Bangkok is a huge city, comparing only to London in Europe in terms of area and ranking an astonishing 24 worldwide!
Occupying an area of more than 1,500 square kilometers and divided between 50 administrative districts and 180 subdistricts, it is no small task for any newcomer here to find one's bearings!
In fact, one could actually drive 60km from both the north to the south of the city (Saimai - Bang Khun Tian districts) and from the west to the east of the city (Nong Chok - Thawi Wattana districts) and still be in Bangkok!
When looking to purchase property in Bangkok, our buyers could therefore be tempted to believe they have an unlimited range of location options to choose from. However not all areas fit the all-important location, location, location property motto!
Often deemed the most important criterion when purchasing property, the location where you purchase your property will not only mean higher convenience but will also be an important factor of how successful your investment will be, both at the time of the purchase and at the time of the resale.
Simplified to the extreme, property pundits often say it is better to buy the wrong property in the right area than the right property in the wrong area, meaning one can modify the interior and/or the layout of a condominium unit but not change its location.
In this article, we will present some areas we consider essential to a successful property investment:
The Sukhumvit area of Bangkok is where most property transactions occur, especially those involving foreigners.
The proximity to one of the following 5 BTS stations is usually considered not only prime but also a must have: Nana, Asoke, Phromphong, Thonglor and Ekamai.
A wide range of malls can be found there, such as Emporium, Emquartier, Emsphere and Terminal 21. Those who need to escape the hustle and bustle of city will also be able to do just that in the parks of Benchasiri and Benjakitti.
If you can consider small size units, the neighboring areas of Pra Khanong and Onnut also offer a substantial and qualitative choice of units.
The CBD, Singapore-like area of Sathorn is probably the closest contender to Sukhumvit in terms of property investment, especially the highly sought-after areas around the BTS Saladaeng and BTS Chong Nonsi subway stations.
For those looking for more quiet neighborhoods, the residential areas of Nanglinchee and Yen Akard offer more tranquility while still being a close distance from downtown.
Located between Sukhumvit and Sathorn is the Lumpini area, consisting mostly of Wireless, Langsuan, Chidlom and Ratchadamri Roads.
The area gives easy access to subway stations, malls such as Central Embassy and Central world as well as the Lumpini Park, the most iconic the city has to offer.
While a great property investment area, most of the land here is registered under Crown Property, which means developers can only offer up to 30-year leases, sometimes renewable. Due to the scarcity of non Crown Property-owned land here, the price of Freehold units can be very high.
Investing in the riverside areas of most capitals worldwide usually proves to be profitable. The same goes for the Bangkok riverside. The value of your property here is likely to increase while the riverside area is getting more and more developed by the urban planning of the city.
Within this particular area, purchasing close to the Saphan Taksin, Krung Thonburi or Charoennakorn stations and/or within easy reach of the Icon Siam luxury mall, ideally with panoramic views to the river, would make your property investment more liquid.
If there was one more area to add to the four main ones presented above, it would undoubtedly be Ari. While less expats do live in Ari, it is very trendy and is also home to a wide range of shops and restaurants and even the La Villa community mall, directly connected to the Ari BTS station.
The area is highly qualitative and many high officials Thais have decided to settle here, enjoying a slightly less crowed atmosphere while being only a few subway stations away from the downtown areas of Sathorn and Sukhumvit located south and west of the Siam BTS station.
