Homes Phuket – houses for sale
With the rapid development on Phuket and the good amenities and facilities in place, it’s no wonder many overseas investors are jumping at the opportunity to own homes in Phuket.
It’s easy to find homes in Phuket by simply checking out some of the real estate agents’ websites. Even if you don’t see something online, most agents will make every effort to find you something suitable and all speak English. Elsewhere in this section is a list of Phuket real estate agents with listings of houses for sale in Phuket.
Perhaps the best thing to do though, is spend time on the island first and figure out which area is most appealing to you before looking for houses for sale in Phuket. Will you spend time in the home or is it strictly for rental? Homes in Phuket tourist areas are rented out more easily and at a higher price; however, you may not want to live in those areas. Patong and Kata especially can be loud and have higher pricing than more residential areas like Phuket City and Chalong.
If you want to live in the home and you have children, you might want to consider the locations of bilingual and international schools on the island as distances can be long for children to travel to school. Many people purchase homes near to the British Curriculum International School (formerly Dulwich Academy) for just this reason. There are houses for sale nearby. Expect to see more development occur in the northeast of the island, as parents get to know the recently opened Phuket International Academy.
Another consideration is the distance to the airport. Many of Phuket’s residents are part-time residents that work in Hong Kong or other parts of Asia during the week and fly home on the weekends. Time is precious to them and they don’t relish the idea of an hour-long drive home from the airport to Chalong. These are also the more affluent buyers on the island and they tend to purchase Phuket homes in the Cherng Talay, Surin and Laguna areas.
In Phuket you’ll also find houses for sale by owners advertised in local English-language newspapers such as the Phuket Post and Phuket Gazette. If you prefer marina living or are interested in a particular housing area, you should go to those areas and look for ‘For Sale’ signs. Boat Lagoon sometimes has houses for sale but they go quickly.
If you don’t see anything you like, you can always buy land and build a home yourself. Although this can be a cheaper option, it can also come with a lot of headaches as good builders can be difficult to find on the island. Cost of materials and labour are definitely higher than you would find building a house in the north of Thailand and you may also find difficulties in communicating what you want to your builder. For more insight into building your own home, visit CoolThaiHouse.com.
Homes in Phuket are certainly desirable and in demand. But land is always going to be the problem. Foreigners can not own the land in Thailand. Some who have Thai partners put it in the partner’s name (and have to sign an affidavit that the money comes entirely from the partner). In the past, many put the ownership of the land into a company specifically set up for this purpose but recent tightening of the laws has made this almost impossible these days.
Foreigners may lease land. However, the longest land lease that may be registered with the authorities is 30 years. Many land owners offer lease contracts that stipulate two additional periods of 30 years each, for a total of 90 years, but these contracts cannot be registered with the land office and, should ownership of the land change hands, the new owner is not legally bound to honour the rollovers in the contract. Furthermore, a legal agreement over compensation needs to be done, since all lease agreements automatically become void if the property is sold, under normal circumstances.
It’s best to consult with a credible lawyer to find out more information about the current legalities of buying houses and land in Phuket.
