It seems everyone has a tip for the “next big thing” in Bangkok property and real estate. Realistically you and I are way down the line when it comes to knowing about big developments that will drive property investment – whether an announcement of the latest mass-transit extension of a new mega-mall development.
At DDproperty.com we are often swamped with predications for where buyers and investors should be looking, and naturally if they are balanced and factual we will pass them on to you in the form of a new story.
With that in mind, here are four suggestions for where Bangkok property buyers and investors should be looking, and more importantly why.
Bang Sue
While it is not on many investors’ watch lists, Bang Sue is certainly an area to watch. Last June real estate firm Knight Frank identified this area as a residential property hotspot and revealed how the northern Bangkok suburb is set to become a large terminal where many mass transit lines will intersect. The station currently served by the MRT Blue Line, and it is planned to be joined by the MRT Dark Blue Line in 2016 (north-south line); also by State Railway of Thailand Dark Red Line in 2017 (towards Rangsit); as well as an extension of the Airport Rail Link by 2017. Clearly, it will be well connected in time, and that is always a magnet from both investor and tenants.
Udomsuk
Two years ago overseas investors especially wouldn’t have given this location a second glance. Anything past Thong Lor on Sukhumvit would have been ignored, but investors from beyond our shores, and even expatriate tenants, are giving this area serious consideration because of the significantly lower prices than just a few BTS stations closer to Siam. The arrival of the nearby Bangkok Mega Mall in a few years will certainly add to the attraction of this location.
Talad Phlu
Besides being close to the writer of this article for the past eight years, Talad Phlu and the Thaphra area in general are literally exploding with property developments. You could argue that any investor here would be two years too late, but with its excellent BRT and BTS connections – and its relative proximity to the city and comparative less expensive property prices – it makes a decent place to live and still holds upward potential in terms of prices. Just several months ago, one development sold more than 1,000 units in the area in less than 48 hours. Surely that many people cannot be wrong, even though it is on the Thonburi side of the river.
Rama 9
DDproperty.com’s own data for January 2015 showed this area was the most-searched by users of the website. As one of a plethora of areas claiming to be Bangkok’s new central business district, the Rama 9 area and its vicinity still remains attractively affordable in spite of its relative closeness to the centre of the city. An explosion of development over the last three or four years have rejuvenated the area and has given property buyers and investors a lot of choice. Foreign buyers have also been active in this location – an indication itself that important investment factors are in place already.
Andrew Batt, International Group Editor of PropertyGuru Group, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories email andrew@propertyguru.com.sg
