Conrad Properties has a massive directory of homes, resorts, and other types of properties that are up for sale on the gorgeous island of Koh Samui. If you’re an aspiring investor or buyer of real estate in Koh Samui, you will be quite amazed and impressed with the wide variety of options available in its property and vacation villa portfolio.
Although there are more than 10 reasons for you to invest or buy a villa or property in Thailand's Koh Samui, in this article, we've boiled it down to the top 10 for brevity.
You'll specifically love the affordability or at least cost-effective value of their buildings and residential structures as well as be amazed by the Caribbean-quality of their beachside panoramas.
Let’s dive right in to the top 10 reasons why you should buy or invest in a Koh Samui property in 2023:
Beautiful Beachside 4 Bed Sea-view Villa in Bangpor
Back in 2012, Koh Samui started self-governing its own infrastructure, amenities, and facilities when it got its municipality status, thus improving its offerings tremendously.
Also, Koh Samui is able to attract visitors from around the world as the ultimate backpacker's heaven. It also features branded 5-star hotels, improved air links for easier travel, and leisure amenities and facilities galore.
The island is home to luxury hotel groups such as Hyatt Regency, Conrad Hotels, The Four Seasons, W Hotels, and Ritz-Carlton.
More and more rich tourists are going to Koh Samui specifically in the last 10 years due to the island evolving into a genuine resort destination that can give its sister island Phuket or even the Caribbean a run for its money.
Samui Island also offers countless first-class restaurants, hundreds of independent spa resorts and hotels, loads of shopping centers, multiple cinemas, and a championship sea view golf course.
The romantic island is filled with extensive property development and modern luxury living all tied up in one neat investment package.
It also has multiple hospitals and international schools available, which makes it lucrative as a residential type of sale as well. Investors can buy a villa as a permanent residence or as a vacation home.
Meanwhile, the island also still retains its exotic tropical island appeal with its jungle backdrops and white powder sand beaches.
Luxury 3-4 Bed Sea-view Villas in Bophut
Koh Samui's local building regulations constrain development and prevent companies and individuals from property overdevelopment, which in turn protects the environment. This saves the island from potential overcrowding from overzealous developers.
For example, in certain low-density residential areas or zones, the total area of any buildings (except hotels) must not go over 2,000 square meters. The height of any building in the zone must not go beyond 12 meters.
In regard to the ideal areas on the island that are primed for real estate development, they include Bophut, Chaweng Noi, Bangrak, Plai Laem, Cheong Mon, Maenam, Bangpor, Lamai and Lipa Noi.
Regarding property types, Samui real estate investment is mainly focused on pool villas. It's also all about investors taking advantage of the tropical island setting through outdoor living space.
You can also avail yourself of condominiums on the island, but in light of its size and the local zoning restrictions on condos and apartments, there's only a limited supply of them.
As the island got gentrified, Koh Samui property prices and the average price of a villa have gone up. This includes the super luxury segment of the market, which now resembles Phuket. As for top end real estate, they could be listed for as much as US$8 million and above.
In comparison to Phuket properties, Koh Samui properties offer more island charm, more affordable freehold sea-view options, and more months of sunshine due to geography.
Koh Samui is a place you should go to for houses and villas for sale because it's a fully developed slice of paradise.
Investors should also jump aboard the Koh Samui train in light of its promising post-COVID recovery. Before the pandemic began, 12 percent of Thailand's GDP comes from tourism. This also drives the real estate market of the country.
The post-COVID lockdown and travel ban recovery of Thai property markets has been quite strong in resort locations such as Phuket and Koh Samui.
As Chinese borders were reopened in March 2023, tourist numbers have grown significantly from 11.5 million last year to projections of up to 30 million for this year according to Reuters. That's about 75 percent of pre-pandemic tourism.
Tourism-enabled foreign investment is what's bolstering the Thai property market's recovery. In January 2023, 200,000 tourists went to Koh Samui, with most of them ending up in holiday rental villas ranging from middle class to luxury class.
Meanwhile, the worldwide Google search volume for the key phrase "koh samui property for sale" was + 19% according to Google Ads API for April 2023.
The largest numbers of Western tourists (and, in turn, potential real estate buyers) come from Russia (6.5 percent), the UK (3.7 percent), Australia (3.4 percent) and the US (3.1 percent). Around 60 percent of these tourists end up as return visitors to boot.
In 2014, 4.6 million Chinese visitors traveled to Thailand for good measure. They also make up many of the foreign investors in places like Koh Samui.
There's also an international airport on the island so people can fly directly or indirectly to and from Bangkok and some nearby countries.
Other factors boosting the Koh Samui property market recover include an increasing number of Russian investors who wish to move their investments to a safe haven due to Russia's unstable economy due to the Russian-Ukrainian War.
The Thailand government is also enticing foreign investment through lengthier Visa program terms for professionals and high-net-worth individuals who could add monetary value to the country.
The readjusted prices for Koh Samui real estate are now more affordable and there are still many great deals available as well.
Super Luxury 4 Bed Beachfront Villa in Chaweng Beach​
Speaking of which, Koh Samui properties also boast of the highest quality of construction standards for the simple fact that it's currently in development and it's following the modern standards of construction.
These standards help Koh Samui structures to last longer than buildings made with cheaper material and questionable architecture.
As a real estate investor, it's in your best interest to invest in a well-built property to minimize repair costs in the future.
It's all about ensuring your peace of mind in the future by getting the best properties in Koh Samui with high long-term value and upside when the already popular tourist spots truly become another metropolitan hub in the future.
When you compare it to other locations that can only afford lower-standard construction materials, you're making a safer bet with a Koh Samui real estate investment.
More to the point, because it's such a gem in Thailand tourism, loads of real estate developers have invested deeply into this island paradise. Unlike less popular destinations, this location has the trust of multiple investors and developers.
The wide range of real estate options in Koh Samui includes well-built structures with pools and scenic panoramas as well as a minimalist panache to everything.
It's in their best interests to not skimp on material quality because they know that the purchasers of these villas, residential houses, and condos are looking for a long-term investment instead of a cheap bargain.
Although some foreign investors might balk at the prospect of being forbidden to own property because they're not of Thai ancestry or aren't Thai citizens, foreign ownership laws are relatively easy to navigate through legally.
It is how real estate services like Conrad Properties are still able to sell to foreign real estate investors despite Thailand's rules of no direct property purchase from non-Thais.
You can purchase Koh Samui land through a Thailand company you've set up, but the shareholders should be of Thai descent and the foreigner should not own more than 49 percent of shares.
The Thai Condominium Act of 1979 allows foreigners to own freehold property for 49 percent or up to nearly half the total unit space.
The civil and commercial code allows foreigners to lease a property for a 30-year period, which can be extended two consecutive times or for 90 years in total. A foreigner can also lease a land then own the property built on it, with the building itself being their sole asset in their name.
You can also have a Thai spouse who'll purchase the property under their name on your behalf so that you could both own the Koh Samui property.
You can have an agreement with the Thai national stating they own a 49 percent interest of the property you're purchasing, but you won't have your name on the title deed. Legally, only your friend has it.
This is why many foreigners opt for the spouse option over the friend option. Even with its foreign property buyer restrictions, Koh Samui is a relatively welcoming place for them.
The rental market of Koh Samui remains robust, which means you get a lot of upside potential in income generation through property rental.
Granted, if you're a foreign property buyer, you're technically leasing the land in order to own it for at least 30 years or a maximum of 90 years (among other means of non-Thai purchase). However, you can still rent out the building that's on leased Thailand.
Expect a steady stream of renters, leasers, or tenants to go to Koh Samui to enjoy the sun, sea, and beaches for a season or for the long-term.
Regardless, you can earn back the value of the realty over time by renting out your property for long-term leases or for short-term holiday deals. As already mentioned, Koh Samui is a burgeoning Thai tourist spot ripe for development.
The rental scene is also the reason why Koh Samui has a very active sales market for its property. The property you buy can end up paying for itself over time.
Koh Samui in particular has a strong rental market compared to even other high-upside development locations in Thailand, thus making it a smart investment choice for local and foreign property buyers looking to generate regular income.
Due to high demand, the average villa rental ROIs (returns of investment) are often 6-8 percent NET ROI, with many owners receiving 10 to12 percent and some owners getting as much as 15 to 20 percent return per year!
This is all possible through Airbnb and other OTAs (online travel agencies) as well as real estate agency management rental services. To become a landlord of a Koh Samui villa is to receive a gift that keeps on giving!
Koh Samui has everything you need there. It's not just a beachside location full of high-potential properties and developments. It's also home to a wide range of existing amenities for entertainment, dining, and shopping.
You can stock up on groceries or enjoy the active nightlife of the paradise-like island that has its fair share of luxury resorts and amazed tourists.
Certain high-upside developmental locations tend to be too underdeveloped and require a bit more waiting and development for them to fulfill their value. This isn't the case with the touristy Koh Samui.
You don't need to wait for a mall here or a convenience store there to be built to realize the potential of this premier tourist destination.
The island already has multiple quality fine dining restaurants with international menus, shopping malls and grocery stores full of apparel and edible goods, and entertainment centers like cinemas and amusement parks.
Even so, it's also still mostly untouched or not overdeveloped to the point that it's too late and you can't buy premium property here that's not overpriced.
Koh Samui is at the stage of city or island development that still makes it a catch among property buyers while still ensuring that everything you need is easily accessible. This makes it a prime location with some room left for further development.
Here at Koh Samui, you can enjoy the comforts of home without sacrificing accessibility.
Luxury 4 Bed Modern Villa for Sale in Choeng Mon
Koh Samui isn't only a tourist attraction extravagance that justifies its reputation as a must-visit vacation destination. It also values the safety and security of its citizenry.
Like most places in Thailand, Koh Samui is extremely safe and secure thanks to its location. The crime rates here are low and the community is quite welcoming. There's no xenophobia to be had from the locals and it even has an active expatriate community.
It has the Thai happy-go-lucky culture to boot, which makes for a relaxing tropical atmosphere that keeps your mind at ease whether you're a local or visitor.
Every development and village they're located in makes it a point to deliver safety in the form of security guards, gated communities, strong locks, and even CCTV so that you can keep a watchful eye of everything.
Compared to other beachfront locations with high crime rates that force you to stay in your cab or hotel for most of your trip, Koh Samui is your personal peaceful safe haven.
There's a low incidence of thievery, snatchers, or burglary on this quiet and relaxing island made partially to host a huge influx of tourists every season. This is to be expected of this prime Southeast Asian tropical resort hub.
It's so safe there that it brings about a nice change of pace for the hectic life of any vacationer, traveler, or expatriate. For once, you can slow down and relax.
The locals of Koh Samui are warm and welcoming instead of xenophobic and suspicious like in certain other alleged vacation destinations we'll not name here.
It's because they're used to the island being a center of tourism. They make their business by being hospitable and at least amicable to many foreigners enjoying their vacation or holiday there. They're not culture-shocked in the least.
Another appealing thing about this prime development destination is that it has an active expatriate scene mentioned above.
Here, it's really easy to make new friends, whether they're Thai nationals or fellow foreigners as well as people from your own homeland. Koh Samui isn't quite the melting pot that California or New York is, but it is filled with people from all walks of life.
It's easier for foreign investors to imagine living there in Koh Samui because of the ease of acclimatization. You will feel right at home here in Thailand.
The locals don't have a snobbish or high-and-mighty attitude whether they're fellow Thais or foreign expats. Also, the expatriate community is always there to look out for themselves as an international family in their own right.
Even if you're just moving to Koh Samui to serve as landlord for a leasehold property with a spouse or a Thai company land purchase, it's encouraging to know your tenants are surrounded by some of the friendliest people on earth.
Koh Samui is quite close to other prime developments and popular locations in the Land of Smiles, which includes the Thailand mainland and neighboring islands.
Therefore, investing in a Koh Samui villa or condominium can serve as a profitable central tourism hub that attracts holiday renters and permanent tenants to your high-potential property with a huge upside in the future.
You can go to Bangkok for business trips or to other pristine beaches in Koh Wua Talap, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Mae Koh, Koh Taen, Ang Thong (National Marine Park), or Koh Mudsum to soothe your stress away.
As a Koh Samui resident yourself, you can easily explore the other beautiful and resource-rich parts of Thailand while enjoying the comforts of your home here in Koh Samui when all is said and done.
You have access to amenities galore in Koh Samui if you wish to stay there. You can also vacation to other parts of Thailand to visit the Emerald Lagoon or party at the party island of Koh Phangan.
Koh Samui is no slouch either. It's already touristy in and of itself with its ethical elephant home-guided tours, wild jungle safari tours with lunch included, and full-day kayaking and snorkeling tours.
Ultra-Luxury 4 Bed Sea View Villa in Chaweng Noi
Koh Samui ticks all the boxes of a quality place to get your own villa and resort from. In other words, it's the perfect location for anyone's dream property. Not just a residential property to have shelter—an actual property to aspire to.
When choosing a Koh Samui dream property, you need to take into account the many factors above. You probably wish to get a convenient, safe, and high-value property in a place that's strategically placed near schools, beaches, restaurants, or shopping malls.
So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us or browse our website to find the Koh Samui property of your dreams from Conrad Properties while it’s still available!
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