The saving isn’t quite as good on this one.

But the owner wants to sell fast so he’ll probably cut the price even more for a quick sale.

This place is only 5 minutes’ walk from the town and beach.

It’s on the ground floor and has a small private garden.

The seller paid 5,000,000 Baht (US$ 168,123) for it in July 2011.

Today he’ll let it go for 4,000,000 Baht (US$ 134,498).

A saving of 1,000,000 Baht (US$ 33,625).

Ownership is foreign freehold.

And all the furniture is included in the price.

If you’d like to know more – simply reply to me.

Now we’re into high-season, I don’t think these properties will be on the market for long.

So if you are coming to Phuket and don’t want to miss out – why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I’m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca]]> http://blog.phuketoceanvillas.com/condo-crazy-dont-miss-these-insane-deals/feed/ 0 http://blog.phuketoceanvillas.com/do-you-know-the-mussel-man/ http://blog.phuketoceanvillas.com/do-you-know-the-mussel-man/#comments Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:17:11 +0000 RebeccaJK http://blog.phuketoceanvillas.com/?p=8371 When you live on an island you get to enjoy great seafood.

And I’m lucky enough to have some of the best right on my doorstep.

If you’re familiar with Bangtao you may already know the ‘mussel man’.

He started out a few years ago with a small roadside stall selling fresh cockles and mussels.

They’re steamed for you while you wait with lemon grass, holy basil and coriander.

Over the years he’s developed quite a following.

So much so, he’s expanded his product range to include live oysters, crabs, tiger prawns and mantis shrimps.

He even had these odd-looking creatures the other week…

They are horse shoe crabs and apparently they’re living fossils.

But enough about seafood.

Because I’ve been flexing my muscles to get you some great property deals.

Such as a 3 bedroom ocean view villa in Kalim.

The 2-storey property has 180-degree views over Patong and the ocean.

On the upper floor there’s a large open plan living room with a kitchen.

And 2 master suites with large bathtubs and walk-in closets.

The private 6 x 3 metre pool and terrace are also on this level.

Downstairs is a large en-suite bedroom with a sitting room.

The estate is managed by a hotel and has 24-hour reception and a shuttle bus to Patong.

There are also 3 restaurants, a gym and a tennis court on site.

This villa was on the market for US$ 1,300,000.

But I’ve persuaded the seller to slash the price to US$ 995,000.

That’s a saving of US$ 305,000.

And it includes all the furniture.

If you want to know more, just reply to me.

Or how about a 2 bedroom ocean view apartment in Kalim?

It’s on the second floor and is only 50 metres to the beach.

The resort has a large oceanfront pool, a bar, a gym and private underground parking.

Similar apartments on this estate have recently sold for 12,000,000 Baht (US$ 391,516).

But the owner of this one is asking 10,395,000 Baht (US$ 339,151).

If you’d like full details simply reply to me.

Bargains like these won’t be around forever.

So if you are coming to Phuket and don’t want to miss out – why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I’m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca

If you’ve been to Thailand you may have seen these…

They look just like normal chicken’s eggs, except they’re pink.

But be careful.

Inside they are nothing like normal eggs.

And if you attempt to crack one open for your breakfast it might put you off eggs for life.

You see, the yolk is black and the white a sort of jelly-like mess.

They are actually called Century Eggs.

Not because they are centuries old (although they look it), but because of the way they are made which dates back hundreds of years.

If you’ve got the stomach for it, you could try them served in the traditional Thai way.

Cut into slices and served with chilli, ginger, a little sugar, salt, fish sauce and lemon juice.

Delicious!

The question is – do pink eggs come from pink chickens?…

Whilst you’re thinking about it, here are some properties going ‘cheep’ (sorry, I couldn’t resist).

If you’re looking for a villa, you won’t want to miss this one in Surin.

Villas on this estate don’t come up for sale very often.

And when they do they are usually snapped up pretty quickly.

Because it’s just a 5 minute walk to Surin Beach.

The villa is on 2 floors.

On the lower floor there’s a large open plan living room with a dining area and kitchen.

There’s also a separate pavilion which serves as a study and overlooks the private swimming pool.

Upstairs are 4 bedrooms, 2 with en-suite bathrooms.

Similar villas on this estate have recently sold for 27,000,000 Baht (US$ 879,938).

But you can pick this one up for only 18,000,000 Baht (US$ 586,625).

So it’s quite a saving.

Although it does need a bit of cosmetic work.

The solid wood floors need re-finishing and the house needs painting inside and out.

But it wouldn’t cost that much to make it perfect.

Want to know more?

Simply reply to me.

If you’re on the lookout for a good investment, I have just the thing in Layan.

It’s a 1 bedroom apartment only 10 minutes’ walk to the beach.

Here’s the deal…

The seller paid 4,500,000 Baht (US$ 146,689) for it in July 2008.

Today he’ll take 3,150,000 Baht (US$ 102,682).

That’s a saving of 1,350,000 Baht (US$ 44,007).

But that’s not all.

He’s been renting the apartment to holidaymakers.

And his return this year was 313,216 Baht (US$ 10,207).

That’s a net yield of 9.94%.

I know what you’re thinking.

If he’s making such a good return why does he want to sell?

Quite simply, he needs the cash.

If you’d like full details – just reply to me.

I don’t think these 2 properties will be on the market for long.

So if you are coming to Phuket and don’t want to miss out – why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I‘m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca

Kimi Raikkonen – winner of the 2012 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

…but there is a catch.

You see, the winner of the 2012 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and 2007 F1 World Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, is selling his Phuket home.

And I assume he would need to sign the paperwork.

So you’d get his autograph for free!

Kimi bought the property in 2008.

Just a few months after he’d won the 2007 F1 World Drivers’ Championship.

He said at the time; “It will be a nice place to go with my family and friends when I have two weeks off in the winter.”

And according to staff at the resort he always had a great time when he stayed.

I tried to quiz them for more details – but they are very discreet and I got nowhere.

So what is Kimi’s Phuket property really like?

As you’d expect, it’s in a 5-star resort with restaurants, a spa, a gym and a swimming pool.

The 279m2 house is right on the beachfront.

It has an infinity-edged pool and steps down to the ocean.

The ground floor has a large open-plan living, dining room and kitchen.

There’s also an en-suite guest bedroom on this level.

Upstairs is the master suite with its large corner bathtub and walk-in closet.

On top there’s a private roof terrace with sun loungers and a BBQ.

All floors have views of the ocean and nearby islands.

Kimi’s property is fully furnished – but there are no trophies or F1 memorabilia that I could see.

The asking price is 29,000,000 Baht (US$ 942,471).

Is he open to offers?

There is only one way to find out.

If you want to know more – just send me an email.

Best,

Rebecca

He was smiling and singing away.

When I asked him why he pointed to a birdcage in a tree…

“Its name is Lucky. It’s a special singing bird. If it wins I could get 200,000 Baht.”

He’s invested a quarter of his monthly salary in his new protégé.

And Lucky is already in training for the next big song contest.

You could say it’s a bit like “The X-Factor” for birds.

But it is serious stuff.

The winner takes away up to 1,000,000 Baht (US$ 32,600) in prize money.

So as you can imagine, competition is fierce with hundreds of entries.

Points are awarded for pitch, melody and volume.

I hope you will join me in wishing Jock the best of luck.

And if you’re not in the hunt for the next 1,000,000 Baht prize…

How about saving 23,000,000 Baht (US$ 749,795) on an ocean view villa?

It was completed in September 2011, overlooks Patong Bay and is only a 10 minute walk to the town centre.

The villa has 3 floors and 605m2 of living space.

Inside are 4 en-suite bedrooms, a living room, a dining room and a top-quality kitchen.

There’s also a large roof deck with a private pool and entertainment area.

The good news is, it has its own elevator, so you’ll never need to climb the stairs.

This villa was for sale at 58,000,000 Baht (US$ 1,890,788).

But today you can snap it up for just 35,000,000 Baht (US$ 1,140,993).

That’s a huge saving of 23,000,000 Baht (US$ 749,795).

So it really is “going for a song”.

Why?

The developer only has this one left and he wants to sell it fast so he can start his next project.

If you want to know more – just reply to me.

But you’ll have to be quick.

This really is a great deal and I expect it to go quickly.

So if you are coming to Phuket and don’t want to miss out – why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I‘m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca

And it seems preparations are well underway.

Eager participants have been ‘testing’ firecrackers 24-7.

Banners and lanterns already adorn the streets.

The celebrations officially kick-off on 15th October and last for 10 days.

During that time you’re expected to wear white and eat only vegetables.

You should also keep clean and abstain from sex and alcohol.

But there’s a far more shocking side to this festival.

It comes in the form of the “Ma Song” (enchanted horses) who are said to possess supernatural powers.

These people put themselves into a trance and pierce their bodies with pretty much anything they can lay their hands on.

Over the years I’ve seen canoe paddles, pitch forks and even a bicycle.

This chap has chosen some miniature guitars…

Why do they do it?

To draw evil spirits into themselves and bring good luck to their village.

Would you try it?

Call me boring, but I think I’ll stick to finding property deals for you.

And if you are looking for a bargain…

How about a villa 400 metres from Bangtao Beach?

It has 2 bedrooms, a top quality kitchen, hard wood floors and double glazed windows.

The garden is 400m2 with a private pool.

There’s also a roof top terrace.

It was built in 2004 and sold for 18,000,000 Baht (US$ 586,989).

Now it is on sale for just 12,000,000 Baht (US$ 391,326).

Want to know more?

Just reply to me.

Or what about an apartment in Layan?

It’s got 135m2 of living space with a kitchen, a living room and 2 en-suite bedrooms.

You also get an ocean ‘glimpse’ from the balcony.

The estate has a large swimming pool and a gym.

And Layan Beach is only a 10 minute walk.

The seller paid 7,500,000 Baht (US$ 244,578) for this place, two years ago.

But now he’ll take just 6,000,000 Baht (US$ 195,663).

You save 1,500,000 Baht (US$ 48,915).

If you’d like to know more simply reply to me.

Deals like this won’t be around forever.

So if you are coming to Phuket and don’t want to miss out – why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I‘m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca

To be honest, it makes me feel right at home being English.

Plus, it’s good for my garden.

Speaking of rain – or should I say reign (sorry, I couldn’t resist)…

Have you been watching the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on TV?

It’s incredible to think Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for 60 years.

And at 84 she’s still going strong.

But as you may know, there is one monarch who has been there even longer…

Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

His Majesty celebrates 66 years on the throne this Saturday, 9th June.

So today I have some right royal deals for you…

The jewel in the crown is a 4-bedroom villa in Surin.

It has views over Surin Beach and Amanpuri, where Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have stayed.

The seller has cut the price from 78,000,000 Baht (US$ 2,462,772) to 69,000,000 Baht (US$ 2,178,606).

A saving of 9,000,000 Baht (US$ 284,166).

Want to know more?

Just reply to me.

The owner of this 3-bedroom villa in Layan is leaving to sail around the world on his catamaran.

Perhaps he was inspired by the boats on The River Thames last Sunday?

Anyway, he’s selling at a good price.

He bought the villa off plan in 2008 for 15,800,000 Baht (US$ 498,869).

But today he’ll sell for only 13,800,000 (US$ 435,721).

That’s 2,000,000 (US$ 63,148) less than he paid.

And other villas on the estate are selling at 19,900,000 Baht (US$ 638,322).

So buying this one could save you 6,100,000 Baht (US$ 202,601).

Interested?

Reply to me and I’ll send you full details.

Or what about a 2-bedroom town house in Bangtao?

It may not be as regal as the others.

But it does make 1,300,000 Baht (US$ 41,046) per year in rental income.

That’s 11.3% gross or 6.95% after all costs and fees.

This 212m2 house has 2 en-suite bedrooms, a private pool and a garden.

The asking price is 11,500,000 Baht (US4 363,101).

And the seller is open to offers.

If you want to know more – just reply to me.

Deals like this won’t be around forever.

So if you are coming to Phuket and don’t want to miss out – why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I‘m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca

You know, to try and catch up on some much needed sleep.

Instead I was rudely awakened.

There was banging, crashing and lots of shouting.

What on earth was going on?

I looked out of the window and saw this…

It was the local school band marching down the road.

They were banging drums, crashing cymbals and generally making as much noise as possible.

I can’t say I was too impressed at 8am on Sunday morning.

Apparently it was a practice for an upcoming sports day.

With my lie-in ruined, I decided to head-off and find some more good deals for you…

Do you remember the villa in Layan with the large garden I sent to you a couple of weeks ago?

Well, the seller has dropped the price from 17,995,000 Baht (US$ 567,130) to 15,495,000 (US$ 488,340) Baht.

That’s a saving of 2,500,000 Baht (US$ 78,790).

To refresh your memory, it has 3 bedrooms and a separate guest suite in the garden.

The 960m2 plot is walled and has a private, 8 x 4 metre swimming pool.

If you want to know more – just reply to me.

I also found a 3 bedroom villa in Bangtao.

It is only 600 metres from the beach.

And on a fully managed, completed estate, with a gym, spa and restaurant.

The villa opposite is on sale for 22,000,000 Baht (US$ 693,352).

But the seller of this one just wants his money back.

He bought it in 2005.

So he’ll take just 14,500,000 Baht (US$ 456,982).

That’s 7,500,000 Baht (US$ 236,370) less.

It has a 658m2 garden, a private pool and a rooftop terrace with Thai sala.

Want full details?

Simply reply to me.

Finally, how do you fancy a 4-bedroom villa in Rawai?

It has views of the ocean and rainforest.

And comes with a few curious extras such as ‘floating stairs’ and a ‘fireman’s pole’.

The developer was asking 16,500,000 Baht (US$ 520,014).

But after much persuasion, I’ve got the price down to 14,200,000 Baht (US$ 447,527).

You save 2,300,000 Baht (US$ 72,487).

Interested?

Reply to me and I’ll send you full details.

Deals like this won’t be around forever.

So if you are coming to Phuket and don’t want to miss out – why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I‘m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca

It’s at the foot of Mount Everest – 4,800 metres above sea level.

Here’s a picture…

I reckon it would be pretty unpleasant living there as temperatures don’t get much higher than minus 20 degrees Celsius.

That’s a bit ‘fresher’ than the 36 degrees in Phuket today.

Phuket’s highest structure is the Big Buddha in Rawai – 400 metres above sea level.

It’s 45 metres tall and covered entirely in white marble…

As you can imagine, the views are impressive from up there.

But as you know, you can’t build a property that high in Phuket.

The maximum legal height is just 80 metres above sea level.

So if you are looking to go as high as you can in Phuket, what’s on offer?

Well, there’s a new development in Surin right on the 80-metre mark.

The estate will have 16 villas in the rainforest with views of Surin and Bangtao Beach.

Properties have 3 to 5 bedrooms and ocean views from every room.

Plus of course, the obligatory infinity-edge swimming pool.

Villas start at 65,000,000 Baht (US$ 2,196,400).

Would you get vertigo up there?

There is only one way to find out…

Come and see the show house.

If you’d like to know more – reply to me now.

Or maybe you’d prefer an apartment in Kata?

You have to drive up a very steep road to get to this one.

Although I think you’ll agree, the views from the top are worth it.

Prices are from 10,467,000 Baht (US$ 338,188).

That’s for a 116m2, 2-bed apartment with private pool.

Want to know more?

Just reply to me.

But if you really want to impress your friends…

I have a villa in Kamala with 270-degree ocean views.

In fact, you can see all the way up the coast as far as Naithon Beach.

The house has 4 large en-suite bedrooms, all with ocean views.

Plus a 30-metre infinity-edge pool, a home theatre room and spa.

As you can imagine, it doesn’t come cheap.

The asking price is US$ 9,999,999.

Why all the 9’s?

9 is considered a lucky number in Asia.

Lucky for the buyer or lucky for the seller?

I’ll let you make your own mind up.

Want to see more?

Simply reply to me now.

If you are coming to Phuket and want to look at some property, why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I‘m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca

In fact, there were two on my terrace this morning.

They were strutting about, grooming themselves and chatting away.

As usual, they were very friendly, not shy at all.

One even came into the living room and started shrieking at my cat.

He was not amused.

Here’s a photo…

You knew I was talking about our feathered friends, didn’t you?

One of the best things about living in Phuket is you are surrounded by nature – beaches, tropical rainforests and wildlife.

And if you have a property with a garden, you can enjoy it without leaving home.

Unless you prefer the kind of ‘wildlife’ mainly found in Patong, of course.

This villa in Layan has one of the nicest gardens I’ve seen…

It is 960m2 and has a private, 8×4 metre swimming pool.

The house has 3 bedrooms and a separate guest suite in the garden.

It’s on offer for 17,995,000 Baht (US$ 484,441).

If you want to know more just reply to me.

Or maybe this hillside villa is more to your liking…

It’s very rare to have a useable garden when you live on a hill.

But this place is an exception – with its 4,000m2, fully landscaped plot.

The house isn’t bad either.

It has over 1,000m2 of living space with 5 bedrooms, 2 kitchens and a 20 metre pool.

It’s on sale at 54,995,000 Baht (US$1,786,127) – but the seller is open to offers.

Interested?

Reply to me and I’ll send you the photos.

If an apartment is what you’re after – the gardens here are more like a private park…

And the 24,000m2 (6 acres) have tennis courts and a putting green.

A 240m2, 3-bed apartment will set you back 15,995,000 Baht (US$ 519,485).

But the bad news is there is only one left.

Want to know more?

Just reply to me and I’ll do the rest.

If you are coming to Phuket and want to look at some property, why not send me an email or give me a call?

I don’t bite and people do say I‘m “not full of crap like most estate agents”.

Best,

Rebecca