Thursday, May 15, 2014

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. 
 

7 comments:

Juan dela Cruz said...

You are lucky because you get refunded half of your reservation fee. Camella will get all the opportunity to suck money out from OFW's, immigrants, foreigners who are looking for property.

FOOLED said...

Hi, we also availed property from Camella Nova Romania, they lied to us saying it's a FLOOD FREE area, watch this flash flood....

http://youtu.be/PS5mOMTbVyM

Gingerdvera said...

Aw,I feel sorry for you. We also owned a Camella home in Bulacan, it's a flood free. Maybe, it depends on the location - do some research or ask the other owners to avoid disappointment.

Sandra Parker said...

Since house and lot comes with expensive investment. As buyer, we really need to make sure that what we will signed once the deal is over. Because what's written on the paper will be final and if you signed that your house-to-be is not on the corner, it's done. That's what I make sure when signing a house and lot for sale in Cavite.

SummerWolf83 said...

Is the camella pay you back the DP ?

SummerWolf83 said...

Question Can I get DP back in camella

Gigi said...

Unfortunately no. Camella won't listen to their customers, bad business ethics. They knew I was screwed up by their Agents they should act and do the right thing and make it right. I will never do business with Camella ever. Save your money and heartache, stay away from Camella.