When the real estate market turns sluggish, a familiar idea resurfaces — the rent-to-own (RTO) scheme. On paper, it sounds like a win-win: “Why rent when you can own?” But behind the marketing pitch lies one of the most misunderstood setups in property transactions. Most people think of RTOs as a simple bridge between renting and buying. In truth, they’re two contracts stitched together — a lease and an option (or obligation) to buy. The first gives you the right to occupy th

A company was selling an office unit for P33.6 million. The documents didn’t say whether the amount was VAT-inclusive or exclusive. The property’s zonal value is P31 million. So here’s the question: 💡 What is the correct output VAT payable to the BIR? Options: A P3.60 million B P3.72 million C P4.03 million ****** Before diving into the VAT computation, it helps to know where the answer comes from. In February 2007, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Regulation No

If there’s one thing I’ve noticed, it’s that many new condo owners aren’t sure what to look for when developers finally hand over the keys. Here’s a quick checklist to help you catch issues before signing off. 🧱 Walls, Floors, Ceilings Look for cracks, uneven paint, or stains. Tap tiles with a coin—if it sounds hollow, it might pop later. Step barefoot to feel for bumps or dips. Check ceilings for leaks or discoloration. 🚿 Water & Plumbing Turn on everything—faucets, shower

Let’s explore an insightful way to evaluate returns from real estate investments — the Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Like the Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), IRR expresses profitability as a percentage. But while CAGR assumes a single buy-and-sell event (start vs. end values), IRR is far more flexible. It factors in all cash inflows and outflows over time — including staggered payments, rent, resale proceeds, or even interim costs — then determines the exact discount r

Many lease contracts in the Philippines require tenants to pay advance rent—often applied to the first months of the lease—alongside a security deposit. At first glance, it seems straightforward: pay a few months ahead, start the lease, done. But here’s where many contracts (and brokers) get it wrong. Advance rent is meant to protect the lessor throughout the lease term—not just at the start. It should be applied to the last two months of the lease, not the first two. The sec

The next few years will reshape how Metro Manila and nearby provinces connect — but not all projects are moving at the same pace. 1️⃣ Solaire QC Opened in May 2024, this P50-billion entertainment complex drew initial buzz but hasn’t meaningfully lifted real-estate values in Quezon City’s fringes. The area’s market remains more dependent on office recovery than casino foot traffic. 2️⃣ Bulacan Airport (NMIA) San Miguel’s New Manila International Airport is now slated to begin

One fine day, I landed a listing that would make any golf lover drool — an 800-square-meter fairway lot. Except… when I arrived, the “view” was gone. Buried under 15-foot-tall talahib. The fairway, the main selling point, was completely invisible. So I asked the admin to clear it. “Scheduled po,” they said — which, in Filipino time, could mean next week or next century. A third-party contractor quoted P15,000 for a full cut. JPRE logic kicked in: Why pay fifteen grand when Sh

Once upon a time, two college students in Metro Manila got into a fistfight — let’s call them A and B. A threw a punch. B fell, hit his head on the curb, and was knocked unconscious. The school rushed him to the hospital, and eventually, he recovered — or so everyone thought. Years later, it turned out B suffered permanent brain damage. His family decided to sue the school, not A, arguing that the incident happened within school grounds. And instead of filing in Metro Manila

A notary public is an officer of the court empowered to verify that a document was signed voluntarily and by the person whose name appears on it. Once a document bears a notarial seal, it gains a presumption of authenticity. By law, notarization is an act of acknowledgment that the person appeared before the notary, presented valid identification, and signed the document in the notary’s presence–just like how PH documents are consularized abroad. In practice, however, notariz

Breaking: Banks tighten scrutiny on large payments — even to the BIR. In the aftermath of the flood control fund controversy, banks are suddenly becoming more cautious — even with legitimate government transactions. Sources report that Landbank now requires anyone depositing more than P500,000 — including tax payments to the BIR — to disclose extensive personal details: the names, addresses, birthdates, birthplaces, professions, and occupations of both the buyer and seller. I