Luxury villas are outperforming other real estate in the popular Thai resort of Phuket

The firm's Managing Director Bill Barnett pictured said supply and demand fundamentals for the high end are continuing to strengthen given that excess supply is being absorbed, while macro issues are restricting demand for new product launches.

'While market recovery prospects are being set back to 2011, there has continued to be a gradual upswing in activity, driven primarily by earlier than anticipated momentum in many of the financial source markets where potential overseas buyers originate from' Barnett said.

The report values the existing luxury villa inventory Bt10 billion with 92 units currently on the market. Between January to June of this year 19 properties were sold, while the resale market saw over Bt1 billion in transactions.

Property Investment in Koh Samui

Overseas investment property specialists, DSR Asset Management Ltd. has come over all oriental this month with the addition of the exotic Koh Samui to its expanding investment property offerings

Koh Samui is known for its rich natural resources and the uninhabited mountainous jungles. Considered as Thailand’s third largest island, the place has been attracting tourists from all parts of the world because of its natural white sandy beaches and coral reefs. Its unspoiled public image has made the island’s tourism industry successful and brought forth the prosperity of Thailand investment property.

Bangkok real estate

With the new BTS extension from Saphan Taksin to Wongwian Yai already running, and the Bang Na extension nearing completion, investment potential along the new routes is coming to the fore, albeit complicated by the current market climate.

James R. Pitchon, executive director, CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd., told Property Report Thailand, "The mass transit system has completely transformed Bangkok, serving to refocus development to the city centre. The extension of the BTS lines is a welcome continuation of that trend.”

Real Estate recovery?

Worst performer was Dubai, with a 40% drop in prices, followed by Singapore with 16%, although Ireland didn’t feature in this article, and I know for a fact that the Irish real estate market has been hit very badly, with prices collapsing dramatically. Another survey I read reported US real estate prices down nearly 20% over the year.
To give you an idea of the wild fluctuations in real estate agents moods, valuations and outlook in London, I was quoted two different “firm estimates” by the same real estate company for the same apartment I wished to sell, over a space of 3 weeks. Incredibly, the second quote was $40,000 higher than the first one, only because people seem to be cheering up about the economy and real estate prices, and there had been a number of very positive reports on demand, prices and mortgage applications in the UK during the time between quotes, so suddenly everyone was becoming less negative.
Similarly, I think it has recently become fashionable (and sensible) to talk down Thailand and its real estate markets, both at home and abroad, especially following the country’s self-inflicted wounds.