The two most commonly used—and most dangerous—words in any negotiation are: back out. In real estate, deal sizes are massive. That alone amplifies emotions. Add timelines, family pressure, cash constraints, pride, and fear—and you’re no longer negotiating numbers. You’re negotiating egos. At that level, even the smallest friction can ignite conflict. Something as trivial as asking for 2 gov't-issued IDs—because the one submitted is a laminated senior citizen card—can suddenly

Here’s an interesting (and slightly scary) use of AI. The problem: A client needs to lease a ground-floor commercial space in a high foot-traffic area—ideal for a café. The usual playbook: 1. Check your office inventory 2. Post the requirement on social media 3. Drop it in broker group chats 4. Drive around the city looking for FOR LEASE signs This works. But it’s slow, manual, and heavily dependent on luck and timing. Then the thought hit me. Why does a human need to do the

One of the most common questions landowners ask is this: “How do I actually protect my (un-gated) property?” ~Php70,000 per month. That’s the cost of a full-time, 24/7 security guard. A client was quoted this recently. A business partner got roughly the same number last year. You might reduce it slightly—no firearm, fewer rotations—but real security is expensive. In yesterday’s post, When Titles Aren’t Enough, someone raised the real issue: ownership on paper is useless if yo

Once upon a time, a man once bought a vacant lot in an ordinary, ungated residential neighborhood. He did nothing with it. No fence, no caretaker, no visits—just a title tucked away, proof enough in his mind that the land was his. Years passed. Then one day, squatters began to appear. The owner noticed, but he wasn’t alarmed. As long as his name was on the title, he believed the law was on his side. Decades went by, and the owner died. The property passed to his son. The son

This is a MUST READ. This development is a continuation of Maceda Law. Good news for pre-selling buyers, bad news for developers. Last July 2025, the Supreme Court ruled on a case (G.R. No. 261877) involving a pre-selling condominium project that was not completed on time and not delivered as promised. Here’s the big takeaway (based on my reading of the case): If a developer fails to complete a project: According to the approved plans, OR Within the prescribed period the buye

Following yesterday’s post, “Check Writing Madness,” I’m sharing an old but trusted Excel formula I use to automatically convert numbers into words. Just update the cell reference A1 to match where your number is entered. This provides a way to automatically convert amounts into words accurately—especially useful for contracts and check writing, where numbers must be spelled out. Facebook readers, you can screenshot the formula and use text selection from your photos to paste

Ugh. This is starting to get irritating. What’s the proper way to write Php 154,238.85 in words? If your answer is: One hundred fifty-four thousand two hundred and thirty-eight & 85/100… Congratulations—your check may be rejected by the bank. This just happened to us. According to the bank teller (and, admittedly, I agree), the correct way is NOT to put “and” between “two hundred” and “thirty-eight.” The “and” should be reserved only for the centavos portion. But seriously—th

Once upon a time, a couple leased a property through a broker. Their lease still had a few months left when the broker reached out and said the owner was short on cash. As an incentive, the owner was allegedly willing to reduce the monthly rent if the couple paid the lease extension in advance. Afraid to lose the opportunity, the couple immediately transferred the funds to the bank account provided by the broker. After all, the broker had been extremely helpful during their m

2026 Events and Deadlines for Real Estate Brokers Sharing an updated checklist of key events and compliance deadlines real estate brokers should keep in mind for 2026. 1. PRC License Renewal Relevant for brokers whose licenses expire in 2026 (depends on your renewal cycle/birth month). Reminder: settle CPD units early to avoid last-minute stress. 2. BIR Sworn Statement (Non-VAT Brokers) Due: January 7, 2026 Applicable to non-VAT registered real estate brokers to continue avai