10 reasons to smile when

buying in Thailand

Thailand in the heart of Southeast Asia, occupies an area of nearly 200,000 square miles. It is a diverse country where the terrain ranges from forested mountains in the north, to rice fields of the central plains and the tropical coastline and sandy beaches of the south.

Thailand is affectionately known as the land of a thousand smiles, its tropical climate and welcoming people add to the attraction for Fly to Let investors and their customers.

Here are another 10 reasons to smile when considering investing in Thailand.

Year Round Tropical Climate

April and May are the hottest months, but the most pleasant time of the year is probably November to January when the cool breezes from the north east offer some welcome relief from the humidity of earlier months making Thailand an ideal winter sun destination.

The Thai climate is good news for Fly to Let investors, as it provides a year round holiday destination and therefore potential to deliver a good rental return.

Strong Tourism Industry

With visitors from Europe, USA, Australia and Asia, Thailand remains one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, with over 14 million visitors arriving in 2007 (source: Thailand Tourism Authority). Such a strong tourist market means that quality accommodation is always in demand, which is great news for investors looking to rent out their property.

Oxygen Bay, Bangtao, one of the resorts in Phuket, for example is only a short distance to the beach front, 15 minutes to Phuket town and 25 minutes to Phuket Airport. Prices start from £178,500.

Impressive investment returns

Thai property benefits from being located outside of the euro zone, offering investors a way to stretch their cash that little bit further. The Thai property market is still relatively undiscovered with property often cheaper than more established European markets.

Some property investors have witnessed impressive returns over the past few years particularly in areas in the south such as the island of Phuket. Experts estimate that currently capital appreciation is around 10 to 15 percent per annum. Thailand also has no capital gains tax for private investors and taxes in general remain low adding another incentive to purchasing.

Low Cost of Living

The cost of living in Thailand allows visitors to live on a shoestring budget or go for luxury. Across the country you can find many local markets which are generally the cheapest places to food shop. Bangkok and Phuket offer excellent value for the local facilities, restaurants and amenities. Property is still available for much lower prices than other Asian Cities, such as Hong Kong and Singapore.

Resilient Economy

Thailand is the second largest economy in Southeast Asia and has seen estimated growth of 5.1 percent this year (source: Fiscal Policy Office Thailand). There is an abundance of natural resources, a strong manufacturing sector and excellent export growth.

The Thai Baht has been steadily rising against the US Dollar and the economy has shown little sign of being affected by the global credit crunch.

New Double Taxation Treaty

A recently agreed deal between HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Thai authorities has eliminated the need for British investors to incur the double taxation of income and capital gains arising in one country and paid to residents of another.

With investment in Thailand getting more popular this should be welcome news for Fly to let buyers looking to purchase in this country.

Island Paradise Properties

Property can be located in the most astonishing of settings, for example the Kokyang Estate II, situated close to the dazzling Nai Harn beach, one of the most beautiful in Phuket due to the clear waters and nearby jungle-covered mountains

Apartment prices start at £159,110 for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom villa and from £171,876 for a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa.

No longer a world away

Thailand was once viewed as an exotic long-haul destination however with developments in aviation the country is now a sophisticated fully fledged tourist destination with direct flights to Bangkok and Phuket running from the UK daily. A 12 hour flight can see you arriving in Bangkok or Phuket. The bus and rail networks are cheap and reliable.

There's no place like home?

English is widely spoken and Westerners are welcomed by the friendly local people. Phuket even has a branch of Tesco. Sportsmen and women have facilities available for football, badminton, tennis as well as the magnificent golf courses and world class dive centres.

Ideal retirement destination

For Fly to let purchasers who eventually want to use their property in their retirement, Thailand has a relaxed pace of life, low cost of living, excellent health care system, rich culture and low taxes. Thailand makes an effort to simplify the emigration process for retirees by offering retirement visas for foreigners over 50 years of age.

Steve Worboys, MD of Experience International said: "With Thailand still emerging as a property investment destination prices remain low. There are undoubtedly some very attractive real estate opportunities to be found in certain locations within Thailand, like Phuket for example."