Yes In buildings classed as condominiums, developers are allowed to sell up to 49% of the total apartments in the building to foreigners on a freehold basis.

The other 51% must be sold to either Thai citizens or Thai companies, of which foreigners own a maximum of 49% of the shares. This is why you will find different prices or payment terms listed for each project depending on whether the apartment is being bought under ‘Foreign Ownership’ or ‘Thai Company Ownership’.

This only applies to apartments in a condominium building. For houses and villas on their own private land plots, it is only possible for foreigners to buy under Thai Company ownership because it is normally not possible for foreigners to own land in Thailand.

Thai company ownership is not the most ideal form of ownership as you are not the sole owner of the property which will include 51% Thai shareholders. If you can accept the terms then it is widely practised in Thailand by many foreigners. In fact the majority of villas in the areas of Phuket and Pattaya are owned by foreigners using this method for many decades now.

It is, however, important to use an independent lawyer to check that the company formed to hold the property is established correctly so as to give the foreign buyer complete control over the company and its assets (i.e. the property). If Thai Company ownership is not appealing, we recommend you focus on condominiums available in 100% foreign name ownership for a more secure investment.

For more detailed information taxes in Thailand, please visit our Tax Info page.

For off-plan property, there are three taxes payable to the Land Department when the property is registered in your name. These are a Transfer Fee of 2%, a Special Business Tax of 3.3% and Stamp Duty of 0.5% – some taxes are based on the “selling price” and others are based on the “appraised price” (which is usually lower than selling price). The total taxes will amount to approximately 6.3%. The taxes are split between buyer and seller.

Each major developer splits the taxes in a different way, so the actual taxes that the buyer pays can vary from a minimum of 1% up to a maximum of 6.3% depending upon the individual development. In the case of a private sale the split is up for negotiation.

These taxes are not due until the official registration of the property, which tends to take place around 3-6 months following handover of the property.

After you have purchased the property, there are no annual property taxes payable in Thailand unless you are letting out your property. Your only additional costs after purchasing will be the maintenance fees charged for the upkeep of the building and any utilities that you use (e.g. water and electricity).

Once you find a property you would like to buy, you will need to complete a simple reservation form and pay a reservation fee, typically around THB 50,000. You will then be sent your contract to check and sign. If happy with the contents of the contract, you should sign and return the copy and then send the contract deposit payment.

If you are buying “off-plan”, the contract deposit is usually between 20% – 30%. During the period that the property is under construction you will need to send interim payments at regular intervals. These interim payment structures vary depending on the developer you are buying with. Once the property is completed, you will then pay the remaining amount of the purchase price when you receive the key to your new home. You will pay the taxes due at the time when the apartment is registered in your name at the Land Department on completion.

If you are buying a completed property then the full amount is usually required within 30 days of reservation but some sellers may be willing to negotiate.

One of the conditions of buying an apartment under foreign ownership is that all funds and payments must originate from outside Thailand. Most buyers send payments from their bank accounts in their home country by making an international wire transfer directly into the account of the developer or private owner. It does not matter which currency funds are sent in (apart from Thai Baht) as they will be converted to Thai Baht upon arrival in the country. When the receiving bank in Thailand is credited, the bank will issue a “Foreign Exchange Certificate”. This certificate is required by the land office in order to register the property in your name.

It is also possible for foreigners to open bank accounts in Thailand. If you would prefer to deposit funds into a Thai bank account first, you will need the bank to arrange the “Foreign Exchange Certificate” yourself, proving that the funds originated from outside the country and that they are being used for the purchase of real estate.

A “Sinking Fund” is a one-time payment that is used as an emergency fund for any one-off repairs or improvements that may be required for the development at some time in the future (e.g. repainting the exterior every few years). Payment for the Sinking Fund must be made at the time that the buyer receives delivery of the apartment. The cost of the Sinking Fund depends upon the size of the apartment and so the price is quoted per square metre.

“Maintenance Fees” are payments required for the day-to-day running of the project (e.g. salaries for security, the receptionist and cleaners; upkeep of swimming pools; electricity for the lifts, etc.) As with the Sinking Fund, it is based upon the size of each apartment in square metres and the price quoted is for the monthly fee. Most developers require a full year’s payment of maintenance fees in advance once the apartment is handed over and then to be paid annually in advance thereafter.