Search "Surat Thani real estate agency" and most results point to Koh Samui or Koh Tao -- both fall under Surat Thani province, but they're a ferry ride from the mainland town most people mean. This guide covers agencies actually based on the mainland, around Mueang district, Phun Phin and Kanchanadit, plus typical commission ranges and how to vet a firm before you view a property, sign a lease or hand over a deposit.
Surat Thani's real estate agency scene splits sharply along the mainland/island line: search results and agent directories skew heavily toward Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, because that's where the bigger, more established foreign-buyer market is. The mainland town -- houses, townhouses and land around Ban Don, Talat Kaset and Phun Phin, plus a small cluster of condo towers near Central Plaza -- is served by a smaller number of locally-run agencies. Thailand has no single licensing body for real estate agents, so vetting is on you regardless of which side of the ferry you're dealing with. Below are two active mainland agencies, typical commission ranges, and how to protect yourself, whether you're a returning Thai family, a PSU-linked household, or an investor weighing the mainland against the islands it serves as a transit gateway.
A registered Thai limited company (Department of Business Development company registration) based in Tambon Wat Pradu, Mueang Surat Thani district -- the mainland provincial capital, not Koh Samui. Acts as a broker for buying, selling and renting houses, townhouses, condos and land around the city. As with most mainland Surat Thani agencies, day-to-day contact and current listings run through phone and its business page rather than a polished English-language site; confirm its DBD registration and current listings directly before committing to anything.
An independent mainland brokerage running its own site (banteedinsurat.com) plus a Facebook page (jprealsurat) and Line ID @jpreal, taking listings for single houses, land, townhouses and commercial buildings across Mueang Surat Thani, Phun Phin and Kanchanadit districts -- the mainland corridor covered in our where-to-live guide. Reachable by phone at 098-015-9451 or 077-285-889. Useful for mainland house and land deals; pair it with your own lawyer for the title search and transfer, the same as anywhere else in Thailand.
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 |
Surat Thani is a province, and its name is administratively attached to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao -- so most agencies that show up under a "Surat Thani" search (RE/MAX Island Real Estate, Century 21 Samui and similar) are actually based on the islands, often 1-2 hours by ferry from Surat Thani town. If you're buying or renting on the mainland -- around Ban Don, Talat Kaset or Phun Phin -- confirm the agency's actual office address before you go any further; if you're headed to Koh Samui instead, see our Koh Samui hub.
Unlike Thai lawyers, who must be registered with the Lawyers Council of Thailand, real estate agents in Thailand 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 the mainland specifically, and visit the office in Mueang district in person before committing to anything.
Surat Thani town's condo stock -- towers like Plus Condo Suratthani, Kalpapruek Grand and Escent Ville, mostly clustered near Central Plaza and Talat Kaset -- can be sold freehold to foreigners under the Condominium Act's 49% foreign-ownership quota per building; ask the agency to confirm the specific building's quota isn't full. Houses, townhouses and land, the dominant property type on the mainland, follow a different regime: foreigners generally can't hold land freehold, so these are typically arranged leasehold or through a properly licensed Thai company structure, never a disguised nominee arrangement.
Use your own lawyer for the title search, condo foreign-quota check, or lease/company-structure review, even if an agency offers to help. Their job is to close the sale; your lawyer's job is to protect you. See our Surat Thani lawyers guide for firms handling both mainland and gateway-island deals.
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. Get the fee structure in writing before you commit -- these are general market ranges, not fixed rates, and vary by agency and by deal.
Surat Thani is a province, and Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao all fall administratively under it, alongside the mainland provincial capital. Because the islands have a much bigger, more established foreign-buyer property market, most agencies that rank under a general "Surat Thani" search -- RE/MAX Island Real Estate, Century 21 Samui and similar -- are actually island-based. If you want a mainland agency, confirm the office address is in Mueang Surat Thani, Phun Phin or Kanchanadit district before contacting them.
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 mainland, confirm it's a registered Thai business through the Department of Business Development, and visit its office in person before committing to a purchase, rental or deposit.
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.
Yes, within limits. Under the Condominium Act, foreigners can own up to 49% of the total saleable area of a registered condominium building freehold. Surat Thani town's condo stock -- Plus Condo Suratthani, Kalpapruek Grand, Escent Ville and D Condo Coco Suratthani, all clustered near Central Plaza and Talat Kaset -- is small, so ask the agency (and ideally your own lawyer) to confirm the building's current foreign quota before committing to a unit.
Houses, townhouses and land are the mainland's dominant property type, and foreigners generally cannot own land freehold in Thailand, so these are typically arranged leasehold or via a properly licensed Thai company structure. A company structure must involve genuinely active Thai shareholders; a nominee structure set up purely to hold land for a foreigner's benefit is illegal. Get independent legal advice before signing anything -- see our Surat Thani lawyers guide.
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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Compare active mainland agencies, then line up independent legal review before you commit to a lease, purchase or land deal.
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.