Across Borders, One Place to Come Home To

Every Filipino working overseas knows this quiet question by heart:

After all these years of sending money home, will there be something waiting for me when I finally return?

For Hiyas Hosalla Nohra, that question followed her across countries—from Dubai to Singapore, and later to Cyprus—through years of long days, short video calls, and the constant responsibility of providing for family back home.

Like many overseas Filipinos, Hiyas sent money regularly for rent, food, and tuition. But she also saw something many OFWs eventually realize: after years of sacrifice, too many still come home without a place they can truly call their own.

“I met so many hardworking Filipinos who worked abroad for decades, only to return and start over,” she shares. “They took care of everyone else—but not their future.”

That realization changed everything.

From Working Abroad to Building Forward

In 2014, while still working overseas, Hiyas decided to invest in her first home in the Philippines—purchasing a unit at SMDC Grace Residences.

It wasn’t a dramatic decision. It was a practical one.

“I didn’t earn more,” she says. “I just shifted how I spent. The money I used to spend on dinners and coffee runs—I redirected it to something that would last.”

What used to disappear at the end of the month became a monthly investment for her family’s future. Over time, she added two more properties—another unit at Grace Residences and later one at SMDC Fame Residences, strategically located along EDSA and close to major business districts.

All three units eventually became rental properties, providing steady income even while she continued working abroad.

But one unit meant something more.

“I wanted to come home to a home,” she says simply.

Today, one of her Grace Residences units serves as her family’s base whenever they return to Manila—a place that welcomes them back after years of living abroad.

Turning Experience into Advocacy

Living overseas opened her eyes to a pattern she wanted to change. Many of her fellow OFWs — nurses, teachers, and hospitality workers — believed that owning property was out of reach while they were still providing for their families.

“Downpayments are the hardest part,” Hiyas explains. “That’s why the flexible, no-downpayment installment plans are life-changing. You can start small, pay monthly, and still send money home. You don’t have to be rich — you just have to start.”

What began as small conversations soon grew into advocacy. She started helping fellow Filipinos abroad understand that property ownership was possible — explaining payment terms, sharing her experience, and connecting them with trusted brokers.

“I always tell them, I bought mine from overseas too. If I can do it, so can you.”

Building Trust Across Borders

For Hiyas, credibility begins with authenticity. As both homeowner and advocate, she believes in earning people’s trust through transparency and genuine care.

“When people ask why I’m confident, I tell them this: the places we rely on every day—the malls, the spaces that last—come from the same hands that build our homes,” she shares. “That kind of track record matters when you’re investing from thousands of miles away.”

Today, her SMDC properties reflect different stages of her journey: two continue to generate income, while one represents something more personal—a space shaped by years of sacrifice and planning.

“Every property is a responsibility,” she adds. “You don’t just buy and forget. You maintain it, you nurture it, because it represents every hour and sacrifice that made it possible.”

Home, Wherever You Are

From investor to advocate, Hiyas Hosalla Nohra embodies the spirit of Filipinos who build from afar — working hard for their families while inspiring others to do the same.

“While you’re young and working, invest,” she says. “Because one day, you’ll want to come home — and when you do, it feels different when the key you’re holding is your own.”