Many people, when buying or selling a property, employ the services of a real estate practitioner.
They believe, and rightly so, that real estate practitioners, especially a real estate agent or a realtor, can help them sell or buy a property faster than when they do it by themselves.
Is A Real Estate Agent the same as A Realtor?
In the eyes of the public, “real estate agent” and “realtor” are the same and used interchangeably. However, there’s a great difference between the two.
Before the passage of the law, the Real Estate Service …

After my childhood friend Fred was laid-off from his work two years ago, I advised him to use his separation pay benefits from his employer to invest in real estate, by being a landlord.
Though his real estate investment did not make him rich overnight, it made life for him and his family comfortable.
Presently, Fred has a four (4) door apartment building and three (3) houses which he rents out to tenants, earning for him a sure monthly income.
In fact, the rental income that he was getting now was more than …

As a realtor, I sometimes receive request from my clients who want to lease their properties to help find tenants for them.
Recently one of my clients, Anne, came to my office, distraught. She told me that her tenants, a family of 5 who had been leasing her second house, was delayed in the payment of rents for two months now. Anne was asking for my advice on what to do.
Anne’s problem is not uncommon for landlords who rent out their properties to tenants.
If you are renting your property or planning …

My friend Liza bought a new house and lot a month ago, but this early she has already encountered some problems which she did not anticipate when she bought the property.
Liza has found out that there were some cracks appearing in the walls of her bedroom, and also cracks in the floor of the kitchen.  She also discovered that the street post in front of her house was not energized yet, making the street dark at night.
As a realtor I have encountered some problems experienced by buyers of new houses. …

The Philippines has a new law known as the “Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines”, which was took effect on July 29, 2009.
What is the main reason why the Philippines has enacted a new law? The reason is that the government wants to regulate the practice of real estate service in the Philippines.
Under the law, the real estate service practitioners are the real estate consultants, real estate appraisers, real estate assessors, real estate brokers, and real estate salespersons. The real estate salesperson performs service for, and in behalf of, …

Many subdivision developers and their sales agents have been enticing the public, especially the would-be buyers, to buy their lot or house and lot packages in the subdivisions that they are constructing, at a cheaper price.
Their promotion pitch and come-ons are like this: The price is cheaper because it is still pre-development price, or pre-selling stage, and that once the project is completed, prices will go up by 50% or even up to 100% of the current price. After all, they will assure you, the project will be completed in …

We’ve been asked by our Filipino readers to write about Pag IBIG Fund, as they are interested to apply for a loan with it to build their houses.
So, for the guidance of everybody who are planning to apply for a loan with Pag IBIG for their housing needs, we are writing this post.
In the Philippines, if you are a Pag IBIG Fund member, it is easy for you to secure a loan to purchase a lot and construct your house thereon. You can even transfer to a new house and …

A client came to my realty office yesterday, telling me to find a buyer for her house as she is selling it.
When I asked her the reason for selling her house, she replied that she could no longer tolerate the noise and traffic in her neighborhood. It appears that her house was located just across the main gate of a well-known private school and every morning there was heavy traffic because of the students coming to classes being brought by private vehicles and public transport.
I have also a friend who …