Well what makes the bet value Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment is of course somewhat subjective and quite often the answer is not the cheapest one. As with many goods and products what we get is often what we pay for. So if we want high-quality and luxury we often have to pay for it. However often when we try to get the cheapest and lowest priced product or service, we are often disappointed with he end result.

As any good shopper will tell you, it takes time and knowledge to bargain hunt, and it is not always cheapest product in the shop that is the value. And so it is with Property in Bangkok. Searching for the best value Bangkok Condo or Bangkok apartment can be tedious and time consuming stuff! So you may need a little help.

Lets face it, we are all very busy people, and we don’t have time to research every Bangkok Property, nor do we hare time to suddenly become Bangkok Real Estate experts. And it does not matter if you are working in Bangkok on an international expat contract, an semi-retired Thai expat or and English teacher working in Bangkok, we don’t have the time and energy to look for Bangkok condos and Bangkok apartments.

We see busy and extremely wealthy people in Hollywood and Bollywood employing Personal Shoppers to save their time in busy lives. However we can’t all be like Jennifer Lopez or Beyonce and employ a person to go shopping for us for are clothes, furniture and whatever else. But fortunately there is help at hand; there are plenty of Bangkok property agents there to help you.

A Bangkok Real Estate Agency can save you both time, money and perhaps even yur health! Walking around the Sukhumvit or Silom sub sois looking for a Bangkok Condo or Bangkok apartment, can be very hot work! So save yourself the bother, let someone do the work for you.

The best things about Bangkok property agents are that they are free! That’s right, they are free! Unlike in Tokyo, New York and other cities there is no charge to the clients in the Bangkok Property Market when helping you look for a Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment.

So let’s look at 2 important points that would make a Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment a bargain and great value:

Location to BTS and MRTA

As the old Real Estate mantra goes, location, location, location is the best way to choose a property. In Bangkok however the added detail is the locality of the property in reference to the BTS and MRTA in Bangkok. Fortunately as EasyHomes we have many of our properties are located within 500m of a BTS or MRTA Station.

Three properties that we would pick out as great value are below, one each for the entry, middle and high levels of the Bangkok property market.

1. My Condo 81 http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/my-condo-soi-81-1112 this Bangkok Condo is located 250m from the On Nut BYS station and at THB 10 000/month for a Studio, this brand new condo is great value.
   
2. Roof Garden http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/roof-garden-1007 also based in On Nut and located approximately 750m from the On Nut BTS station. The 1 Bedroom condos at this building are massive at 70-80sqm and the recent refurbishment makes them clean and new.
   
3. Nusasiri Condo http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/nusasiri-grand-condo-709 high-end, high priced, but what a location! With an actual Sky Bridge linked to Ekkamai BTS station.
   

Facilities and Amenities

1. The Ivy Ratchada http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/the-ivy-ratchada-1136 for those who want to live in Ratchada, this condo is located only 300m from the MRTA in Sutthisan. All around a beautiful pool with stepping stones and a large fitness centre.
   
2. The Address 42, Ekkamai http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/the-address-sukhumvit-42-ekkamai-1176 located close to the Ekamai BTS station. Great facilities include Swimming Pool, Car Parking, Gymnasium, Sauna Rooms, Free WiFi in the lobby and a laundry service. As well of course the 24 Security and impeccably kept gardens.
   
3. The Empire Place http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/empire-place-sathorn-1154 beautifully built superbly designed and facilities that go on and on. This is a fantastic brand new building with a Swimming Pool, Tennis Court, Steam Rooms, Sauna Rooms, Gymnasiums, Free WiFi in the lobby, Cafes, Childrens Playground and a Restaurant.
   

If you want to live in a Bangkok Apartment or Bangkok Condo cheaply and within budget you will probably choose a Bangkok Studio Apartment or a Bangkok Studio Condo.

However unlike Studio Apartments and Studio Condos in other cities in the West a Bangkok Studio Apartment and Bangkok Studio Condo offers so much more.

So what are we looking at, well let’s break it down like this:

1. Bangkok Studio Apartment Size
2. Bangkok Studio Apartment Location
3. Bangkok Studio Apartment Amenities & Facilities

Hopefully this Bangkok Property Blog Article will demonstrate how much value there is in renting a Bangkok Studio apartment.

Bangkok Studio Apartment Size

In general Studio apartments are much the same the world over. We have a kitchenette (parlor), a bedroom area, a small bathroom or more usually a small shower room and in whatever space is left there may be a small living area squeezed in.

A Studio apartment in Bangkok can range from the very, very meager 16sqm (4 x 4) in which mainly working class Thai people live. However the locations of the buildings are not in the best areas of Bangkok and the construction and maintenance quality of the buildings are questionable.

At EasyHomes we try and supply our clients who are usually international with the best quality Studio apartments in Bangkok. And in keeping with the sizes and quality people are used to in the West.

The sizes a of the Bangkok Studio apartments and Bangkok Studio Condos that we offer our clients start at 25sqm and go all the way up to 70sqm, although the latter are unusual.

Below is the example of a well sized Bangkok studio apartment in Ratchada that we find suits many of our clients’ requirements.

Sitara Place Video

The lay-out of this Studio apartment is 40sqm and is almost the same size of many one Bedroom Bangkok Condos being built in the city centre these days.

With a small kitchen area, a king-sized bed, living area and shower room this is a superbly designed studio with all the elements you would require in a studio apartment. There is even a living area with sofa and 29” TV for you to enjoy.

The Location of a Bangkok Studio Condo

Practically anyone who wants to live in Bangkok wants to live close to the city center metro systems such as the BTS and MRTA, however the closer you get to the stations usually the more expensive you Bangkok condo will become to either buy or rent.

However there are exceptions to this rule and there are some Bangkok Studio condos just a short distance from the MRTA and BTS that are also great value for money. One of these is My Condo in On Nut.

There are two My Condo buildings in On Nut located just 250m from the On Nut BTS station one is My Condo 81 and the other My Condo 52, both house some lovely Bangkok studio condos.

Please see below the details, as you can see they are great value:

The Facilities and Amenities that can be found in a Bangkok Studio Condo

There are of course many great districts in which to live in Bangkok, and Bangkok city centre offers the residents a great deal of options to live close to the BTS and /or MRTA stations.

Bangkok Studio Condo Amenities and Facilities

Ari is another great place to live in Bangkok and there is lovely range of Bangkok Studio condos within a 5 minute walk of the Ari BTS station. One here is Noble Lite Condominium building. This building offers well sized Bangkok studio units from 30sqm – 35 sqm. And each Studio Condo in this Bangkok condominium building features a bath-tub!

With prices starting as low as 14 000 Baht, these really are great value rentals.

Noble Lite Condominium also offers a Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Saunas, 24 Hr Security and Car Parking.

These Bangkok studio condos can also be supplied with WiFi or ADSL internet and UBC Cable or Satellite TV stations.

For those who know the city, Ari is located in the north of Bangkok and is a high-end artistic district where many upper middle-class Thai people live and trend setters of the entertainment industry enjoy hang-out sharing dinner and ideas.

Looking to rent a condo in Bangkok or looking to rent an apartment in Bangkok can be a daunting task for the first time renter and recent arrival in Bangkok.

There are lots of stories and rumors of how Thai landlords and Thai landladies don’t refund deposits and how they treat tenants renting Bangkok condos and Bangkok apartments like rubbish. How properties will fall apart around you and how when appliances and basic necessities break, Thai landlords will not maintain their Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment.

Well of course most stories are exaggerated and of course like in any market, the Bangkok property market is mainly run professionally. With plenty of competition from other landlords with Bangkok condos and Bangkok apartments, Thai landlords will often play it straight. However of course to be safe and secure, you are best dealing with a known and trusted Thai Landlord.

So how can you gain security and confidence in a Thai Landlord and know that Bangkok Condo or Bangkok apartment you are about to rent will be maintained properly and the contract signed with the Thai landlord honored? How can you know that you can trust the Thai landlord that owns your Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment?

Well the best way to handle this is to of course contact a Bangkok Real Estate Agent, as they should know the Thai landlord they advise you to deal with. They should also be familiar with the Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment you are interested in.

All well and good so far, but it is well worth doing further investigations, after all how well do you know your Real Estate Agent?

It is best to be aware that there are plenty of fly-by-nights, rogue traders and scam artists in Bangkok and unfortunately these people can slip into the Bangkok Property Market only too easily and prey on unsuspecting expats new to Bangkok.

Just because these people may know the locations and names of a few Bangkok Condos and Bangkok Apartments that may be of interest to you, does not mean that they have the credentials or commitment to provide a professional and proper service.

Beware of the Free-Lancers

There are unfortunately many expats residing in Bangkok with little or no income, they are desperate for a quick and illegal buck, and will unfortunately prey on the new and unsuspecting expat that has just arrived in Bangkok.

Sure they know the city better than the new arrivals, sure they can speak with some knowledge of locations and rental prices of Bangkok Condos and Bangkok Apartments in the Bangkok Property Market, but do they have any commitment to offer a full and professional service? The answer, unfortunately for the client that has just signed his Bangkok Tenancy Agreement with the help of this rogue trader, the answer is often….NO!

We unfortunately have come across many a client whom has become a Bangkok tenant with the help of a rogue trader and then come into difficulty as the tenancy agreement was not properly negotiated and then not surprisingly the Real Estate free-lancer has then gone missing and is not answering his phone calls.

What can the tenant do? Well unfortunately as the Bangkok Real Estate free-lancer was operating outside the umbrella of a registered Thai Company, and probably from no fixed abode and a pre-paid telephone number, there is very little the poor this poor expat client can do. He is then at the mercy of the Thai landlord and stuck in a Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment that is perhaps unsuitable or is forced to leave his Bangkok Condo or Bangkok Apartment.

So what to look out for?

When you arrive in Bangkok and are looking to Rent a Bangkok Condo or Rent a Bangkok Apartment, then contact a registered Bangkok Real Estate Broker, with a registered Thai company. This will help give the protection you need, as you can be sure they have a registered Thai Company address and a Thai Tax ID number, all of these details can be handed to a Thai Lawyer if needed.

Ask to see proof of the Thai Company Registration Papers and Thai Tax ID Card before proceeding with the signing of your Bangkok Rental Contract, check out the internet for details on the company before agreeing to take one of the Bangkok Condos or Bangkok Apartments they offer.

Remember there are many rogue traders in the Bangkok Property Market, so please watch out and be safe rather than sorry before you agree to sign up to Rent a Bangkok Condo or Rent a Bangkok apartment.

Good luck in your search!

If you are looking to rent a 1 Bedroom apartment in Bangkok or 1 Bedroom condominium in Bangkok then this Bangkok Property Blog article is designed to help you choose a Bangkok condo or Bangkok apartment that is suitable for you.

1 bedroom apartments differ from Studio apartments in Bangkok in that there are at least 3 separate rooms with in the apartment or condo. These are:

1. Living Room or Main Room
2. Bedroom or Master Bedroom
3. Bathroom or Shower room

In addition you may also get the following in your Bangkok apartment or condo.

1. Kitchen area or parlour
2. Balcony area or terrace

One Bedroom apartments in Bangkok used to be rare and large. And when developers first started constructing condominium in Bangkok they overlook One Bedroom condos and even apartment owners did not put too many one bedroom apartments in their Bangkok apartment blocks. The buildings and units were built for families of expats who wanted to work in the Bangkok city centre and so the Bangkok condominiums were mainly large 2 bedroom units or large 3 bedroom condos.

The average size of a one bedroom condo or apartment in Bangkok used to be between 60 – 70sqm. However as land is of a premium in central Bangkok since 2001, one bedroom condos and one bedroom apartments have become smaller, and newly constructed Bangkok condominiums and Bangkok apartment blocks are building more one bedroom units to meet the demand of the modern day Bangkok resident.

Since the opening of the BTS Sky Train in December 1999, developers have realized the value and demand for condos and apartments close to the BTS. And with the opening of then MRTA underground train system in August 2004 a new phenomenon has been born in Bangkok, the Sky Train generation, 20 – 40 year old professional working in the Bangkok city centre neat Siam Square, Asoke CBD and Sathorn CBD, all wanting to rent a Bangkok apartment or perhaps buy a Bangkok condo close to the BTS or MRTA.

Location, convenience and practicality of living in a Bangkok condo or Bangkok apartment near to the Bangkok metro systems has overtaken the demand for living in a spacious Bangkok house or Bangkok town-house in a Moo Baan on the outskirts of Bangkok. As this only leads to 2-3 hour daily commutes in the Bangkok traffic.

New Bangkok Condos and New Bangkok Apartments

As mentioned above the old Bangkok one bedroom condos and old Bangkok one bedroom apartments are not only rare, but also on the whole were an after-thought when designing the buildings in which they are housed, and so for the purpose of this article we will concentrate on the new and brand new one bedroom condos in Bangkok. And the new and brand new one bedroom apartments Bangkok has to offer.

New Bangkok condominiums have been building one bedroom condos of roughly 45 – 55 sqm in the last 10 years. However with lay-outs greatly improved from the original 1 bedroom condos in Bangkok they do not feel any smaller and in fact are often a lot more attractive.

One such condo that we find are popular with out clients at EasyHomes Property Services Co., Ltd. is The Address 42, located in the Ekkamai area of Bangkok. Ekkamai is on Sukhumvit Road and is very popular with expats as there are plenty of international amenities close by. For example near The Address 42 within 500m are a Cinema, a shopping plaza, a California Fitness Gymnasium, a Supermarket and a Mediplex. As well as bars, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops.

Please click on the link to see property video of a typical one bedroom condo at The Address 42 in Ekkamai. And as you can see within the 45sqm there is a good quality and sized bathroom, a full kitchen area with stove and fan, a washing machine and a refrigerator.

In the main room there is room for a large sofa, 32” LCD TV, dining table and chairs and shelving. Where as in the bedroom there is plenty of light from the large windows. And the balcony has two large French windows leading on to it. And all this within a 45sqm one bedroom condo in Bangkok.

Another great development which houses great quality one bedroom condos in Bangkok’s city centre are is The Wind 23, which is located in Asoke. The location of The Wind 23 is very desirable as it is within 500m walk of both the BTS Asoke station and the MRT Sukhumvit station, making travelling around Bangkok as easy as it gets.

In a addition to the train stations these 1 bedroom condos are also in close proximity to the Asoke CBD area, many shops and many restaurants as well of course bars and cafes.

These brand new one bedroom Bangkok condos are between 50 – 55sqm and are beautifully designed with large windows from floor to ceiling in the main living room. With a bright and breezy feel to the design, the condos in The Wind 23 always feel fresh.

The facilities at the The Wind 23 are also high-end with an infinity swimming pool, saunas and steam rooms, Jacuzzis and of course a full fitness and gymnasium area. And with the sundeck of a large size and private gardens and terraces situated all over the building, this really a great Bangkok condominium in which to live.

The last of our featured one bedroom condominiums in Bangkok is the Empire Place Condominium, situated in Sathorn and only a short walk from the Chong Nonsi BTS station. Also in close proximity to the Empire Tower the largest commercial building in Bangkok and other buildings housing companies such as Standard Chartered, RBS, Bank of China, PWC and Aberdeen Insurance make this particular Bangkok condominium the ideal place for those wanting to live in the center of the Bangkok CBD.

And unlike other brand new Bangkok condos, the one bedroom condos in this building are large and are on average 65sqm. With a kitchen, bedroom, large bathroom with bath-tub, and large living area. As well as great views over the city.

The Empire Place condominium also features top of the range facilities such as a large swimming pool, tennis court, children’s play area, sauna room, steam room and large terrace area. And of course a gymnasium that overlooks the swimming pool. Which makes this one of the best condominium for anyone looking to rent a condo in Bangkok.

For those of use who live in the real world, and therefore the Capitalist World (the only form of human development that has any long lasting durability) we have to face the fact that with the Booms come the Busts, as with all aspects of life, with the Smooth comes the Rough!

We can’t have it good all the time and one can have too much of a good thing, so there have to be bad times ahead even in the best of times.

Ok enough with the clich?s, let’s get to the point. Bangkok and the whole of Thailand has just mimicked the rest of the world in that it has been a part of the Global Recession, a recession that has lasted in some parts of the World such as the US for 6 Quarters and in countries like the UK for at least 7 Quarters and is still not out of the woods.

Thailand, having learnt its lesson from the 1997 Asian Economic crash, where Thailand and particularly Bangkok was the catalyst in disaster has been better placed than the UK, US and Europe to withstand its own domestic recession, however as a modern global country, Thailand is of course dependent on and vulnerable to the successes and failures of the West.

Of course Thailand’s exporters such as those of Electronics, Cars and Rubber will suffer when the Western markets enter recession and this will bring a negative effect on the economy, particularly Bangkok’s which is the hub of all trade in Thailand. However Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will also be affected and therefore expats living in Bangkok and potential immigrants to Bangkok will also be negatively affected.

International Property Agents have reported earlier this year that Condo sales to foreigners are down by 36% on last year, which is of course not good news for the market as a whole, especially when it is considered that up to 17% of condos in Bangkok are indeed owned by foreigners since the Condominium Act of 1997.

So by looking at the figures if just the reduction is Sales of Bangkok Condos to foreigners are taken into account, then the Condominium market as a whole has reduced by approximately 6%. However of course it is more than this as many Thais have not been buying, in fact Thailand’s largest developer LPN Development PLC has stated that in the first 2 months of 2009, Thai clients were looking but not buying. In fact they thought that property prices would drop considerably and so condos, town-houses and detached houses in Bangkok were not purchased. In fact the prices did not drop so much and so now there has been a realization of their mistake and now there is a relative buying frenzy in the last few months of this year. In fact projects like the Ideo in Wang Wien Yai, and The Citrine also located near to the Wang Wien Yai BTS station in Thonburi have sold out.

So the question has been answered….right?

Well not quite!

Yes there are lots of negatives, and of course by definition a recession or even worse a depression is not a good time for any economy. However it is also not all gloom and doom, as every cloud has a silvers lining (I will try and make this the last cliche for this blog ).

When recession hits it is a chance to reduce the also-rans in the market. And therefore the Bangkok market is left with far more quality rather then quantity as a result.

As the market is deflated, the banks who supply the blood to run the economy are the first to notice. Repayments are not made, and non-performing assets (NPA) are on the increase. Therefore Banks are reluctant to lend, to either developers or potential owners. This is going to have a short-term negative effect on individuals or individual companies, but in the long-term will be of benefit.

Only the Developers with low debt to equity ratios will be able to obtain money from the banks and therefore, many ‘first time’ or ‘relative amateur’ developers will not be able to obtain the loans.

In addition Bangkok Bank announced that Developers have to close on between 20-25% of units in their pre-sales before further loans will even be considered. Not only that but the location and quality of the buildings are also greatly considered in times of recession. Siam Commercial Bank have stated that the new developments they have been supporting all have to be within 200m of either a BTS or MRT station or a BTS or MRT line. And the quality should be such that the units can realistically sell for THB 100 000/ sqm, which represents the higher-end of the market.

So to summarize it can be seen by laying down the following criteria that only a few and choice projects will in fact be allowed to proceed in such tight market conditions:

1. Developer must be credit worthy and be of sound quality and reputation
2. The projects must be located in desirable and highly sought after areas (such as near the Sukhumvit BTS, Silom BTS or Ratchada MRT lines)
3. The buildings must be of high-end quality so that they can realistically attract buyers of up to THB 100 000/ sqm

So what does this mean to the medium term future of the Bangkok Real Estate Market?

Well it initially reduces the supply of properties in Bangkok and in particular condominiums in Bangkok. It seems just the best and most popular areas of Bangkok such as Sukhumvit, Silom, Sathorn and Ratchadaphisek will be significantly developed further in the near future.

Projects that have already started and have received banking approval will be finished in due course and will be of good quality. In addition as the developers have had to undergo strict financial tests to gain the loans they need, then clients that have invested in off-plan condominiums can be assured that they are likely to receive the property as planned.

Potential owners of condos too will be subject to strict investigations before they are issued with a mortgage and so there should be less defaulting on loans and the development of a sub-prime mortgage crisis, such as has been experienced in the West.

So all in all the future of the Bangkok Property Market looks good, with only the best developers being granted loans to develop condominium, townhouse and detached house projects near the Bangkok metro and transit systems. And in addition they have only been granted the right to do so when the buildings are of high quality.

Also with the US announcing its departure from recession and the other G8 nations (except for the UK) it looks like Bangkok’s market will move towards better times ahead!