Bangkok homebuyers move on from late-March Myanmar earthquake shock
Greater Bangkok homebuyers have largely moved past the panic sparkedby the Myanmar earthquake in late March, but brand reputation remains a decisive factor in their purchasing decisions.
Developers known for responsibility and strong safety standards continued to rank as top choices among buyers, according to a recent survey by property consultancy Terra Media and Consulting.
Sumitra Wongpakdee, the company’s managing director, said the survey conducted in September–October 2025 found 48% of respondents believed the earthquake had no impact on their choice of residential property type.
“The figure, up sharply from just 12% in the mid-year survey, showed that public anxiety over the earthquake has significantly eased, with far fewer buyers now avoiding home purchases due to quake-related concerns,” she said.
However, 49% of respondents said they would change brands, switching to developers with stronger reputations for construction quality and safety.
“After the earthquake, consumers placed structural integrity at the top of their priorities, with many shifting toward low-rise homes and safer designs,” she said. “Safety and construction quality have become key decision drivers.”
In addition, homebuyers put greater weight on brand credibility, with fast and clear communication emerging as a key trust driver.
Gen X condo buyers researched building materials, contractors and seismic-resistant features and technologies more rigorously, while Baby Boomers increasingly avoided high-rise buildings and prioritise reliable materials and certified safety standards.
“Baby Boomers remained concerned about living in high-rise buildings and were generally reluctant to stay on upper floors,” she said.
“If they choose a condo, they prefer low-rise projects or lower levels in high-rise towers, as low-rise buildings showed minimal impact during the earthquake.”
At low-rise properties, tremors were barely felt, she added. In contrast, upper floors in high-rise towers swayed visibly, creating fear among residents.
“This doesn’t mean buyers will stop purchasing condos altogether. But previously, higher floors commanded higher prices. Today, developers may need to rethink their strategy — lower floors could become the premium units, as buyers grow more cautious about higher levels.”
Since 2018, Terra has conducted annual surveys of prospective homebuyers across mixed generations, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
The latest survey gathered responses from 2,000 online participants, all of whom were required to know at least one property developer and not be employed by any for questions about brands.
The qualitative portion involved three focus groups comprising 27 participants planning to buy a condo, single detached house or townhouse within one to two years.
All participants were from different areas of Greater Bangkok and had household monthly incomes of at least 100,000 baht.
This year’s survey expanded further into provincial areas to achieve broader national representation.
About 75% of respondents were from Greater Bangkok, down from 80% last year, with most residing in urban, outer-ring and metropolitan zones.
The respondent profile remained broadly consistent with previous years, led by Gen Y, aged 30-43 (44%); followed by Gen X, aged 44-58 (27%); Gen Z, aged 18-29 (22%); and Baby Boomers, over 58 years old (6%).
Around 10% were in the upper-income bracket with personal monthly income above 85,000 baht, while about 35% had household monthly incomes exceeding 85,000 baht.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/property/3153353/bangkok-homebuyers-move-on-from-earthquake-shock
