Buying Window in the Philippines' Real Estate Sector Amidst the Pandemic

As the Philippines economy reopens and continues to roll out massive vaccination programs, the government is offering investment opportunities for real estate developments.

Infrastructure as Key Recovery Growth

The Philippines economy can be considered as one that is volatile to political, natural, and global risks.

However, the country had shown resiliency when it succeeded in bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic by leveraging its robust population of young, literate, and dynamic consumer power, further bringing the country to its reputation as a solid and attractive market.

The government also plays a critical role in the Philippines' journey to recovery by continuing various infrastructure projects such as the development of the Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railways System.

The projects were made possible by massive injections and efforts in inviting foreign direct investments concentrated to the infrastructure and construction sectors.

Opportunities in Volatility

Despite the economic slowdown and continuous COVID-19 breakout in the country, land values across Manila have been climbing steadily. The rise in land values indicates the long-term prospect that land holds once the economy picks up and businesses recover.

There is upside potential for new growth centers where property prices have not yet skyrocketed, such as in Pasig and Quezon City.

Moreover, many domestic financial institutions are becoming less stringent with their terms due to the crisis-induced-low interests, a buying opportunity for investors seeking to build offices and residential spaces.

The demand for the office space sector has proven to stay strong despite the persistence of the COVID-29 pandemic.

As global firms seek to cut costs and outsource amid the global economic slowdown, the Philippines becomes one of the highlighted destinations for the outsourcing market.

The government has forecasted the outsourcing market to grow by 9 percent consecutively for the next five years, accounting for up to 22 percent of the global outsourcing market.

Positive Change in Consumer Behavior

The hopeful prospect for the Philippines' real estate sector rose as investors shifted their preference to micro cities that offer proximity from residential areas to the office.

Moreover, the shift to a working-from-home culture also translates to appreciation in property values as people seek to be more comfortable in their personal space.

Consumer behavior is changing for the better: function becomes the heavier considerations, people look for open spaces, good ventilation, and natural lighting to ensure quality livelihood as they plan to spend more time in the comfort of their home.

Nevertheless, the Philippines' high forecast to its real estate sector relies on their domestic consumer behavior and the global outsourcing sector.

While the real estate players count on consumers' shifting behavior to high-value assets, the number of people with the ability to invest in the buying window would not cover the sector's aim to rise beyond pre-pandemic levels.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues through the lack of responsive vaccination rollout, people hold on to liquidity despite the government's stimulus programs.

The Philippines is yet to guarantee its real estate success shortly. However, with the country's agile attempts to provide a quality livelihood to its people through massive governmental projects, the nation holds on to its promising returns, albeit at a slower pace.