Planning Our Escape: A Love Letter to Baguio, Patience, and Control
By Richard Valdez – www.RichardValdezRE.com
Licensed Real Estate Agent | Vanguard Properties
Why Every Big Move Starts with a Plan
Whether in life or real estate, a plan is more than a starting point — it’s survival. When my husband Jon and I began planning our return to the Philippines, it wasn’t a daydream. It was a strategy.
The Intersection of Real Estate Strategy and Personal Dreams
We’re both planners — Jon with his career in urban development in San Francisco, and me navigating the complex world of real estate transactions, buyer psychology, and market risk. When we whispered “Baguio”, we knew it required more than emotion. It needed execution.
From San Francisco to Baguio — Where Vision Meets Terrain
We didn't just hope. We researched. From hiring a local Baguio real estate agent to interviewing six architectural firms over Zoom and WhatsApp, we approached this relocation with the same care we apply to our careers.
The Reality of Buying Property in Baguio
Our brief was clear: South Drive or nothing. But real estate in Baguio City comes with scarcity, legacy ownership, and geography that doesn’t always cooperate. When our agent missed the mark, I started searching myself.
Baguio’s GeoHazards: The Terrain No One Talks About
More than 60% of Baguio sits on high-risk land. Landslides, earthquakes, and unstable soil are not abstract dangers — they are real estate risks. And like California’s wildfires, they force hard decisions.
Making Smart Real Estate Decisions in Unpredictable Environments
We chose not to gamble everything on a single piece of land. Instead, we diversified our vision: one main residence, and one contingency. Love builds the dream — but smart planning protects it.
When Real Estate Agents Fail to Adapt, Clients Move On
Our original agent didn’t evolve with us — a critical mistake in both life and business. As a Realtor, I know this: if you're not listening, you're losing. So I took the reins and did what needed to be done.
Finding the Right Property — When You Stop Waiting
I found the lot. It wasn’t romantic, but it was smart: safe, central, shielded. Our architects approved it, and we moved forward. Not because of the process — but despite it.
The Takeaway: Plan with Love, Adapt with Strategy
Whether you're buying a home in Baguio, relocating internationally, or planning your next chapter here in San Francisco real estate, the rules are the same:
Curiosity is currency
Communication is everything
Planning is protection
Because when the ground shifts — literally or figuratively — you don’t panic. You pivot.
“Whether you’re moving across oceans or just trying to make it through the morning, control isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.”
— Richard Valdez
