In the past decade, the stock of villas on the island has more than doubled to 4,000.
I followed real-estate agent Norbert Witthinrich around for a morning to get a sense of the island's luxury real-estate offerings. While the island is famous for its sandy beaches, the highways that traverse the island are often congested with traffic.
I met Witthinrich on a weekday. He is originally from Germany and has lived in Thailand for 25 years.
I found Witthinrich to be very organized and efficient, as we raced east across the island to the first villa, then west across the island to the second villa and back to his office in two hours.
Here is a look at what $8 million can buy you on the Thai island of Phuket. Sea Property Group has two listings.
There is a price point of about $7 million.
5 beds, 6 baths, indoor entertainment area, and private beach access are the specifications.
Witthinrich told me that the east coast of Phuket is less developed than the west. We hopped into his car and headed for Cape Yamu. As we approached the cape, I saw that the highway had given way to ocean vistas, smaller roads and a less-developed feeling. Fishing boats were tied up by the beach, and small shacks stood on prime oceanfront real estate.
We parked in a very steep driveway after we passed the guardhouse, which is part of a gated development.
Witthinrich said to speed-walk ahead of him and throw the front door open.
The decor of the home was modern and maximal, with large installations and black chandeliers. Every room in the house was designed to take advantage of the ocean view.
On the left side of the photo, you can see the stairs leading to the entertainment area, some more bedrooms, and the pool.
Here is a shot of the kitchen, which opens up to the patio.
This is a final shot of the main dining area, taken with my back to the ocean, that shows off the room's design.
It has a killer ocean view and is full of shiny surfaces and modern finishings. There is a separate house for one of the bedrooms. The kitchen is more like a coffee kitchen than a chef's kitchen.
The price is about $8.64 million.
There are 4 beds, 4 baths, pool, movie theater, and spa.
The second villa had a wood-and-concrete theme that was very different from the first. The villa was designed to wow people with its greatest asset.
The view you are greeted with when you enter the home's gate is here.
The small buildings on either side of the staircase have a bedroom, a bar, a bathroom, and a walk-in closet. Each suite was private and the wood finishing was beautiful.
The entrance to the villa is on the upper level of the home. You can walk up to the pool from the central staircase. To the left is the kitchen and dining space, and to the right is another living space and more bedrooms.
The villa felt like a sanctuary. The finishings were simple and timeless. Each bedroom was a mini house. I didn't know that a bar is what I need in my bedroom.
The units I toured were in gated communities. The second villa is part of Anantara, a brand that operates hotels, villas, and spas, so you also get access to the hotel amenities. One of the Anantara villas I toured is in the same development.
The wild, undeveloped feeling of the Thai jungle lay just beyond the borders of both homes.
The middle and top of the market are doing well. Foreign buyers started buying property on the island in late 2021, after Thailand relaxed border restrictions.
The $100,000-$500,000 range of homes were in high demand. The ones that we toured were in the $2 million to $10 million range, which drew the most interest.
80% of our clients are looking for the dream, according to Witthinrich.
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