Buying Property in Phuket as a Foreigner

Can a foreigner own property in Phuket?

Yes. A foreigner can own a condominium unit outright (freehold) in Thailand, but cannot own land in their own name. This single rule shapes every purchase decision in Phuket: apartments and condos are bought freehold, while villas and houses (which sit on land) are held through a leasehold or a Thai company structure.

Thailand's Condominium Act reserves up to 49% of the total floor area of any condo building for foreign freehold ownership. As long as the building is under that foreign quota, you can buy, hold and resell the unit in your own name, with a title deed registered to you at the Land Office.

The three ways foreigners hold Phuket property

Foreign freehold (condos): the cleanest route. You own the unit outright, the title is in your name, and it passes to your heirs. Only available while the building is within its 49% foreign quota, so always confirm the remaining quota before you commit.

Leasehold (villas and land): a registered lease, typically 30 years, often written with contractual renewal options. The lease is registered at the Land Office and protects your right to occupy and use the property for the term. It is the most common way foreigners hold a villa.

Thai company: a Thai limited company owns the land and you control the company. This is legitimate when the company is a genuine operating entity, but it carries ongoing accounting and compliance obligations and should only be set up with proper legal advice.

Title deeds: what to check

The strongest title deed in Thailand is the Chanote (Nor Sor 4 Jor), a precisely surveyed, GPS-marked freehold title. It is what you want for any serious purchase.

You may also see Nor Sor 3 Gor, a title with confirmed boundaries but a less precise survey. It is usable but warrants extra due diligence. Always have the deed verified at the Land Office before transferring funds.

Costs beyond the price

Budget for transfer-related costs on top of the sale price. These typically include the Land Office transfer fee, and, depending on how long the seller has owned the unit, specific business tax or stamp duty and withholding tax. Who pays what (buyer, seller, or a 50/50 split) is negotiable and stated in the contract.

For condos and managed developments, factor in the recurring common area maintenance (CAM) fee, usually charged per square metre per month, and a one-time sinking fund contribution for major building repairs. On our for-sale listings these figures are shown in the Investment snapshot when the owner has provided them.

The buying process, step by step

1. Reserve the unit with a holding deposit and a reservation agreement that takes it off the market. 2. Run due diligence: title verification, foreign-quota confirmation, and a check that the seller can transfer clear title. 3. Sign the sale and purchase agreement setting out price, payment schedule and who bears which fees. 4. Bring the purchase funds into Thailand in foreign currency and obtain the Foreign Exchange Transaction form from the receiving bank, which is required to register foreign freehold. 5. Complete the transfer at the Land Office, where the title is registered in your name.

Financing and payment

Most foreign purchases in Phuket are cash. Thai banks generally do not lend to non-residents for property, though a few foreign-currency mortgage options and developer payment plans exist for off-plan units. For a resale, plan on funding the purchase in full, transferred into Thailand in foreign currency to satisfy the freehold registration requirement.

Where foreigners buy in Phuket

Bang Tao and the Laguna area lead for branded resort-style condos and villas; Kamala and Surin are quieter, upmarket beach enclaves; Rawai and Chalong in the south are popular for villas and long-term living; Kathu sits central and value-focused. Browse live for-sale inventory by area from the links below.