Developer sentiment rises to 51.3 in Q3 2026, sales index falls to 42.3

What the Real Estate Information Center released on 8 October 2026

The Real Estate Information Center, part of the Government Housing Bank, published its housing developer sentiment index for Bangkok and the five surrounding provinces for the third quarter of 2026. The index is read against a neutral 50: above that, developers see the business in positive terms; below it, negative.

• The current situation index rose from 46.9 in the second quarter to 51.3, back above 50 for the first time this year.
• The earnings component jumped from 45.8 to 72.6, by far the biggest move.
• The sales component fell from 56.5 to 42.3, clearly below 50.
• New projects and new phases rose from 50.0 to 70.0, while the investment component dropped from 46.3 to 38.1.
• Hiring improved from 42.6 to 47.3, still under 50.
• Operating cost, an inverted component, slid from 40.6 to 37.5, meaning cost pressure is still heavy.

Better earnings came from clearing stock, not from new buyers

The center says the improvement in earnings did not come from fresh sales. It came from cost control, pushing unsold units out of the door, booking revenue from projects already under way, and state measures that pulled transfers forward earlier in the year.

More project launches alongside a lower investment reading is what the center calls selective investment: developers only open the phases where they trust the location and see genuine demand, rather than a full expansion cycle. Land, construction, labour and financing costs all still weigh on them, and raising prices to recover those costs is hard while household buying power stays weak.

The six-month outlook got worse

The number worth watching is the expectations index for the next six months, down from 53.5 to 49.8 and back under 50. The center points to worries about buying power, household debt, strict mortgage approval, business costs and an uncertain economy, so developers are not convinced the third-quarter recovery will carry into the fourth quarter of 2026 and early 2027.

If you are renting or buying, that is good news at the negotiating table. Sellers squeezed by weak sales and high costs have more reason to cut a price, throw in furniture or stretch down-payment terms than sellers in a hot market. The flip side: a slow-selling project may slow construction or push back its transfer date, so for a new unit check the real build progress and the developer's delivery record.

Median asking prices on DooAsset right now

These are the open listings on DooAsset as of 11 October 2026, a useful check against the picture the center describes.

• Condos for rent across Bangkok: 665 units, median 28,000 baht a month, middle range 20,000 to 48,000 baht.
• Condos for sale across Bangkok: 364 units, median 8,225,000 baht.
• Thonglor: 135 rentals at a median 38,000 baht; 79 units for sale at a median 9,500,000 baht.
• Sathon District: 45 rentals at a median 49,000 baht; 37 units for sale at a median 7,350,000 baht.

A median here is the middle of real open listings, not the launch price of a new project, which is why resale units in the same area usually undercut what is being launched this quarter.

A checklist before you decide in late 2026

1. Get discounts and free extras in writing; sales teams are under pressure on volume.
2. Compare resale units in the same building or area before you reserve a new one.
3. If you need a mortgage, get pre-approval from two or three banks, because lending rules are still tight.
4. Buying off-plan: ask to see construction progress and the transfer date written into the contract.
5. Renting: ask for a longer rent freeze or free common-area fees in exchange for a longer lease.

Read next

• Rent or buy a condo in Bangkok, from real asking prices
• Buying a resale condo, from reservation to transfer day
• New or older condos in Bangkok, which is better value