How to select a Philippine Home Builder? 1) Ask how many projects he built WITHOUT HOLLOW BLOCKS. (That's all.) If your contractor says "we can do that also" they still do not have the skills - plus years of experience - and you probably don't want to be their 'test-case'... Over the last years we found only one contractor in the Philippines who offers better construction methods; Northcon.   To build your house, we have identified some Philippine architects and contractors with a proven track record to serve the interest of 'us foreigners' and who build quality homes without overpricing. Although we allow anyone to select their own contractor to build a house on one of our properties, we do not promote the use of hollow blocks.     Most non-Filipinos ('foreigners') and OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers); reject the 'hollow blocks' as building-method, for obvious reasons... 1) a hollow-block wall is as strong as its weakest link which is a hollow-block; 2) a hollow-block wall needs plaster. Take a close look at any outside-wall at any building here in the Philippines; the plaster cracks and lets water through to the steel bars in the hollow-blocks; rust = misery. But it is not only the hollow blocks which are weak; also the structure ('post and beams'; columns) has proven in the Haiti earth-quake to be inferior. During an earthquake the hollow block walls will disappear first; after that the columns (now without support-) can swing to any direction:   Until now, we found only one contractor who is building with the advanced American construction method (No Hollow Blocks) for years now; Northcon Construction and Management Corporation. No other home-builder in the Philippines seems to have that experience. And although some contractors say "we can do that also" they still do not have the skills - plus years of experience - needed for this modern way of building a house. Northcon Construction and Management Corporation only built for 'foreigners' over the last years and literally anywhere in the Philippies; from Laoag in the North to Cebu to Davao in the South and in between. The homes they built are unique; never the same, they don't offer 'model houses' but make a UNIQUE house-design that will fit your LOT, WISHES and BUDGET. They also FINISHED each and every house they built. This might sound like a strange remark but we receive many stories from people who selected 'the contractor with the lowest bid' and consequently are still waiting for their home to be finished; the contractor could not finish the job for that price.  Cost to build a house in the Philippines with the advanced American construction method starts at Php 2 Million (US$ 45,000). Actualy the construction method they use (cast in-situ) cost the same as hollow blocks... They simply use knowledge which other Philippine architects and contractors might fail to recognize due to lack of information, shortage of time, rigid application of standards, reluctance to seek advice, habitual thinking, failure to admit ignorance, poor human relations, resistance to change or they make decisions based on feelings rather than facts. You can even follow the building-process of your house while abroad; they have a 'webcam' and laptop sending real-time info to you. See also some pictures from their previous- and ongoing projects all over the Philippines: http://we-build.blogspot.com/2010/02/30-years-experience-in-philippines.html You can call Northcon Construction and Management Corporation Telephone/Fax # (02) 757 8925 ( outside Philippines 0063 2 757 89 25 ) E-mail (click here) They use mostly local workers from your nearest city but coordinate initial inquiries at the main office: GF, PCPD Building 2332 Chino Roces Avenue Extension (is the old 'Pasong Tamo Avenue') Makati City 1231

Philippines Living, Retirement & Investment Projects Managed by Expats, Enjoyed by Expats "We have been there, done that" Most development projects done in the Philippines are done by Filipinos who “think” they know the demands of foreigners, but they always miss the mark... They mix-up 'tourists' with 'expats'; but not all expats like the 24/7 karaoke-pollution. Whenever we feel the urge to party we go to Boracay but where do we go for tranquil beaches and quiet nature? Tablas Island. After living in the Philippines for 20 years now, we decided to develop our own Expat Retirement Villages combined with several possibilities for expats to have extra income.   How about investing $12,000 to have $500 income per month? Our Organic Farm on Tablas with several agricultural products has proven to be a big succes as Philippine investment opportunity; we are now expanding the farm to let more expats and investors join. At this moment we are also in negotiation with lot-owners and investors to build Philippine retirement villages for retirees from Japan, Korea and other nationalities; Sunset Villas is almost ready. Many people contact us also with the request to make a 'Retreat Center' at Tablas since it is the perfect place for a sabbatical, meditation. Some 'Medical Tourism Clinics' here in the Philippines contact us to provide a relaxing atmosphere for their patients who have undergone surgery.   We already bought, developed and sold a total of 80 hectares to (and build homes for-) about 100 people from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgary, Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, England, Italy, Singapore and U.S.A. The project we developed next (to provide people with an additional pension) was Tablas Highlands Organic Farm. This proved to be a great succes; within a few months we grew towards 130 hectare for organic agricultural products with a ROI between 33% and 50% (You can still join us while land-prices are low). We personally own 40% of the stock in this project. Every decision is based not only on our responsibility to our investors, but also to the investment of our own personal funds in this project. Plans for some unique resorts, retirement villages, condos and other developments are being worked out by us as we speak. You can join us; invest in our development company and/or buy a lot at Sunset Beach Villas (our latest project). Our investors are provided investment options to fit their budgets - be that an installment purchase price or a discounted cash price. We have contacts (and complete support) everywhere in both Government and private sector; doors that stay closed for others, open for us to speed-up all paperwork. For those who are not ready yet for action, we would like to send you our monthly Newsletter by E-mail; developments are going very fast now and you might be surprised with the innovative opportunities that are invented by people like you who join our group and share their thoughts...   More Philippines Retirement Info...here...

How about investing $12,000 to have $500 income per month? Living and Retiring in the Philippines Most of the questions we receive from expats who want to live in the Philippines fit in one of the following four categories: 1) How to supplement my pension? 2) Where to live? 3) What is the cost of a house in the Philippines? 4) Which visa should I obtain? Over the years we developed a 'Masterplan' which has all the answers: On the island of Tablas (Romblon) we now have 130 hectare agricultural land (Tablas Highlands Organic Farm) to provide 'extra income' for expats. The obvious next step was to develop some beach front- and mountain view properties for expats (Sunset Beach Villas) with beautiful homes at prices less than 10% of what a retiree would pay in their home country. To anyone (even if you do not join our group) we offer FREE service to process a permanent resident visa (SRRV); this Philippine visa offers many benefits and the US$10,000 bank certificate of deposit (requirement for the SSRV) can now be withdrawn and invested in one of our projects. To investors we are offering 'investment shares' in our development company. Do you want to stay informed about the growing group of Philippine expats on Tablas? Receive the monthly News Letter? Click Here...

Difficult to get a Construction Loan? Build Now, Pay 50% Later (Only for projects of minimum Php 1M up to Php 500M; anywhere in the Philippines) Do you have a titled lot? We can help you with our 'inhouse loan' if you pay us 50% cash; the rest becomes a loan with very low interest.

Our architects are specialized in ‘Passive Cooling’; this means that they study the exact location, positioning, alignment and orientation of your house- and windows in relation to the sun, shadow plus wind as to provide a natural cool breeze. As a result the airconditioning unit can be chosen smaller and the electricity bill is lower.

Alternative Philippine Construction Methods   Solid Concrete Walls  10X stronger and still the same cost as hollow blocks. Typhoon and Earthquake resistant. American construction method. No plaster = No cracks. Two times faster built.     Commercial-, Industrial-, Institutional- and Recreational Buildings           Pre Engineered Steel Buildings The complete steel building (structural steel and cladding system) is delivered to site. Just bolt the components together; No site fabrication or welding is involved. Significant saving in construction time and superior quality compared to conventional steel construction. All structural elements are fully optimized by the proprietary computerized design program hence there is a significant reduction in dead load reactions to the foundations. This means saving in cost of foundations due to lower self weight. ONLY for floor area larger than 1,000 square meters Ask for a quote     How to Insulate your House in the Philippines? (see sample left) Two 3-inch thick solid concrete walls with steel bar reinforcement and one layer of polystyrene in the middle (the material your cooling-box is also made of). Cost: ofcourse higher than a house without insulation. Want to know more? Just ask us.     Philippines PREFAB homes   Insulated plus the Quality is Superior because the parts that will form your building are made under controlled factory-conditions. ' Built in 1 day ' PHILIPPINES PREFAB IS NOT CHEAPER; YOU GET MORE VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY     Philippines ICF   Cost: little higher than hollow blocks but Insulated; keeps heat/noise outside ('the karaoke-terror'), providing comfort and saving on aircon-bills. Beauty inside/outside: it is cheaper to cover the walls inside- and outside with beautiful paneling or veneers; thousands of possibilities.   Modern Zen Houses - Native - Nipa - Bamboo - Bali Mansions Philippines Wooden House ? TERMITES ? Ask for the unique permanent "anay" termite control system  installed under your house before the construction TIP: If you do not like too many concrete we can also design your house partly with wood or use 'Feng Shui' and 'Green/ECO' WITHOUT AIRCON by researching the orientation of your house and the window alignment/positioning with the sun (shadow) plus wind. Nature plus an electric fan will provide a cool breeze and healthy indoor-air quality. After all the Philippines is too beautiful to live in a 'closed windows' house...

Just Some Thoughts...   1) You are used to fast communication (by E-mail etc.) and a higher standard of quality in design and -construction. Philippine contractors and -architects have to recognise the fact that their efforts must be tripled or even more to be at par with the first world countries. Does your contractor have a response time of less than 24 hours and gives a standard weekly progress-report about the construction (including pictures) by E-mail? 2) You know that a local 'contractor' (a carpenter or foreman without office and/or contract) is not an option. According to the Philippines Construction Law there is a 15 year accountability on structural mistakes but will your contractor still be around by then? 3) You are afraid that your contractor will 'cheapen' your building or 'cut corners'. Test your Philippine contractor and ask what he knows about 'Value Engineering'. He should answer that it is all about removing unnecessary expenditures and finding alternatives; it is knowledge which local contractors might fail to recognize due to lack of information, shortage of time, rigid application of standards, reluctance to seek advice, habitual thinking, failure to admit ignorance, poor human relations, resistance to change or they make decisions based on feelings rather than facts. 4) Some foreigners start by asking an architect to make a design of the house they want; AFTER that they ask the estimated cost and find out that they cant afford... So why do you not just tell what budget you have in mind and let the architect make a design that fit your LOT, WISHES and BUDGET? 5) Some foreigners feel the pressure of their Filipina wife to let a family-member or relative build the house or swimming pool. Or the local 'foreman' who can do it at such a low price (he says). But remember one subtle fact; according to the Philippines Construction Law there is a 15 year accountability on structural mistakes. The engineer or architect who signs the blueprints might be responsible if your building suddenly starts to tilt to the left...or your pool starts leaking. You have to be pretty sure that your 'foreman' is financially capable to take that responsibility (or isn't gone then). Now you understand also that making blueprints is not just 'making a drawing of the house'; it means the architect has to make sure he (and his team of specialists who know all about the soil-type, plumbing, electrical etc.) will create a home that stands for generations and that their neck is at stake. Same for pools; hire a specialist. 6) You do not like the weak 'hollow blocks' and want your house typhoon- and earthquake resistant. To make the decision whether the quality of a hollow-block house is sufficient for you; just visit a few homes in the Philippines and take a good look at the wall near window-corners. Do you see cracks? Also look at the outside wall surface; do you see cracks? An alternative construction method is now available: 'Solid Concrete Walls Philippines'; American system, 2X faster, 10X stronger, much more durable than hollow blocks AND AT THE SAME COST... 7) Discounting is for Losers. Giving a discount is the number one technique local Philippine 'contractors' (a foreman without office and/or contract) are using to get your attention but it actually reveals poor management. In the end it is YOU who will 'pay the price'. 8) You are worried about termites. Ask your contractor for the latest unique (permanent!) "anay" termite protection system; simple and yet very effective installed under your house before construction.   In short; 'you get what you pay for' or 'GOOD WORK IS NEVER CHEAP, AND CHEAP WORK IS NEVER GOOD' It is YOU who have to select the one who offers the best VALUE for your money.

retirement  living in the philippines. Philippines retirement Retirement might with important life changes; a retired worker for example a retiunity, living in the Philippines retirement philippines is the point where a person stops employment completely. BUILDING IN PHILIPPINES

'Free Philippine House Design' can be Very Expensive Any Philippine architect or engineer has to go through many years of study and a very strict board-exam. Same like doctors and lawyers.  There seems to be a common misconception amongst those who want to build a home in the Philippines; they expect an architect or Philippine contractor to make a sketch of the house and a floorplan...for free... Doctors and Lawyers do not give free services... Why would any self-respecting professional give free services? Is he maybe desparate to get a job? That would not be the best choice... and a licensed Philippine architect is by law not allowed to give free services. Making blueprints is not just 'making a drawing of the house'; it means the architect has to make sure he (and his team of specialists who know all about the soil-type, plumbing, electrical etc.) will create a home that stands for generations. Because according to the Philippines Building Code there is a 15 year accountability on structural mistakes; the engineer or architect who signs the blueprints might be responsible if your building suddenly starts to tilt to the left...or your pool starts leaking. Now you also understand that Philippine architects are NOT EXPENSIVE; you pay the architect not simply for 'making a design'; there is MUCH MORE AT STAKE. You pay for his skills, craftsmanship, experience, arts, value engineering etc. a Picture of YOUR Philippine House; click here...

Philippine Swimming Pool Construction and Landscaping     We construct pools using a special method with the assurance that leaks in any part of the pool are eliminated.  (15 years accountability on structural mistakes). We built an Olympic size pool this way also.

Philippines Air Conditioner: YES or NO ? Electricity rates in the Philippines are at least 100% higher than in the USA ECO House - Green Building in the Philippines

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