Wow... You showed us 7 condos in less than 9 minutes...great job! Hopefully viewers will appreciate the fact that rental rates have been dropping in Metro Manila, AND the USD to peso exchange rate has been hovering near all time highs. Weather is also cooler and drier from December to end of February... It's a great time to visit the Philippines!
You are creating the most realistic and informative videos concerning the Philippines available. I get more info from one of yours than ten of other peoples. Thank you.
Great information. I’m sure many people appreciate your passion for sharing info which allows them to seriously consider all the options of moving to the Philippines. You share a lot of amazing resources!
I just recently spent 4 days in Manila near the mall. What was nice is it was easy to walk to coffee in the morning and then lunch or dinner at any number of options in the mall. Nice for short stays but I prefer being out of the larger cities for anything other than acclimating to the time difference or being close to the airport for departure. Thanks for the video.
I've got sort of a love / hate thing going with densely populated areas. I like to have a wide selection of high quality goods and services available and nobody is going to do that unless there is a market for it. On the other hand, I live simply and don't generally make use of those same goods and services. A town large enough to have at least one conventional supermarket will have 99% of anything I need on a regular basis. After I've set up housekeeping a public market and road side vendors will usually be enough.
Well I lice out of town and commute to the Hypermarket about 30 minutes each way. I enjoyed my self in Makati and also Baguio. But the Province life I can live is my overall favorite
It's like, which Choco Mucho should I eat, so many options 😂. Seriously, guys, if you're older like me, have a plan A, B, and C. Expect to fail along the way, it will happen. Great video on the right way to start when you get off the plane!
I was just watching a video recently about Condo prices actually getting a bit lower in Manila area. I guess there are more condos open for sale than buyers now.
Yes I was hearing the same thing from the owner. There is a glut and actually has been for a while in my opinion and they continue to build. Rental prices are also going down
That was nice of your friends letting you stay in their place Darrell, it looks very comfortable and spacious too! Always informative with your unique style of narration, well presented video as usual, thank you very much for your time and effort you make for us.
Here in Greenbelt Makati, the temp is 90 to 100 deg, and it's humid. Honestly, it's hot. .. Even local Filipinos aren't used to it. That's why there is such a huge Mall culture here. But Malls here are not the same as in the US. They are themselves small towns with government services and public spaces offered. They provide shelter from extreme heat and Typhoons. They have amusement centers. And outdoor water features for the kids. However , right now we are in the wonderful winter months. Dry, cool breezy weather. Exactly the same as in Hawaii. The best time to visit is from December through February.
Great video. Please consider doing a video on traveling with a pet. It would be nice to know if there are rentals that allow them. How did you get your pets there? thank you.
Great suggestion! I got my pets after I came here. The best advice I keep hearing is to ask the airline. Philippine Airlines most likely has a complete printout on whats required. The Philippines government ""I think"" makes the airlines take you back if all criteria isn't in order
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat Getting the pets on the airline isn't much of a problem if you have all of their vax records and pay a fee. Not sure how my cat would like the long plane ride. * I'm wondering how the condo owners are on pets inside the condo.
I guess it would depend on the owner. Same as in the US. I think there is a glut of rentals in Manila area in general. So who knows. I didn't think toy ask
The one apartment was literally across the street. Every unit I showed in this video was with is 6 blocks of Saint Lukes Hospital. Make sure to watch the next in this Makati Series. That should answer 90% of your questions. I will be doing a budget to go along with it
My only experience is the Green Belt, Legazpi area. It's nearer to the financial district and the major malls. The next Makati video will show a lot more
Well like in America and many places you can negotiate and make offers to anyone and all they can do is say no. There are so many units available there. But like in America, the shorter the term the higher the average daily rate will be.
Yes it was a perfect place if you have the monthly cash. With the average SS at 1,900 and that one a $800 Most could afford it on their average SS income
I personally use my son's address but have changed it to a paperless account which means everything comes to my email account and Nothing to the actual address. I did the same when I lived in San Diego. If you ever need a bank statement just print them out. I actually created a file and just save them so I have them in the future if needed. Keep it simple my friend
Also highly recommend getting a free Charles Schwab account... Their checking account comes with an ATM card that can be used at any International bank ATM. All fees are reimbursed. Works like Magic!😊
Not a lover of the hi-rise in the city. Much nicer to be in the countryside. Maybe on the outskirts. Good video, up to date with prices, which makes life easier to navigate. 👍❤️😇
I was surprised that the 1,000 sq. ft. condo you showed was $800 a month. I'm paying $1,480 per month for a very nice 975 sq. ft. apartment just outside of Atlanta, and it's definitely twice as nice at that condo. I know you can get a lot more for your money outside of the big cities, but it doesn't seem as though places in the large urban areas are a great bargain for what you get. You pay a lot less but seem to get a lot less.
It's the Manhattan of the Philippines.. So compare apples to apples. It's a 15 minute walk to Wall Street there that is the financial hub of the Philippines. This is where all the major corporations and banks have their headquarters. It's way less expensive than Down Town San Diego. That would probably be $6K or $7k there at least. I'm not sure about Atlanta but it's the penthouse about 30 floors up. The most expensive real estate in the Philippines. In DT San Diego it would still be $4K to $6K even on the 5th floor. So I'm not sure what to say. What floor is your condo on????
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat You're right. I wasn't comparing the Big Apple to the Big Apple. A condo on the 30th floor in Manhattan or San Francisco would cost much more than my apartment 30 minutes outside of Atlanta. I've watched a lot of videos about the Philippines and have only been there once to visit a woman I had an LDR with for a couple of years. I love it there, and I plan on retiring somewhere in the Philippines in 7 years when I hit 65. My only observation about the apartments and condos in large urban areas is that the ones you can get for $800 or less would be considered near poverty-level standards in the US. It all depends on what your priorities are. If you don't mind living in a modest apartment, cooking your dinners on a hot plate, but being able to live in the city with all of the conveniences, food, and entertainment at your doorstep, then that's the place for you. If you want to live in a nice house with more room and a full kitchen for the same $800, then you'll need to live in a more rural area. Whatever makes you happy. I appreciate your videos and am glad you're loving your life there!
I will be putting the main Makati video in a few days. This was intended to show what you can find just walking down the street. In the next video I will include the link. I was covering this part of Makati in particular and in the advertised properties I didn't know where they are located.
Need to watch out for the condo's that say they have hot water. When I was in Manila the condo I stayed at had hot/warm water the first day and cool to cold water the other two days. Maybe Filipina's can handle a cold shower but it's not for people who are not used to it. Having a cold was no help either.
No. They were one of the worst from 2020-2023. Jabs, Masks, plastic face shields, and idiotic sign-in requirements to enter buildings. But they've lifted them since then.
@Ex-Pensive_Expat that makes sense, they save money and time skipping advertising. Personally the lowest I saw a while back searching from the usa on Facebook for Makati and BGC was 25k php.
Makati no BGC probably. Facebook is largely used for foreigners. In the next video I will give you other better options you can see. You will find many below 25K
Several had gyms and pools (probably most). Typically on the 7th floors or the first level above parking. These units I found were an extension of my main Makati Video. More of an after thought. That video will be out in the next few days. I was going to give a price range I could see from the local advertising but felt I needed to see them before I commented on the channel. So then just did quick videos when I saw them
Nice vlog - everything you need to know in under 10 minutes. I took Makati off of my own list of soft landing places, due to its location in traffic-dense Metro Manila and the higher cost of living, relative to most other places in the Philippines. Just getting safely from NAIA to Makati looks to be a headache at best and a nightmare at worst (unless you are a native New Yorker... lol). Makati (and BGC, for the same reasons) seems to me to be a poor choice for a home base, if you want to explore the rest of the Philippines and/or SE Asia. And, if you just want to stay 24/7, 365 days/year, in a city center, with Western comfort & amenities, Bangkok is probably a better choice. This is just my worthless opinion, ofc - other folks will feel differently. :)
If you haven't been here in a few years, you can now take the Skyway, an elevated toll highway that will whisk you from NAIA airport to Makati in just 20 minutes. A Grabcar including toll fee is only 350 pesos, about $6 USD
@@albathoughtsofficial A good option, thanks! I think it will be even better, though, when(if) they extend the LRT to NAIA. Cars are just so last century, esp. in densely populated urban areas. :)
@@michaeltakayama8415 Unfortunately in this area you are correct. The metro system in Manila is decades behind many Asian capital cities. There's no denying that. To get around traffic congestion, people either use motorcycle ride sharing apps, or if they're using Grabcar, schedule their trips outside of rush hour. Or live in the Makati or BGC bubble where you can walk everywhere or use an e scooter
Sorry I didn't keep the names and numbers. But I think it's. ""RAM Plaza Legazpi Makati Condo Apartment"". This is one of seven buildings they own or manage. I just saw the sign on the street and went in.
They are in some the most exclusive area in the Philippines. Twenty minutes walk to the Wall Street of the Philippines. Makati is the international banking an finance center in the Philippines and all of these are walking distance
@ Since they are in that area and exclusive place, they should at least be liveable. Anyway, thanks for the video. I live in Thailand now, I thought maybe I will also rent a condo there.
The units here reminded me of San Francisco / New York in size and condition. There are literally thousands of brand new units coming out of the ground between Makati and BGC. Livable is relative. There is a building across the street from where I was staying that are new construction with sales price starting at 150,000,000 php each. Two blocks away they are pre-selling at 200 million and up. These are just units I saw walking down the street. I did not go into high end builds. The information is entry level foot in the door places to live when you arrive. It's makati and there are plenty of Vloggers who focus on those upscale properties and tell people you can't live in the Philippines under $4,000 to $5,000 per month. That is well covered / documented. My next Makati video is the story of budget and lifestyle there not these units.
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat wow, 150-200 million. Good luck to those who are future occupancies. I have been in SF and NYC many times and both places are expensive. I owned a home in Phoenix and no more mortgage to pay, but still paying for HOA, insurance, and property tax. My girlfriend and I, are renting in a small town in pampanga. Our budget monthly there is 65K, then I am renting as an expat here in Thailand near the beach. Maintaining 3 household is expensive. I live in Thailand for many reasons. I understand why you live there and do what you do, like many bloggers there. I commend you and thankful for giving us viewers an insight about the Philippines.
Good video but city living in the Philippines does cost more , 45k pesos a month would be a good living here in Solano . Average rent for 2 bedroom here is 4k to 6k and Internet is 1200 to 1500 pesos , trash 40 pesos for 3 months and power with 1 split ac is 3k to 5k depending on how you used it.
The rents I gave in this video are 100% accurate. There were advertising for some units even less. All of these I personally inspected and videoed. I didn't post others that were advertised at lower rates because I didn't actually inspect them or discuss the costs directly with the owners or their management. High rise buildings are much more expensive to build so rents need to be higher to give a resaonable ROI. All of these units are within about a 20 minute walk to the Greenbelt / Ayala Center malls. I absolutely refuse to express rents I haven't actually seen even when they have been advertised. I found all of these units just walking down the street and inquiring. They are 100% accurate. I am sure someone can pay 60K a month for the right property. But I didn't see one
Links? None of these were advertised so no links to be had. I just found these as I was walking around in one half day. The purpose was not to refer you since they will most likely be rented before you could get here. The purpose was to show what is easily found and the prices. There are many that can be found for rent on line. That will be covered in the next video on Makati
I always thought of city centers in any country as just another NYC🤷🤣 Too many ppl too close together all paying for the illusion of ease and accessibility. I'll take a shed surrounded by 🐓 and trees then couped up in another urban landscape
Some who want the city life when they retire have never lived in a City. This is probably the perfect place for them to get their feet wet. Same as many from the city want to live in the province sight unseen
Unfortunately, it wouldn't work for us. City is too much drama for us. We are province folk, but for someone Makati might fit for them. Just too crowded, but lots of western style living amenities. My wife has a sister who lives in Makati, and she rents out rooms in her tiny place.
It's definitely not for everyone. But I thought it would be an important video for those didn't know about it. The next video is the other half of Makati
Actually much of modern Makati came of age in the 70s and 80s when the "Brutalist" style of Architecture was in vogue. Hence the design of the Stock Exchange, Central Bank, etc. But as shown in subsequent videos Makati is a mix of that and super modern soaring glass structures. And BGC is all new glass buildings...
Yes. Thank you Hahha.. I love my place but my place isn't for everyone. And this one was for them. I hope to bring information about every option here in The Philippines on this channel
I am sure there are many in finer condition for 2 or 3 time that amounts. I just found those walking down the street. I looked at seven and posted all seven, leaving nothing out. Just the luck of the draw I guess. Although I hear there are some running 120K plus a month in the same blocks
Well, this is analogous to living in Manhattan near Central Park. So yes, it's expensive for the Philippines, but it's also super convenient, clean, safe and green here 😊
I have never felt the need to hide from Gold diggers here or California. Common sense my friend. You can spot them a mile away. Just don't be stupid brother
The information you provide is invaluable. You make it so easy for somebody that wants to come there
That was my goal. Make it simple. It's mostly just straight forward and no need to sugar coat etc.
Honestly nobody makes it easier. Explains all the essentials and wastes no time.
Thank you Brother!!
I love this Darrell! I like Makati! Like the furnished apartments
Yes the furnished ones allow you to just drop your suitcase and exhale when you arrive
Hey you are getting good at this... only took you 70 years. Happy birthday and I and many more appreciate what you are doing.
Hahaha... Thank you Jerry!!
Wow... You showed us 7 condos in less than 9 minutes...great job! Hopefully viewers will appreciate the fact that rental rates have been dropping in Metro Manila, AND the USD to peso exchange rate has been hovering near all time highs. Weather is also cooler and drier from December to end of February... It's a great time to visit the Philippines!
I will be discussing the drop in rental rates in the next Makati video
You are creating the most realistic and informative videos concerning the Philippines available. I get more info from one of yours than ten of other peoples. Thank you.
I am trying to be informative and honest in all my videos! Thank you for the kind word. It keeps me inspired and going when I'm exhausted
@Ex-Pensive_Expat You remind me of men I ride with. No bullshit, and to the point. Respect. 👍
Thank you so much for the kind words
Good stuff . I shared this on 2 of my channels. Hope you are doing well
Thank you my friend. I double checked and I'm already subscribed to at least one of your channels
Thanks! They are all a good choice to get started. As always, great info. Real info.
Yes. I get into more on that in the next video
Great apartment comparisons gives us a fantastic idea of what you can get and where you can live for the money thank you keep the videos coming
Yes and there are many at higher budgets too. These are just what I found when out walking
Great information. I’m sure many people appreciate your passion for sharing info which allows them to seriously consider all the options of moving to the Philippines. You share a lot of amazing resources!
Thank you! I try to make it easy to decide where to land. But the only way to tell the entire story is to tell the entire story
I have visited the Philippines many times... Always stayed in Makati.. Love the area. Hope to return some time. Love your videos
It’s a great place to live. Thank you for the compliment. I do work hard on each video as if it was going to be my last
I just recently spent 4 days in Manila near the mall. What was nice is it was easy to walk to coffee in the morning and then lunch or dinner at any number of options in the mall. Nice for short stays but I prefer being out of the larger cities for anything other than acclimating to the time difference or being close to the airport for departure. Thanks for the video.
Yes. There are many reason why someone may prefer to land here and chill for a few weeks or months even knowing it wouldn't be their final destination
I've got sort of a love / hate thing going with densely populated areas. I like to have a wide selection of high quality goods and services available and nobody is going to do that unless there is a market for it. On the other hand, I live simply and don't generally make use of those same goods and services. A town large enough to have at least one conventional supermarket will have 99% of anything I need on a regular basis. After I've set up housekeeping a public market and road side vendors will usually be enough.
Well I lice out of town and commute to the Hypermarket about 30 minutes each way. I enjoyed my self in Makati and also Baguio. But the Province life I can live is my overall favorite
It's like, which Choco Mucho should I eat, so many options 😂. Seriously, guys, if you're older like me, have a plan A, B, and C. Expect to fail along the way, it will happen. Great video on the right way to start when you get off the plane!
Yes Thank you. My videos are design to help people not fail when they come. My content is 100% from my personal experience. No hear say etc
Nice This is great.
There are so many available right now.. I found these just out on a couple walks
Great information, thanks 👍
Glad it was helpful. Make sure to see the next one! That is really the point of this video
Fantastic Information🎉
Glad you think so! I am planning to do this type of videos through out the Philippines
Thank you for ur hard work Sir and useful information 👍...I appreciate you🙏
You're welcome! I'm glad you're finding it helpful!
Thanks for sharing Sir.... useful and informative...
I am glad you found it helpful! And thank you for the comment
Very nice video! Thanks Brotherman!
Thank you Mr. Jones!!
Thanks for sharing this information with us
You're welcome!
I was just watching a video recently about Condo prices actually getting a bit lower in Manila area. I guess there are more condos open for sale than buyers now.
Yes I was hearing the same thing from the owner. There is a glut and actually has been for a while in my opinion and they continue to build. Rental prices are also going down
Thats good news for beginners getting into Manila to start a home base. @@Ex-Pensive_Expat
100%. Exactly what I was thinking. You'll see it expressed more in the part B of this two part Makati series
That was nice of your friends letting you stay in their place Darrell, it looks very comfortable and spacious too! Always informative with your unique style of narration, well presented video as usual, thank you very much for your time and effort you make for us.
Wow, Thank you again Nicola for your gracious kind words
love and appreciate your videos. prompted me to look at year round temps. looks like average is 80's year round?
Yes. I have been here 3 years and after a while those 80 degree days seem much cooler than I remember 80 degree days in San Diego or California
Okay, I definitely appreciate your perspective. I am out in Lake Elsinore and seriously pondering..... TY!
I've been to Lake Elsinore many time!! It gets much hotter there.
Here in Greenbelt Makati, the temp is 90 to 100 deg, and it's humid. Honestly, it's hot. .. Even local Filipinos aren't used to it. That's why there is such a huge Mall culture here. But Malls here are not the same as in the US. They are themselves small towns with government services and public spaces offered. They provide shelter from extreme heat and Typhoons. They have amusement centers. And outdoor water features for the kids. However , right now we are in the wonderful winter months. Dry, cool breezy weather. Exactly the same as in Hawaii. The best time to visit is from December through February.
TY!
Great video. Please consider doing a video on traveling with a pet. It would be nice to know if there are rentals that allow them. How did you get your pets there? thank you.
Great suggestion! I got my pets after I came here. The best advice I keep hearing is to ask the airline. Philippine Airlines most likely has a complete printout on whats required. The Philippines government ""I think"" makes the airlines take you back if all criteria isn't in order
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat thx
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat Getting the pets on the airline isn't much of a problem if you have all of their vax records and pay a fee. Not sure how my cat would like the long plane ride. * I'm wondering how the condo owners are on pets inside the condo.
I guess it would depend on the owner. Same as in the US. I think there is a glut of rentals in Manila area in general. So who knows. I didn't think toy ask
Adventure time with Darren. Thanks bro.
Thank you My Man!!
Nice bit of information. Thanks
Thank you Jim!!
Always love the videos. Thanks for all the footwork
I am glad you enjoy the content, I am working on more.
Very nice
Bro what city would you recommend safe to retire in philippines
a close to St luke Hospital
My wife needs to be close to one
The one apartment was literally across the street. Every unit I showed in this video was with is 6 blocks of Saint Lukes Hospital. Make sure to watch the next in this Makati Series. That should answer 90% of your questions. I will be doing a budget to go along with it
I love these videos, thanks. Do these buildings have underground parking spaces available? If yes, any idea of the cost?
Yes Most of them do. I am not sure about the cost of renting a parking space
Monthly parking rental rates in Greenbelt run 4000 to 5000 pesos per month. That's for "Podium" , above ground, covered, parking.
Thank you again Alba!!
Awesome video. What are one or two areas of Makati that are good to stay? Thank you 🙏🏼
My only experience is the Green Belt, Legazpi area. It's nearer to the financial district and the major malls. The next Makati video will show a lot more
Thank you 🙏🏼
TY for the video
You are welcome Brendan
Hey Darrel...I'm currently at SM Clark with my fiancé until 4pm, then we go back down to QC
I will be there in about an hour.
@Ex-Pensive_Expat I'm up on the 2nd floor in front of the SM dept store waiting for my fiancé to finish her store inspection
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat HI Darrel...we had to cut out. Sorry to miss you. Next trip I'll hit you up again. Take care.
Sorry I missed you. What area are you in now??
Next time you come try to let me know a day in advance
Video suggestion, can you make the same video for like a 2-month or 3-month rental for exploratory people
What was the monthly prices be and are you stuck with Airbnb or can you do a traditional rental
Yes I will try to make some comments along those lines. If not the next Makati video maybe the next one after that, Good idea
Well like in America and many places you can negotiate and make offers to anyone and all they can do is say no. There are so many units available there. But like in America, the shorter the term the higher the average daily rate will be.
My vote is for #4
Yeah, me too. The rest were too tight.
Yes it was a perfect place if you have the monthly cash. With the average SS at 1,900 and that one a $800 Most could afford it on their average SS income
Rental Unit #4 would be my choice.
Yes and easily affordable with Average Social Security
Thanks for all your videos. Would you mind giving advice on having a US address to keep the banking going when moving to the PH?
I personally use my son's address but have changed it to a paperless account which means everything comes to my email account and Nothing to the actual address. I did the same when I lived in San Diego. If you ever need a bank statement just print them out. I actually created a file and just save them so I have them in the future if needed. Keep it simple my friend
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat Thank you! As a fellow Cali guy, loved your interview with Paul old dog dude.
@@momohmart Thank you my friend!!
Also highly recommend getting a free Charles Schwab account... Their checking account comes with an ATM card that can be used at any International bank ATM. All fees are reimbursed. Works like Magic!😊
Great information… thanks…
Thank you my friend!!
the Phils, - starter kit 😜 Greetings from Vietnam!
This is a two part video series maybe three
@Derryl keep `em comming - I´m hooked! Watching all your vids!
Not a lover of the hi-rise in the city. Much nicer to be in the countryside. Maybe on the outskirts. Good video, up to date with prices, which makes life easier to navigate. 👍❤️😇
Yes not for everyone but for those who might find it as an option
I was surprised that the 1,000 sq. ft. condo you showed was $800 a month. I'm paying $1,480 per month for a very nice 975 sq. ft. apartment just outside of Atlanta, and it's definitely twice as nice at that condo. I know you can get a lot more for your money outside of the big cities, but it doesn't seem as though places in the large urban areas are a great bargain for what you get. You pay a lot less but seem to get a lot less.
It's the Manhattan of the Philippines.. So compare apples to apples. It's a 15 minute walk to Wall Street there that is the financial hub of the Philippines. This is where all the major corporations and banks have their headquarters. It's way less expensive than Down Town San Diego. That would probably be $6K or $7k there at least. I'm not sure about Atlanta but it's the penthouse about 30 floors up. The most expensive real estate in the Philippines. In DT San Diego it would still be $4K to $6K even on the 5th floor. So I'm not sure what to say. What floor is your condo on????
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat You're right. I wasn't comparing the Big Apple to the Big Apple. A condo on the 30th floor in Manhattan or San Francisco would cost much more than my apartment 30 minutes outside of Atlanta. I've watched a lot of videos about the Philippines and have only been there once to visit a woman I had an LDR with for a couple of years. I love it there, and I plan on retiring somewhere in the Philippines in 7 years when I hit 65. My only observation about the apartments and condos in large urban areas is that the ones you can get for $800 or less would be considered near poverty-level standards in the US. It all depends on what your priorities are. If you don't mind living in a modest apartment, cooking your dinners on a hot plate, but being able to live in the city with all of the conveniences, food, and entertainment at your doorstep, then that's the place for you. If you want to live in a nice house with more room and a full kitchen for the same $800, then you'll need to live in a more rural area. Whatever makes you happy. I appreciate your videos and am glad you're loving your life there!
I think i'd rather have a little bunglo near the beach.
Yes. City living is not for everyone just as some don't want to live near an ocean. Personally I want both lol
Why not? And just make the occasional trip to the City to restock on some essential supplies 😊
Good looking around for us wannabe Expats
Whenever you're ready. Biggest question can be Where to land.
Great video, you should do video of oceancrest condos in lapu lapu, I'll be back there 5th of march
I want to get there eventually
Good job
I appreciate the compliment!
Thanks for the info, how do we find these condos though?
I will be putting the main Makati video in a few days. This was intended to show what you can find just walking down the street. In the next video I will include the link. I was covering this part of Makati in particular and in the advertised properties I didn't know where they are located.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW.
Highly recommended
Thank you my friend!!
I like rental #4.
Yes it is an awesome place. Great view and ready to go!!
Darrell, the upper end apartments are not in my price range.
Definitely not for everyone. When it comes down to it I can afford it but I choose not to and it's been an easy choice.
Need to watch out for the condo's that say they have hot water. When I was in Manila the condo I stayed at had hot/warm water the first day and cool to cold water the other two days. Maybe Filipina's can handle a cold shower but it's not for people who are not used to it. Having a cold was no help either.
Hahaha.. Yes I hear ya. I stayed in one hotel once and I had to be in the shower by 6am to get the hot water I needed.
You're giving me ideas. Thank you for this! One thing tho, does this country offer freedom from certain mandates...you know what I mean...?
Not sure what mandates you're referring to?
No. They were one of the worst from 2020-2023. Jabs, Masks, plastic face shields, and idiotic sign-in requirements to enter buildings. But they've lifted them since then.
✌✌
How do you find apartment rentals? I always see much higher prices than that lowest price
These I was just walking down the street. When I saw a lobby I walked in and inquired
@Ex-Pensive_Expat that makes sense, they save money and time skipping advertising.
Personally the lowest I saw a while back searching from the usa on Facebook for Makati and BGC was 25k php.
Makati no BGC probably. Facebook is largely used for foreigners. In the next video I will give you other better options you can see. You will find many below 25K
Good info.😊
Thank you Nate!!
@ you’re welcome.😊
No gym or spas in the buildings. Only one had a pool?
Several had gyms and pools (probably most). Typically on the 7th floors or the first level above parking. These units I found were an extension of my main Makati Video. More of an after thought. That video will be out in the next few days. I was going to give a price range I could see from the local advertising but felt I needed to see them before I commented on the channel. So then just did quick videos when I saw them
I just have issues with elevators, in the US let alone the Philippians
Okay. Some people do
Nice vlog - everything you need to know in under 10 minutes.
I took Makati off of my own list of soft landing places, due to its location in traffic-dense Metro Manila and the higher cost of living, relative to most other places in the Philippines. Just getting safely from NAIA to Makati looks to be a headache at best and a nightmare at worst (unless you are a native New Yorker... lol). Makati (and BGC, for the same reasons) seems to me to be a poor choice for a home base, if you want to explore the rest of the Philippines and/or SE Asia. And, if you just want to stay 24/7, 365 days/year, in a city center, with Western comfort & amenities, Bangkok is probably a better choice.
This is just my worthless opinion, ofc - other folks will feel differently. :)
If you haven't been here in a few years, you can now take the Skyway, an elevated toll highway that will whisk you from NAIA airport to Makati in just 20 minutes. A Grabcar including toll fee is only 350 pesos, about $6 USD
@@albathoughtsofficial A good option, thanks!
I think it will be even better, though, when(if) they extend the LRT to NAIA. Cars are just so last century, esp. in densely populated urban areas. :)
@@michaeltakayama8415 Unfortunately in this area you are correct. The metro system in Manila is decades behind many Asian capital cities. There's no denying that. To get around traffic congestion, people either use motorcycle ride sharing apps, or if they're using Grabcar, schedule their trips outside of rush hour. Or live in the Makati or BGC bubble where you can walk everywhere or use an e scooter
Lord have mercy. Fantastic deals. Great area close to manila while people wait for ssrv visa processing.
There are many more.
Excellent point. The SSRV office is located only a very pleasant, tree lined , 10 minutes walk from Greenbelt Makati 😊
May I please have the name of the 15k rental across from the Makati Medical Center. Thank You Kindly
Sorry I didn't keep the names and numbers. But I think it's. ""RAM Plaza Legazpi Makati Condo Apartment"". This is one of seven buildings they own or manage. I just saw the sign on the street and went in.
Why are they so expensive and small?
They are in some the most exclusive area in the Philippines. Twenty minutes walk to the Wall Street of the Philippines. Makati is the international banking an finance center in the Philippines and all of these are walking distance
@ Since they are in that area and exclusive place, they should at least be liveable. Anyway, thanks for the video. I live in Thailand now, I thought maybe I will also rent a condo there.
The units here reminded me of San Francisco / New York in size and condition. There are literally thousands of brand new units coming out of the ground between Makati and BGC. Livable is relative. There is a building across the street from where I was staying that are new construction with sales price starting at 150,000,000 php each. Two blocks away they are pre-selling at 200 million and up. These are just units I saw walking down the street. I did not go into high end builds. The information is entry level foot in the door places to live when you arrive. It's makati and there are plenty of Vloggers who focus on those upscale properties and tell people you can't live in the Philippines under $4,000 to $5,000 per month. That is well covered / documented. My next Makati video is the story of budget and lifestyle there not these units.
Are you kidding. They are cheap. Those condos are furnished and in makati.
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat wow, 150-200 million. Good luck to those who are future occupancies. I have been in SF and NYC many times and both places are expensive. I owned a home in Phoenix and no more mortgage to pay, but still paying for HOA, insurance, and property tax. My girlfriend and I, are renting in a small town in pampanga. Our budget monthly there is 65K, then I am renting as an expat here in Thailand near the beach. Maintaining 3 household is expensive. I live in Thailand for many reasons. I understand why you live there and do what you do, like many bloggers there. I commend you and thankful for giving us viewers an insight about the Philippines.
Any of those units have parking garage
Yes. All of them I think? Everyone I asked about
@ I have a condo in Mandaluyong , but it’s rented and it’s got a effed up garage
Good video but city living in the Philippines does cost more , 45k pesos a month would be a good living here in Solano . Average rent for 2 bedroom here is 4k to 6k and Internet is 1200 to 1500 pesos , trash 40 pesos for 3 months and power with 1 split ac is 3k to 5k depending on how you used it.
The rents I gave in this video are 100% accurate. There were advertising for some units even less. All of these I personally inspected and videoed. I didn't post others that were advertised at lower rates because I didn't actually inspect them or discuss the costs directly with the owners or their management. High rise buildings are much more expensive to build so rents need to be higher to give a resaonable ROI. All of these units are within about a 20 minute walk to the Greenbelt / Ayala Center malls. I absolutely refuse to express rents I haven't actually seen even when they have been advertised. I found all of these units just walking down the street and inquiring. They are 100% accurate. I am sure someone can pay 60K a month for the right property. But I didn't see one
@Ex-Pensive_Expat Yes city life cost is much higher here too but the bigger the city the higher the cost .
I think that is true everywhere in the world
@Ex-Pensive_Expat
Yes me too
Links would be very useful.
Links? None of these were advertised so no links to be had. I just found these as I was walking around in one half day. The purpose was not to refer you since they will most likely be rented before you could get here. The purpose was to show what is easily found and the prices. There are many that can be found for rent on line. That will be covered in the next video on Makati
😎👍🇺🇲
Thanks for sharing.
✌️
You're welcome. The next Makati video is the rest of the story
I always thought of city centers in any country as just another NYC🤷🤣 Too many ppl too close together all paying for the illusion of ease and accessibility.
I'll take a shed surrounded by 🐓 and trees then couped up in another urban landscape
The province isn't for everyone. But it might be as someone assimilates into the culture here. But we all need to start somewhere
@Ex-Pensive_Expat Definitely 👌 everyone has a different map to paradise 😂
Some who want the city life when they retire have never lived in a City. This is probably the perfect place for them to get their feet wet. Same as many from the city want to live in the province sight unseen
Comment
And your question is ?? lol
Gives me ideas 💡 ☝️
That was the purpose
Unfortunately, it wouldn't work for us. City is too much drama for us. We are province folk, but for someone Makati might fit for them. Just too crowded, but lots of western style living amenities. My wife has a sister who lives in Makati, and she rents out rooms in her tiny place.
It's definitely not for everyone. But I thought it would be an important video for those didn't know about it. The next video is the other half of Makati
@Ex-Pensive_Expat it's a very lively city for those who need "that city life". Look forward to more video 🤙
Thank you my friend!!
I will rent for 6 mos. not one year, and it will be furnished
Sounds like you have a plan my friend
There is not much architectural design detail in the skyscrapers there as far as on the exterior.. kinda brick and morter plain looking.
Actually there is depending on the area. You will see that in the next video
Actually much of modern Makati came of age in the 70s and 80s when the "Brutalist" style of Architecture was in vogue. Hence the design of the Stock Exchange, Central Bank, etc. But as shown in subsequent videos Makati is a mix of that and super modern soaring glass structures. And BGC is all new glass buildings...
I just can't stand high-rises.
Yes. Certainly not for everyone
I like your place better.😂
More homey and private.
Yes. Thank you Hahha.. I love my place but my place isn't for everyone. And this one was for them. I hope to bring information about every option here in The Philippines on this channel
It all seems overpriced, cheaply equipped and not very attractive.
I am sure there are many in finer condition for 2 or 3 time that amounts. I just found those walking down the street. I looked at seven and posted all seven, leaving nothing out. Just the luck of the draw I guess. Although I hear there are some running 120K plus a month in the same blocks
Well, this is analogous to living in Manhattan near Central Park. So yes, it's expensive for the Philippines, but it's also super convenient, clean, safe and green here 😊
25 or 30k accommodation Starbucks everyday will attract gold diggers Hide your money if u want a good one.
I have never felt the need to hide from Gold diggers here or California. Common sense my friend. You can spot them a mile away. Just don't be stupid brother
Makati is probably where are the most expensives accomodations
Yes but BGC is even a little more so. I will touch on that in one of the next videos
@@Ex-Pensive_Expat actually, Rockwell condos, which is adjacent to Makati is the most expensive in terms of price/sqft.
That very well could be. My exploring was in a small area
If the big one hits Manila last place id wanna be is in a high rise lol ... F that
Yep. But for some it is their preference . I'm trying to bring additional information for some who do or maybe not sure