Bulacan towns emerge as fast-growing residential markets

Bulacan towns are emerging as the next major residential markets, after Metro Manila and Calabarzon, following the opening of Skyway Stage 3 which makes travel to Makati City possible in less than an hour and with the development of the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan.

One of these towns is Sta. Maria, the site of the Philippine Arena and the 140-hectare Ciudad de Victoria.  The town has twice more subdivisions than its 24 barangays.

Largely out of the radar of real estate market research firms, Sta. Maria, the most populated town in the province, has drawn the interest of discerning residential investors given its proximity to Metro Manila, the absence of fault lines in the area, its higher elevation and location beyond the reach of volcanic threat.   

The eruption of Taal volcano in January 2020 made residential investors think twice about buying properties in Southern Luzon and look at Central Luzon areas like Bulacan and Pampanga as viable options.  Bulacan was not affected by Mount Pinatubo eruption in the early 1990s.  The closest inactive volcano in the province is Mount Arayat in Pampanga.  There are no active or inactive craters in Bulacan.

While traffic congestion in Sta. Maria remains a problem, the opening of new toll plazas along NLEX and the Ciudad de Victoria bypass road that connects to Bocaue has substantially eased the problem.  Four toll plazas now lead to and out of Sta. Maria, including Marilao, Philippine Arena, Bocaue and Tambubong Interchanges.

Situated at the right side of the northbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway towards Bocaue exit, Sta. Maria partially hosts the Philippine Arena which has its own toll gate at NLEx.  Travel time from Balintawak, Quezon City is less than 15 minutes.

With an annual population growth rate of 3.1 percent driven by migration, Sta. Maria has more than 50 subdivisions and counting.  Land values range from P5,000 to P30,000 per square meter depending on the site, which are still cheaper compared to Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite or Laguna.

Unlike other Bulacan towns, Sta. Maria has higher elevation of 20 to 100 meters above sea level, with most of its 24 barangays considered flood-free, except for some areas in Poblacion and Sta. Clara village.  It is also located away from the fault line, while its geology is made of pebbles, gravel or boulder beds, making it highly suitable for urban development.

Sta. Maria shares borders with other thriving residential cities and towns such as San Jose del Monte, Bocaue, Pandi, Marilao, Norzagaray and Angat.

Among the largest subdivisions in Sta. Maria and its borders are Garden Village, Camella, Metrogate Spring Meadows, Metrogate San Jose, Amaia Scapes, Bria, Redwood Residences, Dolmar, Margaret Homes, Bella Vista, Pasinaya, Bright Homes, The Meadows, Borland, Burgundy, Las Palmas, Selera Homes, Primville, San Vicente Homes, Sonoma Residences, Amaia Scapes, Amber, Bright Homes, California Hills, Nepo Homes, Paseo Verde, Dela Costa, Pagsibol Village, Lessandra, El Pueblo, Lumina, PHirst Park Homes, Amaresa, Tierra de Sta. Maria, Golden Hills, Apec Homes, Primeville, Marytown Place, Venezia Townhomes, Las Palmas, North Grove Hills, Bella Vista, North Orchard Residences, Villa Corazon, Plana Subdivision, Ompoc Subdivision, Burgundy Homes, Canyon Valley, Sta. Maria Homes, Villa Annapolis,  Green Breeze, Tierra de Sta. Maria, Splash Ville.

The town has eight hospitals and clinics.  It also has several dental clinics and veterinary clinics.

It has a major industrial zone located in Barangay Bulac.

Real estate billionaire Manuel Villar recently opened AllHome and AllDay stores in the town which has more than 250,000 residents, 99 percent of who live in urban areas..

The town is known for food processing, poultry and feed mill business, hog trading, pyrotechnics, garments, textile and rubber factories, footwear, resorts, rattan and furniture.  It has 20 rice mills, 9 commercial feed mills and 15 feed trading centers.

Aside from AllDay, it has Waltermart Supermarket, Puregold, Mi Department Store, 

Handyman, fastfood chains, several Mercury Drug Stores, and more than 30 banks

It is served by Meralco and PLDT.