When an expat professional in architecture living in China approached me to invest in Bangkok, the objective was : stable long-term rental income with limited management.
After all, this sounds like a pension to me! And this is what I provide to investors. Stable income with the opportunity to beat inflation and generate positive cashflows to ensure our future.
I suggested to purchase a 34 sqm one-bedroom close to BTS Bearing (Sukhumvit Area, 10 minutes from the Cloud 11 and True Digital Park area, well known for digital nomads and AI/Software professionals) for 2.38M THB (€62,277) and invest another 350,000 THB (€9,158) in furniture and interior design. As he is an architect himself, he put his own taste and expertise while working with our interior designer partner Janjira Volpi.
Total investment: 2.73M THB (€71,435).
Designing to Stand Out
Instead of choosing a generic furniture package, the investor worked with my interior designer and opted for a bold, distinctive design to differentiate the property from standard one-bedroom units.
As a remote-work-oriented apartment, he also added a dedicated workstation and computer monitor.
Long-Term Rental Results
The unit was rented for 15,000 THB/month (€395) under a long-term contract to an expat couple working as software engineers.
At signing, the landlord immediately received three months of cash: two months as security deposit and one month of rent in advance.
The rental commission is only one month for a 12-month contract, approximately 8% of annual rental income, making this a particularly simple strategy to manage. The Thai Rental Agent will take care of everything related to the tenancy.
We expect to increase rent at a 3/5% rate each year to beat inflation.
The condo is located into a beautiful complex with swimming pool, coworking, gym, shuttle service, and garden.
ROI
Total investment: 2,730,000 THB (€71,435)
Monthly rent: 15,000 THB / €395
Annual rent: 180,000 THB / €4701
Gross yield: 6.6%
Net ROI: ≈ 6%
Estimated IRR: 11.5%
Final Takeaway
This case shows that attractive Bangkok returns don't necessarily require monthly-term rentals.
A well-located property, distinctive interior design and clear tenant positioning turned a €71,000 investment into a low-management asset generating approximately 6% net rental ROI, while targeting long-term capital appreciation.
Sometimes the advantage isn't simply buying the right property. It's making it stand out from everything else available for rent.
