Author: James Puddle, Head of International Residential, South East Asia, JLL
The shift to hybrid working has unlocked new possibilities for Southeast Asian professionals, enabling them to rethink where and how they live. Singaporeans, Malaysians, Indonesians and Filipinos increasingly purchase second homes in regional hotspots, seeking more space, closer contact with nature, and lower living costs. Yet this trend coexists with pockets of oversupply in established condo markets, reminding buyers that timing and location remain paramount.
Hybrid work is now a catalyst for flexibly selecting residential locations. A 2024 survey by IWG found that 82 per cent of global companies now offer hybrid working arrangements, up from 58 per cent in 2021. Free from the daily commute, workers in finance, technology and professional services are exploring residences that feature dedicated workspaces, robust internet and easy access to regional airports.
There’s also a surge of interest in second homes. According to the Henley & Partners Global Citizen Report 2024, some 68 per cent of Asia-Pacific professionals identify lifestyle mobility as a primary motivator for acquiring a second home. Cross-border property enquiries rose by roughly 30 per cent between 2021 and 2023. In Singapore, holiday-home searches on PropertyGuru climbed by 28 per cent in the first half of 2024 as urban dwellers sought weekend retreats within a short flight of the city-state (PropertyGuru Guides).
By contrast, many core urban markets (including Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Metro Manila) are experiencing a condominium supply glut, leading to longer sales cycles and price corrections (BT, “South-east Asia developers face condo oversupply”, May 2025). This dynamic strengthens the case for lifestyle-focused markets such as Phuket, Bali, Pattaya and Penang, where product pipelines remain more aligned with end-user demand.
Evolving Buyer Priorities
Today’s lifestyle migrants demand a seamless integration of residential comfort and workspace functionality. Key priorities include:
- High-speed internet with dedicated office zones within residences
- Access to co-working facilities or satellite offices
- Wellness-centred amenities: walking trails, fitness studios and green communal spaces
- Proximity to regional airports for business travel
Developments in Phuket’s Kathu district and Penang’s Batu Ferringhi, for example, now offer turnkey units with built-in work nooks, reliable fibre broadband and on-site meeting rooms; features explicitly designed for the hybrid-enabled buyer.
Cost efficiencies underpin this trend. Data from Statista shows that living expenses in Bali are around 40 per cent lower than in Singapore, yet gated communities often deliver comparable resort-standard amenities. Families can offset travel costs through savings on rent and daily outlays, making routine weekend commutes not only possible but economically sensible.
Developer Response
Developers are moving quickly to cater to hybrid work lifestyles. In Thailand, several premium condominium towers now include flexible-use lounges, videoconferencing suites, and 24/7 business centres. Penang's new hilltop estates feature modular home-office pods that can convert between family living spaces and professional workstations. These projects often bundle property management and digital concierge services, addressing lifestyle and workplace needs in one package.
The Global Property Expo in Singapore (18–20 July 2025) will showcase the latest hybrid-ready developments alongside expert legal and financial advisory services. For buyers, the Expo offers a comprehensive platform to explore how the intersection of hybrid work and lifestyle migration reshapes residential investment strategies across Southeast Asia.
About James Puddle
James Puddle leads International Residential for South East Asia at JLL Singapore, connecting high-net-worth investors with premier regional residential developments. Before joining JLL in 2023, he founded One Global Group, expanding the boutique project-marketing agency from Singapore to Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Middle East and Africa after nearly 12 years marketing UK residential properties to international buyers. He is the organiser of the upcoming Global Property Expo in Singapore, 18-20 July 2025.