Author: Allphuketrealestate | Total views: 24 Comments: 0
Word Count: 2155 Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 9:42 PM

All Phuket Real Estate

Phuket is undoubtedly becoming the new playground of Asia and although a small island has every modern amenity including, international hospitals and schools, modern infrastructure and roads, broadband communications, beautiful beaches and landscape, the finest hotels and restaurants, international shopping malls, friendly welcoming people, relaxed living and little crime, and last of all a warm climate all year around. Several new marinas and golf courses are also being built.

How it works

When buying off plan you put down a reservation deposit to reserve the plot, Villa, Condo etc. and then usually within 30 days after seeking legal advice and contracts being vetted and due diligence carried out, you sign contracts and pay the first installment of anything between 15-30 % of the sales price and the remainder over a period in stage payments based on build completion until it is finished which is usually approximately one year hence for most developments. By buying this way you get the opportunity to buy at up to 30% or more below market value. The reason you can save so much is the developers wish to attract early buyers whom have no hurry to occupy the property but realize the benefits and significant savings of buying early. This assists the developer with early buyers' confidence in the project and gives an injection of capital and security for the bank and aids the projects finances. It is a case of WIN, WIN for all parties! During the build stage it is normal for prices to rise substantially due to material cost rises and to en able the developer and buyer to maximize their returns. It is only right that those, whom buy first, pay less than those whom buy last.

Investment return

The above example shows that for a small outlay you can spread your payments over one year and receive a large capital gain even before you move in! Many investors do just that “flip” and sell the property shortly after completion. However, it is probably wiser to hold on to it as with the prices rising by 15-20% per annum plus materials inflation, Phuket property makes a very sound investment indeed over the longer term. You can also rent out the property and receive a rental income as well.

Introduction To Phuket

Lying on the fringe of the Andaman Sea off the west coast of Southern Thailand, the island of Phuket is approximately 890km from Bangkok. It is Thailand’s largest island at 550sq km, roughly the same size as Singapore.

The name Phuket is apparently derived from the word bukit in Malay which means mountain or hill, as this is what the island appears like from a distance.

Phuket is surrounded by many smaller islands that add a further 70 sq km to its total land area. Phuket is separated from the mainland by the Chong Pak Phra channel at its northernmost point, where a causeway connects the island to the mainland.

Phuket is quite mountainous. There are a couple of peaks above 500m, the highest being Mai Tao Sipsong at 529m. Many of these are covered in lush jungle. The lowlands consist of rice paddies, plantations of rubber, pineapple and coconut as well as the only significant area of rainforest remaining on the island, Khao Phra Thaeo Park which is now protected.

Against the backdrop of hills, the beaches of Phuket stand as one of the most sought after palm-fringed tropical destinations. Nearly all beaches along the island’s west coasts are frequented by locals and tourists, with the northern beaches along the west coasts remaining very quiet and unspoilt.

In such an idyllic setting the temptation is simply to laze peacefully on the beach and soak up a tropical sun tan. But if you want more there are amenities for water sports, such as sailing, windsurfing, kayaking diving and snorkeling. The coastal waters are exciting to explore and are especially rich in shoals of brightly colored fish and exotic coral formations.

Principal among Phuket 's natural sights are two picturesque waterfalls, Hin Lat and Na Muang.

Island hopping is another attraction and boats can be easily hired for trips to Phang Nga Bay to discover the myths surrounding the formation of the mountainous limestone karsts which are scattered across the bay, Krabi province and The Phi Phi Islands which boasts beautiful bays with colorful coral formations and marine life, and offer excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling.

A more adventurous full day excursion can be made to the national park of the Similan Islands, 140 square kilometers in total, 14 of those being land in the shape of an archipelago consisting of nine islands. There is an enormous diversity in species - both in fish and corals. The visibility is the best you will find in Thailand. You will see plenty of colorful fish such as lionfish and clownfish (Nemo), and if you're lucky you may spot a bigger one like a manta or even a whale shark.

Elephant riding is a good way to support the remaining domesticated elephants of Thailand and their mahout, is fairly cheap, and can be an interesting new experience. The elephants are well trained, and you can tip the mahout by giving the money to the elephant who will hand it to the mahout with its trunk.

The residents of Phuket comprise Thais who have migrated from the mainland, ethnic Chinese, Malays, and Chao Leh or ‘sea-gypsies’ who are the original inhabitants of Phuket.

According to the census, Thai-Buddhists account for 71% of the population, with Malays (24%) and Chao Leh (4%) making up the remainder. The figure for Thai-Buddhists also includes the Chinese who are almost completely assimilated. Some estimates put the percentage of ethnic Chinese at around 35%. The vast majority of the population resides in or around Phuket City and Patong Beach, creating a population distribution along an east-west axis.

Tourism has dominated the island’s economy for the past two decades. Each year, over 4 million visitors arrive to enjoy Phuket’s natural splendor and many amenities.

Climate

Thailand , and therefore Phuket, is fast becoming a country to be visited all year round. This is of course largely due to the tropical weather and climate.

The 'dry' season is from November till May. Temperatures average 30 degrees year round. The 'green' season is from May to October when temperatures are around the 25 to 30 degree mark.

For more information please view weather and climate on Phuket.

Phuket golf course information

Phuket has 6 world class golf courses, all of which are located in beautiful and tropically kept surroundings.

Many visitors come solely for golf, but with the many great "stay and golf" packages offered this an opportunity for the whole family to come and enjoy a holiday in Phuket.

List of Phuket premier golf courses

1. Blue Canyon Country Club

This amazing golf course is set on 730 acres of land in a secluded valley overlooking Phuket 's famous hills.

The Blue Canyon Country Club has won a number of international awards as well as hosted several tournaments like the Johnnie Walker Classic.

2. Laguna Phuket Golf Club

Within the Laguna Phuket development, you will find the Banyan Tree Golf Club. This resort style 18 hole golf course is situated in the popular and exclusive Bang Tao Bay on the west coast of Phuket.

3. Mission Hills Golf Club

This is perhaps the most unique golf course in Phuket due to its location and contrasting landscaping. It has been described as a "piece of living art". This golf course is all about pleasure and no stress. With the spa waiting at the 19th hole, stress and tiredness is further banished with caddies and golf carts both being compulsory.

4. Loch Palm Golf Club

Spread over a 160 acres lush and hilly plateau, Loch Palm Golf Club has been masterfully designed to blend in with its natural terrain. This 18 hole golf course surrounds the largest lake on any golf course in Phuket, Crystal Lake.

5. Phuket Country Club

Established in 1989, Phuket Country Club is the first and one of the finest built golf courses in Phuket. Offering both an 18 hole and a 9 hole course, many tournaments have been hosted by Phuket Country Club in recent years. In 2001, this golf course was also voted "Best Course in Thailand" by Asian Golf Magazine.

Shopping in Phuket City

Shopping in Phuket City is also one of the favorite activities of the tourists. Also known as Phuket Town, this historical downtown area of Phuket in Thailand is the favorite haunt of the shoppers. From traditional Thai crafts and textiles to the shops selling antiques, clothing and jewellery, this is the perfect shopper 's destination.

The shopaholics love this place and if you have the best bargaining skills then use it in the Phuket City. Walking down the streets which still have the Sino Portuguese style houses, the markets of Phuket City are quite unique. From furniture superstores to hypermarkets Phuket City has it all.

You can find the best stuff here in Yaowarat, Dibuk, and Thalang and so on. These streets are famous for their stalls. The best quality shops like Baan Boran and Soul of Asia are located in this attitude. In Soul of Asia you can find articles and textiles of Asia.

Ramong Road in Phuket City is one of the markets which sell fruit, veget ables and fresh meat. You get too see a glimpse of the Thai lifestyle in this market.

There are two departmental stores called Robinsons and Ocean for the brand conscious trendsetters. A fresh food market also sets up here every evening.

In Phang Nga Road, the Chatuchak Planet has been set up modeled on a famous market where things like clothes, jewellery, knick knacks are being sold. You can also taste the local food in Phuket City.

Shopping in Phuket City is an extremely unique experience and if you are in Phuket do not miss this unique feature of Phuket City.

Phuket Museums

Museums in Phuket have a special attraction for the history they stand witness to. One of the prime museums in Phuket is the Phuket Sea Shell Museums, positioned on Viset Road near Rawai Beach in Phuket. The exhibition at Phuket Sea Shell Museums features more than 2,000 species of shells, including the only left-handed Noble Volute ever discovered, giant clams, 380 million-year-old fossils and one of the rarest golden pearls in the world.

For 40 years, the Patamakanthin brothers have searched the world for the most beautiful and unique seashells and formed this extraordinary treasure at the Phuket Sea Shell Museums.

While most of the shells are from Phuket and the sea around Thailand, several are from other parts of the world. Each specimen is carefully selected for its quality and condition. Some rarities and odd shells include an oyster weighing 140 karats (the world 's largest golden pearl), large sections of sedimentary rock containing shell fossils that represent the earliest life forms on earth, and an enormous shell weighing 250 kilograms. The displays have been created in a logical order so that visitors can see at once the differing characteristics among related species.

Phuket Sea Shell Museums remains open daily from 8 am to 7 pm.

Thalang National Museum in Phuket is located in the east of Highway 402, near the Heroine 's Monument, just off the main airport road, south of Thalang town in central Phuket. The museum displays the indigenous cultures of Phuket, the history of the Thais in Phuket, crafts from the southern Thai regions, as also a 9th century statue of the Hindu deity Vishnu.

Inside the museum one can explore the general Thai history. There are some old artifacts, which bears the history of the people of Thailand. There is also a section about different kind of people in Thailand - Chinese, Muslim, Indigenous (sea gypsies), etc, with mock-ups of homes showing the way these people lived.

A major section is devoted to the Heroines of Thalang who mobilized the people of Phuket to defeat the Burmese in 1785 AD. These two ladies are popular all over Thailand, but more especially in Phuket and Thalang, where roads, temples and schools are named after them.

Outside the Thalang National museum in Phuket there is a kind of tsunami memorial - a sculpture showing a spirit leaving a body.

Thalang National museum in Phuket remains open daily between 9 am and 4 pm.

About the Author

“All Phuket Real Estate” for you to use our services. We are more than 11 years living on Phuket Island and have a good experience in selling land & properties on Phuket Island.

We guide you true the whole proces of buying property in Phuket. www.allphuketrealestate.com