Looking at what's been brought to market in Koh Samui in the second quarter of 2026, three things stand out. Two of these are directly connected to the government's crackdown on foreign corporate ownership of freehold villas. The third is a separate but equally significant characteristic of the Koh Samui market.
Trend 1: New Villa Developments Are Skewing Leasehold and Mid-Range
As a direct response to the complications with corporate ownership of freehold villas by foreign investors, the majority of new villa developments brought to market in Koh Samui in Q2 2026 are priced in the low to mid range — 5 to 15 million baht — and the majority are offered leasehold, often on a single 30-year term.
At these price ranges, buyers can still see value for money in a short tenure, as long as that's reflected in what they're actually getting. In other words, they expect a lot more for their money if ownership is only for 30 years. That's a reasonable position.
What's notable is the decline in new villas at the mid to luxury end. Before 2024, and the government's crackdown on foreigners using companies to hold freehold title, there was a reasonable supply of new freehold villas being brought to market in the 20 to 40 million baht range. That has understandably declined. At those price points, leasehold tenure simply cannot be justified — and developers know it.
A prime example of a new leasehold villa development sitting in the mid-range category is Azure 6 — a boutique development of six contemporary sea view pool villas on Chaweng Hills, priced from 12,500,000 THB.
Each villa covers 289 sqm of build area on a 550 sqm plot, with three bedrooms, four bathrooms and an infinity pool positioned to align with the ocean horizon. The master bedroom and its private terrace sit on the upper level with panoramic sea views, while the two poolside bedrooms on the lower level have direct access to the pool and outdoor living areas. A fully furnished option is available at 13,500,000 THB. Chaweng Beach is around ten minutes away and the airport approximately 15 minutes.
Ownership is leasehold — which does allow foreign buyers to hold property rights without a Thai partner or company structure, but the single 30-year term will be a sticking point for some buyers at this price level.
Trend 2: A Liquidity Crisis in the Resale Freehold Villa Market
Looking at resale villas held freehold via corporate structures — virtually all owned by foreign investors — there is without doubt a liquidity crisis in this market segment. Villas put up for sale are generally just sitting there, because the pool of prospective buyers, nearly all from overseas, are unable to commit. There is simply no straightforward ownership structure available for a foreign buyer to acquire them. These villas are freehold only, and with no viable acquisition route for overseas buyers, they are effectively stuck on the market.
Many villa owners are aware of this and are currently holding back from listing altogether — which means the problem is likely larger than the visible inventory suggests.
Trend 3: Freehold Condominiums Remain Genuinely Scarce
Freehold condominiums on Koh Samui have always been in very short supply due to zoning restrictions across the island. This is in total contrast to Phuket, which has an abundance of condominiums available across all price points — from entry level through to exclusive luxury units.
Any new condo or apartment developments that do come to market in Koh Samui are priced at entry level or mid-range. The market simply does not support condominiums at luxury price points. It's a less mature market than Phuket, and developers are less confident in the market's ability to absorb high prices — across all property types, but most noticeably for condominiums and apartments.
A recent example confirming this is The Ville Condo — a new freehold development beside Chaweng Lake, with units starting at launch from just 2,465,000 THB.
It's a 40-unit, four-storey low-rise building offering one and two-bedroom units ranging from 41 to 62 sqm. Foreign buyers can purchase directly in their own name under the Thai Condominium Act, with permanent ownership rights, full resale capability and the ability to pass the property to heirs. A Foreign Exchange Transaction (FET) Form confirming funds originated from abroad is required.
The development sits one minute from Central Samui mall, five minutes from Bangkok Hospital Samui and around ten minutes from the airport. Communal facilities include a pool with sun terrace overlooking the lake, a fitness centre and 24-hour security. The monthly community fee is 50 THB per sqm. Construction is scheduled to begin July 2026 with completion expected within 12 to 15 months.