Villas for sale in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh was established in 1434 to replace Angkor Thom as the capital of the Khmer kingdom but was forsaken many times before being made capital again by King Norodom in 1866 and has been the capital city since the French colonization of Cambodia.  In 1975, the Khmer Rouge came to power and forcefully evicted the whole population of Phnom Penh. The city was literally vacant until Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia and dethroned the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and this period was a very dark part of the country’s history.

Phnom Penh is situated in south-central Cambodia and is completely surrounded on all sides by Kandal Province. The three major rivers of the country, the Tonle Sap, the Tonle Bassac and the mighty Mekong flow in this region.

The main industries which contribute to the city’s economy are Tourism and Textiles, while agriculture is the main industry for rural areas. The real estate industry has seen an upsurge in recent years and property prices are very much on the rise which has drawn foreign investors from Korea and Indonesia into the market, besides the local investors. The cultural and historical wealth of Phnom Penh has made it a popular tourist destination, making the tourism industry a major contributing factor to its economy. The tourism and economic boom have given rise to new hotels, restaurants, bars, and luxury residential properties for the city.

In Cambodia, the property market consists of these types – Shop-houses, Villas, Borey Homes, and Condominiums.

Villas are a type of townhouse; however, they are independent, unlike townhouses.

Cambodian villas generally are classified as:

1. Traditional Khmer Villas
2. Luxurious French-style villas
3. Modern Villas

Villas are also available as “twin villas” and “mini villas” The twin villas are semi-detached, whereas mini villas are small in size with the characteristics of a villa. These villas have yard space, which can be a green space for growing trees and having a garden. The yard space can be a parking space for a self-owned vehicle. It can also be used for keeping pets and as children’s play area. Luxurious villas come with swimming pools.

Villas in popular areas have a high potential for giving good rental returns, as they are suitable for families or for a group of shared tenants.

Phnom Penh is the most habitable city in Cambodia. Besides being a bustling business hub and popular tourism center, it’s also a haven for safe and secure housing for expats and their families. You can find gated communities, secure condominiums, and apartments and private villas suitable for expats as well as wealthy Cambodians.

The following are some of the popular expat localities in Phnom Penh:

1. Boeung Kang Keng 1 (BKK1)
   BKK1 is home to multinational corporations and international organizations that employ expats in their offices. The UN office and the consulates of many countries are situated within this district. It also has high-end residential properties, pubs, bars, restaurants, and markets. This area has been the preferred choice of expats since the 1980s, and the price of the property is more expensive here when compared to the other areas.
2. Sisowath Quay
   This locality lies along the junction of the two rivers, Mekong and Tonle Sap. You will get a breath-taking view of Phnom Penh’s river-side here. The lights reflecting against the serene waters of the Mekong in the evening is a beautiful sight to see and explains why some expats prefer to live in this area. The famous riverside boulevard is a nice area for visitors and residents alike. You can find both historical and contemporary sites here. The Quay is home to quaint cafes, restaurants and bars and boutiques as well as the National Museum and the resplendent Royal Palace.
3. Central Market
   This area is so famous and popular and it has been said that you have not seen Phnom Penh if you have not visited Central Market. The current day Art Deco Phsa Thmei (New Market) is a mammoth dome-shaped structure where you can find traditional Krama scarves to silverware. You can put your best bargaining skills to practice here to get a good price on food, clothing and electronic goods. The Central Market District is a thriving commercial district and rentals are generally very high in this neighborhood.
   There are many villa properties in Prampir Meakkakra, Chrouy Changvar, Doun Penh, Sen Sok, Chamkar Mon, Pou Senchey, Mean Chey and Dangkao, giving you plenty of options to finding a property.

It has many important places of tourist interest: the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, the National Museum, the Choeng Ek Killing Fields, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Wat Phnom, besides various markets for your entire shopping needs.

Phnom Penh is a great place to experiment with authentic Cambodian meals and street food. You can also enjoy the French bistros, and enjoy the high-class dining of other Asian and western cuisines.

Khmer is Cambodia’s official language and is spoken by 90% of the population in Phnom Penh and is used in all government offices and the media, and for education learning at all levels. Other minority languages spoken here are French, Chinese and English.

Phnom Penh has direct flights from many Asian cities, and there are regular bus services to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. International visitors flying into Cambodia either land in the city or in Siem Reap. However, domestic flight services are available to/from Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

Phnom Penh has a quite vibrant nightlife with many bars clustered together in what can be called “bar streets”. It makes it easy for you to hop from one bar to another from dusk to dawn if you’re a party person.

Medical care in Phnom Penh is not very comprehensive, but the situation is improving gradually. There are a few good hospitals, but it’s always better to have medical insurance to get treatment in other cities that have more advanced medical facilities, in case of serious medical conditions.

1. The real estate market is performing very well and property prices will continue to grow to meet future demand.
2. It has majestic and iconic monuments like the Independence Monument built in the New Khmer architecture style which attracts tourists to the city for the unique and intricate style and workmanship.
3. Cost of living is quite cheap in Phnom Penh; coconut water costs just 1USD, a can of Anchor (beer) at a ridiculous 50 cents and a DVD of a new, yet-to-be-released movie at 1$.