▶ Welcome Home to Makati!!

Welcome Home to Makati: Never in my life had I ever imagined buying properties in the Philippines however, for the last 4 years that is what I have been doing and managing. It’s been quite the experience of joy, fear, perseverance, and discovery. 

Background

Sometime during 2010, I resolved I was to become either an expat OR frequent traveler to foreign lands.  I’d always loved travel and had also lived overseas a few times due to being in the military.

The drive

Following several failed relationships with American women, and after having a very satisfying relationship with a Filipino. She was naturalized and in her own words ‘more authentically representative’ of well trained and desirable foreign women. My openness to romantically pursuing foreign women dramatically increased.  I don’t think I have to highlight Filipinos are frequently and consistently recognized as among the most desirable women on the planet. And therefore the desire for a certified bachelor to be in proximity of them is not a far stretch to imagine.

Career inspired by lifestyle and desire

Over the course of the previous decade, I’d decided I am a lover of tropical, beachfront, and ocean-based environments and lifestyle.  Although I’ve not had the chance to Scuba dive nearly as much as I desire. I did successfully perform what was most likely the absolute minimum number of dives as part of my training which allowed me to become a certified PADI DIVEMASTER. I’d developed a deep affinity for the ‘Spa’ and ‘resort’ lifestyle. Those sentiments occurred to me as an indication to ultimately find a beautiful, tropical, low cost of the living location. Where I could be surrounded by beautiful and friendly younger women.

Why Makati?

Welcome Home to Makati: Fast forward to 2014, I was fortunate enough to go to a work-related trip, to a conference in Makati, Philippines.  This irrevocably changed my point of view about both pursuing foreign women AND living overseas. I was now all in and in hot pursuit. Having retired from the Navy, I’ve encountered numerous sailors over the years who married Filipinos, became expats and/brought their brides to the U.S. Without throwing shade on any foreign women, I immediately decided I would never, ever, bring a foreign woman to the U.S. (at least for this modest, but extended period).  Before I knew exactly how I would accomplish the task of buying property and move to the Philippines. I began to speak ‘as if’ (a STRONG theme of my life, LOL).

How I acquired properties in the Philippines

One evening, following a long day at the conference, I went to a very nice mall.  I was immediately flagged as a passerby young man at a kiosk handing out flyers which included the description of condominium developments and the simple steps to take in order to reserve my very own unit.  THIS SEEMED SIMPLY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE,  I pocketed the knowledge of that encounter for later.

Payment Scheme

Eighteen months later I found myself with a girlfriend who lived in Manila and canvassing potential condos to purchase. The scheme to acquire a condo seemed simple enough. You pay a reservation fee, then a monthly fee ranging between 2 and 3 years.  At the end of this payment period, you are then simply required to pay off the remaining balance which is usually 80% of the full purchase price. EASY ENOUGH! and at the end of the process you no shit own a condo in the Philippines. The catch is you must either pay off that remaining 80% via cash, perhaps from a line of credit from an American bank as they don’t offer mortgages on foreign properties. The last option is to obtain a mortgage from one of the Philippine banks that will approve of you.

And I acquired more properties

This was the process I followed two times! Once I had one unit in hand, my desire only increased to eventually own more, maybe many more! I took on this endeavor in what must have seemed to others like a crazy man, but I dutifully researched the regulations, processes, and most of all the financial outlook of the Philippines (World Bank, UN, Colliers International, Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA)) and the Philippines’ political and financial elites plans for growth in infrastructure and commerce.

Win, win, win…and still winning

This seemed a slam dunk!  Finally, I’d get into owning foreign properties, scratch my itch and need for travel; and finally place myself in an environment where it would nearly impossible not to meet beautiful, younger women.  Win, win, win…and still winning.

Maintaining properties in a foreign land

Due to many unforeseen complications, naive assumptions, and logistical hiccups it’s easily been a rocky road maintaining ownership of two units and remaining in process of acquiring a 3^rd.  That said, it’s been a journey inextricably laced with excitement, contentment and satisfaction beyond my ability to completely describe.

Fear of being scammed

On my first few years of traveling there I maintained a fear one day I’d arrive at the entry of my building and be halted and asked, “unit? What unit?”, but that never happened.  Quite the reverse happened.  As more time passed the weight of condo dues, utilities, taxes and trying to manage Airbnb reinforced these units were indeed mine and the responsibility is real.

Welcome home to Makati – A home from home

Eventually, one evening sitting my unit, at Jazz Residences, and Face Timing with my son, dinner was simmering on the stove, AIRCON blasting. And some awesome Korean movies on TV.  Suddenly a deep feeling of contentment, relaxation, and gratefulness came over me. 

I was indeed back home in my home, away from home.