Thailand Property - Foreign Buyer Overview and Guide Index

This page is a short overview and a router. Everything on Thai property law for foreign buyers is covered in depth in the buying guide index - this page gives you the shape of the market and points you to the right guide for what you need next.

The two things a foreign buyer can own

A foreigner can own a condominium unit outright (freehold), provided the building has not exceeded its 49 percent foreign ownership quota. A foreigner cannot own land directly under the Land Code. Land and villas are held via long-term registered lease (leasehold, thirty-year cap under Civil and Commercial Code Section 540), a Thai company that owns the land, a usufruct or superficies right, or in the name of a Thai spouse with appropriate protections. Full details: Can foreigners buy property in Thailand and Thai property law.

Where the guides live

The nine buying guides cover: the pillar question Can foreigners buy property in Thailand; the current nominee company crackdown; leasehold structure; the 49 percent condominium quota; the broader Thai property law; the full fee and tax breakdown; Thai spouse ownership; the step-by-step buying process; and life after purchase.

Where to buy on this coast

Our focus is the Cha-Am and Hua Hin stretch of the western Gulf coast, two hours south of Bangkok. Cha-Am is the value side: quieter beach, lower prices, more residential. Hua Hin is the mature market: international hospitals, branded shopping, deeper resale. See Hua Hin property for the market-comparison view.

What to do next

Start with the pillar guide, then work through the guides in the order they matter for your case. If you want to see actual homes and condos on the market right now, our current listings cover both towns. If you want the day-to-day picture, read Living in Cha-Am.