Renting or leasing a beach house in the Philipines???

Question

Hi i am looking at moving to the philippines for 1-2 years and wanted to rent a house on the beach. Do you have any sugestions of locations and where i should start to look? johnnie New Zealand

do you also know what i can expect to pay for a place with 2-3 bedrooms and that is right on the beach front.

Answer 1

What kind of beachfront are you looking for? Do you want a world-class beach like Boracay with its powdery white sands? Do you want one where there are few expats like you around? (Boracay can get really crowded with people from all over the world coming over during summertime [March to May].) How much is your budget? 'Cause living in Boracay can get pretty expensive overtime. The costs of some everyday items there can be quite ridiculous even for a foreigner.

There are a number of beach resorts elsewhere that can offer you a fair price granted that you have a Filipino friend or acquaintance who can haggle prices for you. The farther you are from the madding crowd (and civilization), the less you will pay for board and lodging. How "backward" do you want to go? :-)

Based on my experience---I live in Batangas province 100 kms from Manila---the monthly rent for a house with two bedrooms and one bathroom in front of the beach goes from P10,000 to P15,000 (a New Zealand dollar now is equal to P33.88...so that means the rent is between NZ$295 and NZ$443). Of course it's still negotiable seeing that you plan to stay for a long while. I'm certain the landlord will give you a lower, special rate. You might even get to hire a maid for less than P2,500 a month! (That's a mere NZ$74.)

I strongly suggest that you befriend a Filipino knowledgeable in these matters so he can help you get the best things at the best price. (And you won't get scammed or shortchanged.)

I hope the above information helps. Good luck on your stay here!

19 Jan 2007; 5:48pm, Philippines

Answer 2

I suggest you find yourself a place in boracay. Book yourself first at the resorts around the area. Once you are there you can scout for a nice beachhouse to rent.