The most popular area for foreigners is Sukhumvit, followed by Central Lumpini and the Sathorn area. When looking to rent around Bangkok close access to the CBD should be considered. Bangkok’s traffic is notoriously bad, so it would be wise to choose an area close to the metro system or Skytrain to cut down on commuting times. Housing villages are mushrooming on the outskirts of Bangkok. These villages feature amenities such as swimming pools and tennis courts, but, following the global trend, the homes sit on tiny land plots and each home tends to look exactly like the next. While allowing you to live in a high-end housing village as opposed to a condominium or apartment, there are two satellites attracting attention, one being around the International School of Bangkok and there is also a smaller cluster around Bangkok Pattana School.
Alternatively many are attracted to the up-and-coming riverside, with its fine views and close proximity to a string of Bangkok’s top hotels, including the Oriental, the Peninsula and the Shangri-La. Over the next three years, the amount of new supply is expected to be significant, averaging around 6,150 units per year, considerably high when compared with an average of 3,460 units per year during 2004-2006. The result will be high competition among these and older units while bargaining power will be in the hands of buyers and tenants. In the coming year, new property projects in central Bangkok will focus more on the middle and upper-middle segments, with the majority of units being one to two-bedrooms. At the lower end of the segment, project development focus in Bangkok is shifting to fringe locations along the extended SkyTrain/Subway routes where rental properties can be more affordable.
