Thailand’s Q2 housing market split between stronger transfers and weaker permits

Q2 transfers and new housing lending moved higher

The Real Estate Information Center (REIC) reported that nationwide housing transfers rose 22.9% by unit count in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Transfer value increased 15.5% over the same period.

New individual housing loans also expanded, with their value up 18.4% year on year in Q2. That combination points to a busier quarter for completed transactions and mortgage activity, but it should not automatically be taken as a measure of new-development sales alone. Transfer registrations cover homes whose ownership was actually recorded, including transactions outside the primary development market.

In its earlier first-half review, REIC said the broader improvement in transactions was supported in part by government measures affecting transfer and mortgage-registration fees and by more relaxed loan-to-value rules. The Q2 numbers therefore reflect market demand under a particular policy environment rather than a simple, nationwide surge in underlying housing demand.

For practical context, see How to buy property in Thailand. This development also connects with EEC housing approvals fell sharply in Q1 as transfers rose.

The forward supply indicators moved in the opposite direction

The permit data were weaker. The number of housing units covered by land-allocation permits nationwide fell 34.6% year on year, while units covered by residential construction permits declined 4.0%.

The split by housing type was even more pronounced. Condominium units covered by construction permits fell 54.5%, while low-rise housing units rose 13.7%. These figures describe the permit pipeline, not completed construction: a permitted unit is not the same as a unit already started, finished or available for purchase.

Land-allocation permits and building permits also track different stages of development. The fact that both national indicators softened is useful as an early warning that the future pipeline may be more cautious, but it does not tell buyers exactly how many homes will ultimately reach the market.

National numbers are a starting point, not a local price forecast

For buyers and investors, the main value of the September release is the gap between what is happening now and what may be prepared for later. Transfers and mortgage lending describe current market activity, while permits offer an earlier look at future development flow.

A weaker permit pipeline could eventually mean slower growth in new supply in some locations or product types. It is not evidence, on its own, of a nationwide shortage or an automatic rise in prices. Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and other markets have different inventories, buyer mixes and development schedules.

Anyone assessing a specific project should therefore compare these national signals with local completed stock, projects under construction and realistic future launches. The Q2 rebound in registrations is meaningful, but it does not erase the difference between current transaction momentum and the next wave of supply.