While there are many advantages to living in the big cities, there are definite pluses to owning a home in even just nearby outer locations.
Relative proximity to your office. Multiple commercial establishments to choose from. Access to some of the country’s educational institutions and medical facilities. Pre-pandemic, literally hundreds of people to interact with. Yes, there are indeed a lot of good reasons to reside in Metro Manila.
However, like living in other major metropolises around the world, there are also some disadvantages to residing in the National Capital Region. It’s being the Philippines’ most urbanized region alone makes it the most densely populated, making it rather crowded and a little more polluted than other areas. In terms of traffic, the metro is infamous for how bad gridlocks tend to get on its main roads.
To best deal with this and enjoy the fast-paced city life is to live in central located residential developments, such as Congressional Town Center in Quezon City. Built by Sunwealth Land Development Corporation, it is a mixed-use development featuring 4 residential towers and commercial spaces, and is a good choice for home-seekers looking to live in the Philippines’s second largest city.
If not, there are other options, because no matter how synonymous Metro Manila is made out to be with the Philippines, it isn’t the only place to live in the country. Looking even just a few miles outward and there are already a lot of possibilities to consider:
Lower Cost of Real Estate and Living
Often the most common reason many choose to live and/or invest outside of Metro Manila is that property simply costs less to buy or lease in these areas. Think of Php5 million being enough to acquire a house outside the metro, but mostly condos in it.
Also, according to the Department of Trade and Industry, the cost of living in big cities, such as Makati (the Philippines’ busiest and richest in terms of income) is significantly different compared to places immediately outside the region. Relatively nearby General Trias City in Cavite for example, earned a score of 1.38 in DTI’s Cities and Municipalities competitive Index for 2019. the previously mentioned Makati scored. 0.98.
Lower expenses are key in home seekers choosing locations outside the metro, and are a reason why developers have looked to address this demand as well. One such developer is Suntrust Properties, which has built communities like Suntrust Governor’s Hills in General Trias. The subdivision features Californian-Mediterranean-style home priced between Php2.6 to Php8.7 million, and is easy to get to and from places like SM Dasmariñas and Bacoor, La Salle Medical Center, and Governor’s Hills Science High School, among others
More Property Options
An inherent disadvantage in big cities is that due to the dense populations and limited land, most residences are of the high-rise variety, and leave those looking to buy a home with not many choices. While these offer great views of the metro, the feel of community is better captured in developments that feature homes and yards, or at least condominiums that are a little less populated and have low-rise structures. Fortunately, there is a little bit more land available for residential development in other places outside of Metro Manila, and it depends on how far out one is willing to go to find the type of property they want.
In Las Piñas, for example, are lower-rise condos for sale that feature most of the same amenities as their high-rise counterparts, but laid out in wider tracts of land with not-too-tall buildings that provide residents a community feel that is comparable to traditional neighborhoods. Such can be found in Amaia Steps Alabang, a residential community built by Ayala Land-subsidiary Amaia Land.
Featuring over nine buildings with none being over nine floors, its 24 to 49 square meter units are spread out in a development that is pedestrian-friendly and features community amenities such as a play area, linear garden, basketball court, and swimming pool, to name a few.
Better Pedestrianized
The irony about moving out of the metro is that some leave is so that they can stop going through the rigors of constantly bad traffic, yet more often than not move to a place where driving is also outright not as necessary.
Smaller populations, be it in terms of people or vehicles, along with moderately more open spaces than that of bigger cities make it more inviting to walk or commute in these areas. This advantage becomes an even bigger plus when the home is located near the city center, because the ability to walk anywhere and everywhere is beneficial in terms of fitness, being environmentally friendly, and being able to save money.
An example of these “walkable” residences are developments like the Portofino, 300-hectare Italian-inspired exclusive gated community located along Daang Hari Road in Las Piñas. Developed by Brittany Corporation, it features classic Italian-styled homes situated among distinctive courtyards complimented by Italian architectural details such as cupolas, gabled roofs, and pocket gardens. Already pedestrian-friendly in itself, its location right by a major thoroughfare in the city also makes it easy to get to and from key places.
Want to go over more homes for sale in Las Piñas and other areas outside Metro Manila? Download the Ohmyhome app or visit the website for more real estate choices.
Need help with buying, selling, or renting a property? Connect with an Ohmyhome agent and receive professional assistance throughout the entire process.
Ohmyhome was launched in the Philippines in September 2020, following the company’s establishment of a tech team in the country in 2017. Ohmyhome was originally founded in 2016, and subsequently rose in Singapore as a leading PropTech solution and licensed real estate agency.
Ohmyhome expanded into the Philippines so that Filipino home seekers can have a real estate partner that they can trust to have their best interests at heart and can be relied upon to provide exceptional services throughout the entire property journey.
Featuring thousands of properties across many of the Philippines’ major real estate brands, Ohmyhome differs from other local platforms by going the extra mile and extensively helping buyers narrow down the choices and find the property that best suits their budgets, home needs, and lifestyle preferences.
The company’s Real Estate Agents not only help in the shortlisting of options but also provide professional services through the entire purchasing process. These include assistance in property inspections, negotiations, the finalization of the Conditions of Sale, deposit collection, the submission of property documents, as well as providing buyers regular updates.
Ohmyhome helps Filipinos find their dream homes, all while making sure each real estate transaction is complete and is an efficient and enjoyable experience.
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