Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Ask here about the pleasures and pitfalls of buying, selling or renting property and real estate in Hua Hin. Building, design and construction topics welcome. Commercial or promotional posts for real estate companies or private properties are forbidden.
Post Reply
kirkyboy
Member
Member
Posts: 75
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:43 am

Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by kirkyboy »

Would appreciate some advice on this topic.What happens when building a house in Thailand. Can you own the house and land or do you have to form a company to own both. My friend has had a girlfriend for 3 years, very happy together then out of the blue
she tells him a farang she been seeing on and off wants to buy her a 15million baht house! She tells my friend the land will be in her name so what if she gets sick of him or he with she. Who will get posession if all fails?
User avatar
dtaai-maai
Hero
Hero
Posts: 14180
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:00 pm
Location: UK, Robin Hood country

Re: FARANG BUYING A HOUSE WITH THAI LADY

Post by dtaai-maai »

kirkyboy wrote: Who will get posession if all fails?
Not your friend.
Can't really make head or tails of the rest of the post. :?

It's not the same friend you were asking about here, is it?viewtopic.php?f=8&t=26703&start=0
This is the way
User avatar
margaretcarnes
Rock Star
Rock Star
Posts: 4172
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:28 am
Location: The Rhubarb Triangle

Re: FARANG BUYING A HOUSE WITH THAI LADY

Post by margaretcarnes »

A farang cannot own land. Farang couples can own property by setting up a company - but still don't own the land, which is leased.
So this Thai lady owns the land regardless of who pays for the property to be built on it. Pretty much end of story really.
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
musungu
Professional
Professional
Posts: 397
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:28 pm

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by musungu »

kirkyboy - it always seems to be 'your friend' you need the answers for, so why does he not find out for himself as he has the GF and the problem?
Prior Planning & Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
User avatar
hhfarang
Hero
Hero
Posts: 11060
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2004 1:27 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by hhfarang »

Foreigners should not buy a house in Thailand, no matter what forum sponsors like JW say... buy a condo, which you can legally own.
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
User avatar
Big Boy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 44954
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:36 pm
Location: Bon Kai

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by Big Boy »

Why? That is a very broad statement.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Preston NE :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Points 41; Position 18
User avatar
hhfarang
Hero
Hero
Posts: 11060
Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2004 1:27 am
Location: North Carolina

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by hhfarang »

You're right Big Boy. If you have a Thai wife that you are certain that you can trust, then by all means by a house in her name... otherwise buy a condo because a lease or a fake company are eventually probably going to be investigated by the government with a bad outcome. I've known at least 20 guys who've bought a house in their wife's or girlfriend's name who have lost everything when she decided to leave him so beware... condo is best because foreigner can own it,
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
HHTel
Hero
Hero
Posts: 10807
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:44 pm

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by HHTel »

If you have a Thai wife then should you divorce, then the property is split 50-50 along with any other assets bought within the marriage regardless of who paid for them. Believe me. I have a court order showing that I own half of the property/land that I'm still living in. The law does not differentiate between Thai and farang although there are many on both sides that think it does.
If the house and land are in your girlfriend's name (not married) then the farang partner should seek a usufruct for life which gives him ownership until he dies. Nobody but a judge can cancel that. With a usufruct, he can even lease the property out to yet another party. That lease could go on beyond the period of the usufruct (usufructee dies) and is still valid.
There are several ways to protect yourself but few do.
User avatar
huahin4ever
Ace
Ace
Posts: 1076
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:07 pm
Location: Hua Hin

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by huahin4ever »

What surprises me is all Farang that put everything they have in one "hole". I've been married for 10 years and we have a very easy agreement. Everything we have in Thailand is hers, everything I have in my home country is mine. All that, was mine to begin with anyway, before I met her.

If we should split up/divorce I think it is just fair that she is not left empty handed. That's why she will keep house, car etc. in Thailand. (But no plan for any divorce though) :oops:

I know that many can't afford to do this, so they need to take some precautions, but honestly is it fair that you set it up so you own everything and your long loved wife will get nada if you break up?

I for sure don't think so.

And in additon my salary is from an overseas company and most of my savings / assets are in my home country so I would still be well off if the worst should happen, and my wife would be very well off too with assests in Thailand way way worth more than she ever could have dreamed of.

This is just me and how we do things. And my wife is very pleased as far as I know. Why shouldn't she be? I take very good care of her :oops: :D :cheers:
YNWA
HHTel
Hero
Hero
Posts: 10807
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:44 pm

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by HHTel »

If we should split up/divorce I think it is just fair that she is not left empty handed
Which is why the law is as it is:
If you have a Thai wife then should you divorce, then the property is split 50-50 along with any other assets bought within the marriage regardless of who paid for them.
The law protects both parties if you're married.
Pleng
Legend
Legend
Posts: 2798
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:04 am
Location: Hua Hin

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by Pleng »

huahin4ever wrote:What surprises me is all Farang that put everything they have in one "hole". I've been married for 10 years and we have a very easy agreement. Everything we have in Thailand is hers, everything I have in my home country is mine. All that, was mine to begin with anyway, before I met her.
That's all very well if you already have assets in your home country. Not so easy if you left your home country with nothing.
User avatar
Spitfire
Addict
Addict
Posts: 5248
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Thailand

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by Spitfire »

Thai courst will split 50-50 these days pretty much. However, I also don't understand why so many foreigners invest 'way over their heads' and roll the dice with everything they have at what really is fairly short notice after arriving here.

Don't spend anymore money than you can happily walk away from and mark down to experience as money has a nasty habit of disappearing here and things can change mighty fast in many ways that can be unfavourable to you.

If you are at all unsure about anything then don't buy or buy a condo.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
Henry 14th
Guru
Guru
Posts: 653
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2013 7:37 am

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by Henry 14th »

True words Spitfire, after 9 years in the country I'm still weighing up the pros and cons of buying.

Although happily married with the same partner for the last 7 years and a beautiful little boy to share, I just don't see the value in buying here.

I can't get my head around the prices and therefore prefer to rent and invest capital knowing that my investments more than cover the annual rent and provide a reasonable income.

I think it is more the western mentality that is drilled to say that you must own a property and the Thai mentality of higher status. Both mean very little to me.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
User avatar
Korkenzieher
Guru
Guru
Posts: 983
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:45 am
Location: Hua Hin.

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by Korkenzieher »

If I don't have land rights, I don't buy. Simple as that.
Had enough of the trolls. Going to sleep. I may be some time....
handdrummer
Addict
Addict
Posts: 5389
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:58 am

Re: Farang buying a house with a Thai lady

Post by handdrummer »

a lot depends on your age. to take out a 20 or 30 year mortgage when you know you won't be around to pay it off is rather foolish, eh wot?
Post Reply