More homebuyers are looking beyond Metro Manila for better value

Lobien Realty Group says homes outside the capital can cost up to 60% less as demand stays strongest in the affordable and mid-market segments.

Many Filipinos searching for a home are looking beyond Metro Manila, where lower prices and improving infrastructure are creating more opportunities for first-time buyers and growing families.

Lobien Realty Group (LRG) said demand remains strongest in homes priced between ₱2.5 million and ₱10 million, with more buyers now taking out residential loans for properties outside the capital. As new roads, rail lines, and townships continue to connect nearby provinces to Metro Manila, areas once considered too far from the city are becoming practical options for homeownership.

“The Filipino dream will never go away,” LRG Chief Executive Officer Sheila Lobien said, referring to the enduring aspiration of many Filipinos to own a home.

The property consultancy said residential prices rose by an average of 7% year on year, although homes outside Metro Manila can cost up to 60% less than those within the capital. That price difference is encouraging buyers to look farther afield without giving up access to jobs and business districts.

Developers are also becoming more selective with new condominium launches, slowing construction as they respond to current market conditions. Condominium units measuring 30 to 80 square meters continue to attract the strongest buyer interest, while houses and lots outside Metro Manila are drawing increasing attention from buyers seeking more space and better value.

The trend suggests that the country’s housing market is no longer centered on Metro Manila alone. As infrastructure improves and more communities grow outside the capital, homebuyers are finding that owning a home may no longer require living in the country’s most expensive neighborhoods.