Phuket Real Estate Market 2026 Update: Preparations for the Future

PHUKET – On Friday, September 11, 2026, Dr. Sopon hosted an English-language seminar titled “Leasehold vs. Sap Ing Sit & 3 MB LongStay Visa” at Pearl Phuket Hotel. He also presented the latest survey of Phuket’s real estate market to support property professionals, relevant government agencies, and people interested in buying or selling homes. In 2026, Phuket had residential units worth a combined 176,538 million baht offered for sale. This was the highest total value among all 76 provincial markets in Thailand. The figure exceeded Chonburi’s 151,822 million baht, Rayong’s 51,453 million baht, and Chiang Mai’s 49,303 million baht. Rayong is Thailand’s largest industrial center, while Chiang Mai is the most important major city in the north. By unit count, however, Phuket had 13,779 homes and other residential units waiting for buyers. Chonburi had 37,628 units and Rayong had 19,209 units. Phuket’s total market value was higher because its average selling price reached 12.812 million baht per unit. Bangkok’s average price was 5.808 million baht, while Chonburi’s average was only 4.035 million baht. The Thai Real Estate Information and Valuation Research Center of Agency for Real Estate Affairs Co., Ltd. surveyed provincial real estate markets across Thailand. Phuket differs from other provinces because it is a world-class tourist destination. International travelers recognize the island as a major global tourism center, and tourism in Phuket generates substantial income for Thailand. The survey covered detached houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, commercial row houses, condominiums, and residential land subdivisions. For Phuket, Dr. Sopon also separated resort condominiums and resort villas from the detached-house category. The first six property types mainly target Thai buyers living in Phuket or Thai workers who have moved to the province. Resort condominiums and resort villas also target international buyers. The latest survey found 806 projects with unsold units in Mueang Phuket, Kathu, and Thalang districts. Phuket has many projects because most developments are relatively small. Each project has an average of 112 units, compared with about 250 units per project in Bangkok. Thalang has the largest number of projects, with 411 developments. Mueang Phuket follows with 281 projects, while Kathu has 84. Across the 806 projects, the total supply reached 90,597 units with a combined value of 705,055 million baht. Developers had already sold 76,582 units worth 527,777 million baht, equal to about 85% of the total supply. Sales averaged around 5.2% of each project’s available units per month. Dr. Sopon estimates that the remaining inventory could sell out within 19.2 months if no new projects enter the market. Resort villas formed the largest share of the market, with 40,263 units, or 44% of total supply. Resort condominiums added another 6,830 units, or 8%. Together, resort properties accounted for 52% of Phuket’s total residential supply. Housing designed for Phuket residents and Thai workers made up a smaller share than properties aimed at international buyers. Among products aimed primarily at Thai buyers, residential condominiums had the largest supply, with 21,392 units, or 24% of the total. Townhouses followed with 9,729 units. Phuket had 5,924 semi-detached houses, more than the 5,126 detached houses in the market. Semi-detached homes require less land, with a minimum plot size of 35 square wah, compared with 50 square wah for detached houses. Of the total development value of 705,055 million baht, resort condominiums accounted for 339,227 million baht. Resort villas followed at 221,672 million baht. Together, these two categories made up 80% of Phuket’s total residential development value. Properties aimed at Thai buyers accounted for only 20%, so the market available to Thai property developers is relatively small compared with the international segment. Residential condominiums had the fastest sales rate, with around 8.1% of available units sold each month. Resort condominiums and resort villas sold at an average rate of 4.9% per month, which is a strong result given their high prices. Detached houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, commercial row houses, and residential land subdivisions sold at only about 3% per month. This shows that the local market is more vulnerable, and developers targeting Thai buyers face a relatively high risk of slower demand. The main price ranges for each category were as follows: The market differed across Phuket’s three main districts. In Mueang Phuket, residential condominiums were the largest category, with 11,794 units, or 34% of the district’s total supply. Their combined value was 29,006 million baht. Resort condominiums had slightly fewer units, at 10,987, or 32% of the total, but their value was much higher at 69,922 million baht. In Kathu, residential condominiums were also the largest category, with 6,940 units, or 49% of total supply. Resort condominiums had 4,282 units, but their total value reached 32,498 million baht. In Thalang, resort condominiums were the largest category by a wide margin. The district had 24,994 units, or 54% of its total supply, with a combined value of 236,807 million baht, or 53% of the district’s total market value. Thalang, especially Cherng Talay, Bang Tao, Layan, Si Sunthon, and Thep Krasattri, has become Phuket’s leading area for residential projects, resort villas, and resort condominiums. Several factors support this growth, including location, amenities, transport access, and the profile of buyers. New projects launched during 2025 and 2026 had an average price of about 10 million baht per unit. Resort villas accounted for 60% of the projects launched, with an average price of 32 million baht per unit. By unit count, resort condominiums made up the largest share, at 60%. Sales performance among the new projects was strong. Most were located in Thalang, which includes high-growth areas and higher-priced locations. Thalang had the largest number of new project launches by a wide margin, with developments spread across five main subdistricts. The main buyer groups for resort villas and resort condominiums in Phuket during 2025 and 2026 were as follows: Foreign demand in Phuket is shifting. The province is moving beyond its earlier role as a seasonal vacation destination and is becoming an international location for long-term living and investment. Middle Eastern and Indian buyers have become more visible in the Phuket market. Buyers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries often prefer luxury villas for large families. Indian buyers commonly choose one-bedroom condominiums for investment and rental purposes. European and Russian buyers remain an important market base. Russian and CI