Hua Hin and its neighbour Cha-am have been highlighted as Thailand’s leading holiday home location by the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA).

Although less well-known internationally than other seaside resorts like Phuket and Pattaya, Hua Hin has a unique appeal to ‘hi-so‘ (high society) Thais owing to its royal connection.

On top, it’s a lot cheaper – which AREA believes helped Hua Hin to top its survey of current developments.

AREA found 18 new developments got under way in Hua Hin and Cha-am in 2008, bringing 1,512 units with a total value of 8.245 billion baht – or an average of 5.347 million baht each (about $160,000).

Peter Ton, the developer of the upscale Baan Ing Phu project nestled in the tranquil Black Mountains, sees the market as unique in several ways.

‘The key appeal is the atmosphere. Unlike other resort towns in that it has kept its Thai character, although it offers everything for a sophisticated lifestyle such as great international restaurants,’ he says.

Read the Bangkok Post article here.