From Phuket to Policy: How Asia’s Property Game Is Shifting

Explore this week’s spotlight on Surfhouse Residences — and why Asia still waits for its Opendoor moment.

Author

Johnny Leverington
October 14, 2025

Welcome to Hawook — your guide to Southeast Asia’s emerging property market. From Phuket to beyond, we bring you early access to curated off-plan projects, plus clear insights to help you invest with confidence.

🏡 At a Glance – Quick Facts

  • Location: Choeng Thale (Bang Tao area), Phuket

  • Scale: 34 units, 1 building, 7 floors, site ~1,757 sqm

  • Status: Off-plan, completion Jan 2027 (Q1/2027)

  • Developer: SALA Hospitality Group

  • Positioning: Boutique coastal condo near Bang Tao with big formats and resort vibes

💸 Pricing Snapshot

  • 2BR (≈117–139 sqm): ฿15.62M–฿17.71M (≈ ฿124k–฿151k/sqm)

  • 3BR (≈139–165 sqm): ฿18.15M–฿23.78M (≈ ฿130k–฿155k/sqm)

Views drive price bands: sea and lake views trade higher than garden-facing stacks. Units are listed unfurnished.

📐 Unit Mix & Sizes

  • 2 Bedroom: ~117–139 sqm

  • 3 Bedroom: ~139–165 sqm

Family-sized layouts with generous living areas compared to typical Phuket condos.

🧱 Facilities that matter day-to-day

  • Communal pool, communal gym, garden

  • Security: 24H + CCTV

  • Parking & lifts: 2 passenger + 1 service lift

  • Pets: All kinds allowed ✅

👇👇👇

🗺️ The Location Lowdown

  • In the upscale Bang Tao resort corridor (beach clubs, Laguna precinct, cafés).

  • Airport: ~21 mins (≈12.2 km).

  • Ma Doo Bua: ~7 mins (≈2.9 km).

  • Use-case: Morning beach walks, lunch in Laguna, sunset swims back at the residence.

💳 Payment Plan

  • Contract (7 days post-booking): 20%

  • +1 month: 8%

  • +4 months: 8%

  • +7 months: 8%

  • +10 months: 8%

  • Transfer: 48%

🧭 Who should short-list this

  • You want a low-density, boutique building rather than a mega-condo.

  • End-users or family holiday-home buyers who value larger floor plates.

  • Investors targeting premium nightly/long-stay tenants in Bang Tao with sea/lake outlooks.

  • Pet owners needing a flexible policy.

🧾 Fees, premiums, rules

  • CAM: ฿108/sqm/month

  • Utilities: Government electricity & water rates

  • Pets: All pets allowed 

❓ FAQs

Is foreign freehold available?
Thailand allows foreign freehold up to 49% of sellable area in a condo. Check quota for your target unit before reserving.

What about furniture?
Listings show unfurnished; ask for the developer’s furniture packages and appliance lists.

Rental outlook?
Bang Tao is one of Phuket’s most sought-after rental zones. Larger 2–3BRs with sea/lake views can capture premium rates, especially peak season.

🔍 Final Take – Should you shortlist this?

If you want a Bang Tao address without the crowding, Surfhouse Residences brings big, livable layouts in a 34-unit building with pets allowed and straightforward amenities. Pricing sits in the premium-but-fair band for the area, with views as the main lever.

Why Asia Still Has No Opendoor (Yet)

Selling a home is one of the last transactions still stuck in the past — opaque pricing, endless listings, and capital locked in concrete. Opendoor tried to fix that in the U.S., turning homes into liquid assets that could move at algorithmic speed. But across Asia, where property is both obsession and store of wealth, the iBuyer model hasn’t landed.

The question isn’t if it can — but who will dare to try. Because once it works, it won’t just change real estate. It’ll change how capital moves through the region.

🏷️ Term of the Week

The 49% Rule: Thailand’s Condominium Act Explained

Did you know foreigners can legally own condos in Thailand — but only up to 49% of the total sellable floor area in a building? That’s thanks to Thailand’s Condominium Act of 1979, which allows non-Thai buyers to hold freehold titles, as long as Thais own the remaining 51%. It’s a clever balance between encouraging foreign investment and protecting local ownership.

For investors, this means timing and developer coordination matter — once the foreign quota fills, you’ll have to buy through a Thai entity or go leasehold. It’s a small detail, but one that shapes entire skylines from Bangkok to Phuket.

👉 Tip: Always ask your agent if the project’s “foreign quota” is open before signing that reservation form.

💬 Property Pulse Poll

Golden Visa vs. ROI

Across Asia and Europe, more buyers are chasing properties that come with something extra — a residency permit, lifestyle flexibility, or even a second passport down the line.
But others still see property as strictly an investment game, driven by yields and appreciation.

So, if you were buying overseas today, what would motivate you more?

🛂 Residency perks — the freedom to live, work, and travel abroad.
📈 Pure investment returns — capital growth and steady rental income.

👉 Hit reply and tell us your pick — Visa or ROI?
We’ll feature some of your answers in next week’s issue.

🙏 Thanks for Reading

That’s it for this week’s Hawook! We’re glad to have you with us on the journey through Southeast Asia’s property market. If you found today’s edition useful, please share it with a friend who might benefit from these insights.

See you next week with more opportunities, updates, and ideas.

— The Hawook Team