If you are considering investing in Thai property there are some things you need to know first.

Remember that you should do all your research and dont believe everything you hear!  THere is a lot of information out there but the people behind it have their own agendas.

First, as a foreigner you CANNOT OWN LAND.  There are a few exceptions but these dont apply to most people – inheritance, investing almost 1 milion dollars or getting permission from the Government.

In the last few years the boom in property development, particularly in Villas, has been aided by creating Thai companies and using nominee shareholders.  However, recently the Thai government has clamped down on this and is trying to force through legislation that would outlaw this practice (or at least enforce the existing law).

For years, the authorities were just ignoring these companies – they knew they existed, they knew they were circumventing the law but they just never tried to enforce this law.  This has all changed now and to set up a company just to buy land is almost impossible now.

Remember that you CAN legally own a condo in THailand as a foreigner.  As long as not more than 49% of the development is owned by foreigners.

Also, you CAN own a house or villa but you just cannot own the land that it is on.

So, what should you do if you want to buy a villa?

Well, if you have a Thai partner that your trust you can use them to purchase the land.  However, you will have to sign a document saying that you have no interest or hold on this land.

You can also lease the land for 30 years with an option to renew for another 30.

In all cases you should consult a lawyer and if you need a recommendation please get in touch with me as I have an excellent lawyer to recommend.

At the moment the real estate market in THailand is slow.  Due to the political situation and the static economy most investors are sitting back and waiting.  There may even be some distressed sellers out there that you can negotiate a good bargain with.

If you are considering investing in Thai property there are some things you need to know first.

Remember that you should do all your research and dont believe everything you hear! THere is a lot of information out there but the people behind it have their own agendas.

First, as a foreigner you CANNOT OWN LAND. There are a few exceptions but these dont apply to most people – inheritance, investing almost 1 milion dollars or getting permission from the Government.

In the last few years the boom in property development, particularly in Villas, has been aided by creating Thai companies and using nominee shareholders. However, recently the Thai government has clamped down on this and is trying to force through legislation that would outlaw this practice (or at least enforce the existing law).

For years, the authorities were just ignoring these companies – they knew they existed, they knew they were circumventing the law but they just never tried to enforce this law. This has all changed now and to set up a company just to buy land is almost impossible now.

Remember that you CAN legally own a condo in THailand as a foreigner. As long as not more than 49% of the development is owned by foreigners.

Also, you CAN own a house or villa but you just cannot own the land that it is on.

So, what should you do if you want to buy a villa?

Well, if you have a Thai partner that your trust you can use them to purchase the land. However, you will have to sign a document saying that you have no interest or hold on this land.

You can also lease the land for 30 years with an option to renew for another 30.

In all cases you should consult a lawyer and if you need a recommendation please get in touch with me as I have an excellent lawyer to recommend.

At the moment the real estate market in THailand is slow. Due to the political situation and the static economy most investors are sitting back and waiting. There may even be some distressed sellers out there that you can negotiate a good bargain with.