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Learn more about Real Estate Purchase Agreement in Philippines

A Real Estate Purchase agreement is a legal contract between a seller and a buyer for the sale of a property that controls each party’s mutual promises. It is a formal document that proves the sale and acquisition of a property and that contains a written pledge to sell property for a fee. It documents the terms and circumstances of such transfer and payment, as well as the penalty for failure to transfer or pay the property. They are more or less distinct depending on the builder’s tasks. For more legal documents related to buy a property, you can consult the Construction Contract or Intent to Purchase Letter.

Table of contents


What is a Real Estate Purchase Agreement in Philippines?

A Real Estate Purchase contract details the conditions on which a buyer and seller have agreed to embark into a real estate transaction. The signature and fulfillment of a purchase contract essentially puts the buyer and seller “under contract.” As such, it is a legally binding contract that describes the important aspects of the house selling transaction and is also known as a real estate sales contract, home purchase agreement, or real estate purchase agreement. When a buyer makes an offer to acquire a new property, he or she proposes conditions of sale and crucial financial data such as the offer price.

The seller will then have the option to accept, reject, or negotiate the offer’s conditions. Following any continued talks in the form of counteroffers, both parties will sign the purchase agreement whenever they are happy with the parameters of the agreement. At that point, the property for sale and all parties to the transaction will be considered “under contract.” As a result, this contract indicates all parties’ intent to join into a house selling transaction and describes what criteria must be satisfied for the sale to close and the property to be transferred to the new buyer.

Is the deed of sale mandatory in Philippines?

A Bill of Sale is an extremely important document in the purchase of any property. It is a written agreement that transfers property rights from one person to another through the use of a deed. As such, this document grants the buyer the right to use the property in perpetuity. In other words, the deed grants the buyer the legal right to use the property. The most important thing to remember is that you cannot claim ownership of the property without a deed.

Why does a home sale require a settlement?

The settlement is the final step in the home buying process. This is the point at which ownership of the property passes from the seller to the buyer. The funds will be distributed in the form of a check to the sellers, a check for the commissions earned by the real estate agents involved in the sale, and a cashier’s check in the amount of the closing costs if the buyer has not already wired the money to the title company. There is a lot of paperwork involved when the settlement process starts.

The documents will be ready at the escrow company. They only need to be signed. During this process, buyers will sign their names anywhere from 10 to 30 times. On the day of the settlement, many significant events occur. The buyer must provide a check for the total amount owed for the home’s purchase price. The seller will sign over the deed to the buyer. When this is signed, ownership of the home is transferred from the seller to the buyer, and the buyer receives the keys.

The title company will register the new deed with the government, identifying the buyer as the new owner. Finally, once the closing costs have been paid and the mortgage loan balance has been paid off, the seller will receive any remaining funds.

Can a foreigner own a property in philippines?

Former natural-born Filipinos can own property in the Philippines, subject to limitations prescribed by Philippine Republic Act 8179 (residential property up to 1000 square meters of urban land or one hectare of rural land) and Batas Pambansa 185 (business property 5000 square meters of urban land or three hectares of rural land).

Philippine real estate law does not allow outright ownership of real property by foreign nationals. Filipinos and former Filipino citizens and Philippine majority owned corporations are permitted to own land, buildings, condominiums and townhouses.

Foreign nationals may buy condominiums units in Philippine condos (shares in condominium corporations) as long as not more than 40% of the units in a project are acquired by foreigners (Republic Act 4726, otherwise known as the Condominium Act).

Here are the exceptions allowing foreigners to acquire land in the Philippines:

➤ Property was acquired prior to the 1935 Constitution
➤ Property was acquired through hereditary succession, with the foreigner being a legal or natural heir
➤ Purchase of a unit or units in a condominium project, subject to 40% foreign ownership limit in the condominium corporation
➤ Purchase of land by a domestic corporation, subject to 40% foreign ownership rule
➤ Purchase by a foreigner married to a Filipino
➤ Purchase by a foreigner who was originally natural-born Filipino, subject to limitations set by the law.

What are the steps to purchase a property in Philippines?

For your real estate transaction to be validly formed, you must follow these steps:

Step 1. Sign an Agreement Contract

The owner or broker will first go over the terms of the sale, including the commission and fees. It is also necessary to examine the documents to ensure that the land title is free of encumbrances, liens, and loans.

Step 2. Give an Authorization to Sell

The agreement or contract’s goal is to bind the broker as the owner’s agent by giving the necessary information and the amount of commission on the property that will be sold. The contract will also specify whether the owner will provide the broker exclusive or non-exclusive rights to sell the property. Before selling the property, the broker will obtain the relevant documentation to confirm that there are no issues with the property. The broker will also determine if the property is free of encumbrances. An encumbrance indicates that another person has an interest in, right to, or legal responsibility on the property that either prevents the title from being transferred or reduces the value of the property.

Step 3. Property evaluation by the broker

The broker will inspect the property to determine its current market worth. It is critical that the property be assessed in order to ascertain its true value. Several elements, such as the area and location of the property, will be considered in establishing the asset’s worth.

Step 4. The property will be offered and sold by the broker

Before a broker may advertise the property, the owner must agree on how to promote the property. There are several restrictions that should be considered, such as privacy while taking images or publishing the location online. Both parties must also agree on how to divide marketing expenses such as communication and transportation. Nowadays, it is standard practice for the broker to bear the expenditures that are proportional to the amount of the commission.

Step 5. Property Inspection

When the buyers contact the broker or owner, they will schedule a viewing of the property. To add value to the home, the owner must ensure that it is presentable.

Step 6. Make a Letter of Intent or an Offer to Purchase

The buyer will also provide the property owner with a Letter of Plan stating their intent to acquire. The Letter of Intent is usually delivered at the beginning of the process of recording a real estate deal.

Step 7. Owner Acceptance

Once signed, the owner accepts the Letter of Intent. This signifies that the buyer’s terms have been accepted. Following acceptance, the seller is obligated to promise not to offer the property to other bidders as long as the buyer does not violate the terms of the letter.

Step 8. Provide earnest money

The earnest money is used to hold the property while the buyer does due diligence. It may be forfeited if the buyer fails to meet the terms of the contract. The funds can also be utilized as refundable subject to deductions based on the agreement reached by both parties.

What is included in the Real Estate Purchase Agreement?

The sales contract must follow certain procedures in order to be properly constituted. As a result, it must include all relevant terms and conditions. Here are some important terms that must be included in an agreement for the sale of a residence between individuals:

➤ Relevant personal data of the parties, such as full name, home address, and age of the parties to the agreement
➤ Description of the property
➤ Terms of payment, mode of payment, amount to be paid by the buyer to the seller, and time in which payment is to be made
➤ Conditions pertaining to the payment of council tax, water and energy costs, and other taxes owed
➤ Indemnity clause allowing you to sue the seller for future damages
➤ Details of the penalty to be applied if the Seller or Buyer fails to meet their contractual commitments
➤ The authority to conclude the transaction
➤ Contract termination, governing legislation, and arbitration agreements are examples of common clauses
➤ Date of agreement execution

What is Due Diligence when buying a property?

To begin with, due diligence is a vital phase in real estate purchases. Before engaging into a real estate deal, everyone should take reasonable precautions in real estate transactions. When performing due diligence, you evaluate the risks involved with the asset you want to buy. You go over the documentation to make sure there are no legal restrictions on the property. While a real estate attorney is cautious, it is critical that you comprehend the fundamental terminology used in the report and what they mean in order to make an informed selection.

Second, a thorough due diligence report is typically conducted for a period of no more than 30 years from the moment the seller in issue came into existence. This study provides a thorough examination of all elements of the property’s history. The restricted search report, on the other hand, is often completed for transactions in which the property is leased (due diligence, history of a property, verifies all facts related to the title). The meaning of the title is right in the property. The term title does not always indicate ownership of the property. It can also suggest that the owner or permanent owner has the right to the property, and a marketable title is meant to be free of reasonable question. Documentation demonstrating the disposition of the agreed plan must also be included in the title papers. The land registrar must certify this plan.

Finally, a due diligence report should include the following items:

1. Verify the seller’s legal ability: A due diligence report clearly reveals the seller’s legal capacity. The current or previous title owner shall not be a minor or alienated individual.

If the existing owner is a minor, the property may not be acquired or leased without the authorization of the authorized authorities. The nature of the present owner’s interest in the property must also be included in the report.

Examine the family tree and double-check the facts if the property is owned by an unbroken Hindu family

2. Check a copy of the partnership deed: if the property is owned by a partnership, company, or trust. Check that all taxes have been paid. You should also confirm that the vendor has paid all applicable taxes. Property taxes, for example, must be paid by the seller until the property is owned. Check that the following papers are in place:

An occupancy certificate: to a property issued by the municipal authority after verifying all supporting documentation. Only after getting a completion certificate and an operating certificate is the property possession legitimate.

Deed of Sale: You must inspect the original bill of sale which is in the seller’s name and ensure that the property is not mortgaged;

Power of Attorney: When the seller is unable to sell the property in person, he or she may appoint an agent with authority to sell by granting the agent a power of attorney. If the owner is a non-resident and the power of attorney is executed in a foreign nation, it must be notarized before the Consulate and confirmed by the Sub-Registrar.

When the State Industrial Area Development Board makes an allotment, the documentation pertaining to the allotment, lease with sale agreement, possession certificate, or manufacturer-buyer agreement must be inspected.

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