In late March 2025, a powerful earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.7 struck Myanmar, affecting many areas in Thailand—with Bangkok in particular experiencing significant shaking. A 30-story building under construction collapsed, resulting in multiple deaths, injuries, and people missing, which further heightened Thai residents’ concerns about housing safety. Under these circumstances, how will Thailand’s real estate market and housing prices be affected? Let New Union take you on an in-depth exploration.
After the earthquake, many people returned to their homes to find cracks in the walls. Even after engineers inspected the buildings and confirmed they were safe to live in, people still felt anxious and chose to move out temporarily or begin looking for safer new homes. This reassessment of the safety of their living environments reflects a significant increase in earthquake awareness among the Thai public following the earthquake, leading to a rapid rise in demand for earthquake-resistant buildings.
New Lianjie has observed that, in the wake of this earthquake, many clients have been specifically asking whether buildings are earthquake-resistant when searching for homes, and inquiries about lower-floor units have also increased significantly. This trend has prompted developers to adjust their product designs and choice of building materials, moving toward safer structural planning.
From a broader market perspective, this safety-driven trend in home buying is translating into potential growth momentum for Thailand’s housing prices. As earthquake-resistant housing becomes the mainstream standard, developers are investing more to build high-quality structures, thereby increasing the likelihood of a long-term upward trend in Thailand’s housing prices.
The recent earthquake in Thailand not only caused structural damage but also raised public awareness of building safety, making “safety” a new benchmark in the real estate market. It is foreseeable that in future home-buying decisions, “quality” and “seismic resistance” will be just as important as price, thereby reshaping the value logic of Thailand’s housing market.
As of the end of March 2025,Earthquake in ThailandThe earthquake affected Bangkok, causing buildings to collapse and resulting in casualties, which sparked widespread public concern about building safety. This earthquake also marked a major turning point for Thailand’s real estate market, making earthquake-resistant building materials and designs the “new standard” for developers. Here are several key points to watch for in the future:
Market concerns about high-rise residential properties are rapidly increasing. In contrast, low-rise residential properties—which offer greater structural stability—have become a popular choice among homebuyers, reflecting a market trend of “gaining favor against the odds.”
According to observations by New Lianjie, within just one week after the earthquake, a large number of Bangkok residents proactively inquired about moving out of high-rise buildings and specifically expressed a preference for lower-floor residences. Compared to skyscrapers, low-rise residences are considered to pose a lower risk of earthquake damage and are therefore perceived as safer and more attractive.
Residents have expressed concerns about the seismic resilience of high-rise buildings and have shown greater confidence in—and a stronger willingness to purchase—residences on lower floors, which are closer to the ground and have more stable structures.
Homebuyers are no longer solely focused on views from high-rise buildings; instead, they place greater emphasis on the structural safety of buildings and their psychological comfort in the aftermath of an earthquake.
As demand shifts, Thailand’s housing market may see a divergence in price trends—residences on lower floors may retain their value or even appreciate due to changes in supply and demand, while high-rise apartments face short-term pressure and a period of uncertainty.
Based on customer inquiries, lower-floor residential units have shown greater market competitiveness and stronger consumer confidence following the earthquake.
In addition, an analysis by Cushman & Wakefield Thailand indicates that sales and property transfers of low-rise residential units will not only remain unaffected by the earthquake in the coming months but may even rise slightly, creating a trend that stands in stark contrast to that of the high-rise condominium market.
Therefore, this timeEarthquake in ThailandThis has not only prompted a review of building structures but has also driven a shift in the housing market. Low-rise residential properties, thanks to their seismic resilience and the psychological sense of security they provide, are playing an increasingly critical role in Thailand’s future real estate market and are expected to serve as a stable foundation.Real Estate Prices in ThailandA corrective trend following a period of volatility.
The earthquake has prompted homebuyers to reevaluate the core value of real estate—no longer focusing solely on price and location, but also on construction quality and safety. This shift has driven the market in several directions, leading it toward a healthier path that places greater emphasis on long-term security.
A Crisis of Confidence Transforms into an Opportunity for Quality Improvement
Consumer concerns about high-rise buildings in the wake of the earthquake have made construction quality and safety design top priorities for homebuyers, driving increased market demand for high-quality real estate projects.
Transparency in Certification Is Key to Restoring Trust in Developers
Consumers are demanding more than just cosmetic repairs; they want clear proof of structural safety. Developers must provide professional inspection reports to strengthen the foundation of trust.
Polarization in the Housing Market: Price Is No Longer the Only Consideration
Experts point out that “snagging a bargain” does not necessarily mean “finding a gem.” Even if prices are lowered, low-quality real estate projects may still fail to attract buyers. Conversely, high-quality, safe projects are more likely to retain their value and appreciate over the long term.Real Estate Prices in Thailandhas even greater potential.
Shifting Consumer Mindsets: A Reevaluation of Investment and Owner-Occupancy Logic
On this occasionEarthquake in ThailandIt served as a "wake-up call regarding market sentiment," prompting consumers to place greater emphasis on developers' reputations and structural safety when selecting properties, signaling a shift in home-buying criteria from a price-driven approach to a safety-driven one.
Because of this earthquake, more homebuyers are now willing to pay more for safer, higher-quality homes; therefore, the recent earthquake in Thailand may not be a crisis for housing prices, but rather a turning point.
In the wake of this earthquake, it will no longer be sufficient for developers to rely solely on their in-house engineers to inspect building safety; they must obtain certification from credible professional organizations in order to rebuild homebuyers’ trust. At the same time, the quality of a development will no longer be considered an added value, but rather the “basic threshold” for consumers when selecting a property.
