FOREIGN LAND OWNERSHIP

[Brit Jim]

Hi

I just wandered what the feeling was with the ExPats living in HH concerning Foreign land ownership?

Do you think that the law will ever change to allow foreigners to own their land? I guess the Thai Co option works Ok but its not ideal paying taxes yearly and the rules can / do / may change depending on the political situation and who you listen to!

I see in places like Malysia now that foreigners can buy free hold. I m not sure about Cambodia and Vietnam.

With everything there are Pro s and Cons to this argument. If land ownership was granted to foreigners then obviously there would have to be some sort of restriction on the amount that you could buy.


CON s

1. The culture and lifestyle of HH would change dramatically as more foreigners move to HH. Our little treasure lost forever.

2. Exploitation of the country as Farang move in and buy the country. Overnight property cowboys and farang Mafia out to make a quick buck.
Samui was a good example of this!

3. Expensive to buy as prices rocket.

4. We all relocate from HH. We didnt sign up for Pataya?


PRO s

1. Free Hold of the Land would be very REASSURING!
2. Prices would increase. Beneficial for those who already own.
3. Houses easiar to sell maybe not sure as prices higher.
4. More foreigners would move to HH. (Pro? Con ?)
5. No more Thai Co tax ( Im sure that they would introduce a new one for us).

From a Personal/ Financial / Security perspective I would welcome the change on foreign land ownership BUT from a Social/ Cultural perspective would not welcome this move. I belive that it would ruin the country.

Catch 22. You decide??

[STEVE G]

Lippy, I once looked into the origins of this law banning foreigners from owning land and it dates back over a hundred years to colonial times when British Malaya and French Indo-china were in danger of encroaching on Thai sovereignty.
Consequently I think there is absolutely no chance whatsoever in this law changing; just look at the furor at the moment about the disputed ownership of a temple on the Cambodian border that involves just a few thousand meter’s of land and a temple that was built by Khmers anyway.

[Super Joe]

It will never happen and shouldn't either IMO Lippy. They don't need to sell chunks of their country to a load of foreigners who do nothing but complain about the place.
I think they've got everything about right regarding land ownership, visas, work permits etc, despite it affecting me. To me it all aims at protecting the Thais and sod everyone else, fair play to them:
a) You want a job ? take on 4 Thai then. Genius.
b) Pay tax on minimum farang salary. You aint fiddling us.
c) You wanna live on our land ? Buy it for a local or pay us via company taxes.
Sorry to wander, but its kind of related.

HH would change dramatically as more foreigners move to HH. Our little treasure lost forever

I think WE have already changed it big time

SJ

[johnnyk]

Dream on about land ownership.
Get used to it: what we think is irrelevant.

[sandman67]

Heres what Ive gathered from talking to Mrs S....

King Rama V indelibly etched this into all Thai thought patterns.... "not one inch" with his defense against The Great Game.... this was the only country in SE Asia to successfully avoid direct colonialisation.

You cant own land here in reality....its always Thailand...thats the way it is.

wish we had done that eh?....

[lomuamart]

It will never happen and shouldn't either IMO Lippy. They don't need to sell chunks of their country to a load of foreigners who do nothing but complain about the place.
I think they've got everything about right regarding land ownership, visas, work permits etc, despite it affecting me. To me it all aims at protecting the Thais and sod everyone else, fair play to them:
a) You want a job ? take on 4 Thai then. Genius.
b) Pay tax on minimum farang salary. You aint fiddling us.
c) You wanna live on our land ? Buy it for a local or pay us via company taxes.
Sorry to wander, but its kind of related.

HH would change dramatically as more foreigners move to HH. Our little treasure lost forever

I think WE have already changed it big time

SJ

So how do you feel about Thai people in your country? Surely they shouldn't be able to own land? They should have to do visa runs? They should pay more tax than us - because they're Thai. They can't earn as much interest on their savings - because they are Thai. They can't take a job away from a UK person (if the UK person was trying to work). Etc etc.
I've been here for 10 years. My wife is Thai. However, I'm treated like a pariah. It's about time Thailand woke up to the real world.
Sorry for the rant and "anti-Thai government", but that's just the way I see it.

[norm]

Easy solution. Buy a condo legal for 49% building, balance Thai owned. You get a Chanote and everyone is happy.

[buksida]

I don't think the land laws are going to change in the future unless there are some major shakeups at the top.

Agree with lomu, its disgusting how long term resident foreigners are treated in this country - it wouldn't happen elsewhere.

I'm not advocating opening the doors to all and sundry but what would be wrong to say letting an alien that has lived, worked, paid taxes and is supporting a family for a minimum of 5 consecutive years own upto a maximum of one rai?

They have proved themselves to Thai society, why can't they get a little respect back insted of being treated like a criminal everytime they want to extend their stay here?

[hhfarang]

There was some sort of treaty between the U.S. and Thailand during the Viet Nam era that supposedly allows an American to own up to one rai of land but I've never found anyone who has actually used this method successfully.

The same treaty gives business advantages to Americans allowing them to own a business (not just 49%), but I think they have stopped that and the businesses that were already created under that law are the only ones that can still run that way. Those are like licenses that don't expire and can still be wholly American owned even if sold from one American to another. I know someone who bought this type of business license recently from another American leaving the country.

[Super Joe]

Lomu wrote:

So how do you feel about Thai people in your country? Surely they shouldn't be able to own land? They should have to do visa runs? They should pay more tax than us - because they're Thai. They can't earn as much interest on their savings - because they are Thai. They can't take a job away from a UK person (if the UK person was trying to work). Etc etc.
I've been here for 10 years. My wife is Thai. However, I'm treated like a pariah. It's about time Thailand woke up to the real world

Every country can do as they wish, I think UK have it wrong and the chickens are coming home to roost. I don't see why countries have to have the same rules.
We don't pay more tax than Thais, the rates are the same. There is a set minimum for foeigners, 50k or whatever, so we pay tax on that and that only even though we earn more. So what do we do ? still fiddle them and abuse it. If it wasn't there we'd declare even less, cos we're tea-leaves.
We abuse the visa rules. We abuse land ownership laws. We abuse Limited Company rules. Me too, im not pointing fingers.
In your case then they have a long stay extension based on marriage (supporting family member) that you can use!?

Agree with lomu, its disgusting how long term resident foreigners are treated in this country - it wouldn't happen elsewhere.

Being allowed to obtain Permanent Residency and never having to apply for a visa/extention of stay ever again. To me thats good.

If softer immigration laws existed Thailand will be full of 50 million Burmese and Cambodians. THEN we'd have something to complain about.


SJ

[buksida]

Being allowed to obtain Permanent Residency and never having to apply for a visa/extention of stay ever again. disgusting

If softer immigration laws existed Thailand will be full of 50 million Burmese and Cambodians. THEN we'd have something to complain about.


SJ

Big deal ... still can't work or own a small plot of land - these solutions are only geared towards the rich.

If they could tell the difference between tax paying and honest working foreigners with families, illegal Burmese immigrants and Nigerian drug smugglers then it might make a difference - but at the moment they can't (or don't want to).

[Super Joe]

So if its no big deal then visa, extensions of stay are easy now and not an issue.
We can get a WP in 2 weeks max, Thais to work in UK have to wait several months minimum.
Never ever could own land here, we knew that when we came. They've not changed anything there to affect farangs.

I know what you mean about all this, but it'd be hell here if every foreigner could just walk in and start work.

SJ

[buksida]

Visas are not the issue - this thread is about land ownership.

I know what you mean about all this, but it'd be hell here if every foreigner could just walk in and start work.

You're not reading my posts - I suggested foreigners that have already proved themselves by living, working, paying tax and supporting a family for 5 years.

[Super Joe]

Fair point, this thread is about land ownership but we had gotten onto the other stuff.

They do give special treatment to long termers, but no land ownership, but we knew that all along.
Permanent residency does give us lots of benefits.

SJ

[heretostay]

from an earlier question.

VIETNAM - you can lease land for 99 years renewable.

CAMBODIA - Outright ownership any size. has duel visa now to go between countries.

MALAYSIA- you can buy but has to be a certain amount, certain rules apply.

LAOS - how many satang a rai? Never heard of any farang wanting to live there, but its bloody cheap.

Read about the ASIAN agreement, all asian countries have to give the same visas out, Thailand cambodia suppose to have a duel one?

So will that mean we can go to cambodia, get a WP and B visa and work happily in THAILAND.

Or go thro singapore and recieve a 5 yr visa?