Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use a real estate agent?

A real estate agent is more than just a sales person. They are a guide, an assistant, and a consultant when you’re moving to a new country. They also keep very up to date on the changing property market, and will have data on a wide rage of property types and areas. If you need the most current information on what is available for rent, the only way to cover the entire market is with an agent. Agencies, particularly ones that have been operating for a substantial period of time would have vast databases on properties in every area. They are true experts on what is or is not available for rent.

Agents will save you the time and harassment of the dozens of phone calls to prospective properties just to find out that 8 out of 10 of those properties have just been rented or that they do not meet your criteria. Thai Property Guide agents are very experienced in understanding the needs of our clientele and therefore can translate your needs to landlords effectively.

Not only are they a valuable source of information, they can assist in negotiating the terms and prices of properties. Because real estate agents deal with so many different areas and types of properties, they are able to quote advise a client or homeowner as to an accurate price for a particular property. In fact, the asking price of any particular property is usually lower with an agent than when asking the home owner directly.

Agents are also usually a communications center for anything pertaining to living in their city or the area they cover. An agent can usually locate domestic help and negotiate a price and terms with each, or will know where the best place to get service on minor repairs, internet, telephone services, cable TV, or any other domestic concern you may have.
What is the best way to find a Best Real estate agency?

You can start by asking your friends, relatives, co-workers or neighbors if they’ve used a real estate agency. For expatriates, the answer usually is yes. Several companies contract their accommodation search needs to a specific agency, but that does not necessarily guarantee that agency will be the best one for you. Most expatriates use 3 or 4 agencies to make sure they miss nothing. Talking to other expatriates will give you a good measure on the professional abilities of each agency as well as a list of agencies to try. Searching online is also a great way to get an idea of what agencies with websites have to offer and what their area of expertise is.

Different agencies specialize in different things. For instance, Thai Property Guide specializes in finding high quality homes for expatriates for rent. We do not have much information for those looking to buy but we will refer interested buyers to agencies that work more closely in that area.
Can I use an agent to purchase a newly built home?

Yes. In fact, using an agent to purchase property is probably one of the best ways to really explore all of your options. It is an agent’s job to be well informed on old and new properties and to know the pros and cons between each. They will be able to provide a concise comparative list of old and new properties for sale as well as assist in the negotiations on prices and add-on amenities.

In Thailand, it is illegal for foreigners to purchase land, therefore it is impossible for someone who is not Thai to buy a house. However, condominiums are an option for foreigners wishing to buy a permanent residence in Thailand, but please note that buildings have quotas for foreign ownership that must be complied with.
What should I look for in a Property?

Besides rental fees and type of property, you should probably ask yourself how difficult it would be to get around and whether or not you would need a car. Another important question is whether or not the maintenance is prompt and effective. Living in a building or a house that does not provide proper maintenance will be a headache and possibly dangerous. Previous tenants are a good source of information to the level of upkeep the property provides. Real estate agents are also a good source of information as they are usually the middle men for disputes between the owners and the tenants.
How much can you afford?

The first step when you start thinking about buying or renting a new home, is to sit down and work out how much you can afford to spend. Each area has it’s price range and each property type has it’ s price range as well. You might want to try checking online to get an idea of the average prices for the different areas are.
Where do you want to live?

Your budget and your desired lifestyle will influence where you can live. (Please look at “How much can you afford?”). Think about what you would like to be located close to, and what you can do without before limiting your options to a specific area. In urban Bangkok, the possibility of being close to, or within easy access of shopping, restaurants, work, parks, and sporting facilities are very high. Apartment buildings, Condominiums, Townhouse complexes, and Homes in compounds have in-house sporting facilities and convenience stores and are highly secure. Your biggest concern however, would probably be traffic, so living close to a BTS or MRT station would be a big help in making those facilities closer to you. There are a few international schools in the city, but the biggest ones (RIS, BPS, ISB) are in the suburbs, roughly an hour or more from the city.

The choice of the type of property available depends on your budget bracket, area, length of stay and the lifestyle you intend for your stay in Bangkok. Houses for rent with access to a pool on average are at about 120,000 Baht per month in Bangkok. Property in the Ploenchit or Lang Suan area tend to be smaller and higher priced than in Bangna Trad because of supply and demand.

The following is a comparative analysis of what each property type has to offer.

House

Pros

Cons

Larger living space

More room for more furniture (usually sparsely furnished)

Possible 5 br

Usually has private garden

Separate area for domestic help

More storage area

Less security

Sometimes less amenities (Free standing or compound?)

Out of the way (usually deeper in a soi than apartments or in the suburbs)

Harder to find

Higher prices

Not many in the market.

Very few for rent in certain areas (Ploenchit, Sathorn)

Longer to get things fixed?

House in Compound:

Pros

Cons

Same Pros as a house

Greater security

More space for the children to play

Better maintenance

Shared swimming pool

Clubhouse may have a gym and other sports facilities such as tennis court or golf course.

Out of the way (usually deeper in a soi than apartments or in the suburbs)

Harder to find in the city (They are one of the hottest types of property in the market and are taken rather quickly)

Higher prices

Not many in the market.

Very few for rent in certain areas (Ploenchit, Sathorn)

Apartment

Pros

Cons

Usually very secure

Fully furnished (Reupholstered upon request)

Round the clock maintenance

Usually lower rent than a house.

Greater accessibility, (most apartments are located a little out of the way but in the city and very accessible to main roads)

Same décor for every room (with the exception of 4 bedrooms, if a desired aparment gets rented, there might be another one just like it in the building available.)(How quickly will you move in?)

Less space compared to Houses

4 Bedrooms are rare, 5 even more so.

Difficult to get furniture removed

Not much privacy outside of your walls.

Condominiums

Pros

Cons

Much like an apartment

More possibility to own a pet (owners may say yes, building may say no.)

Quieter than an apartment.

More available than apartments (apartments tend to fill up faster than condos and usually in condos there are several rooms left empty)

May be fully furnished or partially furnished.

Duality of decision making (owners may say yes to a pet, the building may have regulations against it.)

Less maintenance and administrative personnel.

Difficult to get extra phone lines or more Cable TV points installed. (It is probably more difficult than a house because of building regulations.)

No standard for the furnishings (Condos are privately owned and are furnished according to the owner’s tastes. Should the desired condo be rented, there will be another with the same floor plan but the furnishing will be different)

Townhouse

Pros

Cons

As much living space as a house

4-5 bedrooms are a great possibility

More storage space than an apartment or condominium.

Cheaper rent than a house

Access to a swimming pool and exercise facilities (Depending on the compound)

Usually privately owned so they could be as sparsely furnished as a house or as fully furnished as an apartment.

Constricted living (townhouses are usually very close together and share boundary walls.

Little possibility of a private garden area

Fewer parking spaces than a house.

Usually 3-5 stories high.

When do you want to move in?

This is an important question to answer because this will determine the amount of time you have to search for a suitable home and should also limit your expectation of renting your favorite property from your latest search. High end apartments and houses in the city, gated or not, are in high demand and will be rented quickly. Looking for your new home several months before you intend to move to Bangkok is a great way to explore the market, however, the market changes very quickly especially as Bangkok is experiencing a real estate boom. The market landscape could be very different between when you look for the property and your move-in date. If you are very interested in a property and are willing to pay a booking fee or place a down payment, home owners can hold the property off the market for around 1-1.5 months. They seldom go beyond the 1.5 month mark.

The rental market is a seasonal one. The high seasons begins in... ...and ends... ... The hottest properties come available and are taken quickly then. Planning your move during the low season will be less hectic, but your choices will be limited to what has been left from the high season rush.
Quick Tips

Keep in mind that several hours each weekend, or during the week will need to be set aside for viewing prospective properties. Be realistic about the amount of time house hunting is likely to take.

You probably won't be lucky enough to find your dream home within the first five houses you see - possibly not even the first twenty houses, so if you are working to a tight schedule, try and make your ‘WISH LIST’ as accurate as possible and discuss this with your Real Estate Agent prior to inspecting any properties.

The next step is to BEGIN YOUR HUNT.

Please bear in mind that the more precise your list is. The less time is spent in searching for your Dream Home.