Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Former Filipino Citizen own a Property in the Philippines?
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 185 – AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT SECTION FIFTEEN OF ARTICLE XIV OF THE CONSTITUTION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Section 1. In implementation of Section fifteen of Article XIV of the Constitution, a natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has lost his Philippine citizenship may be a transferee of private land, for use by him as his residence, subject to the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 2. Any natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has lost his Philippine citizenship and who has the legal capacity to enter into a contract under Philippine laws may be a transferee of a private land up to a maximum area of one thousand square meters, in the case of urban land, or one hectare in the case of rural land, to be used by him as his residence. In the case of married couples, one of them may avail of the privilege herein granted; Provided, That if both shall avail of the same, the total area acquired shall not exceed the maximum herein fixed.
In case the transferee already owns urban or rural lands for residential purposes, he shall still be entitled to be a transferee of additional urban or rural lands for residential purposes which, when added to those already owned by him, shall not exceed the maximum areas herein authorized.
Sec. 3. A transferee under this Act may acquire not more than two lots which should be situated in different municipalities or cities anywhere in the Philippines; Provided, That the total area thereof shall not exceed one thousand square meters in the case of urban lands or one hectare in the case of rural lands for use by him as urban land shall be disqualified from acquiring acquiring rural land, and vice versa.
What Will Happen To a Condominium Investment After 50 Years?
This is one of the most common concerns raised by condominium buyers. And it is a very relevant question to ask especially since we are talking about millions of money here.
In the Philippines, there is a law that protects the interest of the unit owners in a condominium project. This is the Republic Act 4726 or The Condominium Act of the Philippines which was mandated on June 18, 1966.
To answer the concern of thecondominium owners and the would-be owners, here is an excerpt of the act.
SECTION 8. Whereseveral persons owncondominiums in a condominium project, an action may be brought by one or more such persons for partition thereof by sale of the entire project, as if the owners of all of the condominiums in such project were co-owners of the entire project in the same proportion as their interests in the common areas: Provided, however, That a partition shall be made only upon a showing:
That three years after damage or destruction to the project which renders material part thereof unit for its use prior thereto, the project has not been rebuilt or repaired substantially to its state prior to its damage or destruction, or That damage or destruction to the project has rendered one-half or more of the units therein untenantable and that condominium owners holding in aggregate more than thirty percent interest in the common areas are opposed to repair or restoration of the project; or That the project has been in existence in excess of fifty years, that it is obsolete and uneconomic, and that condominium owners holding in aggregate more than fifty percent interest in the common areas are opposed to repair or restoration or remodeling or modernizing of the project. That the project or a material part thereof has been condemned or expropriated and that the project is no longer viable, or that the condominium owners holding in aggregate more than seventy percent interest in the common areas are opposed to continuation of the condominium regime after expropriation or condemnation of a material portion thereof; orThat the conditions for such partition by sale set forth in the declaration of restrictions, duly registered in accordance with the terms of this Act, have been met.
It’s not like you will buy a condominium property and then after 50 years, your investmentwill be gone, just like that. When a condominium project is fully turned over to the unit owners, it becomes just like a corporation, and you are one of the owners of that corporation if you have a unit there.
So it follows that you will have a “say” in the decision making as to what to do with the whole building, and if it has been decided that the property is going to be sold or demolished so that a new property will be developed on the area, you will get your appropriate share of the proceeds of the sale.
Just like any investment, your condominium property can last, can be profitable and can be passed on to your heir(s).
As a Foreigner, can i buy a house in Philippines? Can i own a Farm?
What foreigners should know about Real Estate Ownership in the Philippines.
If you are thinking of acquiring land in the Philippines here are some few things that you should know. Many Americans and Europeans are surprised when they cannot simply buy house and lot packages in the Philippines and have the Land Title placed with their names. Unlike in their countries, anyone who can afford to buy real state can easily do so regardless of citizenships. In the Philippines, real estate ownership is confined to Filipino Citizens, corporations with at least 60% Filipino interest, and Dual Citizens or Former Filipinos with some limitations.
As a Foreigner, can i buy a house in Philippines? Can i own a Farm?
The Philippine constitution prohibits foreigners from purchasing land. Only Filipino citizens or corporations with at least 60% Filipino equity can acquire lands in the national territory. Corporations with the accepted foreign/Filipino equity stake percentages still must apply to the Board of Investment (BOI) for permission to buy, sell, or act as an intermediary in a real estate transaction. This normally takes 60 to 90 days.
Foreign corporations in general that are investing in the Philippines can lease land for up to 50 years, with a renewal option for another 25 years.4
Foreign investors can purchase up to 40% of the units in a condominium project. Foreigners can own these condominiums in their own names and this is the general practice.
Foreigners Leasing Of Philippine Real Estate Property
Leasing land in the Philippines on a long term basis is an option for foreigners or foreign corporations with more than 40 percent foreign equity. Under the Investor’s Lease Act of the Philippines a foreign national and or corporation may enter into a lease agreement with Filipino landowners for an initial period of up to 50 years renewable once for an additional 25 years.
Foreigners owning Houses in the Philippines
Foreigners owning a house or building in the Philippines is legal as long as the foreigner does not own the land on which the house is build.
Foreigners owning Condominiums & Townhouses in the Philippines
The Condominium Act of the Philippines, R.A. 4726, expressly allows foreigners to acquire condominium units and shares in condominium corporations up to not more than 40% of the total and outstanding capital stock of a Filipino owned or controlled condominium corporation. However, there are a very few single-detached homes or Townhouses in the Philippines with condominium titles. Most condominiums are high rise buildings.
Can a Former Filipino Citizen own a Property in the Philippines?
BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 185 – AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT SECTION FIFTEEN OF ARTICLE XIV OF THE CONSTITUTION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Section 1. In implementation of Section fifteen of Article XIV of the Constitution, a natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has lost his Philippine citizenship may be a transferee of private land, for use by him as his residence, subject to the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 2. Any natural-born citizen of the Philippines who has lost his Philippine citizenship and who has the legal capacity to enter into a contract under Philippine laws may be a transferee of a private land up to a maximum area of one thousand square meters, in the case of urban land, or one hectare in the case of rural land, to be used by him as his residence. In the case of married couples, one of them may avail of the privilege herein granted; Provided, That if both shall avail of the same, the total area acquired shall not exceed the maximum herein fixed.
In case the transferee already owns urban or rural lands for residential purposes, he shall still be entitled to be a transferee of additional urban or rural lands for residential purposes which, when added to those already owned by him, shall not exceed the maximum areas herein authorized.
Sec. 3. A transferee under this Act may acquire not more than two lots which should be situated in different municipalities or cities anywhere in the Philippines; Provided, That the total area thereof shall not exceed one thousand square meters in the case of urban lands or one hectare in the case of rural lands for use by him as urban land shall be disqualified from acquiring acquiring rural land, and vice versa.
What Will Happen To a Condominium Investment After 50 Years?
This is one of the most common concerns raised by condominium buyers. And it is a very relevant question to ask especially since we are talking about millions of money here.
In the Philippines, there is a law that protects the interest of the unit owners in a condominium project. This is the Republic Act 4726 or The Condominium Act of the Philippines which was mandated on June 18, 1966.
To answer the concern of thecondominium owners and the would-be owners, here is an excerpt of the act.
SECTION 8. Whereseveral persons owncondominiums in a condominium project, an action may be brought by one or more such persons for partition thereof by sale of the entire project, as if the owners of all of the condominiums in such project were co-owners of the entire project in the same proportion as their interests in the common areas: Provided, however, That a partition shall be made only upon a showing:
That three years after damage or destruction to the project which renders material part thereof unit for its use prior thereto, the project has not been rebuilt or repaired substantially to its state prior to its damage or destruction, or That damage or destruction to the project has rendered one-half or more of the units therein untenantable and that condominium owners holding in aggregate more than thirty percent interest in the common areas are opposed to repair or restoration of the project; or That the project has been in existence in excess of fifty years, that it is obsolete and uneconomic, and that condominium owners holding in aggregate more than fifty percent interest in the common areas are opposed to repair or restoration or remodeling or modernizing of the project. That the project or a material part thereof has been condemned or expropriated and that the project is no longer viable, or that the condominium owners holding in aggregate more than seventy percent interest in the common areas are opposed to continuation of the condominium regime after expropriation or condemnation of a material portion thereof; orThat the conditions for such partition by sale set forth in the declaration of restrictions, duly registered in accordance with the terms of this Act, have been met.
It’s not like you will buy a condominium property and then after 50 years, your investmentwill be gone, just like that. When a condominium project is fully turned over to the unit owners, it becomes just like a corporation, and you are one of the owners of that corporation if you have a unit there.
So it follows that you will have a “say” in the decision making as to what to do with the whole building, and if it has been decided that the property is going to be sold or demolished so that a new property will be developed on the area, you will get your appropriate share of the proceeds of the sale.
Just like any investment, your condominium property can last, can be profitable and can be passed on to your heir(s).
As a Foreigner, can i buy a house in Philippines? Can i own a Farm?
What foreigners should know about Real Estate Ownership in the Philippines.
If you are thinking of acquiring land in the Philippines here are some few things that you should know. Many Americans and Europeans are surprised when they cannot simply buy house and lot packages in the Philippines and have the Land Title placed with their names. Unlike in their countries, anyone who can afford to buy real state can easily do so regardless of citizenships. In the Philippines, real estate ownership is confined to Filipino Citizens, corporations with at least 60% Filipino interest, and Dual Citizens or Former Filipinos with some limitations.
As a Foreigner, can i buy a house in Philippines? Can i own a Farm?
The Philippine constitution prohibits foreigners from purchasing land. Only Filipino citizens or corporations with at least 60% Filipino equity can acquire lands in the national territory. Corporations with the accepted foreign/Filipino equity stake percentages still must apply to the Board of Investment (BOI) for permission to buy, sell, or act as an intermediary in a real estate transaction. This normally takes 60 to 90 days.
Foreign corporations in general that are investing in the Philippines can lease land for up to 50 years, with a renewal option for another 25 years.4
Foreign investors can purchase up to 40% of the units in a condominium project. Foreigners can own these condominiums in their own names and this is the general practice.
Foreigners Leasing Of Philippine Real Estate Property
Leasing land in the Philippines on a long term basis is an option for foreigners or foreign corporations with more than 40 percent foreign equity. Under the Investor’s Lease Act of the Philippines a foreign national and or corporation may enter into a lease agreement with Filipino landowners for an initial period of up to 50 years renewable once for an additional 25 years.
Foreigners owning Houses in the Philippines
Foreigners owning a house or building in the Philippines is legal as long as the foreigner does not own the land on which the house is build.
Foreigners owning Condominiums & Townhouses in the Philippines
The Condominium Act of the Philippines, R.A. 4726, expressly allows foreigners to acquire condominium units and shares in condominium corporations up to not more than 40% of the total and outstanding capital stock of a Filipino owned or controlled condominium corporation. However, there are a very few single-detached homes or Townhouses in the Philippines with condominium titles. Most condominiums are high rise buildings.