A Complete Guide to Real Estate Investment in Visayas Philippines

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Visayas, Philippines is a serene region surrounded by stunning beaches, caves, and mountains. It is a great place to unwind and is known as the "Islands of Travelers" in the Philippines. From the Boracay white shore beaches, which is undoubtedly the most visited tourist spot in Visayas, Chocolate Hills’ beautiful chocolate-colored hills, to Panglao Islands' serene beaches and nightlife, Visayas is indeed teeming with tourist attractions perfect for leisure and destination.

Aside from the region’s exotic tourist attractions, Visayas is also a growing hub for business. In fact, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the growth of the Region is expected to grow because of travel and tourism; Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-IBPM); manufacturing; and transaction.

Indeed, Visayas has grown and continues to grow into a business hub, particularly in its major cities, from Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor in Central Visayas; Samar, Leyte, and Biliran in the East; to Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Bacolod in the West.

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Visayas for property investors

The Visayas property market is ripe for future development. With business hubs already established in key provinces, a growing residential market, and the potential to tap the tourism sector with its natural attractions, the region has all of the ingredients to ride the economic recovery.

Data from the PSA showed that the Visayas region's economy recovered in 2021, with its gross regional domestic product increasing 5.7%to P2.5 trillion in 2021 from P2.395 trillion the previous year. In fact, the same data shows that residential buildings had the highest number of constructions garnering 73.8% of the total constructions.

Of these constructions, PrimaryHomes has different properties under construction, such as Richwood Homes located at Brgy. La Paz, City of Bogo, Cebu; as well as Royal Palms Quatro, located at Brgy. Biking, Dauis, Panglao, Bohol, to name a few.

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Top Growthcenters in the Visayas

Now that we have talked about the growth in the Visayas Region, let us look at the Top Growth Centers in the Visayas.

1. Cebu City

Metro Cebu is the main urban center and economic heart of Central Visayas and the Visayas as a whole. It is the second largest metropolis in the Philippines in terms of geographical area and the third largest in terms of people.

This metropolitan agglomeration of more than 3 million people, comprising seven cities and six municipalities located along the central-eastern portion of the main Cebu Island, is home to 80% of the country's shipping companies, the busiest domestic seaport, and the second busiest airport.

In fact, Cebu has a lot of upcoming multi-billion projects, such as Nustar, a 350,000 sqm world-class integrated development with bars, restaurants, a mall, a convention center, a casino, a park, a theater, and no less than three hotels built in the prime SRP - Cebu, Philippines. Seaside Arena will have a capacity of 16,000 seats (almost as large as Mall of Asia Arena in Manila). It aspires to be the premier venue for major local and international concerts, sporting events, and international conventions, among other things.

Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), a major infrastructure project that is rapidly becoming Cebu’s landmark, connects mainland Cebu from Cebu City to Cordova town on Mactan Island.

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2. Panglao Island

Panglao is well-known for its white sand beaches and world-class diving spots. Panglao is quite close to other natural wonders of Bohol, such as the Chocolate Hills, endless springs, rivers, falls, and caverns, and the adorable tarsier, the world's smallest monkey. Panglao Islands have a lot of tourist attractions that contribute to its growing economy, such as:

Panglao Islands famous beaches are:

• Alona Beach, notable for its one and a half kilometers of coral white sand that ends in sheer cliffs on both sides and the most developed beach in Bohols
• Bagobo Beach, a beach with excellent white sand surrounded by tall coconut palm palms and other tropical plants It features crystal pure water that shows a stunning underwater world; (c) Bolod Beach, the beach in Brgy. Bolod that features a 1.5-kilometer stretch of white sand, making it the longest in the vicinity; (d) Danao Beach, which is located on Panglao, Panglao Island, Bohol that has fine white beaches, cool azure waters, and teeming aquatic life and is home to some well-known dive destinations.

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3. Negros Oriental

Negros Oriental, located in the south-eastern half of Negros Island, is a province that is receiving international notice for its strong economic activity. The province is always on the list of must-see tourism destinations in the country, with Mt. Talinis being a hiker's favorite, Apo Island is a top dive location, and Bais City being a dolphin-watching excursion. While these top tourist destinations and other stunning natural assets offer a living for the locals, the province's economy is boosted by increased business and employment prospects.

Dumaguete City, the provincial capital of Negros Oriental, is known as the "City of Gentle People," but development in the city and province as a whole is the polar opposite of "gentle," as it continues to be strong, propelling this part of Central Visayas as an ideal location for business and investments.

Dumaguete is an excellent location for organizations engaged in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). Dumaguete, in fact, is one of the world's top Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) locations. Negros Occidental's BPO industry increased by 20% in the first half of 2021 alone.

Types of properties in the Visayas region

In recent years, real estate in the Philippines has shown to be a sound investment. With the consistent rise of the real estate market since 2001—when commercial and residential properties were in high demand due to the rapid growth of the BPO industry—an increasing number of people are seeing huge financial potential in house and lot and condominium investment.

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1. Condominium

A condominium is a privately owned individual apartment inside a community of other units. One advantage of investing in a condominium unit is that condominiums in key cities have high resale value.

Furthermore, a condo's property sales value improves with inflation, building renovations, and the condo's overall attractiveness in terms of prestige and location. With the best condo living locations in the Philippines, you can expect a competitive market and a high condo resale value.

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2. House and lot

A house and lot is a long-term investment that allows families to live comfortably and raises their standard of living. Analysts believe that lot owners have the freedom to extend their properties to fulfill their needs, such as the addition of children or pets.

Among the benefits of investing in purchasing a house and lot, the most important is its appreciation value, which means that the property’s value appreciates and increases over time. This is because housing is and continues to be a basic need, and the demand for it has remained consistent throughout the years.

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Legal documents for property purchase

Purchasing a property in the Philippines can be a daunting experience, especially for first-time homeowners or investors. As such, let's make your house buying or real estate property investing experience easier by learning about the various documents that you will need if you intend to purchase a property in the Philippines.

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1. Deed of Absolute Sale

A Deed of Absolute Sale is a real estate document that documents the transfer of ownership. The buyer receives this document when it has been registered with the Registry of Deeds.

This agreement is signed by the buyer and seller and should be notarized by a notary public. This is granted if the buyer has paid the following: the purchase price of the property, documentation stamp taxes, registration fees, and other charges linked with the sale of the property.

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2. Certificate of Title

A certificate of title will be issued only after full payment for the property has been received. This real estate paperwork will serve as the new owner's final proof of ownership.

This document is available in two versions, depending on whether you bought a house and land or a condominium. If you buy a house and lot, the term is transfer certificate of title (TCT); whereas, in a condominium, the term is Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT).

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3. Declaration of Real Property/Tax Declaration

Declaration of Real Property (Tax Declaration) is a property record that is a typical assessment document maintained by the provincial, city, or municipal assessors that shows, among other things, the market and assessed values of the property as the foundation for real property tax collection.

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4. Contract to Sell

Following the exclusive reservation of the property for you, the next step is to execute the purchase transaction with a deed of sale. But first, the buyer and seller must engage into a contract to sell, which includes land technical characteristics and mutually agreed-upon terms. This paperwork is provided to buyers who opt to finance or pay in installments for a property.

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5. Payment options

In the real estate sector, several payment alternatives are available, including reservation payments, down payments, and balance payments. Anyone can pay in cash, use bank services, or prudently use a debit or credit card. A buyer can select from a variety of payment methods. Let us talk about the various payment methods allowed for the purchase of real property in the Philippines.

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Cash

Cash payment is the most common means of payment in the sector, especially for short- to medium-term payment programs. Monthly down payments, as well as deferred cash installments, are best completed in cash. Although cash may be used to pay for almost anything, especially non-condominium properties, it may become less acceptable as more efficient payment methods become available.

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Check

Paying via check is another popular and simple method of payment. It is highly convenient for property hunters to bring dated checks when they inspect properties. This method of payment is convenient for reservation payments, especially when inspecting a unit.

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Bank deposit

When an official computation is already available, paying by bank deposit is a suitable manner of payment. Reservations should not be made with bank deposits. However, some developers accept bank deposits, particularly if reservations do not conflict with payment verifications for previously reserved apartments.

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Wire transfer

Wire transfer payments are becoming increasingly common, particularly among buyers who are unable to pay for property dues in person. A wire transfer, according to Investopedia, is an electronic movement of funds via a network managed by banks all over the world. Individuals or entities transfer funds to other individuals or entities.

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Auto-debit

Automatic debit payment is an electronic payment method that allows an organization, such as a merchant or lender, to withdraw funds immediately from one's bank account. It is recommended, however, that you first ask your developer if they allow this kind of payment.

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Credit card/loans

Paying with credit in the real estate market is more difficult than in the consumer products industry. While acceptable as a means of payment for reservations, due to the value of the property involved, it is the least likely to be used. Certain prominent developers, in collaboration with specific banks or payment centers, include credit card/loans as a mode of payment.

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Why invest in Visayas?

Visayas has been and continues to be one of the most prominent growth hubs in the Philippines. The Visayas property market is ripe for future development. With corporate hubs already established in major provinces, a burgeoning residential market, and the ability to exploit the tourism industry with its natural charms, the region has all of the elements to ride the economic rebound. Various construction projects, particularly in Cebu, such as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), shorten the travel time from Cebu to Mactan International Airport by about 40 minutes. In fact, according to Sunstar, the economy of Central Visayas went up by 5.4% in 2021, which is valued at a whopping 1.2 Trillion Pesos. Indeed, the continued economic growth of Visayas entails a bright future for potential investors.

Conclusion

• Visayas is brimming with potential future growth. Its economy, bolstered by its tourism and growing real estate market as well as the continuous deployment of infrastructure projects in Visayas is likely to sustain the region's excellent real estate potential this year.
• Investing in real estate is smart. Because of its geographical advantage, excellent infrastructure, as well as its high real estate appraisal value, Visayas is indeed a strategic place for you if you are looking for an investment opportunity.
• Visayas is peppered with valuable locations. Key locations like Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Bacolod, for example, remain appealing and feasible real estate investment centers, as indicated by the consistent demand for apartments, offices, and commercial spaces in these provinces.

Want to invest in the Visayas? Then book an appointment today! If you want to know more about investing in real estate in the long run, you can always contact PrimaryHomes at 📞 +63 032 254 3058 or visit us on Facebook or Instagram. Make the best choice today by choosing PrimaryHomes!