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Phuket Real Estate News
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Contest takes Phuket to You Tube
2007-03-30
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Phuket-based property developer C9 Hotelworks has launched a website and worldwide video competition urging the global community to interpret their idea of the perfect lifestyle on the island.
In order to gain a foothold in the strong Phuket property market, savvy developers have had to initiate new media streams to highlight the benefits of investing in Phuket property. In association with the Mövenpick Residence Karon Beach, the PhuketPerfect.com website guides viewers to a
dedicated page on the popular You Tube website where they can upload their idea of the perfect Phuket day or lifestyle.
The PhuketPerfect.com website was launched on the back of a hugely successful television advertisement campaign, broadcast throughout the region on CNN.
Participants were able to start uploading their videos illustrating the perfect Phuket lifestyle on March 1. The competition closes on April 30 and winners will be announced on PhuketPerfect.com on May 15.
All details of the program and uploading instructions can be found on PhuketPerfect.com. A number of prizes will be awarded, with the grand prize being a week-long stay at the Mövenpick Residence.
Bill Barnett, managing director C9 Hotelworks, who acts as Mövenpick Residence’s project marketer, says promotion is not just about a single apartment development but a campaign to display the perfect tropical lifestyle Phuket offers all year round.
“Phuket is booming at the moment, both on the apartment investment front and on the tourist front and we hope this campaign shows to the world that Phuket is as wonderful as ever,” said Barnett. “We wanted to do something not just for the Mövenpick Residence but also for the entire Phuket
community to show our fantastic lifestyle continues here and this is a great opportunity for others to get involved in the prosperous times we are experiencing.”
The Mövenpick Residence apartments consist of 30 two-bedroom apartments which are now for sale. The project is managed by the adjacent five-star Mövenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach.
Article courtesy of Asia Property Report |
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High-end marina villas for Phuket
2007-03-26
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Phuket’s growing reputation as a high-end boating haven for the rich received a boost with the launch of a new marina home project on the northeastern coast of the island.
Developed by Waterscape Group, Andarina is comprised of five luxury waterfront pool villas overlooking Phang Nga Bay with a cost of Bt200 million. Each 587-square-metre villa has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, two car parking spaces, and a marina.
The project has clearly put the focus on luxury. “Through a courtyard, buyers will enter into the vast living room, opening onto a spacious balcony with stunning ocean view,” says the developer.
“Stepping down to the Level Two, the residents will find dining, living and relaxing areas, Western and Thai kitchens, alfresco terrace, and a multi-purpose room. The Level Three features the master bedroom overlooking a private terrace and breathtaking views and a twin bedroom with en-suite bathroom. The Level Four features a large infinity pool overlooking the ocean and a private marina; also on this level is a double en-suite bedroom with terrace.”
In 2002, Waterscape Group invested in a land bank in Phuket and Phang Nga including a unique and breathtaking scenery plot at Khor-En, Mai-Khao Phuket.
Andarina offers its purchasers a 30-year leasehold ownership structure with options to renew, with starting price from Bt27.5 million. CB Richard Ellis has been appointed as the sole agent for Andarina.
Waterscape Group began investing in the property market 10 years ago on apartments in Bangkok. Future projects of the Group include 200 unit home-offices on 76 rai of land on the by-pass road in Phuket town and a beachfront resort project on 20 rai at Phang Nga Bay.
Article courtesy of Asia Property Report
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Southern Phuket goes upmarket
2007-02-01
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The recent history of property development in Thailand’s island of Phuket immediately shows a dichotomy in its north-south divide. In the past the south lingered way behind its more developed northern sister and when western-financed property development began in the south it was in the smaller, residential field rather than aimed at the more lucrative tourist or retirement market.
No longer. These days, major hotel and residence investors are about to, or have already, started construction throughout the south of Phuket. Gated communities are springing up in what were previously back roads and a major road-widening project from Tesco Lotus outside Phuket City to Rawai has radically changed the local residents’ way of life. A new pier is being erected in Rawai and Chalong’s waterfront alone hosts two major projects.
Yet house and property hunters tell of northern realtors scoffing at the idea of quality property available in the island’s south, while southern developers state the exact opposite. So what’s going on? Several of the island’s realtors, property dealers and land owners talked to Property Report about the situation.
Coral Tree Properties recently opened Rawai Villas, an 18-rai gated community over viewing the south of the island with vistas to nearby islands. Managing Director Bob Windsor says, “We’ve got 18 to 22 villas so it’s very generous in terms of plots in a gated community. Our site is on a slope from 24 meters to two meters above sea level. The second row of four-bedroom villas have views through the trees to the sea, on Rawai Beach and down at the lower villas, which are two-bedroom, three bedroom villas and we’ve created our own mini lake.”
Is this a typical south Phuket development? “No, we were looking from north to south about three-and-a-half years ago and we took about nine-months-to-a year to look around the (present) site. We looked up north by the airport but we’ve always had a soft spot for this part of the island. I felt, as a buyer, that the north part of the island gave investment opportunities but it wasn’t too much of a place where I wanted to live. There were times when people were saying that the north and central parts of the island were better at serving the needs of golfers and that it suited the Hong Kong and Chinese set more who don’t want to drive more than 15 minutes from the airport. But recently, the road-widening projects from Lotus-Central down to Rawai have meant that you can get anywhere in a short amount of time. Nowadays you can get from here to the airport in 40 minutes.”
Hayo von Keller is Managing Director of The Mangosteen Resort and Spa – a five-star complex with a lofty 360 degree view of lower south Phuket. He plans to build pool villas to augment his investment. He says, “From my point of view, the property development scene in south Phuket looks pretty good because what seems to be coming is all relatively high quality; The Four Seasons, the Puravana and others. I’m quite happy to sit right in the middle of all this, with all these good names around. And this area is different from, for example, the Laguna area – so different people come. I also believe that these high-end newcomers will do very strong destination marketing for the area. I hope very much that this place retains its personality as sometimes one gets the impression that certain areas in the north could be anywhere in the world and not necessarily in . It’s different here as the hotels are not attached together and I believe that here the hotels try to retain their own style.”
And what of the Mangosteen Villas themselves? “We plan 39 pool villas; nine are already sold and we will start to build a show house next month. It will all be adjacent to the hotel. I believe that as soon as we build the first house, interest will be great. The pool villas have a mountain view and will be built along Bali-esque lines.
As for Chalong and its environs, Kan Eng 1, long a Chalong landmark restaurant, has been razed and a top-end bungalow and restaurant project is presently under construction on its site. Meanwhile, 800 metres to the north, the seriously dilapidated Fishing Lodge has been stripped to its architectural bones and is to be converted into luxury apartments featuring a restaurant and spa. Dredging of the Chalong Marina is heavily anticipated and with the combination of that and the 800-metre pier, convenience will be the byword amongst boat owners and dive operators.
Another example of higher-end developments is Mom Tri’s Villas Grand Cru which crests Kata Hill with a sweeping view of Chalong Bay and the nearby islands. The recently constructed project offers 17, 550 sqm three-storey residences. Quality is assured as architect, Mom Luang Tri Devakul, has been responsible for many of the island’s more impressive – yet extremely functional – buildings such at the Club Med, Le Meridien, Trisara Resort and of course, Mom Tri’s Boathouse Wine & Grill.
There are, of course, teething problems but these are nationwide concerns. “Red” Wayne Graham of East-West Property points out that freehold laws need to be sorted out as soon as possible and that the present visa rules make it very difficult for people under 50 years old to settle comfortably into island life. These are sentiments echoed by Peter Notley, International Sales and Marketing Manager of Katamanda. Under Peter’s aegis, Serenity Terraces – a beachfront resort and spa – will comprise 55 duplex apartments, four beach loft apartments and four beach duplex apartments facing east into Chalong Bay and will offer residents the use of an 89-foot luxury yacht. Construction starts in January 2007 and is anticipated to be complete within 18 months.
Peter says, “The diving and yachting industries continue to grow and with Chalong Marina I believe that growth is not going to stop. Overall I’m bullish about the whole place and even if the worst of worst happens – for example the troubles in the south overflowing – I believe that it would be a temporary situation. After all, Phuket is a finite place – there’s only so much room that you can build on it.”
Article courtesy of Asia Property Report |
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Coconut Island makes the grade
2006-10-10
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A Place in the Sun magazine of the UK has just awarded a Thai island resort the third spot in a recent Top 10 Poolside Properties survey.
Located on the island of Koh Maphrao, 300 metres off the east coast of Phuket, The Village Coconut Island is fully equipped with restaurants, shops, tennis courts, a spa,
a fitness centre, and sailing and water sports facilities.
The project includes 142 villas with private pools, ranging in size from 2 to 5 bedrooms.
The Village estate will be managed as a water sports resort which will attract both long-term residents and short-break visitors, the latter yielding excellent rental returns to villa owners.
Christopher Gordon, head of Chrysalis Estates LTD which is in charge of the project, says what makes this development different from anything else on offer in Phuket is that it is not a housing estate. As its name implies, it is truly a village.
“We’re building a lifestyle, a residential resort. And it’s important that people that buy into it buy into the lifestyle that we’re going to create for them, which is all about toys and boats and enjoying life,” says Gordon.
Andrew Howard, the project’s commercial director for the village said the reason the prestigious magazine chose Coconut Island for the honour was because “we’re bloody brilliant”.
“The package of the resort is its strong point as also because of the fact that we have a strong UK following,” he said. “Another factor he mentioned was the fact that the resort’s management team arte the original founders of Sunsail, the largest water sports club operator in the world.
It was noted that some 60% of the resort villas have been sold at a starting price of US$363,000.
Article courtesy of Asia Property Report |
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