On August 2, 2025, Mr. Nanda Kyaw, President of the Myanmar Real Property Development Association (MRPDA) invited Dr.Sopon Pornchokchai, President, Agency for Real Estate Affairs and President, FIABCI-Thai to be a distinguished speaker to the MRPDA’s 1,500 members.

 

Dr.Sopon first expressed his gratitude for this invitation. He then overviewed of the international real estate sector that is growing worldwide. There are a lot more cross-border real estate transaction for the reasons of political securities and for the diversity of investment into different destinations.  As we know real estate can produce return of investment (capital gain) and return on investment (rent). 

 

In our ASEAN region, Thailand is among attractive destinations for Myanmar investors because it is closed to Myanmar. People of both countries are very friendly and mostly Buddhism.  During the past years, there were be some unexpected phenomena such as 2014 Coup d'état, 2020 Covid-19, 2025 earthquake and most recently 2025 disputes between Thailand and Cambodia.  However, Thailand is still a safe place for Myanmar investors. Thailand does not have buying tax ranging, very low annual property tax, very low capital gain tax and very low inheritance tax.  People are free to move around the country.

 

Considering housing market forecast to end 2025, Dr.Sopon expects that the number of new units launched in 2025, when combined with the second half of the year, should increase to 39,540 units, and the development value will increase to Baht 251,371 million (USD 7.617 billion), or an average price of Baht 6.357 million (USD 192,636).   However, in 2025, it is still likely to be 39.2% lower than in 2024 in terms of the number of units and 35.7% in terms of project value. It can be said that the number of 39,540 units is the lowest in 23 years, lower than the Covid -19 crisis or lower since 2002 when the economy began to recover from the economic crisis in 1997. In terms of the value of new projects, it is the lowest in 16 years since 2009. 

 

The decrease in supply is a good sign. the launch of fewer residential projects, with only 15,452 new real estate projects launched at a combined value of Baht 110.82 billion (USD 3.358 billion), on the contrary, there were 23,305 units sold, or 50.8% more than the number of newly launched units . This indicates that the market has adjusted well. The remaining units in the market have therefore decreased to only 223,019 units, from 234,478 units left at the end of 2024. On the contrary, if the market does not adjust and hundreds of thousands of new projects are launched per year, a bubble problem will definitely occur. However, there is no risk of a bubble at present.

 

If the national economy is still not good, the opportunity for housing developments will be limited because purchasing power is lacking. Therefore, Dr.Sopon pointed out that the new housing market has the following direction.

 

1. Housing development still focuses on high-income groups, such as those selling single houses at prices of Baht 20 million or more. However, at present, prices of this group of products have been discounted in an attempt to clear out the stock. The survey results found that the number of projects that have reduced prices has increased.

 

2. Opportunities to develop low-cost housing, such as not exceeding 1.5 million baht per unit, as promoted by the Board of Investment, some of which may be sold to low-income earners, and some of which are speculative products, resulting in a greater supply of low-cost products. However, housing products for middle-income earners or those with a relatively low middle income, such as those sold at prices of 2-4 million baht, may not be very successful.

 

Dr.Sopon is the President of FIABCI-Thai and Board Member of FIABCI International and President, FIABCI World Council of Experts.  He was glad to bring the MRPDA to join FIABCI family.  As you may know, FIABCI is the International Real Estate Federation. It is a business networking organization for all real estate professionals worldwide. Founded in 1951 in Paris, FIABCI is a worldwide business networking organization for all professionals associated with the real estate industry. FIABCI has provided access and opportunities for real estate professionals interested in gaining knowledge, sharing information and conducting international business with each other.  When MRPDA joins FIABCI, it will be a great opportunity for MRPDA members to connect the whole world.

 

Let join hands together for the development of our real estate professionals and our both beloved countries.

 

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Message of Dr.Sopon to the MRPDA Annual Convention: 
https://www.facebook.com/dr.sopon4/videos/933570825589056

 

Message of Dr.Sopon to the MRPDA Annual Convention: 
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.sopon4/video/7533863483595640071?lang=th-TH

 

Message of Dr.Sopon to the MRPDA Annual Convention: 
https://youtube.com/shorts/cG9IwaZ2ymM?feature=share

 

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