New roads to opportunity

completion of any major transport link changes real estate values and development patterns greatly. A case in point will be the opening earlier this month of the last section of the Outer Ring Road linking Suk Sawat Road on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River with Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan on the east bank.

Further changes are in the pipeline with work under way to link this stretch of the Outer Ring Road with the Industrial Ring Road, which has two major cable-stayed bridges across the Chao Phraya River linking Suk Sawat to the west and Pu Chao Saming Phrai Road to the east to Rama III Road on the southern fringes of the central business district.

Dynamic government will inspire confidence

All of us in the property industry are waiting in anticipation of positive signals that will resurrect international confidence, enable investors to take up the undoubted wonderful opportunities offered in Thailand and provide a strong future platform for growth.

The Dec 23 elections present a great chance to get back on track with the formation of a democratically elected government to ensure the country can once again surge forward at the same pace as its Asian neighbours.

Preuksa Real Estate planning Ho Chi Minh developments

Preuksa Real Estate Plc, the country's second largest developer, plans to bid for land in Ho Chi Minh City in mid-December to develop medium-priced housing units, according to chief executive and managing director Thongma Vijitpongpun.

He said the Vietnamese government was accelerating property development in Ho Chi Minh City's central business district and would open bidding for local and overseas developers.

''We're studying the Ho Chi Minh City property market and will examine property and land market prices late this month,'' he says.

Future could include a reborn Klong Toey

Managing director Patima Jeerapaet said that the Port Authority of Thailand was looking for a consultant to draft a plan to develop 2,000 rai of Klong Toey Port land which is the size of a mini-city. This idea first surfaced around four years ago and his real estate agency is following up on the lead. ''It would definitely be mixed use _ housing, retail, hotels and offices _ 2,000 rai is huge.''

Franchises specialise in luxury residences

Engel & Volkers, one of the fastest growing international real estate brands, with new shops opening on average every four days, is getting ready to move into Bangkok by year-end after establishing itself in Greater Phuket area and Hua Hin in less than 24 months, according to Martin Phillips, managing partner of Engel & Volkers Thailand.

Fairmont Goes Exotic with Far Flung Fractionals

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, through its Fairmont Heritage Place brand, is opening several international fractional properties over the next few years. In Dubai, a hot bed of real estate development and now home to the tallest building in the world, Fairmont along with IFA Hotels and Resorts is building a fractional residence club on the Palm Jumeirah, a man made desert island. Homes range from two-bedroom, 1,810 square foot apartments to 5,340 square foot, two-level villas with five bedrooms and private infinity pools. The 51 fractional ownership homes, being sold in 1/10th shares, just started going into contract this fall. Prices start at $165,000.