Second Home, First Choice: Insights from Phuket Real Estate Forum

Enter The Residences at InterContinental Phuket Resort, a new branded residence by Thai developer Proud Real Estate. Located in Kamala, one of the island’s more tranquil enclaves, the project is among Phuket’s few properties offering freehold residences with beach access.

Scheduled to be completed in 2027, the establishment will offer 111 units, ranging from one to five bedrooms, featuring designs with Sino-European and Peranakan influences. Aside from all the bells and whistles one would expect from a property of this calibre—residents will also have access to select InterContinental Phuket Resort services and amenities, for instance—it is poised to become Fitwel-certified, a US wellness standard that measures the health impact of the built environment.

“We see this not just as a luxury project, but a lifestyle in one of the best locations in Phuket,” Proudputh Liptapanlop, Proud Real Estate’s executive director, who appeared on the Phuket Property: What Keeps the Capital Flowing panel at the forum, told Tatler Homes. Guests at the InterContinental Phuket Resort, which Proud also operates, are staying much longer, she notes.

Incidentally, other notable entrants include Sudara Residences Phuket in the Bangtao district, developed by Hong Kong-based Lan Kwai Fong Group in partnership with Thailand’s Princess Villa. The property will offer 220 one- to three-bedroom residences and eco-conscious infrastructure and features, such as rooftop solar panels that power common areas and EV charging stations.

Meanwhile, buyers from Singapore to Hong Kong choose Phuket because they’re drawn to the island’s way of life. Its history, culture, well-developed service industry and value-for-money also place it above its rising competitors in Southeast Asia. “It comes back to that long history of Phuket—the way of living … which can’t be built overnight,” said Liptapanlop.

Phuket’s appeal goes well beyond that. The island now boasts almost 20 international schools, five marinas as well as the incoming US$137 million Bumrungrad International Hospital, which is set to open in 2027—all affirmations for Phuket’s status as a serious long-stay destination. Barnett notes that education and quality healthcare are particularly valued, while the outdoor lifestyle is harder to come by in more urban hubs. Liptapanlop says the facilities are “top quality—to some extent even better than some of the places in Bangkok”.

Design, too, is stepping up to meet the moment. “Phuket’s evolution from a seasonal holiday destination to a vibrant, high-end residential community represents a meaningful shift not just in market dynamics, but in the way design is conceived and executed,” Clint Nagata, founder and creative partner of Blink Design Group, who spoke on The Phuket Greenprint: Rethinking Design for Tomorrow panel, told Tatler Homes. Moving beyond what he calls the “vacation look” towards spaces that feel lived-in, comfortable and layered with cultural nuances, high-end Phuket properties are now using natural materials, climate-responsive design strategies and thoughtful master planning that connect residents to both nature and community, he adds.

As second-home trends change, so too are ownership models. ThirdHome, a Nashville-headquartered luxury home exchange platform and travel club, which lets members swap unused time in their luxury homes for stays in others’ around the world, made its Asia debut at the end of 2025. In November, it announced a partnership with the Anantara Vacation Club. “The rise of exchange platforms reflects how UHNWIs now think about ownership as access, not attachment. Phuket’s evolution supports this shift from seasonal retreat to flexible second-home base,” Wade Shealy, ThirdHome’s founder and CEO, who also appeared on a panel at the forum, told Tatler Homes.

“Phuket’s access as a leisure destination is second to none in the region,” Shealy added. “Being located merely a few hours away from key Southeast Asian hubs enhances the island’s appeal, making property investment decisions easier.”

Regardless, challenges such as traffic congestion, limited road capacity and environmental stress remain, but developers and government bodies are beginning to respond. “We’re playing a little bit of catch-up given the pace of development recently,” said Liptapanlop. “The government is well aware, and they’ve already approved a number of infrastructure projects.” On the private-sector side, she added, there’s an increasing shift toward ESG-conscious development. “Everyone is also... contributing towards Phuket’s sustainability goals … I think that’s what Phuket will look like five years from now. It’s going to be a more harmonious way of developing—looking after the environment as well as the community around you.”

Across the island, the party’s still going—but the vibe has shifted. For a new generation of jet-setters seeking a base that is as serene as it is strategic, Phuket just might represent the future.

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