10 of the Best Property Developers in the Philippines

Aside from identifying what things you need to know about your future home, it is also important to know more about your real estate developer. As the demand for more convenient accommodation continues, the country has seen a growth in the number of developers venturing in the real estate industry. You don’t want to end up with a company which cannot deliver on time, or worst with shady developers.

There are ways for you to compare different developers. Make sure to do it thoroughly and take your time. This will help you fairly assess the qualifications of a company and whether they will meet your expectations.

Here are some of the major property developers in the country and their track record.

1. Ayala Land

Ayala Land is the developer behind one of the fastest growing districts in the metro today – Fort Bonifacio or Bonifacio Global City. They are also responsible for the development of Makati City, the main financial district of the country, which houses several high-rise buildings and exclusive villages like Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village.

With over 150 years of experience in the real estate developments, they are experts in creating not only masterfully planned urban communities, but also high-quality homes for the Filipinos. They were even cited as the Best Developer for 2014 in the recent Philippine Property Awards as well as Builder of the Year by Frost & Sullivan at its annual Philippines Excellence Awards. Some of their notable projects include One Serendra and The Residences at Greenbelt.

2. SM Prime Holdings

SM Prime Holdings is an integrated property developer in the Philippines, which has a wide array of real estate assets including condominiums, malls, and hotels. In 2012, they were one of only three corporations in the Philippines included in Forbes Asia Best under a Billion.

Its residential arm, SM Development Corporation (SMDC), has a total of 21 projects under its belt – from mid- to high-rise developments catering to OFWs who want to buy an investment in the Philippines. This year they have completed the turnover of more than 2,500 units including Jazz Residences in Makati and Light Residences in Mandaluyong.

3. Filinvest Land

With more than 40 years of building the Filipino dream, Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) has established itself as one of the leading real estate developers in the country. They are primarily known for creating residential developments that caters to the middle-market. Now, they have also ventured in high-end developments and townships including Brentville International Community in Laguna. They were recently cited by BCI Asia as one of the Top 10 Property Developers in the Philippines for 2014.

4. Rockwell Land

Rockwell Land made a breakthrough in the real estate world during the 90s’ with the development of Rockwell Center, the former site of Meralco’s thermal power plant in Makati. This mixed-used community, recognized as a “city within a city,” opened up a new lifestyle to the Filipinos.

And in its 19 years of existence, Rockwell Land has become a trusted brand when it comes to luxury residential living. Many popular personalities and successful professionals have made their homes in Rockwell Center. Its expanding portfolio now includes developments in other key areas in the metro including Quezon City and Ortigas.

5. Robinsons Land Corp.

Robinsons Land is one of the most reliable property developers in the country today. It comprises an impressive portfolio of around 140 real estate properties, which includes residential condominiums, hotels, office buildings, and housing developments. Under the leadership of billionaire John Gokongwei, Robinsons Land Corporation has flourished and now offers a diverse portfolio, ranging from high-end to more affordable housing options.

6. Shang Properties

Shang Properties is a subsidiary of the Singapore-based Kuok Group in the Philippines. It is the real estate firm that brought the renowned Shangri-La Hotel brand to the country. Though fairly new in the residential development sector, you cannot doubt that Shang Properties is all about high-quality and luxury. Its St. Francis Shangri-La Place and One Shangri-La Place condominiums will attest to that.

And just this year, Rappler reported that they are adding another top-of-the-line project with The Rise, which is set for completion in 2018.

7. DMCI Homes

From its humble beginnings as a contracting company in 1954, D.M. Consunji, Incorporated (DMCI) has grown to become one of the leading real estate developers in the Philippines today. It has built a solid reputation for completing projects on or ahead of schedule as well as offering homes of high standards.

They have over 30 well-planned residential developments in the metro that give Filipino homebuyers an urban oasis. Aside from that, they are also behind some of the prominent high-rise buildings in Makati such as the Philippine Stock Exchange Plaza and BPI and Citibank Headquarters.

8. Megaworld Corporation

Eastwood City and McKinley Hill are two of Megaworld Corporation’s townships that redefined urban development in the country. It features the “live-work-learn-and-play” concept, where people can enjoy a balanced life. For over two decades, Megaworld Corporation has built a reputation for building quality residential and commercial properties all over the metro.

They have completed more than 250 residential and commercial buildings as well as hotels since 1994. And the company continues to expand, creating more mixed-used developments not just in Metro Manila, but also in Cebu and Davao City.

9. Federal Land

Tracing back its roots to 1972, Federal Land is the developer of the iconic GT Tower in Makati City. It is owned by George Ty, the man behind Metrobank Group of Companies. The company boasts over 35 years of experience in property development and has around 26 landmark projects in the country including Marco Polo Residences and Grand Hyatt Residences.

Its current projects include One Lilac Place, Paseo de Roces, and SixSenses Resort. They are also embarking on another noteworthy project in Bonifacio Global City, the Veritown Fort. This bustling community aims to capture the New York lifestyle and to let the Filipinos live it right here in Manila.

10. Century Properties

Century Properties is best known for their innovative, high-rise residential condominiums including Gramercy Residences, Essensa East Forbes, and the up-and-coming Azure Urban Residences.

With over 20 years of experience in real estate development and property management, this Antonio-led empire continues to grow and shows no sign of stopping. BusinessWorld reported that Century Properties’ net income doubled to Php 1.86 billion in 2013 due to “record” sales of their property developments. And according to this Philippine Star report, Century Properties has earmarked Php 12 billion for some of its project slated for completion in the next five years.

Which developer will deliver?

The importance of knowing the reputation of a real estate developer cannot be stressed enough. With so many real estate developers vying for your investment, you have to guarantee that the one you’ll choose has a proven track record in delivering on their promise.

Note: This article was written Oct 9, 2014. See updated rankings of the best property developers in the Philippines.