Article Contributed by: Angel Yap Reynacido
Are you looking for a cheap and easy way to spruce and level up the décor of you home? Well, let me introduce you to indoor flowering houseplants. Well, you might already be familiar with be, but it won’t hurt to know them the second time around. Not only that indoor houseplants help purify the air inside our but they also serve as additional decorative pieces that add life and drama to our humble abode.
Don’t worry if you’re not an expert at decorating your home using indoor plants, we are here to walk you through the basics of finding the best indoor flowering plants for your living space. There are hundreds of store options online to choose from! The question isn’t about how big or small your space is, it’s about how you do it successfully– and by that we mean placing your favorite blooming houseplants in all the right spaces and corners.
But before you start your ‘indoor plans,’ you need to consider some factors. First off, take a good, careful look around your living space, and with your keen eye, take note of the areas that are in need of a decorative piece. Remember, too much decorations inside your home will give off a quite negative (and crowded) impression so be mindful! Next, select the plant that fits the look in your home and commit to one style and idea your interior needs. Most important of all, your facelift should serve you joy– which we are sure it would!
With that, take a look at our ‘garden’ of indoor flowering houseplants and see which plant best suits your style and aesthetic!
African violet (or Saintpaulia) is an ideal indoor plant for their beautiful flowers & foliage. If you want an effortless way to decorate your home, then African violets should make it to your list. These shrubs with small, violet (or pink) flowers will surely make any tabletop or corner ‘bloom’ with beauty.
To keep these stunning flowers alive and happy, make sure to place them in areas where they can get bright indirect light. Plant them in a well draining soil and avoid overwatering.
Peace Lily Plant (or Spathiphyllum) is great for beginners for it’s low maintenance care. It’s one of the top five most popular houseplants due to their beauty and elegance– and they can be found in almost every shop that sell houseplants! Peace lilies have narrow, glossy green leaves and white flowers that resembles calla lilies.
Did you know? Peace lily is commonly a symbol of peace and purity.
Lipstick plants (or Aeschynanthus) have pointy, waxy leaves and gorgeous flowers that grows in red clusters. Though they aren’t really common grown indoors, they can also thrive inside of your home by receiving bright light.
Zygocactus or more popularly known as Christmas cactus can spruce up any interior with its colorful flowers. This indoor flowering plant is perfect for houses or condos few or small windows as this succulent thrives without the need of natural sunlight. According to Bloomscape’s horticulturist Joyce mast, “Zygos are unique cacti that feature long segmented vines that will spill over the pot, and in the early winter, they produce beautiful red blooms at the end of their vines.”
They bloom best in the months of October and November but sometime stays in full bloom until the end of Christmas, hence the name Christmas cactus.
For those who are thinking that Geraniums can only only be grown outdoors, think again! They can thrive all year long as long as they can bask under direct sunlight for at least six hours per day or 14 hours for artificial light.
Geraniums comes in a variety of colors so you are sure that there’s a geranium shrub for your interior decorating needs!
We bet few of you know that the crown of thorns is the succulent cousin of the poinsettia plant. Euphorbia milii will grow and “flower best in full sun, so place them in a south or west-facing window,” according to the Houseplant Guru Lisa Eldred Steinkopf. She also advises to plant these houseplants in dry to medium moist soil.
Cyclamens (Cyclamen Persicum ) are truly home interior décor rockstars due to their heart shaped leaves and blooms that come in a variety of colors like red, pink, lilac, or white. They are commonly grow indoors and are very popular during the winter season where they can still thrive with bright indirect light.
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldian) is a kind of tropical plant and that means that it can totally grow indoors! Doll up your windows by placing this flowering plant where it can receive direct sun for a couple of hours. And since it’s a kind of succulent, kalanchoe won’t require much watering, but don’t forget to sprinkle some every week.
Who could miss out the blue, pink, purple or white flowers of hydrangeas? If you want your interior to pop out with color then be sure not to miss out this flowering houseplant with dark green leaves! To keep the bulbs blooming for a long period of time, make sure to keep the soil moist and that the plant is receiving direct sunlight
A South African native, clivias (Clivia miniata ) are such head-turners with their large flowers in the shape of a trumpet, ranging from the colors of pale orange to red. Keep clivias happy by placing them under bright indirect light, more preferably in windows (or other areas) facing south or west.
You don’t have to be a plant expert to keep these plants happy. According to Mast, “most indoor flowering plants are able to reside in various lighting situations in your home, even in the direct sunlight.” She also recommends removing any withered flowers or yellowing leaves to ensure that the plant’s ‘energy’ is focused in growing new clusters flowers. Mast also reminded that most indoor flowering houseplants prefer a somewhat moist soil and prevent accumulating water at the bottom of the pot or container as to avoid corrupting the plant’s root system.
Moreover, every houseplant has its own watering need, so it’s also vital to take note of that to prevent over watering– or not watering them at all! Even though these plants can do well and survive indoors, it’s also important to give them the amount of sunlight they need. Last, prune your plants and get rid of any withered leaves or flowered so that it won’t attract pests or bugs.
Plants don’t only brighten up your surroundings, it can also lift up your mood. Imagine after your stressful day, seeing your beautiful blooms flower makes you feel better because it has a calming effect on people. According to NASA ( National Aeronautics and Space Administration) even the smallest plants in your home helps remove toxins commonly found indoors.
Just be a responsible plantito or plantita, and these wonderful plants will reward you with magnificent flowers that will make every nook and cranny of your home bloom with beauty and elegance.
A lot of Filipinos dream of owning their first apartment or house and lot. With today’s booming real estate opportunities, there are so many options to choose from.
Here at Vistaland International, we have a roster of affordable property listings from several locations across the country. Whether you’re looking for a place to live in Manila, Cebu, Davao and etc, we’ve got you covered. So contact our real estate agents today!
Vistaland International was primarily created to bring OFW closer to their dream of finally acquiring a home in the Philippines. And with the rising cost of living in the country, OFWs and their families are looking for ways to earn extra cash flow to support their daily needs. Luckily, you can also join the global network of Vistaland International as a real estate professional and earn a commission!
Vistaland International Marketing, Inc. (VIMI) is the international marketing division of Vista Land. Aiming to provide OFWs and migrant Filipinos a home in the Philippines, VIMI has established long-lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.
Get started with your property investments! Contact us today and follow our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Aside from having a small business and a part time job on the side, it’s also important for OFWs to have passive income to have more money, and what better way to do that is to get yourself into real estate investing through property appreciation and cash flow investment strategies. Real estate is one of the ways most investors talk and walk about money because of the investment properties that they can put their money into (and it also serves as a strong point in their investment portfolios).
Think you’re ready to invest in real estate but don’t know if you’re going for cash flow or property appreciation? Worry no more — We’re going to give you a crash course about the difference between these two strategies to make your decision according to your risk appetite and to attain that financial freedom in style!
Cash flow investments are usually for those who invest in rental properties especially when you’re a senior citizen whose making the most out of your retirement fund. Many investors prioritize rental properties in the real estate market because the money that they’re getting comes from the rent that is paid.
Here are some advantages if you go for a cash flow investment:
In every real estate investment, there’s every opportunity for more passive income, especially when you have a positive cash flow for you to earn more. Opting for the cash flow strategy with one rental property might not be enough, so two or three of those are enough to cover expenses when it’s done right.
In case there’s going to be an economic downturn, your cash flow investments wouldn’t be affected and it will give you additional financial security for your expenses and emergency fund. After all, a small investment is better than an empty one.
Banks have portfolios from your savings and checking accounts to your investments and assets, and when your bank sees that you have a cash flow going on as your passive income, you would get loans approved easily especially when you have a strong property with a good cash flow.
Of course every investment comes with downfalls, but having a cash flow investment is a low risk, so there aren’t much downfalls that you would worry about. But still, here are some for you to keep an eye on:
Just like getting your salary wrong on a pay day (whether it’s less or too much), it’s frustrating that you’d be getting less or too much than what you’re normally getting in a cash flow strategy. The only way to solve this is to simply run the numbers carefully to prevent a negative cash flow from happening.
Real estate investors understand that the real estate industry can be volatile especially in investments, and cash flow investors inspect the real estate market and the quality of tenants these rental properties have. It’s important for you to study the market and the quality of its tenants in order for you to evaluate cash flow positive properties to invest in.
Trust us when we say that it’s the most frustrating thing on the planet when you can’t find a cash flow positive property because you don’t hear much of it these days with the current investment trends that the pandemic brought out.
Well, we have good news for you: Vista Land has various cash flow properties that will not only make your pocket fixed, but will also give you a major positive cash flow that will make your money worthwhile in the long run!
The Real Estate Appreciation or Property Appreciation is another strategy where the property’s value goes up over time, and most real estate investors go for this because there are properties where it needs to have major repairs (and a makeover) to achieve long term goals such as buying an investment property and flipping it to its market value.
If you’re an aspiring real estate investor and would like to go for this strategy, then here are some things that you can get out of property appreciation:
Hear us out before you go Bob the Builder: Yes, you can get your financial independence and financial freedom quicker by putting up with major renovations such as replacing pipes, buying furniture and house decorations, painting or sticking up a bunch of wallpapers on the walls, fixing the floors and everything that needs to be fixed, and establishing finishing touches to your home makeover for you to flip it and sell it will guarantee you quick cash for your cash flows to be liquidated quicker and the easiest win – win situation anyone could do to reel in real estate investors!
(Psst! Watch Falling Inn Love to see what we mean)!
If you’re planning to buy a property for appreciation and to sell it to reel in your investment portfolio, then you’d have the chance to redeem tax benefits to take a break from paying taxes in the meantime (and to pay taxes off their usual prices)! Sweet deal, right?
If you’re passing one property (or more) to your future generation, then they’re the lucky ones because they not only get real wealth, but they’ll also make the most out of the wealth you’ve given to them in the long run! Having multigenerational wealth on your portfolio can be a great asset to not only yourself, but to also for the people enjoying the property!
Real estate investments are volatile, but it’s risky when you’re all for real estate appreciation as this type of investment is high risk and you need to weigh in your options when something happens in the long run.
We agree with you when we say it’s frustrating that the property is depreciating due to natural and man – made causes, often resulting to selling it less than the market value despite its historical performance. We emphasize that you should have your house renovated to make its conditions better and to sell it easier, especially when you have luxurious amenities! The only major thing you need to consider? Property management.
We know property prices don’t come cheap, but when economical downfalls rise, they have a tendency to not do well, especially when their prices are way too high. Just like when you’re producing cash flow, you need to evaluate the market value of a property (and its value) whether it can be invested or not.
It’s easy to be complacent to not consider the idea in investing in the Cash Flow Strategy simply because you’re earning more with Appreciation Strategy, and that’s okay. But when the housing market has problems, it’s better for you to consider in investing cash flow properties as your emergency fund so that you don’t run out of money and these can also be good for your asset and investment portfolio.
Your financial goals should matter in achieving financial independence and financial freedom, and there are different aspects to consider whether you go with a cash flow investment or property appreciation investment. What matters is how you make money based on your initial investment, monthly income, and rental income with comparable properties and housing prices that you put yourself into. You should know what you’re signing up for when you’re a real estate investor if you want to build wealth and risking it all for money and portfolio; all you need is a good eye, a good set of negotiating skills, a sweet deal that you can get the most out of for short or long term, and that sweet profit coming at you.
So get your cash flowing property or a property with good price appreciation rates, and you’re on your way to your financial freedom that you’ve been dreaming of.
Whether you want to help those in need, sell the things you don’t want, or just simply give away old things that you no longer need, decluttering is the way to keep your room and home a fresh new look! All of us have things that we cherished because they have a sentimental value for some of us, but between “the more, the merrier” and “less is more,” it’s not only practical for you to declutter your home so that you can buy things that are in the season, but it’s also sustainable for the environment as there are many benefits of having a clutter free space.
If you’ve been a fan of Marie Kondo, you’ll find out that there are things that you no longer find joy or beneficial for your mental health and for you to have more storage spaces around your place. Ever since her show came out, everyone is into minimalism when it comes to things in order for them to have available space, even if it’s in a small place.
Don’t worry if you feel too overwhelmed in decluttering as here are some decluttering tips that we have in mind to help you get started (and satisfied) with your decluttering business!
There’s no specific time for you to declutter your home — in fact, you can declutter anytime! Some people declutter their homes once a year (after the year ends or during spring cleaning) while others do that either on a weekly basis or as a part of their daily routine. Nonetheless, people declutter whenever they have the time clear out everything that takes up space and needs to be removed on a semi regular basis. After all, if we save the environment from its toxins, we should also have a clutter free house from its clutter.
Here are some tips on how to declutter your room (or your house) to get you started for a good night’s sleep, some more fresh air that will flow around your place, and for you to be mentally healthy!
Just like how people list for groceries (or for things that they need to buy at conventions for some), having a decluttering checklist helps you jumpstart decluttering your messy room and to know what things you need to donate and throw away so that you don’t throw away something precious by mistake.
Music should be your best friend when you’re doing something, and decluttering shouldn’t be an exception. Find some songs that are either upbeat and loud or a bit mellow with enough beats so that you’ll be motivated in decluttering. If music isn’t your thing, you may also fire up a podcast or an audiobook for you to get going.
Progress matters, and what’s progress without pictures? You need to take photos of your messy room and cluttered house as your ‘before pictures’ and you also need to take some pictures of your tidy space, clean room, and a fresh house as your ‘after’ pictures so that you may take a look as to how much progress you have made from decluttering.
Whether you use the Three Box Method and make three piles of everything or the Four Box Method, it’s important for you to have storage boxes and storage bags for you to label what to keep, donate, get rid off, and relocate and for you to store items into each of these boxes and bags for more storage space.
We don’t mean a professional organizer; we mean to call your friends (or your family) over to make decluttering more fun! This is a fun decluttering tip especially when you’re having a hard time what to keep, give away, throw away, and relocate because of the many things you’ve had over the past year and two heads — or many — are better than one to have less stress! So turn up the music and boxes (or bags) and let the fun begin!
Donating and recycling are two of the most common decluttering tips a lot of people do because these two words pop into people’s minds first when it comes to decluttering.
You may donate out of season clothes as well as toys, books, shoes, and other paraphernalia that you don’t need to typhoon victims, refugees, local organizations, or other people who need them to have more space and to make your bedroom clean as well as your entire house.
Aside from donating things you don’t need, you may also use dirty clothes and old bed sheets in wiping flat surfaces and in covering furniture that you won’t be needing for a while. You just need to be creative on how to make use of these old clothes. You may also put other items in the recycling bin such as paper, plastic, bottles, old magazines, old remote controls, and many others that you find in your kitchen cabinets, kitchen countertops, drawer dividers, top drawers, laundry room, bedroom, and in other rooms in your entire house to have the best storage for new things (and for you to have plus points when you drop them off to your nearest environment center)!
The 12 – 12 – 12 Challenge states that you should keep 12 things, throw away 12 things, and give away 12 things from your house so that you can not only have more space, but also to have more fresh air to flow freely in a tidy space.
Like what we’ve told you, this is one of the two sorting methods some people use to declutter their things for their mental health. Get some boxes (and bags) and label them for you to know what to donate, keep, relocate, and get rid off especially when you have bulky items or broken items around your place to avoid clutter.
Throwing items away and decluttering your place has many benefits for your mental health, creating a conducive environment to improve your sleep quality, less stress, and new things to fill. Having a decluttered home is like having a tidy mind because you would know what to do when your mind is clear especially when you have a conducive work space for you to get things done and a clean bedroom for you to relax, rest, and have a good night’s sleep. But keep in mind that you donate clothes and throw only what you can to keep the things that have a sentimental value to you, to make way for new things, and for you to have a free flowing and conducive environment in your place while everything’s stored neatly.
So grab a box (or a bag) and start with one room at a time, and you’ll have a clutter free haven in no time with these decluttering tips!
One word isn’t enough to describe how amazing, magnificent and wonderful our moms are. In fact, they deserve all the loving and endearing words the dictionary could offer with the love and sacrifices they had done to take care of and raise us.
More than words, it’s important to let them know how much we love them by spending some quality time with them. Of course, it’s totally fine and natural if you want to shower your mom with flowers and gifts (it’s just another way of saying ‘I love you’), but more than the material things, the best gift you could offer is quality time.
With Mother’s Day coming around the corner, grab this opportunity to express and emphasize how much we love our dearest moms. Even though one day isn’t really enough to honor the ‘wonder woman’ of our lives!
We’ve compiled a list of fun ideas to help you make Mother’s day a memorable and special one! Take a tour through these mother’s day activities and start planning ahead!
With all the hard work and sacrifices our mom had done for us, she truly deserves a day without stress and full of relaxation! Just make a reservation at your local spa and spend quality time with your mom (have a nice, little chat with bits of gossip) while you both pamper yourselves! Take this day to another level by giving her a full blown makeover (hair, nails, makeup, and all) after that relaxing moment at the spa.
Capture each and every moment of this very special day by hosting a photo shoot! You can do it right after going to the spa so mom’s already looking fresh and camera-ready! You can choose to hire a professional photographer or play around with the various presets in your photo filter app! The important thing is you get to freeze such precious moments with your mom in a picture. Wear your creative hats and compile your photos in a very special Mother’s Day album!
Sure, giving mom a bouquet of fresh flowers will surely give her delight but giving her a personalized craft of yours is on another level! Send mom flowers that are specially arranged by you, or you can sign up together for a fun mother’s day activity!
When was the last time your mother had eaten in a fancy restaurant? Snag a reservation at her favorite local restaurant or diner and treat mom to a delicious brunch or dinner! This is an activity the entire family can enjoy, including Grandma! Or if you want an extra quality time with mom, you can just grab a table for the two of you!
If you feel like staying indoors to keep mom safe from the threats of COVID-19 (because you know, the pandemic isn’t really over yet), you can invite her to teach you how to cook a family recipe or just learn a new recipe in general! This is a great way to bond with mom and at the same time impress your relatives with your new dish on the next family reunion!
This may be one of the classics and one of the good ol’ mother’s day surprises but for me, it’s one of the sweetest! Let mom sleep in while you pitch in all of her faves in one tray and let her wake up to a morning of breakfast in bed!
If your mom is the adventurous and daredevil type, then this is a great opportunity to go bungee jumping! Now, this activity isn’t really for everyone, but we’re certain that there are moms out there who’d like to pump some adrenaline!
Or you can just bring mom to your local amusement park and spend mother’s day riding thrilling rides with her!
Invite mom and the whole family for a Karoake contest (of course Mom is the ultimate champion!). You don’t have to go out and rent those karaoke booths– YouTube and a BlueTooth mic with speaker will do the trick! You can also take this time to make every family member deliver a special message for mom)
Celebrate mother’s day by taking mom on a big shopping spree! Whether you are heading out to the local flea market or her favorite store, this is another great way to spend some quality time with her. Help her try on and pick new outfits she’ll love–when was the last time she had a new article of clothing inside her wardrobe?
Does your mom love doing some yoga? Make this activity even more intimate and special by hiring a private yoga instructor for a morning or afternoon class of Mother’s day yoga.
Okay, it’s time to take out those family photo albums and flip through your fun and embarrassing family photos! Take a trip down the memory lane while trekking through the past birthdays, holidays, and vacations while reliving and reminiscing such moments! Add in to the collection the photos you took for Mother’s Day!
Okay, it’s time to get your hands dirty! And no, I don’t mean the bad kind! If your mom loves to do some gardening, help her out on some tasks! Don’t worry if you do not have that green thumb– you can focus on the weeding and watering! She’ll love and appreciate the extra hand!
If your mom is on the crafty side, why not invite her for a day of craft making? Paint portraits, make personalized jewelry, do some creative wreaths or join a pottery class! The final output may not be that ‘perfect’ but I’m sure mom loves every moment she spent making them with you!
Whatever you decide on how to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, don’t forget that more than the material gifts, the best present we could gift our dearest moms is our time. If you could, take a day off from work so you can make time for the most important woman in your life. Every celebration doesn’t necessarily need to be grand or extravagant; a big, warm hug, a kiss on the cheek or just by simply doing the household chores will get your message across.
More importantly, make sure to make her feel like a queen (because we all know she is!) not just for a day, but a whole year!
So, to all of our magnificent moms, a very Happy Mother’s Day!
Looking for an affordable property? Contact us today
A lot of Filipinos dream of owning their first apartment or house and lot. With today’s booming real estate opportunities, there are so many options to choose from.
Here at Vistaland International, we have a roster of affordable property listings from several locations across the country. Whether you’re looking for a place to live in Manila, Cebu, Davao and etc, we’ve got you covered. So contact our real estate agents today!
Vistaland International was primarily created to bring OFW closer to their dream of finally acquiring a home in the Philippines. And with the rising cost of living in the country, OFWs and their families are looking for ways to earn extra cash flow to support their daily needs. Luckily, you can also join the global network of Vistaland International as a real estate professional and earn a commission!
Vistaland International Marketing, Inc. (VIMI) is the international marketing division of Vista Land. Aiming to provide OFWs and migrant Filipinos a home in the Philippines, VIMI has established long-lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.
Get started with your property investments! Contact us today and follow our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Investing in real estate has many routes that may appear confusing to our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), especially for the first-time investors. They may feel intimidated and discouraged to invest as they don’t have any idea of the bigger picture. This is where real estate agents come into the scene. OFWs who wishes to invest in real estate do not need to worry as there are various and great real estate professionals who are willing to walk them through the process with their expertise in the field.
However, though there are various real estate agents offering valuable service, not all of them came from the same mold. OFWs need to scrutinize their real estate agent as they will be entrusting all the negotiations and transactions in the agent’s hands here in the Philippines while they work abroad. Getting the right agent sounds like impossible to get but it’s just a matter of analysis of who’s qualified or not.
With that, we’ve compiled a list of traits of a great real estate agent to serve as a guide for our OFWs so that they’d pick on the right real estate agent for their investment journey! Or if you are a migrant Filipino worker eyeing for a successful real estate career here in the Philippines, then this also a great read for you!
Good communication is vital for a successful transaction, and with that, a good agent should have effective communication skills in order to land the best deals for you. He should regularly update you about the status of the property you are buying or selling.
For instance, if you are buying a property, he should be able to lay out all the best possible options for you. He’s attentive to your specific needs and provides answers and solutions to each and every of your query.
On the other hand, if you are selling real estate property, you are likely to get multiple offers from buyers in real estate market. With that, your agent your agent should be able to gauge every buyer and talk to their buyer’s agent in order to extract only the offers with the best listing price.
The best real estate agents know the market of their client. Understanding the niche of your local real estate market will help your agent provide comparative prices and devise an effective marketing strategy, whether you are buying or selling your house. So, if your real estate agent states or is comparing housing prices based from hunch, sad to say but it’s time to look for another one.
Your real estate agent should put aside his personal gains just so you won’t lose an ample amount of money. For instance, if your real estate agent knows that a deal isn’t going to be successful, he should tell you so ahead of time. Or, he should be able to tell you sincerely whether that home improvement you’re planning to is going to add value or not. Situations like these builds up the reputation of successful real estate agents.
It is inevitable to encounter problems and shortcomings in each and every transaction. Great agents are able to respond to such problems or issues while protecting the best interests of their client (in this case, you).
For instance, if the home inspection conducted on your property revealed some problems with the house you are trying to purchase, your real estate agent should be able to negotiate the price with the seller.
Being a good communicator goes side by side with having excellent negotiation skills. In the real estate industry, the ones who are able to persuade the other party into agreeing to their terms wins the competition. Your real estate agent should posses such excellent negotiation skills to transform potential buyers into profit.
You’d want to look for a real estate agent who has a keen sense of detail. He should be organized, regularly do follow-ups and has professional reputation. Do not simply brush away such details: remember, even the small details matter!
Aside from having an in depth knowledge about the field, your real estate agent should be a ‘people-person,’ has a great attitude, approachable and easy to communicate with things that you need to discuss. A great real estate agent understands you and your needs while at the same open to your suggestions and queries. Of course you’d want someone whom you can ask questions and concerns with easily, especially if this is your first time trudging through the real estate investment waters.
The introduction of the internet has drastically changed our lives. And as we adapt to this digital age, so are the market trends in the real estate. Great real estate agents keeps up to date with the new technology and utilize these tools in modernization to be able to compete better in the real estate market.
For instance, instead of hosting the traditional open houses, he is now switching in conducting virtual tours. Using the power of internet and technology will really take you a long way in the real estate market.
These are just some of the most important qualities of a great real estate agent. Whether you want to find the best realtor in town or you just want a successful career in being a real estate agent, taking notes of these qualities will help you discern whether you are still on the right track or you need to make some adjustments.
By knowing these traits and characteristics of a good real estate agent, you are certain that you’ve picked the right person to accompany you in your real estate investment journey! Not only you are securing the best real estate investments in your local market with your real estate agent but you are also helping him/her build a stronger portfolio and professional development! It’s a win-win situation for everyone indeed!
A lot of Filipinos dream of owning their first apartment or house and lot. With today’s booming real estate opportunities, there are so many options to choose from.
Here at Vistaland International, we have a roster of affordable property listings from several locations across the country. Whether you’re looking for a place to live in Manila, Cebu, Davao and etc, we’ve got you covered. So contact our real estate agents today!
Vistaland International was primarily created to bring OFW closer to their dream of finally acquiring a home in the Philippines. And with the rising cost of living in the country, OFWs and their families are looking for ways to earn extra cash flow to support their daily needs. Luckily, you can also join the global network of Vistaland International as a real estate professional and earn a commission!
Vistaland International Marketing, Inc. (VIMI) is the international marketing division of Vista Land. Aiming to provide OFWs and migrant Filipinos a home in the Philippines, VIMI has established long-lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.
Get started with your property investments! Contact us today and follow our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Selling a home sure does require a lot of hard work, but to gain more profit and escape the commission fees, many homeowners prefer selling their houses on their own. While you can indeed save money by making yourself your own agent, there are still valid reasons as to why hiring a real estate agent is worth considering. Taking time to know about their job description is insightful for you to get a full picture of what they are really about.
Understanding their nature of work will help you visualize why you should hire a real estate agent in the first place. In order for you to save the time and effort, we’ve listed down reasons why you should hire a professional real estate agent in selling your home!
For Sale by Owner (FSBO) is a method of listing or putting up a property for sale, usually done by the owner himself without the aid of a real estate agent. Let’s say that it’s a kind of do-it-yourself way of selling your property.
While FSBO has its own advantages, like being in charge of your decision sans external factors thus preventing some conflict of interests, being the more knowledgeable one when it comes to the features and aspects of your home, and saving money by avoiding realtor’s commission, hiring a real estate agent to guide you will give you peace of mind and confidence throughout the selling process.
Your primary target is to sell your home at the right price in the shortest time possible. But the question is, how are you going to price your property? You may become subjective when comes to the estimation because of the sentimental value your property holds. A good real estate agent won’t have such emotional attachment and will lay down the best price based off the current market trends. He will ensure that your property’s price won’t go above or below the meter: just at the right costs to attract potential buyers.
Sure enough, a percentage of your income will go to the realtor fees but landing a great deal is worth the cost of paying such commission.
Selling your home means you need to undergo a lot of compromise and negotiations with the buyer’s agent to land the best deal. If you aren’t equipped with enough negotiating skills or if you are new to negotiating home sales, you may end up losing money rather than earning.
This is where a real estate agent is vital. Nothing beats the expertise of an agent who’s been in the real estate industry for years. He already knows the ins and outs of every real estate transaction, how to handle price negotiations, as well as the tricks other agents carry on their sleeves. It makes sense to hand over such delicate transactions to those who are knowledgeable in the field.
Being an FSBO seller means that you get to do all the job by yourself. There are a lot of things to do at your plate: researching the current market trends to price your property right, handling all the needed papers and documents, scheduling the open house appointments and managing the marketing and advertising areas of the sale. Deciding to go FSBO also means that it’s your own task to put up a property listing for your home, including the photographs of the real estate itself. There’s just a lot of work to do!
However, you do not need to worry about these stuff if you hire a real estate agent to do all the selling and negotiations on your behalf. Selling a home isn’t just about posting a property listing online and waiting for inquiries to ring up your phone. It will require much effort and commitment on top of your full time job and spending time with your family. Can you still find the time and energy to handle such task after a long day of work?
Real estate agents know the legal laws and transactions of selling a home. In order to avoid any conflict or lawsuits in the near future, it’s best to hand over all the legal transactions to qualified people who are well-versed in such.
Your house is isn’t just a four-cornered structure; it’s a place where you and your family nurtured each other and created lasting memories, so selling it out might be an emotional process for you go through. Having a real estate agent eliminates such subjective stuff and only focuses on the objective parts that suits the best interests of everyone.
Another perk of working along side a real estate agent is that you get to have your property included in multiple listing service where most buyers flock. They also have lots of connections which could provide exposure to your property listing. It won’t be hard for you to find potential buyers as real estate agents has got your back covered.
Having worked in the real estate industry for years, real estate agents have encountered each and every type of buyer and thus can determine if someone is sincere in purchasing your property or just a curious by-passer who just want a sneak peek at your home. Weeding out unqualified buyers from qualified ones will save you a lot of time and effort, especially when it comes to talking and negotiations.
If you are wondering whether you should do some smart home improvements or not before selling your home, you can count on your real estate agent to give you insightful suggestions about your dilemma. They are the experts when it comes to home selling, so they’ll be able to point out which parts of your house need sprucing and which ones are fine just the way they are.
On top of that, they can also give you feedback from the potential buyers’ perspective and see if your home facelift is successful or not.
So the next time you decide to sell your home, don’t hesitate to ask for a helping hand from a real estate agent. There are many real estate agents available that can help you sell your home at the best price. It’s a win-win situation for all! Not only that you are gaining the most out of your investment, but you will also improve the portfolio of these people, helping them to get more clients in the future.
One sure thing every book lover and collector dream about is to have their own dedicated home library and a personal reading nook where they can shut off the world and immerse themselves into the world of words. Even digital e-book readers will appreciate a cozy reading nook where they can read and relax at the same time. If you have enough space in your house for floor-to-ceiling shelves (matched with a sliding ladder), then you’re super lucky!
However, for those who don’t have enough floor space to pitch in a gigantic shelf, save that frown yet! We’ve compiled a list of home library ideas perfect for small space so that you can still enjoy a ‘Drop Everything and Read’ time, because every bookworm deserves a reading nook of their own!
A home library doesn’t need to be expensive or occupy a large space of your house. Simply install a freestanding book case in your living room or any corner or wall of your home. Place in a comfortable seating or armchair on one side, a pouf to serve as your side table and a floor lamp for that good lighting and you got yourself a cozy library in an instant!
Who said that setting up a home library needs a lot of space? Create a minimalist home library by simply adding in a sculptural, freestanding bookshelf and a sitting area by the window. Having a good light is a must in every reading nook, so by the window is far by one the best place to make your favorite retreat spot. Enjoy the trickle and sound of the rain in the background while reading your the classics with a warm mug of hot chocolate on the side!
If you think that your home or condo lacks that necessary reading space, maybe you haven’t looked enough. Just look up and you’ll find yourself enough room to stack your books into! If your room features a super high ceiling, then it’s the perfect place to add in built in shelves! Not only does make an efficient use of the space but will also an dramatic presentation of your beloved collection!
Your dining table can double up as reading spot with just a sprinkle of creativity! You can add floating shelves onto your dining room wall so it can serves as a double duty space for dining, entertainment, as well as for study!
Filling the space around your television with your favorite books will not only maximize the wall space around it but will also remove the focal point from the appliance. It’s also a good reminder to shut off the technology for once and continue reading that book that you’ve started weeks or months ago.
If the wall space in your home isn’t available for built in bookshelves (or you just don’t want to hammer down on your wall), why not try using the hallways instead? You can install bookshelves in one of the sides (or two if you can) of your hallways for that ‘walk in bookshelf’ feel!
Thinking of replacing those old, boring, and outdated wallpapers? Why not liven up your walls by using you own books? And no, we do not mean tearing off every page of your precious babies and plastering them onto the wall — that’s a serious crime to commit! Fill up your wall space with your favorite books! Not only that you are maximizing all the space in your home but your books can double up as decorative items!
Transform a part of your guest room (or any room you want for that matter) into a floating shelf by nailing in planks of wood onto the wall! This built in home library shelving is perfect for those who don’t have much extra space in their homes. Get those creative gears moving by arranging the wooden planks into symmetrical (or asymmetrical, depending on your taste) patterns and, paint them with colors that best compliment the aesthetics of your room!
Craving for a quick read before dozing off to sleep? Why not create a library inside your bedroom by adding books around your bed? There’s no better place to read your favorite novel than in the comfort of your sheets!
Let’s not forget the space on top of your doorways! This can also serve as storage for your beloved books! Or be your own interior designer and transform that entire door into a bookshelf itself! Talk about design and functionality in one!
This design idea is perfect for those who are in a work-from-home (or online class) set-up. Keeping your books, magazines and folders near your office space or study area provides you easy access to important papers and documents if you want to check into some. Open a comic or novel right away if you need a quick relaxation from the burnout of work or school.
Do you have a spot in your home that looks (and feels) slightly off to the sight? Spruce this space up by turning it into a home library or a reading nook! Hide those weird corners and awkward angles by displaying your book collection!
Whether you are a bookworm who spends most of his time burying their heads into books and novels, or a casual reader who enjoys reading some short story or poetry here and then, we are certain that there’s a piece of literature that moved your soul and sent shivers down your spine.
By going through these creative, space-saving, small home library ideas, we hope that you find more ways and places to appreciate reading more. It’s like travelling miles away, through different worlds, dimensions, and timeline without moving a single inch from your spot. With just some sprinkle of creativity and magic dusts of imagination, you can carve out a personal nook for your home reading pleasure.
A lot of Filipinos dream of owning their first apartment or house and lot. With today’s booming real estate opportunities, there are so many options to choose from.
Here at Vistaland International, we have a roster of affordable property listings from several locations across the country. Whether you’re looking for a place to live in Manila, Cebu, Davao and etc, we’ve got you covered. So contact our real estate agents today!
Vistaland International was primarily created to bring OFW closer to their dream of finally acquiring a home in the Philippines. And with the rising cost of living in the country, OFWs and their families are looking for ways to earn extra cash flow to support their daily needs. Luckily, you can also join the global network of Vistaland International as a real estate professional and earn a commission!
Vistaland International Marketing, Inc. (VIMI) is the international marketing division of Vista Land. Aiming to provide OFWs and migrant Filipinos a home in the Philippines, VIMI has established long-lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.
Get started with your property investments! Contact us today and follow our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
When you’re moving out to another place regardless of any reason, you need to make sure that the place that you’re putting at the seller’s market is in great condition before you can do all the work in putting your place for sale when the renting business is too competitive for you.
If this is your first time putting your place up for sale, don’t worry! We’ve got your back with some home selling tips that you can do to make your place not only attractive but also a great catch in the local real estate market!
Making your home clutter-free and alive in and out is a great start if you’re planning to put your place up for sale. Start packing your items and furniture and having movers at your place (or donate if you have things you don’t want anymore), have it repainted and organize a home inspection if it’s needed, and clean it up from the inside to the out so that you would not only have a clean house to sell, but your home’s appearance will also sell quickly!
Trust us, we can’t emphasize this enough because real estate agents do all of the heavy work from the pricing strategy to the local market at the back of their hands, meaning you’ll have an idea about giving a realistic price and selling your place to prospective buyers (and more buyers too)! Besides, the best real estate agents know how to handle everything like a pro!
Before you sell the place that you had an emotional connection with, make sure that you settle the remaining mortgage balance that you have (and other pending payments) before making the big move of selling so that buyers won’t get shell shocked when the previous owner has a remaining balance that needs to be settled after they move in.
Together with a listing agent, come up with the right listing price so that your house will not only be a top dollar in a competitive market but also make sure that your asking price is within the market value range. Besides, you don’t want to be one of those home sellers who mark up the price way too high, then have a drastic price reduction, right?
Whether you own a camera or hire a photographer to take pictures of your place, it’s a wise decision to invest in photos with the best quality as poor photos are your worst enemies (especially with the angles). Go for the best angles and lighting by taking photos with the windows open so that it’s more inviting with natural light and you can achieve more potential buyers when you market your place!
With most people going for the comparative market analysis, it drives people crazy when they are finding the best place to live in — only to find out that the price of that same type of house you’re selling is a bargain for them! So you, your real estate agent, and your listing agent should double-check the listing and its listing price to make sure everything’s set for the sale process! If you feel that something is missing or something that needs to be edited, feel free to consult with them.
There are reasons that open house signs are put up when someone sells a place: Most home sellers want most buyers to take a look at the place before they start a bidding war on how much they want to put for the house (especially for a competitive price and multiple offers), especially for today’s buyers. So make that appearance and be ready for those home buyers!
Another way to sell your house fast is to have a home showing. Most homebuyers prefer this over the usual open houses as they are more flexible and convenient to see the place without the hassle of having a bidding war with other buyers. We recommend you to have minimal furniture for home staging so that they have an idea of what they are getting at (and who knows — you could land a potential buyer in a snap of a finger)!
Believe it or not, people forget to put up signs that their houses are ‘for sale’ when you can do everything digitally. This is a huge mistake, especially if you’re a first-time home seller because people would be confused if it’s up in the market or not. So go ahead and put up that sign along with a video tour and some nice photos along with a catchy headline to attract more potential buyers!
It’s the same story if you’re a home buyer and the home seller drives you crazy just because of the slow decision process they have to go through once a purchase offer is brought up to them, so you need to respond to purchase offers as quick as you can because some home buyers have the best price, and they come with an expiration date. So, make that deal already if you feel like it’s a deal!
Of course, you need help from the experts about having your old home sold on the nose because you can’t do all of these alone and it’ll make a huge difference once you get a trick or two in selling your home correctly from the professionals!
Just like how you manage the store to make a conducive environment to sell your products, Keller Williams’ No. 1 agent Richard Shulman said that you should make your sale home conducive for selling by cleaning everything out, setting the right listing price, and coordinating with a top real estate agent and your listing agent will make you a top-dollar home seller!
According to Bradley Gill of the Eagle Properties Group of Realty World, one of the home selling tips you need to consider is to take time to think about what your home stands out of all the homes being sold every day. Whether it’s at the city center being near to schools, malls, and hospitals, or being far away in the countryside from the busy city, you need to come up with a USP that will make your home stand out.
Trust us when we say that even the top real estate agents struggle in pricing when the market is not that competitive, especially with the home selling process. While competition can be tough, Shannon Rose of Keller Williams Realty says that home sellers and real estate agents should be honest when marketing their homes so that they’ll gain their buyers’ trust even more.
The Matt Laricy Group’s Managing Partner Matt Laricy himself said that you should get that fresh coat of paint, some new appliances, and finishing touches ready for home staging as you’re going the extra mile to make more money (aside from a few hundred dollars) by selling your house quicker with a fresh look!
According to Stephen Maurice of RealEstateAgentPDX.com, the National Association surveyed home buyers to pick what piques their interest the most is searching for a home to buy, professional pictures are the most important factor over the location, price, or the even description itself, especially for today’s buyers who are particularly visual about how it would look like. You should work with agents who know how to market by taking strong and professional quality pictures, staging, and a strong marketing strategy on the line. Besides, these marketing rules are important aside from telling a story and pricing it.
There are more real estate tips for sellers that you can find online for a successful home sale and maximum real estate exposure. Selling your home is a part of the ABCs of the real estate industry, but contacting the buyer’s agent and doing the real home selling process is another part of the real estate agents’ work in a nutshell. When you consider selling your haven, you have to make sure that you have the best real estate professional by your side so that you can have a win-win situation for everyone and not leave money on the table!
When putting up your home for sale or rent, there are many ways to market your property in the real estate market. There are real estate agents ready to lend you a helping hand in selling out your property. While you’re at it, you can also make some smart home improvements that definitely add value and face appeal to your home. Another thing you can do to step up your game and presence in real estate listings is to do real estate photography.
As the saying goes, a picture can paint a thousand words, and that is also true when it comes to real estate business. A striking, perfectly-lit photo of your home (whether be it interior photos or exterior photo) can give off so much impact that potential buyers may be persuaded into buying your property.
Also, your real estate agent won’t have a hard time advertising your property if you provide them with the best real estate photos. When putting up a property listing online, one of the important factors is the real estate photos you’re going to include in the listing. These listing photos are the ones that will catch the potential buyer’s attention more than the written description itself.
Real estate photography may seem to be an intimidating task, especially if you are not a professional photographer yourself. There are real estate photography services you can seek out online, but in this digital age, you can totally do real estate photography yourself!
That’s why we’ve listed down some real estate photography tips to help you level up your photography skills and make your photos appear like they’re taken by a professional real estate photographer!
Of course, you will need the help of some photography equipment to be able to capture the finest details and accents of your home. Don’t worry, real estate photography doesn’t require much and most of these are probably owned by you already– or you can rent them for your scheduled photo shoot.
Shooting real estate photography will of course require a camera! How are you gonna capture amazing real estate pictures without one?
DSLR (short for digital single-lens reflex) cameras are the staple in real estate photography. DSLR cameras have interchangeable lens to suit your real estate photo shoot needs (depending on certain conditions and factors) and you can manually adjust the camera settings for a clearer, sharper photo. Cameras with large sensor size will give you best quality of real estate photos even in low, ambient light.
Most real estate photographers prefer wide angle lens in real estate photography. Wide angle lenses allow the photographer to capture wide angle shots and give depth and emphasis to the space of you home. If you aren’t on a tight budget, you can also consider investing in tilt-shift to remove any distortion caused by wide angle lens.
Consistency is important in real estate photography: you don’t want your photos to look slanting in every possible direction or for it to look too near or too far away. Using a tripod can help eliminate such inconsistencies. If you want a five-feet height, then all of your real estate photos will be in a five-feet height. Tripods will also reduce motion blur (even if you have steady hands) and stabilize every photo you take, especially if you are doing an exterior real photo shoot.
A tripod will give a stable perspective, will help you maintain a specific angle and lets you capture vertical lines for such emphasis.
Not every part of your home receives an ample amount of natural light, there will always be parts where it seems like a dark cloud is looming over. For these areas, you will need a flash to distribute light evenly. Having a flash trigger, on other hand, will help you remotely trigger both the flash and camera, speeding up the whole process altogether.
Of course, if you are going to use flash, you will also need some light stands to mount them onto. A regular light stand is ideal for lightweight flashes. However, you may need heavy-duty C-stands for bigger lights.
Whether you want to start a career in real estate photography, put up a real estate photography business or you just want to capture the best angles of your home, one thing is for sure: we want these photos to sell.
Real estate photos serve as a ‘sneak peek’ at what potential buyers are spending their money on so it’s vital for you to capture the best nooks and crannies of your home. Even if your property is placed in a very strategic location or has nest the features and amenities, no buyer would bat an eye in a poorly-presented advertisement.
Of course, we want real estate images that attracts potential buyers (and hopefully close a great deal), otherwise, all of our efforts will be in vain. To be able to produce shots like those with a professional real estate photographer, check out these real estate photography tips!
Make sure that the room or property is camera-ready by decluttering or deep cleaning the room. Put away any discarded clothes, your children’s toys lying around and arrange that messy bookshelf. You might dismiss them as ‘unnoticeable’ once you capture the bigger picture but they will come into the spotlight once homebuyers zooms in on your photo.
We do not want any of these litter to be included in our real estate photos– that will be a huge turn off on the buyer’s part! So, before you start clicking on your camera, make sure every surface, nook and cranny are spotless clean and neat!
Also, the weather outside can affect the lighting inside of your home. A cloudy weather for instance, may dim away the interiors of the room.
It won’t hurt to arrange your home to make it more presenting and appealing to the eyes. You need your buyers to imagine that they’re actually living in your property. Therefore, you need to analyze every room for their selling point and tweak them according to your buyers’ tastes.
Shooting interiors that are empty may save you a lot in the pocket, but you may give your buyers a hard time visualizing their life in the space. If you are not certain in staging your home by yourself, you can opt to hire someone to stage your home virtually and create virtual tours of your home.
The market in the real estate business is competitive one, so you need to step up your game in order to reach the top of the real estate listings.
Not every property is made identical to one another, however, knowing the typical shots done in a professional real estate photography will save you a lot of time while at the same time covering the unique selling point of your home.
You can also experiment on different angles to create stunning photos. Professional photographers doesn’t shoot on a single angle; they get into lots of various angles, depths, and shots to be able to capture the best photos!
There’s nothing worse than going into your shoot only to realize that you forgot to charge your camera’s batteries or that your memory card is full. Before going into the actual day of the photo shoot, make sure that every equipment of yours is ready for a hassle-free real estate photography!
Your camera isn’t pre-programmed to only capture the high quality images, you will still need to adjust its settings for the right shutter speed, ISO, aperture and such. There are lots of cheat sheets online that you can take as a reference to familiarize yourself with the technicalities.
One factor that will make your real estate photography pop or flop is the lighting. Too much light may make your photos overexposed and outshine some important details. On the other hand, your real estate photos may look gloomy and depressing if the room is too dark.
A great real estate photographer checks all the lights in the room first if they are working before shooting anything. If the interior lights aren’t enough for the proper brightness, you can use artificial lighting like flashes or just open the blinds and curtains to allow natural light to come into the entire room.
Keeping your camera straight when shooting different angles is vital to avoid distortion in your photos (this will save you a lot fixing images in post processing part). This is where your goody tripod comes in handy.
The ideal height for real estate photography five feet. This makes the photos feel natural and balanced. You’ll capture too much ceiling when you go over the standard height and when you go too low, you’ll get most of the furniture and not the actual livable space of your home.
Modern real estate photography uses drone for aerial shots, giving buyers a larger view of the entire property, including the roof and other hard-to-see features, neighbors and amenities, and property map.
Your real estate photography tasks doesn’t end after wrapping up the shoot. Post processing is necessary not just in real estate photography but in digital photography all together to further enhance your photos. Remember, we only want the best real estate photos, highlight the properties’ striking features and give potential buyers a virtual tour even if they aren’t on the site themselves.
There are lots of presets you can choose from to enhance your photographs from photo editing software like Photoshop or Lightroom. Don’t just stick to one preset, create a creative but cohesive collection of photos by applying different presets suitable for every photo.
These presets will make your real estate photographs even if you’re just a beginner by combining proper lighting adjustments, temperature, and white balance. However, do not mislead your buyers by intentionally manipulating your photos.
Real estate photography is more than just capturing what’s inside or outside of your home to make it more sellable in the real estate industry market. We want our buyers to feel at home in our own home; to picture themselves actually living in it. Every nook and cranny has a special story to share, and we want to walk our potential buyers through them, make them feel they’re part of it. There’s a no better feeling than finding your place and space in this world. After all, home is where you heart is.
A lot of Filipinos dream of owning their first apartment or house and lot. With today’s booming real estate opportunities, there are so many options to choose from.
Here at Vistaland International, we have a roster of affordable property listings from several locations across the country. Whether you’re looking for a place to live in Manila, Cebu, Davao and etc, we’ve got you covered. So contact our real estate agents today!
Vistaland International was primarily created to bring OFW closer to their dream of finally acquiring a home in the Philippines. And with the rising cost of living in the country, OFWs and their families are looking for ways to earn extra cash flow to support their daily needs. Luckily, you can also join the global network of Vistaland International as a real estate professional and earn a commission!
Vistaland International Marketing, Inc. (VIMI) is the international marketing division of Vista Land. Aiming to provide OFWs and migrant Filipinos a home in the Philippines, VIMI has established long-lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.
Get started with your property investments! Contact us today and follow our social media accounts: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Some of the best places to live in the Philippines happen to be the ones that are semi-isolated, especially when you want to leave your old life in Metro Manila to retire in one of the provinces around the Philippines such as Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Iloilo City, Baguio City, Santa Rosa City in Laguna, and so much more one could think of!
Of course, you get tired living in a big city like Taguig City with all the traffic rules, and you dream of one day living on the beach or in a quiet small town in a small city, and believe us when we say it’s one of our guilty pleasures as well.
If you remember our last few articles about moving to the province (and about moving to the Philippines for retirement) in general, then this is one of those articles in that we list some more of the best places to live in the Philippines when you want to retire or simply move out from the big cities of Metro Manila and into the peaceful life of these provinces in Visayas!
If you’re wondering why the Philippine Retirement Authority awarded Dumaguete City as the best place to retire in the Philippines, it has a fusion of white sand beaches, horse-driven carriages, low cost of living in the city, and healthcare that would make you feel as if you’ve time-traveled to the Spanish colonial era — almost feels like as if you’ve never left Manila at all with its Spanish vibes mixed with its quintessential island lifestyle along with modern comforts that would make your retirement life comfortable, fashionable, and practical all in one place!
Dabbling in the Manila of Visayas is not enough why Americans and other expats live in Cebu City. Cebu Island itself is the reason why a lot of retirees and expats have the best of both worlds of high-end shopping malls and world-class entertainment and the refreshing sight of whales and other sea creatures as well as the breathtaking waterfalls all on one island (without so much of the traffic in Metro Manila) and celebrating the much-awaited Sinulog Festival!
Nicknamed the “City of Smiles” in the Sugar Bowl Capital of the Philippines, Bacolod City was awarded Philippines’ Best Place to live twice in 2018 and 2019 with its urbanized city that is quite smaller than others, affordable city living, accessible amenities, island hopping, and a laid – back lifestyle that is rich in cultural heritage with its old – fashioned balay and its famous Chicken Inasal Bacolod! What’s more is that it has less traffic (which means more fresh air), pollution, and crime statistics as well for its colorful MassKara Festival, a 30 – year old festival which has costumed – masked dancers competing in a kaleidoscopic showdown!
You’re missing out on living in the only tropical country in the world if you didn’t do some fun activities and visit some popular attractions around the Visayas region, and we’d be lying if we say we haven’t been to at least one of these and love them! If you haven’t already, check out these Visayas tourist spots off of your bucket list! After all, the world is at your feet, right?
Who says you can’t do much around Bacolod aside from eating its famous Chicken Bacolod and sweets? Well, you can do about as much by visiting the Negros Museum, The Ruins, and San Sebastian. If you get bored, don’t worry! You can go to the islands of Negros Oriental such as Apo Island, Valencia, and the much-awaited Guimaras Island!
Filled with its crystal blue waters and white sandy beaches, Bantayan Island reigns at the north of Cebu with its beautiful Kota Beach as well as other islands such as the iconic Virgin Island and Hilantagaan Island that you can go island hopping on.
We’d be like “What?” if you haven’t been to this delectable province because you would be able to see its famous Chocolate Hills and its cute tarsiers as well as experience the daring Hanging Bridge and have lunch while enjoying the view and music at the Loboc River Cruise. Explore its beautiful Alona Beach, Virgin Island, or Panglao Island as you unwind for a while from the big city.
We’d be lying if we’d say that we haven’t been to this irresistible island where its white sand beaches and natural beauty will leave a lasting impression on beach lovers like some of us here! This is the top beach destination to which a lot of people go (hence it’s a good reason to escape to LaBoracay on Labor Day) and unwind with its many water activities such as scuba diving and many others people enjoy! It’s also nearby Palawan, where the Underground Cave, one of the Natural Wonders of the World is located, so you might want to check out those rock formations as well in one boat ride!
There are many cities on Cebu Island — you can revisit the historical Mactan Shrine at Mactan, go diving at Malapascua Island, go island hopping on its pristine beaches, shop ’til you drop in its shopping centers, swim the Moalboal Sardine Run from Panagsama Beach, and have an active social life in its business districts! We can’t emphasize enough that Cebu City has it all for you!
Aside from its majestic Isla de Gigantes, Jaro Cathedral, Molo Church, Calle Real, Camiña Balay nga Bato, and experiencing the Dinagyan Festival every January, you can also experience Lakawon Island, a private beautiful island that happens to be in between Iloilo and Bacolod for a quick escapade for beach lovers out there with fine white sand and a laid back vibe, making it a perfect destination for a quick getaway from the big city, making it an underrated tourist spot.
With its rich sea life, it’s no question that Monad Shoal is the most popular dive site with its international diving community to spot some sea turtles, manta rays, Mantis Shrimps, Pygmy Seahorses, Nudibranchs, and the rare Thresher sharks that swim around all year long.
Let’s say you’ve made up your mind to retire to one of these amazing destinations and cities in the Visayan region. The next step towards your retirement journey is to find the best property in which you can finally sit down and enjoy that wonderful sunset by the beach. You’ll want a property that’s affordable and at the same time, has easy access to these wonderful tourist spots so that you won’t miss out on the fun in the sun!
Well, worry no more as Vista Land International has got your retirement plan covered! From house & lot to condominium properties, you are best assured that there’s a place you can come home and rest after a long day of exploring these beautiful beaches and major attractions!
Combine convenience, accessibility, and security in one place and you’ll get Camella Homes. Camella is one of the pioneers when it comes to building master-planned communities. The flagship and one of the most coveted brands of Vista Land, Camella has been consistent in delivering its mission of providing every Filipino family with high-quality but affordable homes!
Bearing over four decades of strong market presence, Camella has rooted itself in 47 provinces and 149 municipalities and cities, including Aklan, Bohol, Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Occidental, and Negros Oriental in the Visayan Region.
Live the best of both worlds by living within these gated ‘communicities’ (and enjoying its various amenities) while exploring these tourist spots and destinations within an arm’s reach!
In response to the country’s demand for economic and socialized housing, Vista Land launched another master-planned community project, Lumina Homes. In just eight years, Lumina has established a presence with 50 housing development projects throughout the county, and yes, that includes Visayas! Whether be it in Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, or Negros Occidental, there is a Lumina Home for every Juan!
Who said that finding a place to retire should be pricey and expensive? Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still land a comfortable (and affordable) place to start anew with Bria Homes!
Bria Homes adheres to its five core values: Mura, Mabilis, Maganda, Mahusay, and Malapit sa Lahat. It is the ideal option for Filipino retirees who are looking for high – a quality house & lot that’s light in their pockets. Find the best Bria Home for you in Cebu, Leyte, Dumaguete, and Samar!
Located within the heart of the Queen City of the South, Suarez Residences Cebu is the flagship project of Vista Residences. Wake up to a perfect city niche and lavish in the premium condominium life all the while exploring Cebu’s rich culture and history with Suarez Residences Cebu. A perfect, well-balanced life suited for retirees!
Camella Manors is a mid-rise development condominium property bearing the name of Camella Homes. Its vertical villages are situated within highly – urbanized cities, giving you the balance of suburban and city life, perfect for travelers and wanderers looking for a place to stop by after a long day of leisure, or for retirees looking for a suitable niche in the hearts of the suburbs.
Lay down in the comfort of condo living in Camella Manors Bacolod and Camella Manors Verdant in Palawan!
Retirement isn’t just about quitting your 9 – 5 job and taking off that employee uniform for good. Contrary to what other people believe, retirement isn’t the end of someone’s life journey, but rather another chapter opening in your life. Life after retirement means you have all the time to enjoy all the things you never get to do in your usual daily life, travel to places you’ve never been before, and discover exotic foods that will tickle your taste buds. But what’s more, is that you get to take that well-deserved rest all the while enjoying other finer things life has to offer.
So, if you’re looking for a place to retire, what’s a better option than to settle down in the cradle of the Visayan Region! Get closer to nature, get to know more about our country’s rich culture all the while escaping the fast-paced life in the metropolis.
A lot of Filipinos dream of owning their first apartment or house and lot. With today’s booming real estate opportunities, there are so many options to choose from.
Here at Vistaland International, we have a roster of affordable property listings from several locations across the country. Whether you’re looking for a place to live in Manila, Cebu, Davao and etc, we’ve got you covered. So contact our real estate agents today!
Vistaland International was primarily created to bring OFW closer to their dream of finally acquiring a home in the Philippines. And with the rising cost of living in the country, OFWs and their families are looking for ways to earn extra cash flow to support their daily needs. Luckily, you can also join the global network of Vistaland International as a real estate professional and earn a commission!
Vistaland International Marketing, Inc. (VIMI) is the international marketing division of Vista Land. Aiming to provide OFWs and migrant Filipinos a home in the Philippines, VIMI has established long-lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.
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