A curious thing we’ve noticed on ZipMatch.com is the growing rate of property searches in locations just outside Metro Manila as compared to the trend of property searches in the mega city.
But then, I immediately reflected on a couple of talks about urban design my colleague and I attended early this year and realized that investing a home away from the city or that’s close to your home actually makes sense if it has the same trappings of the life you have already accustomed in the big city. And if leaving your job in the big city is a non-negotiable, finding a house for sale that allows you to commute from work to home, and vice-versa, via multiple routes, will definitely help you take that big leap from being an apartment renter to a paying homeowner.
Here are five of the most attractive property locations ZipMatch users have been checking out to buy their next home. The numbers were based from the time the portal has received property listings for the said locations :
1. Santa Rosa City, Laguna
Average month-on-month search rate: +81.3%
Best for: Starter to growing families
Neighborhood access: There are 68 banking institutions that offer banking services. Several car brands have also set up dealerships in the city. For serious shoppers, they can always rely on outlet shops, several community and large-scale malls around Santa Rosa to satisfy their appetite.
Transport situation: Santa Rosa is the exit point along SLEX to either Tagaytay or Manila.
Property investment potential: As the Makati of the South, it has seven (!) economic zones that generated the city an annual income of PHP2.3 billion, including Santa Rosa Industrial Complex and Laguna Technopark Inc. It is also a fave tourist destination, thanks to popular theme park Enchanted Kingdom, and is pegged to be the next BPO hub.
2. Biñan, Laguna
Average month-on-month search rate: +45%
Best for: Starter to growing families, retiree couples
Neighborhood access: This city is a popular hub for retailers from nearby towns to purchase goods and merchandise intended to be sold elsewhere. There are also numerous banking institutions across the city, and a growing number of commercial establishments and emerging shopping centers.
Transport situation: Biñan is accessible via SLEX through Mamplasan, Southwoods, and Carmona exits, and the National Highway from the south or from the capital town Sta. Cruz.
Property investment potential: Like Lipa, Biñan has industrial parks to boast of. The two world-class and premiere industrial parks of the Philippines are located in Biñan, the Laguna International Industrial Park (LIIP) and the Laguna Technopark Incorporated (LTI).
3. Batangas City, Batangas
Average month-on-month search rate: +108%
Best for: Starter to growing families
Neighborhood access: Batangas City has 58 banking and other financial institutions, 9 shopping centers, 5 major hospitals, and 3 major hotel chains.
Transport situation: The city’s central transportation is the Batangas Grand Central Terminal, found beside the Diversion Road in Balagtas. The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) provide access to Manila.
Property investment potential: Batangas City has been recognized as one of the fastest urbanizing cities in the country due to its growing economy. It plays host to several large industrial companies in the Philippines, including Pilipinas Shell, San Miguel Food Corporation, JG Summit Petrochemical Corp, and Universal Robina Corp.
4. Lipa, Batangas
Average month-on-month search rate: +225%
Best for: Second-generation entrepreneurs, yuppies, starter to growing families
Property investment potential: Although Lipa is generally warm on most days, its elevation is similar to Tagaytay City, making it as a go-to tourist destination. Moreover, Lipa City has vast farming lands, making it an ideal regional center for agricultural and industrial businesses. In the last few years, the city saw an influx of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies setting up.
Transport situation: Same with Batangas City, Lipa is a 90-minute drive to Manila via the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) road systems.
Neighborhood access: Lipa is considered an educational hub, thanks to the various satellite schools of some of the top educational institutions in the country today. Some of these school units include De La Salle, AMA Computer College, and Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
5. Calamba, Laguna
Average month-on-month search rate: +107%
Best for: Newlyweds, starter to growing families, retirees
Neighborhood access: There are 9 private and 1 government-run hospitals in Calamba. As for schools, there are 120 elementary schools, 51 of which are public and 69 private. There are around 200 educational institutions in the area, four of which are National Collegiate Athletic Association affiliate schools/branches: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Lyceum of the Philippines University, San Sebastian College – Recoletos and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA. Miriam College and Xavier School also have satellite schools in Calamba. There are also several shopping malls in the area, including SM City Calamba, Walter Mart Calamba and Liana’s Discount Center Calamba.
Transport situation: Calamba can be accessed via SLEX, Manila South Road (Old National Highway), Calamba-Tagaytay Road, and Mayapa-Canlubang Cadre Road.
Property investment potential: It is the regional center of the CALABARZON region. Four of the many industrial parks that made Calamba a haven for industries are Allegis IT Park, Calamba Premiere International Park, Carmelray Industrial Park, and Light Industry and Science Park of the Philippines.
Looking for your next home outside Manila? Here’s why you should start in Batangas.
