The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) and online real estate marketplace Lamudi Philippines come together for a partnership aimed at improving real estate practices in the country and encouraging transparency in the industry.

A ceremonial signing was held in Makati on January 24, and was attended by HLURB Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner Atty. Lloyd Christopher A. Lao, HLURB Commissioner Atty. Melzar P. Galicia, Lamudi Philippines Managing Director and CEO Bhavna Suresh, and Lamudi Philippines Director for Brand and Communication Ken Lerona.

A more visible HLURB

Under the one-year partnership, readers of the Lamudi: Real Estate Magazine should expect thought leadership pieces from none other than Atty. Lao, with topics ranging from the rights of buyers of real estate, to the verification of brokers, projects, and developers.

HLURB will also use the Lamudi platform to address frequently asked questions, including those about options for financing, procedures and remedies afforded to aggrieved buyers and developers, and even who to approach or look for when paying a visit to their office.

Consistent with its aim to increase transparency in the industry, HLURB also has revamped and upgraded its website, which now comes with a user-friendly online inquiry feature. This shall be integrated in the Lamudi website which receives around 1.5M visits per month, so property seekers will find it easy and hassle-free to search for registered brokers, as well as projects that have been issued License to Sell numbers.

All of these form part of HLURB’s efforts to keep up with the times by embracing digital, and to be more visible to the public and serve them better.

Transparency through technology

In the 2016 Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI) by JLL, a leading real estate and investment management firm, the Philippines ranked 46th out of 109 countries and fell under the semi-transparent market. This tier, according to JLL, is where the most rapid progress in real estate transparency can be found.

Rising expectations from citizens as well as technological advancements serve as drivers for improving real estate transparency. Innovations in the prop-tech industry, JLL says, “offer the opportunity for a quantum leap in data access to support a rising culture of ‘open data.’”

Aside from high-quality accessible market data, ingredients of a transparent real estate market include: strong corporate governance, stringent regulatory enforcement, high ethical standards, and international best practice.

For Atty. Lao, responsible real estate practice is the key to the sustainability of the housing sector. He also maintained that although HLURB is a regulatory body, they are very much willing to help and cooperate with those under their jurisdiction.

Ms. Suresh, for her part, shared that Lamudi is one with HLURB in its aim to push for transparency as this shall open many doors in the future. As seen in JLL’s 2016 GRETI, higher real estate transparency is linked to new business and investment, and even plays a role in community well-being and inclusiveness.

“As the authority in the prop-tech industry in the country, Lamudi is thrilled to be partnering with HLURB for this,” she added. “We are here to support HLURB, and look forward to more partnerships like this one.”

MEDIA CONTACT

Cherianne Mangrobang

PR & Partnership Officer

Email: cherianne.mangrobang@lamudi.com.ph

Phone: +63 917 575 7875 | +632 880 0661

ABOUT LAMUDI

Lamudi is a leading global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. It offers sellers, buyers, landlords, and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. Lamudi was established in 2013 in Berlin, Germany, and is currently available in Asia (the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), Latin America (Mexico, Colombia, and Peru), and the Middle East (Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates). Within fewer than three years, Lamudi has established its presence as a key online real estate marketplace in the countries where it is operating. For more information, visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

ABOUT MYPROPERTY

Established in September 2010, MyProperty.ph is one of the leading Philippine real estate online brands that bring property buyers and sellers together. The website’s main offerings are listings of pre-selling properties and properties for sale and for rent. It also provides relevant and updated industry news and information for its clients and consumers. And with the release of its mobile version, finding or selling a home is made even easier. For more information, visit MyProperty on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram.