Thailand Business News – The real estate business in Ratchprasong area (central Business and upscale Shopping district of Bangkok) has slumped by over 50% in the past few months due to the recent political rally in the capital of … Thailand Business News
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Real Estate sales in Bangkok’s Central Businees area down 50%
Thailand’s property sector is showing signs of an early recovery, as selective investors return to purchasing real estate stocks and actual property.
Some of the credit goes to a one-year government stimulus package that reduces the Special Business Tax from 3.3% to 0.11%, extends the reduction on transfer taxes from 2% to 0.01% and mortgage registration fees and provides a tax deduction on mortgage principal and interest.
Thailand’s property indicators show:
1.The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index began rebounding in April 2009, and property stocks – while the first to fall in H2/08 – were amongst the first to recover
2. The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has lowered its policy interest rate four times since December 2008, prompting banks to reduce the minimum lending rate (MLR) from 7.25% to 6.25%
3. A continued drop in sales of durable goods due to uncertainty surrounding the economy is highlighted consumer confidence index (CCI) to a historic low of 72.8 in Q1/09 and New housing registrations in Bangkok and surrounding areas fell 43.8% in Q1/09
Thai property developers, despite being some of the first local companies to get hit by the global financial crisis, have shown resilience and delivered strong results for investors.
These cultural changes are evidenced in the type of housing recently launched. On the lower- to mid-end side, Supalai and LPN have launched projects in Ratchayothin and Ratchada with units ranging from 28 to 55 square meters and prices from 1.5-3 million baht, reflecting demand among single professionals and young families. On the higher end side, where prices are at or above 100,000 baht per sq m, the Sukhumvit and CBD areas remain the preferred location. The common point between all this? Easy access to BTS and MRT lines.
The mid to high-end segment boomed this year in Thailand as demand was wide and remained strong. The high-end will recover in the third or fourth quarter. But supply in this segment is very limited due to scarcity of land for new developments. Around 80% of the new launch in this segment was taken up. New supply in the high-end segment, now quoted at 150,000 to 200,000 baht a square metre, will be provided by developers with a strong financial status, experienced teams and products that match demand.
Currently, the MahaNakhon project is the only new high-end project in the pipeline. The Sukhothai Residence project on Sathorn Road, which is 70% sold, has frozen sales until demand can sustain the desired prices.
