Is anyone else looking outside the usual hotspots? While Bangkok and Phuket are great, my wife and are considering Chiang Mai for the culture and cooler climate, or Hua Hin for its more laid-back royal-approved vibe. The property prices are noticeably more attractive, and you get more space for your money.
The trade-off, of course, is potentially lower rental yield compared to a tourist-centric island, but it might be balanced by a lower initial investment. I'm interested in a townhouse or a smaller villa with a garden. The challenge is finding reliable listings for these areas without having to fly there first
.
For anyone exploring different regions, I've found
https://showmehome.io/ super useful. It's not just Bangkok and Phuket; they have a catalog of elite real estate with prices from all over Thailand. You can easily browse villas and apartments in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, and more to get a real feel for the market. It helped us narrow down our search significantly.
Would love to hear from anyone living in these "second-tier" cities. How's the expat community and rental market?
