How to Evaluate a Phuket Condo Project: Investor’s Checklist

A structured evaluation process separates informed Phuket investors from those who buy on brochure enthusiasm. Before committing any capital to a Phuket condo project, you need 10 specific pieces of verified information: developer track record, EIA license, building permit status, foreign quota position, payment plan terms, management company credentials, rental pool terms, price per sqm vs comparables, exit strategy viability, and legal due diligence. Miss any one of these and you may discover the problem at transfer — or years later when you’re trying to sell. This guide walks through each check with specific questions to ask and documents to request.

The 10-Step Project Evaluation Framework

Step 1: Developer Track Record

This is the most important check. A developer with no completed projects is a significant risk regardless of how compelling the marketing is.

Questions to ask:

• How many projects has this developer completed in Thailand?
• Can you provide a list with addresses?
• How many total units have been delivered?
• Were any projects delivered significantly late? By how much?
• Are there any legal disputes or court cases involving this developer?

Documents to request:

• Company registration certificate (หนังสือรับรองบริษัท) from DBD
• List of completed projects

How to verify independently:

• Visit a completed project — talk to residents or the management company
• Search the developer’s company name + “problems” or “complaints” in Thai property forums
• Check DBD.go.th for company registration date and director history

Rating: If the developer has 3+ completed projects with no major disputes, this is a green flag. Zero completed projects is a red flag that requires compensating due diligence.

Step 2: EIA License Status

Thailand’s Environmental Impact Assessment is required for most new condo projects (buildings over 8 floors, or with more than 80 units in certain zones).

Questions:

• Has EIA approval been granted?
• If not, when is it expected?
• What are the conditions of the EIA approval?

Documents to request: EIA certificate (ใบอนุญาต EIA) — get the reference number and verify with the local Land Department.

Important: Projects in some Phuket zones require EIA regardless of size. Your lawyer should confirm whether the EIA applies and verify the approval independently.

Step 3: Building Permit

Separate from EIA, the building permit (ใบอนุญาตก่อสร้าง) is required to legally break ground. Development without a valid permit is illegal construction that can be ordered to stop.

Questions:

• Has the building permit been issued?
• Who is the registered responsible person on the permit?

Red flag: If the project is under construction but the developer cannot show you a building permit, this is a serious legal issue.

Step 4: Foreign Quota Remaining

Thailand’s Condominium Act (Section 19) limits foreign freehold ownership to 49% of a building’s total registered area. Once this quota is full, foreign buyers can only hold under leasehold or Thai company structures.

Questions:

• What is the total registered area of the building?
• What percentage is allocated to foreign freehold?
• How much foreign quota remains at this point in sales?
• What happens if I try to transfer a unit after the quota is filled?

Documents to request: The developer should be able to show a breakdown of units sold to foreigners vs Thais. Your lawyer can verify the actual quota status at the Land Office.

Risk management: If a project is heavily foreign-targeted and more than 70% of units have been reserved by foreign buyers, the 49% ceiling may be approaching. Units sold “late” in such projects often end up in leasehold or company structures.

Step 5: Payment Plan Terms

How and when you pay determines your capital exposure during the construction period.

Evaluate:

• What is the reservation deposit? Is it refundable during due diligence?
• What percentage is payable on SPA signing?
• Are subsequent payments milestone-based (tied to construction progress)?
• Is the final payment triggered by handover, or by a date?
• Are there interest charges if you delay any payment?

Best practice payment structure:

Stage	Typical % Range
Reservation	2–5%
SPA signing	15–25%
Foundation complete	10–15%
Frame/structure complete	10–15%
Topping out	10–15%
Handover	30–40%

Red flag: Any structure requiring 50%+ payment upfront with no milestone linkage gives the developer cash with minimal accountability.

Step 6: Management Company Credentials

The management company will determine your rental income, maintenance standards, and how the building operates post-delivery. Evaluate this as carefully as the developer.

Questions:

• Who will manage the building and rentals?
• Is this a branded hotel management company or the developer’s own company?
• What is the management fee structure?
• Can you provide actual occupancy and income data from a comparable project?
• What is the owner reporting process (frequency, format)?

Documents to request:

• Management agreement (or draft)
• Sample owner statement from a similar project
• Reference contacts at a currently operating project

Green flags: International brands (Anantara, Best Western, Accor), management company with 3+ years of operating history in Phuket, transparent income-sharing structure.

Red flags: Management company incorporated the same week as the project, guaranteed yields with no operating history to support them, developer and management company are the same legal entity with no separation.

Step 7: Rental Pool Terms

If there is a rental program, understand exactly what you’re agreeing to.

Key questions:

• Is participation in the rental pool mandatory or optional?
• What is the lock-in period?
• What is the yield split between rental pool participants?
• Are yields guaranteed, performance-based, or a combination?
• Can you use the unit personally, and for how many days/year?
• What happens to the rental agreement if you sell?

Red flag: Rental agreements that cannot be exited or transferred to a buyer make resale complicated. Ensure your lawyer reviews the rental agreement before you sign.

Step 8: Price per SQM vs Comparables

Evaluate whether you’re paying a fair price relative to the market.

How to benchmark:

1. Calculate price per sqm for the unit you’re considering
2. Research 3–5 completed comparable projects within 2km on Hipflat, FazWaz, or DDproperty
3. Compare price per sqm for the same unit type (1BR, 2BR)
4. Note any factors that justify a premium (branded management, beachfront, better views)

Phuket price benchmarks (Q1 2026):

Area	New Build Price/sqm	Resale Price/sqm
Bang Tao / Laguna	$4,800–$5,500	$3,500–$4,500
Surin / Kamala	$4,500–$6,000	$3,800–$5,200
Kata / Karon	$2,800–$3,800	$2,200–$3,200
Rawai / Nai Harn	$2,500–$3,500	$2,000–$3,000
Patong	$2,200–$3,200	$1,800–$2,800

If a project is 25%+ below these benchmarks with no clear reason: investigate title, management quality, and developer financials before proceeding.

Step 9: Exit Strategy Viability

Before you buy, answer the question: “How will I sell this in 5 years, to whom, and at what price?”

Exit strategy evaluation:

• Is the unit type (1BR, 35–55 sqm) likely to be in demand in 5 years?
• Is the area growing or stagnating?
• Is there a resale market already operating in comparable projects in this area?
• Will the foreign quota still have capacity when you need to sell?
• Does the management contract support resale, or complicate it?

Best exit candidates in 2026: 1BR condos in Bang Tao/Cherng Talay with branded management and rental pool. Clear Chanote title. Price point $150,000–$300,000 targeting the widest buyer pool.

Step 10: Legal Due Diligence

Your own independent Thai lawyer should review all purchase documents before you sign.

Legal checklist:

• Confirm developer’s company registration and good standing
• Verify EIA and building permit certificates
• Confirm foreign quota availability at Land Office
• Review SPA for buyer protections (refund triggers, delay penalties)
• Review rental agreement for lock-in, exit, and transfer terms
• Confirm title will be Chanote (not leasehold or company)
• Check for any encumbrances, liens, or debt registered on the land

Budget for legal due diligence: ฿30,000–80,000 ($800–$2,200) depending on lawyer and complexity. Never skip this step.

Project Evaluation Scorecard

Rate each criterion 1–5. A score of 35+ out of 50 indicates a solid investment. Below 25, reconsider.

Criterion	Weight	Your Score (1–5)
Developer track record	High	___
EIA and building permit	High	___
Foreign quota available	High	___
Payment plan structure	Medium	___
Management company quality	High	___
Price vs comparables	Medium	___
Rental pool terms	Medium	___
Exit strategy clarity	High	___
Construction timeline specificity	Medium	___
Legal due diligence completed	High	___

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the evaluation process take before buying off-plan in Phuket? +

A thorough evaluation takes 2–4 weeks minimum. This includes: 2–3 days to gather initial documents, 1 week for lawyer review, 1–2 visits to the site and comparable completed projects, and time to research the developer and management company. Any agent or developer pressuring you to decide in 24–48 hours is not working in your interest.

Do I need my own lawyer if I trust the agent? +

Yes, always. The agent's job is to facilitate the sale — their interests are aligned with the transaction completing, not exclusively with your protection. Your independent Thai lawyer has no conflict of interest and will identify issues the agent may overlook or not disclose. Budget ฿30,000–80,000 ($800–$2,200) for proper legal due diligence.

What is the most common mistake Phuket condo investors make? +

Skipping independent verification of the developer's track record. Buyers who rely solely on the developer's own marketing materials miss that many projects are being sold by first-time developers, or by developers with undisclosed problems in previous projects. Visiting a completed project and talking to actual residents takes 2 hours and can save you enormous problems.

How do I compare price per sqm fairly between projects? +

Use the net usable area (interior square metres), not the gross area the developer may quote. Some developers include balcony, common wall, or parking in quoted sizes. Check FazWaz, Hipflat, and DDproperty for recent resale transactions in comparable buildings within 2km — these show what the real secondary market is paying, not marketing aspirations.

Is leasehold vs freehold important when evaluating a project? +

Critically important for resale. Freehold (Chanote) units have a significantly larger buyer pool at resale — most international buyers want freehold. Leasehold units trade at 20–30% discounts and have a narrower resale market. Some projects in Phuket are structured as leasehold (particularly land that cannot be sold freehold) — always confirm the tenure before purchasing.

Related Guides

• Red Flags When Buying Off-Plan in Thailand
• Developer Reputation Checklist
• What Documents to Check When Buying Property in Thailand
• Phuket Off-Plan vs Ready Property
• Freehold vs Leasehold in Thailand

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