Renovating An Old Home In Makati and Leasing to Expats

BEFORE

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Old Makati House before moving in 1998

Renovating old homes are difficult. There is the attachment to the old design. An old house has character. If you look at our old house in Makati, the arch windows are no longer the trend but there is beauty in the old Victorian look. The balcony is so pretty that Nescafe wanted to use it for their commercial.

Having lived here didn’t make sense anymore for a family of four. The girls stayed at dorms in Quezon City. Maintenance cost ran high. The forty year old house was in dire need of repairs. We began hearing haunted noises which I attribute to the creaking wood. Lastly, it made more sense to move out and have it rented to expats at the attractive market rates.

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Philippines Involved in Tokyo Land Deal Scandal

The Philippines could get involved in a possible diplomatic scandal with Japan about a Php5 billion peso transaction that involves the development of government-owned property in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan. The Nampeidei 2,488-square meter property was acquired by the Philippines as part of Japan’s World War II reparations. Currently, the Nampeidei is an embassy storage facility, but the property received an offer for commercial development so it can generate income.

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Philippine Real Estate Boom to Continue through 2008

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Now would be a great time to invest your hard-earned money in a house or condo unit of your own. The Manila Times reports that the Philippine real estate industry picked up this year due to a growing market of young urban professionals and OFWs buying property in the country. Evidence of the real estate growth is shown by the growth in Ayala Land’s residential unit bookings, with their high-end and middle market revenues growing by 18% and 42%, respectively. By the end of the month, Megaworld Corporation expects to garner Php 19B worth of residential sales, 4 billion higher than their projection early this year.

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Christmas Dinner Table Settings

It’s not just what you serve for your Noche Buena that counts. It’s how you present the meal that sets the festive mood! You can set a beautiful Christmas table and dine in style with a little effort and preparation.

Shades of red, green, and gold are the classic colors for the season and will look great on your dinner table. Start with a solid-color tablecloth, preferably white, and use china with holiday motifs like poinsettias, holly berries, or snowflakes. Should you choose another color for the tablecloth, make sure your dishes and napkins complement this color.

A centerpiece might make your table look pretty but it will also take up a lot of space which could be used for placing more dishes. Consider putting a few tall, slim candles or a small Christmas tree in place of a bulky centerpiece.

Arranging the food properly will make it easier for you and your guests to enjoy them. Keep the one-serving dishes in the middle of the table, and have things like bread and butter surround it. The ham or lechon should be close to the person carving so he or she can reach it comfortably from his or her seat. Alternately, you can also place the lechon on a separate table to leave more room for other dishes.

Follow these guidelines to start off decorating your Christmas dinner table but remember that there are still so many things you can do to make it pretty. Experiment with low flower arrangements, chair decorations, or other color combinations.

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Last Minute Christmas Decorating Tips

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Christmas is less than a week away and with so many things to do on top of work – shopping, partying, wrapping presents – it’s hard to get everything done in time for Christmas dinner. Don’t worry if you haven’t done your Christmas decorating yet. You’d be surprised at how festive you can make your home look using Christmas decorations you already have – if you know where to put them.

Use Christmas greeting cards as decorations. You probably have a collection of cards from friends and family throughout the years. Why not put them to good use and place the prettiest on your fireplace mantle or on the side table of your living room? Another idea is to make use of Christmas-themed photos you receive from loved ones. You could remove the pictures from your frame and replace them with holiday pictures of family and friends.

For an easy dining table arrangement, use your everyday dishes and a white tablecloth. Decorate the table by placing an ornament on top of every dish in different colors. Finish off with a centerpiece or with a clear glass bowl filled with ball ornaments.

Lastly, you can also use your Christmas presents as decorations on their own. Tie huge colorful ribbons on them and place them at strategic places like the front door. You can also place a huge stack of presents on empty corners to make the neglected nooks and crannies of your home look more festive.

You don’t need to buy a whole new set of decorations to make your house look festive for the holidays. Simply making use of what you already have will allow you to welcome your guests and family in style.

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