The number of residential transfers nationwide in the first quarter of 2026 rose by 11.2%, driven entirely by units priced 7.5 million baht or lower, a segment that broadly overlaps with homes eligible for the government's tax incentives.
Narongpol Prapanirin, acting director of the Real Estate Information Center (REIC), said the reduction of transfer and mortgage fees to 0.01% for housing units priced less than 7 million baht helped stimulate demand in this segment.
"The year-on-year growth in unit transfers for the period was 11.2%, while transfer value increased by only 3.1%, indicating that most transfers occurred in the lower-priced segment," he said.
In the first quarter, residential transfers nationwide tallied 72,583 units worth 187 billion baht. The strongest growth was recorded in units priced less than 1 million baht, which rose 16.1% year-on-year to 19,665 units.
This was followed by units priced between 2.01-3 million baht, totalling 15,284 units, up 15.3%, with the transfer value rising 15.5% to 38.4 billion baht. This price segment posted the highest uptick.
Units priced between 1.51-2 million baht reached 10,560 units, up 12.6%, while those priced between 3.01-5 million baht stood at 10,297 units, increasing 9.5%.
All price segments less than 7.5 million baht recorded growth, rising by 12.7% overall. In contrast, transfers of units priced between 7.51-10 million baht and more than 10 million declined by 17.4% to 1,115 units and 13.2% to 1,676 units, respectively.
"The demand trend in the first quarter was in line with expectations, with early signs of recovery driven by government stimulus measures," said Mr Narongpol.
"This reflected continued local demand, although housing prices, unit sizes and product types have increasingly been adjusted to match buyers' purchasing power."
REIC projected the number of residential transfers nationwide this year would decline by 1.1% year-on-year, while transfer value is expected to drop by 2.3% amid mounting risks from tensions in the Middle East.
The conflict affects energy security, pushing up transport and construction material costs, while rising inflation continues to weigh on household purchasing power.
The housing market slowdown is expected to remain limited, with the projected decline smaller than previously anticipated, said the centre.
The outlook is supported by several measures, including a one-year extension of the eased loan-to-value ratio, reduced transfer and mortgage fees of 0.01% for homes priced less than 7 million baht, and the government's 400-billion-baht stimulus package.
These measures are expected to help sustain economic activity and prevent a sharper downturn in the residential market, noted REIC.
