What foreigners can legally own, what it costs, and how to buy safely.
Quick answer
Foreigners can own a condominium outright, but only within the 49 percent foreign quota of a building. Foreigners cannot own land in their own name. Houses are normally held on a registered lease, commonly thirty years.
Foreigners can own condominiums outright (within the 49% foreign-ownership quota of a building) but cannot directly own land. Houses are typically held via long leasehold or a Thai company structure.
Many expats rent first for 6–12 months before buying. Our consulting service helps you weigh the options and avoid costly mistakes.
Buying a condo in Jomtien? Our trusted partner JR Plus Property specializes in Jomtien condos and can help you find the right unit.
From the local guide
Buying is a big step, and the neighborhood matters as much as the unit. What is walkable? Where do locals eat? Which beach is five minutes away?
Our companion ebook maps daily life across Pattaya and Jomtien, so you buy into the area that actually fits you.
Explore the area guideNot in their own name. The usual routes are a registered long lease on the land, or owning the building while leasing the plot beneath it. Company structures used to sidestep this carry real legal risk.
A condominium building may sell no more than 49 percent of its total floor area to foreign buyers. If a building has reached its quota, you cannot buy there in your own name however much you offer.
For most newcomers, rent first. Rental yields are modest, resale can be slow, and a year of renting tells you which area actually suits you before you commit.
Next step
Every guide on this site is free to read, from real monthly budgets to visas, renting and buying. When you want a hand with the move itself, that is what we do.