Housing estates grow on ‘relocation for real living’ trend
Beyond the resort and holiday villa markets, housing estates on Koh Samui are also benefiting from the trend of foreign residents relocating for long-term stays.
There are currently 39 housing estate projects, comprising 459 units worth more than 17.32 billion baht. Most are concentrated in the northern part of the island, which is quieter and more suitable for residential living than commercial tourism.
This trend shows that Samui is gradually expanding beyond its identity as a resort island and moving towards becoming an international residential community.
Foreign buyers control 90% of the market, led by Europeans
The main driver of the market continues to be overseas purchasing power, which accounts for as much as 85-90% of total demand.
Key investor groups include buyers from Europe, Russia, France, Australia, China and Israel, with European investors accounting for more than half of total demand.
These buyers have diverse objectives, including long-term residence, retirement, rental investment and holding property as a long-term store of value.
Thai purchasing power still accounts for only 10-15% of the market, mostly comprising local entrepreneurs and businesspeople who have long-term confidence in the island’s potential.
New supply pours into the market
Colliers data also show that the holiday villa market on Koh Samui has grown strongly over the past two years.
In 2024, around 298 new units were launched for sale. This increased to 318 units in 2025, representing growth of more than 100% compared with normal pre-growth levels and reflecting developers’ confidence in the market’s potential.
Many projects are also preparing to launch new phases to meet continued strong demand, particularly from foreign buyers seeking high-quality properties in a world-class destination.
Destination investment market
What sets Samui’s property market apart from other resort markets in Thailand is not only the scale of investment, but also the strength of its residential ecosystem.
World-class beaches, an international airport, comprehensive facilities, international schools, private hospitals and a continuously growing expatriate community are all helping lift Samui from a tourist island into an investment city.
Combined with remote working trends, foreign relocation and continued demand for luxury holiday homes, Koh Samui is moving firmly towards becoming a full-fledged destination investment market.
If this trend continues, Samui may no longer be merely one of Thailand’s world-class tourist destinations. It is increasingly on track to become one of Southeast Asia’s most important international resort property hubs in the future.