Terms-to-Pay: how to read a sample sheet

Every Philippine real estate listing publishes a sample computation. Here's what each part means in plain language.

1. Total Contract Price (TCP)

TCP is the full sticker of the home — the final number the developer will bill you over the life of the purchase. It includes the house/lot price, miscellaneous fees, and VAT (when applicable — properties above ₱3.6M are generally VAT-able).

2. Reservation Fee

A small upfront amount (typically ₱15,000–₱50,000) you pay to commit to a specific unit. Non-refundable, non-transferable, and deducted from your first downpayment. Collected directly by the developer.

3. Downpayment (DP)

Usually 10%–20% of the TCP. You pay it to the developer before financing kicks in, usually spread over 12–60 months depending on whether the unit is pre-selling or ready-for-occupancy (RFO). No bank or Pag-IBIG involved in this phase.

4. Balance financing — the years-to-pay table

The remaining 80–90% is the Balance. This is what the sample computation table is all about: how much you'll pay per month, depending on which channel you use and how many years you stretch the loan over.

RowsYears to pay: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 (the loan tenor).
ColumnsWhere the money comes from: Pag-IBIG, a bank, or in-house.
CellsYour monthly amortization for that combination.
5. Why some cells say "n/a"

Each financing channel has a maximum tenor imposed by the real world:

  • Pag-IBIG Fund — up to 30 years. Rates (2026 range): roughly 5.75%–9.75% depending on tenor. Eligibility usually needs 24 months of Pag-IBIG contributions. 4PH-qualified projects may get 3% subsidized.
  • Banks — typically up to 20 years, a few up to 25 for house-and-lot. Rates around 6%–8.5%. Faster approval than Pag-IBIG. Banks require 35%–40% debt-to-income (DTI).
  • In-House (developer-funded) — usually 5–10 years, a few up to 15. Rates much higher: 14%–19%. No income documents needed. Used as a bridge when the buyer can't yet qualify for Pag-IBIG or a bank.

So a cell like "Bank 30yr" will show n/a: no Philippine bank offers a 30-year housing loan.

6. Optional columns: Required Income + Prepayment

Some developers include extra columns next to the monthly amortization:

  • Required Combined Income — the minimum salary you need to earn for the bank to approve the loan. Rule of thumb: monthly payment ÷ 0.30 (i.e., your loan payment shouldn't eat more than 30% of gross income).
  • Mortgage Prepayment — shows what happens if you add ₱100K or ₱200K lump sum every year on top of your scheduled payment. Often shaves 5–10 years off the loan tenor.
7. Spot cash

Paying the entire TCP in one shot usually earns 8%–12% off the package price. No amortization table applies. If you're considering this, confirm the discount with your agent.

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