WHEN Lamudi Philippines started in January 2014, little did the company know that its online-search data will be an in-demand commodity in the real-estate industry.
The company pioneered the use of its onsite search and listings data to generate content for the industry in the form of feature articles and press releases, which has now grown into a full-fledged service, providing much-needed insight to some of the country’s major estate players. Taking the data-driven approach to real-estate marketing into a whole new level, the company has now completed a survey involving 10,000 property seekers, which will be compiled as The Outlook by Lamudi—a comprehensive report on Philippine real estate.
Aside from recognition of the industry’s best of the best (based on the results of the 10,000-property-seeker survey), the launching of The Outlook will coincide with a coming together of the real-estate industry’s top experts and leaders to discuss what’s next for the real-estate sector, and among the broad topics to be discussed include trends in mixed-use developments, the housing backlog, the evolution of residential condominiums across the Philippines, the details that go into building new cities, provincial expansion and its significance and the importance of building green, among others.
According to Lamudi Managing Director and CEO Bhavna Suresh Chathambeth, this event is the first of its kind in the local real estate sector as it will gather together the industry’s thought leaders for a day of discussion and knowledge on what drive the real-estate sector.
“These thought leaders will come from the industry’s major sectors—top-level representatives from real-estate players specializing in mixed-use or township developments; leaders of organizations advocating a more cohesive and comprehensive affordable housing programs; and key officials from the public sector.”
According to Suresh, these sectors are what drive the local real-estate industry today, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. She added that this coming together of the industry’s influencers come at an appropriate time as real estate is a major contributor to the country’s remarkable economic growth.
Lamudi partners with SHDA and OSHDP
With a housing backlog approaching the 7 million-unit mark, it is an understatement that the Philippines is in dire need of a drastic action to provide affordable and quality houses to countless Filipino families.
“As shelter is 1 of the 3 basic human needs, it is pertinent for the industry to find a collaborative solution to this pressing issue,” Suresh said.
This is the reason the global real-estate web site is partnering with the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) and the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP).
SHDA, for its part, will serve as the event’s thought leader to spearhead the discussion of the evolution of condominiums developments and of the trends in residential real estate development in Metro Manila and the provinces. On the other hand, OSHDP will spearhead the discussion on the housing backlog, together with officials from the government’s key shelter agencies. “There are so many issues besetting the residential sector,” SHDA National President Christopher Narciso said. “This partnership with Lamudi will afford SHDA valuable exposure, especially in the online space, to voice these out.”
According to Narciso, apart from the rising housing backlog, a looming lifting of the value-added tax suspension on low-cost housing and a reduced housing budget are two of the most pressing concerns that the sector needs to focus on. “The Outlook is a great opportunity for SHDA to present these issues to the industry’s leaders,” Narciso added.
On building new cities and sustainability
With the concept of building cities within a city fast gaining ground in the Philippines, it is pertinent that The Outlook also provides opportunities for this to be discussed, and the company tapped two of the country’s best known developers to spearhead the discussion.
Ayala Land Corp. will lead a discussion on mixed-use developments—affording event attendees the opportunity to learn from the real-estate giant’s success in building its big-ticket projects, including Nuvali, Arca South and Vermosa.
A relatively new player is also on the horizon, one whose popular development is inching its way to the top: the 204-hectare Aseana City along Manila Bay in Parañaque. Aseana Holdings CEO Delfin C. Wenceslao will lead the discussion on the details on building a new city, with a special emphasis on the success of Aseana City.
According to Wenceslao, at the core of townships and mixed-use developments is a clear masterplan. For Aseana City, being environmentally sustainable has always been on the drawing board. “We’ve integrated that into our master plan that’s why we have our own public transport system. We encourage people to use public transport more than their own private vehicles. Our public transport is actually eco-friendly.”
And speaking about sustainability, another important thought leader to share his expertise during The Outlook is The Net Group Copresident and Urban Land Institute Philippines Chairman Raymond Rufino.
“I really want to bring this idea of being sustainable, being green in the way you design, build and operate buildings; and that’s how I got involved in the company,” Rufino shared. This proposition received a nod from The Net Group’s head honchos, “and pushing this as a key business priority, I was very lucky because both Charlie [Rufino] and his business partner Jacques [Dupasquier] supported me in this direction.”
Today, The Net Group is proud to be one of the greenest developers in the country. “Our aim is to be the top green developer in the Philippines,” Rufino beamed.
Best of the best
In between panel discussions and though-leadership forums, The Outlook will highlight acknowledgment of the industry’s best players and developments based on the results of a nationwide survey of 10,000 property seekers conducted by Lamudi this year.
“We’re very excited about the results of this survey, as it will be the first where actual property seekers were asked about their opinion of the real-estate industry,” Suresh enthused.
Among those players to be recognized include the country’s Best Condo Developer, Best Housing Developer, Best Mixed-use Developer, and Best Commercial Developer, while the noteworthy real-estate projects to be acknowledged include Best High-end Condo Development, Best Affordable Condo Development, Best High-end Housing Development and Best Affordable Housing Development, among others.
The Outlook by Lamudi is slated on November 29, at the Marquis Events Place, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The event’s registration will start at 8:00 a.m.