Buying a Condo in Pattaya

Buying a Condo in Pattaya needs careful consideration. If you wish to buy a condo in Pattaya then you should also read the buying a condo in Bangkok as well as buying a condo in Thailand to give you an overview of the property market in Thailand as well as the laws such as the usufruct in Thailand, servitude’s as well a zoning and property restrictions and consider having a due diligence in Thailand done on your property before you make a deposit for the condo unit. Always speak to our real estate lawyer in Bangkok if you want to buy a condo in Pattaya.

This is a property brief on Pattaya. The Pattaya condo market is very unpredictable and fluctuates more than Bangkok, Phuket or Hua Hin. The Jomtien area showed the highest supply over the years however more condominium developments have moved towards the Pratumnak area of Pattaya. The property market unlike the Phuket Condo market as well as the Bangkok Condo market, Pattaya tends to have many Russian and Thai buyers with the rest coming from China, Singapore as well as Hong Kong.

Property prices have increased over the years but not at the growth rate of Phuket and Bangkok. The average prices in Pattaya in 2016 was in the range of THB 119,795 sqm. Non-sea-view units are much cheaper at about THB 66,925 sqm. With the Russian currency crisis in 2016, the Pattaya condo market went very soft however it did start its recovery. Consider this if you want to buy a condo in Pattaya. You can also see the options when buying a condo in Phuket. 

The most popular areas in Pattaya over the past 3 years has been the Jomtien area, with approximately 37% of the total condo units being built in the area, followed by South Pattaya and Wong Amart with around 16% and 14%, respectively. Investment property over a 6-year period has not seen the same gains as Phuket or buying a condo in Bangkok. If you are going to retire in Thailand then this is important. 

The average increase in price has not seen major increases but small incremental increases. Seaview property has shown the most growth over the 6-year period from THB 98,000 sqm in 2010 to THB 119,000 sqm in 2016 whereas the average price for non-Seaview condo units was THB 59,000 THB to 67,000 THB over the same period of time.

Many view Pattaya as a place to retire and mainly buy property to live in and not so much as an investment. Many hold onto a condo unit for an annual holiday or because they work or operate a business in the nearby industrial estate in Chonburi or closer to the Lamchabang Port. There are a number of condo units in Pattaya for lease and these rates are low enough to consider a leasing agreement or rental agreement if you are not looking at buying just yet if you want to also buy a condo in Pattaya.

If you want to know how to buy a condo in Pattaya then speak to us. Firstly you want a Chanote title deed and you would also want to have a property due diligence report completed. Thailand has many incompetence property projects and you don’t want to be part of those who lost their investment. You will need to lower the risks of buying property in Thailand when buying a condo.

Traffic jams are becoming common in Pattaya and the Jomtien area and you should think about this when you buy a condo in Pattaya, so you might want to consider your location carefully as well as how much you wish to invest in your retirement. With loads of infrastructure upgrades and a mixture of nationalities, Pattaya might be of interest to many.

In Conclusion 

Always speak to our Bangkok property lawyer in Thailand for more advice as well as guidance when thinking of your property investment in Thailand, be this a condominium or a villa in Pattaya as well as other legal services in Thailand. See also our article on buying a condo in Bangkok for more information and guidance.

How much does a condo cost in Pattaya? Pattaya has a wide range of developments. There are lower end units which are basic to the more higher-end units that will cost 10 million Baht or more. The lower end units would start at about 1 million baht and these would be very basic and much smaller. Likewise see also the articles that we wrote on how to retire in Pattaya as well as drafting a will in Pattaya. 

Before you buy a condo. Quality of build is important in Thailand.Who did the construction and how have their past units performed. Location, your lifestyle as well as what you can afford is also important. Also consider the condo monthly fees as well as ownership either corporate or personally owned.

Yes foreigners can buy a condo in Pattaya. Thai law stipulates that foreigners can only own 49% of the units in a building. If you are going to buy a unit then you will need to know who owns the unit. This can be either a person or a Thai company.

August 2018

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