- Corey Fraser, 42, moved to the Philippines from Chicago with his wife Rachel in 2022.
- He made a six-year plan to retire early and build a $110,000 home near the ocean.
- “I didn't intend to get rich, but in the Philippines I was comfortable every month because I had more than I needed,” he said.
After spending a two-and-a-half week vacation in the Philippines in 2016, Corey Fraser realized he didn't want to return to his normal life in the United States.
At the time, Fraser, a native of Portland, had lived in Chicago for nearly seven years. Although he had a good career in the auto industry, Fraser knew he was not happy.
Fraser, 42, told Business Insider: “I think I first understood what depression was at the airport because I had to leave.”
He enjoyed the simple life in the Philippines and how warm and friendly the people were, even to strangers like himself. It wasn't like Chicago, he said, where everyone seemed to be in the rat race.
“I realized that I needed to find a way to be happy all the time, and that's why I moved here,” Fraser said. “Don't just be happy about one vacation a year.”
It took six more years and 11 more trips before he finally achieved his goal. In 2022, Fraser took early retirement and moved to the Philippines with his wife Rachel.
build a house near the sea
The couple, who married in 2019, settled in Negros Oriental on Negros Island, the fourth largest island in the Philippines. Negros Oriental is about an hour and a half flight from Manila.
The couple decided to build a house on the west side of the island, near the sea. The nearest airport, shopping mall and movie theater are about two hours away, Fraser said.
Since foreigners cannot own land in the Philippines, Fraser was instead given a 25-year lease on the land, with the right to extend the lease for another 25 years.
“So people always say I might get in trouble, but I'm like, 'Well, after I'm 40 and 50 years from now, sure.'” , if I were about 90 years old, I'd probably be near a hospital in the city,” Fraser said.
design the house yourself
The land is 850 square meters, or about 9,100 square feet, and the couple's loft-style home is just over 2,100 square feet.
Fraser spent about $110,000 building the entire house. He designed the place himself before hiring an architect to blueprint the site.
“I actually drew it on the computer. I had never designed a house before, as I had done this before with different types of automotive equipment, but I was pretty good at the software and setting everything up. ” Fraser said.
The first floor of the house has a living room, kitchen, dining area, office, bathroom and spare bedroom. Upstairs is the master bedroom and bathroom.
The couple started building a house in 2017 before moving to the Philippines. I wanted to have it almost completed by the time I arrived in the Philippines.
“Before we moved here, we had everything done, including the pool and tile work, and once we got here we completed the plumbing and electrical work,” Fraser said.
House building issues
One of the big challenges he faced during the construction process was finding the right workers.
“Typically around here, they try to build houses really cheap and build them quickly, and I didn't want that,” Fraser said.
Additionally, local contractors had different practices when correcting mistakes.
“In the West, if a contractor doesn't do a good job, they start over for free. They fix it to get it right,” he said. “But now, if I don't like something, he says, 'You can pay me to do it again next month.'”
debt free life
The house is connected to the power grid, but the couple installed solar panels for power.
Similarly, although it is connected to the water supply, we also have a well installed on the premises.
“My plan for moving here was not to pay the mortgage, electric bill, or car payment. In the end, I also wanted to grow at least some of my own food. Because here, the most expensive Because it’s an expense,” Fraser said. .
Most of the vegetables they eat are grown in their own gardens, he said. They also have over 40 chickens, which they raise for eggs and meat.
healthier and happier life
It's been more than two years since Fraser moved to the Philippines, and she says she is much happier and healthier than ever before.
“I live in Chicago, and I'm not blaming Chicago, but when I was in my 30s I was on blood pressure medication, and now my blood pressure is lower than it's ever been and I'm on medication. ,” Fraser said.
The pace of his life slowed down dramatically; cost of living in the philippines He also doesn't feel as stressed as he used to because it's much more affordable than in the US.
“I'm not going back to America and competing, just working nonstop to pay the bills and start all over again,” he said. “I didn't intend to get rich, but in the Philippines I was comfortable getting more than I needed every month.”
Fraser now has a new hobby. My goal is to document my journey to move to and live in the Philippines on YouTube.
He said one of his motivations for sharing his experiences is to inspire others.
“My goal has always been to build a life where I don't have to take vacations,” Fraser said. “And I want others to know that they too can create that life, even if it takes years of planning to make it happen. ”
Get started as soon as possible
Fraser has one piece of advice for those looking to retire or move elsewhere. The key is to start planning as early as possible.
“Don't say you're going to do it the next day or a year from now. You're delaying the start of your plan,” Fraser said.
Cutting expenses and saving money for a move may be difficult, but it will be worth it in the end, he said.
“I might have to struggle. I might have to work two jobs for a while, but I'd rather get frustrated and work too much and save too much — which I've been doing for five years. –I want to be happy every day after that.'' Fraser said.
Have you recently built or renovated your dream home in Asia? If you have a story to share, please contact us at: agoh@businessinsider.com.
