Recent developments in Morocco between a domestic developer and French destination management group Pierre & Vacances (P& V) could provide a worthwhile working model for Phuket.
A new 286 hectare village near Marrakesh is being set up combining villas, retirement homes, farm, sports center, golf course and commercial complex.
P & V already cater to a growing portfolio of residential led hospitality projects which cater to a broad market which is continuing to grow with the aging of Europe's population base.
While Laguna Phuket is the primary example of mixed use, the opportunity still exists on the island for an affordable large scale master planned residential fully serviced community
Kalim's The Bay Cliff condominium have opened a sales office in Bangkok to target domestic property buyers into the Phuket market.
Bay Cliff Development Group also have a second project in Kalim on the edge of the entertainment district of Patong named The Privilege Residences.
Another venture is the 286 room Sleep With Me hotel set to open in 2012 near Jungceylon.
While Bay Cliff's launch coincided with the global financial crises a few years ago they have steadily outperformed the market in sales pace due to a significant level of Thai purchasers.
A leading sign of the times for the fortunes of property developers in Thailand's resort destinations is Raimon Lands re-engineering of their pricing and product mix for the domestic market.
The company recently launched the 480 unit Zire Wongamat and has a second project pending. Launch prices of Zire have fallen under the THB50,000 square meter price point and smaller units start at 48 square meters.
It's Bangkok all over again with the phenomenon of the BTS centric high density low cost model moved to the beach.
While the jury remains out on the take up rates for now price sensitive strategies seem to dominate broad real estate strategy at the moment.
Phuket pricing is holding for the moment as the Thai market would rather drive then fly to their second or holiday homes.
Bali's Villa Rental Association is the brainchild of six leading agencies which was established back in 2007.
Currently membership stands at 16 organizations operating on the island.
While essentially formed to act as a conduit for its members in promoting the destination, its critical tasks are effectively raising the bar amongst the industry and working with villas owners, government, management companies and agents in institutionalizing the trade.
One key competency has seen the association being able to deliver value through its efforts in consumer advocacy.
As Phuket's non traditional accommodation providers, management companies and rental agents continue to multiply perhaps now is a call to action for local leadership to form a strategic alliance with similar aims.
Land prices for residential and commercial development in Phnom Penh are expected to drop by 2-3% according to Cambodia's NVA (National Valuers Association).
Based on data comparing Q3 data in 2010 versus 2009, residential land is now USD1,600 per square meter.
The country saw property prices skyrocket over a 5 year period between 2004 to 2008. Once the global financial crises hit, then declines started to creep into the marketplace.
Despite the trend, resort land speculation in the southern part of the country which has coastal and island land with white sand beaches continues to be a hot topic and has continued to outperform the broader trading bourse.
Still early in the development story, risk and reward remain high in what is being termed as early days for Cambodian real estate.
Listed Thai firm Raimon Land is continuing to work on a mass market model with the launch of its new THB 2.8 billion Pattaya condo project Zire Wongamat.
A low entry level pricing point of THB1.95 million has been set with exhibitions at Siam Paragon and Central Festival Pattaya Beach. Pricing is expected to move to THB2.5 million after the promo period.
An initial rice per square meter averaging THB70,000 is forecasted to increase to THB100,000 over the sales cycle.
The company's strategic shift into a wider domestic marketplace is expected to be reinforced with the new offering.
Project completion has been scheduled for mid 2014.
Thailand's Finance Ministry has announced that the controversial land and building tax has been shelved until after this year's planned elections.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's administration had meant this intended legislation to pass either late last year or early 2011 but clearly political machinations at present make it a secondary concern.
While the tax would have brought substantial revenue into the government coffers, the issue of decreasing the widening gap between the nations's rich and poor continue to stimy political factions.
For landowners who continue to bank large blocks of undeveloped land the news comes with a sigh of relief.
The developer of the Le Meridien Khao Lak is launching 25 luxury pool villas branded Les Residences adjacent to the upscale Phang Nga resort.
Oceanfront and pool view villas range from 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units with sizes running from 159 square meters to 586 square meters. Every unit has its own private swimming pool.
Priced from THB23 million including furniture package, purchasers have an option to join a rental pool with 6% guaranteed return for six years and 60 day annual usage. CBRE Thailand is acting as sole agent.
Construction is already underway with full completion in November 2011 in time for the next high season.
Thai firm Vitya Holding are the developer and count the Le Meriden Khao Lak and Chiang Mai's Katiliya Mountain Resort and Spa as other ongoing businesses.
Taking to Australia based Paul Dean the other day who is one of Asia Pacific's leading fractional ownership experts he let us in on two top online resources he has set up.
The first is www.fractionfacts.com.au set up as a consumer information website, in order to provide impartial and objective information to consumers in this part of the world, wanting to know more about fractional interests.
With the second www.lifestylefractions.com.au which is a venture set up with a Project Marketing specialist by the name of Ric King who moved over to Oz from Canada about 23 years ago and who has sold some top-end projects over the years.
Both are well worth a read, and provide excellent information for both industry players and developers considering a move into the fractional word.
