How mass transit reshapes Bangkok’s property market

Developers and buyers all want to know the impact on the property market of the 197-kilometre mass transit lines under construction in Bangkok.

These new infrastructure developments, in addition to the 110km of existing mass transit lines, will improve access to and from inner city areas and link midtown areas.

This will affect the property market, especially the residential market. The popularity of each line can be seen from its ridership, as well as the number and prices of residential units along the line. These factors show not all lines are equal.

Currently, the BTS Light Green Line, with 750,000 passengers per day, has seen the most developments of residential, office, retail, and hotel properties.

It is followed by the MRT Blue Line, with 350,000 passengers per day, where developments have been concentrated along Ratchadaphisek road.

For the MRT Purple Line, many condominiums were launched during its construction with high expectations. However, with currently only 51,000 passengers per day, it will be less attractive for developers to invest further in projects along the line until the passenger numbers improve.

Residential developers are also acquiring land plots before the completion of the new lines under construction. Speculative residential property buyers are willing to purchase soon after construction starts on the lines.

End-user buyers who represent real demand only make decisions when they see there is significant progress on the lines and the projects they are planning to buy can be completed about the same time the line becomes operational. Many end users need the line to be operating before they decide to live in the property.

How mass transit moves condominium market | Bangkok Post: business