31/05/2026
Why More Singaporeans Are Quietly Buying Property in the Philippines
Let me be upfront — this isn't a sales pitch. It's something I've been observing more and more among my clients, and I think it's worth talking about honestly.
Over the past couple of years, I've had a growing number of Singaporeans ask me about property in the Philippines. Not Batam, not JB — the Philippines. And once I started digging into the numbers with them, I understood why.
The entry price is genuinely hard to ignore
A freehold condominium in BGC (Bonifacio Global City), Metro Manila's equivalent of Raffles Place, can still be had for SGD 150,000 to 250,000 for a well-located unit. In Singapore, that's a carpark lot. The price gap is real, and it creates genuine room for capital appreciation as Manila continues urbanising fast.
Foreigners can actually own property here
Unlike many Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines allows foreigners to own condominium units outright — up to 40% of any building's total floor area can be foreign-owned. That's a legal, clean structure. No nominee arrangements, no land lease workarounds. For Singaporeans used to doing things properly, this matters.
The rental market is surprisingly robust
BGC, Makati, and Ortigas host a large expat population, BPO professionals, and a growing middle class that prefers renting over buying. Gross rental yields of 5–7% are achievable in well-chosen developments, which stacks up well against Singapore's sub-3% residential yields.
But here's what people don't tell you
The Philippines property market has real quirks. Developer quality varies enormously. Some pre-selling projects have faced significant delays. Property management from abroad is not straightforward, and the resale market for secondary units can be illiquid.
Currency risk is also real — the Philippine Peso has weakened against SGD over the long run, which can quietly erode returns if you're not factoring it in.
And the due diligence process is different. Title verification, developer track record, and understanding the difference between pre-selling and RFO (Ready For Occupancy) units — these are non-negotiables before you commit.
Who this actually makes sense for
In my experience, Philippines property works best for Singaporeans who are diversifying beyond Singapore and Malaysia, have a longer investment horizon (5–10 years), are comfortable with some illiquidity, and ideally have some existing connection to the Philippines — family, frequent travel, or business.
It's not a get-rich-quick play. But as part of a broader regional portfolio, it deserves a serious look.
If you're curious about how to structure this properly or want to understand the specific developments worth considering, feel free to reach out. Happy to have an honest conversation about whether it fits your situation.
