There is no doubt that the country’s property market is flourishing. Real Estate developments are happening everywhere, not only for the residential sector but also for business. How are the consumers behaving in this scenario? I recently came across the 2015 Lamudi Real Estate Report which could help us understand the home buying trends among Filipinos at this time and age.

Reasons for Moving House

The main reason why most Filipinos are moving and buying real estate properties is the desire to own one’s home. Following a far second is the preference for better area, move to a city, or to live close to relatives. Other reasons cited include work-related relocation and proximity to schools. It would appear that the Philippines which has long been seen as a rental nation is slowly but surely moving towards property ownership. The high demand for residential properties are attributed to two main sources: OFWs investing in residential condos and the young population who have increased buying power.

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Preferred Property Type

As to property type, the hands down winner is the house over condos and townhouses. Houses are preferred by potential home buyers although condos are the most-searched when it come to rental options. This is a clear indication of the Filipino consumers’ preference for living convenience which  the condo set-up makes possible. When it comes to property ownership however, the choice remains traditional thus the preference for houses.

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Most Popular Areas for Homebuyers

Metro Manila continues to be a preferred area for homebuyers. Quezon City, Makati, and Manila tops the list. Cebu and Cavite provinces are the next most preferred after Metro Manila.  Although, the search volume for Metro Manila is increasing, the National Capital Region’s share is gradually decreasing as searches for CALABARZON and Central Visayas where Cavite and Cebu City are located respectively are increasing. Santa Rosa, Laguna and Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu are likewise popular searches.

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Role of the Internet in Property Search

More and more Filipinos are looking online for their property search. The Lamudi report showed that 8 out of 10 Filipino homebuyers cite the Internet as their starting point when researching about properties. It is no coincidence that the Internet is the leading platform used by real estate agents in advertising their listings.

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My Say

With the increased purchasing power of the working sector came the challenge of time management. Most of those who have the capacity to pay for houses do not have the luxury of time to visit each and every housing development that interest them. With online real estate sites like Lamudi Philippines, consumers who are on the lookout for properties to buy, sell, or rent can narrow down the choices to the most relevant and save precious time in searching.