GHB satellite images assist homebuyers in their search
You've worn out several pairs of shoes looking for that ideal home. You turn to the Internet, and even there the information seems sadly lacking. Worry no further. Aerial and satellite images will smooth your path.
Realising that information available to home buyers on the Net is less than sufficient, the Government Housing Bank's Real Estate Information Centre has put images on its site so those viewing houses and their surroundings no longer feel trapped. Homebuyers can now take advantage of a greater range of options. The new service is expected to be available within the third quarter at either www.reic.or.th or www.resalehomethai.com. The centre has spent almost Bt10 million on establishing the sites, with the Royal Thai Survey Department and the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency helping with logistics. "The images present many dimensions of an asset," said Pongsak Chewcharat, the centre's director general. Buyers can now find out if there are schools, highways, hospitals, markets and police stations in their preferred areas. If a chosen house is in a "soi", a sub-street linked with a main road, there are maps to measure its distance from the thoroughfare. "A click on the starting point, a line to the destination and the correct measurement will appear on the screen: it's as simple as that," he said. Buyers who have been restricted to picking an area and checking the price of houses there will now set the their own conditions. They can ask the site to find one close to a mass transport system, either Skytrain or subway. "They can select an MRT station and ask the site to find a new or used house close by," said Pongsak. The service is meant for those looking for second-hand houses in Bangkok and surrounding provinces of Samut Prakarn, Samut Sakorn, Nakhon Pathom, Pahum Thani and Nonthaburi. While about 72,000 new houses are sold annually, some 250,000 used houses are bought each year. Pongsak said the centre has worked to make it possible for buyers to indicate their conditions and requirements on a website. A subsequent SMS will alert them if their requirements have been met. A mobile service is expected to be available in the second half of the year.
suchalee@nationgroup.com Suchalee Pongprasert The Nation
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