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Be it a condo or a house for sale in the Philippines, buying property is an arduous process, and is no less difficult when being done from abroad. From choosing a location to finding the right property and applying for approval of a housing loan, there are indeed so many things to cover when purchasing a home.

Constantly traveling to the Philippines and spending precious vacation time searching for and viewing properties and dealing with documentary requirements has hardly been ideal. As a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it has not been made easier thanks to current travel restrictions and health protocols. 

However, by preparing everything you need even before you travel back, you can ensure that you are able to make the most of the time allotted for the friends and family you came home for and that your Philippines property investment is successfully processed without a hitch.

Find and narrow down your property choices

Living overseas, you expectedly cannot visit every available house or condo for sale in the Philippines in person. Fortunately, the technology available these days allows you to know what is currently on the market and get a preview of what the properties and the communities they are in are like via listing photos, detailed property information, and supplemental articles.

Ohmyhome takes this a step further by not only serving as an online platform where you can discover the best and latest real estate listings currently available in the Philippine market but also conveniently access a whole suite of real estate solutions that covers everything you’ll need as you buy property from overseas. These include expert agent services and self-transact tools.

Search for a home loan to apply for

Unless you have enough funding available to buy a home upfront, chances are you will be relying on some type of financing for your property purchase, Ideally, it is important to make a loan application even while you are still evaluating your home choices, as the amount you qualify or get approved for will be indicative of which ones you can afford. As a Filipino, you can qualify for home loans offered locally even when overseas. 

Among your choices are applying for government-backed home loans like those offered by the Social Security System (SSS) or the Home Development Mutual Fund, (Pag-IBIG Fund). In the instance that you’ve been unable to make membership payments to either of the two, home loans from private lenders are your other option.

Read the Guide for OFWs Applying for Home Loans in the Philippines to learn more

Have your basic documents ready

As already mentioned, buying property is hardly a simple transaction, and among the aspects that make the process rather arduous is the required paperwork. If you want to make sure your property purchase goes smoothly, it is best to be ready with at least the following before you come back to the Philippines and proceed with buying a home:

  • Photocopy of important IDs (passport, driver’s licenses, etc.)
  • Proof of billing or utility bills*
  • Proof of income
  • Tax Identification Number (TIN)
  • Certificate of employment*
  • It’s best to also determine if the financial institution you are applying for a home loan from has additional requirements.

Understandably, some of the documents you need–particularly those about your employment–may not be printed in English. If it is indeed not the primary language in the country where you work, you’ll have to rely on translated versions of these papers and ask your employer or HR to certify your papers and their translations as true and correct. 

There’s another major document you may need

If you don’t have enough time to remain in the Philippines and see the homebuying process through–which often takes at least 3 months to half a year–or simply want to get it started and/or done even as you remain overseas, you can always have a trusted representative complete the purchase by way of a Special Power of Attorney (SPA).

Through a SPA, you may execute and make your relatives or family members who are of legal age (or even your chosen real estate agent) your “Attorney in Fact” or someone with the authority to represent you throughout the buying process. Among the steps which they can complete on your behalf include the signing of documents, receiving loan proceeds, and executing and signing the Contract to Sell and Deed of Absolute Sale.

Set-up payments

Following the acquisition of your new home will be your making of home loan payments every month. Now while you endure the payment process every month, it will be to your advantage to set up some form of scheduled or automated payment. Not only will doing so be more convenient, but it will also help you avoid the costs associated with making late payments or transacting from overseas.

Among the most commonly used are post-dated checks, or checks that can only be encashed on or after a date that you specify. By setting up a local account, you can issue such checks to help cover your home loan payments for the foreseeable future while also avoiding processing fees and/or late fees.

Indeed, buying a home in the Philippines while overseas involves an exceptional amount of work, yet almost always proves to be among the most worthwhile investments an OFW can make. For answers to any and all of your real estate inquiries, we invite you to connect with an Ohmyhome agent today.

If you’d like to know more about your property options in the country or have any questions about buying a home while you’re away, visit the Ohmyhome Buying from Overseas page or download the Ohmyhome app.


Ohmyhome was launched in the Philippines in September 2020, following the company’s establishment of a tech team in the country in 2017. Ohmyhome was originally founded in 2016, and subsequently rose in Singapore as a leading PropTech solution and licensed real estate agency.

Ohmyhome expanded into the Philippines so that Filipino home seekers can have a real estate partner that they can trust to have their best interests at heart and can be relied upon to provide exceptional services throughout the entire property journey.

Featuring thousands of properties across many of the Philippines’ major real estate brands, Ohmyhome differs from other local platforms by going the extra mile and extensively helping buyers narrow down their choices and find the property that best suits their budgets, home needs, and lifestyle preferences.

The company’s Real Estate agents help in the shortlisting of options and provide professional services through the entire purchasing process. These include assistance in property inspections, negotiations, the finalization of the Conditions of Sale, deposit collection, the submission of property documents, as well as providing buyers regular updates. 

Ohmyhome helps Filipinos find their dream homes, all while making sure each real estate transaction is complete and is an efficient and enjoyable experience.

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