Starting a new life in Pattaya, Thailand, can bring so many amazing benefits and lifestyle advantages. However, making the move isn’t as simple as booking your flight and jetting off to paradise; there are a number of considerations that you must make before taking the proverbial plunge, for example: what type of visa will you need to remain permanently? Which area will provide you with all of the amenities necessary to support your ideal lifestyle? And more importantly, what kind of property in Pattaya should you invest in?
In this article, we’re going to help you choose the right property in Pattaya. Condos Vs. houses: what are the pros and cons of each? Read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know…
Condos in Pattaya: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strategic locations: there are many high-quality condominium complexes in Pattaya, a number of which are built in the most strategic locations. Whether you want a sea view balcony, or you want to be close to the action, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect location to suit your lifestyle needs.
- High-class facilities: another great advantage to living in a condo in Pattaya is all the great in-house facilities they have available to you. A standard luxury condominium will typically have the following:
- Swimming pool/s
- Fitness room
- Sauna/steam room
- Restaurant
- Meeting room/work areas
- BBQ area/rooftop garden - Excellent services: in addition to the high-class facilities, the best luxury condos in Pattaya offer their residents a selection of excellent services as well, such as:
- Concierge service
- Restaurant room service
- Regular room cleaning
- Maintenance - Community: living in a condo grants you access to a community of residents including locals and expats alike. While you certainly don’t need to take part in any events or socialise if you don’t want to, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make friends.
- Affordable rent: one of the greatest advantages of renting condos in Pattaya, is the level of quality that you can access at impressively low prices. You can find great value from anywhere between 15,000 THB for a lower-end condo to 50,000+ for something more luxurious ($440 - $1,500). This price includes your weekly or twice-weekly room cleaning, public facilities maintenance, and the general upkeep of your apartment’s utilities (e.g., aircon repair, etc.).
- You can purchase in your name: buying property in Thailand as a foreigner can be especially complicated, however, foreigners are legally allowed to buy and own condos outright as they don’t own a plot of land, only a unit within a condominium complex. If you want to have a property of your own (whether to call your forever home or rent out to holidaymakers), condos are the most viable option.
Cons
- You can’t choose your neighbours: one drawback of condo living is the fact that you cannot choose your neighbours. As such, if you do end up moving next door or below an especially noisy neighbour, you’ll be out of luck. That said, most condo management will have a low tolerance for noisy and disrespectful tenants.
- There’s only so much you can do to your property: if you own your condo outright you will be able to redecorate and carry out some minor renovations, however, you will be restricted with what kind of alterations you can make.
- Harder to sell: there is an abundance of condos in Pattaya so selling up in the future might prove difficult.
Houses in Pattaya: Pros & Cons
Pros
- Amazing value: you’ll be amazed by the amazing value for money when renting a house in Pattaya – particularly when compared to most Western countries.
- More space: when looking for houses in Pattaya the first thing you’ll notice is how much more space you can get for your budget compared to condos. Condos certainly do come with a number of advantages, but they can be quite restrictive in terms of square footage.
- Greater privacy: if you prefer a quiet life and value your privacy, houses in Pattaya offer the ideal solution. Not only can you live in a quieter area in a house, but you don’t need to worry about noisy neighbours above or next door to you.
- Personal garden space/swimming pool: not all houses in Pattaya have private swimming pools, but they are certainly an option if that’s what you are looking for. As for gardens, most houses will have reasonably sized garden space for you to enjoy. This makes houses an ideal option for families with small children or those who enjoy gardening.
Cons
- No facilities and services: living in houses in Pattaya means that you lose out on all of the facilities and services that a condominium offers. That said, if you prefer independent living and relish your privacy, this can be an advantage.
- More bugs: as you are lower to the ground, the chances of you having mosquitos, cockroaches, and other pests enter your home is much higher than if you were to be living in a condominium.
- Cannot own outright: as foreigners are not allowed to invest in and own land outright in Thailand, you are unable to buy a house. There are certain workarounds (e.g., buying through a Thai business), however, the process can be quite complicated. In any case, renting is easy enough and you can find some beautiful homes for excellent value.
Conclusion
As you can see there are a number of attractive benefits to living in both houses and condominiums in Pattaya. All it boils down to is personal preference and lifestyle. If you are a social person and want to be as close to the action as possible, you can’t go wrong with a condo; however, if you enjoy the quiet life and would much rather live further out, a house is the way forward.
