Notepad Corner

It has been roughly a year since the spread of COVID-19 virus in the Philippines. This pandemic is the greatest challenge we have faced in this lifetime. Adjusting to the new normal was tough, as the first months have been plagued with confusion and fear. Many businesses have shut down since then, and most are considering implementing the “Work from Home” (WFH) model. Unfortunately, as said by David Leechiu, written in this  Manila Bulletin article , the Philippines is not suitable for the WFH model. He cites poor telecom connectivity, too many relatives, and lack of proper housing to be the few major reasons why WFH would not work. The last time I wrote an article about finding the right housing property was last 2015 . A lot has changed since then. The sharp drop in economy contributed much to the price growth of condominium and house properties. Finding an affordable condominium in Manila is now a lot more difficult as prices soared almost double. In the spirit of preparing for th

Buying a property is a major investment. You need to make sure that you are fully aware of the process that is involved in this decision. For some, it can be an overwhelming experience. The jargon and the financial process can be complicated to understand. What is more, the physical process of house hunting can be less than exciting and more of a chore. Relax . What you need is a handy guide to assist you with your house buying quest. With thanks to Philip Taylor on Flickr -   https://flic.kr/p/bDwfRq Here are the key considerations that you need to make when buying a property: 1.    Working Out a Budget While you may dream of living in a country mansion in the middle of nowhere, you need to be realistic. Working out a budget is important. Are you buying a property alone or is this a joint venture? Typically, you will be loaned money based on your income. As a single person, this is three times your annual salary. As a joint venture, this is worked out at fiv