The Government has inaugurated the “Homes for Thais” project, aimed at providing greater opportunities for urban low-income earners and first jobbers to have their own houses, with convenient access to transport links.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on 17 January 2025 presided over the inauguration of the scheme at the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok, where interested persons may come to view model homes from 17 to 31 January 2025, between 10.00 and 21.00 hr.

The Prime Minister said that the housing project is intended to improve the people’s quality of life, reduce disparities, and promote the country’s overall economy. It offers affordable payment terms and no down payment is required. The homes are set to be built on plots of land owned by the State Railway of Thailand.

She pointed out that more than 5.87 million Thai families, accounting for 27 percent of the population, do not have their own homes. The Government, therefore, stresses the policy of providing people with access to various state welfare programs to attain better living conditions.

In the first phase (2025-2026), 5,000 housing units will be constructed along railway corridors. The Government has set a target to expand the project to cover 300,000 units, in the forms of single-family houses and condominiums.

Four locations have been selected to launch this pilot project. They include (1) Bang Sue area on Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 11, Bangkok, (2) Chiang Rak Station area in Pathum Thani, (3) Thon Buri Station area in Bangkok, and (4) Chiang Mai Station area in Chiang Mai.

Mortgage payments start at about 4,000 baht a month for a period of 30 years, and leaseholds are capped at 99 years. Those who are eligible for participation in the project must be Thai nationals aged 20 and over, earn less than 50,000 baht a month, and have never owned a residence before.