Documents to Check Before Buying a House or Condo in the Philippines

Identify exactly what is being offered

Start with the property type and the transaction. Are you buying land with a house, a particular condominium unit, a parking interest, or a developer’s future delivery commitment? Write down the unit or lot identifier, stated area, location and rights included in the advertised price.

The document file should follow that definition. A photograph of a building, a reservation form or a tax receipt cannot explain every right being transferred. Ask the seller for the documents relating to the exact space and have the applicable set reviewed locally before committing money.

Obtain a current title reference and independent copy

Ask for the applicable title and its identifiers. House-and-lot and condominium transactions can involve different title forms, commonly referred to as TCT and CCT. The Land Registration Authority provides a service for requesting certified true copies of titles held by the relevant Registry of Deeds.

Use an independently obtained copy to review the registered holder, property description and annotations with a qualified adviser. A screenshot provided by the seller can help identify a record to request, but it is not an independent title check. A tax declaration should not be treated as interchangeable with a certificate of title.

Review the seller’s authority and the transaction chain

Identify everyone whose signature or authority is needed. Ask about joint ownership, marital status relevant to the transaction, inheritance, a company seller or a representative acting under authority. Have the supporting documents assessed for this actual sale rather than relying on a general assurance.

Compare the title description with the proposed deed and the property you visit. For a condo, check the unit identifier, floor, area and any separately offered parking. For a house and lot, obtain appropriate parcel, boundary and access evidence; the map pin is only the advertised location.

• Identify the registered holder and proposed seller.
• Check any representative’s authority to sign and receive funds.
• Match lot or unit details across title and sale papers.
• Have annotations and unresolved interests explained before commitment.

Separate taxes, dues and building records

Ask which current tax declarations, payment records, building permissions and occupancy documents apply. For a condominium, ask about association dues, assessments, building rules and the transfer process. Keep missing records visible in the file rather than assuming that occupation proves all permissions.

Plan the transfer costs and responsibilities in writing. BIR procedures distinguish the tax and supporting-document requirements for the relevant transaction. Do not apply one capital-gains-tax explanation automatically to every seller or property classification; have the actual treatment and required clearance confirmed.

Worked example: a condo and its parking are separate questions

This fictional example illustrates a document mismatch. It is not a legal conclusion about any real offer.

Agree the completion and handover evidence

Ask the lawyer or transaction professional to explain the deed, tax, clearance, registration and document-delivery sequence applicable to your purchase. Confirm who handles each stage, who pays and what proves completion. A receipt for a submitted application is not the same as a completed registration.

Keep possession, keys, meters, association arrangements and any included fixtures on a separate handover list. Use MarkMyProperty’s Philippines listings to organise viewings and questions, then verify the individual property. Listing or contact access does not certify title, legal eligibility or the seller’s authority.