Congratulations! Seems like we’ve finally piqued your interest, and now you’re looking into real estate investment in Baguio City. After all that talk of Baguio City’s booming, thriving economy and industry, easy travel and access thanks to national roads being built, unmatched educational facilities in the greater Northern Luzon area, and hot tourist destinations to live and die for, you’re finally ready to take the plunge and do a little real estate investment in Baguio City. We don’t blame you for thinking that!

But wait! Before you do, you need to be properly equipped and know what you’re getting into. Of course, if you’ve gotten this far, then you’ll have an idea what’s in store for you, but nevertheless, we’ve prepared a few guides and tips to make sure you find the best house and lot in Baguio City or condominium in Baguio City. After all, real estate investment in Baguio City takes a lot of foresight!

Here are some tips, suggestions, and advice you’ll find useful as you start looking for that house and lot in Baguio City to call your own.

What are you gonna use it for?

Are you moving to Baguio City for work? Or are you going there to study? Maybe you’re planning on taking advantage of the people who want to work in Baguio City or study there? When choosing a condominium or house in lot in Baguio City, you’ll have to keep this in mind. If your goal is a place to stay at in Baguio City when conducting business or studying, but you’re sure you won’t be staying permanently or for long periods of time, getting a condominium in Baguio City is more ideal. Meanwhile, if you think you’ll end up raising your family there, then a house and lot in Baguio City’s a smarter choice.

That also extends to how you’re going to use your place. If you’re there as a transient student aiming to study in one of the many universities, and you have no plans of staying there for long periods of time, then looking for a dormitory is more ideal. But if you’re working in Baguio City, or you can afford it, a condominium in Baguio City will definitely be of use – the upwardly mobile yuppie needs his private space, after all. If you’re planning on renting out your place to other people, then keep this in mind!

Is the location good?

Obviously, this advice works better if you’ve done your homework and started looking for the ideal place early, before other people have snatched up the prime pieces of real estate. Is the place you’re interested in near where you’ll be working or studying? Is it near easy transportation, or does the place give you access to the places you know you’ll be frequenting? Is the place itself accessible and not that hard to find?

What about amenities? Will you have easy access to electricity and water? Is the place secure enough, relatively speaking, if disasters do happen? If you’re going to be making a real estate investment in Baguio City, aiming for a place for a little rest and recreation, is the view scenic and peaceful enough for your purposes?

There’s even the question of neighbourhood – whether or not the neighbourhood you’ll be coming into is peaceful and welcoming, and whether or not it’s conducive for whatever it is you intend to use your real estate on.

What’s your budget?

Obviously, all these concerns are balanced by what your budget can afford. This is best brought up with your sales agent, who’ll gladly help you through the process of deciding what’s best for you.

Making a real estate investment in Baguio City is difficult, there’s no denying that. Finding the perfect house and lot in Baguio City will take more than just pointing at a place and saying “There, I want that place.” It’ll take a lot of work and gumption before you can proudly claim that you have a good place in Baguio City. But if you do, trust me – you won’t regret it. 

One thing Baguio City is famous for is its numerous, world-renowned tourist destinations, both for the local Philippine population and foreigners looking to find rest and recreation. Situated amidst the mountainous region of the Cordillera, 1,400 meters above the sea, 250 km. north of Manila, Baguio City is one of the few places in the Philippines blessed with a cool climate. Is there any wonder that people choose to flock to the city? If you’re savvy, you’ll see a lot of advantages in real estate investment in Baguio City, but if not, let us explain why it’s smart to invest in a house and lot in Baguio City, or to purchase a condominium in Baguio City.

What’s in a city? In this instance, there’s 22.2 square miles of real estate, surrounded on all sides by mountains and forests, a climate to die for, and numerous tourist attractions sure to please anyone who wants to unwind from the difficulties of living in a city. In fact, let’s list a few.

There’s Camp John Hay, formerly a hill station used for rest and recreation by US Armed Forces stationed in the Philippines. Currently, it’s a privately owned resort, but there are certainly still lots of sights to see.

There’s also Burnham Park, designed by and named after premier American architect and urban planner, Daniel Hudson Burnham, who also designed the original plan for Baguio City. Boasting such amenities like man-made lakes with rowboats for hire, attractions like playgrounds, skating rinks, nature gardens, and many more, Burnham Park is a must-see. Other nature parks include the Mines View Park, where one can get wonderful views of Benguet's gold and copper mines and the Cordillera Mountains, or get dressed in full Cordillera regalia -- bahag, shield and spear for the men, tapis for the ladies, vests and headdresses for both.

Numerous marketplaces and places to buy souvenirs from line up in Session Road, the main thoroughfare of Baguio City and its commercial centre. Session Road is where you will find department stores, bazaars, boutiques, old movie theatres, hotels, cafes and restaurants, bakeries and grocery stores. A majority of banks operating in the Baguio City are found there as well, as well as various offices, drugstores, book stores and newsstands. 

We could go on – the numerous historical churches in Baguio, the famed Strawberry Garden, one of the few places in the Philippines where one can sample fresh strawberries, and many more. There’s certainly a lot to see in Baguio, and we certainly hope you see the appeal. But that’s not all we’re here to talk about – we’re here to talk about why it’s smart to commit to real estate investment in Baguio City. Why is it a good idea to get a condominium in Baguio City, or a house and lot in Baguio City?

Consider the following: with the sheer amount of people flocking to the city every year, living space will certainly be a premium. A well-developed city like Baguio, with a certainly booming industry visited by people every year will certainly not be wanting with residents – and there is only so much real estate to invest in. Considering Baguio’s desirability as a place to live in when you retire or wish to take a break, it’s definitely a good idea to go out now and look into real estate investment in Baguio City. You don’t even have to make the choice to live in Baguio City! Buying a condominium in Baguio City, or a house and lot in Baguio City, is still a wise investment, as you can easily rent out your place to transients visiting Baguio City for their vacation. It’s a win-win solution: you get to make money off your investment, and people find convenient places to stay at while touring the city.

The Three Important Tips You Should Never Forget During the Rainy Season
By Michael Sta. Ana 

The rainy season has just got started and some people just like it because of the cold winds that it brings. But, some might not agree because of its inconvenience.

Here in Baguio City, one might enjoy the colder weather. We’ve been to this summer season few months ago, and now we are loving this climate shift—from humid and hot to collar-turning cold, chilling winds.

But somehow, this season of thunderstorms might just bring unexpected dangers to your properties and family. Specially at the country’s summer capital, we might face some threat of landslides during or after heavy rainfalls. During rainy days too, we might not be safe from flash floods and high winds that might blow down trees that can damage houses in a snap.

PAGASA, the country’s leading weather advisor, always warns the masses if in case that a typhoon or any atmospheric changes might occur. And as usual, their concern is primarily our safety when these natural disasters are about to happen.

Now, the question then, is your family and house ready for the rainy season?

Here are some tips on how to be safe and be prepared to avoid unexpected repair cost after all the damages this could bring.



1.       Stop, look and listen.


This might sound that you are about to cross a street, isn't it? However, this simple rule might just overtake that idea since it could also correlate with the way you observe the weather. This just means that during this season, one must be vigilant and proactive enough when it comes to some weather changes. You might want to stop what you’re doing as you watch (look) and listen to the weather news today. After that, make some necessary action plan.

 

2.       Learn the geology of your area


I don’t want to hurt your brain about studying geology but this complicated-sounding method can be simplified by means of being more observant and assertive in developing your readiness to any natural phenomenon. In other words, familiarize and know your area. You might evaluate and ask yourself with these questions: Is my house built beside, on top or at the base of a steep slope? Then, is my house safe from any falling debris or rocks? Is my house near to any body of water like lakes or rivers? Is my house safe from flooding? Have I kept any emergency hotline phone numbers? Do I know where and how to go the any evacuation center nearby in case of emergency?

 
3.       Do the "healthy" house check


Just like the way how you manage your health by going to the doctor regularly to do some physical exams, your house could be at the edge of  danger too if it’s not being checked and repaired regularly. It is always critical that during rainy days, you need to do some necessary measures to avoid potential hazards: Check your roof for any cracks, rusty spots and holes. You might do some repainting after blocking all these holes. After that, check your gutters for any granules that might accumulate and might cause the water to back up. Make sure you remove all the blockages. Inspect the walls of your house from inside out to prevent water from possibly seeping in. And you might also start moving some furniture to a higher level if you know that your area is not flood-free.

 

“There’s no place like home” and we all know that. However, your home might not be safe at all times. But I guess, these three fundamental tips have just summed everything up. The bottom line is, always be vigilant and weather-ready at all times.

One thing that separates Baguio apart from its nearby cities in the Northern Luzon region is the booming industrial growth being experienced by Baguio City. Thanks to a variety of factors coming together, Baguio has become conducive to being a breeding ground for economic and industrial powerhouses seeking a foothold in the Philippines. Is it any wonder that real estate investment in Baguio City is a lucrative business? Real estate is at a premium for any quickly developing region or city – just look at Metro Manila. It isn’t just any condominium in Baguio City, or house and lots in Baguio City either – it’s liveable real estate, with easy access to water and electricity, which is at a premium in a place like Baguio City.

Consider the following: Baguio is home to one of the country’s most profitable and best investment areas, a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) accredited business and industrial park called the Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ).  The PEZA, “tasked to promote investments, extend assistance, register, grant incentives to and facilitate the business operations of investors in export-oriented manufacturing and service facilities inside selected areas throughout the country”, allows foreign investors focused on exporting access to some of the Philippine’s most strategic locations for business, with Baguio being one of them. Thanks to a combination of an agreeable climate for foreigners, access to mining resources and other hard-to-find natural resources, and a large supply of (local) manpower, there is no shortage to companies seeking to gain a foothold in Baguio’s real estate.

For example, the second largest exporter in the Philippines, Texas Instrument Philippines, is based in Baguio. Built in 1979, Texas Instruments Philippines is the local offshoot of an American company that designs and makes semiconductors, which it sells to electronics designers and manufacturers globally. Texas Instruments Philippines prides itself on being one of the most sophisticated assembly-test sites of TI worldwide, as well as providing quality life and jobs to more Filipinos.

There are numerous other companies based in the economic zone as well, such as Moog Philippines, Inc., Linde Philippines, Inc., LTX Philippines Corporation and Sitel Philippines, Baguio, each of which contributes to the local economy. Whether it be exporting, mining, or even outsourcing, Baguio City’s industry and economy certainly rivals that of a lot of developing cities in the Philippines.

With all of this in mind, is it any surprise that real estate investment in Baguio City is a big deal? Real estate investment matters in quickly developing cities because of a mass influx of people flocking to these cities to seek a livelihood – one only needs to look at Metro Manila for proof. As such, finding living spaces for these cities becomes an important endeavour – house and lots in Baguio City, aimed at families seeking a new place to live in, or even condominiums in Baguio City for the up and coming yuppie entrepreneur or the foreign manager who goes to the Philippines every other month to conduct business. Real estate investment is vital to Baguio City, thanks to all these factors, make no mistake.

A house and lot in Baguio City is an ideal investment for a family living in Baguio – easy access to many of Baguio’s educational facilities for the children, while the parents can easily go to work in one of the many companies and industries based in Baguio. The same is true for owning condominiums in Baguio City, whether for personal use or if you wish to rent it out to people who conduct business in Baguio City. You can’t go wrong with real estate investment in Baguio City.

A photo of the University of Baguio. Taken from Google.

One of Baguio City’s major claims to fame is its status as a center of education of the entirety of Northern Luzon, with a sizeable amount of its population comprised of students who flock from all over the greater part of Northern Luzon to seek an education. With nearly half of the city’s population composed of young, wide-eyed, ambitious students, there’s no surprise that schools have to compete and vie for their attention, taking up a large amount of the city’s real estate in the process.

 Take, for example, the University of Baguio - a private, multidisciplinary university located in the heart of Baguio City. Founded by Dr. Fernando Gonzaga Bautista and Rosa Castillo Bautista on August 8, 1948 as the Baguio Technical and Commercial Institute, the University of Baguio now boasts over 20,000 students thanks to the University of Baguio’s open admission policy, which lacks a stringent entrance examination that deters students from entering the University.



A photo of Saint Louis University. Taken from Google.

Or what about the Saint Louis University (SLU), a private teaching university founded by Rev Fr Séraphin Devesse of the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM) missionaries? As of 2014, it boasts a student population of nearly 30,000 students, the largest to be seen north of Manila. The University is also close to Baguio City Market and Session Road, a pleasing prospect to any prospective student out after school.

A photo of the University of the Philippine’s classic “oblation” statue. Taken from Google.

There are many others, of course – such as the Unviersity of the Philippine’s Baguio Campus, whose traditionally strict and difficult entrance exams mean that only truly motivated students can get in’s UPB’s lush real estate. Of course, there is also the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to consider, as well as the University of the Cordilleras, founded by Benjamin Salvosa after WWII as Baguio Colleges (1946-1967), and incorporated into Baguio Colleges Foundation in 1967, finally being renamed as such when it received full university status in 2003.

There are also numerous “English academies” situated around Baguio City, catering to foreign nationalities seeking an English language education with which to make them competitive in the global market as well as being a useful tool in seeking employment abroad. The strategic location of Baguio’s real estate, whose climate is much more welcoming to foreigners, makes the city a hotspot for these kinds academies to thrive and flourish.

It becomes obvious then that real estate investment in Baguio City is a big deal, as students flock to the city. Inns, lodges, hotels, condominiums, as well as house and lots in Baguio City become a premium, as young students away from their homes move to Baguio to seek an education. In fact, it becomes a powerful investment in real estate – purchasing a condominium or house and lot in Baguio City for your own use not only means easy access to all the city has to offer, whether it be education or business, but also allows you to rent out living space for other people looking to live in Baguio City as well. This is doubly beneficial for foreigners who seek temporary housing in the city, as they pursue their education or business – having a well-to-do condominium or house and lot in Baguio City ensures their stay will be pleasant and free from distractions.

Education is not the only reason people flock to Baguio City, of course – but it is one major factor that should motivate you into looking at real estate investment in Baguio City.