1. What are the financing schemes or manner of payment available?

Generally, you can choose from one of the following:

(a) In-house financing
(b) Bank financing
(c) Pag-ibig loan (HDMF)

2. How much is the down payment?
St. Catherine Realty Corporation offers easy down payment of 15% of the Total Contract Price (TCP) for the lot and 30% - 50% for house & lot package including townhouses.

3. Do I have to pay Value Added Tax? (VAT)
Under the law, all prices shall include the VAT and should not be indicated separately in the pricing, thus, the prices quoted herein will not necessarily require you to pay for the VAT.

4. How much is the lowest price available in the area? The smallest lot available? Availability of lowest price may change everyday. It is ideal that you contact us thru email so we can send you a subdivision map showing availability of lots of different sizes as well as the lowest price in the area. You may check on the highlighted subdivisions for the maximum and minimum lot sizes and prices.

5. How much is the monthly amortization?
This would depend on the amount of the lot preferred, the rate of interest, and the terms of payment you have chosen, you may also contact us and we'll e glad to compute it for you.

6. How much is the monthly association dues?
This would depend on the Subdivision you have chosen. Association dues are usually very minimal which would normally range between P150/sqm to P200/sqm and is a one time payment only and is also payable in 2 years from the date of the contract if you would pay for an installment however, if payment is made in case HOF is needed.

The monthly association dues represent your share of the maintenance of the subdivision which includes salaries of the guards, garbage disposal, repair and maintenance of amenities and facilities. But the developer does not impose this on the residents. Once the project is completed, the residents shall form a homeowners association and you being one of the members/officers, will be among those who will govern the subdivision and determine how much association dues to impose on each homeowner.

7. Are these units presented on the website already built? Or still undergoing construction?

Some are already built while others are undergoing construction. But most of the projects have model houses that you can personally inspect while the actual unit will be built at a specific location of your choice to be completed within the time frame agreed upon by you and the developer. Many of the lands presented on the site are ready to build with a house of your own design. Please contact us for the most current status of each project.

8. Can a foreigner own real estate properties in the Philippines ?

The ownership of house and lot are allowed only to Filipinos and foreigners who are formerly natural born Filipino Citizens. If a foreigner is married or related to (for example) a Filipina, the title shall indicate the Filipina name “married to (name of a foreigner)”. Whatever happens along the way, there are ways to get back the money invested by the foreigner.

9 . As a foreigner, can I apply for loan with your local bank even if I'm not permanently residing in the Philippines ?

There are banks who do not allow if you are permanently residing abroad but there are banks who will.

10. How can we make a reservation?
If you are abroad, you may appoint somebody you know here, a friend or relative whom you can trust and send to him the money for the reservation through any courier. A notarized special power of attorney is required duly authenticated by the nearest consul in your area. Since it normally takes one month for the authentication, you may fax the notarized copy just to process the reservation. The authenticated copy will follow later. If you choose to pay not though somebody, you may pay “bank to bank” direct to the St. Catherine Realty Corporation's account. As soon as you make the deposit, please notify us right away so we can trace the incoming deposit and immediately issue an official receipt. The copy of the O.R. shall be attached to your ledger while the original shall be sent via post mail.

In order to process your reservation, we will need the following requirements (any of the two):

Primary Identification Cards

•  Used Passport

•  Drivers License

•  PRC License

•  Voters I.D.

Secondary Identification Cards

•  Cedula

•  SSS I.D.

•  Company I.D.

11. Do these projects have title on the land?
All of these projects have title on the land and in cases of new project development, mostly only have a mother title. Although some projects do not have individual titles yet and shall be titled upon full payment of the land. Your protection shall be based on the sales contract between you and the developer. On the other hand, there are developers who as a matter of policy, do not sell land unless it has individual title. It's ideal that you contact us to give you a more detailed information of each developer.

12. If I buy a house and lots for construction, how long will it be completed?
This will depend on the specific design you have chosen to buy from. The fastest St. Catherine Realty Corporation can finish a house construction in 6 months up to 12 months depending also on how large the project is and the type of facilities/amenities to be built.

13. Do you have a house and lot ready for occupancy?
Yes, as of July 2006, available ready for occupancy are located in Hacienda Royale, Punta Verde, St. Kolbe II and Villa del Sol.

14. Do I have to pay for the capital gains tax? What sort of fees shall I pay for the transfer of title?
You don't have to pay for the capital gains tax. All developers/sellers are required to pay this or an equivalent of creditable withholding tax. The transfer tax however will be on your account which is usually ½ of 1% as well as registration fee which is also about ½ of 1%.

15 . Are there hidden charges?
There are no hidden charges. All charges will be disclosed to you before you sign any contract.

16 . Can a foreigner be allowed to be a mortgagee or a lender to a Filipino offering his real estate property as collateral for loan?
Yes, a foreigner is allowed with the same rights and privileges of a Filipino.

17. What is the procedure of buying a property when I don't have the time yet to come over to the Philippines ?

You can purchase without necessarily coming over. First, you select from this site the specific property you are interested in. From the subdivision, you can choose the specific location you want to reserve. Upon receipt of your payment “bank to bank”, or through your SPA, the property of your choice will be reserved for you in 30 days. Within this 30 day period, all documents required will have to be submitted and a contract shall be signed. The original shall be sent to you for your original signatures and to be sent back for notarization here. After notarization and after receiving your down payment “bank to bank”, one of the notarized copies shall be sent to you again for your copy. The reservation is always deductible to your down payment.

For your monthly amortizations, there are two possibilities:
(1) We may require an issuance of post dated checks for at least one year. In this case, your SPA here is required to open a bank checking account here in your name and post dated checks shall be submitted to the developer. Before each check becomes due, you can fund this check by again, depositing the money bank to bank. Or, you may want to come over personally, open a bank account here, and issue post dated checks to the developer.

(2) You may just at your own option, send the monthly amortizations bank to bank direct
to the developers account.

18 . For house and lot package, can we inspect while construction is going on? Can we suggest changes in plans such as color and designs?

St. Catherine Realty Corporation is moderate about this and entertains changes in plans by sitting with the buyer one time and agrees on the changes of plans.

19. Is the reservation refundable? Is it deductible from the selling price?

Reservation which is usually a very small amount ranging from P20,000.00 and up will entitle you to 30 days hold of your lot in your favor. Since SCRC refuses to sell this to anyone interested within the period of reservation, the reservation is equitably not refundable . All reservations are deductible to the selling price.

20. What are the deeds of restrictions to the use of the lot?
Deed of Restriction would differ from one subdivision to another. Generally, your use is restricted for the well being of all homeowners such as the height of the house is limited to prevent the blocking by neighboring houses of a nice view. It also limits the use to residential purpose and disallows livestock, poultry, the building of factory. Also, it covers easement on each side etc. The Deed of Restriction for each project is made available to you upon request before signing any contract.

21. Are there any other requirements when I would like to build a house and lot?

Full down payment is required for your property including pertaining documents and the Request for Survey after which you may pay the construction bond of P25,000.00 refundable after the completion of the house/building.

22. What is the assurance that the project will be finished?
St. Catherine Realty Corporation has a proven track record in developing projects that are finished on time and in fact receives an award as the Leading Developer of 2003 awarded by the HLURB.

23. Is it possible to use any of the St. Catherine Realty Corporation's clubhouses?

No. Only homeowners and lot owners can use of the facilities on each subdivisions.