“We paid for an ocean view, not a super yacht view.”

I was confused, until I saw this huge boat right outside the resort…

It is so big you can hardly see the ocean.

And it’s been hanging around Phuket for the last few weeks.

So I did a little digging to see what I could find out…

The owner of this 394-foot (120 metres) super yacht is Russian Andrey Melnichenko.

He’s a 38-year-old banking, steel and fertiliser oligarch.

He calls the boat “A” – after himself and his supermodel wife Aleksandra.

The yacht was designed by Philippe Starke who said; “This boat has elegance and intelligence, it is not trying to show the money”.

I’m not so sure about that…

According to reports, the interior is fitted with Baccarat-crystal tables, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and polished silver.

The walls of one room are covered in white stingray hides, while another is covered in hand-stitched calf leather.

Over the top? You decide.

At the top of a spiral staircase lined with silver-leaf walls is a door, accessible only by a fingerprint security system.

If your fingerprint matches, it opens up a 240m² master-suite wrapped in bomb-proof, 44-millimetre glass.

There’s a king-sized bed on a giant base that rotates at the touch of a silver button.

And another button rotates the bed itself.

Why?

The combination of the rotating bed and the rotating base gives you limitless angles to watch the sunset, sunrise or the 60-inch plasma TV – which drops-down from the ceiling.

The boat was completed in 2008 at a cost of over US$ 300 million.

You’ll have to pay more than US$ 500,000 just to fill its fuel tanks.

And the vessel costs more than US$ 20 million a year to maintain.

I can think of a few properties with a great ocean view that will set you back far less….

What about a 2-bedroom ocean front condo on Bangtao Beach?

It is just minutes from where this super yacht is moored.

You get views of Bangtao Bay and across to Trisara (a resort popular with celebrities).

The seller is asking 30,000,000 Baht (US$ 951,780)

That’s less than 2 tanks of fuel.

And he is open to offers.

If you want to know more reply to me and I’ll send you the photos and floor plans.

Or what about an ocean front villa in Kamala?

It’s a little more pricey at 75,000,000 Baht (US$ 2,379,000).

But it is larger, with a 577m2 interior and 3 en-suite bedrooms.

It’s also part of a 5-star hotel.

So you have the option to rent when you are not there.

If you’d like to know more, just send me an email.

If you don’t want to spend quite as much…

What about a freehold, ocean front condo for 6,900,000 Baht (US$ 218,909)?

It is 87m2 and has excellent views of Patong Bay.

It is cheap because it needs a little renovation.

But if you are looking for ocean front in Patong it’s a bargain.

If you want all the details – simply reply to me.

If you are coming to Phuket and want to see 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

Phuket New Year 2012

2012 in Phuket certainly kicked off with a bang.

This is a photo taken from my terrace just after midnight…

During the holidays I’ve been stuffing myself with turkey, pork pie (a Yorkshire tradition) and lots of chocolate.

But being a bit of a workaholic, I couldn’t resist keeping an eye open for the best property deals.

If you are looking for an investment property, this one may interest you…

A developer in Patong is offering condos with a 6 per cent rental return, guaranteed for 6 years. 

That’s 6 per cent net – there is nothing else to pay; no common area fees, no management fees, no sinking fund, no taxes – nothing at all. 

Prices start at 7,493,693 Baht (US$ 237,445) for a one-bedroom apartment with private pool.

And you get a sea view from the upper floor.

If you’d like to know more just send me an email or give me a call.

The third phase of a very popular condo development has just launched in Surin Beach.

It is less than 50m into the town and only 200m to the beach.

But there are only 16 available and they are selling fast.

So you need to be quick if this one tickles your fancy.

Prices start at 3,500,000 Baht (US$ 110,901).

The completion date is December 2012, so you could be spending your next New Year’s Eve in Phuket.

If you are interested – email me and I’ll send you all the info.

On the sales front…

One of my clients snapped up a fabulous one-bedroom sea view apartment – reduced from 4,750,000 Baht (US$ 150,508) to 3,200,000 Baht (US$ 101,395).

They saved themselves 1,550,000 Baht (US$ 49,113), 32.6%.

If you want to know about bargains like this – just email me saying ‘Insider’.

You will get to hear about all the best deals before anyone else.

And wherever you are in the world I would like to wish you a happy, healthy and wealthy 2012.

I look forward to seeing you in Phuket soon.

The ‘Rottweiler’ in question is a security guard.

And he really is quite fierce – although I’m pretty sure he’s human.

No matter how many times I visit this estate near Layan Beach he always demands to see my ID.

Then spends ages suspiciously comparing my face to my photo.

But he is only doing his job – and pretty well too.

After all, you don’t want some slob who barely looks up from his newspaper before he lets people into your home.

I was going to include his photo but I chickened-out of asking him.

He really is quite scary.

Anyway, eventually he opened the heavy, wrought-iron gates and let me into ‘The Garden of Eden’…

The Garden of Eden

Again, not really.

But this 5-bedroom Thai style villa does have the best garden I’ve ever seen on the West Coast of Phuket.

At 4,000m2 it’s one of the biggest too.

All immaculately landscaped with tropical plants and trees.

It’s so well-done you can’t even see another house.

Steps lead you from ‘Eden’ up to the infinity-edge swimming pool…

The pool and Thai sala

With its massive sun terrace and Thai sala – this is the main entertainment zone of the house.

It is ideal for throwing parties – especially if you have a chef.

Because next to the pool is an open-kitchen with a BBQ, an oven and a hob.

There’s also an air-conditioned games room with a pool table and dart-board.

The master suite is on this floor too.

Its large dressing-room has fitted wardrobes with ornately carved wooden doors.

The bathroom has a walk-in shower, twin wash basins and a bathtub.

And there is a private living room (with built-in book cases) which would make an ideal study.

The main living area is on the next floor up.

Here you’ll find a large living room, separate dining room and a family-sized, fully-fitted kitchen.

Outside is a huge covered terrace which feels a bit colonial thanks to the wicker sofas and armchairs.

On the top floor are 4 en-suite guest bedrooms in 2 separate pavilions.

All the bathrooms have walk-in showers and bathtubs.

And there is enough wardrobe space to keep Imelda Marcos happy.

Make no mistake – this is a big house.

It is 670m2 inside and a whopping 1,100m2 outside.

And because it’s on 3 levels, there is plenty of privacy for everyone.

The villa is on a secure private estate – just a 5 minute drive to Layan Beach.

You can even walk it if you are feeling energetic.

The only down-side?

It doesn’t have an ocean view.

But if peace, quiet and a beautiful garden are more important to you – this might be right up your street.

You’ll also have some dramatic mountain views.

How much is it?

The sellers are asking 54,995,000 Baht (US$ 1,780,000).

That’s much less than you would pay for the same villa with an ocean view.

But they are very keen to sell and will consider all reasonable offers.

In fact, I know they will take a LOT LESS than that.

If you’d like to know more – reply to me and I’ll send you everything you need (no obligation).

Obviously, the best thing you can do is come and have a look for yourself.

But if you are interested – let me know today.

Big game in Phuket, Thailand?

Do you know there is big game in Phuket, Thailand?

It’s true.

You can find wild boar, deer and even ostrich – if you know where to look.

I am not making this up.

In fact, I know a couple of places you can find it.

And the other day I discovered a new one close to where I live.

It’s quite small so you might miss it.

But it is full of wonderful things.

They have got wild boar, venison, crocodile, ostrich and even goat.

All in the freezer.

Well, you didn’t think it was roaming free did you?

You see a new deli supermarket has opened in Cherng Talay.

They offer homemade pastas and pasta sauces.

Homemade sour cream and cottage cheese. 

All types of sausages, salamis and hams.

Russian dumplings, pickled herrings, olive oils and lots of different spices.

Homemade ice cream and sorbet.

And just about anything else you can think of.

Even better, they are open from nine in the morning until midnight.

So next time you are in the mood for a crocodile burger late at night – you know just where to go.

Plus, you can wash it down with a Belgian beer or a bottle of wine.

You can even order online and they will deliver.

This is their website: www.phuketdeli.com

And here is their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PhuketDeli

But don’t go liking theirs until you’ve liked ours:
www.facebook.com/PhuketOceanVillas

You are probably wondering why am I telling you this.

I am not on commission. Nor am I getting paid to write this.

I just thought you would like to know.

Because when you are in Phuket you might miss a few things from back home.

But you can find pretty much anything you want – if you know where to look.

I wish you happy hunting.

Kamala Beach

Yesterday I went to see an apartment near Kamala on the West Coast of Phuket.

The owner needs a quick sale, so the price is pretty good.

He bought it back in 2003 for 4,000,000 Baht (US$ 127,632).

And spent 800,000 Baht (US$ 25,526) on furniture.

Now he is asking just 3,900,000 Baht (US$ 124,441).

All the furniture is included too.

What is it like?

The apartment has 115m2 of living space.

Inside is an open plan living room with a large fully-fitted kitchen and 3 en-suite bedrooms.

Outside there is a small garden and a private terrace.

It’s on the ground-floor which, according to a rental company who handle the resort, is the most popular.

Where is it?

The property is just outside Kamala on the West Coast of Phuket.

It’s a 2.2km drive to the beach, town and restaurants.

What about the development?

The complex is surrounded by virgin rainforest.

There are 45 apartments in 7 buildings, set within landscaped gardens.

You have a choice of 4 swimming pools; 2 lap pools (25 metres and 20 metres), a large family pool and a kid’s pool.

Management is provided by a top international company.

They take care of the common areas, pools, gardens, and security.

Is it a good investment?

I spoke to a local company who manage 22 of the 45 apartments.

They told me the average rental yield is 300,000 Baht per year – after all taxes and fees.

And they have the last 4 years accounts to prove it.

So you can check this for yourself.

That makes your rental yield around 7.69% nett – after all taxes and fees.

Remember, that is the average.

With this apartment you are likely to make more because the ground-floor is the most popular.

Ownership

Ownership is leasehold with 24 years left to run.

After that, you are entitled to two, 30 year extensions.

A total of 84 years.

Running costs

Annual common area maintenance fees are 110,000 Baht (US$ 3,563).

That pays for the upkeep of the gardens, pool maintenance, common area lighting and security.

Electricity charges average 1,500 Baht (US$ 49) per month.

Water bills are a meagre 200 Baht (US$ 6.50) a month.

If you want to know more just drop me an email and I will send you everything you need (no obligation of course).

But I never really thought about where it came from until the other day.

You see, I read an article by Dr Kosol Tang-Uthai.

He’s President of the Thai Peranakan Association, also known as Baba-Nyonya.

The Baba-Nyonya feel so strongly about their cultural foods, they are busy collating recipes and historical information to send to UNESCO.

They hope to make Phuket City the fourth UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the world.

In case you’re interested, the others are Popayan City in Colombia, Ostersund in Sweden and Chengdu in China.

So, it would be quite a coup if Phuket was added to the list.

But who are the Baba-Nyonya?

The Baba-Nyonya are descendants of Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian men who came to Phuket in the 16th century.

Many worked in the tin mines.

Others were employed on the ships of the British India Company and British Burma Company, transporting tin from Phuket’s mines to Penang for smelting.

They weren’t allowed to bring girls from home, so many married local Thai women.

Their mixed race children were called Peranakans, which in Malay means ‘descendants’.

Men are known as Baba and Women as Nyonya.

But because Nyonya is unpronounceable in Thai, here they are called Yaya.

So in Phuket you have Baba-Yaya.

Have I confused you yet?

Apparently about 75% of Phuket’s population are Baba-Yaya.

And quite rightly they are keen to preserve their culture and history.

If you’ve been to Phuket Town recently you may have seen the restored houses on Romanee, Krabi, and Thalang Roads.

These are traditional Baba-Yaya houses – often referred to as Sino-Portuguese.

Soi Romanee, in the picture above, used to be the ‘red light district’ in tin mining days – now it‘s full of trendy cafés and handicraft shops.

The oldest Baba-Yaya business still thriving in Phuket town is Nguan Choon Tong – a Chinese herbal shop on Thalang Road.

It was opened in 1905 by a Chinese herbalist who immigrated from Ta Pu province in China.

Today it is run by his 70 year old daughter, Mrs. Sodsri Bumrungwong.

The shop supplies top spas and hotels all over Phuket.

If you want to try the local Baba food, a good place to start is China Inn on Thalang Road.

It’s one of the first places I went to when I moved to Phuket and is still one of my favourites.

The restaurant is in an authentic Baba-Yaya shop-house which has been carefully restored.

There’s an antique and handicraft shop at the front and behind it is a restaurant and garden.

You can try all sorts of local dishes; salted boiled Pork (Moo Hong); stir-fried Hokkien noodles (mee hokkien); andstir-fried white noodles served with spare-rib soup (mee hun).

Another place to try is Mee Ton Poh.

It’s a small restaurant on the corner near the clock tower in Phuket Town.

They sell the best Hokkien noodles on the island and delicious satay.

It may not be fine dining, but the food is top notch.

So what recipes are the Baba-Yaya sending to UNESCO?

It has not been decided yet but they could include:

• Battered morning glory with small shrimp (Bue Tord)
• White jelly made from squeezed Chinese herbs and bananas, served with boiled red beans and shaved ice (Oh-aew)
• And local favourite, Lo Ba – a mixture of prawns, tofu, sausages and pig’s ears dipped in a tamarind-chilli sauce

I wish them the best of luck.

If you are in Phuket or planning to visit, drop me an email or give me a call and I’ll show you around.

Cape Panwa, Phuket Thailand

Today, in the final part of your location guide, let’s take a look at the South East Coast of Phuket, Thailand; Phuket Town and South.

You will discover why it is popular, the place in Phuket that’s applied for UNESCO World Heritage Status and why Cape Panwa is a bit different to the rest of the East Coast.

Just a few years ago property prices on the South East Coast were much lower than on the West.

It was simple supply and demand – less people buying property in the area meant lower prices.

Today property prices in the South East are still lower but they are starting to catch up.

Like the North East Coast you won’t find many five-star hotels here. It’s most suitable for boat lovers and retirees. The exception is Cape Panwa – but more about that in a moment.

Rawai

If you are considering a more permanent move to Phuket, Rawai is worth a look.

You’ll pay less for your property because it’s not really a tourist town. And that means it’s popular with expats.

There are many foreign-owned restaurants and bars on the seafront. You may even find it a little too Westernised.

But the town has retained some of its original charm – especially near the harbour as fishing is still a primary source of income for many locals.

This means Rawai has an excellent fresh fish market. Here you can buy live lobsters, live prawns, live crabs and many types of fish.

Most property is located within a few kilometres of the ocean but you won’t find many apartments in the area.

If you are buying your property as an investment I wouldn’t recommend Rawai: It’s unlikely you will get good rental yields and capital appreciation is not as high as in other areas of Phuket.

But if you intend to spend longer periods in Phuket it might interest you.

Chalong

Like Rawai, Chalong is not a tourist town. So I wouldn’t recommend you buy here for investment.

Again, you’ll find prices lower than on the West Coast. But you may have difficulty renting your property at a good price. And it will be harder to sell as there is less demand.

A new marina is being built and this may have some positive impact on prices, but it is unlikely to be significant in my opinion.

On the plus side, you have good supermarkets such as Villa Market on your doorstep. And there are plenty of DIY shops, furniture stores and restaurants close by.

Phuket Town

If you have visited Phuket Town you will probably be surprised to hear it’s just applied for UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Most of Phuket Town is pretty basic and lacks any charm at all – except for the areas around Thalang, Krabi and Dibuk Roads.

Over the last few years the local government has spent lots of money restoring shops and houses along Thalang Road to their original condition. They have also buried the ugly electricity cables.

For me, it is all a bit too well done.  The houses look as though they have just been built, rather than renovated, and they are painted in some very bright colours.

You won’t find much high-quality property on sale in Phuket Town as it’s mainly a Thai area, but it does have some good restaurants with reasonable prices.

Koh Siray

If you don’t already know Koh Siray – it’s a small island just off the East Coast of Phuket, connected via a road bridge.

Koh Siray has a Sea Gypsy settlement and is where the ferry leaves for some island tours.

There are a small number of property developments – many of which have struggled to sell, as the area is not popular with tourists.

So I recommend you use caution if you are considering buying property there.

Cape Panwa

The area around Cape Panwa is unspoilt and naturally beautiful. You will even find a few beaches in the area, like the one at the Cape Panwa Hotel.

It’s a bit of a trek from the airport – a good 90 minute drive. But if you want privacy and to avoid tourist crowds one resort may be exactly what you’re looking for – Sri Panwa.

Sri Panwa breaks a few rules when it comes to buying property on the East Coast.

In fact, it is one of the few places with a real beach and it’s run as a five-star resort.

The properties were built around the trees and the developer maintained as much of the natural rainforest as possible.

The downside – there isn’t much property still for sale. Prices start at 50,000,000 Baht (US$1,625,832) for a two bed ocean view villa.

Oh, and the views are really something too.

There are some other developments in the area such as Bel Air Panwa. But they are struggling to sell after over five years on the market. So I wouldn’t recommend them as a good investment.

Should you buy on the South East Coast?

In reality, you should only consider buying in this area if it suits your lifestyle and you will be spending longer periods in Phuket.

Buy in the South East because you like to be away from tourist areas but still have contact with expats.

It is unlikely you’ll see large gains in the value of your property and rentals will be harder to come by.

If you are buying for investment, I recommend you concentrate on the North West and South West of Phuket.

Would you like to know more about Phuket property?

Get your free copy of ‘The Definitive Guide to buying property in Phuket’ by going here.

Medical tourism in Bangkok and Phuket

Don’t be surprised if your need for a hip replacement or prostrate surgery lands you on a plane to Thailand.

The global economic downturn has meant that everyone is searching for the best deals, not only in real estate but also on cars, holidays and medical fees.

Governments and health care insurers are feeling the pinch and are consistently looking overseas for more cost effective treatments.

Thailand is emerging as a leader in this field

The growth in medical tourism in Thailand has been phenomenal over the past few years. The Kingdom emerged as the largest health and wellness destination globally by welcoming over 1.5 million medical tourists in 2009.

And a report published by Marketsmonitor.com (Asian Medical Tourism Analysis 2008-2012) shows that revenue from the medical tourism industry is growing at a double digit rate.

Already thousands of private individuals and insurance companies are opting to have treatment in Thailand.

Why has Thailand become a world leader in healthcare?

It’s not just the lower cost of treatment which attracts people, although for many individuals and insurers this obviously plays a part.

Ruben Toral, marketing director at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok explained; “It’s not just about the cost, quality is a major issue, the quality of care, the documentation, the delivery.”

Walk into Bumrungrad or Bangkok-Phuket Hospital and you could believe you’ve entered a five-star resort.

The reception lobbies are spacious, with café areas and restaurants and the smell of freshly brewed coffee not disinfectant.

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and instinctively know how to be patient and caring. It’s a world away from the over-worked staff in the health care systems in Europe and the USA.

Then consider your recuperation period; a week or two at a luxury hotel with lazy days relaxing by the pool or lounging on the beach.

At Bumrungrad arrivals from Asia or the Middle East have separate floors to make them feel at home. There is even an in-house travel agency to deal with visa extensions in case patients need to extend their stay.

And it is not just plastic surgery that is performed at Thailand’s hospitals. Bumrungrad list their top treatments as Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, Balloon Angioplasty, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement Microdisectomy, Comprehensive Check-up, Spinal Fusion, Gastric Bypass, Prostate Surgery and Facelifts.

A quick search on their website will give you real time access to the cost of treatment and an online consultation with surgeons and doctors. All before you make the decision to fly out to Thailand.

What about the quality of treatment?

Doctors and surgeons are internationally trained and speak your language. The technology available to them is state-of-the art and often better than that available in Europe or the U.S.A.

For example, at Bangkok-Phuket Hospital’s heart clinic stem cell therapy is already part of the standard tool kit for treating battered hearts that might otherwise need a transplant.”Most of the patients have been ill for a long time,” the clinic’s director, Dr. Kit Arom, said in a recent interview. “By the time they come here, they are all but incapacitated. They are waiting for a transplant or waiting to die.

After receiving stem-cell injections straight into cardiac muscle tissue, a treatment too controversial to be offered yet in the United States, most patients recovered enough to leave under their own power.”

Hospitals such as Bangkok-Phuket and Bumrungrad have been encouraging Thai doctors who have trained abroad to return home.

Patients at these two hospitals are now 60% foreign, a number which continues to climb.

Toral, marketing Director at Bumrungrad said in a recent interview; “We were a Thai hospital serving a Thai community. Now we’re an international hospital that just happens to be in Thailand.”

What does the future hold for medical tourism in Thailand?

In the West we have an aging society.

Annual healthcare spending in the U.S.A. accounts for a staggering 15% of GDP. This figure is likely to keep climbing as the population ages.

The Deloitte Centre for Health Solutions has predicted that the number of Americans travelling abroad for healthcare is expected to reach 15.75 million by 2017.

With savings of up to 90% over medical costs in the U.S., it is not hard to see why people chose to make the trip.

Bumrungrad Hospital has become one of the world’s leading centres for medical tourism. It has contracts with countries such as Saudi Arabia and Dubai who send thousands of individuals for treatment to Bangkok every year.

And medical centres such as Bangkok-Phuket Hospital and Phuket International Hospital are following closely in their footsteps.

Of course, travelling overseas for medical treatment is not for everyone and many people would still prefer to be treated closer to home than board a long-haul flight.

However, for treatments which are not covered by the health service or your insurer, treatment in Thailand is a cost effective alternative.

Thailand is already a major player in this growing market and expects to increase its share in the years to come.

Layan Beach, Phuket, Thailand

Over two years ago these apartments in Phuket, Thailand were sold for 21,000,000 Baht (US$ 684,935) each.

They were bought by a company that was hit hard by the recession.

Now the company desperately needs to sell assets to rescue its cash-flow.

And it needs to sell fast.

So it’s asking just 15,950,000 Baht (US$ 520,225).

A saving of 5,050,000 Baht (US$ 164,710).

Or 10,100,000 Baht (US$ 329,420) – if you buy both.

Plus you get a guaranteed rental return of 6% for 3 years.

That is 957,000 Baht (US$ 31,213) per apartment per year.

A total of 5,742,000 Baht (US$ 187,278) – if you buy both.

If you would like to see some photos – send me an email and I will send you everything you need.

What are they like?

These apartments were finished in 2009.

They have never been used.

In fact, they have never even been furnished.

So you could be forgiven for thinking they were brand new.

But the thing I like best is their size. 

They are much bigger than most apartments you will find at this price.

The interior living area is 156m2 with another 64m2 of terraces and balconies.

Both are on the first floor (middle of 3) and have views of the gardens and pool.

Each has 3 en-suite bedrooms, a large fitted kitchen, living room and dining room.

The master bedroom has a big bathroom with Jacuzzi, rain shower and a private balcony.

And all the bedrooms have solid wood floors, fitted wardrobes and marble in the bathrooms.

The kitchen is ideal for entertaining.

It has plenty of wooden cabinets, granite countertops and comes complete with an oven, hob, extractor fan and microwave.

The living and dining room are on split levels.

Where are they?

If you are looking for somewhere a little quieter – away from tourists – you may like this place.

With over 24,000m2 (6 acres) of gardens covered in lush tropical landscaping, it never feels crowded.

But it is only 1km to Layan Beach and walking distance to the nearest restaurant.

So it’s hardly off the beaten track.

There are 40 apartments in 5 separate, 3-storey buildings.

Plus you have a choice of 4 swimming pools (one for every 10 apartments), a Jacuzzi, tennis courts and a putting green.

There are also covered dining salas where you can enjoy your own private BBQ.

On-site management will organise your car hire, excursions, maid service, baby-sitting and even elephant rides.

And the free shuttle bus takes you to the beach, local restaurants and Laguna Golf Course.

What else is included?

• Two fibre-optic, broadband telephone lines
• Concealed air conditioning and ceiling fans in every room
• 40-channel satellite TV system
• Wireless internet
• Your own private parking space right outside

Ownership

Both apartments have a 30 year lease with an option to extend up to 90 years.

And as an owner you also get a share in the land owning company. 

This means you have control over your lease renewals, maintenance fees and common area management.

If you want to see some photos – reply to me and I will send you everything you need.

Obviously, the best thing you can do is come and have a look for yourself.

Would you like to hear about more deals like this?

Bargain properties that sell so fast they don’t make it onto any website?

If so, just send me an email with the word ‘insider’ and you will be the first to hear about them.

The owner of this villa needs to sell fast

The owner of this villa needs to sell fast.

So he is willing to take less than he paid for it.

He paid 14,500,000 Baht (US$ 470,474) in 2010.

Today he will let it go for 14,200,000 Baht (US$ 460,740). 

I know that doesn’t sound like a huge saving.

But when you consider the house next door is on the market for 18,500,000 Baht (US$ 600,182) with a smaller land plot.

And the last house the developer sold went for 17,750,000 Baht (US$ 575,760).

You could say you are saving at least 3,550,000 Baht (US$ 115,020).

So it is a pretty good deal.

If you are interested – why not make him an offer?

The price includes almost everything – furniture, crockery, bed linen, and TV’s.

Why does he need to sell?

His employers have asked him to relocate and he needs some money to help with the move.

Where is it?

This villa is in a quiet area – 1km from Layan Beach. 

The estate is fully managed with 24/7 security.

It has mountain views from the upper floor and a large walled garden (636m2) with an 8 x 4m private swimming pool.

What is it like?

The property is just one year old.

It is in top condition and has four en-suite bedrooms on two floors. 

On the lower floor there is a living room, an open plan kitchen and a dining area.

Along with one en-suite bedroom next to the pool and terrace

There are three more en-suite bedrooms on the upper floor all with fitted wardrobes. 

Each has a balcony with enough space for a table and chairs.

There is also parking and a storeroom.

I’ve seen all the papers for the house. Everything appears to be in order. 

The building is owned freehold.

The land is owned with a Thai company.

This villa has only been on the market for a few months – with one local agent.

The owner only found out he had to move last week.

So now he’s in a hurry to sell.

If you are interested – why not make him an offer?

Obviously, the best thing you can do is come and have a look for yourself.

If you want to see some photos and a floor plan first – drop me an email and I’ll send you everything you need (no obligation).

Would you like to hear about more deals like this?

Bargain properties that sell so fast they don’t make it onto our website?

If so, just reply to me with the word ‘insider’ and you will be the first to hear about them.

Best,

Rebecca