The true cost of a new-project home
What you really prepare when you buy into a new project, from the booking to the monthly costs after move-in.
The price on a new project's sign is not everything you will pay. This guide walks through the money to prepare in practice: the booking, transfer fees and the official fee-relief rules, then fit-out and the monthly costs that continue after move-in, so you can compare projects on the same numbers before you pay a first booking.
List price versus the money you actually prepare
The list price is where negotiation starts, not the cash you need. When you compare projects, ask for the booking money, the down-payment schedule, the costs before transfer and the fit-out in the same breath. Read each promotion's conditions: freebies and discounts do not translate one to one between projects, and a promotion is never a promise that a bank will approve your loan.
Transfer fees and the eligibility rules for the reduced rates
As a rule, a registered transfer carries a 2% transfer fee and a 1% mortgage registration fee. The government has announced reduced rates of 0.01% each for purchases made through 30 June 2027. The eligibility rules: the buyer is a Thai individual national, the sale price and the official assessed value must each be no more than ฿7 million, and the mortgage amount no more than ฿7 million as well. Note what this does not do: it does not remove every closing cost, it does not apply to foreign buyers, and taxes plus bank and legal costs should be quoted case by case.
Fit-out, common fees and monthly costs
Ask each project exactly how much fit-out and furniture the offered price includes, because two similarly priced projects rarely give you the same thing. Then ask for that project's actual common-fee rates. These monthly costs stay with you after move-in, so they belong in the decision, not a surprise after you get the keys.
The money plan before you book
Talk to a bank and prepare your documents before you pay a booking. From 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Bank of Thailand's announced rules allow higher loan-to-value ceilings under defined conditions. Lenders still assess each borrower's creditworthiness, and approval, amount and terms are the bank's decision. One spot where buyers get caught: if the official appraisal comes in below the agreed price, the gap is cash you have to find. Happy Home helps you prepare your home-loan documents against the list you confirm with the bank.
Ready to compare projects on the same numbers? Browse Happy Home's new home projects, start with home-loan preparation if you want the money plan first, or leave Happy Home a message and we will get back to you.