2022: A Time To Make Good Real Estate Investments

While investor confidence in Philippine real estate has been sustained over the last two years despite this lingering pandemic, the continued recovery of the economy points to an expected and much awaited rebound for the industry. Coupled with the high vaccination rates and increased remittances from Filipinos working overseas, the real estate industry is seen to finally gain ground this year.

“Philippine commercial real estate sector (is) poised for recovery in 2022,” property consultancy firm Santos Knight Frank recently claimed in a statement.

Philippine Real Estate Demand Picking Up

Santos Knight Frank explained that the country’s commercial real estate market will see an uptick in activity as the economy re-opens, with resilient sectors such as industrial and logistics expected to continue thriving, while other segments are seen to pick up in demand this year.

In particular, the demand for residential properties, especially in the condominium rental market in Metro Manila central business districts, will pick up as a result of re-opening borders, higher vaccination rate, and return-to-office programs, according to Santos Knight Frank.

It, however, pointed out that the preference for condominiums has remained despite the emergence of some trends due to the pandemic.

Data from the company showed improvements in the performance of the residential segment in the fourth quarter of 2021 despite the new COVID-19 variant.

During the said period, it saw the introduction and re-opening of new supply as business activities continue to improve, while absorption rate stood at 80 percent. Santos Knight Frank even noted a marginal 1 percent increase in average prices to P202,000 per sqm.

Prices of condominium units, in particular, rose 13.6 percent in the third quarter, finally reverting into positive territory after four consecutive quarters of decline.

All these positive developments make today the most opportune time to tap the potentially lucrative prospects offered by a recovering real estate industry, and benefit from the numerous gains that can be had from a property investment.

Emerging Trends in Philippine Real estate Inv

Making the right choice, however, will entail new considerations as the pandemic has drastically changed lifestyles and prompted shifts in preferences. These, in turn, paved the way for new trends to emerge.

Given the lockdown experience during the pandemic, many are now putting a premium on convenience brought about by proximity to all essential establishments—meaning, shops are just a short walk from where they live. Many are likewise looking for homes or residential buildings that can provide access to natural lighting and ventilation as well as ample open spaces, greenery, and lush pocket parks.

People are also looking beyond CBDs and cities and into the suburbs where they believe they can be closer to nature, get a breath of fresh air, and have much bigger spaces to move about. A survey by Santos Knight Frank Research showed that many are eyeing Bulacan, Antipolo in Rizal, Tagaytay, Laguna, and coastal Batangas for their next homes.

And finally, green and sustainable measures now figure prominently in one’s considerations when it comes to finding a new residence or community.

Having pioneered the integrated mall lifestyle concept more than a decade ago, SMDC has long been providing residents and locators unparalleled convenience offered by a complete community. This came especially useful during the early months of the pandemic when movements were severely restricted as SMDC residents were only a short walk away from a mall or a commercial strip–a staple feature in all SMDC developments. Moreover, as SMDC puts health and safety on top of its priorities, the company developed digital applications that allowed residents and buyers to do their transactions from the comfort of their homes.

Features such as the pocket gardens and jogging paths provided ample open spaces for residents while lounge and study areas provided alternative locations for those who needed to work from home. Other choice amenities meanwhile show how SMDC continues to put a premium on the residents’ physical, mental and emotional well-being—a primary consideration in today’s times.

Over the past year, SMDC even introduced new innovations in response to emerging needs—the residential-office projects, wherein you can efficiently run your business from the safety and comfort of your residence; and the mid-rise developments located in fast-rising suburban communities. Understanding that many are now working from home, SMDC provides reliable internet connectivity in specific spaces within its communities, allowing professionals to have a smooth and uninterrupted workflow.

All these trailblazing efforts have no doubt given residents in all SMDC developments an exceptional advantage despite the challenges of the pandemic over the last two years, thus making it the ideal home choice for any discerning buyer or investor today.