Plan, plan and plan some more

QUESTION: Is Stonewall Central a better name for the property?
UPDATE (click): 2012 Audited Financial Statements
UPDATE (click): 2013 Annual Meeting packet
UPDATE (click): 2013 Special Meeting packet

AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ANALYSIS 2009-2012 (click): A CPA analysis of SOHO Central Condominium Corporation's Audited Financial Statements

The Fantasy Vision

Does everyone remember this among the wonderful ads and brochures and how about the salespeople and what they told us. I hear such fantasies continue. So after watching and remembering, cry and then laugh at the truth that is being exposed.









And, if the above is not enough and you need elevated blood pressure, here is the project's brochure.

Many posts are still issues and need to be read once again. At this main hub of postings watch for new posts and updates. Please get involved by spreading the word as to the issues here. We must document all that is taking place. Many documents need retrieval and assistance is needed in getting them scanned and posted.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Is Condominium Real Estate Tax exempt from VAT?

Update (03.11.15):  I was told last night at an informal meeting here of the Residential Areas Committee of the Board with Unit Owners that VAT may be imposed upon Unit Owners being billed by the Soho Central Condominium Corporation (SCCC) for their share of the Real Estate Tax (RET) but that VAT is not imposed upon the SCCC by the City of Mandaluyong for the RET. The reason given was that the SCCC was doing a service for the Unit Owners so VAT would be imposed.

There is no gain for the non-profit condominium corporation since it cannot profit.  The condominium corporation simply acts as a hand to give the RET to the city.  That hand is an entity all Unit Owners are members of under law.  What if a Unit Owner were to go and pay their share of the common RET directly?  Would there be VAT?

I encourage everyone to write to the BIR with questions and find out about this practice and what is charged VAT in the condo bills.  You may think of various scenarios as I have proposed to avoid the VAT.


Update (03.11.15):  A statement was made on another list that there should be a service that is imposed a VAT.  The RET is not a service fee for the condominium corporation.

Update (03.12.15) : Real Estate Tax (RET) is not a service charge on the condominium bills but an allotted portion of the common RET of the common property determined by square meters of each unit.  I had thought that DUES we all pay covers all services provided for the Unit Owners. Seems that there is a problem with logic.

 

Is Condominium Real Estate Tax exempt from VAT?

This was sent to me from another condominium owner in Makati from that city within a city still being built.  I looked at our condominium corporation billing and VAT was charged on real estate tax.  This is being sent to others and I was already sent the quote below as a reply from one person.  Are there any comments to this information supposedly told to the person from someone at BIR?  Please ask questions and also contact BIR to find out what is going on.

"...Upon purchase of any property under contract to sell with price...it is FIX...therefore VAT is not suppose to be included.  VAT only applies to business entities...not to fix price purchases.  Commercial items are vatable, but our water under SOHO should not have VAT since we are 3rd party, developer is under contract with MWSS.  Aside, our receipts are computer print outs, not BIR receipts with BIR registered # printed on the receipts.  Therefore, accounting should not charge VAT even on INTEREST per day of delay in payment."


WANTED: Owner of this Cigarette

WANTED:  Owner of this Cigarette

There has been a memo posted on cigarettes but it seems that many are not aware of the penalties.  This is not the first time cigarettes have been dropped or tossed to our balcony on the 21st floor.  I have written about this in the past and complained about cigarettes, various objects and even water dropped twice.  The water dropping was investigated with one unit saying they knew nothing and no answer at the others.

This is the cigarette that will be handed to security.  If anyone else would want photos of their issues posted here, let me know.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Correction on 12.09.14 post

Correction on 12.09.14 post


On December 9,2014 I had written a post "BIG Discounts from __________________!" I just read in the paper about the 35% discount building and it is from the same developer and not a building in another part of Metro Manila. I have corrected the post.

http://sohocentralcondominium.blogspot.com/2014/12/big-discounts-from.html

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

HLURB Board Resolution No. 921

HLURB Board Resolution No. 921


   I have written about condominium advertisements and Presidential Decree 957 and what Armando Ang wrote in "Guide to Homeownership" and an article regarding ads and having the managers of the developer/builder sign them.  Of course, most realize that ads across the industry for most concerns are fictional in whole or part.  I was just told by a friend who is a broker for one of the top, meaning best, two major concerns in Metro Manila about an HLURB resolution.

   This is very important and needs to be spread to all Unit Owners and buyers.

pdf of the HLURB Board Resolution No. 921 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Sq5pyrVRznZDA3S3ZEWGl6b00/view?usp=sharing







Saturday, February 7, 2015

Surprises Never End in the Condo Industry

UPDATE (02.08.15):  I have seen the photos and may get them for posting.  As I wrote in jest to the buyer, just a modern art design.  It gives that tropical feeling avoiding all the small plants.  Same in Australia in the bush.  You could have a Koala climbing the pipe.  See, there are not only wires coming up from the floor with tiles missing where the sprouts are but the pipe for the  emergency water sprinkler is now fully exposed coming out from the wall.  Another suggestion was to use the pipe for hanging clothes.  Some of the floor tiles are ridiculous.  Who is building these places and then approving?  But worse yet, who are those there for turnover making like all is well when facing the horror?

Surprises Never End in the Condo Industry

I hear so many stories and I will start to post more. I was just told of a new unit by the broker of someone I know. This unit is in a new building nearby, and I will post the name if I am given photos or see it myself. The buyer wanted a wall taken out and it was. Upon inspection, besides the floor tiles not being level there were wires coming out of the floor. Seems they took out the wall out and left the wires that would have been for plugs and switches. Oh, yes, this had to be explained to not be normal and appropriate for approval by the buyer. You cannot make these stories up. This building was expected to be better than so many others.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Installed Stoves

Installed Stoves

If you have a stove that was installed with a fully-furnished unit at turnover that does not turn off or has this problem on and off since 2009, please contact us.  We would also like to hear from those that had the problem and replaced the stove or those who purchased the unit from a previous Unit Owner with this problem.

Thank you.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Emergency Light Switch and Refrigerator Plug

Emergency Light Switch and Refrigerator Plug

Has everyone checked both the main single light switch and the refrigerator plug when the emergency power switch is turned on?  In our unit the main light was not connected to the switch near the door that should handle the situation when emergency power comes on.  Since there were few power outages during the night, waiting for that light switch was never an issue and confusing when it was switched on for a short time.

Finally, we have been told that the wiring was not done correctly.  Everyone please verify your emergency light switch and refrigerator plug.