Use FB groups. Nothing else really works.

Nah. I'm a local. Facebook is the easiest and has the most listings. Everyone here uses Facebook, so sellers naturally post here too. Never pay “reservation fees.” Pay on the day you sign the contract and get the keys right then and there. That's the golden rule for avoiding scams.

Is this the site the Canadian Beaver YouTuber is involved with?

What we really need is a list of good and bad landlords. I've had two different ones and neither of them wanted to fix anything

Rentpad.com is really helpful

I'd be wary of that site, it's .com, not .ph! If you want a good deal on an apartment, use Facebook groups for the area you want to rent in, or Airbnb if you want a condo. Also check whether they're targeting locals or foreigners, that decides the price you'll pay When I lived in Davao, I stayed 15 minutes outside Lanang for 9,000 pesos a month: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a kitchen and living room, fully fenced with a locking gate In 2025 that came out to about $150 a month