| Purchasing a land or property in Thailand is | | | | Buying a property in the name of a Thai company |
| regarded as a great option for investment as well | | | | - As per the property law, a non Thai can own a |
| as for residence and retirement purposes. Due to | | | | property in Thailand through a Thai company, |
| its infancy and strong potential for a profitable | | | | provided 51% of the company's share is Thai and |
| future, Thai land and property is becoming popular | | | | 49% is foreign. |
| and attract all categories of property buyers. | | | | Buying a property through Investment (BOI) - A |
| Further, since the tourism sector in the country | | | | foreigner can acquire a limited amount of land or |
| has grown from an established position into an | | | | property with considerable investment of fund. |
| even more productive economy, Thailand, | | | | Under the Thai Property Law, a non Thai citizen |
| acknowledged as 'the Spain of the East' provides | | | | investing 40 million baht for not less than five |
| superb opportunities for property investment. | | | | years can purchase up to 1500 square meters of |
| Above all, Thailand boasts of some excellent land | | | | land and that too for only residential property. But, |
| or property development and that too for | | | | a prior permission should be obtained from the |
| astonishingly cheap prices. | | | | Ministry of Interiors. Likewise, this option cannot |
| No wonder why many expats including Americans | | | | be availed by foreigners who are looking to invest |
| and Europeans invest in Thai property such as | | | | in his second house or retirement homes. |
| villas, condos, and other housing options. But, | | | | Structure Ownership - In this case, a foreigner |
| investing in a Thai property is based on your | | | | may be granted a Right of Superficies by a Thai |
| requirements, location ie whether near | | | | spouse or a Thai company. This in turn provides |
| supermarket or beach, and lifestyle, ie, whether | | | | foreigners to have rights over all kinds of |
| you prefer a Thai or a mixed neighborhood. | | | | constructions on the land. The Right of Superficies |
| For retired foreigners seeking tranquility and | | | | usually last for a period of ten years with options |
| solace, a best option would be to invest in | | | | to renew it again for 30 years, if required. |
| property located in destinations like Koh Samui, | | | | Leasing - This is perhaps the least complicated |
| Chiang Mai, and Phuket. If you want to have an | | | | option for a foreigner to acquire a property or |
| easy accessibility to almost all facilities, then it | | | | land in Thailand. Mostly, the land is leased to a non |
| would be better to invest in cities including | | | | Thai for a period of 30 years, which can be again |
| Bangkok, al though prices would be exceptionally | | | | renewed for a period of 30 years. Leasing a land |
| high compared to other parts of the country. | | | | in Thailand is quite simple and does not require |
| However, certain restrictions have been imposed | | | | much maintenance. |
| on foreign investors in order to own a land or | | | | Despite these options, it is important to make a |
| property in the country. In other words, the | | | | thorough analysis of title deeds prior to investing |
| property law in Thailand does not allow foreigners | | | | in Thai property. Title deeds usually include three |
| or non Thais to have a freehold land in the | | | | main types such as Chanot (Nor Sor 4), the Nor |
| country. But, there are certain exceptions in the | | | | Sor 3 Gor, and the Nor Sor 3. |
| law with regard to this issue. Al though a foreigner | | | | But, there is not any restriction for a foreigner to |
| cannot purchase land or property in his own | | | | own or purchase a condominium in the country |
| name, he has been given some alternatives to | | | | except for that he should bring in the whole |
| acquire a property in Thailand according to the | | | | money for buying a condominium in foreign |
| Section 86 of the Thai Land Law, which are as | | | | currencies. Further, a foreigner could own only up |
| follows: | | | | to 49% of units of a condominium block. |
| Buying a property through Thai spouse - Thai | | | | With a myriad of real estate agents and property |
| property law allows a foreigner with a Thai | | | | builders in the scenario, it is not at all a chaotic |
| spouse to invest in a property or land in the | | | | process to own a land or property in Thailand. |
| country. But, the land or property must be | | | | Majority of them provide assistance to deal with |
| registered under the name of the Thai. It is also | | | | complicated Thai law for acquiring a property in |
| important for the foreigner to specify that the | | | | the country. Some of them even provide legal |
| funds used for the purchase of a property are of | | | | advice and conduct investigation and consultation |
| a Thai spouse. However, this option may | | | | in order to acquire a property. There are also |
| sometimes become a problem in a divorce case, | | | | firms providing management, project planning, and |
| since a foreigner may find difficult to prove that it | | | | development in connection with a property. |
| was a marital property. | | | | |