Thailand Resale Condo Transfers Surge 39 Percent in Second Quarter
In this article (9)
Thailand recorded a 39.4 percent year-on-year surge in second-hand condominium transfers in the second quarter of 2026, driven by buyers seeking affordable alternatives to costly new builds.
Total transfer value for resale condos climbed 41 percent over the same period, making apartments the fastest-expanding segment in the country’s housing market, according to the Real Estate Information Center.
Supply expanded in tandem with buyer activity. Listed resale condo inventory rose 25.2 percent year-on-year to 49,199 units during the quarter, while total listed value climbed 67.8 percent to 285 billion baht.
Bangkok Captures Bulk of Secondary Trading
Activity remained heavily concentrated in Greater Bangkok, which accounted for 42.3 percent of all secondary housing transfers and 47.4 percent of transaction value nationwide. Greater Bangkok saw 26,388 second-hand residential transfers, a 35 percent increase from a year earlier, with total value rising 29.4 percent to 59 billion baht. Bangkok proper alone recorded 13,910 transfers, up 38.7 percent, generating 38.3 billion baht in value.
Condos outpaced all landed residential formats. Single detached house transfers rose 16.8 percent across the country, townhouses gained 24 percent, and semi-detached homes grew 22 percent. Resale condo volume expanded at more than double the pace of detached houses.
Wage Lag Diverts Demand from Primary Projects
The pivot to secondary properties reflects structural household constraints rather than a deficit of new construction. New home prices in Bangkok rose at a compound annual rate of 4.3 percent between 2012 and 2025, while labour wages grew just 2.8 percent over the same span, according to research by Krungthai Compass.
“Bangkok proper alone recorded 13,910 transfers, up 38.7 percent, generating 38.3 billion baht in value.”
That divergence is pricing first-time buyers out of newly launched developments in central locations. Resale properties offer established transit links and larger floor plans at discounts to primary launches, drawing cost-conscious buyers into older buildings.
Mid-Priced Units Dominate Buyer Takeup
Transaction growth clustered tightly around middle-tier price brackets. Units selling between 1.51 million baht and 5 million baht saw transfer volumes jump between 25 percent and 30 percent during the quarter. Condos priced between 2.01 million baht and 3 million baht captured 24 percent of total second-hand transaction value, the largest single share.
Sub-1-million-baht properties generated 34.8 percent of all secondary unit transfers but represented only 10.2 percent of total market value. While entry-level transactions remain numerous, available stock in that bottom tier is shrinking. Secondary listings priced below 1 million baht fell 9.9 percent in unit count and 7 percent in total value during the period.
Luxury Listings Expand as Primary Developers Pivot
Upper-tier supply moved in the opposite direction. Secondary listings priced above 10 million baht jumped 32.4 percent by unit count and 39.6 percent in value, pushing total nationwide resale listing value up 24.9 percent despite a modest 6.1 percent gain in overall listed unit volume. Actual buyers, however, stayed concentrated in the affordable mid-market.
Primary developers now face direct competition from older inventory in established corridors. With household debt high and borrowing capacity squeezed, builders can no longer rely on broad market expansion to absorb newly launched supply. They face sharper pressure to discount inventory and redesign upcoming pipelines around entry-level price thresholds.
Krungthai Compass projects total secondary residential transfers in Bangkok will hit 195 billion baht by the end of 2026, accounting for roughly 40 percent of all residential property transfers in the capital.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is driving the increased demand for second-hand condominiums in Thailand?
What is driving the increased demand for second-hand condominiums in Thailand?
Buyers are seeking more affordable alternatives to new builds, as new home prices have outpaced wage growth. Resale properties also offer established transit links and larger floor plans at a discount.
Q.Which region accounts for the majority of second-hand housing transfers in Thailand?
Which region accounts for the majority of second-hand housing transfers in Thailand?
Greater Bangkok accounts for the bulk of activity. It made up 42.3 percent of all secondary housing transfers and 47.4 percent of the transaction value nationwide during the quarter.
Q.Which price range saw the most significant buyer activity for resale condominiums?
Which price range saw the most significant buyer activity for resale condominiums?
Transaction growth clustered in the middle-tier price brackets. Units priced between 1.51 million baht and 5 million baht saw transfer volumes jump, and those between 2.01 million and 3 million baht captured the largest share of total value.
Q.How are primary developers reacting to the surge in the resale market?
How are primary developers reacting to the surge in the resale market?
Primary developers now face direct competition from older inventory and must discount stock or redesign pipelines for entry-level prices. This is due to high household debt and squeezed borrowing capacity.
Reader pulse
Is the resale surge sustainable?
16,320 votes so far