Moving to Pataya from the UK?

[Happy Chappy! 0]

Hi to you all in Pataya! ,

We are newbies to this site as from today!-myself and my partner are seriously thinking of moving out to Pataya Thailand this year 2005 or near by PATAYA to live permanantly,what we would like to ask is about he legalities of buying a house?.

From what we understood,previously this could only be done if you had a business or married a Thai national or got a Thai to buy it,but i have heard from an aquantince that had bought a farm out of bangkok some 2 years ago that the THAI LAW had changed recently- that allowed foreigners like us UKBritish citizens to buy without any of the above requirements is this true?,can you advise on the Legalities now up to date 2005 of buying in THAILAND?.

Also anybodys experiences of buying and living in Thailand best methods/banking ect ect,we are coming over in MAY 2005 for a 3 week holiday,any recommendations of where to stay HOTEL?, recommendations that is nice good price ect ?.

Much appreciate any help this Forum can give us see ya all!

 

Happy Chappy

[leemo 0]

Normally, when somebody emigrates they have a familiarity with their destination. Being unaware of specific legalities or protocols is one thing, but if you need to ask for hotel recomendations...best of luck.

 

 

leemo

[elef 0]

You can't own any land in Thailand! You can however control it over a period of time if you use a good lawyer or the elite card but nothing more.

[SunnyValentine 173]

As a foreigner you can buy a Condominium in Thailand under certain circumstances, but no land or house (House yes technically, but no the land, so this is in reality not a practical solution.

Most foreigners either construct a Thai majority owned company (which they control in some way) to own land for them, or agree on long term (30 + 30 Years) leases.

Every lawyer in Thailand will give you detailed advices on this topic (unfortunately every lawyer will give you a different opinion on that topic, too).

Elite card does not include the possibility of owning land, that is a myth. Other than that, lots of people believe Elite card is finished soon .....

 

Sunny

[elef 0]

Yes, they tried to sell the Elite card with that it was possible for cardholders to own land. It's worse than the other alternatives as the land is owned by the company issuing the Elite cards. So if the company goes bankruptcy you'll lose the land.

[SunnyValentine 173]

Elef, the story goes on: As soon as some (Thai) lawyer questioned the legality of a Thai Company owning land as a proxy for a foreigner, they alltogether suspended the deal.

Also, their conditions on "owning" land were on minimum investment of either 10 or 20 Million Baht for land and house investment .......

 

Sunny

[darbs 0]

IAM THINKING OF DOING THE SAME THING IN A YEAR WHEN I HAVE SOLD MY FLAT IN THE UK,

BUT AM TOLD BY FRIENDS IN PATTAYA AND BKK

TO RENT ITS ALOT CHEAPER AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT GO WITH BEING A HOME OWNER

MAINTANCE ETC

E MAIL ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL I HAVE ON VISA darbyharley78@yahoo.co.uk

 

WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR WORK MONEY ETC ?

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FEW THOUSAND IN A THAI ACCOUNT

AND YOU MAY HAVE TO DO A VISA RUN EVERY 30 DAYS UNTIL YOU GET SOME SORT OF LONG TERM VISA

LET ME NO HOW YOU GET ON

 

Darbs

[Happy Chappy! 0]

Thank you all for your helpful advice!

 

Regards

 

Happy Chappy

[clubman 0]

Don,t do it. It is ok for a holiday but for life no way

[bigfoot 0]

As a foreigner you can buy a Condominium in Thailand under certain circumstances, but no land or house (House yes technically, but no the land, so this is in reality not a practical solution.

Sunny

A falang can own 1 rai of land 100% in his name with all the legal documents. it has a condition that they must invest a certain amount of baht in the kingdom.

i did enquire into this a few years ago and have forgot the full details but someone on here will know them.

 

the foot

[loytoy 0]

Bigfoot please print any articles you have on a Farang owning one rai of land. I been in Thailand 10 years and have never heard of this. At one time your thai wife could own one rai of land not the farang husband. I think they can own more now in there name.

[SunnyValentine 173]

The 1 Rai in foreigners name is correct in principle. But: You have to invest a total of 40 Million Baht, and you have to be approved by Thai government authority, which rarely ever happens.

In other words, forget it.

 

Sunny

[rawlins 0]

Don,t do it. It is ok for a holiday but for life no way

Clubman.

 

Why not for life??

 

When you live there you wouldn't be living it up like you would if on holiday.

 

What would put you off doing a longer stretch there?

[Eneukman 1]

I'll be renting a condo in Pattaya shortly until I decide exactly where I want to settle permanently. As described above, there are difficulties (though not insurmountable) in foreigners buying a house in their own name.

 

I would recommend joining the thai visa forum and asking the same questions there. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?act=portal

 

Alan

[doorman 0]

The way to go is www.pattayaexpatsclub.com. Meet on saturdays at 11:00 am at the grand sole hotel. It is on 2nd road. They are people who live in thailand. They can help you in any way you need. later doorman

[Happy Chappy! 0]

The way to go is www.pattayaexpatsclub.com. Meet on saturdays at 11:00 am at the grand sole hotel. It is on 2nd road. They are people who live in thailand. They can help you in any way you need. later doorman

Hi Doorman,i will look into the expats site for further help/advice,i am coming over to pattaya on 24th may so i can get he low down.

 

regards

 

love you long time