Sure, you can touch it, stand on it, and even sleep on it. But did you know that the “REAL” part of the term “REAL ESTATE” is not similar to the “REAL” in the ”REAL THING"? Does it mean that your real estate agent is unreal, imaginary, or might change his contact number when you need him the most? But you paid real money for the down payment, didn’t you?

     To clear things up, here is a brief lesson on real estate etymology: The term “REAL ESTATE” came from the French “ROYALE” and the Latin “STATUS”. In other words, “REAL ESTATE” was originally equivalent to “ROYAL ESTATE”. The “ROYAL” usually refers to the head of state; the state being the ultimate owner of the land over which it reigns.

“SANG REAL” means “ROYAL BLOOD".

“EL CAMINO REAL” means “THE ROYAL ROAD”.

     Now that you already know, you can tell your friends that real estate has nothing to do with reality whatsoever.

     In the meantime, bear in mind that the State, and in this context The Philippine Government, is the ultimate owner over all real estate in the Philippines. Try not to pay your Real Property Taxes and you will see what that means.

Tips For Foreigners Who Want To Move To The Philippines

     Whatever your reasons for moving to the Philippines, wouldn’t it be nice to learn something about the place you want to live in? The following are some of the most valuable tips you will ever have.

LEARN ABOUT FILIPINO CULTURE
     First of all, Filipinos are Asians. They have some of the traits, traditions, and cultures shared by other Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, China, and Indonesia. They have high respect for their elders and they care a lot for them. Second, Western influences are also deeply woven into the fabric of the Philippine society. You will find names that sound like Spanish or Mexicans. That’s the result of more 300 years of Spanish occupation in this part of the globe. The Spaniards brought their religion, among other things, to the Philippines. The Filipinos love the Americans, too. The Americans brought with them a system of education that became the basis of the one currently practiced in the country. The Filipinos love anything foreign. As a matter of fact, they love everything that is not made in the Philippines.

GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE
     Filipinos are among the most hospitable people on the face of this planet. But of course there are some who are rude, too. Do you want to setup a business in the Philippines? Did you know that most Filipinas are highly sensitive? You can’t just shout at her and expect her to be back at work the next day.

LEARN TO SPEAK FEW NATIVE WORDS
     The Filipino Language (based on Tagalog) is the National Language of the Philippines. It is taught in schools and many Filipinos understand it and knows how to speak it. The Cebuano or Bisaya is also widely used especially in the areas of Visayas and Mindanao. Knowing how to speak a few lines of these dialects is a plus factor in dealing with a Filipino.

KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT IN A PLACE
     Do you have a clear picture of what it is that you really want in a place? Knowing that is crucial and will save you endless hours of search. Are you looking for a country living? Do you want easy access to the airport? Do you have kids who are going to school? Consider all things that you want and then search for the city or town that has them.

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE PLACE YOU WANT TO LIVE IN
     One of the best ways you can be familiar with a place is by going there. Stay in hotel for a couple of days. Move around the city or town with your wife, Filipino friend, or fellow traveler. If you find a place that you like, rent an apartment for a couple of months and observe the place more. Check to see if that is really the place that you wanted to live.

LET THE PHILIPPINES BE THE PHILIPPINES
     One of the nice things about being in a foreign land is that you begin to appreciate the good things you are doing back home. When you are here, you will find yourself comparing how things are done in your country versus how same things are done here. Wisdom consists in understanding the differences. Peace of mind starts with accepting what is. Let the Philippines be the Philippines. Expect some things to be a little different than what you are used to. In fact, expect the unexpected.

Reference: RealEstatePhilippines101.com - The Best portal for any useful and significant information about Real Estate in the Philippines.