05/05/2026
Nice one
How We Bought Our First ₱6M+ House in Batangas in Less Than 3 Years 🏠✨
In 2018, we bought our first house in Batangas during pre-selling for only ₱1.9M.
Most people thought we were buying our dream home.
We weren’t.
We were buying our first asset.
And that decision completely changed our real estate journey.
Here’s exactly what we did:
âś… Bought during pre-selling stage
Purchase Price: ₱1.9M
âś… Paid 20% downpayment
Around ₱380,000
âś… Used BDO Home Loan for bank financing
But here’s where most people stop…
They simply pay the monthly amortization and wait.
We did something different.
Whenever we had extra income:
• bonuses
• commissions
• side hustle income
• extra business cash flow
We made advance payments
And more importantly…
We requested that extra payments go directly to principal reduction.
That strategy did 3 things:
1. Reduced loan interest
Less principal = less interest over time.
2. Accelerated equity growth
We built ownership faster than people paying minimum monthly dues.
3. Created flexibility
Because we were ahead on payments, we had more options later.
For the first 4 years, we actually lived in the property.
This part is important.
A lot of people think every investment must immediately generate income.
Not true.
Sometimes your first property serves as:
• forced savings
• lifestyle upgrade
• equity builder
• future leverage tool
Then the market changed.
Batangas kept growing.
Infrastructure improved.
Tourism demand increased.
Rental demand became stronger.
So we made another strategic move:
We converted the property into an income-producing asset.
Today, it generates 7–8% annual rental yield
With around 80% occupancy rate
And because the property is well-maintained and income-generating…
Its market value has grown significantly.
From ₱1.9M in 2018 → now worth ₱6M+ in 2026
That’s over:
₱4.1M+ capital appreciation
That’s roughly:
215%+ increase in value
And that doesn’t include the rental income we’ve already earned.
Let that sink in.
The same property we once lived in now:
âś” generates cash flow
âś” appreciates in value
âś” becomes refinance collateral
âś” helps fund our next acquisitions
This became our first major capital asset.
And eventually…
We used its equity position to help us refinance and acquire another property.
That’s when I realized:
Your first property should not always be your forever home.
Sometimes your first property should be:
Your first leverage asset.
Your first income-producing machine.
Your first stepping stone toward your actual dream property.
I didn’t buy our dream home.
I bought an asset that helped pay for my dream home.
That mindset shift changes everything.
For people who want to copy this strategy:
Step 1: Buy below future market value
Pre-selling, distressed, or undervalued properties.
Step 2: Use smart financing
Bank loan, Pag-IBIG, or structured payment terms.
Step 3: Attack principal early
Extra payments dramatically reduce interest.
Step 4: Choose locations with growth drivers
Infrastructure, tourism, schools, industrial zones, business expansion.
Step 5: Maintain the property well
Well-maintained assets command higher valuations.
Step 6: Convert property into cash flow
Long-term rental, Airbnb, staycation model, commercial lease.
Step 7: Refinance strategically
Use equity to buy your next property.
This is how ordinary Filipinos can start building real estate wealth.
Not by buying the biggest house they can afford.
But by buying assets that create options.
Stop buying liabilities disguised as dream homes.
Start building properties that eventually pay for the lifestyle you want.
That’s the real property game. 🚀
