The number of people looking for a house and lot in Baguio City for sale is increasing. For good reasons, I mean, if you are in the Philippines or have lived in the Philippines for a considerable amount of time, you would know that Baguio City is one of the places in the Philippines that has weather different from most of its provinces. The cool weather of Baguio is really enticing, not to mention the fact that the City of Pines is also proximate to several provinces with equally cold if not colder weather.
House and Lot in Baguio City For Sale for Retirement
The fact that Baguio City is among the safest city with a low crime index and having been located near the different farms in Benguet makes healthy and fresh fruits and vegetables really accessible. It is no wonder that many people see Baguio as a place to retire. The clamor of people to retire in the City of Pines is among the main motivator for a buyer to look for a house and lot in Baguio City for sale. The demand also motivates a lot of real estate owners to sell their properties. If you are among those who are looking for a house and lot in Baguio City for sale, before you make your purchase, know these first.
What to know before you buy a house and lot in Baguio City
Are you now convinced in purchasing a house a lot in Baguio City? Before you put a downpayment on a property that you like, read these first. Baguio City, having been located in the mountains of the Cordillera, has unique terrains, not to mention the fact that the increase in demand would sometimes motivate sellers to do anything just to make a sale. Here are the things you should know before buying a property in Baguio City.
- Check the Legal personality of the Seller – there are real estate properties in Baguio City whose owner is no longer actively residing in the City, the owner might have moved somewhere else, while the property might be up for sale, you should check if the person selling in behalf of the owner truly has a legal personality to sell. This can be checked by asking if the seller is a licensed and registered Real Estate Broker or an accredited real estate salesperson under a licensed real estate broker. Absent that, if the seller is a relative, at least ask for the special power of attorney proving that such person is the attorney-in-fact of the seller.
- Ask for the Title of the Real Estate Property – the first thing to ask a real estate property seller regarding a property they are selling is whether the property is titled or if it is only under a tax declaration. From these documents alone you will be able to see if such property has legal defects such as encumbrances or if it is within an ancestral domain. Baguio City and the Cordillera region has several ancestral lands awarded and making them indisposable. A simple check on the title would definitely save you from a ton of legal headaches later on.
- Rights to Land are not Trasferable – there are lands or real estate properties where rights to use such property is bestowed upon a person, these rights are given by the government through its institutions and such are not transferrable, do not be enticed by cheap prices as being advertised by people selling only the rights to real estate property, because once the giver of the rights to the land decided to take the land, there is nothing you can do about it. So avoid them early on and save yourself from future headaches.
- Check the Terrain of the Land – if you have found a house and lot in Baguio for sale online and you have been amazed by the photos and videos, do not get too excited yet. It is now time for you to schedule a site visit. This way, you can check the terrain on where the house and lot are situated. As I mentioned, Baguio has a unique terrain, some flat and some sloping. Such terrains also make some areas prone to landslides, this is why it is best to not only visit the site but also check the land surrounding the house and lot you are planning on buying.
- Shop around for prices – not every real estate property have the same price, some might be expensive, others, more affordable. Some offer terms of payment and some only accepts cash payment. So it is important to first shop around and find the one that will suit your budget.
- Get help from a Real Estate Broker – contrary to common notion in the Philippines, real estate brokers are actually here to help you find the property that would suit your budget and requirements. For quite sometime now, people think of real estate brokers as mere sellers of real estate, but what many failed to understand is that they are professionals duly licensed by the Professional Regulations Commission and are armed with intermediate to advanced knowledge and experience in real estate.
At North Luzon Properties, our licensed brokers and accredited salespersons are here to help you find the property that you really want, we do not force our listings to our clients, instead, we provide you with more than enough information so that you could make the best decision when you buy a house and lot in Baguio City.