Hua Hin is probably one of the most favorite weekend getaway spots for the people of Bangkok. It lies on the northwest coast of the Thai peninsula and is only about 200 km away from the Thailand’s major population center. Its white sand beaches along with the fact that it only takes about 3 hours to drive to from the capital has undoubtedly locked in its appeal for many years to come. In fact, the Royal Family has their summer palace in Hua Hin. Hua Hin used to be a small, quiet fishing village but today you can see the city continue to grow slowly with new developments.
Many buyers of Hua Hin properties are looking for retirement or second homes. Some of these are foreign retirees who have lived in all the noise and congestion of Bangkok and want to spend their golden years in a relaxing yet popular place. Other buyers like to get away from Bangkok quite frequently so a second home would guarantee that they always have a comfortable place to stay.
Apartments and condominiums are the favorites to buy among foreigners here in Hua Hin. There are houses available but because foreigners cannot own land, they are not as appealing as the former. Prices to buy condominium units range from 1.5 million Thai Baht (divide Thai Baht by 30 to get U.S. Dollar amounts) for starter units to 5 million Thai Baht for units located on the beachfront and surrounding hills. For example, you can buy a one-bedroom condominium in the center of Hua Hin for about 1.5 million Thai Baht with a mountain view, kitchen, internet, and all of the standard facilities and services you would expect. Even in the center of the city, you are only a short distance from the seashore. Another example is the developers of Natural Hill 2 offer a house that would be perfect for a second home located close to the city center and seashore for around 4.4 million Thai Baht.
The infrastructure is excellent in Hua Hin. Although not as large as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or Phuket, Hua Hin has all of the modern conveniences and attractions that you would expect in a medium-sized city. There are plenty of hotels to fit every budget and restaurants to fit every taste. The city also has night life and entertainment venues but they are a little different than what you would find in other major tourist areas in that they are more family-oriented.
Close to Hua Hin is Cha Am which has some of the best seafood in Thailand. Cha Am is a short drive away and has a beach street with many restaurants and hotels. There is one restaurant towards the northern end of the beach road that serves fresh seafood catches daily and is situated right on the waterfront. Prices in Cha Am also tend to be even lower than Hua Hin. If you like golf, Hua Hin has 7 golf courses between it and Cha Am.
Because of Thai restrictions on foreign land ownership, you might try renting a property first. This is especially the case if you are looking to live in a house in Hua Hin. Foreigners can own houses but cannot own the land they are built on. By renting a condominium, house, or apartment first, you can see if Hua Hin will fit you as a second home in a nearby beachfront paradise. If you are looking to enjoy the tranquil beach lifestyle of Hua Hin, contact one of the property agents today.
