Phuket Villas and Condos for Sale: A Buyer's Guide to the Island

Phuket is roughly 50 km long and each coast has a distinct feel.

• Patong is the loud tourist and nightlife centre, with many small investor condos.
• Kata and Karon are beach districts with a family mix, on the south-west.
• Rawai and Nai Harn in the south have a community of long-term expatriates and sailors.
• Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao in the north-west are upscale, with resort-style developments; much of this area lies in Thalang district, which has its own page: Thalang.
• Phuket Town offers historic shophouses and local life.

Phuket International Airport has many direct flights to Asia and Europe, and traffic on the island's narrow roads is the biggest everyday irritation.

Foreigners cannot hold land in Thailand. Condominium units can be owned freehold within the 49% foreign quota, with funds remitted from overseas. Villas are usually acquired through a 30-year leasehold (sometimes with renewal options), or via a Thai company structure, which regulators have been scrutinising. A lawyer registered in Thailand should always review the lease or company arrangements.

The country has offered long-stay visas such as the Long-Term Resident visa, which has property investment conditions in some categories, but these programs change. See the Thailand buying guide, the Thai financing page and our market analysis for Thailand.

Holiday rental income can be good in high season (roughly November to April) and slow in the monsoon months. New projects are numerous, which can mean competition and slower resale. Beware of guaranteed-yield offers, check the developer's previous projects, and ask for the Eia (environmental impact) approval on larger developments.

Typical purchase costs include a transfer fee of around 2% of the official value, plus tax items that depend on seller holding period. Lawyers usually charge a flat fee or a small percentage, and off-plan buyers pay staged instalments. Always use an escrow-like arrangement or a lawyer's client account rather than paying a developer's agent directly. Building quality varies, so a site visit in the rainy season will reveal drainage and leak problems quickly.

Compare with Pattaya, Hua Hin, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani, the gateway to Koh Samui. Budget shoppers can start at cheap Thai property or the Thailand hub.