"<\/em><\/strong>It's hard to believe that Bangkok is the city that keeps families apart the most in Thailand!"<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

                Did you know that people in Bangkok spend an average of 2 hours commuting each day? That's longer than driving from Lampang to Chiang Mai! (Some might argue in their minds, "I take even longer!")<\/em> With so many important places clustered in the city and limited space, people from all directions inevitably flock into the city at the same time. By the time parents finish work and children finish their extra classes, it’s dark outside, and everyone is exhausted.

                This major reason makes the CBD location increasingly valuable. If you want to live close to work or rent out a property, the opportunities are plentiful. Currently, the CBD of Bangkok is the Silom-Sathorn<\/span>, which has held this position for over 50 years, following Yaowarat-Charoenkrung.

Why has Silom-Sathorn maintained its CBD status for so long?<\/span><\/p>

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                Going back about 50-70 years, the areas of Charoenkrung and Yaowarat were the thriving heart of Bangkok, much like the scenes we see in the movie 2499 Antapal Krong Mueang<\/strong>. The bustling shops lining the streets made it the largest commercial district at the time, establishing the economic center of Bangkok around Yaowarat-Charoenkrung.

               Silom<\/strong>-Sathorn<\/span> is located not far from Yaowarat, and as economic changes occurred, high-rise buildings began to develop along Silom-Sathorn-Charoenkrung. Over time, Silom-Sathorn evolved into a new center, featuring headquarters for banks, dozens of office buildings, hotels, restaurants, clubs, hospitals, parks, and schools, making it a CBD that has evolved economically to align with modern times and is fully equipped.

One-third of our time is spent at work<\/span><\/p>

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                In a city where work equals money, it’s no surprise that most people spend one-third of their day working (about 8 hours). Naturally, the CBD of Bangkok, Silom-Sathorn<\/span>, has the highest concentration of job opportunities, attracting thousands of workers to this area.

                To clarify, we counted the number of office buildings in the Silom-Sathorn<\/span> area. The result showed that there are at least 42 large office buildings, not including smaller buildings converted into offices, clubs, and various services hidden in every corner. We estimate that the total number exceeds a hundred.

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                However, the significance of being a CBD for Silom-Sathorn is not just about the number of job opportunities but also the size of the offices. Many big corporations have their offices here, indicating a hub for quality personnel. Additionally, there are five bank headquarters located here: UOB, Standard Chartered, Bangkok Bank, TISCO Bank, and Land and Houses Bank, elevating the importance of the Silom-Sathorn area to a national business center.

Why is the CBD location important?<\/span><\/p>

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                Speaking of the number of job opportunities, let’s also look at the traffic flowing into the Silom-Sathorn area or CBD. Based on data from 2015, it was found that nearly 29 million people<\/strong> passed through the Silom-Sathorn area throughout the year!<\/strong> <\/span> This averages about 80,000 people per day, with a density of one person per 2 square meters. With such a high influx of people, the demand for housing naturally follows, making Silom-Sathorn a rare location for residential living, as there are not many options available, and prices remain stable.

Silom-Sathorn is the only area with the highest concentration of prestigious private schools in the country<\/span><\/p>

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                The daily destinations for most people revolve around two main points: dropping off their children at school and going to work. The Silom-Sathorn<\/span> area boasts the most prestigious private schools in Bangkok, meaning it serves as a one-stop service area where parents and children can live in the same neighborhood.

                When it comes to the quality of education, parents naturally want to choose the best for their children. Most schools in the Silom-Sathorn<\/strong> area are among the top private institutions in the country, with a long history spanning over a hundred years. Besides offering better teaching quality than regular schools, the high tuition fees help filter the social environment in these private schools, creating a quality community. Furthermore, the strong alumni networks that have persisted for nearly a century demonstrate the tight bonds among graduates, making it no surprise that parents wish to enroll their children to create future social opportunities, which we cannot deny that the school community indeed fosters these opportunities.

                This concept is not unique to Thailand; many countries worldwide agree that private schools can create better learning and social environments than many public schools for various reasons, leading affluent parents to have no hesitation in sending their children to these institutions.

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                To put it plainly, Silom-Sathorn<\/span> is a district that allows us to spend more time with our families. Parents can walk their children to school (or let them walk alone) and return home for dinner before sunset. Afterward, they can still engage in other activities together without the exhaustion of commuting. However, we cannot deny that not everyone can afford to live in this area, as Silom-Sathorn<\/span> is a Super Compact Location that filters residents by itself<\/span>.

"The best place to live" surrounded by a high-end community<\/span><\/p>

                Lastly, to complete the trifecta of education, work, and living, we must consider "residential options"<\/span>. If you are looking for a perfect location for living, "Silom-Sathorn"<\/span> is one of the first places that come to mind. The number one priority for living is "safety"<\/span>, and good safety can only be achieved in a good environment, which "Silom-Sathorn"<\/span> provides, surrounded by a high-end community with luxurious 4-5 star hotels and residences for affluent individuals, ensuring you are in a quality neighborhood.

One of the areas with the highest concentration of 4-5 star luxury hotels in Bangkok<\/em><\/p>

                Being a destination for foreign business executives is one of the highlights of Silom-Sathorn, which is "fully equipped"<\/span> with office buildings and large organizations, as well as 4-5 star hotels to accommodate business travelers and executives. Looking at the map below, you will find that the number of 4-5 star hotels exceeds that of 2-3 star hotels.

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High-End condominiums that curate a quality community<\/em><\/p>

               

Measuring the quality of a community can be difficult to quantify, as we often rely on "feelings rather than statistical numbers"<\/span>. However, one thing that can still be confirmed is "the price of housing"<\/span>. The higher the price of housing, the more the buyer group represents real demand of quality<\/span>, which we categorize as A-B grade customers. Additionally, "Silom-Sathorn"<\/span> has been the most developed area in Bangkok for a long time, making it a residence for the city's wealthy elite.

                Another point worth mentioning is the price of condominiums in the "Silom-Sathorn"<\/span> area, which has consistently set new highs. It can be said that this area has some of the most legendary condominiums<\/span>, such as the Sukhothai Residence, which made waves in the real estate market at its launch price of 200,000 baht per square meter (which was considered very expensive at that time), along with other high-end projects of the era like Saladaeng Residence, The Met Sathorn, Saladaeng One, and most recently, the top project of the year, Mahanakhon, located near Chong Nonsi, which became the most expensive condominium of 2013.

                Looking at the selling prices of each condominium project, we find that the prices in this zone are quite strong. For example, second-hand units start at around 5 million baht, meaning one must have a minimum income of 70,000 baht per month to afford a condominium in this area. When TerraBKK Research surveyed second-hand condominiums listed for sale in this area, we found listings ranging from 130,000 baht per square meter to 300,000 baht per square meter. If we consider who would be buying these condominiums, TerraBKK Research estimates that most buyers in this area have incomes ranging from 100,000 baht to 300,000 baht per month<\/strong>, which means they are typically executives or at least B+ grade customers residing in the "Silom-Sathorn" area, ensuring that condominiums here are surrounded by quality neighbors, living up to the title of "Silom-Sathorn, the highest quality living area"<\/strong><\/span>.

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Second-hand selling prices remain strong<\/span><\/p>

                Buying a condominium is not just about having a place to live; it’s also about considering how much its value will increase in the future. TerraBKK Research highlights prominent projects around Silom-Sathorn that launched nearly 10 years ago at prices below 100,000 baht per square meter, and now they are selling for nearly 200,000 baht per square meter. It’s clear how rapidly "Silom-Sathorn"<\/span> has grown, as shown in the map below, with condominium price growth or capital gains reaching 5-10% per year.

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                It’s no surprise that whenever a new project opens in this area, it becomes the talk of the town. It’s not easy to find a developer who can secure prime land in the heart of Silom-Sathorn. This year, we will see at least two projects: "The Lofts Silom" by Raimon Land, which just opened for sale on July 23, starting at 9 million baht, located in Soi Pramuan on over 2 rai of land, easily accessible from both Silom and Sathorn. Following closely is a project from Sansiri in the same soi as The Lofts Silom, just 400 meters away on the Sathorn side, although no details have been released yet. TerraBKK Research will update you with more information later. For now, here are some images from The Lofts Silom for those interested.

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                Therefore, considering both living conditions and the future increase in condominium prices, "Silom-Sathorn" is likely to meet everyone’s needs perfectly. It can be said that there are almost no flaws, not to mention the comprehensive transportation options including BTS, MRT, expressways, and boat services, along with many other conveniences such as shopping centers and fine dining restaurants that will enhance your lifestyle.

"Silom-Sathorn" is the location that allows families to live closer together.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

TerraBKK Investment Tips<\/span><\/p>

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