Ho Chi Minh City homebuyers head outward in search of bigger, more affordable homes

The second-quarter 2026 real estate consumer survey by Batdongsan.com.vn, cited by CBRE at the Real Value Real Estate exhibition on Friday, found that 69 percent of 1,000 respondents in HCMC were open to such a move.

Only 27 percent still preferred living near the city center despite smaller homes and higher prices.

Notably, 72 percent of people buying homes for their own use favored areas with new infrastructure and good transport links.

CBRE said quality of life is becoming increasingly important compared with the traditional emphasis on location.

Homebuyers are paying more attention to lower building density, green spaces, large parks, schools, healthcare facilities, and community amenities.

Duong Thuy Dung, executive director of research and consulting at CBRE Vietnam, said the market is shifting from a focus on owning property to one centered on quality of life.

She said projects that meet genuine housing demand, feature well-planned development and infrastructure, and provide a high-quality living environment and comprehensive amenities are likely to create more sustainable value.

Dong Quang Canh, senior sales manager at Batdongsan.com.vn, said homebuyers are not choosing suburban areas simply because they are cheaper.

Many are willing to live farther from the center in exchange for larger homes, more accessible prices, and expectations of better infrastructure connectivity in the future.

The shift in homebuyer preferences has coincided with a restructuring of housing supply.

Before 2024, Ho Chi Minh City accounted for around 60-85 percent of newly launched apartment supply in the wider region. Since 2024, that share has fallen to 20-50 percent, with new supply increasingly moving to satellite markets such as the former provinces of Binh Duong, Long An, and Dong Nai.