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Phuket Property Outlook
These days, visitors to Phuket / Thailand can't help but notice the number of premium property projects being marketed
on the island. Developers on this tourist hotspot are going all out to woo buyers with projects running the gamut from luxury villas to upmarket
resort condominiums with ultramodern facades and interior design.
Post-tsunami Phuket’s property market is enjoying a boom fuelled by rising demand from expatriates. Real-estate consultants say foreign investors
from Singapore, Hong Kong, Europe and the Mediterranean from the bulk of buyers who are snapping up properties across the island.
Traditionally hot marketProperty on Phuket has always been sought after, owing to its status as a top resort destination in Southeast
Asia. About the size of Singapore, the 570 sq km island attracts tourists and investors with its striking natural beauty, unique brand of Thai
hospitality and cost of living that is lower than other markets in the region such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
“Phuket distinguishes itself by its unique blend of safety, unrivalled hospitality, and the degree of sophistication of its economy and property
market. It is a fully serviced island with first-class facilities, very accessible from anywhere in the region, thanks to its international
airport, and benefits from a fantastic natural environment,” notes David Simister, chairman of CB Richard Ellis Thailand.
Bouncing back post-tsunami It’s not just luxury villas that are being snapped op on Phuket. Consultants say the island is enjoying strong demand
across the entire spectrum of properties available. Supply has also evolved to fit all budgets, from US$70,000 ($1 approx US$ 0.64) to above US$
7 million.
Where are these investors coming from? Analysts say demand has historically been from cosmopolitan Hong Kong and Singaporean residents, as well
as western expatriates living in the region. That profile, however is changing. “ We are now seeing an increasing number of high net worth
individuals coming from areas such as China, and expect to see more and more buyers from Europe as Mediterranean resort prices continue to rise
and people realise that Phuket can offer a very good value-for-money exotic lifestyle.” says Simister.
Choice investment properties Potential buyers on Phuket invariably look for ocean-view properties, which are highly sought-after because of
limited supply. These fast-selling developments include Trisara, which consists of exclusive US$ 2.6 million to US$ 5.3 million ocean-view and
ocean-front villas on 1,300 to 2,900 sq.m. land plots adjoining an eponymous six-star hotel. Another sought-after development is The Heights,
with 200 to 415 sq.m. sea-view condominium units priced from US$ 400,000 to US$ 950,000. Both projects sold half the units released within months
of launching.
While buyers previously looked to projects on the traditionally popular west coast of the island. Phuket’s south and east coast are steadily
gaining prominence as an alternative, as a result of the exhaustion of prime land in the west coast. A high-end project with prices lower than
that on the west coast is Supalai on Ao Por, which offers three-and four-bedroom villas with sea views for less than 20 million baht. Just 20
minutes from Phuket International Airport, the area is less crowed and located near amenities such as golf courses and marinas. Such properties
represent much better value for money, with higher capital-appreciation prospects as the area develops.
While consultants say Phuket’s property rental market is still in its infancy and most investors buy for owner-occupation, properties can offer
healthy yields depending on their type, location and furnishings. Simister of CB Richard Ellis estimates that yields for an actively managed
property can range from 6% to 12% a year, based on 100 nights’ occupancy. He adds that rental returns usually reach their full potential once the
property and development it is in are fully completed and have been in operation for high seasons.
Room for more growth CB Richard Ellis is more bullish. Simister says, “Far from being a bubble, the high level of real estate activity seen on
the island is only the beginning. Phuket is in the early stages of a long-term growth curve. The market has only one way to go, which is up, in
terms of volume of sales, and range and sophistication of properties and facilities offered.”
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