Thinking of purchasing a place in Thailand? New arrivals favor two locations in particular. Bangkok is the destination for those in Thailand seeking life experience, or who have relocated for career reasons. Phuket is the place to go for adventure-loving retirees; its relaxing beaches and easy-going lifestyle is the perfect tonic for expatriates. Bangkok and Phuket’s homes are something to see, so let’s take a look.
Living Options In The City of Bangkok – The city of Bangkok is very big with more than eight million people. It is about the same size as New York City. If you are looking to do business in the city, you will want to reside in high style condos or a high rise apartment. The closer the property is to the center of town the higher the price will be. If you don’t want to reside in a condo or apartment, it will take time to find a single family house because there aren’t that many of them.
The Houses of Phuket – Phuket, with its clear blue waters and sandy beaches, is the main tourist attraction for those who go to Thailand. When the Tsunami struck in 2004, the area which was a magnet for many tourists, Europeans and others, was highly affected. Much effort has been made to restore the area.And today the area’s waters are clearer than they have been in 20 years.
Phuket has some advantages in the area of infrastructure over Samui and other destinations for tourists in Thailand as it has a better standard of living with better housing and better roads. Phuket may be the most well off Thailand province but it still is very affordable for those who wish to settle in the area especially if they are westerners. And it offers some international schools with American and/or British courses and content which are especially made for children who speak English.
As is the case with Bangkok, there is a vast selection of houses for sale in Phuket with considerable variance in style. There is everything from town homes to higher end apartments and the homes of Phuket often look like they are made to accomodate the western view of what is luxury.
Be careful when looking to purchase a home in Thailand. According to Thai law, foreigners may not own land. However, foreign nationals may own a unit in a condominium, a building (but not the land), and foreigners may also be a long-term leaseholder for all types of land and buildings, holding leases for up to 30 years at a time. All things considered, with a trustworthy real estate agent and doing one’s homework, buying a home in Thailand can be a very rewarding experience.