Property sales high season in Phuket is experiencing some breakthrough transactions at the top end of the market.
Nai Thon's "Golden Mile" has seen transactions in excess of USD20 million over the past few months.
Istana has just transacted a six bedroom ultra villa for USD6 million. The transaction originated with Phillip's Real Estate.
While at nearby Malaiwana, four properties have been sold since April.
Emerging upscale address Nai Thon includes Malaiwana, Istana, Trisara along with the Pearl of Naithon and new hotels under development under ACCOR's Pullman brand an InterContinential's Hotel Indigo.
Bring on the Golden Mile which is shaping up as a key competitor to Kamala's vaunted Millionaires Mile.
Also on the luxury coconut wireless we've heard encouraging signs from Koh Samui, where news is expected shortly over a banner multi-million dollar property trade.
Anyone can see that ultra villa rentals are becoming more and more popular, with the adage the bigger the better coming true.
One great idea we've seen is The Bella Luna in Maui is offering a 60 inch LED television with 3D.
Guests can avail of 3D glasses for both adults and children.
Seems Phuket's ultra villas who are looking for USP's (unique selling propositions), could look at teching up what's currently on offer in the market.
Leading real estate agency and management group CBRE Thailand are celebrating their milestone 7th anniversary on the island.
Speaking to Chairman David Simister today, he is optimistic about the prospects of the island property market and said the group is seeing renewed interest in Greater Phuket.
In my opinion it's great having reputable firms like CBRE and here is to 7 more years of quality service in the property sector.
AOCAP or better known as the Alternative Ownership Conference Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific is moving to Bangkok for the 2011 installment.
Dates have been set for October 9-11th at Bangkok's Shangri-La Hotel.
This year's event has been expanded to cover shared ownership, branded residences, condo hotels, and fractional property.
Leading Asia Pacific expert Paul Dean is leading the advisory panel and early bird registration has been set at THB12,500.
For more <link>http://www.aocap.org*CLICK</link>
In what could be termed as 'it was bound to happen', Bali's estate management and villa rental firms are tapping into the Phuket market.
One key example is Market Villas Ltd, which is a venture between Bali-based Elite Havens and Singapore's Private Homes & Villas.
Jon Stonham who is CEO of MVL is a leading professional in online travel. As a co-founder of the dot com start up Asia-Hotels.com he was instrumental in growing the business which was eventually sold to global giant Orbitz a few years.
Speaking to Jon recently he gave some insight into the key differences between the two markets with Bali private villas hitting considerably higher occupancy rates than Phuket. He believe the industry will develop in such as way as to become key trading competitors to resorts as it has in Bali.
With a large inventory in Bali, the group is now taking on new product in Phuket and recently set up shop in Sri Lanka's blossoming south coast beach market.
Strangely enough few Phuket property businesses have taken the opposite approach and set up shop in Bali, despite the surge in the destination and direct flights by AirAsia between the two resort islands.
For more on collective group –
<link>http://www.elitehavensbali.com*Elite Havens</link>
<link>http://www.marketingvillas.com*Marketing Villas Ltd. </link>
<link>http://www.privatehomesandvillas.com*Private Homes and Villas</link>
Here's a headline that has me searching for an entire bottle of aspirin, first appearing on Thailand's Ministry of Communications newsite and now picked up far and wide by all the usual media outlets.
An official for Thailand's Land Department named Sriracha Charoenpanit has been quoted as saying that up to 90% of beachfront land in Phuket is controlled by foreigners through the use of a nominee system.
If that wasn't enough, then of course the big stick of land seizure and deportation were waved. Areas highlighted as hot spots were Phuket, Koh Samui, and Koh Chang.
Of course, no blood has been spilled, the quotes came from a seminar and subsequent interviews. There is no indication that the individual quoted was in fact stating an official Government position.
Now ink is flooding, the internet blog lines, newslines and those forums are full of conspiracy theories, threats, warning and generally all manner of gloom and over-reaction.
In the land of same, same, and mai pen rai, anyone seriously reading the news will be able to separate the truth of the matter. By tomorrow there will indeed be the need for yet another slash of ink on new breaking headlines to incense readers and elicit feedback.
Star wars somehow become news wars. Welcome to absurdistan, leave your mind at the door, and don't disturb the drunks sleeping on the floor. I've heard bigfoot might be coming by later and we can hit Atlantis on the way home.
The International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP) will hold a legal session on arbitration this coming Friday July 8th.
This is a subject that may be especially interesting for property and real estate industry players.
Lawyer Olaf Duensing of the Phuket based Duensing Kippen group will be conducting the program.
Set for IndoChine Phuket the event starts at 7:00 pm with registration at 6:00 pm.
Cost for IBAP members is THB200 and non members THB400. Dinner and drinks are included for all.
New Six Senses Sri Lanka Project Launching Branded Villas
As a sign of the continuing surge in interest in Sri Lanka's property market the Six Senses Ahungalla will launch 14 oceanfront multimillion dollar residences for sale by the fourth quarter of this year.
The project is part of the redevelopment of the existing Heritance hotel located north of Galle. Aimed at investment and lifestyle purchasers of the two bedroom pool villas will be operated by the hotel, and owners will receive rental yields plus an added benefit of complimentary room nights.
Six Senses and an affiliate of leading Sri Lankan firm Aitkin and Spence are partnering on the development. It's expected that the resort will open their doors in 2012.
Leading internationally affiliated property agency Colliers Thailand will open an agency office in Hua Hin this year.
According to a talk I with Managing Director Patima Jeerapaet this morning, offices in Phuket and Koh Samui will follow.
They are currently scouting locations on the island.
