Friday, April 27, 2007

Philippine Condotel Investments

British Nationals and those married to Filipinos are fueling a boom in Philippine Condotel Investments as more and more look to overseas property as a secure investment option and for retirement.
It is estimated that at least 350,000 British choose to turn their backs on the UK every year and already around 8% of the country's population live overseas - higher than the French, Italian or American ex-pat figures.

Beth Collingz, Director of PLC International Marketing, an Internet based website dealing with Condotel Investments in the philippines said "With relatively few bargains are to be found in the UK, many British Nationals as well as those married to Filipinos are looking abroad to invest in a cheap holiday home for either short term investments or as part of a long term pension plan. Far more people however, are now buying Philippine property as second homes, buy-to-let investments or as an alternative to failing pension plans".

Research revealed that more than 29 million Brits would like to buy a property abroad and that 11 million could realise that wish within the next five years.

So why are the British so keen to buy abroad and in particular the Philippines? Several reasons can be attributed for overseas property investment: the first is owning foreign property has become much more acceptable due to global communications and international investment standards such as Escrow Banking being adopted around the world. Secondly, with property prices continuing to rise in the UK, the option of investing in a second property at home is simply out of most people's reach - add to this the low cost of property in the `emerging' markets of Southeast Asia and the Philippines, for example, and its easy to see why Brits are keen to invest abroad.

Investments in Condo Hotel or Condotel properties, the so called "buy-to-let" investment options in the Philippines provide either short term investments or can be made part of a long term pension plan. For those whom are looking to make investments for the future or prior to retirement, the Philippines offer a significantly lower cost of living. The Philippine Peso (PhP) exchange rate is approximately PhP 50 to $ 1.00 or PhP 94 to 1 Pound [Sterling (GBP)]. Housing, food, and labor costs are quite reasonable. At the moment a One bedroom Freehold condominium can be purchased for around $ 60,000 or GBP 32,500 or a Studio for only $ 34,000 or GBP 18,000

"Where can you find a 350 sqft Freehold Flat in the heart of Central London for only 25,000 Pounds and then get up to 18% per annum ROI from rental returns UK Tax Free" enthuses Collingz. "These figures probably seem Crazy to London Property Buyers unless they remember the prices of Flats and Apartments back in the late 70's" and all of this comes complete with average 85 degree temperatures and sunshine nearly all year round" said Beth Collingz whom used to live in South Kensington and still owns several Chelsea Embankment Townhouses and St. Catherine's Dock Flats before coming over to the Philippine.

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