I purchased a condo unit from Empire East Land Holdings at pre-selling stage. Their brochures, fliers, presentations, model units and price were all very attractive. On the same day that the property was presented to me I made my reservation. To my regret, it was one of the not so good decisions that I made in my life, purchasing a condo unit from Empire East Land Holdings.
Below are the reasons why I said it is a bad decision that I purchased a unit from Empire East:
1. Turn over is two years delay. It is a challenged to my budget since I need to shoulder both my unit amortization and apartment rental.
2. Bad agent. Mr Arnold Macalintal made a lot of misrepresentations. I filed a complaint against him and sad to say he was even promoted by Empire East.
3. Bad after sales service. Making a follow up to Empire East Land Holdings is a hell. ( I do not know if their service has already improved as of the time this blog is created.)
4. Empire East Land Holdings did not deliver the quality that they promised us when they were still selling the condo.
Below are the pictures to show the quality of work of Empire East Land Holdings. The project is Xavier Hills condominium located in New Manila.
THE PROMISE (Please click pics to enlarge)
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
The brochure says "INDULGE in a lifestyle others can only fantasize about. At a genteel community with a refreshing garden feeling."
Genteel means, aristocratic or elegantly stylish
THE REALITY (Please click pics to enlarge)
This is empire East Land Holding's interpretation of ELEGANTLY STYLISH community
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
This is what the hallway looked like during the turn over. After 2 years of complaining,
improvements have been done but still far from the definition of the word genteel.
The hallways as of April 2011
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
This is the condo entrance. Cracks in the pavements are everywhere. A sign of poor construction. Very genteel!
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
THE PROMISE (Please click pic to enlarge)
"TEXTURED PAINTED FINISH" (Base wall - light brown and upper wall- beige)
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
THE REALITY (Please click pic to enlarge)
Is this what they mean of textured painted finish? They over do it lol :-)
Pictures taken April 2011
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
THE PROMISE (Click pic to enlarge)
Marked with water feature
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
THE REALITY (Click pic to enlarge)
No water feature and it is not practical to put it because of limited space. Just simply do not promise if you can not deliver it.
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
THE PROMISE
Strict 24 hour security
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
THE REALITY
A lot of unit owners have been victims of burglary and theft. I am one of those victims and it happens to me twice.
THE PROMISE
Guest Parking
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
THE REALITY
The area indicated in the site plan is now a restaurant. The promised guest parking exists only in the brochures.
THE PROMISE
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
The brochure says,"Easy does it in your very own playground. A swimming pool with sun deck, clubhouse, CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND and well-landscaped garden will make everyday a holiday."
THE REALITY
After five years the playground simply evaporates.
Empire East Land Holdings Property Review
We all have the same issues at all of the empire east developments. We need to team up and fight them. all of their developments are unsafe and poorly constructed. we have found many deficiencies here at cambridge village and are in the middle of a law suit with the HLURB with empire east
ReplyDeletewhat happened to your complaint? I'm in the process of signing their contract in one of their condos and I want to withdraw from it, their agent kept saying they won't refund me.
DeleteI agreed to purchase one of their condo Kasara with a promised of 2-year turnover. After more than half a year, I learned from one of their ads that the turnover date is 5 years. I wanted to refund the money but they said I can not get it back. I want to take a legal action against them. Where can I file my complaint?
DeleteI am on my 7th month amortization payment for their Highland City project but it turns out they do not have the LICENSE TO SELL (LTS) from HRULB. Reading all these complaints on Megaworld makes me want to withdraw so bad. This was supposed to be an investment but might turn into scam.
DeleteHi po! Ask ko lng po kung ano po ginawa nyo regarding this matter.. Ganyan din po kc cnabi sakin ng agent ko nung tinanong ko ung lts nila..
Deletethanks! i was thinking of buying (and eventually moving to) this project at tiende 'kasara' but after reading.. i guess empire east is A LOT WORSE than filinvest!
ReplyDeleteI was also thinking of Kasara.. This post was enlightening. But I will check with my agent and decide if there are improvements.
DeleteThis is where we supposedly moving in... But the bank wont approve us coz the pdc supposedly 2yrs more but turn over is on its way but they empire insisted it already ok to get the loan to bank even it if its 10% but bnk wont approve it its there tactics to put u on the situation for you to let go of the unit and put indebt to them.everything is mis lead by the agent. They said its ur own risk to relay on agent..
DeleteWe have already filed letters of complaints to various local government offices including HLURB Bureau of Fire and Protection and office of the mayor but there is no significant action done yet to address our problems. Now we are planning to bring the case to the media if Empire East land Holdings continues to ignore our concerns. They give us no choice but to put this in the eye of the public.
ReplyDeleteThanks, almost decided to Buy a new unit here. I don't intend to put shit on my hard earned money
ReplyDeleteSame here, almost decided to get their rent to own scheme and move in with reservation fee and 2 mons advance. glad I read this.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Kris Santos. You have heard all the complains. But I am here for you.. You can check out personally the project I will show you. The Unit as well.
Deletehi ....ng huhulog pa ako ng lot sa empire east, is there any way para maka refund parang ayaw ko ng ituloy.
ReplyDeleteHi.. Ask q lng kng nkakuha k ng refund?
DeleteHi.. Ask q lng kng nkakuha k ng refund?
Deletenaku baka mahirapan po kayu wala nmn pakialam yan si HLURB, kapag di kayu naareglo, they will jst advice u to get a lawyer and file a case,ggastos kpa , ako nga until now dpa nakakarefund sa 20% equity na maibigay ko, kapal p ng mkha magpa Tulfo nalang daw ako
DeleteI feel like I have dodged a bullet here, was about to reserve a unit in one of their condos til I saw this.. thanks to this blog.. :D
ReplyDeleteReading reviews pays a lot! I am literally on the verge of purchasing a unit at pioneer woodlands. (I have a meeting later with my intent to buy form already accomplished) I did notice the poor quality of the units and hallways during the site visit but was still intent due to promised amenities. ..well not anymore. Thanks blogger! You're a life saver <3
ReplyDeleteLast December 2014 I bought a unit at Covent Garden Sta. Mesa. Until now wala pang development. Wala rin silang mapakitang Certificate of Registration (CR) and License to Sell (LTS) which is required by the HLURB before they can sell. I highly recommend everyone not to buy from Empire East. I'm also planning to go to HLURB this coming month and file a refund. I hope mabilis lang ang process.
ReplyDeleteto UNKNOWN, what happened to your filing with HLURB?
ReplyDeleteLets fight for our right.. sue empire east
ReplyDeleteLets fight for our right.. sue empire east
ReplyDeleteOh no!!!! we bought A unit in Kasara. Can we refund our MA nakikita ko walang improvement sa kasara parang walang mga taong gmgawa.
ReplyDeleteOh no!!!! we bought A unit in Kasara. Can we refund our MA nakikita ko walang improvement sa kasara parang walang mga taong gmgawa.
ReplyDeleteHi, I see that several unit owners has been trying to sell their condo unit at Xavier Hills. I saw it at almost every property selling/renting websites and even on FB group page.
ReplyDeleteI was curious as to why the owners are selling the property at such a tempting price. That's why I started researching about the property and the developer then I reached to blog. Since your blog has been 5 years now, I wonder if purchasing the unit from current owners is a good idea. Can I ask for your advise on whether I should proceed to purchase the unit or suggest otherwise?
I am also planning to purchase a condo unit in Pasig. Rochester condominium which was also developed by Empire East. Are they still doing this stuff until now? Is it now safe to purchase a unit from them? Just like everybody else, I don't want my hard earned money go to waste. Thanks for your replies.
ReplyDeleteHi All,
ReplyDeleteI am planning to get 1 BR condo in San Lorenzo in Makati near in MRT. Anyone from here ang my experience na sa location na yon? Seems that the location and units are good. Butreading all those comments above, nagdadalawang isip na ako.. ganun pa rin ba sila katagal mag turn over?
nag bigay din kame ng reservation nma 25k but ang problema yung salary namen hndi maapproved ng bangko kasi hnd kaya daw. pero sabi ni kasara pwd daw. nana lungkot nakaltas na yung cheque sasaving namen
ReplyDeleteuntil now po sa empire pa rin kayo? same case din po kasi samin
Deleteuntil now po sa empire pa rin kayo? same case din po kasi samin
Deletenag bigay din kame ng reservation nma 25k but ang problema yung salary namen hndi maapproved ng bangko kasi hnd kaya daw. pero sabi ni kasara pwd daw. nana lungkot nakaltas na yung cheque sasaving namen
ReplyDeleteHi Ma'am, Ask ko lang po kung nabawi niyo pa yung reservation fee niyo. thanks Godbless.
DeleteSame as mine unit is turn over it was promise 4yrs of pdc till turn over turn over supposedly okt 2018 till now d pa dn xa naprocess for turn over coz the bank wont approve my loan need co maker coz salary of me and my co buyer wont enough and my 1year salary i invested there will no longer be refunded if i didnt continue they offer in house in two years but thats not workable for me the agent mis rep the company no longer responses ... I have no other oftion but to quit on it ...ty sa 1year kong deniposite sa company nila
DeleteNever buy a condo here in the Philippines. Big scam! Number one on the list is Megaworld (empire east belongs to this BS company). Better invest your money in other stuff. They will just steal your money and wipe your bank clean - that money you have worked hard for or loaned from the bank. I hope we can gather all victims of this scam and report this to HLURB or to President Duterte.
ReplyDeleteNever buy a condo here in the Philippines. Big scam! Number one on the list is Megaworld (empire east belongs to this BS company). Better invest your money in other stuff. They will just steal your money and wipe your bank clean - that money you have worked hard for or loaned from the bank. I hope we can gather all victims of this scam and report this to HLURB or to President Duterte.
ReplyDeleteBiktima din ako ni Empire, moving forward na ako sa hlurb sana maibalik ang pera ko para hindi na umabot sa media.
ReplyDeleteHi, naibalik b pera mo? My narefund k po b? Balak q n dn di ituloy ung pghulog q s preselling nla.. 18mos n rn naihulog q..
DeleteI am the new victim of this scam..i hope i hlurb will help us to refund our money.
ReplyDeleteI am the new victim of this scam..i hope i hlurb will help us to refund our money.
ReplyDeleteI just bought unit at rochester pasig,.sad to say n ako ang owner.but i need to pay php150.for the pool.i hv a 5 kids include me nd my husband is 7person.so kung mliligo kming family.i need to pay php300 for me nd my husband for d pool.nkktawa db owner ng unit nid to pay.which kasama dapat yan s amenities..
ReplyDeleteHi. We have unit rin sa Rochester. Every time ba na gagamit ng pool, magbabayad ng P150 each?
DeleteRochesterpasig is ok i already bought last yr,but d admin staff is rude.
ReplyDeleteHi josefa,5 person lng ang allow mligo ng s pool ng free,after 5 person nid to par 150php per head.pero ung free n un.kelanan n main list xa.kc kung wl automatcally need to pay.like wat happen to me i pay fo 200+plus for d pool which is ndi nmn nligo lhat.even my own kids nid to pay kung wl xa s main..
ReplyDeleteMy god rochester padig,few days lng ako nag stay ja.blik nko agad s abroad.ngain umuwi jan ang anak ko.grabe ung door ng toilet nagbabakbak..dming langgam s room..bgo p ung unit ganyan n agad.wlng standard..anong matiryales b ginamit jan..
ReplyDeleteWe didn't see this blog before we avail a 1 unit 2 bR at Little Baguio, so ayun na nga, nag back out din kame, dahil din sa mga agent na ang gagaling and time to time nag uupdate , pero nung nakapag reserved na kame, wala na hindi na sila mahagilap.
ReplyDeleteMeron po ba sa inyong nakapag refund ng payment or reservation or Downpayment?
Got a unit in Kasara but filed for a refund to HLURB Hoping that I could get a refund and will update you soon. Latest update is HLURB emailed Empire East for the Refund and they are required to answer within 10 days.
ReplyDeleteHello po, were you able to refund? I am on my 7th month payment ng amort. ko sa Highland City and gustong gusto ko na mag back out dahil sa nababasa ko
DeleteQuestion po, naka 36 months na ako na bayad at natirhan na din namin ang property for 1 yr. If we want to just cancel it kahit nsa contract na no refund, makakakuha ba kami ng refund kahit 50%?
ReplyDeleteUnder maceda law po minimum of 2 years basta sa developer pa po ngbabayad dapat may refund na 50%. Plano na rin po kasi nmin magrefund, sana sundin nila yung maceda law.
DeleteNakapagRefund po ba kayo?
Same here!sobrang laki ng regret ko na dito ako nginvest. Naturn over ung condo nung June 2019 (kasara) and february 2021 na wala p dn yung deed of absolute sale. Puro same reason lng bnibigay nila na ongoing process p dn ung subdividing ng mga units kaya d nila mprocess ung title. Ilang beses kami ngfollow up pero wala ngyayari. Magaling lng sila pg ngbebenta at maningil. After that wala na.
ReplyDeleteHello Guys, I suggest sa atin na mga gusto mag cancel and mag refund, let's create noise sa social media. No refund policy is an unfair policy by Empire East. Delayed na nga sila sa turnover. I challeged them on this and they said up to me na daw to seek legal advice. How conceited is that response?
ReplyDeleteNakapagRefund po ba kayo?
DeleteHi po.. Ask ko lang po kung na refund nyo na po ung downpayment nyo po after na mag file sa hlurb?
ReplyDelete