December 6, 2023

What is a Master-Planned Community? A Guide for Homebuyers and Investors

By: Melecio Martin G. Arranz IV

Real estate location is a critical consideration for buying and owning a home. After all, it determines your property’s accessibility, neighborhood, traffic situation, and proximity to business districts and commercial areas—factors that can impact your quality of life. Fortunately, you don’t have to look far for a property offering these conveniences.

If you want an ideal location with all your neighborhood essentials in one place, shop for real estate within a master-planned community. This post discusses everything about this development, including its essential characteristics and the benefits of living in a convenient and resident-centered project.

What is a Master-Planned Community?

A master-planned community (MPC) is an expansive neighborhood with residential developments, commercial properties, educational institutions, business districts, and recreational amenities. That’s everything you’d typically find in a town, but an MPC has all those features within a self-contained community.

Most MPC projects belong to a real estate developer, although they usually allow external businesses to add branches for variety. Many MPCs are also near large cities, offering immediate access to central business districts, transportation hubs, and more amenities. Ultimately, MPCs are places to live, shop, and work without leaving or traveling far, similar to the so-called 15-minute cities.

4 Characteristics of a Master-Planned Community

MPCs are the product of meticulous planning and design with excellent security, a strong sense of community, and access to much-needed open spaces and amenities. The following characteristics make these neighborhoods valuable and appealing.

1. Pre-planned and pre-designed

Skilled urban planners, architects, and landscapers collaborate to create a vision for the entire community, including street layouts, parks, housing options, and commercial areas, among other considerations. You’ll know what to expect, as the community’s predefined design offers certainty that ad-hoc developments generally lack.

Take Federal Land’s Marikina Community, for example. This development has residences, a supermarket, retail establishments, and a mall in a convenient location for nearly everything you need.

2. Safe, secure, and secluded

Security should be your top priority when looking for a home, but did you know burglaries occur 33% more in non-gated communities than in gated ones like MPCs? As you go around, you’ll find an inherent sense of safety in how the development is designed. Its gated community has a stationed security guard, and 24/7 surveillance cameras are present throughout the neighborhood.

Modern MPCs in provincial areas, like the 18-hectare Florida Sun Estates in Federal Land’s Cavite Community, are far from city centers with high-foot traffic and pollution. However, they’re still close enough that work and play are only a short drive away.

3. With open spaces and community amenities

MPCs generally have beautifully landscaped parks, jogging trails, and green belts that encourage an active lifestyle. However, beyond natural beauty, they also boast a wide array of shared amenities, such as:

• Swimming pools
• Fitness centers
• Tennis courts
• Basketball courts
• Event centers

These features contribute to the neighborhood’s vibrant social life, making it easier to engage with neighbors and build a tight-knit community naturally. 

Madison Park West, among other residential properties in the Grand Central Park MPC, features various indoor and outdoor amenities, such as daycares, libraries, and landscaped gardens.

4. Near essential establishments

Another salient feature of MPCs is their proximity to essential establishments like schools, hospitals, and workplaces. Developers carefully select locations to ensure easy access to these conveniences, which is a major draw if you want to establish a healthy work-life balance. In effect, MPC properties tend to retain their value well over time.

For instance, Park Avenue, another premium residential property in Grand Central Park, is close to St. Luke’s Medical Center, De La Salle University Rufino Campus, STI College, and other essential establishments within Bonifacio Global City. That means you don’t have to travel far for work or school.

8 Benefits of Living in a Master-Planned Community

The following advantages make MPCs attractive for a well-rounded, convenient, and secure living environment for yourself and your loved ones.

1. Ready-to-build land

If you plan to build your dream home, you’ll be glad that MPCs often offer construction-ready lots. This convenience eliminates the hassle and uncertainty of purchasing land requiring extensive and costly site preparation or infrastructure development. You can also save time and ensure a smoother building process while focusing on design and customization.

This feature is common among sprawling MPCs, like Federal Land’s upcoming suburban project in Laguna, in contrast to high-density towers. You only have to choose a plot and start building your home.

2. Instant curb appeal

Many MPCs are famous for their meticulous designs and attention to beauty. Their physical characteristics ensure that every home in the community contributes to a cohesive neighborhood and that you can enjoy an instant boost in your property’s curb appeal or exterior design. While this consideration might seem superficial, attractive features significantly improve your property value and quality of life.

Curb appeal generally applies to suburban homes. However, it’s also a common consideration with residential buildings and towers. For example, Palm Beach West in the Met Park MPC along the Bay Area looks sleek from the outside, with palm trees lining the road, making it more visually engaging to onlookers and prospective investors.

3. Guaranteed safety

As mentioned, MPCs have your safety in mind. Gated entrances, controlled access points, CCTV cameras, and round-the-clock security personnel provide security by deterring unauthorized entry from people who have no official business with you.

Such an environment is particularly appealing if there are children in your household. You can let your kids enjoy playing around the neighborhood and community playgrounds without worry.

Expect exceptional security in all Federal Land MPCs and properties. Take Florida Sun Estates in Federal Land’s Cavite Community; its entry points feature steel gates and 24/7 security personnel to guarantee safety within the suburban community.

4. Proximity to essential establishments

Living in an MPC offers the convenience of being near essential establishments since developers build these projects near schools, hospitals, shopping centers, and workplaces. You’ll easily access what you need without traveling far from home. Short commutes also save time and reduce stress, making MPCs ideal for busy families and professionals.

When it comes to accessibility, Riverpark is strategically positioned to offer convenience to everyone. The community has direct access to the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, improving its connectivity to Metro Manila. 

5. Access to exclusive amenities and green spaces

A standout advantage of living in an MPC is having exclusive access to various amenities and spaces for your well-being and recreation goals. They include green areas, parks, swimming pools, playgrounds, and fitness centers. There’s a wealth of conveniences at your doorstep, encouraging socialization among homeowners like yourself and making it easy to lead a balanced life within your immediate vicinity.

Marco Polo Residences in the Cebu Community brings you closer than ever to the outdoors. Perched atop Nivel Hills, this property is near a botanical garden, a nature park with a junior campsite, a jogging and bike trail, and an aviary park.

6. Stable property values

Thanks to their well-maintained, high-quality features and amenities, MPCs often exhibit remarkable stability in valuation, which makes them recession-proof real estate investments. This factor makes MPC rental properties a reliable income source with the potential for substantial returns when it’s time to sell. Additionally, when the real estate economy thrives, your home’s value may increase faster than those within ad-hoc communities.

When it comes to Federal Land’s Cebu Community, the area’s property market is finally rebounding following recent global and local downturns. As such, there’s no better time to purchase a property than today.

7. High salability

Properties within MPCs are often in strong demand due to their well-designed living spaces, wide range of amenities, and excellent quality of life. If you want to sell your property, expect a shorter time on the market and more competitive offers. Its maintained environment and desirable conveniences make your home a sought-after commodity that can sell more quickly than others.

Although Federal Land properties greatly vary in location, property value, and aesthetics, they’re prime real estate assets worth investing in.

If you’re looking for a lucrative investment property, the Six Senses Residences in Met Park is perfect for you. Location-wise, the Pasay Bay Area is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. This property also offers a deluxe aesthetic and amenities.

8. High return on investment

Considering the previous two points, investing in an MPC property often translates to a high return on investment (ROI). Buying and retaining real estate within MPCs is beneficial if you want to build wealth by selling or renting the property. High property demand also means you can enjoy competitive rental rates and high occupancy levels, boosting your overall ROI in the long term.

That’s most true if you purchase a valuable property in a prime location, such as what you’ll find within Met Park in the Bay Area. The area currently experiences significant demand (34%) among other business districts in Metro Manila.

Enjoy Convenient Living in Federal Land’s Master-Planned Communities

MPCs redefine modern living with meticulously designed neighborhoods. As such, they’re an exciting choice if you’re looking for a place to call home or invest in a promising future.

If you’re in the market for a home within an MPC, look no further than Federal Land Communities (FLC)—a collection of multi-use, multi-functional developments from the leading real estate development in the Philippines. Anchored on versatility and purposeful design, Federal Land Communities provide productive and holistic living experiences with various wellness amenities, retail and dining options, and outdoor recreations for residents.

Contact them to learn more!