EXCLUSIVE:
Thailand remained the most popular destination in Asia for overseas property buyers and investors, with a sharp increase in interest levels being seen during July.
In the monthly ‘Top of the Props’ league table for the most searched countries on TheMoveChannel.com, a leading overseas property website, Thailand ranked as the 13th most popular county – a rise of six places from the previous month and underlining the recent spike in interest in property within the Kingdom from overseas buyers.
Dan Johnson, Director of TheMoveChannel.com, told DDProperty: “When the credit crunch first hit, property investors started to retrench towards more familiar markets. The political crisis that hit Thailand between 2008 and 2010 will have worsened this effect, meaning that drumming up interest in Thai property during that period would have been difficult.”
Thailand has returned to the radar of many overseas property buyers and investors on the back of a stable political situation and strong economic fundamentals.
Johnson added: “Since 2010 a period of relative stability has ensued, which has helped build investor appetite for the great value property, amazing countryside, spectacular coastline and deliciously tasty cuisine.”
Andrew Batt, International Group Editor for PropertyGuru, Asia’s leading property portal group, said: “Thailand is experiencing a surge in interest from overseas property buyers right now. It’s evident from the increasing number of sales from other parts of Southeast Asia, but also in the heightened levels of interest being seen from elsewhere in the world.”
Spain retained the global property gold, accounting for almost one-fifth of buyer enquiries on the overseas portal. America stayed strong in second place leaving France to take the bronze. But it was Bulgaria’s ten place jump to eighth place that grabbed most attention, increasing the country’s share by 1.35 per cent last month to take 2.57 per cent of all enquiries on the site.
Johnson said: “Bulgaria’s improved monthly ranking seems to come directly from the appeal of its prices. A new law allowing overseas buyers to invest without registering a Bulgarian company first can only help.”
TheMoveChannel.com Top of the Props table : July 2012
(Most-searched overseas property destinations)
1. Spain
2. USA
3. France
4. Portugal
5. Italy
6. Turkey
7. Brazil
8. Bulgaria
9. Cyprus
10. Croatia
11. Greece
12. Malta
13. Thailand
14. Cape Verde
15. Germany
16. Canada
17. Barbados
18. St Lucia
19. Hungary
20. Cayman Islands
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