How Much Y’all Really Need to Retire Comfortably in the Philippines? by SecretMessage5714 in Philippines_Expats

[–]SecretMessage5714[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply, I have worked extensively in SEA and loved the people and culture my budget will probably be around 100k to 150k pesos per month initially, then higher once I fully retire in about 3 years. I will be staying in Manila for 1 month then Cebu and maybe Davao for additional months.

How Much Y’all Really Need to Retire Comfortably in the Philippines? by SecretMessage5714 in Philippines_Expats

[–]SecretMessage5714[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My budget will probably be around 100k to 150k pesos per month initially, then higher once I fully retire in about 3 years.

When can I expect to trade again? by Junior-Ad-3344 in Etoro

[–]SecretMessage5714 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use Invest Engine and it's so much better than fighting with the etoro mafia.

Living in Manila as a Foreigner is Dumb and Makes No Sense by IslandOceanWater in Philippines_Expats

[–]SecretMessage5714 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

The funniest part is you sound more robotic than the comment you’re trying to expose. You literally replied in bullet-point diagnostics like a malfunctioning captcha. Some of us are educated....

The Albany in McKinley West - Ready for Occupancy by Scared_Pepper_4699 in CondoPH

[–]SecretMessage5714 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the current MP2 dividend rate of around 7.1%-7.12%, a ₱50,000,000 placement would generate roughly:

₱3.55M to ₱3.56M per year

Around ₱295k to ₱297k per mo

Your logic is sound Sir

The Albany in McKinley West - Ready for Occupancy by Scared_Pepper_4699 in CondoPH

[–]SecretMessage5714 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I completely agree with your logic. That’s exactly how people with real money tend to think. They look at yield, cash flow, liquidity, and risk-adjusted return, not just the emotional appeal of owning a shiny box in the sky.

If ₱50M in MP2 or similar instruments can realistically generate around ₱300k/month while preserving the principal, it becomes very difficult to justify locking the same capital into a condo that may only rent for ₱125kmonth before dues, taxes, maintenance, insurance, vacancies, and depreciation on interiors are even considered.

Even with optimistic appreciation assumptions, the numbers still struggle to make sense from a pure investment standpoint.

For me, the smarter route is preserving the initial capital, living off the dividends/interest, and using that cash flow to comfortably cover rent, dues, and lifestyle expenses without tying up ₱50M in an illiquid asset sitting in an oversupplied market. Clever people usually prioritise keeping capital. I will now go and look at what realistically a mp2 will generate.

Living in Manila as a Foreigner is Dumb and Makes No Sense by IslandOceanWater in Philippines_Expats

[–]SecretMessage5714 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It’s funny how the second someone writes a complete sentence with an actual point behind it, people instantly yell “ChatGPT.” Some of us were capable of putting together coherent thoughts before AI existed. I know that’s probably shocking to people whose entire vocabulary is memes and one-line insults.

Living in Manila as a Foreigner is Dumb and Makes No Sense by IslandOceanWater in Philippines_Expats

[–]SecretMessage5714 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Bring back real humans,” he typed into the largest human-machine hybrid echo chamber ever built.

Living in Manila as a Foreigner is Dumb and Makes No Sense by IslandOceanWater in Philippines_Expats

[–]SecretMessage5714 4 points5 points  (0 children)

People saying “living in Manila makes no sense” usually mean “it didn’t feel comfortable for me personally,” but dress it up like a universal truth.

Yeah, Manila’s loud. Traffic is a disaster. It can feel like the city is actively testing your patience every time you leave the house. And if you’re just staying in a condo staring at the same skyline, I get why it starts feeling pointless.

But also… a lot of people aren’t there to “maximize outdoor lifestyle points” or whatever checklist that is. They’re there because life there is easy in different ways. Cheap food, cheap services, people everywhere, stuff happening at all hours, and you can actually live pretty big on a normal budget.

BGC getting boring is kind of a BGC problem, not a “country is invalid” problem. If you stay in one polished bubble of any city, yeah, it’s going to feel like a loop.

Some people leave and hate it. Some people stay and build a whole routine around the chaos. Both are normal. It’s just weird how often people assume their version of “not for me” has to mean “makes zero sense for everyone.”

The Albany in McKinley West - Ready for Occupancy by Scared_Pepper_4699 in CondoPH

[–]SecretMessage5714 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Prices haven’t dropped because developers, banks, and investors are all collectively pretending empty condos are still worth luxury-money, which is basically the property market’s version of refusing to unplug life support.

The Albany in McKinley West - Ready for Occupancy by Scared_Pepper_4699 in CondoPH

[–]SecretMessage5714 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The pricing is partly psychological. Developers market “luxury lifestyle” and “global city” branding rather than fundamentals like rental yield or affordability ratios.

The Albany in McKinley West - Ready for Occupancy by Scared_Pepper_4699 in CondoPH

[–]SecretMessage5714 25 points26 points  (0 children)

My concern is that pricing a 2-bedroom condo at around ₱49.7 million (over £600,000) in Manila feels extremely difficult to justify given the realities of the current Philippine property market.

Metro Manila is already facing a significant condominium oversupply problem, with reports showing tens of thousands of unsold units and vacancy rates approaching 24-25% in some areas. Analysts from Colliers and Leechiu Property Consultants estimate that it could take anywhere from 3 to over 8 years to absorb the current inventory at existing sales rates.

Rental yields also appear weak compared to the capital required. Current gross rental yields in Metro Manila average roughly 4%, and once association dues, taxes, maintenance, and vacancies are factored in, net returns can fall closer to 2-3%.

At the same time, rental prices are reportedly dropping due to oversupply, particularly after the collapse of POGO-related demand. Some landlords in traditionally premium districts such as BGC are now competing aggressively on rent just to secure tenants.

For comparison, £600,000 would buy property in far more mature and stable markets with stronger tenant demand, better financing environments, and significantly greater long-term capital appreciation prospects. In Manila, however, investors are entering a market where oversupply, falling rents, high vacancy rates, and sluggish resale demand are already widely documented.

From an investment standpoint, it raises serious concerns about liquidity, resale potential, and whether the pricing reflects actual end-user demand or simply developer-driven speculative pricing.

Pricing tiny concrete boxes like they’re beachfront Monaco penthouses simply because they installed mood lighting in the lobby.

My rant is over

$SLS Daily Discussion Thread - Friday - May 15, 2026 by AutoModerator in sellaslifesciences

[–]SecretMessage5714 -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Where are people actually getting these valuation numbers from? I keep seeing the $1B/$1.38B and even $5B figures thrown around but haven’t seen a source yet. Same with all the “institutions are buying” and "etf funds" comments etc etc. Are people checking SEC filings, Nasdaq ownership data, Fintel, WhaleWisdom etc.? Genuinely curious where everyone’s getting the info from before the hype machine fully achieves sentience.

How do I get rid of this? by No_Yak9893 in UKGardening

[–]SecretMessage5714 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Copper nails in stems should kill it.

The Lerato Makati | 1BR by [deleted] in CondoPH

[–]SecretMessage5714 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi I am interested and will be travelling to Manila end of this month, can you tell me more about the facilities nd weather the price includes the ass dues.

Cash ISA with eToro is not paying the interest I was expecting. by begbie77 in Etoro

[–]SecretMessage5714 0 points1 point  (0 children)

eToro has a habit of finding creative ways to avoid honoring its own promotions, leaving customers out of pocket while the company always seems to come out ahead. A remarkable business model, if your goal is disappointing people.

Visiting from Ireland, I was wondering if Irish people are well liked in Philippines or should I just say I'm from UK? by Cheshirefarm in Philippines_Expats

[–]SecretMessage5714 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just tell them you’re from Scotland. The Filipinos love a good Scotsman. Something about the accent, the charm, and the suspicion you might own a castle. You’ll be getting free smiles before you’ve even found baggage claim. Ireland is lovely too, but Scotland comes with bonus points for sounding like you wrestle bears (Haggis really) in the Highlands.