Strict Rules & Regulation in Thailand

[pablo]

Hello,

I would like to buy some small house in South East Asia, and I would like to ask where are the best conditions. Is it anywhere not allowed for foreigners to buy a house, or are there some countries where it is easier than in Thailand? I like also Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia. I wanted to buy something in Thailand but its every year more restrictive there, so I would like to ask about the conditions in other countries.
Thanks
pablo

[marc]

Thanks for your information; I would like to know more details if possible. I was last year there, and the differences are much bigger then in Thailand. Manila is 5 times more expensive then the rest. I hope I could find there some nice place, which is not expensive, but not too far away from civilization. I don?t want to stay in a city, but there must be something like BigC and also internet.

Thanks
marc

[massagelondon]

buying a property is thailand is a costly legal hastle - unless you have a thai partner or would settle for an overpriced condominium. For peace and clean air the great majority of ex-patriates just do rent houses in the suburbs or even in the countryside with a motorway link to work or kids school.

what I have heard Malaysia is more laxed - but the quality of live there is different, more restrictive, to thailand.

[egeefay]

Right now, I would agree.
If you are interested in living in Thailand part time or full time and don't have a Thai connection, like a Thai husband or wife. Rent, don't buy.
Renting has a number of benefits, including the ability to walk away if end up not liking life in Thailand, and the freedom to move to another location if the place you are living at isn't working out.
In addition, since you aren't heavily invested in Thailand, you don't ever have to worry about the Thai government changing the rules for residency or visas or home ownership
Rental units in Thailand are also relatively cheap by western standards and you can rent anything from a villa on the golf course to a small single room condo.

[Escott]

I heard a foreigner can't buy in Thailand unless they partner up with a Thai. True or false?

Thanks

[massagelondon]

can buy condominium - but they are overpriced and usually upmarket comparing to the townhouses/villas

[egeefay]

Thailand is a very popular destination for foreigners despite the difficulty of getting a visa and owning property.
Westerners are drawn to the open liberal mindset of the Thai people.
You won't find a lot of religious restrictions like you would in many Muslim countries or even conservative Christian countries for that matter.
That's why Muslim countries have to work harder to attract westerners

despite the Thai government restrictions on foreigners living and working in Thailand, westerners keep coming by the thousands and are not easily discouraged.