Can You Help Me Find a House in Phuket?
One word: Yes.
One sentence: Yes – but with a few tips and caveats. Let’s go:
1. Start with the school (if relevant)
Choose a house that’s within a driveable distance from your child’s school. Only you know what’s too far. For some, 30 minutes is fine. For others, it’s a dealbreaker.
2. Book a hotel for your first two weeks.
Once you land, go on neighborhood tours and house visits. For a reasonable fee, I’d be happy to help you with that.
3. Price range:
There are homes for $285/month and others for $8,500+.
A realistic average for a comfortable 3-bedroom villa with air conditioning in a decent neighborhood? Around $2,000/month (70,000 THB) as of early 2023.
4. Macroeconomics 101: Supply & Demand.
Phuket is filling up.
A 3-bedroom villa with a pool near the sea? Don’t expect it for less than $1,700/month.
5. Work with multiple agents.
Seriously. The more agents, the better.
6. So many options:
Villa, condo, gated or not, with or without pool, ocean view, mountain view, near the expat community or far from it. Everything exists.
7. Go back and reread item #2.
(It’s that important.)
8. Cost of living:
You’ll likely spend about the same as you do in your home country – but you’ll get more for it.
8. Cost of living:
You’ll likely spend about the same as you do in your home country – but you’ll get more for it. (There’s a full post about monthly budgeting.)
9. Negotiate everything.
- Try to lower the deposit (usually one or two months’ rent upfront).
- Know that deposits are often returned only at the end of your lease.
- Ask for a discount if you pay several months in advance.
- A long-term contract can lower your monthly rent.
10. Finding a house is work.
So again – see #2.
