Koh Samui Property for Sale: Villas and Condos

Koh Samui through a buyer's eyes

Koh Samui lies in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Surat Thani province and is the largest island in a group that also includes Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. It has its own small airport with domestic flights from Bangkok, and you can also travel overland and take the ferry. Samui is much smaller than Phuket and life is calmer: there are no high-rises, most buildings are low, and coconut plantations and fishing villages still sit between the resort areas. The island has private hospitals, large supermarkets and international schools, though the choice is narrower than in a big city. Its rainy season also falls at a different time from Phuket and the Andaman coast — worth knowing both when you plan your own stays and when you think about rental demand.

Areas of the island

Chaweng on the east coast is the liveliest part of the island, with its best-known beach, restaurants, hotels and nightlife. Tourist demand is highest here, and so is the noise. Lamai, further south, is calmer, with a more local feel, a wide beach and a market. Bophut in the north is known for Fisherman's Village, with its walking street, restaurants and evening market, and many people see it as the easiest place to live all year. Maenam, to the west of it, is the quietest beach on the north coast, with calm water and little traffic. Most villas with views are built on the hills above the beaches, many looking across the strait towards Koh Phangan. It is worth seeing a few areas in person before deciding: the difference between them is much clearer on the ground than on a map, and a steep access road looks very different in the rainy season.

Every Samui project is in the list on this page; for the full search with all filters, open the project catalogue.

What you can buy on Koh Samui

• Hillside pool villas with sea views — the island's signature; foreign buyers usually acquire them on a long-term land lease.
• Villas in managed gated estates closer to the beach — convenient if you are not on the island all year.
• Units in small condominiums near the beaches — a simpler way into the market, with the option of freehold in your own name.
• Houses inland — more land and more quiet, further from the sea.

Who Koh Samui suits

Samui suits people looking for calm rather than a city: couples spending the winter, families who want nature and a small school, and remote workers who are happy with a good café and reliable internet. Buyers who plan to let usually target tourists from Europe and Asia who rent a whole villa for their holiday. If you need a large hospital, a wide choice of schools and public transport, take a look at Phuket or Bangkok instead.

How buying works

Most of what is sold on Samui is villas, so a purchase here differs from buying a city condo. Foreigners cannot hold land directly: the land is usually taken on a long-term lease, and the building itself can sometimes be registered in the buyer's name. On the island it matters a great deal what kind of title document the land has: Thailand has several types of land title, and they do not carry the same rights. A lawyer should check the title, the lease agreement and the Land Office registration before you make any payment. A condominium unit can be owned freehold if the building has foreign quota available and the money comes from abroad in a foreign currency. The whole purchase can be done remotely, with our team guiding you at every step.

Villa ownership costs

• the estate's maintenance fee — security, landscaping and road upkeep;
• pool, garden and air-conditioning care, a constant cost in a humid climate;
• electricity and water — utilities on an island can be more complicated than on the mainland, so ask the developer how the house is connected;
• if you let the villa, a management company's fee for bookings, cleaning and repairs;
• Thailand's annual land and building tax.

The amounts depend on the project, and our team will work them out for the villa you choose. Short-term letting in Thailand is governed by separate legislation, so check with a lawyer what a specific property allows. We only quote rental yields as an agency estimate, with a source and a date. Tax on rental income in your country of residence is a question for your tax adviser.

Where to start

Shortlist a few projects or leave a request, and our team will send options that fit your budget and describe the road up to each villa. If you are comparing the islands with the cities, browse all projects.