WOULD YOU STILL BUY?

News broke from Bangkok this week: a massive sinkhole—30 x 30 meters wide and 50 meters deep—swallowed an entire road. Officials traced the collapse to nearby subway station construction.

This caught my attention because Corinthian Gardens is currently voting on whether to allow a subway line to tunnel beneath their village. The debate isn’t just about engineering—it’s about perception. Corinthian, after all, is the Forbes Park of the North.

What could go wrong if a subway runs beneath a village?

Ground movement or settlement leading to cracks in homes and roads

Constant vibration and noise that disturb residents—or even damage structures

Underground water disruption: flooding, dried-up wells, or soil instability

Lingering unease about long-term safety

In real estate, perception matters as much as reality. I once had a client back out of a purchase simply because the property sat 20 meters from a fault line—well beyond PHIVOLCS’ ±5m buffer. Another time, buyers demanded a 20% discount because one corner of the lot touched the village perimeter wall.

So the real question is: Would the mere idea of a subway running under a prime village chip away at its value—regardless of safety assurances?

Downside movement would begin with owners selling to relocate. If buyers hesitate, prices get shaved further, eating into the hefty paper gains built up over the last decade’s rally.

Or perhaps, residents simply shrug it off.

Let’s see…