Property Koh Samui

Since the turn of the millennium, the property market on Koh Samui has been growing  and diversifying with investment flowing in from a wide range of international sources and increasingly through a number of well known global hospitality brands. Competitive prices have drawn consistent buyer interest and the island's natural beauty and global reputation as a tourist destination has bolstered the market during difficult economic times. As a a result of this investment, Koh Samui's landscape is slowly being transformed with the beaches and hillsides now decorated with a combination of exclusive residences and upmarket hotels, the latter increasingly offering resort properties for sale. Foreign companies and individual investors account for the vas majority of property purchases on the island, meaning there is also now a fast growing expatriate community in place.

When Samui first launched as a residential destination, the investment boom prompted land and property prices to rise sharply. This allowed early arrivals into the market to make considerable returns on their investment, particularly those that bought and built houses specifically designed as second homes. As development moved forward the property market stabilised and villa rentals began to attract yields from short term clients. This caused a significant increase in the number of properties being made available as holiday lets, which allowed second home owners to cover the cost of maintenance and staffing when not in residence.

In the last three years, due mainly to the global financial crisis, the property market on Koh Samui has cooled considerably.  Yet surprisingly, prices have remained stable, particularly at the top end of the market, mainly because the island is still very much a cash driven one. In the mid-range, prices have begun to level out with less construction allowing supply is beginning to catch up with demand. Deals and alternative ownership options have also become more common, while the quality of finish and support services has also improved to meet the needs of more cautious investors. A significant increase in large-scale corporate investment has also helped Koh Samui attract big players from the Asia region to its property market. This is expected to drive increased sales volume in the coming years, with a wider net cast to reach more diverse target markets around the world.

The sheer number of new project launches and completions in the last two years around the island has experts predicting a return to form in the real estate sector in the not too distant future. Developers and agents like EP Samui, who boast first hand knowledge of the local market are in a strong position to advise investors as to the safest and most intelligent property purchases to make. With Samui still seen as an attractive option for many buyers, the number of transactions is sure to rise. Client diversity, particularly with regard to the range of nationalities looking at opportunities on Samui is now a significant factor. Developers and agents are therefore becoming ever more creative with their products and associated services to appeal to a wider range of potential investors.