In an exclusive interview, Mr. Witthaya Apirakwiriyah, Country Manager of Thailand at DDproperty and ThinkofLiving, stated that although the overall Thai real estate market is still sluggish in the first half of 2026 due to economic conditions, data from the website shows that the group of genuine homebuyers (Real Demand), as well as renters, still have a desire to buy or rent. He advises real estate operators and agents to adapt quickly to seize opportunities during this transitional period.

Real estate developers are delaying the launch of new projects to manage liquidity and expedite stock clearance, with the number of new projects decreasing by 9.9% year-on-year and the number of new units dropping by 31.1% year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the remaining supply in Bangkok and its vicinity is also starting to decrease, with the number of units down by 10% year-on-year and the value of remaining supply down by 8.4% year-on-year. This reflects that the market is gradually balancing out, and absorption rates are beginning to show signs of recovery. Although the total number of property searches has decreased, those still in the market are showing higher intent. The ratio of registered renters contacting increased from 8.7 per 100 seekers in the first half of 2025 to 15.6 in the first half of 2026. Similarly, the registered buyers increased from 2.8 to 5.1 per 100 seekers during the same period, indicating that Real Demand has not disappeared but has transformed into a group that is more ready to contact and make decisions.

Lead/View data in the first half of 2026 also increased to 15.61% in the rental market and 5.05% in the buying market, compared to 8.73% and 2.79% respectively in the first half of 2025. This makes the rental market one of the key opportunities for agents, as deals can be closed quickly without waiting for transfers, and there is potential for continuous income from contract renewals or referrals.

When considering the buying market, the most sought-after locations from January to June 2026 are:

  • For the 1–3 million baht price range, the most popular areas are Bang Chak, Phra Khanong, Suan Luang, Bang Na, Hua Mak, and Samrong Nuea in Samut Prakan.
  • For the 3–5 million baht price range, the most popular areas are Suan Luang, Chom Phon, Bang Chak, Sam Sen Nai, Din Daeng, and Makkasan.
  • For the 5–10 million baht price range, the most popular areas are Lumphini, Bang Chak, Chom Phon, Sam Sen Nai, and Khlong Toei.

As for the rental market, the most sought-after locations in the first half of 2026 are:

▪ For the 10,000–20,000 baht price range, the most popular areas are Chom Phon, Phra Khanong, Phra Khanong Nuea, Bang Chak, and Bang Na.

▪ For the 20,001–30,000 baht price range, the most popular areas are Huai Khwang, Watthana, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, and Lumphini.

▪ For the 40,001–60,000 baht price range, the most popular areas are Thung Mahamek, Khlong Toei, Khlong Tan, Phra Khanong, and Lumphini.

During this transitional period, agents remain a crucial link connecting buyers, renters, and property owners through market understanding, data analysis, and negotiation skills that AI technology cannot fully replace. DDproperty continues to support agents with insights, training, Agent Verification, and the DDproperty Agent Summit, along with the second annual DDproperty Agent Awards 2026 scheduled for November 27, 2026, to honor outstanding professional agents. In a market that cannot grow uniformly across all segments, opportunities will belong to those who can quickly interpret data, understand genuine demand, and respond to customers effectively.

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