Kathu Property for Sale, Phuket

A valley in the middle of the island

Kathu is strung not along a beach but along a road through the valley, with a small Thai town on it — a market, food stalls, a school and a petrol station. Around it are residential neighbourhoods and golf courses with lakes and lawns, and at the edges of the valley rise jungle-covered hills. At weekends local families head up to the waterfall or walk a short forest trail. Evenings in the valley are quiet; for restaurants, nightlife and big malls, people drive to Patong or to town.

Location is the big advantage. From Kathu it is a short drive both to the west-coast beaches and to town, with its hospitals, offices and schools. For a family that needs both work in town and the sea at weekends, that is very convenient.

What you can buy in Kathu

• Condominium apartments — mainly for living in and long-term letting, sometimes with golf-course or hill views.
• Townhouses and small houses in gated estates — for families who want their own house for less than by the sea.
• Pool villas, some in estates next to the golf courses.
• Small housing projects at the edge of the valley, closer to nature.

A foreigner can own a condominium unit freehold within the foreign quota, while a house or villa is usually bought on a long-term land lease. If you are looking at a house with land, ask a manager how ownership is structured in that project and have a lawyer review the contract.

Roads and getting around

The road to Patong climbs over a hill pass — the drive is short but has steep climbs and descents that call for care, especially in the rain and on a scooter. The road to Phuket Town is flat and easy. The airport is in the north, a medium-length drive from Kathu. You will need a car or scooter for almost everything; ride-hailing taxis are available.

Seasons and rentals

Kathu is inland, so monsoon waves do not affect it directly, but the rain certainly does. In the valley, as in any low-lying area, check the drainage of the project and of the road leading to it.

Tenants here are mostly people who live and work on the island: hotel and restaurant staff from Patong, professionals working in town, foreign families and teachers. This is letting by the month or year, which depends less on the season and more on employment on the island. Golfers who come for the season are another, smaller audience. A manager only gives income as an agency estimate with its source and date, and short-term rental rules should be checked with a lawyer.

Kathu or its neighbours

East of Kathu is Phuket Town: more town life, the old quarter and services within walking distance, but less greenery. If you want a holiday apartment near a beach you can walk to, look at Kata in the south-west. Kathu is for buyers who value a calm, convenient centre over either beach or town.

An overview of the whole island is on the Phuket property page, and the full search is in the project catalogue.