Koh Tao's small, dive-tourism-driven property market supports one franchised agency and a handful of local and online-first alternatives. This guide covers where their offices sit, typical commission ranges in Thailand, and how to vet a firm before you view a property, sign a lease or hand over a deposit.
Koh Tao's property market is small and tied closely to its dive-tourism economy rather than to condo development — condominiums are essentially nonexistent on the island, and most inventory is land, villas, guesthouses and dive-resort or dive-shop premises held on lease or through a Thai company structure. Thailand has no single licensing body for real estate agents, so vetting is on you. RE/MAX Property Specialists is the island's only franchised, professional office; Tao Realty works as a local liaison agent for land and off-market property; and multi-island platforms like Islanders Properties list Koh Tao inventory online alongside other islands. Below are each of these, typical commission ranges, and how to protect yourself.
Office at 28/24 Moo 1, Koh Tao, Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani 84360, RE/MAX Property Specialists is Koh Tao's franchise office of the global RE/MAX network and describes itself as the island's only professional, franchised real estate agency. The team acts as both seller and buyer agent, handles short- and long-term rentals, and offers ongoing property management plus maintenance and construction support — useful given how many Koh Tao properties are guesthouses, bungalow resorts or dive-business premises rather than simple homes.
Based at 35/16 Lego House, Moo 1, Ban Haad Sairee, Ban Ko Tao, Tao Realty operates as an advertisement and liaison agent for land and property that is currently for sale or rent on the island, including off-market listings not found on the major portals. It runs primarily through Facebook rather than a full transactional website, so treat it as a local sourcing contact — confirm listing status, price and any fee directly, and route the legal and title work through your own independent lawyer.
Islanders Properties is a data- and technology-driven real estate group operating across several Thai and Southeast Asian islands — Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Phuket and Koh Tao among them — with a dedicated Koh Tao listings page for land, houses and villas. It functions as an online-first portfolio and marketing platform rather than a walk-in office on Koh Tao itself, so it suits buyers comparing cross-island inventory more than tenants who want a local, in-person contact.
These are general Thailand market conventions, not fixed or agency-specific rates. Always confirm the exact commission and fee structure with the agency in writing before viewing a property.
| Service | Typical range | Notes |
| Sales commission | ~3% (commonly 3-5%) | Usually paid by the seller; negotiable, get it in writing |
| Rental agency fee | ~1 month's rent | Sometimes split between landlord and tenant |
| Ongoing property management | ~10-20% of monthly rent | For agencies offering full management; confirm scope and inclusions |
| Property viewings | Usually free | No charge to buyers or tenants at most agencies |
As anywhere in Thailand, real estate agents on Koh Tao aren't required to hold a government-issued broker's license. Vetting is on you: confirm the agency is a registered Thai business (ask for its Department of Business Development company registration), check how long it's operated on Koh Tao specifically, read independent reviews on Google and Facebook, and visit the office in person before committing to anything.
Koh Tao has essentially no condominiums, so almost every purchase runs through a registered land lease or a Thai company structure rather than freehold title. Use your own lawyer — there's no law firm permanently based on the island itself, so most residents use a Koh Samui or Surat Thani firm — for the lease or company-structure review, even if the agency offers in-house legal support. See our Koh Tao lawyers guide for typical fees and how to choose one independently.
Koh Tao's long-stay and sales market still runs largely on Facebook groups, dive-centre referrals and word of mouth rather than a deep bench of formal listing portals, and buildable land is genuinely limited on this small, hilly island. That makes an established local contact — an agency office you can visit, or a broker with a verifiable multi-year track record on Koh Tao — more valuable here than on larger islands with a crowded broker market.
Thailand-wide, sales commission is typically negotiated around 3% of the sale price (commonly quoted in a 3-5% range) and is usually paid by the seller; rental agency fees commonly run about one month's rent, sometimes split between landlord and tenant. Full property-management services are typically priced separately, often as a percentage of monthly rent collected. Get the fee structure and any exclusivity terms in writing before you commit — these are typical market ranges, not fixed rates, and vary by agency and by deal.
Agencies routinely help structure a purchase through a Thai limited company when foreign land ownership is involved — common on Koh Tao given the dive-resort and guesthouse business model many buyers pursue. A company that genuinely trades with active Thai shareholders can lawfully hold land; a company set up purely as a nominee to hold land for a foreigner's benefit is illegal under Thai law. Get an independent legal opinion on any structure an agency proposes.
There's no single government licensing body for real estate agents in Thailand the way there is for lawyers. Vet an agency yourself: check how long it's operated on the island, confirm it's a registered Thai business, read independent reviews, and visit its office in person before committing to a purchase, rental or deposit.
It's the island's only franchised, professional office under a global brand, and describes itself that way. It isn't the only option, though — Tao Realty operates locally as a liaison and advertisement agent for land and property, and multi-island platforms such as Islanders Properties also list Koh Tao inventory online.
Thailand-wide norms apply: sales commission (typically around 3%, sometimes quoted 3-5%) is usually paid by the seller, and rental agency fees (commonly around one month's rent) are sometimes split between landlord and tenant. Always confirm the exact fee structure with the specific agency in writing before viewing properties.
Condominium supply is essentially nonexistent on the island, and foreigners cannot own land outright. Guesthouses, bungalow resorts and dive centres are typically held through a registered long-term land lease or a Thai company structure — have an independent lawyer confirm land title and the proposed structure before you commit.
Yes. Agencies market and negotiate; your lawyer independently checks title and reviews any lease or Thai company structure. No law firm sits permanently on Koh Tao itself, so most residents use a Koh Samui or Surat Thani firm — see our Koh Tao lawyers guide for typical legal fees.
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
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Hero photo by Kampus Production on Pexels. General information only, not legal or investment advice; fees, listings and agency details change — confirm directly with the agency and with a licensed Thai lawyer before committing.