Is 7% the Magic Number for Smart Property Investments?

Plus: Thailand’s buyer mix explained and a new Phuket project that ticks the boxes.

Author

Johnny Leverington
October 07, 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.

🏙️ Arise Vibe — Si Sunthon starter-hub, value play with perks

🏡 At a Glance – Quick Facts

  • Location: Si Sunthon, Thalang, Phuket

  • Scale: 411 units, 3 buildings, 7 floors, ~8,800 sqm site

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

  • Developer: Ornsirin Group

  • Positioning: Community-centric condo with work+wellness amenities and pet-friendly rules

Arise Vibe

💸 Pricing Snapshot

  • Studios (~25–27 sqm): from ฿2.40M (≈ ฿96k–100k/sqm)

  • 1BR (~32–35 sqm): roughly ฿3.01M–฿3.25M (≈ ฿94k–102k/sqm)

  • 2BR (~58–59 sqm): roughly ฿5.50M–฿5.91M (≈ ฿94k–101k/sqm)

Tip: Efficient mid-floor stacks and corner 2BRs set the range; balconies/outlook nudge price per sqm.

📐 Unit Mix & Sizes

  • Studios: ~25–27 sqm

  • 1 Bedroom: ~32–35 sqm

  • 2 Bedroom: ~58–59 sqm

🧱 Facilities that matter day-to-day

  • Communal pool + jacuzzi; indoor kids zone & kids club

  • Co-working / meeting room + library/reading room

  • Gym, sauna, steam

  • Garden areas, reception/lobby

  • Parking: ~50% ratio, conventional, EV chargers on site

  • Security: 24H + CCTV

  • Pets: All kinds allowed 

👇👇👇

🗺️ The Location Lowdown

  • Shopping: Robinson Lifestyle Thalang ~950 m (walk/short drive), Porto de Phuket ~6.2 km, Lotus’s Thalang ~6.8 km, Central Festival ~13 km

  • Beaches: Bang Tao ~8.8 km, Surin ~11 km, Kamala ~13 km, Layan ~14 km

  • Hospitals: Thalang ~7 km, Bangkok Hospital Siriroj ~12 km, Vachira ~13 km

  • Airport: ~28 mins (≈20.6 km)

Use-case: Daily life near Robinson; quick hop to Bang Tao/Surin on weekends; co-working downstairs for WFH.

💳 Payment Plan

Thai buyers (two reservation options):

  • Reserve: ฿20,000 or ฿30,000

  • Contract: 5%

  • 18 installments: 15% total

  • Handover: 80%

Foreign buyers (two reservation options):

  • Reserve: ฿100,000 or ฿200,000

  • Contract: 30%

  • 18 installments: 30%

  • Handover: 40%

🧭 Who should short-list this

  • First-time Phuket buyers prioritizing value per sqm and new-build convenience

  • Remote workers/long-stayers who’ll actually use co-working + gym + pool

  • Young families needing kids facilities close to malls and services

  • Pet owners seeking straightforward, pet-friendly rules

🧾 Fees, premiums, rules

  • CAM: ฿50/sqm/month

  • Sinking fund (one-time): ฿500/sqm

  • Parking: ~50% of units; EV chargers available

  • Pets: All pets allowed (confirm building by-laws)

❓ FAQs

Is foreign freehold available?
Condos in Thailand allow foreign freehold up to 49% quota. Check quota on your target stack before reserving.

What are the ongoing costs?
Plan for CAM ฿50/sqm/month + utilities; sinking fund ฿500/sqm is one-time at transfer.

Rental outlook?
Si Sunthon captures tenants seeking value near Bang Tao/Robinson; studios/1BRs are typical rental workhorses.

How far are the beaches?
Bang Tao ~8.8 km; allow for seasonal traffic. We can map the fastest routes/times of day.

🔍 Final Take – Should you shortlist this?

If you want amenities you’ll actually use, pet-friendly rules, and one of Phuket’s cleaner ฿/sqm entry points—all within ~28 minutes of the airport—Arise Vibe is a solid value candidate for first-time buyers and remote-work lifestyles.

Who’s Really Driving Thailand’s Property Market?

Headlines love to say foreigners are fueling Thailand’s real estate boom, but the numbers tell a different story. Thai buyers still make up more than 90% of all property transactions, keeping the market stable and locally driven.

Foreign demand, though smaller, is getting more diverse, with growing interest from Myanmar, Taiwan, Russia, and India alongside long-time Chinese buyers. These groups are shaping hotspots like Phuket, Pattaya, and Bangkok’s CBD, where foreign sales can reach 60% of certain projects.

So what does this mix mean for investors? It’s not about hype, it’s about balance.

💰 The 7% Rule: A Quick Check for Smart Property Investments

Thinking about buying a rental property? The 7% Rule is a quick way to tell if it’s likely a good deal.

Here’s how it works: your annual rent should be at least 7% of the purchase price.
For example, if a home costs $200,000, it should bring in about $14,000 per year (that’s around $1,167 a month) in rent to make financial sense.

It’s a handy shortcut for spotting properties that generate strong cash flow — the kind that can cover costs and still leave profit in your pocket.

Keep in mind, though, it’s just a rule of thumb. It doesn’t include taxes, maintenance, or financing costs, which can all affect your actual returns.

Still, when you’re browsing listings or crunching numbers, the 7% Rule is a simple filter to help you focus on properties that could pay off.

💬 Property Pulse Poll

Condo or villa investment?

When it comes to property investing in Southeast Asia, the choice often comes down to two paths — convenience or exclusivity.

🏢 Condos offer simplicity: professional management, steady rentals, and easy resale potential.
🏡 Villas, on the other hand, promise privacy, prestige, and often higher nightly returns — but with more hands-on upkeep.

So, if you were to invest today, which one fits your goals better?

👉 Hit reply and tell us: Condo or Villa — and why?
We’ll feature a few of your takes in next week’s issue.

🙏 Thanks for Reading

Thanks for reading and being part of Hawook’s growing community of smart investors.
See you next week with more insights, more data — and more ways to spot what’s next.
— Team Hawook