East Pattaya. “What, And Where Is It?”, And Why Has It Become So Popular?

East Pattaya. “What, and where is it?”, and why has it become so popular?

Firstly, East Pattaya is categorised as a large residential area, which is on the Eastside of the Sukhumvit Road, away from the city centre and Pattaya’s coastline.

This area is bigger than most people appreciate, when you consider that it stretches over 15kms East, away from the city, and also has a North to South distance of over 25kms. This whole area is broken up into smaller sub districts such as Nong Plalai, Nongprue, Pong, Mabprachan, Huay Yai, Baan Ampur etc, however, most refer to it simply as “East Pattaya”.

East Pattaya is a very different environment than Downtown. You will not find dozens of fast food chains, coffee shops, high rise condominiums or shopping malls here, but you will quickly identify that there are plenty of excellent Thai and International restaurants, fresh food markets, specialist clinics, pet stores, Thai and International schools, world class golf courses, and an ever growing choice of attractions.

Many of the businesses that used to be in the city, such as casual dining restaurants, offices and law firms, and larger supermarkets (such as Topps supermarket), are moving across Sukhumvit to East Pattaya, in order to take advantage of cheaper premises that offer the necessary car parking spaces that modern Pattaya residents requires.

Although many attractions are popping up around East Pattaya, this is not considered a tourist zone. Yes, there are coaches travelling to and from dolphin shows, sheep farms, beautiful temples, golf courses and water parks, but these are simply “passing through” and return their customers back to the hotels, and resorts throughout Pattaya City, and Jomtien.

East Pattaya can certainly be classed as residential. It is thought of as “home” by Thai and Foreign families with children, Ex Pat workers who are brought here to operate and manage the huge factories and logistics centres within the area, and retirees looking for a more peaceful lifestyle.

It’s a completely different lifestyle from the hustle & bustle of the city. It’s far more relaxed and laid back, and as more and more families move in, you get to see them jogging or cycling around Mabprachan reservoir, playing Polo, and even Cricket! There are full car parks outside new and established restaurants every evening, with people enjoying a Sunday roast dinner whilst watching various sporting events, as their children play safely in the grassed gardens, paddle pools, or climbing frames set within the property grounds.

The housing market in East Pattaya has a diverse range of properties.

There are smaller 2-bedroom terrace homes all the way through to 10-bedroom “mansions” on large landscaped plots with private pools with maid’s quarters or guest areas. Properties can be found as stand-alone buildings or within gated communities offering security and communal pools.

Low-rise condominiums are also being developed in East Pattaya, but you’ll not find the tall skyscrapers which dominate the Pattaya skyline here, as they do not comply with the city’s zoning.

Compared to prices in and around the city, you will certainly feel that you get “a lot of bang, for your buck”! It may be possible to half your monthly rental by moving out of the city, or upgrading from a small studio, or 1 bedroom condo into a 3 bedroom house with a small private garden and some communal facilities.

Likewise, when it comes to purchasing a property, you could invest much less money for a newer home than something comparable in the city which could be 10 to 15 years old!

This is due in the most part to land values. Pattaya is no different from other cities in the world in this respect. The closer you move to the centre, the more you will need to pay for the land. There are many people that can afford to live in a loft apartment overlooking Central Park in Manhattan in New York, but prefer an Estate in the suburbs. It all comes down to lifestyle choices. If you want the non-stop lively Pattaya lifestyle, beach access and inevitable massage parlors on every corner (or next to the 7/11 on the corner) then East Pattaya may not be for you. However, if you wish for a more sedate lifestyle with more choice in accommodation style and size, and if schools, golf courses and accessibility are more of a consideration for you then East Pattaya may well be the right choice. Rolling hills, mountains with walking trails, historic temples, lakes and even the odd farmyard remind you on a daily basis of the beautiful country that Thailand most definitely is!

Quoting a sentence written by Mr. Bart Walters in an edition of the local Real Estate Magazine, he signed off from a similar review of East Pattaya by saying “once people make the move, nobody comes back from the East Side”

East Pattaya – A home in Thailand.