Property liquidity in Thailand: selling a unit takes from 5 months to 2 years

Selling a completed unit in Thailand takes from 5 months to 2 years. The reason is not a lack of demand but the way the market is built: there is no single listings portal, and agents earn more selling new builds. The time to exit needs to be factored in before you buy.

How long does it take to sell a unit in Thailand?

The sales cycle on the resale market is 5 months to 2 years. That range was given by a practitioner who has worked in Thai property for 12 years.

An owner should allow for this in advance: selling a unit within a month, as on a market with a single listings database, will not happen here.

Why do agents not handle resales?

On new builds an agent earns more and faster, especially in Phuket. A few deals with a developer cover their needs, and long work on a resale unit is of no interest to them.

There are almost no professional letting and resale agencies on the market. Management companies exist mainly in Phuket and in branded projects.

Where are buyers found?

The market works without a single database. You cannot find out from one website what neighbouring units are really worth and what they resell for.

• Facebook groups;
• the websites of individual agencies;
• WhatsApp mailing lists and chats;
• the project's own buyer base — held by managers and brokers who have long worked in the building.

Owners approach agents themselves through chats. The blacklists and do-not-call rules familiar from Dubai do not exist here.

Does the price rise by the time you sell?

In successful projects, yes, but over a long period. A studio in a high-rise in Pattaya, bought at launch for AED 216,000, was selling 10–11 years later for AED 300,000–600,000.

More examples are in our piece on property prices in Thailand.

What to bear in mind with leased land

A leasehold right can be sold too, but the new buyer gets only the remaining term. The closer the end of the lease, the lower the price.

Resale is possible only if it is written into the lease agreement. Details are in our piece on the five clauses of a lease agreement.

The takeaway for a buyer

Thailand is a long-hold market. Someone who may need the money in a year risks selling at a discount. Someone who lives in the unit for part of the year does not notice the problem.

Frequently asked questions

Does Thailand have a single portal for sale listings?

No. Listings are scattered across Facebook groups, agency websites and WhatsApp mailing lists.

How quickly can you exit a Thai unit?

The usual time to sell is 5 months to 2 years, depending on the building, floor, view and price.

Can a villa on leased land be resold?

Yes, if the right to resell is written into the lease agreement. The buyer gets the remaining term, so the price falls as it runs down.