Can a foreigner married to a Thai citizen buy a house in joint names?

What's a flang?

Don't buy anything as is not not going to be yours and soon you buy the house,good bye is round the corner. I have been there and know many others too.

If you cannot trust your partner, why are you in a relationship. I bought a house, I know the risks.

It will be her house forever . Just be prepared to lose it . Don’t buy an expensive house

What the hell is a Flang?

if in the countryside, forget all ownerships, pre-nups, leases and all that crap. Buy her the house and pay. If you can't afford to lose what you spent in Thailand, you are in the wrong place. If you relationship turns sour, you don't want to stay living there anyways, because if you divorce in quarrel, she will make your life hell, no matter what she and you signed

Get legal advice, you can own property in your name and lease the land for 30 years.

Easy solution: go and buy a free hold condo in your name.

I’m of the opinion why buy into a system which doesn’t afford you fair and reciprocal treatment like your home country offers.

don't complicate it. Let her buy the house in her name. In case of a a dispute, you would no want to live in a house surrounded by people who are fond of your ex-lady

Unpopular opinion, but I would say do not be afraid to buy a house. As long as you're buying the house to live in it (and not purely for investment and price speculation), you can go ahead and buy a house in Thailand. However, you do need to understand the Thai laws and seek a lawyer to advice you on how to protect your rights legally.

In the event of divorce, you're legally entitled to 50% of the property, i.e, your ex-wife can't just evict you of your property (as long as you have the right visa to stay in Thailand, your marriage visa expires as soon as you get a divorce). You both have the option to either sell the property and divide the proceedings . But the issue arises when one of the partner (usually the Thai wife and her relatives) doesn't want to sell the house. Hence, you need a Usufruct Contract and a pre-nup agreement. Talk to your lawyer and have an agreement drafted where you both agree to sell the house upon divorce and also what happens to the property (and to the personal assets) in the event where one of the partner dies, i.e, what'll happen if your wife dies and what'll happen if you die.

Don't leave anything unto luck. Every scenario needs to be considered and taken into account and an agreement needs to be drafted and legalised. Believe it or not, more often than not it'll be your wife's family and relative that'll try screwing you up.

Yes of course, It can be in your name only as well if you prefer

Simple question NO

yeah, you certainly sound like a flang...

If you really want to go down this road, forget about illegal constructs of nominees and companies. What you could do is boy the land in her name. Then lease the land back for 30 days from her in your name (maximum amount of time legally guaranteed), then build a house on it in your name. Depending on how old you are - that should be good enough.

My advice on being married to a thai lady and considering buying land or house?

Only invest what you could afford to lose…

I try to not say in a bad way but relationships are not guaranteed to last forever

And land will be in her name…

Yes can get lawyers to draft certain papers saying it’s agreed to be “ joint “

But if it does go south?

It will still be a pain in the balls…

Better to just cut your losses and move on

I have seen it happen to many farang friends…

Is why I won’t do it

I feel little safer investing in condos

Because then your guaranteed to at least get little something back if trouble ever arises…

Best of luck tho 🙏

If you marry a Thai in a registry office not a village wedding you are entitled to 50% of the value of the property that includes land and house. Most farangs don't know or pursue the legal route after break up because they don't know the law or are convinced by the Thai woman that they have no claim. Also don't move out of the house if you split you have the right ti stay there. Keep all the receipts to prove it was your money to build or renovate. If you break up get a lawyer you will get a happy ending she will not have a leg to stand on

I'd prefer to start as a tenant, testing the waters with my partner before investing in a property together. Given my financial capabilities, I'm cautious about entrusting full authority to someone else, especially after witnessing numerous expats suffer financial losses in similar situations.

The house can be owned jointly, but not the ground it stands on. Have it in her name and make sure you have a usufruct in the documents that grants you the right to lease for 30 years if you run into a scenario in which your wife dies before you. Forget about all the people here screaming you will loose it all as they are only reflecting on their own lack of social skills and in any case (and country) life is a gamble

Use your brain you will lose it all

Farang not flang, though you might be one of those as well......😉

Thai law prohibited foreigners to own a land ; with an exemption of the most recent regulations which allowable on certain conditions and requirements like 40 million THB, long term government’s bonds (must be qualified), at least 5 years or longer terms, so on and so forth.

A house is failed under the same as land , so no you can’t have a joint property.

Many mentioned Usufruch agreements, that’s your best bet.

Don't do it ....that's the best advice ...

Go to an attorney she owns the land. You can have a 99 year lease on the house. It will protect you generally speaking if you get it done correctly. 

You can’t own land but can lease house on land for 30 years. The lease has to be registered with lands department to be legal. For 30 years you live in the house as normal owner. Usufruct lease is the most secure option.

You are taking a huge risk!!!

The fact you say 'Frang' is telling me you are so green that you are about to fall into a trap.

Yes you can buy a house and lease the land from your Thai Wife for a nominal fee, Get yourself a good Lawyer and make sure you are well covered in the event anything should happen to her, ie the Family can not sell or mortgage the land and must continue to give you full use of it as per lease contract.

rent a house and make sure the lease is in your name , and you wont have any issues .dont buy something u cant own !!!. i rent . i have heard of guys buying it in the wifes name but getting a proper solicitor to set up a 30 yr lease to your name only .to get round issues . but still better to rent in your own name .

Hi Garry. Been here since 2005. I have 2 houses with my girlfriend of 10.5 years and I am well-versed in the ins and outs of purchasing/building homes as well as owning a business together.

It is true....all that glitters is not gold, but occasionally one finds a gem in the rough. My wife has a great family including 3 lovely sisters and a no nonsense brother and pragmatic father.

But, that being said, thanks for your concern for all of us on this site. Have a great day. Thanks for your well wishes. Hope everything stays spectacular for you and your beautiful wife.

You should familiarise yourself with how things work in thailand, before you dig a big hole for yourself, I would strongly suggest renting for a year or so,and learn what you are and aren't entitled to, before committing your hard earned money to anything, and that the marriage is going to work. Im not being negative, It's just friendly advise, I hope it all goes well for you.

Don't cause you never know tomorrow.

Farang

You can own a portion of the house but not the land.

There’s a rare (expensive ) loophole for Americans but it’s very expensive.

Watch her

Just rent if I were you .

Do not do it. Same for a car….. if it’s not in your name you have no rights and can lose it all.

Ok got two basic choices. Forget company route if they crack down on that you could lose everything.

You can get Usufruct agreement with your name on the chanote that gives you a lot of protection and in case of your wifes demise you get one year to be able to sell it. (Need lawyer to set this up)

Or you get a lease aggrement from your wife

Don't buy a house! Financial independence does strange things to them.

You can own the house, not the land.

Cannot be in joint names. Don't be another statistic.

Best advise. Take a 30 year lease. Its very affordable. But if you really trust your wife then at least you will leave behind a roof over her head if you buy a house.

Don't buy a house will be in her name. The more you put in her name the greater danger you are in.

No

One wonders: in the 70s foreign missions in bangkok were overwhelmed by foreigners ripped off by thai wives

How can it be explained that after 50 years of the same medicine people havent cured the disease?

Listen bro, I'm sure she is talking you into buying a house knowing you can't do it legally. These Thai girls are pro. So here is what you are gonna do. You are going to rent a house and put some of that unused money in an investment account for her just in case if anything happens to you. She'll be taken care of and it'll probably be worth more than the house. This would protect you and her.

How about a Usufruct Contract?

You can have in your name if you put it in a company name

NO 👎

yes she will own 100% and you pay for it

Went to our local land office with my Thai Mrs and the wife of our (her) house builder. The officer very clearly explained in excellent English that although my signature was required on the deeds it doesn’t in any way make the house mine. I was, apparently, signing in the capacity of ‘guarantor’. Didn’t know what that meant and still don’t!

You can buy a condo in your name but not a house. Condo or house, don’t buy anything you aren’t willing to walk away from.

No