Can foreigners sell their property in Thailand and transfer the proceeds back overseas?

Don't buy. In time you're surely regret living here

You can't take land with you when you die. With this mindset do you need to own it? Rent is the cheap answer; when you are fed up with it you can move on.

Rent is very cheap! Why buy?

Yes you can. Need a "tor tor sam" document that allows you to transfer the same amount out as you brought in to purchase the house.

Why bother if you think you might not stay there? If you rent you won’t have these issues to deal with.

Rent one

In years gone by you needed proof that the money had come into Thailand from overseas and got receipts from the bank. You could then send the money back overseas.

Nowadays, All you need is the paperwork from the land office and your lawyer can simply send the funds to your bank overseas. I did this last week.

Id imagine if you’re in a position to legally purchase it then you’d also be legally entitled to sell it whilst it still belongs to you.

Yes it is true that Foreigners cannot on a house outright. As we all learned that freehold is the best way to own a property.

There’s an easier way now for foreigners to buy a house. There are a few developers now offer leasehold. As this takes away a lot of the issues and problems of opening a company to hold the property.

So when selling the house, you can either sell the house to the next foreigner under leasehold or selling it to the next Thai owner under freehold.

And when the money is received, you can take your money out. As the leasehold also would need foreigners to do the money transfer the right way, showing the money is coming from overseas.

Hope this info helps.

To get the money out of Thailand again you need to have it transferred in properly before buying the house. You must use an international bank transfer. So the most important implication of that is that you cannot work in Thailand and then buy a house; if you're a foreigner you can either work or buy a house but not both. Another implication is that you can't use services like Wise to get the money in. They use partner banks to send the money to your account, and it'll not be classed as an international transfer. You must use a bank to bank international transfer.

Technically you can also not buy if you don't satisfy the said condition, so you won't have an issue being able to send the money out again.

The Western obsession in property ownership ..Wow.

Simple answer, don't buy, rent 👍

Good luck selling

No big advantage to purchase and if you aren’t Thai you are leading the land.

So much negative comments on here my advice is go seek a lawyer good luck and happy new year.

rent dont buy

So many replies yet only 2 people actually answered her question. Facebook is such a waste of time

If you buy a house at say8 0 baht that money has gone and at risk of government change also maintenance against do a 5 year lease at a fixed rate of per month over five years costing 1.5 million you will have 6.5 million in the bank for five years invest that to high interest for five years you will live for very little over the period I’ve done that and I’m happy with it

Why buy?? Nothing but grief and headache, both buying and selling, rent only way to go, plenty of availability, affordability and locations, stay fluid and enjoy the variety!!

I think the point about legal land / house ownership is that if you go down this path the place may be very hard to sell if that’s your ultimate decision.

Until you’re sure maybe rent or buy a condo in a popular building

Just rent, don't buy anything. Beside you already considering to move back some day. Regarding to buy house can, go to a lawyer, he cab explain you.

I think renting is best easy to get out if need be

You must have the FET from the bank showing that the money to buy it came from overseas, or that you worked in Thailand, and paid Thai income taxes on all the money you used to buy it.

Don’t buy here. Too risky enjoy the low rent and freedom of said rent.

It’s a status thing!

Nothing but a headache.

Find a nice place to rent.@ make it your own.

I was there 12 years. Bought, still own. Land. Down south.

Or my daughter does.

But if I had the time over again.

Would never purchase. Again.

No need.

Rent is cheap

Do some basic research and you will not need to ask such a silly question.

You can get 3 x 30 year lease, or can put in wife’s name and get a usufruct agreement guaranteeing you the rights over the property until your death.

The land office will provide the usufruct.

I think condo deeds are freehold. Pretty sure mine is.

I was planning to buy a house until my research concluded it's extremely difficult to sell pre-owned houses. Yes you can get an extendable lease on the land or set up a Thai company which has so many grey areas. Its just too vague right now.

I did read the government are considering extending leases to make property purchase more attractive. I think 99 years was floated but don't quote me on that.

Who wants to buy an old house when there are so many new ones being built everywhere? I wouldnt.

I'm totally against renting as it's dead money so I would look at a good condo or wait to see if laws change next year. Probably best to consult a lawyer

Depends how you bring the money in to buy a condo only... You need a Foreign Exchange Transaction Form from bank to get the money out again

You never own the freehold in Thailand, only the leasehold !

Foreigners CAN NOT own land in Thailand. Can own condos offered in some areas. There are numerous dodgy land ownership deals and only a matter of time like maybe even in 2025 are going to get a serious look over by the Thai government.