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Published on April 25, 2008

Chankit Trakoolwilai

The Nation

Land and Houses (L&H) yesterday launched an Internet homepage targeted at attracting first-time home-buyers.

The company is moving to reach a younger market, such as new members of the workforce, who are expected to use the Internet to obtain information.

Vice president for communications Suparat Veerakul said the homepage was aimed at tapping customers aged 25-35, who were probably first-time buyers.

The page includes tips on how to buy houses. It also provides games to test people to see whether they are ready to own a home. Other content includes promotions and details about its products. LH Bank will also provide online consultation services to people on home financing, she said.

Members who sign up with the homepage can receive a "special" loan rate from LH Bank when buying units advertised on the site.

The page also contains details of 19 projects, 12 of which are detached-housing estates, with prices starting from Bt3 million. It also carries four townhouse estates and three condominium projects, with prices starting from Bt2 million. Suparat said the page was expected to help the firm sell 50 units this year, adding that www.my1sthome.in.th was specifically designed to attract first-time buyers.

She said it should fit with the lifestyle of its young adult group.

"We think the Internet is the most effective way to reach them," she said.

The company has set aside Bt2.5 million for the website, which accounts for 1.7 per cent of its entire marketing budget this year.

L&H has an older homepage called www.lh.co.th, which also promotes its projects.

It found 60 per cent of people who clicked on its site and later booked units were first-time buyers.

She said the original website had helped the company sell 533 units worth Bt2.4 billion last year. In 2006, the website helped the developer sell 412 units, worth Bt1.8 billion.

The firm sold Bt19 billion worth of homes last year.