The real estate industry has witnessed quite a unique turn and a major shift in how it does business ever since the pandemic happened last year in 2020. With traditional and old-school methods and processes notwithstanding, and even sometimes too risky, real estate professionals grapple with the reality and the fact that the industry, let alone the world, will never go back to normal, to what it was or what it used to be.
Sales and marketing in general, from developer to networks & brokers (and everyone in between) has been forced to innovate, and leave behind traditional sales practices like orchestrating and attending open houses, on the field saturation, booth manning and tenting, and face to face interaction and selling. Instead, real estate individuals and practitioners now dabble with the prospect of the internet, and are trying their hands on various social media platforms and their countless possibilities.
That being said, the internet in the time of the Covid-19 and enhanced community quarantine has become a powerhouse tool in standing-in as a catch basin for potential clients and leads. With multiple social media websites and applications like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Google, YouTube, etc., and property listing websites like Carousell, Ohmyhome, etc. spearheading this exploit of accessible and oftentimes affordable online marketing and selling. Facebook in particular, leads in this pursuit with its advanced and intricate algorithm and ads targeting, and has been relied heavily by many real estate sales persons in broadening their base.
Shifting perspectives, consumers too are now becoming more and more dependent on the internet that can be easily accessed through their mobile phone in going about their daily lives and businesses. People order their food, search for clothes and toys, book their ride and commute, pay their bills and tuitions, etc. through the internet. With just a few taps and swipes on their mobile phone screens, consumers get work done in a matter of just minutes (even seconds in some cases) in what would otherwise be a taxing endeavor that would take hours and even days when done traditionally. This rings true especially during this crucial and significant time of lock downs and community quarantines wherein contact is limited to online communications and transactions. This incentives consumers to opt to using the internet in assisting them in their daily activities without compromising their individual safety and health.
Zooming in on online home seekers, majority of real estate clientele are now solely dependent on the internet in their pursuit of house hunting. Despite the pandemic, the country still witnessed a solid property demand and showing from Filipinos across all borders. As a matter of fact, Lamudi’s latest trend report feature a soar in demand for residential property in the second half of 2020, with and I quote, “page views and leads for houses, condominiums, land, apartments, and foreclosures all sustaining demand from the first half of last year [2020] and posting even higher half-on-half growth figures.” Also interestingly, the youngest age group (18-24) and the oldest age group (65 and over) form the highest growth in the website’s total page views in 2020. But the age segment of 35-44 still remains the largest in terms of total number/share of page views.
Among the array of interested buyers, from locally and self-employed buyers to OFWs, majority of them look into affordable housing options as their first (or next) housing investment. With multiple developers propping up in every city and municipality in the country, choosing the ideal and perfect affordable house and lot can be a daunting and overwhelming task, especially for first time homebuyers. These house seekers are left with the task of weighing in on what’s fit and ideal for them without having to break the bank. Such considerations include:
1. Location
The location of an investment/house remains a top priority in determining whether buyers will avail the said housing or not. Different factors should be considered, and affect the decision-making process like the distance from their new home to their workplace, school, establishments, etc.
Check this article for the best location investment in the Philippines.
2. Type of House
How big is the household? When a family of 4 or 5 plans on buying a property then a big or spacious house might be what’s ideal for them. Meanwhile, a millennial homebuyer who is working in an urban area might prefer to own a condominium unit that’s near to his/her workplace. Moreover, a retiree might consider a house and lot for sale somewhere in the province or in the mountains away from the bustle and hustle of the city.
Check this article for the different types of house and lot in the Philippines.
3. Pag Ibig vs. Bank Loan
Most developers today provide customers with flexible and affordable housing loan plans through Pag Ibig, Bank, or even in-house loans. Buyers can then determine what financing type is best for them in terms of affordability and if they are eligible to pay in whatever interest rate and loan term that financing institution can provide.
Check this article for the different types of home loans.
4. Pre Selling or Ready for Occupancy
The prospect of having your house be ready to move-in and occupy always entices buyers to choose that investment route when purchasing a property for sale. But pre selling properties are also popular with online home seekers as prices for these types of units are significantly low and at their most affordable.
Check this article for the differences between RFO, Pre Selling and Lot-only properties.
Bria Homes, being one of the largest housing developers, and also happens to be the fastest growing mass housing developer in the country, is a leader in providing the Filipino family with quality and affordable housing. With over 50 projects in the major cities and municipalities nationwide, Bria Homes is committed in ensuring the average Filipino a place they can call their own.
Bria Homes is also aggressively upping its game of building a solid and effective online presence with features like virtual tours and online reservations that make it easier for buyers and online home seekers to navigate and find their preferred housing that is best fit for their lifestyle and needs.
In this time where safety and convenience are of utmost importance, Bria willingly transforms its advertising and services digitally, and remains resolute in serving the Filipino people of providing them their safe havens and dream house & lots, whatever the circumstances are.
BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN MV Holdings, Inc., .one of the largest real estate companies in the country. BRIA Homes is primed to bring quality and affordable house and lot packages and condominium units closer to ordinary Filipino families. This is the goal that drives every single employee in the company, for which the ultimate fulfillment is seeing a client happily moving into BRIA’s homes.
To know more, visit their website at www.bria.com.ph, like and follow “Bria Homes, Inc.” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Spotify, Viber Community, Telegram Channel, Kakao Talk, LINE and WhatsApp, or call 0939-887-9637.
Written by Keith Abellanosa
