SCREWED BY CAMELLA HOMES

Flood-free Camella Homes?

Alright, I came across this Bank website that sells Foreclosed properties, it is so tempting, imagine you are just required to pay only 10% of the indicative price , then Title can be transferred in your name right away and have full control of the property....but it requires due diligence and careful research to avoid getting burned because foreclosed properties are sold by "as is where is " basis.  Means, if there is a legal proceeding or occupants in the said property you are responsible to continue the case or ejectment case  once you already bought the property.  I almost get a property through PNB, I've been following this property that I want located in Del Nacia Ville QC, 234 sqm , for 1.3M. My computations shows for just P130,000 (10%) I can have the title in my name. then the rest I can do payments. If I am lucky I can have it rented and earn a passive income. This is a good deal price except that there is a pending legal case, the bank will disclose right away.  After months of waiting and follow up, the bank finally said the case Annotated in the Title was already dismissed.  I immediately asked for the copy of the Title and let my brother checked the property.  Unfortunately, my brother told me  there still occupants which requires ejectment proceedings which is not easy, lots of time and money for a lawyer. Just thinking about it makes me stressful lol.   Well, I gave up in buying Foreclosed Property, its not for the faint hearted.

Developers got my interest, I've seen some who offers affordable payment scheme.  My goal is to buy a property and have it rented, so it  can generate income. Condos, townhouses, duplex are not on my list of interest,  I prefer single detached house which locations are within Quezon City, Caloocan North/South, Novaliches except camarin, zabarte area. Camella homes have properties on my area of interest and their payment scheme is very affordable.  I got interested in one of the property they have, Carmela model located in Caloocan, and immediately contacted the agent listed on the property named  Edwina Gayo Guarin, she responded and we agreed for tripping.  During the tripping she showed 3 properties, 2 RFO (with house already built on the lot) but my brother don't care about it, it is located near the creeks.  The other one is NRFO, Corner lot (no house yet,meaning for construction)  it's elevated he thought its safe and a flood free zone, my brother really likes the area so he told the Agent he wants the corner lot.

The subdivision is very accessible, to markets, schools, and close to church. 15 mins to SM north, Trinoma, close to govt. offices, accessible to Quirino Highway, Mindanao Ave, Zabarte rd, camarin rd,.  So we decided to get the property. The Quotation she provided stated after payment of 15% TCP the construction will begin (6-8 months) or 10% payment if there is Letter of Guarantee from the bank.  The 10% is not that bad, so I thought I will just shell out the 10% so construction will start immediately. This is thru bank financing, I chose PNB because of low interest rate compared to others, 5.5% for first year according to their home loan site. 

 I am aware that developers has this strictly Non-Refundable Reservation fee policy, I understand, this is for holding the property that you reserve. So if you are not really sure of the property you are buying don't pay Reservation fee, think twice, thrice, many times, because buying a property is a big decision.  After further discussion and lots of thinking we came up with the decision to get the lot, the following day my brother signed the  Reservation Agreement for 20K pesos, the contract specified we have to pay our first DP after a month. While processing all my papers and coordinating with the marketing officer, Camella office, I don't know I have this feeling that something is not right., I want to make sure everything is right and make good decision before paying the 10%, it's a hard-earned money, after this payment there is no turning back.

So I talked to my brother and told him to check the property again, do ocular inspection, asks neighbors, interview homeowners, etc etc. Guess what we have discovered? The guard of the subdivision told my brother that the property identified in our Reservations Agreement is NOT the Corner Lot that we want. They changed/switched our lot. Yes our lot is somewhere, the guard who knows the place really well pointed us the Real lot that we got.  Our lot apparently is located in  an end unit close to the creeks, much to our dismay, and  its the lowest area in the subdivision.  We are so disappointed, frustrated, furious, and to the point I already murdered  the Agent in my mind.  I contacted the office right away to my dismay they said the office has nothing to do with it, and we need to talk to the Agent. 

Worst of the worst. Camella office said that the Corner Lot is already sold prior to our tripping, they actually informed the Agent about it, but this Agent Edwina Gayo Guarin who is desperately wants to close a deal,  asked them if there is another available property  that has the same price that she quoted to us, and switched  our lot with the end unit. 

 This is a clear misrepresentation so we  demanded a Full Refund of the Reservation fee, but the office is not responding to our request. My brother went to the office and met with the Agent Edwina Gayo Guarin, she admitted her mistakes, cry in front of my brother and give back 50% or 10k pesos to my brother, she said its the only money she has.

What if we did not discovered the mistakes right away? What if we already paid the 10% and we found out the house they built is not in the corner lot? As of now, I'm still requesting the Camella-Caloocan office to refund the 50% of the reservation fee, since the Agent already give the 50% back to us.  I emailed their office and requested a Refund due to misrepresentation. 

I think it's a blessing in disguise that we did not continue pursuing Camella properties, here's why, after turn-over, you still have to deal with them, even you already own the property they still control you, like if you want to do an extension or fix  the house you have to pay them a bond of 20k (they said its refundable but a lot of homeowners said its not 100% refundable, may kupit pa sila). Every construction materials that you will bring inside the subdivision is subject for approval from the guards (sekyu has control over you lol) , the specifications/lay out is subject for Camella's approval. Homeowners dues, you have to abide homeowner rules/ regulations etc etc. 

I am not connected to any developers, and I'm not here making false statements against Camella , this is my true and real experience from them. 

This is almost similar case if we pursue the property click this link : switching lot

If you open this blog and read the comments  :  Victims of Camella

If you google Edwina Gayo Guarin, she is actively selling properties in Caloocan, Quezon City, Nova area,  this is a warning don't deal with this person, she will do anything to close the deal even to the point of deceiving you. 

Don't deal with Camella-Caloocan either. 
 

Screwed by Camella Homes

This post is about my experience buying a property thru Camella Homes.  I chose to do business with Camella because I like their location. My area of interests are Quezon City, Caloocan South/North, Novaliches area except Camarin and Zabarte area.  For a single detached house and a flexible payment scheme I think I found what I'm looking for.  Tripping has been made thru my brother and an Agent, Edwina Gayo Guarin, my brother chose an elevated corner lot, which he thought safer and flood free. 

Ok, I'm aware of the developer's policy of Non-Refundable Reservation fee.  I understand this is for holding the property.  So if you are not 100% sure of the property you are buying don't pay Reservation fee yet, think twice, thrice, million times because buying a property is a major decision.
After talking and discussion, we came up with the decision to Reserve the property.  It's NRFO means, house is for construction. My brother signed the Reservations Agreement for 20K pesos.(about $465).  The Agreement stated if we pay 15%  of the total contract price, the construction will start immediately.  or 10%  if there is a Letter of Guarantee from the bank.  The 10% is not bad at all, so I'm thinking to shell out 10% so they will start construction right away.  Construction is 6-8 months.  It also stated we have to made first DP after a month.

Before paying the 10% , I want to make sure we made the right decision, I know after payment there is no turning back, so I asked my brother to go ahead and check the location again, do ocular inspection, interview homeowners etc etc.  Guess what we discovered?  The corner lot that we think we reserved is not the lot in the Reservations Agreement.  The guard in the subdivision who knows every lot and blocks showed my brother  the lot we actually reserved. Our lot is apparently in the  end lot closed to the drainage, much to our dismay.   We thought its just an error or typographical error in the office.  so I contacted the office right away, and said that is really the lot we reserved, and we need to contact the Agent Edwina Gayo Guarin. 

My brother went to Camella-Caloocan office and complained.  We found out the Corner lot we want was already sold prior to his tripping. What a scam.  The office explained to us (I don't know if its true :() that they  informed the Agent its already sold but the Agent (who desperately want to close a deal) asked them to look for available lot similar price that she quoted to us.  So they gave her the end unit, and this Agent who is a fraud, misrepresent the Reservations Agreement.  She made us believe that the Reservations we signed is the Corner Lot we want.  Big fraud.  I requested the office to void the Reservations Agreement and demand for a refund.  But they said their policy is non-refundable, b_ llsh_t! I told them I have a lot of proofs that the corner lot is the property they quoted to us, I have facebook chats saved, and emails saved.  The agent and my brother met at the office, she admitted the mistakes and pay us back  50% or 10K  of our money. She is crying, and told my brother that's the only money she has, my brother who has a soft heart understand her.  Not me, imagine the damage if I already paid the DP and later found out that the property im paying is the lot we don't want.  It will be too late to back out, you can't refund your money, under Maceda law, you have to pay 2 years before you get a refund but you only get 50% of what you already paid. yuck. 

Right now I'm requesting Camella-Caloocan to void the Reservation Agreement, since their Agent already admitted its  her fault, and already paid us back 10k. Does Camella office will give me back the other half? Let's see... I'll give you an update. 

Well, I'ts a blessing we did not pursue Camella properties,  otherwise we will be stuck hell dealing with them, After turn-over they still have  control over you, even you already own the property you have to ask approval from their office if you want extension, fix, modify your house, you have to pay 20k bond for every single fix you want, they said its refundable, but others say its not 100%, (may kupit na sila).  Every construction materials you will bring inside the subdivision the guards have to control it,(sekyu have to control you lol) , You have to deal with homeowners assoc., paying dues, abide with their rules and regulations.  Poor Camella homeowners, I feel sorry for you. 

If you want to know more scams about Camella, visit this link, read all the comments all the way down  buyer complaints

or   swtiching lot in camella

Update: The office emailed me back and told me the only thing they can do is suspend the Agent.  As if they gonna do it.
 

SCREWED BY CAMELLA HOMES

I have always been interested in real estate investment. The plan is save money then buy in cash. But it takes forever to save millions. Then the idea of buying Foreclosed properties