Foreign land ownership strikes a raw nerve

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WEALTH CARE

Foreign land ownership strikes a raw nerve

Published: 25 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

This is in reference to the Wealth Care article from Feb 11 concerning foreigners owning land. You wrote: "You will be treated as a foreigner and can only buy a maximum of one rai for personal and commercial use, 10 rai for agricultural purposes and 0.5 rai per family for a cemetery."

This is indeed a surprise to me and to other farangs living here that I have spoken with, as we all understood that foreigners cannot buy land in Thailand under any circumstances. Can you please confirm that foreigners can buy land under the conditions stated above and advise me of any pitfalls, restrictions or other terms and conditions there might be? Many thanks.

_ Bruce Giddings, Khon Kaen

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boons
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Discussion 2 : 25 Feb 2013 at 20.302
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There is a rational fear among Thais that foreign entities will bid up land prices. This is not an illogical presumption given that land prices are lower in Thailand than in many other nations, and Thailand is perceived as an emerging market (however misplaced that perception may be). The problem however is that land prices *are* being bid up by wealthy Thais and development corporations who are taking advantage of hot money inflows and expanding credit. More effective policy would be a foreign-inclusive per-capita land permittance which would allow individuals to own 5 rai, regardless of nationality, Thai or foreign.
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crescent
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Discussion 1 : 25 Feb 2013 at 15.241
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In summary, GENERALLY foreigners cannot acquire land in his name. Proxy is not recommended.
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Foreign land ownership strikes a raw nerve | Bangkok Post: business