hot Property
…. introducing the Samui Lifestyle property team.
John Birt has been living in Asia most of his life and working in the property sector in Thailand since 1988. He first invested in Samui in 1989 when he was running a major International Property firm in Bangkok and he made Koh Samui his permanent home in 2000. John is considered the most experienced property investment consultant on Samui at this time. Gary Pearmain made Samui his home in December 1996 and was instrumental with John in taking and highlighting Samui at international property shows in Hong Kong and elsewhere. Both remain at the forefront and continue to be extremely active in the property sector on Samui.
John Birt: jgbirt@samart.co.th
Gary Pearmain: gary@samuiproperties.com
As 2012 is finally upon us, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on just a few of the many positive changes in investments and showcase openings this incredible island saw in 2011. While still young but maturing well, Koh Samui is now firmly established as a premier Asian destination offering a widening range of international quality leisure facilities, notable brand names and an ever increasing attractively-paced lifestyle. The island now offers an extremely healthy range of property to accommodate the growing number of visitors and investors alike, due to market forces available at very attractive and competitive prices.
2011 brought this fragile world many natural disasters and across many continents another timely reminder of the affects of the global changes in our environment happening right now. Locally, March of 2011 came with great devastation, in the form of a deluge of rainfall unusual for the season. Both the local and national government have been granted the opportunity to plan and incorporate new budgets for infrastructure in response to previous failings and in preparation for the island’s bright and sustainable future.
Having ignored previous warnings the world remains shaken and truly stirred as man-made disasters once again threaten to bring the financial world to the brink of bankruptcy, thus leading to unstable markets, imbalances in currency and political unity, and, leaving many countries and their populations looking very vulnerable. Naturally, without turning on respective news channels, many of these global effects go unnoticed on the archetypal tropical Samui island day; it is this quality of daily life that will once again attract visitors in large numbers. As a result, more of those will decide to explore the possibilities of re-locating and making an investment in property. The island’s well established internationally recognized schools and hospitals continue to make the relocation of a family a real option. 2012 promises Koh Samui’s real estate market will continue to lean favorably towards the buyer with many tempting properties currently on the market, due to distressed selling.
In earlier editions we featured and concur with our colleagues at The Asia Property Report … "Undoubtedly the most significant development on Koh Samui in the last year has been the impact that international brand hotels have started to make on various aspects of the island economy, from tourism to property. Big names like Banyan Tree, W Hotels, The Conrad and more recently the Intercontinental not only set a benchmark in terms of standards, they also give the island much wider reach in terms of general publicity and reputation. As word spreads around the globe that Koh Samui is the chosen location for some of the world's biggest hospitality brands, market confidence and also the customer base for luxury properties on the island is growing at pace."
JB would comment … “The signs are that Thailand’s leading resort locations are set to do well this coming high season with good occupancy rates and world markets strengthening in reaction to the work being done to stabilize the Euro. There are also signs that forward bookings for 2012 will translate into an improved year for tourism and we believe that this in turn will help in improving the performance of our property market overall”.
Samui is now an established vibrant cosmopolitan destination which has an all-encompassing real estate sector starting with very affordable one bedroom freehold, serviced condo units. The award winning Beach Republic presents “Fractional Ownership” of its resort villas and apartments, a cost effective way to get your foot on the property investment ladder. With confidence returning to the market, several independent developers have already launched new projects for 2012. The local government's ongoing program of infrastructure improvements will also see the introduction of ever better essential amenities for residents, including smoother transport connections and more efficient waste management services.
There are some magnificent private villas on the drawing boards and some exiting boutique style resorts with private villas due to open their doors later in the year. Professional management companies widen the horizons to truly breathtaking services being offered in the seclusion of some of the finest private villas to be found anywhere in the world.
Not to be forgotten is the Samuian magic that has always remained and will continue to be its people and culture alike. Such a wealth of courtesy and beauty will consistently make Samui a huge attraction whilst the world continues in its loud obtrusive crowded and predictable way. A holiday, a retreat or an investment home in Samui offer freedom from those confines.
