Phuket-based residential developer Cissa Group has shifted to investment property development, planning to launch two high-end projects worth a combined 3.5 billion baht in Phuket with a yield guarantee of 6% in two years.
President Autthanop Pandkamnerd said the company will develop only investment properties from now on, in line with global trends.
In London and Melbourne, apartments for rent generate the highest yields, at 16% and 10%, respectively, as residential prices are high -- unaffordable for the masses.
"In Bangkok, the most attractive investment property are offices for rent," Mr Autthanop said. "We are looking for an opportunity to develop Grade B office spaces to tap into investment buyers."
The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) is another attractive location to develop investment property but the group is only considering Pattaya as the bustling resort town has the most developed infrastructure.
After spending two years in preparations, the group launched its first investment property project, Wyndham Naiharn Beach Phuket, early the year. It will be located on an 11-rai site near Naiharn Beach, worth 2.8 billion baht.
The project will have 12 four-storey towers with a total of 353 units sized 40-61 square metre and priced from 6.5 million baht per unit, offering a guaranteed yield of 6% in the first two years of operation.
"In the first few years of operations, hotels usually cannot make strong revenues," Mr Autthanop said. "We guarantee yields in this period to ensure income for investment buyers. After two years, hotel operations will be more settled."
The project sold 263 units at the launch in Phuket. Of the total saleable area, the 49% foreign quota has been met, with the majority of buyers being Chinese.
On Sunday 90 remaining units will be launched under the Thai quota for investment buyers in Bangkok and a seminar on investment property will be held to educate them.
"Our investment property is purely an investment vehicle," Mr Autthanop said. "We will leave the project and hand it over to a hotel chain to manage as soon as construction is complete and the units are transferred to buyers."
