by Daryl Lum | Sep 5, 2023 | Others
A short snippet about myself…
I am the international sales director for IBP Real Estate Co., Ltd. I focus mainly on the sale of primary properties, i.e., new developments from developers to international clients. My main areas of focus are clients from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.
I come from Singapore. I graduated from the National University of Singapore with a bachelor’s degree in economics. I have always enjoyed how money markets and various asset classes move and I enjoy reading and analysing statistics. I have been in the Bangkok property market since 2013. I deal with buying, selling and renting of properties in Bangkok. My entering into the Bangkok property market was one of chance. I was working for a Singapore developer who invested in a few projects in Bangkok. I was running the sales and marketing of these projects. Eventually, when my company ceased to be involved in the Bangkok property market, I remained in the market as many clients had purchased their properties through me. My good friend Kevin and I decided to start the Invest Bangkok Property YouTube Channel, Facebook Group and Facebook pages. One thing led to another and we eventually ended up incorporating a company in Thailand to deal with the sale, purchase and rental of Bangkok properties.
I have a corporate secretarial company which I own and run in Singapore. We deal with the setting up and running of companies in Singapore. We are also a licenced employment agency with the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore. It is hectic running the businesses in two different countries. While my colleagues in IBP Real Estate Co., Ltd. are based in Bangkok, I shuttle back and forth between Bangkok and Singapore. It is incredibly tiring but extremely rewarding to see the businesses grow.
In my spare time, I like to go to the gym, swim, cycle, read and play computer games. I am a very health-conscious person and have been a vegetarian for about 4 years.
You can find me on the following social media platforms:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daryllum/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumdaryl/
Personal Blog: https://daryllum.com/
(Do drop me a message on LINE or WhatsApp if you are adding me on social media. I do not often check my social media platforms for messages and I do get a lot of spam requests whenever I do check. I left my contact below.)
Your favourite neighbourhood in Bangkok?
Thonglor. I like the local vibe as well as the large number of cafes in the area. I enjoy café hopping. There is also a very vibrant nightlife and many top restaurants and bars are littered around the Thonglor area. For some reason, the general layout of the area seems more welcoming. I like to have my meals around the Commons or 72 Courtyard. I do not take alcohol so I am perhaps not the best person to ask which are the best bars to patronise. However, I am a huge football fan. There are many places in Thonglor to sit down, have a nice meal and catch the latest football game.
This is a lovely place for live music and live football matches. The food is also decently good and reasonably priced. It is located next to 72 Courtyard.
I just like the way The Commons is built. For some reason, I just feel that this is a nice place to come to in the late afternoons when the sun is setting. You can sit at any of the benches and do your work. When I am in Bangkok working remotely seems more plausible. This is due to the large availability of open spaces as well as the general culture that is supported by such malls. You can buy a coffee and, space permitting, work on your laptop for a few hours in a cafe. Of course, when the crowd comes in, the considerate thing to do would be to give up your table to guests who are there to dine.
Your favourite Thai food?
Vegetarian Pad Thai. I am a vegetarian but I love Pad Thai. In fact, even if there is no vegetarian option, I would ask the chef to remove the meat in the dish or I will just remove it when it is served to me. I think one of the best Pad Thais in Bangkok is served at the original Thipsamai restaurant (This is the outlet close to another popular eatery, Jay Fai). The other Thipsamai outlets like the one in Icon Siam do not have the same taste as the authentic Thipsamai outlet.
Perhaps a close second would be Bingsu. I know this is not Thai food per se but I think it is customary for everyone who visits Bangkok to sample the large array of Bingsu outlets in Bangkok. The king of all Bingsus in my opinion would be the one at the After You dessert cafes. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a person with a sweet tooth. I do not eat desserts except when I am in Bangkok. For some reason, the Thais have gotten desserts mastered. Even just a simple dessert like mango sticky rice is done right only in Thailand.
This is the durian Bingsu at After You Cafe. I believe you can only find this option at the After You Cafe outlets in the Siam and Chidlom areas.
What is your favourite thing to do in Bangkok?
Café hopping. I am into smoothies and acai bowls. It is not only relatively more affordable in Bangkok as compared to my home country Singapore, but the variety and quality on offer are also much higher.
One of my favourite cafes to have an acai bowl is Broccoli Revolution which is located in the middle of Thong Lor and Phrom Phong BTS stations. If I am in the Siam/ Chidlom area, I will get my acai fix at MAKAI Acai & Superfood Bar at Central World Chidlom.
The best part is that just about every bowl looks so good! This is from Mom and Sis Smoothie Cafe in Thonglor.
This is my kind of food…
If you were to retire in Thailand, you would live in…
Thonglor and Ekkamai. It might be a little more expensive. However, it is a very livable area in terms of amenities and accessibility. There are many supermarkets, namely Top and Big C supermarkets, to purchase quality groceries. Thonglor and Ekkamai are also easily accessible to the main shopping belt in Siam, Chidlom and lower Sukhumvit. If I can find a nice property along Soi 55 or 63 would be ideal. These two streets are wider and hence walking along these streets would be more pleasant. There are also more amenities along wider streets.
I would also consider the Ploenchit area. I just like the connectivity and the fact that I can get to the Silom area and Lumphini Park easily via Wireless Road. The reason why this is not my first choice is because of the severe congestion that occurs on a daily basis in this area. It is incredibly frustrating to travel in and out of the area.
While my choices are mainly located in the touristy areas of Bangkok, there is a good reason for my choice. For starters, I do think that despite the higher prices in the area, the fact is I want to live like an expatriate when I retire in Bangkok. Lower Sukhumvit and Chidlom are where all the best malls are located. The prices are still lower than in my home country Singapore. Moreover, top hospitals like Bumrungrad are located in this area. Accessibility is a huge draw and I value the area around Siam and Asoke BTS very highly due to their connectivity options. It is the interchange of the to main arterial BTS lines and the BTS and MRT lines. I would assume that driving would not be a viable option within Bangkok as compared to out of Bangkok and hence accessibility via the train lines should be a major consideration.
I do not think that Bangkok has been given enough credit for being a family-friendly place. While this is true for very central Bangkok, one should not veer too far off the beaten path. Crowded as it may be, there are always places where families can sit down and feel safe in downtown Bangkok.
Here is a photo of my wife, younger daughter and I took with my cousin and her family. We were having lunch at Siam Central.
I do think that an area worth considering is the Lad Phrao area. While that is also popular among many who are looking to live long-term in Bangkok, I will still gravitate towards Thonglor and Ekkamai.
In conclusion…
Bangkok is a very vibrant city. I love the diversity and the general acceptance of people from different cultures and races. I come from Singapore which is in essence also a melting pot of different races, religions and cultures. The ability to assimilate people from different backgrounds and to blend all the various cultures together is not something that is easily achieved. Bangkok has done it to a large extent and it is reflected in the fact that you can get food and goods from all over the world in Bangkok.
This is a photo of my team from Singapore during our company trip to Bangkok. We were at the Paris Miki close to Terminal 21 Asoke.
Is Bangkok the best place to invest property? That is up to you to make the decision. There is never a best place to invest. It is all up to one’s comfort level. Overseas property investing is not only based on numbers and statistics but includes a certain level of emotional attachment to the city. I have had people coming up to me asking me why I have not bought properties in other countries. My answer to them is usually that I have yet to find an overseas city in which I am as comfortable as compared to Bangkok.
If you are looking to buy, sell, rent or invest in Bangkok properties, I am but a phone call or message away. You can always drop me a call or message me on LINE or WhatsApp at +66 66 112 8862.
Yours sincerely,
Daryl
by Daryl Lum | Aug 23, 2023 | News
Srettha Thavisin from the populist Pheu Thai party has secured the parliament’s approval to become Thailand’s next prime minister. This marks the beginning of a new coalition government and an end to weeks of uncertainty and political deadlock.
Srettha, a prominent property mogul, clinched victory with 482 votes out of 727 politicians present on Tuesday, finally putting an end to months of suspense, legal disputes, and political bargaining that had followed the May elections.
The progressive Move Forward Party, which had won the most votes in the national election, was prevented from assuming power due to opposition from conservative senators.
This vote took place shortly after the return of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire figurehead of the Pheu Thai party, who had been in self-imposed exile for years.
Srettha, a newcomer to politics, is now tasked with the challenging job of forming and maintaining a potentially delicate coalition government, which will include parties with military backing, responsible for overthrowing Pheu Thai governments in coups in 2006 and 2014.
Srettha will lead an alliance of 11 parties, including two pro-military parties affiliated with the outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup. The Move Forward Party is not part of this coalition.
Critics have labeled the new government as a betrayal of the election results, but Pheu Thai leaders argue that it is necessary to break the political deadlock and promote reconciliation.
Supporters at Pheu Thai party headquarters celebrated with dancing in red attire.
“I will give my utmost effort and work tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for the people of Thailand,” stated Srettha.
Pheu Thai excluded the Move Forward Party, citing its commitment to changing the royal defamation law as a hindrance to garnering enough support from other parties and the Senate.
Under the military-imposed constitution, both houses of parliament vote together for the prime minister, a setup designed to preserve conservative military-backed rule.
Pheu Thai disclosed that it would control eight cabinet positions and nine deputy cabinet positions. The military-backed parties, Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation, would each receive two cabinet positions and two deputy positions. The specific ministries allocated to each party were not disclosed.
The coalition has agreed to support Pheu Thai’s agenda, which includes boosting the economy, raising the minimum wage, and ending mandatory conscription. They also plan to continue the legalization of medical cannabis and work on amending the constitution to enhance democracy in the country, while avoiding changes to the royal defamation law.
The parliamentary vote occurred shortly after the return of the divisive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had been in self-imposed exile, primarily in Dubai, for years.
Thaksin’s return was an emotional moment for his supporters, as the 74-year-old billionaire had won the allegiance of millions with populist policies that focused on improving the welfare of the predominantly rural north of the country.
Thaksin and the parties aligned with him had a long-standing struggle with the military. He left Thailand 15 years ago following a 2006 coup during his second term, which triggered years of political turmoil. His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who led a Pheu Thai government, was ousted in 2014 by then-army chief Prayuth.
by Daryl Lum | Aug 17, 2023 | News
So if you have not already heard, on the 27th of July 2023, the Thai Supreme Administrative Court revoked the construction permit for Ashton Asoke. The already completed 6.481 billion baht project in Bangkok had about 87% or 668 of its units already transferred to property owners.
Where does this leave the development and its owners?
The short answer to this is that the development does NOT need to be demolished due to the revocation of the construction permit.
A bit of background to the case…
The court’s decision was founded on the premise that the access to and from the condominium complex, positioned on Asoke Road, was constructed on land acquired through expropriation by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) specifically for the Blue Line train project. As a result, this access cannot be repurposed for other uses. Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wisanu Subsompon, clarified that the permit’s revocation does not involve the demolition of the condominium. Instead, it necessitates that Ananda Development obtains a new construction permit from City Hall. To achieve this, the company must identify a parcel of land with a minimum width of 12 meters, dedicated to providing access to Asoke Road. It is reported that the company is offering attractive incentives to acquire adjacent land in order to meet this requirement.
Bangkok Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, has convened a special ad hoc working committee to manage this situation. A press conference has been scheduled to provide further updates on this matter. In the interim, CEO of Ananda Development, Prasert Taedullayasatit, expressed his intention to hold separate discussions with the governors of Bangkok and MRTA. The aim is to explore ways to mitigate the impact on the condominium project and its residents.
Additionally, the company has duly informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand about these recent developments. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to keeping stakeholders informed regarding the steps taken in response to the court’s verdict. (NNT)
We will keep you updated with regard to any new development. If you are an owner of a unit at Ashton Asoke, you should already be in contact with the developer and their legal team.
by Daryl Lum | Jul 24, 2023 | New Project
Aspire Onnut Station is a freehold condominium developed by AP (Thailand) Public Company Limited. Aspire Onnut Station is located close to BTS Onnut.
Project Details
Project Location: Sukhumvit Road, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Project Area: 2-3-79.5 Rai
Project Description:
1 Residential Building, 37 storeys and Rooftop Garden
1 Car Park Building, 8 storeys and Rooftop Garden
Number of Residential Units:
696 residential units, 1 shop (ownership belongs to AP ME 18 Co., Ltd)
1 bed: 27.00-32.00 sq m
1 bed plus: 35.00 sq m
2 bed 2 bath: 53 sq m
This is the location of Aspire Onnut Station
Our review of Aspire Onnut Station (Scores are upon 5 ⭐s)
Location ⭐⭐⭐⭐:
The location is extremely prime. It is located very close to BTS Onnut (about 200 meters). The area around this area is generally more residential with a good mix of locals and foreigners. There is a huge Tesco located next to the BTS Station. Century the movie plaza is also located about 350 metres away from Aspire Onnut Station. BTS Onnut is only a few stations away from the more upmarket areas like Thong Lor and Ekkamai. While the prices in this area for rent are lower, the pricing of condominiums is also lower. Therefore, the rental yield is still healthy for a lower capital outlay if you are looking for condominiums in this area. Taking the BTS down to Samrong or further up to Asoke will link residents in this area to the new Yellow Line and the Blue MRT Line.
There are many international schools with very good reputation in this area. Most notably, Bangkok Prep School is a mere 1.9 km away from Aspire Onnut Station. This is a huge draw for expatriates who are in Bangkok with their families. Bangkok Prep School is one of the top international schools in Bangkok.
Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐:
AP Thailand is a very reputable developer. They are listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Based on the sales gallery, the layout of the rooms and the design of the development is very reminiscent of typical AP Thai projects. A single building with facilities on the top floors of the development. From past experience, projects from AP Thailand are also very well done with minimal defects upon handover. If you are looking for a project that will deliver on what was promised, you should look at projects from AP Thailand. This is not a high-end development in the super luxury category and hence the finishing is not what you would expect from such luxury developments in Chidlom or Ploenchit.
Conclusion ⭐⭐⭐⭐:
The developer profile and the location are huge draws and we highly recommend this development.
Visit the Aspire Onnut Station website at aspireonnutstation.com for more information about the project.
Related articles:
The good locations for property investment in Bangkok (2023 update)
by Daryl Lum | Jul 1, 2023 | New Project
The Address Siam-Ratchathewi is a freehold condominium developed by AP (Thailand) Public Company Limited. The Address Siam-Ratchathewi is located 160 metres from Ratchathewi BTS Station. According to Google Maps, the walk is about 2 minutes.
Project Details
Project Location: 111 Phetchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Project Area: 3-1-55 Rai
Number of Residential Units:
880 residential units, 1 shop
499 Cars (51%) Excluded Double Parking
1 Bedroom, 1 Bedroom Duplex, 2 Bedroom, 2 Bedroom Duplex, 3 Bedroom
Living Area:
31 – 86 Sq.m.
This is the location of The Address Siam-Ratchathewi
Our review of The Address Siam-Ratchathewi (Scores are upon 5 ⭐s)
Location ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐:
This is the nearest development to Ratchathewi BTS Station which is one station away from Siam BTS down south or one station away from Phayathai BTS up south. Siam BTS is where Siam Paragon is located. This area should be very familiar to you if you have been to Bangkok as a tourist. Phayathai BTS links to the Airport Rail Link which leads to Suvarnabhumi Airport. The connectivity of The Address Siam-Ratchathewi is excellent. You probably cannot get a property with a better location. Perhaps the only minor downside is that the walk to the development is not sheltered. However, that is a really minor point and I am actually nitpicking. Do note that because of the location, the prices for units in this development are also much higher.
Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐:
AP Thailand is a very reputable developer. They are listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. We have dealt with AP Thailand for many years and their developments do deliver. The Address Siam-Ratchathewi is a very high-end luxurious development. This is indicative of our observation of the development as a whole. Also, this series, The Address, is AP Thailand’s high-end luxurious series. However, the disappointing thing about what we observed from the specifications would be that the finishing in the units itself does not match up.
Conclusion ⭐⭐⭐⭐:
The developer profile and the location are huge draws. The only issue would be the finishing and the provided furniture package and appliances. The price is also much higher than other developments in the area. However, the location is an extremely huge draw. We have walked the ground on a few previous occasions. This is a very prime location.
Visit The Address Siam-Ratchathewi website at theaddresssiamratchathewi.com for more information about the project.
Related articles:
The good locations for property investment in Bangkok (2023 update)
