I find in Cebu as well as other parts of the Philippines the media concentrates on robberies and other criminal activities that esculate a fear within the country. If you talk to people they are often weary of the next town and pretty much everywhere seems to be “dangerous” but in reality it isn’t.
Advantages of buying a house outside a sub-division is the prices are a lot lower although you will likely find that a lot of work is needed to bring it up to a western standard. Maintenance generally happens once something is broke rather than preventative. Your likely to gain a garden with the property which is something you are unlikely to have in a sub division house as well as having stores nearby for convenience. The property itself is likely to be larger inside and ceiling heights higher as well as more airy. Neighbouring properties are unlikely to be tight to your walls giving more privacy and space as well as a proximity wall around the property.
Downside is a lot of maintenance work is required to get it up to initial standards to the way you want to live. Often the room layouts are different to western houses which means moving kitchens and bathrooms etc. Wiring as well as plumbing is likely to be sub standard and often plumbing involves only an outside pump with no internal pipework. You don’t have private security which you would have in a sub-division. You may be out of a built up area causing problems getting power,water to the property or close to a city giving traffic congestion as well as noise and pollution.
Originally posted 2011-01-12 20:37:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
