2025: A year of strategic shifts and pivots

This year, the property market seized opportunities, practiced resilience, reinvented offerings, and showed potential for growth, as defined by Santos Knight Frank

- CARLA MORTEL BARICAUA

Santos Knight Frank Chairman and CEO Rick Santos (middle) with executives: Manager of Investment and Capital Markets Virgilio Velasco, Marketing Manager Mikee Delos Santos, Head of Residential Leasing and Sales Anjo Sumait, Senior Director for Occupier Strategy and Solutions Morgan McGilvray, Associate Director for Investment and Capital Markets Toby Miranda, and Manager of Research and Consultancy Services Andrea Villaduz

(Santos Knight Frank)

According to global real estate services firm Santos Knight Frank, 2025 was marked by purposeful pivots and structural shifts across the Philippine real estate landscape. In their year-in-review report, the firm cited the country's sound policy environment, involving the landmark legislation of the 99-year lease and the progressive amendments to the REIT, in broadening acceptable assets and unlocking new channels for long-term investment.

"We're seeing growth decentralize, with major developments rising in Cebu, Pampanga, Davao and New Clark City—signaling a more diverse economic trajectory. Across sectors, the market is recalibrating: office supply continues to expand, hospitality is enjoying one of its strongest cycles, retail is moderating, and residential pressures are opening attractive opportunities in the secondary market," said Rick Santos, chairman and CEO of Santos Knight Frank (SKF).