Bangkok Real Estate

Houses and Housing Estates

One option is to live in a house. A house involves maintenance and garden upkeep and in most cases the necessity for live-in staff. You may require more staff than if you live in an apartment, for example a night guard and/or gardener. House contents insurance will be necessary, and many find that burglar alarms are required - it is not uncommon to hear of foreigners homes being burgled more than once. Few houses have swimming pools and, although comfortable houses in tropical gardens do exist, they can be expensive and may take some time to find. Some houses and townhouses are in compounds and many have communal swimming pools and gyms.

Although the authorities have improved Bangkoks drainage system, the city still floods in places during the rainy season. This is usually not a problem in an apartment, but houses can be affected. Check high water marks along the street walls and ask the neighbours about flooding.

Expatriate moo baans (villages), which are similar to housing estates, are generally on the fringes of the central areas, eg. Chaeng Watthana, Bang Na or the On Nut area. Moo baans offer a different style of living than apartments in the city - the houses have gardens, outdoor play areas and are often large and two-storey. Moo baans usually have shared facilities such as tennis courts and swimming pools, and have the feel of a small community. The streets are usually quiet, and some families with small children prefer this more Western style of living. There are advantages and disadvantages of moo baan living some distance from central Bangkok. eg getting to the city for work, hospital visits, schools, childrens activities, or for dining out, can be a time-consuming exercise. It would also be necessary to have at least one car. An option is to live in an apartment in central Bangkok for some time to become familiar with the city, then move further out when children are older.

Check the property section in newspapers for private rentals or drive around an area you like, looking out for advertisements on gates or posts. If you do come across a property privately, have the lease agreement checked by a company lawyer or ask the advice of a real estate agent before signing.

Apartments and condominiums

When you are apartment hunting, it would be worthwhile buying one of the maps or location guides which list apartments and condominiums in Bangkok.

Advantages of living in an apartment include readily available maintenance and repair services, 24-hour security and facilities such as a gym, pool, garden or childrens play area. For families, the advantage of having other children on the premises to play and travel to school with can save having to brave the after-school traffic to meet friends. Apartment blocks vary widely in terms of style, quality, location and facilities, not to mention price. Look at a range of apartments, and talk to various people before you make a decision to rent. Dont be pressured by real estate agents. Changing your mind and breaking a lease can be done, but is usually an expensive exercise.

Condominiums offer the same level of service as apartments. Condominium implies individual ownership so the interior facility and decoration can vary considerably within the same building. Issues may also arise around responsibility for maintenance and upgrading. Take particular care with contracts.

Townhouses

Interesting townhouses are tucked away down many sub-sois. They are usually less expensive than apartments and many have a semi-detached appearance. Often they are multi-level with small garden areas. Some of the apartment complexes have a mix of apartments and townhouses in the same compound, with the same level of security and other facilities as the apartments. Agents should be aware of complexes which include townhouses. Single townhouses with individual owners are often advertised in newspapers rather than leased through agents.