The United Kingdom’s largest overseas property exhibition – A Place in the Sun Live (pictured) – takes place in London next weekend (March 30 – April 1), and exhibitors from Southeast Asia will be looking to ride the wave of renewed interest from British buyers for properties in this part of the world.
The event is a spin-off from the popular U.K. television series of the same name, with thousands of property hunters expected to attend the event at Earls Court in central London. Hundreds of exhibitors will be showcasing properties from countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Turkey and Florida. Thailand and Malaysian properties will also be represented at the event.
Simon Pinnock, Managing Partner of Hua Hin Properties in Thailand, spoke exclusively to PropertyGuru. His company will be represented at the exhibition. He said: “The U.K. market for Southeast Asia is undoubtedly important. Southeast Asia, and Thailand in particular, has historically been noted as not just a popular tourist destination, but also as a very popular retirement destination because of its appealing climate, safe environment and welcoming and friendly Thais, combined with an appealing cost of living. Healthcare, water, electricity, food and fuel prices are very low in Thailand, and with the cost of living relentlessly increasing in the U.K., more and more Brits are focusing on Southeast Asia as an escape from the depressing weather, dreary politics, and ever-increasing price hikes.”
There is no doubt that interest in Southeast Asian properties from European buyers declined considerably as the effects of the Global Financial Crisis hit home, but many agents and developers are now seeing renewed interest – and are keen to capitalise on it.
Pinnock said: “This time last year clients coming from the U.K. with a view to investing in property were few and far between. This may seem like a sweeping generalisation, but nevertheless it requires little in the way of verification following the poor exchange rates. Brits have been suffering against a very resilient Thai Baht, however the trend is unequivocally changing. Buyers are coming back, with many citing the reason for now buying being that, if they wait for exchange rates to return to the ‘good old days’ they could be waiting a very long time. Consequently, clients are saying to themselves, ‘it’s now or never’.”
Hua Hin Properties will be showcasing one- and two-storey private pool villas, condominiums and a range of holiday homes, from condos on the beach, to pool villas on resorts with full resort facilities, at the event. Other exhibitors from Southeast Asia include Thai Diamond Land, KL Metro Sdn Bhd and Knight Knox.
A Place in the Sun Live takes place at Earls Court in London from March 30 until April 1 from 10am until 5pm daily.
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