PH Real Estate - How an OFW Earned from His Real Estate Properties in the Philippines

If you are an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker), who want to earn a regular monthly income, continue reading to learn how. Yes, you can invest in real estate properties in the Philippines. Joy was able to do so, and so can you. Come to think of it, even if you’re not a Filipino, you could also try to invest, provided, you can qualify as an investor by the government. That being said; let’s bear witness to Joy’s story.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are proclaimed the unsung heroes of the Philippines. This is because their earnings help boost the nation’s economy. However, the pain of separation from their families just to earn more money is heartbreaking. You can witness the pains of separation usually in airports: a crying child, clasp to the breast of his father, refusing to let go of him; a wife sobbing, clinging to her husband, while the husband tries to control his tears.

These are scenes that can tug at one’s heartstrings. Why do people in the Philippines go abroad to work? This is because they get paid more than what they earn in the country.
On that Monday morning Joy was one of the happy domestic helpers returning to the country for a one-month vacation. Joy was resplendent in a simple t-shirt and faded jeans. Her vibrant age, reflected in her clear skin and radiant eyes. She was only 18 years old.

She was unable to pursue her education because she had assumed her father’s responsibilities on her fragile shoulders. Her father died when she as 9. She had to work abroad because the salary of a DH (Domestic Helper) in the Philippines is insufficient. In Singapore, her pay would be able to send her 4 siblings to school.

Soon the second eldest will have to enroll in college, and she didn’t know how to earn more to be able to afford the expenses of 4 students (1 in college, 2 in high school and 1 in grade school). Her mother had her daily medications too for her hypertension. When Joy set foot at the airport, all her body aches and fatigue vanished in an instant. When she saw the joyful faces of her uncle and two of her siblings; her feet sailed through the distance. Within seconds, she was enclosed in their warm embrace as she savored the smell of their sun-burned skin.

“Manang, manang,” the two kids yelled as they hugged their sister anew.
There were tears of joy in her eyes when she said to them: “Let’s go. Mother must be waiting.”

That night in their old run-down hut, Joy hid the physical pain she had been suffering under her termagant employer. She had to bear the pain because everyone depended on her. She skimped a lot in Singapore so she could bring home more money to start a small business. What business? She was still unsure. Mother and daughter stayed awake all night, talking about the good old days when Joy’s father was still alive.

“What small business can you manage, mother?” Joy asked her mom.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think I’m good at business,” she discouraged Joy.
“Mother, we have to establish another source of income because my paycheck is no longer enough for us.
“I’m sorry child, for giving you that responsibility,” her mother cried.
“Mother, please don’t cry.’

They nuzzled against each other. The following morning, Joy went in search of a small business that her mother could maintain. There were many but the start-up cash was exorbitant. She went home downhearted. Joy thought about a “sari-sari” store (a small store selling small items), but looking at her weak and frail mother, she was certain; her mother wouldn’t be able to manage the stress and fatigue.That night she was unable to sleep; her eyes were bloodshot the next day. It has been the 3rd day of her vacation, and she wanted find a business – ASAP - because if she didn’t, the money might evaporate into thin air, without her being aware it. Money has a strange way of doing that.

On the 4th day, while she was buying veggies in the wet market, she saw an ad on a piece of paper that was lying crumpled on the roadside. She picked it up and it said:
“Buy your house now, and you have invested in your future”. Her ears prickled and she caught her breath. Sounds interesting, she thought. There was a phone number and a name typed on it. With her hands trembling, Joy dialed the number.
“Hello, Ruben speaking. May I help you?” a jovial voice answered on the second ring.
“Hello, this is Joy. Are you the agent selling houses?” she asked; her tone of voice an octave higher.
“Yes, I am. I can meet you right now, if you’re interested.”
Wow, Joy exclaimed to herself, the heavens must be helping me. “Sure. I’m right now at the entrance of the wet market.”
In a matter of minutes, Ruben materialized before Joy’s eyes.
“Let’s sit down for a coffee,” Ruben led Joy to a nearby eatery.

Joy’s instinct told her that Ruben was a trustworthy person. So, Joy explained her plans to him. She had planned to buy a house through installment, rent it out, so she can pay the monthly dues from the rent, and still have some extra cash for her family. Ruben was impressed by Joy’s plan. It was brilliant, and he wanted to help her out. After that first meeting, they continued to meet until such time that Joy was able to pay the down payment, and rent out the small house. It took 15 days for that to happen. Joy is now the proud owner of a 2-bedroom house near the town center. She was able to rent it out for an amount that would cover her monthly installment. Furthermore, the property would be hers after a few years, with the rent being able to cover the tuition fee of her sister.

When Joy left after a month, there was a smile on her face as she bid her family goodbye. She has now an additional source of income, and it made her steps lighter as she boarded her plane to go back to Singapore.

Tags:    Owning A Real Estate Properties in the Philippines