Results 1 to 21 of 21
  1. #1
    Member
    ChalkyDee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    20-03-2024 @ 06:35 PM
    Posts
    970

    Build or Buy a House?

    newbie here

    What's better to do - buy or build my own house?

    I want to move to Hua Hin/Cha am area.

    I would like a quiet place, 5 bedrooms and a pool, preferably in an enclosed estate with security.

    What are the pros and cons and how much would it cost to build. The houses I see already built are about 7-12 million baht.

    Any advice on where to start looking?

    Cheers

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    PAG's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Last Online
    19-01-2024 @ 11:31 PM
    Location
    Chalong, Phuket
    Posts
    5,123
    I would start with some of the buy/sell property in Hua Hin Facebook groups (an example here: Log in to Facebook). There are of course agents, though these groups tend to be private sellers. Need to ensure that their titles are legit of course, but this is where the bargains are more likely to be. Personally, I'd go for a second hand house rather than new build, with getting it at the right price in the right area, with refurbishment costs taken account of.

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by PAG View Post
    Personally, I'd go for a second hand house rather than new build, with getting it at the right price in the right area, with refurbishment costs taken account of.
    I'd agree with PAG . . . but an extensive builder's report is a must.

  4. #4
    Philippine Expat
    Davis Knowlton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Philippines
    Posts
    18,204
    I built, and have absolutely no regrets. Six bedroom six and a half bath on about 600 square meters in an enclosed estate with security. Bagged the pool idea as I have a very nice olympic size pool within walking distance. Total cost of house, lots and what few furnishing we didn't already own was about USD$250,000 (2007/08).

  5. #5
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,534
    There are no property bargains to be had on facebook from what I’ve seen. Better to get to an area you like and travel around looking for yourself.

    We found somewhere that suited after about four days, and about a dozen places checked out. We have since added a second building, so a kind of buy/build hybrid. That meant we could watch the construction of building two and discourage shortcuts.

    The website ‘Baht and Sold’ very occasionally has a place at a price worth checking out. In amongst dozens of dreamers.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    I built
    . . . in the Philippines, though. Isn't it cheaper there?

  7. #7
    Philippine Expat
    Davis Knowlton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Philippines
    Posts
    18,204
    ^No. I've lived in both, urban and rural in both, and find little difference. My house is in a semi-rural area 50 clicks south of Manila.

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat
    panama hat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    21-10-2023 @ 08:08 AM
    Location
    Way, Way South of the border now - thank God!
    Posts
    32,680
    Right, sorry. I didn't know.

  9. #9
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 07:05 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,895
    Quote Originally Posted by ChalkyDee View Post
    What's better to do - buy or build my own house?
    If you have experience in building here in Thailand and know a reliable quality builder, build yourself. If not definately purchase.

    Have a look around area. Plenty available. This one has been for sale for quite awhile.

    Vinyard: Modern 4 Bedroom Pool Villa In Great Location - Property Solutions Hua Hin
    "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect,"

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat
    PAG's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Last Online
    19-01-2024 @ 11:31 PM
    Location
    Chalong, Phuket
    Posts
    5,123
    Definitely a buyers market in many places in Thailand at the moment, particularly tourist centric areas of which Hua Hin is obviously one. Simple case of sellers far outstripping buyers, and difficult to see any change in that for the foreseeable future. Although there might be a discount on the price of land, there is little chance of that for material and labour. The immigrant labour market may be in something of a state of flux for some time, and could impact new build projects.

    If second hand, the type of property you seek will almost certainly be Expat owned, and so likely to have been bought by cash so no mortgage or finance pressures, though other circumstances might be in play to take a loss. That's certainly the case here in Phuket.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat
    Klondyke's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Last Online
    26-09-2021 @ 10:28 PM
    Posts
    10,105
    Quote Originally Posted by ChalkyDee View Post
    Build or Buy a House?
    If you have got some kind of technical knowledge, persistence and good nerves - and of course Thai wife not lazy to help - you can build it for a fragment of what is offered. And to your satisfaction...

  12. #12
    Member

    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Last Online
    04-11-2023 @ 10:02 AM
    Posts
    584
    if you do not have time to supervise a house built and know the building regulations as well and do not know a good builder i would steer clear of building a new house
    a house plan has to be register but from what i have seen a lot of builders ignore the plans and proceed to build how they want to
    personally i prefer to buy a home a few years old then you can see if the ground has settled causing cracks in the walls and foundations and other problems that appear after a period of time
    common practice on phuket is to use mild steel round instead of rebar to re enforce concrete because its cheaper and easier to transport, you can bend a whole bundle of it so it fits easily on a truck and constructing swimming pools out of breeze/cinder blocks to name just two

  13. #13
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    33,534
    Need more info from the op at this point.

    From memory, he's a bit of a cock.

    Mazda driver.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    38,456
    It's Thailand. Rent. But put up a house for the family, as long as you are fully aware that is a gift.

  15. #15
    Member

    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Last Online
    18-09-2021 @ 05:01 PM
    Posts
    100
    If you know what you want, you'll build it. If you see a lovely place you buy it and build new there. Houses are just brick and mortar, not important.

    Owning land in Thailand is some other thread with keywords thai limited company, etc

  16. #16
    Member
    Barty's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 05:50 PM
    Location
    Lamlukka
    Posts
    939
    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    It's Thailand. Rent. But put up a house for the family, as long as you are fully aware that is a gift.
    Quote Originally Posted by DC101 View Post
    Owning land in Thailand is some other thread with keywords thai limited company, etc
    I don't think the OP needs to worry about limited companys or family for owning land. He recently became a Thai citizen.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
    Shutree's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 06:14 PM
    Location
    One heartbeat away from eternity
    Posts
    4,658
    Quote Originally Posted by ChalkyDee View Post
    newbie here
    Since October 2006?

    FWIW, The Thaiger did a short piece recently on real estate trends and it is on YouTube. There are a couple of other pieces also on YouTube if you search.


  18. #18
    Member
    ChalkyDee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    20-03-2024 @ 06:35 PM
    Posts
    970
    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    If you have experience in building here in Thailand and know a reliable quality builder, build yourself. If not definately purchase.

    Have a look around area. Plenty available. This one has been for sale for quite awhile.

    Vinyard: Modern 4 Bedroom Pool Villa In Great Location - Property Solutions Hua Hin
    Interesting, I physically looked at a similar one a few months ago. I like that village, nice and quiet.

    This stunning luxury Villa in Huahin South ( VLFS0446) | Arnold Property

  19. #19
    Member
    ChalkyDee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    20-03-2024 @ 06:35 PM
    Posts
    970
    Quote Originally Posted by Shutree View Post
    Since October 2006?

    FWIW, The Thaiger did a short piece recently on real estate trends and it is on YouTube. There are a couple of other pieces also on YouTube if you search.

    Thanks, although I am not comfotable buying a property from someone who can't pronounce 'koh'

  20. #20
    Member
    ChalkyDee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Last Online
    20-03-2024 @ 06:35 PM
    Posts
    970
    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    It's Thailand. Rent. But put up a house for the family, as long as you are fully aware that is a gift.
    The house will be in my name, I'm Thai.

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat
    Buckaroo Banzai's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Last Online
    03-08-2023 @ 01:50 PM
    Location
    My couch
    Posts
    4,889
    As said by other,
    In Thailand building regulations a lax, building department inspections are almost non existent, and if there are any inspectors they are certainly in the pocket of the big builders, So If you are going to buy anything already build , make sure you have researched the reputation of the builder.
    If you have experience in construction build your own, that way you know what was done, but make sure you are there to inspect every step of the way.
    Builders are only as good as the people they have working for them and their availability to supervise them. If the builder is very busy , he will not have time to inspect and supervise, also he will be hiring extra people that will do what they like when he is not there.
    If you are going to build on your own, before you start the build, start a thread here and elsewhere, pick everyones
    brains. You don't know what you don't know.
    The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •