heartwarming Cozy Saturday Afternoon” 

in Ametta Place!

May 12, 2012

3pm to 6pm

Ametta Place Clubhouse

Mercedes Avenue, Brgy. San Miguel, Pasig City

Thank you very much!

Located in Quezon City, Alveo Land is building a Townhouse Community called Ferndale Villas
Alveo Townhomes starting from 8 Million Pesos

The following shows the location of Ferndale Villas:

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

No DownPayment
Php 60,000.00 Monthly Amortization over 35months
@
Plan 150

Middle unit, Facing EAST

10% DownPayment over 7 months
Php 50,000.00 Monthly Amortization over 29 months
@
Plan 170

Corner unit, Facing EAST!!

15% DownPayment over 6 months
Php 30,000.00 Monthly Amortization over 30 months
@
Plan 185

Corner unit, Facing EAST!!

OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS:
Cash 30 days (95-5)
Cash 60 days (95-5_
20-80 Bank Financing
50-50 catch up
30-70 catch up
20-80 catch up
Promo- 5%DP – 50K Monthly Amortization over 35mos-balance
Promo- 10%DP over 3mos. – 40K Monthly Amortization over 33mos- balance
Promo- 5% DP – Step-Up – Balance
Promo- NO DP- 80K Monthly Amortization over 35mos – balance (applicable for Plan 150, Plan 170 & Plan 185)

 You  are invited to our

Sequoia ”Investor’s Night”

 This is our FIRST Investors Night event ever!

Grab this opportunity to invest in Two Serendra. Avail of our exciting promos.

-and-

 Enjoy creative “Mexican” dishes at

AGAVE

Mexican . Cantina

located at Bonifacio Highstreet, Taguig

(beside NIKE)

May 22, 2012 (Tuesday)

Dinner time 6-10pm

Monday: we had tripping in Dasmarinas, Cavite. The name of the community is Terra Alta, a quiet community in the suburb highlands of Cavite. Property price range at around 800,000 to 1,250,000. There are also Ready for Occupancy townhouses that have promotional financing schemes. There is also a small commercial strip mall where units are still available. We were also treated to lunch at KFC by their very nice and friendly Marketing Staff and got introduced to their onsite Engineer and site administrator.

Tuesday: Orientation seminar with Ayala Land. We were introduced to the different brands of Ayala namely, Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Avida, Amaia Land and the newest Bella Vita. Each brands were introduced to us by their representatives as well as the administration structure. A hearty lunch was served with drinks, then later merienda composed of Goldilocks cakes. We filled out application forms for each of the brands we are interested in and also signed up for the actual accreditation seminars scheduled. It ended at around 5:30pm.

Thursday: Accreditation Seminar at Alveo Land started promptly at 1:30pm. It was good that I was one of the earliest to arrive because I forgot to confirm my attendance. At least I was able to get a seat. Forms to be filled out were given early on. The venue is located at High Street B7 building. From then on, we watched a whole presentation of each of their properties and a brief explanation of our commission scheme. We received a broker sales packet which includes a CD that includes all of their presentation materials and complete directory of all our contacts in Alveo Land. At around 4:30pm, we had our late merienda of McDonalds, chicken and spaghetti with soda. Bottled water was also provided earlier.

Friday: Accreditation Seminar at SMDC started at around 10:30 at Two Ecom Center, a very impressive office building with perfect views of Manila Bay and the fireworks of MoA. Inside this building, everything is first-world, from the cafeteria to the actual hallways and rooms. Our first speaker provided a complete overview of SMDC, from its history to its vision of the MoA Complex. She gave away SMDC Fans to each one who could answer her pop quizzes. In the end most of us had one. Overall the presentations were clear, and even entertaining and from the beginning our commission schedule was well laid out. We were also introduced to their computerized booking system and the workflows. Then later, when they discussed each property they are selling, the details were presented. Some of the properties discussed were: Green Residences, Shell Residences, Grass Residences and Wind Residences of Tagaytay. After the presentation we followed our group’s Broker Coordinator to their office and there we were given application forms to fill out as well as flyers and forms we need for booking and reservation. Not all of the flyers we needed were available though but we were able to get a softcopy of their marketing presentation.

If you would like to work as a sales agent and be able to sell all the above-mentioned properties just leave me a comment here with your contact details. This offer is given to both locals and residents abroad. Your comment and contact details will not be shown here for your privacy.
You could also contact me through the email address and mobile numbers mentioned below:

Our review center also had a party afterwards.  There was  buffet ,whole program planned, including dancing.  Again, I had a grand time meeting and networking with fellow new brokers and “batchmates” from our review center which is now quite renowned in the broker circles.   At this time, we have received invitations from several developers such as Ayala Land, SM Development, Arthaland, Filinvest and so many others to attend their respective accreditation seminar.  I am scheduled to attend next week an Ayala Land and an SM Accreditation seminar for new brokers.  This week, I also visited the HLURB to apply for accreditation and visited PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) to pickup my ID card and get my Rating Certificate.  The Rating Certificate is needed to get my HLURB accreditation.   So overall, from what I understood the PRC Accreditation is for my overall license as a broker, but the HLURB is for project selling — this is a term used in the broker world that means selling of new developments.  All new development projects need to be registered with HLURB before they start and another license to sell before they start advertising/marketing their properties.

As a new broker with my own company, I earn 1% additional commission than selling as an individual.  I can also appoint up to 20 sales persons (agents) in my team.  This week, I started researching about this through the help of my former study groups who are now my good friends.  I am also planning to start to get people in my team.  If you know anyone interested to get into real estate sales, then I will be more than happy to get your referrals.  You may contact me through email.  There were also some interesting leads that just came in unexpectedly but I am not really sure if this is something I should pursue now.   What I feel right now is like I am in the midst of a whirlwind relationship.  I  am totally enjoying and smitten but at the same time I also feel that it has to slow down a bit.  Even my hairdresser had properties he wanted to sell.  I want to make sure my paperwork is all in order and lay the groundwork for something sustainable and government compliant — of course!

The other project I am also working on is a set of online software tools that will be useful by Real Estate Professionals and Developers.  With the help of MrC, I am hoping that this will also progress as we are in the midst of something big.  I will share more about this later.

With all these developments and projects, I really need to prioritize and work smart. April has really been an interesting month for me.

1.  I visited the NBI Online Application page and followed the steps given.
2.  I visited a Globe Business Center to pay for the fee using the mobile number provided in the above mentioned web page.  After payment, I received a reference number.
3. I went back to the NBI Online Application page and filled out all the information including the reference code I received from Globe.
4. I printed out the receipt that includes the QR Code.
5. I booked an appointment by sending an SMS.  I then immediately received a confirmation from NBI.
6. On my appointment date, I brought the Printed OR and  visited the NBI Main Office located at UN Avenue.     I used LRT and got off at the UN Station.  After about 5 minutes walk I found a big gate with several vendors.  I figured this was the NBI Main Office even though there were no signs in front of the office.  After asking around I ended up finding that small room on the 5th floor (or 3rd floor) of NBI and was entertained immediately by a staff member.  After about 15 minutes, I was able to get my NBI Clearance printed on the spot.

Not bad at all.  I highly recommend that you use the e-Clearance facility if you have a Globe payment outlet accessible, otherwise there are no other ways to pay online at this time.  Please check the NBI website regularly for updates.

It was one hell of a ride and I had so much fun learning. All the things I learned, I was able to put to use immediately. First, I learned how to get a certified copy of the title of my parents’ house at the Registry of Deeds (yes, baby steps first). I also learned how to read and understand titles and found out that there was a mortgage that was never cancelled, although it has been paid off since early 90′s. I was able to clean out our title all by myself. Secondly, I found out that we needed to settle my father’s estate before we sell the property  (duh!) and found out the correct steps on how to do it. I am still working on this now and even traveled to the province to investigate this. These are just the few things I have learned among so many things we discussed. There’s also so many things about Philippine taxation, VAT, condos, etc.

Yesterday, I also found out about the beautiful world of Tax Mapping. I am looking forward to discovering more things about Real Estate. In the meantime, I am going to post some listings on my Real Estate page pretty soon. This is coming from a network of 300+ brokers from my class at Urban.

Lastly, if you need help in selling, renting, or even finding the right property for you or someone you know please email real-estate@backtothephilippines.com.

The Robinsons Galleria NBI Satellite Office is located at East lane Basement 1.  I took the entrance at Ortigas Avenue (Gold’s Gym) and went down one floor using the escalator.  After that, I went straight further and asked for directions from the lady  in that small stall nearby Digital Hub.  She told me to turn right and then go down using an escalator.  If you do not want to get lost like me, follow the lady’s directions. Otherwise, you would end up at the basement parking lot.

1. Turn right when you see the escalators, don’t use the first escalators you see, as it will lead you to the parking lot.  You should pass by Marks and Spencers.
2. Right before the end of this hallway you would find a narrow escalator, take this one.
3. When you reach the end of the escalator, get off and turn left.

NBI Requirements I brought with Me

Based on the information I found from other blogs (the NBI site is practically useless for getting information) I brought the following:

• 2 forms of ID (my drivers license and Philippine passport).
• my original foreign marriage license with authentication from the Philippine embassy with accompanying photocopies
• my birth certificate (just in case)
• passport photos (just in case)
• a pen (for filling out forms)
• 115 pesos cash (the fee)

1. I came in at around 10:30AM which was already too late.
2. The maximum applications they process is only 500 per day.  Your chances are higher to get a slot if you are there between 6AM to 8AM .

Will I come back here again? Maybe.

I am considering going to Quezon City Hall Satellite office but I heard lines are quite long over there and process is slower.  I could also try the Main Office, although it’s kind of out of the way.  They said it’s not that busy there, but who knows really?  So maybe, just maybe I will wake up at 5:00 AM on a Monday and go back to Robinsons Galleria to get my NBI Clearance.  It’s much faster, however, the question is, can I wake up that early?

I have bad news for European visitors and Filipinos who travel to and from Europe and the Philippines.  We have lost our last direct flight service to Europe: the  Manila Amsterdam KLM direct flight will end by April, 2012.

The main reason for KLM’s decision is the high taxes and exorbitant fees imposed on them to operate in the Philippines.  Among these are the 2.5 percent common carriers tax (CCT) and 3 percent gross Philippine billings (GBP), which is being charged on all foreign airlines.

This is definitely not going to help boost our tourism.  Our kababayans from Europe who go back to the Philippines for a vacation certainly need to find a new airline.  I am pretty sure this would mean paying higher prices for tickets.

So what would be our options now? The top 3 choices in my quick search revealed the following carriers: Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines with option of using our local carriers PAL and Cebu Pacific to go to the hub cities such as Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

There have been some  unpleasant experiences I’ve had with flying KLM but still we continue using it all the time because of their unbeatable prices and a 12 hour flight is still better than having a stop over, inspite of the bad food, dirty toilets and brusque flight attendants we occasionally have to endure with KLM.  I just hope KLM will reconsider their decision. Nothing beats the convenience of a direct flight of only 12 hours to Europe.

Another new thing on my list now is to attend a real estate broker review seminar and eventually pass the board exam to become a licensed real estate broker.  This would actually coincide with the real estate website project that I am venturing into the next few months.  Wish me luck!