Stories tagged with property
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The latest in luxury in Phuket
The Thai resort island of Phuket has always been attractive as a vacation getaway, and many now call the island home for at least part of the year. The number of residences built on the island in recent years is impressive, and the latest in a long line of luxury pool villas, Les Palmares offers the absolute latest in technological gadgetry along with the style and comfort potential buyers would expect form a property on Phuket.
The Les Palmares pool villas have an asking price that places them firmly in the top echelon of what’s on offer on the island, as the units boast everything form cutting edge design, western kitchens, electronic climate control in every room, and electronic entertainment systems of the highest order.
Ayudhya Real Estate is the exclusive real estate agent for the complex, and agent Simon Murray says, "The development is 5-star rated and extremely elegant. It's designed in a modern Bali style with dense vegetation surrounding a central oasis around which each secluded villa is built. This ensures that the properties are suitable for people who require a natural, open space with privacy.
Tall trees are interspersed around the property ensuring that you feel the benefit of the natural surroundings and the weather yet have the shade needed in this tropical environment. The walls are built so that you still have privacy, but they're not so high that you can't see the mountains."
Posted by: DaveB on 06 Jun 2008, 19:56 -
Samui set to become more expensive
Ko Samui has always been known as one of the more expensive islands in the tourist-centered south of Thailand, but with all the recent high-profile construction on the island, Samui is expected to become an even more expensive choice of holiday destination. Some of the world’s biggest names in luxury hotels are either renovating their existing property on the island or for newcomers- considering a new venture there.
High stakes players such as Banyan Tree, Conrad, Mandarin Oriental, Sheraton and W Hotels are all circling the island clucking and wringing their hands at the hefty profits to be had there. Ko Samui’s Tourism Association president Seni Puwasetthawon says, “International arrivals have been increasing gradually since the December 2004 tsunami hit the Andaman Coast. More than 10,000 guestrooms would be added over the five years to the 14,000 rooms available today.�
Hotels have been somewhat prompted to expand by the new Thai Airways flight connecting the island with Bangkok, which is currently bringing 300 tourists a day to the island. If things carry on in this fashion, Samui is set to overtake Phuket as the most expensive of Thailand’s island resorts.
Posted by: DaveB on 01 Apr 2008, 17:21 -
Pattaya's booming market potential
Pattaya is booming, both in tourist arrivals and hotels as well as the property market.
The trend seems to be more for upmarket tourists with many impressive five-star hotels and an excellent infrastructure that includes good transport transport, health and hospitality.
Close to 7 million visitors arrived in 2007, meaning an increase of almost one million visitors every two years for the last five years.
Thai tourists are also prominent in Pattaya, who mainly visited for weekends, and represent about 25 per cent of total visitors.
Russian citizens are in the largest group of foreign tourists to Pattaya with a year on year increase, while visitor arrivals from South Korea, China, and India also climbed significantly.
Russian buyers are also right up there in the property market, followed by the Thai market, the UK and Australia, and then Germany.
The main attraction for property investors is Pattaya's five-star facilities, which include good access to the new airport, international sports and leisure activities, excellent entertainment options and an increasing number of quality hotels.
New hotel projects starting in 2008 will eventually result in a 50 per cent increase in five-star rooms, adding to 2007’s inclusion of the Hilton, Movenpick, and Le Meridien hotels.
Property developers are realizing this and are also on the bandwagon.
More on Pattaya
Posted by: Andrew on 09 Feb 2008, 21:02 -
Condo-owners await new valuations
According to the Treasury Department's forthcoming assessment, luxury condos on main roads are expected to rise 15-20 per cent in Bangkok.
Consequently, units in cheaper buildings are expected to see price reductions by as much as 10-15 per cent after the valuation at the end of February.
Property experts motioned that condo prices in the CBD would definitely rise following the release of the valuations.
Luxury condos in the central business district of Bangkok are currently priced at an average of between 80,000 and 100,000 baht per square metre.
Director of the Treasury Department's Property Valuation Bureau, Klayo Thongsom, said the new valuations, effective next January, will lead to an increase of 10-15 per cent in Don Muang, Bang Kapi, Bueng Kum, Lat Phrao, and Min Buri, as well as in 50 provinces.
The latest valuation, on January 1, saw increases of nearly six per cent in Bangkok and over 27 per cent elsewhere. Market prices were still higher than the new valuations, however.
Although the new valuations have no effect on market prices, the subsequent increase on the tax on land transactions for buyers could be significant.
The tax could rise by as much as 27 per cent this year over last year, according to Klayo.
Info on Thai visas
Posted by: Andrew on 04 Feb 2008, 21:08 -
Phuket luxury property still highly sought
The plane crash at the airport of the Thai island of Phuket shocked and saddened many this week, but despite the heavy hearts and bouquets tied with well wishes, it’s still business as usual for the resort island’s luxury real estate market.
The latest development complex of luxury apartments overlooking Surin Beach on Phuket has already sold 65% of its units in the early months after the launch, with construction slated for completion in mid-2008. The Chava is another development typical for the first-class visitors to the island that cost 800 million baht to construct.
Buyers can chose from 16 different designs that measure anywhere from 151 to 332 square metres, all with 24-hour concierge and security services
“We launched The Chava in May last year and have achieved sales of over 65% in fifteen months. Even though the Phuket property market has experienced a recent slow down, we continue to receive interest and positive feedback from potential buyers. We are confident that Phuket is still the most popular holiday home destination in Asia and buyers continue to show interest in buying quality apartments in prime locations, � said CEO of the Chava, Larry Cunningham.
For those us that have the means to have a second home around these parts, the minimum 15 million baht will certainly buy your way into paradise; but the rest of us will just have to put up with the beach bars and the bamboo huts.
Posted by: DaveB on 21 Sep 2007, 09:46 -
David Beckham to stake claim on Samui?
Superstars are always in the news when it comes to the location of their latest luxury holiday home, and what bigger star in there in the sports world than David Beckham? Obviously any rumors about Becks sniffing about beachfront property will make headlines, as they have done already in the past.
The latest bit of gossip is that the former England captain has bought a house that is currently under construction for B 200 million on the island of Ko Samui. It could be the case that Beckham was turned on to the Infinity Samui development by the former England Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson who already has a home there.
In true celebrity style, Beckham’s possible decision to lounge his holidays away in his private community of luxury condos may have come on the wave of a popular trend. It has been reported that a few other sports figures have already bought up plots on Samui; such as Number 1 ranked World Tennis Association player Justine Henin.
Rumors also tell that Beckham invited his England teammate and friend Wayne Rooney to be his neighbour. The buzz was that Beckham would come to Samui to check it all out last 13th, but any news of his arrival is unconfirmed.
Posted by: DaveB on 21 Jun 2007, 14:37 -
Condominium Boom in Hua Hin - Cha Am
Sales are up for new Condominiums in Hua Hin and Cha-am, and the growth is expected to continue according to property development executives.
Knight Frank Chartered (Thailand) Co., Ltd. MD Phanom Kanjanathiemthao explained to the Bangkok Post that there are two main markets for the condominiums: Thais who tend to prefer beach-front locations and foreigners looking for a second home, and who are often content with mountain views.
According to the survey, the number of new condominiums launched in the first four months of this year doubled the total new condominium supply launched last year. 1,749 units were sold in the first quarter of the year, though prices are quite high with some units reaching 120,000 to 150,000 Baht per sq m.
Posted by: Toony on 20 Jun 2007, 09:05 -
Spa Company Diversifies with Residential Developments
Thai Privilege Spa Healthcare Co will invest 3 Billion Baht in boutique spa projects and in diversify its business to include exclusive housing developments. They are currently developing a boutique villa and spa in Khao Lak. Other projects include residential developments in Phuket and a five-star hotel. The Bangkok Post has details from Surangrat Chirathivat the company's owner and chief executive.
Posted by: Toony on 18 Jun 2007, 11:26 -
CB Richard Ellis to Open Offices in Pattaya and Koh Samui
Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, managing director of CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) told the Bangkok Post that consultant CB Richard Ellis plans to add two more branches in Pattaya and Koh Samui within this year. The company is a leading international property consulting firm and is the major lessor of office space in Bangkok.
Posted by: Toony on 12 Jun 2007, 09:20