Searching for a home for sale? The neighborhood you choose can easily make or break your living experience. You can introduce improvements/upgrades to any home, but living in a neighborhood with a subpar location will be much harder to deal with.
So whether you’re looking at houses or condos for sale, make sure you know what to look out for in a particular neighborhood. We’ve listed a handful of tips below to help you find the best one that fits your priorities.
1. Examine noise levels in the neighborhood
Noise pollution can be a big factor when choosing a neighborhood. If you’re exploring homes in Metro Manila or other urban centers, make it a point to check noise levels throughout a given week. Here are some pointers:
- Visit the area to get a better feel of potential sources of noise pollution. Check out neighboring houses and establishments.
- Find out from the seller or real estate agent whether the area gets unusually noisy on certain times of the day — on weekdays and weekends.
- Check in with the local homeowners’ association (HOA), barangay, or city to see if they have relevant ordinances against noise pollution. For instance, Quezon City has an anti-noise ordinance that covers weekdays, from 7AM–5PM.
2. Watch out for disaster-prone neighborhoods
The Philippines experiences the effects of 20 typhoons on average every year. Neighborhoods located in low-lying areas and near bodies of water are more likely to be severely affected by flooding and landslides.
Check the area’s risk for natural disasters (as well as mitigation/response measures) to ensure the long-term value of your real estate investment. Here are a couple of quick resources at your disposal:
- NOAH’s online interactive map gives you a bird’s-eye-view of potential natural hazards in the Philippines. A project under the Department of Science and Technology, NOAH can show you street level info on flooding, as well as satellite images of low pressure areas within the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
- This Rappler list of barangays and cities identifies areas that are experiencing subsidence or gradual sinking of soil — which increases the risk of flooding and total submersion.
- The barangay or local government unit should have evacuation procedures and facilities in the event of a declaration of a state of calamity. See if the neighborhood and the surrounding area are equipped to handle natural disaster events.
3. Keep an eye out for future developments
Future developments like new malls, business districts, roads and highways all improve the quality of life in any given neighborhood. At the same time, these big-time improvements also increase property valuation over time.
Ideally, you’d want to cash in on that home for sale before prices start increasing. That’s why it’s important to keep tabs on potential developments that could happen around a neighborhood you’re eyeing.
If you have contacts in the city’s engineering/urban planning offices, find out if there are any upcoming projects taking place that might affect property values — for better or for worse.
Alternatively, you can also consult a real estate professional who has local knowledge of the area. You can check out this free directory of licensed agents to find out more about a particular locale or city in the Philippines.
💡An online property finder gives you a quick overview of the local market
Searching for a house or condo for sale can feel tedious if you don’t know where to start. With thousands of real estate listings, Real.ph makes property search easy.
Using various search filters on our platform, finding your dream home in your ideal neighborhood is less of a chore. To get started, just create a free account!
Want to see what’s in store for you? Here are some quick suggestions:
- This 1-bedroom unit and 2-bedroom unit in One Crown Suites (Megaworld) are excellent choices for urban convenience in Manila.
- This Muji-inspired house is just 30 minutes away by car from University of the Philippines Pampanga and The Medical City in Clark.
- This brand-new, 5-bedroom home in Silang, Cavite is great for pet owners. It has access to a neighborhood vet clinic and is just minutes away from De La Salle University’s Laguna campus.
4. For families, make sure good schools are in the area
For many family-oriented homebuyers, proximity to good education is a must-have. Multiple hour drives can take away precious time from work and other family obligations. So make sure to check if there are decent school options nearby.
Ask friends/family or your potential neighbors where the neighborhood kids go to school. They’ll most likely have a few recommendations that might meet your considerations.
If you have tertiary level students, you can check out finduniversity.ph to see if there’s an appropriate school that aligns with their degree/program interest and your tuition budget.
5. See if hospitals and medical facilities are nearby
You’ll never know when a health emergency strikes, so it makes sense to be fairly close to a hospital or clinic. Make sure the neighborhoods you’re shortlisting aren’t too far from a medical facility.
Depending on your family’s needs, you’ll likely need to carefully consider the three different levels of hospital care:
- Level 1 hospitals have bed space, an operating room, maternity facilities, clinical labs, radiology services, and a pharmacy.
- Level 2 hospitals have all of the Level 1 services plus an Intensive Care Unit, respiratory therapy services, a high-risk pregnancy unit, and specialty departments (e.g. cardiology, ENT, family medicine, pediatrics, etc.).
- Level 3 hospitals are for high-level specialty intervention. Ideal for patients who need access to a blood bank, physical therapy services, and dialysis services, among others.
6. Check for green spaces and walkability
Green space is a top priority for many homebuyers, especially urban dwellers. Access to parks, public plazas, well-equipped playgrounds, and tree-lined sidewalks are all great features to have in any neighborhood.
Do a quick online search of the area you’re eyeing. Online maps and images will give you a quick look at what’s nearby and what’s a bit out of reach.
Next, pay a visit to the neighborhood too so you can test out how walkable it is. Not only does walkability contribute to a healthier lifestyle, it can also encourage school age children to put in much-needed play time outside.
Places with nearby green spaces can be hard to come by. At times, you might even have to do a short drive. But you won’t have that problem with this 4-bedroom house and lot in MetroGate Angeles, Pampanga, which is surrounded by parks and picnic areas.
7. For pet owners, check if the neighborhood is pet-friendly
Some residential areas, especially condo developments, have stringent policies around pet ownership. And if you have a furry friend or two living with you, you’ll need to make sure that pets aren’t totally banned.
Here are some tell-tale signs that you’re looking at a potentially pet-friendly community:
- 24-hour vet clinics nearby in case of emergencies
- People are walking their pets to and from a neighborhood or condo development
- Wide, well-lit sidewalks for residents walking their dogs/cats
- Nearby restaurants and other establishments allowing pets of various breeds and sizes
8. Check if there are alternative transportation options
Driving is often the most convenient way to get around in many neighborhoods in the Philippines. But on days when you can’t or don’t want to use the car, you’ll need to make sure you have enough transportation options.
Check if a potential neighborhood you’re eyeing has jeepney or bus routes that aren’t too much of a hassle to figure out. Additionally, see if there are tricycles or pedicabs to and from a subdivision that you’re seriously considering.
If you’re exploring Metro Manila, you can check out sakay.ph for commuting guides, point-to-point bus schedules, and other transportation resources.
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