Simply logical, and practically inevitable! That was the phrase running through my mind as I attended the media launch of the Signature Series of SM Residences.

As Jessica Sy, SM Prime vice president and head of Design, Innovation, and Strategy, explained, this entry of SM Residences into the premium market is about building on the substantial land bank that has grown over decades; and now putting it to use in a way that allows SM to serve every segment of the real estate market.

It’s not just a reaction to a changing market—the often-cited glut of inventory for the middle-income segment—but the culmination of years of planning, observing, and preparing.

Sy went on to say that it’s about creating spaces that feel confident, essential, and livable—spaces with stories attached to them, meant to be passed down through generations. It’s all about timing, and SM now has the team, the vision, and has identified the market.

“It’s clarity in design, locations with purpose. Premium living that’s built in response to its environment,” Sy shared. And with the SM Group such strong advocates and champions of sustainability, resilience, and disaster preparedness, it can be anticipated that this category will set a new standard for responsible real estate development.

Jose Juan Z. Jugo, SM Prime executive vice president, will be heading the Signature Series—an initiative that unlocks the group’s vast and diverse land bank and resources. For Jugo, “This is a natural progression, coming on the heels of the premium commercial developments in retail and hospitality [of the SM Group]. There’s The Podium, SMaison, SM Aura, Conrad Manila, and Tagaytay Highlands. It’s about serving every segment, from the economic mid-market, to the premium primary residences and leisure.”

It’s upscale living that’s intentional and wholehearted. After having been such a dominant player in the core middle-income market, Jugo spoke of how they’ll now have something to offer this evolving segment as they become bigger families, gain more disposable income, and experience personal growth.

We can expect the Signature Series of SM Residences to offer the full spectrum of premium living—from premium market offerings starting at ₱15 million, to upgraded units for young professionals starting at ₱ 25 million, and all the way to luxury and ultra-luxury homes starting at ₱ 65 million, designed for legacy families and connoisseurs.

Jugo unveiled Susana Heights as a forthcoming horizontal development that exemplifies how serious they are about entering the luxury market. Nestled in Metro South, the subdivision will feature no cuts smaller than 750 square meters. Spanning some 285 hectares, the project will have over ₱ 25 billion in capital expenditure—an unprecedented scale for a development still within Metro Manila.

There’s much to be excited about with the entry of SM Residences into the premium market. It’s truly a logical extension of where they were headed, and a reflection of how they continue to find purpose in serving the public that has trusted them for decades. Without leaving anyone behind, it’s about moving forward and becoming more.