Empire East Land Holdings Inc., the middle-income housing arm of tycoon Andrew Tan’s Megaworld Corp., continues to bank on strong demand from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) despite the conflict in the Middle East, as they remain a stable end-user market.

During the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting (ASM) last week, Empire East President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anthony Charlemagne C. Yu said OFWs continue to be a resilient and important segment of the Philippine residential property market, even as buyer behavior becomes more selective amid global economic uncertainty.

He noted that interest among OFWs in owning property in the Philippines remains steady, driven by long-term family and housing priorities.

“OFWs continue to represent an important and resilient segment of the Philippine real estate market. While global uncertainties and economic fluctuations in certain regions may affect purchasing timelines and sentiment, we continue to see sustained interest in homeownership in the Philippines,” Yu added.

The firm observed that the nature of overseas demand has evolved, with buyers becoming more deliberate in their property selection. Instead of prioritizing purely investment-driven considerations, many OFWs are now focusing on developments that offer long-term livability, accessibility, and practical value for family use, eventual occupancy, or retirement planning.

Empire East said this shift aligns with its middle-income positioning, where affordability and accessibility remain central, particularly for buyers seeking long-term residential stability rather than short-term investment returns.

At the same time, the company highlighted that its digital platforms and customer support systems continue to play a key role in improving the experience of overseas buyers, making transactions more efficient from reservation through documentation and after-sales coordination.

Empire East said that while rental yield remains an important consideration for investor-driven segments of the real estate market, its core middle-income market continues to be driven primarily by end-user demand and long-term housing needs, such as those of OFWs.

The company said shifts in post-pandemic market behavior have influenced how property buyers evaluate residential investments, particularly in urban condominium developments.

“For investor-driven segments of the real estate market, rental yield is a primary consideration. In our case, most buyers are end-users, so their decision is less dependent on rental returns and more on livability and long-term value,” Yu explained.

He added, “Well-located developments with strong accessibility still support healthy rental demand over time. But it is not the primary driver for our core market.”

Industry observers have noted a gradual softening of rental yields in certain urban areas following the post-pandemic normalization period.

However, Empire East said this trend does not significantly affect demand in its segment, given its strong orientation toward end-user homeowners rather than short-term investors.