thanks for your opinion on this matter. Respect to all of the esteemed and classy pattaya members.

"When the airport link / fast train is extended to Pats, do you think property prices will rise?"

It's possible, but only for places it doesn't go near.

Personally I just take the aircon bus from Jomtien for 134B. I dont need a high-speed train or a high-speed anything for that matter.

Will the high speed rail link come before or after the beach mono rail?

Just asking

Trolling, are you?

This question comes hot on the heels of the question asking about stricter visa rules causing property prices to fall. Neither event is likely to have a noticeable effect.

If you mean land prices, why would getting from an international airport by one form of public transport or another have any material effect on land prices?

If you mean condos, most farang who buy condos in Pattaya probably don't make frequent trips in and out of the country and if they do, there's already plenty of ways to travel between Pattaya and the airport ... and most people seem to feel the condo market is becoming over-saturated with new construction outpacing new buyers.

I'd guess they would, but I wouldn't hold your breath while waiting.

Of course, espcially because no other fast train line has any chance to be seen in Thailand before 20 years.

This one will be cheap and fast to build but will also bring high revenue.

Although the extension of the BTS in BKK made certain areas more popular thus increasing prices, nobody would really want to commute from Patters to BKK on a daily basis. Possibly in the suburbs it passes through BKK but Pattaya probably not. The airport already has good links.

Should be obvious that any infrastructure improvements improve the quality of life either directly or indirectly and ultimately add to land and property valuations. Not necessarily an infrastructure improvement but gaming, casinos and resorts will have the biggest impact on property valuations in the positive sense.

IMO, doubtful it will make much of a difference. A home is for someone to live here. I can't see that many people making a decision to live here based on a slightly faster way to get here, but it certainly can't hurt.

"When the airport link / fast train is extended to Pats, do you think property prices will rise?"

It's possible, but only for places it doesn't go near.

Personally I just take the aircon bus from Jomtien for 134B. I dont need a high-speed train or a high-speed anything for that matter.

So do I but the downside of it is the old, unsafe buses (and drivers) and getting to the centre of Patts from the bus station. It's also a boring 2h drive usually - better if it is quicker, safer? and more comfortable and arrives in a convenient place.

I do believe the property market will respond to the new service, as property prices everywhere do, but the market in Patts is a beast of its own making and is subject to many other factors (tourist numbers, tourist types, government regs, supply, coups) and it only takes one or two of these to change to add to or remove the effect of outside transport links. And yes tourist numbers affect them because the more tourists go there, the more are tempted to buy a condo as a holiday home for the future or to add to the rental market for them.

Why should prices raise? About 7000 condo's in Pattaya are still unsold at this very moment...

Why should prices raise? About 7000 condo's in Pattaya are still unsold at this very moment...

Maybe, but the 7000 may be the 51% allocated to Thais. They are not constantly building condos to make a loss are they? developers often realise a redundancy rate of 51% or less but they still make a good profit.

What would make a big difference to prices in pattaya as elsewhere in Thailand, is the scrapping of the 49% allocation to farangs. that would almost double the number of condos on the market for farangs and the prices would plummet. Some complain about the allocation, but it is that which is keeping prices high.

Personally I just take the aircon bus from Jomtien for 134B. I dont need a high-speed train or a high-speed anything for that matter.

So do I but the downside of it is the old, unsafe buses (and drivers) and getting to the centre of Patts from the bus station. It's also a boring 2h drive usually - better if it is quicker, safer? and more comfortable and arrives in a convenient place.

I live just a short walk from Jomtien bus station so it is far more convenient for me than any train station is likely to be. Obviously if I lived on the darkside or in Naklua I would probably feel exactly the opposite.

As I mentioned, I'm in no hurry so shaving an hour off the travel time is no big deal to me. I've always found the blue airport bus to be reliable and in good order, and the drivers I have seen tend to be experienced and not kids on yaba such as one can find on the minibuses. And in fact I enjoy the bus trip as the scenery is interesting, not that the view from a train would be any less interesting.

OK, the last 5 miles through Pattaya traffic are a pain, but I would have most of those anyway if I caught a train that stopped on the darkside. I would also have the inconvenience of having to change modes of transport. Even people living in downtown Pattaya (ie the tourist areas) would probably find it easier to get to/from Jomtien than to/from a train station on the darkside.

To really make Pattaya more attractive (and so presumably increase property prices generally) they should be doing the bypass/highway extension. With the through traffic removed from Sukumvit it would be much nicer here.

I think property prices would rise, but only on upper floor condos because monkeys will be flying before they extend the rail link to Pattaya.

It might slow the decline of prices, since there is so much overbuilding being done here. High speed train would be attractive to Thais who want to come down for the weekend and not get stuck in the traffic jams that now are regular on Bangkok-Pattaya route. I would suggest they address problem of adequate water supply first, but trains are shinier and better for "face" than silly things like adequate utilities.

After the coming value decline they might rise again back to where they are now. But don't hold your breath.

Another question you need to ask if you are thinking of coming to Pattaya to invest in a condo. Is what has Pattaya got to offer other than bars, prostitutes and a grotty beach with water full of effluent.

Another question you need to ask if you are thinking of coming to Pattaya to invest in a condo. Is what has Pattaya got to offer other than bars, prostitutes and a grotty beach with water full of effluent.

Well there is more to Pattaya if you were to open your eyes instead of posting the views of someone who only gets of of bed to go down to the bars.

Granted the sea in Pattaya Bay is not the best but a lot of posters make it out to be far worse than what it is, but you do not have go far to find some marvellous beaches, but if you want to avoid effluent then avoid all sea and river water as I have on good authority the the fish pee in it.

Why should prices raise? About 7000 condo's in Pattaya are still unsold at this very moment...

Maybe, but the 7000 may be the 51% allocated to Thais. They are not constantly building condos to make a loss are they? developers often realise a redundancy rate of 51% or less but they still make a good profit.

What would make a big difference to prices in pattaya as elsewhere in Thailand, is the scrapping of the 49% allocation to farangs. that would almost double the number of condos on the market for farangs and the prices would plummet. Some complain about the allocation, but it is that which is keeping prices high.

Not likely, prices are already ridiculously expensive.

"thanks for your opinion on this matter. Respect to all of the esteemed and classy pattaya members".

In answer to your question, "i wouldn't know"............................................................. but your very kind.................... You're welcome.

As for a rapid transport system to Swampy, the money (and a lot less of it) would be better spent on a Sky Train connecting Nakula,Pattaya & Jomtien.

Houses, condos and land close to stations always goes up in prices.

I think that within ten years if not before property prices will Fall, regardless of whether there is a fast train link or not. The bubble will burst!

Another question you need to ask if you are thinking of coming to Pattaya to invest in a condo. Is what has Pattaya got to offer other than bars, prostitutes and a grotty beach with water full of effluent.

Did you copy and paste this from a post made in 2004?

Pattaya has a lot to offer and is far less seedy than Phuket, Bangkok or Samui. Beach Road now is predominantly upmarket shopping malls, restaurants and hotels.

I think that within ten years if not before property prices will Fall, regardless of whether there is a fast train link or not. The bubble will burst!

Gee, that was perceptive, thanks for posting it in bold face.

No because by the time that happens Pattaya is going to be so flooded with empty ghost housing estates and condos that landlords will be shooting each other to get tenants!

How could they not rise? The divergence of opinion here is astonishing, frankly. As any Pattaya property owner knows,

the future of Pattaya is not tourism, but being a hub for the industrial expansion of the eastern seaboard. Many people with families want to get out of Bangkok because of quality of life issues caused by flooding, etc, and if they can get to Bangkok in less than an hour, they will come in waves. Pattaya certainly has deficiencies as a tourist destination, but the area is rich in attractions and very easy to live in for both Thais and farang alike.

This question is a no brainer!

Should be obvious that any infrastructure improvements improve the quality of life either directly or indirectly and ultimately add to land and property valuations. Not necessarily an infrastructure improvement but gaming, casinos and resorts will have the biggest impact on property valuations in the positive sense.

Agree 100%. This would be true just about anywhere in the world. In addition, property owners in Pattaya are generally well aware that there will be a mass exodus of upscale families from Bangkok seeking a better

quality of life in a suburban milieu. Future of Pattaya is as a residential hub for managers from industrial hubs in Rayong, Laemchabang - and Bangkok, too, if a rail link makes it possible to get to Bangkok in less than an hour.

When the link is actually built is another question, entirely - but the Japanese need one for their massive

investments in this area, and they are pretty good at building railroads. For that matter, so are the Chinese!

Future of Pattaya is as a residential hub for managers from industrial hubs in Rayong, Laemchabang ...

If I was a Thai manager in Laem Chabang I think I would live in Si Racha. And if I was working in Rayong (or Maptaput) I think I would live in Rayong, or maybe Ban Chang.

For me Pattaya is too far away to get to either conveniently on a daily basis.