Villas on leased land, freehold condos as the prized exception
$250–450K
2–3 bed pool villa
Maenam / Lamai hills
$120K+
managed apartments
Chaweng / Bophut low-rise
3–5%
net villa yield
after staff, pool and management
Feb–Jun
high season
nearly opposite to Phuket's
The areas
Bophut & Maenam
livability + rental balance
the balanced north
Chaweng & Lamai
tourism engine, nightly demand
yield, not quiet
Choeng Mon / Plai Laem
five-star neighbours, sunrise views
$500K–1.5M
South & west
empty beaches, longer drives
old Samui
The legal reality
LAND
Villas sit on leased land:30 years; renewals don't bind a new owner
CONDO REG
A minority of projectsare condominium-registered — true freehold, worth the premium
LICENCE
Nightly villa rentalsneed a hotel licence; 30-day stays otherwise
virtoproperty.com · Sources: Department of Lands, Virto Property catalogue (Surat Thani) · June 2026 For information only — not legal, tax or investment advice.