Krabi Property Home | Buying real estate in Thailand - your rights | New homes in Krabi | Land for sale in Krabi

Land, property and real estate portal for Krabi province in Thailand

As a foreigner looking to buy land or property in Krabi Province, it is essential that you understand your rights before entering the marketplace. There are many laws (and many ways around them) that you should be aware of. This brief guide will introduce you to some of the issues.

ONE of the biggest misconceptions people have when they decide to move to Krabi is that they will be able to live on the beach. In fact, as beachfront property comes at such a premium, almost all is used for commercial purposes. Even the beaches that have not yet been developed have already been bought up by investors now looking to sell big plots of 50 rai and upwards.

For those who insist on being close to the sand, the only (as yet) undeveloped stretches of beach left in Krabi are in Ao Nam Mao, close to Ao Nang, and Long Beach (Had Yao) in Neua Klong District; there are several luxury residential projects (Amatapura; Baan Ivory Palm, Krabi Sunset / Lekiri) underway in these areas for interested buyers.

There is no shortage of beautiful locations in Krabi, however, and inland in the lush, green surroundings is where you’ll find most private housing. Property in these quieter areas (still with good road access to a beach) tends to be a good investment, with a healthy resale value. If a sea view is important to you, try looking in Ko Lanta, where most developments are up on the hillsides along the west coast, affording panoramic sunset vistas across to the Phi Phi islands.The access roads up to these hillsides can be tricky, however, even in a 4WD vehicle. It may be worthwhile to remember, you will be here every day, so a view of the sea will not seem so important after a while!

The second thing in deciding where to live is to choose whether you wish to build your own house on a piece of land, or buy an existing, or soon-to-be-built property.

For a simple holiday home, it is definitely more advisable to buy into one of the new residential estates being constructed in the region, even if choice is still very limited compared with Phuket. You’ll find no contemporary Balinese-style villas here: Krabi’s housing developments and land subdivision projects usually follow a fairly standard floorplan, but developers do often allow you to customise or upgrade your home design, from their particular range of criteria.

These types of homes are often designed as a gated community, with security and communal facilities such as swimming pools and gyms. While many people don’t like the idea of living behind walls, security is certainly something to consider if your property will be empty for several months of the year. Some estates will also offer a sub-letting service so you can generate rental income while you are away. You can view some of these projects, including floorplans, on the Krabi property listings page.

More choice in the market (individual houses, more creative designs) is on the horizon, but it will not happen until the infrastructure is here. While Krabi may win hands down in a natural beauty contest, it has yet to offer the kind of hospitals, international shopping and transport links that most ex-pats favour - although these things are a short (2-hour) drive away in Phuket. For more information on the ex-pat life here, see our Krabi expat guide, as well as the news forum on Your Krabi for the latest updates on infrastructure in the province.


Above: Railay Beach (west) - although most property in Krabi is not on the beach, places like this are never far away

Who we are('nt)
Krabi Property is not a real estate agent - we do not sell houses, land, or property of any kind, nor are we affiliated with anyone who does. We provide independent information about the housing scene and the legal process of property purchase in Thailand, as well as listings of projects and developments in the Krabi area. We do not provide help for individual customers; those interested in property purchase should contact our advertisers directly, not us. More about us.

R E S O U R C E S > > >

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Intro to your property rights
UPDATE! Your new property rights as a company owner
Land titles 101
The price of land in Krabi
Beware of bogus agents!

CHOOSING A PROPERTY
Where to buy your home
The Krabi holiday home checklist
Self-build or off-plan?
Focus on Hat Yao: Krabi's next big thing?

DESIGN & INTERIORS
Design tips from a Krabi architect
Creating a modern Thai-style interior
Planning a tropical garden

SHORT STAYS AND RENTAL PROPERTY
Renting a house in Krabi: a guide to the different types of houses available, prices, and where to look
Long term hotel stays

LIVING IN KRABI
Expat life in Krabi
(Practicalities for the long-term resident)

Expat testimonials: moving to Krabi - how was it for you?

LISTINGS
Houses and land for sale and rent in Krabi

 

More from our partner sites - for your complete guide to Krabi Province:
Your Krabi (Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Railay and the mainland coast)
 
Phi Phi Islands Guide
 
Lanta Islands Guide
 

Links to external property websites

© Copyright Blue Sky Media Co., Ltd 2007. All rights reserved.