Follow the news, or talk to the many visitors to Asia and Thailand, and patterns quickly emerge. Austerity measures are compressing economies in the West and people are looking East for inspiration and investment.

Properties are just one of many commodoties in many of the world’s developed nations that are becoming too expensive for many people to fully appreciate. What’s more, heavy regulations, restrictions and codes make building your own home increasingly difficult.

Thailand is no longer attracting a narrow set of European sun seekers. Today the country’s properties also draw Russian, Indian and Middle Eastern buyers, as well as a rapidly expanding number of Asian investors from regional countries such as South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore and Malaysia. The magnetism of Thai culture, landscape, food, massage and hospitality now has truly global reach.

Other progressive aspects of the Thai economy are also drawing more foreigners to vacation and live in the Land of Smiles. These include a booming medical tourism industry, growing numbers of sports and sailing events being held in the Kingdom, more emphasis on tropical weddings and MICE gatherings, all of which are available at a lower cost than in many other nations.

Property prices have also leveled out in Thailand and even dropped in many places, but the standards of building materials and construction have increase, making for an attractive proposition. As a result these developments, people who once saw Thailand principally as a place to have fun in the sun are increasingly looking to rent properties long-term, or buy them as a holiday investment.

To do wisely, however, savvy buyers know it essential to engage the services of a professional real-estate firm like Horizon Homes on Koh Samui to steer them through what can be a tricky maze of complicated regulations and property laws. It is obviously smart to use a company that has proven experience in the market and also excels at managing properties in an owner’s absence, with renting it out or simply maintaining the home.

Good property managers not only oversee maintenance, but also ensure the legal and regulatory upkeep and security of a Thai residence. They also make sure owners enjoy maximum value by ensuring that renters are happy, do no damage to the property, and that the investment appreciated as its popularity grows with an international clientele. It takes experts with experience to do all of this well.