The media has been playing out the result of a recent survey by Chulalongkorn University which ranked the Land Office as the most corrupt public office in the country.
According to the survey "Corruption in the Thai Bureaucracy in 2014" A Survey of Attitude and Experiences of Heads of Households" the Land Department was cited by 7.2% of respondents.
The Police came in at second ranking with 6.1%.
It was estimated in the study that over THB1.2 billion was paid in bribes to corrupt land officials.
The figures quoted above were published in The Nation newspaper.
Hotel branded property investment offerings are continuing to rise up in Phuket.
The latest is in Rawai at a project named The Beachfront which will be branded as a Best Western Plus.
Featuring a beachfront location, the complex consists of 220 condominium units and ten Oceanside pool villas.
Units start at 25 square meters with a current entry pricing point around THB2.5 million.
There are freehold and leasehold options though the former is being sold at a premium.
Project completion is expected in 2016.
Both Rawai and Chalong are seeing development of new hospitality projects with the redevelopment of the former Evason into an upscale InterContinental, the massive upgrading of the former Royal Phuket Yacht Club in Nai Harn and two new Marriott branded products in Chalong.
As for real estate offerings, clearly Phuket property offerings slanted towards investment buyers are seeing a similar trend last seen in the mid-2000's,though the mantra this time out is smaller and cheaper.
A new luxury real estate project in Batam is mixing property and Hollywood.
Tagged at The Scene, the project is pairing a Singapore film company Infinite Studios and Indonesia's Landstar Development.
Back of an existing production facility in Nongsa Bay Batam, the offering will nearly 300 condominium units, retail complex and hotel.
The lead in is to theme a resi project with a working film facility, with planned completion in 2018.
Both Batam and Bintan in Indonesia are trying to tap into nearby Singapore's soaring investment appetite for property offerings.
The struggling Vietnamese real estate sector is expected to gain momentum on news that lawmakers have approved reforms for foreign property ownership.
According to news source Bloomberg the National Assembly has vetted a mandate, which will allow foreigners who hold visas as well as foreign companies doing business in Vietnam to own property.
This will include both freestanding homes and apartments. There is a threshold though with 30% in an apartment complex or 250 houses in an estate.
That said the concept of freehold property remains alien in Vietnam, where the State retains the ultimate owner and 50-year leases are considered to be full tenure.
I'm in Bangkok and the business news is buzzing over the storyline of a Thai firm buying an iconic American brand.
Thai-listed firm Pace Development Corporation, a real estate driven firm has an agreement in place to buy over the Dean & DeLuca chain of gourmet food shops and cafes.
The company has 11 outlets in the US and over 30 abroad. Dean & Deluca was first established in the SoHo district of New York City.
A value of THB4.5 billion has been placed on the deal.
Pace has been a lead innovator in placing the outlet adjacent to their luxury MahaNakhon development in Sathorn district Bangkok which includes the Ritz-Carlton Residences and Edition Hotel.
Another lead item for Pace will be the opening of the L'atelier de Jol Robuchon restaurant by the end of this year at the Cube Lifestyle Centre.
Concern is being widely voiced by Thailand's Foreign Chambers of Commerce and the private sector over proposed changes to the country's overseas investment framework.
Joint ventures and the ability of foreign partners to control the undertaking via board seats is currently being reviewed by the government.
It's been widely speculated in the business press that the move is being pushed by Thai businesses to retain a protective business climate.
Bizarrely the business sentiment is shifting at a time when Thailand is set to usher in a free market initiative in 2015 with the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community).
Phuket's British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) has organized a special symposium on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) initiative.
Scheduled for November 14th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, the venue is the Amari Resort in Patong.
The guest speaker is Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr, Senior Economist at the World Bank's Bangkok office.
Members and non-members are invited to join with a cost of THB850 per person which includes a three-course dinner.
To sign up <link>http://members.bccthai.com/BCCT/asp/eventdetail.asp?EventID=2491&SponsorID=1204*CLICK</link>
One of Phuket's top new developments, Sansiri's Baan Mai Khao has opened their model show unit.
Featured on display are two furniture packages aimed at investment buyers who are looking at tapping into the holiday rental market.
Leading Thai home decoration firm Chanintr Living has also provided a fit-out option.
The project developer is offering rental focused buyers with a 6% guaranteed return for the first two years.
One of Asia's top brands Mandarin Oriental has signed an agreement to manage a 146 unit luxury residence project in Bangkok.
Situated across the river from their famed hotel on the Chaophraya River, the development is part of a mixed use project named ICONSIAM.
A consortium of real estate firms are jointly developing the 20 acre site including Siam Piwat, Magnolia Quality Development and the Charoen Pokphand Group.
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental will feature units sized from 132 to nearly 700 square meter, along with a sky lounge and residents club.
A 2018 completion date is expected.
