Head of real estate and commercial law practice
Specialist in the field of commercial law and process. Real estate, construction support; land law and protection of property ownership.
Support for purchasing real estate (apartment, house) in Phuket
Phuket is an island under the jurisdiction of Thailand, which is very popular among foreigners looking for permanent housing in this country. Here, a Ukrainian can obtain full ownership (freehold) of an apartment or a long-term lease (leasehold) of land, a villa for 30 years with the possibility of extension. All official procedures for purchasing real estate are conducted in Thai, which can significantly complicate everything. Legal support will help not only minimize the inconvenience of the language barrier, but also do everything correctly and as quickly as possible.
Real estate in Phuket (Thailand): why should Ukrainians choose it?
The attractiveness of Phuket is based on its high tourism potential, which, in turn, also provides an opportunity to receive significant income when renting out an apartment or house. Phuket is also characterized by a moderately warm climate, amenities for families living on the coast, economic stability. The best options for purchase are in such regions as:
- Patong;
- Karon;
- Bang Tao;
- Laguna and others.
What types of housing are available in Phuket?
There are various types of housing available to foreign investors in the Phuket real estate market. So, for full ownership, you can arrange an apartment in an apartment complex, and for long-term lease (can last up to 90 years) – villas, townhouses and separate houses for living.
What are the main costs when buying a home in Phuket?
Buying real estate, in addition to the price of the property itself, requires taking into account a number of mandatory one-time payments, which include:
- first, a transfer fee – 2% of the cost (as a rule, it is paid equally by the seller and the buyer, respectively);
- second, a business tax – 3.3% of the cost (paid by the seller if he owned the apartment or house before the sale for less than 5 years);
- thirdly, stamp duty – 0.5% of the cost (paid by the seller if he did not pay business tax);
- fourthly, the fee for registering a long-term lease for a house – 1% of the cost (paid equally by the seller and the buyer).
Thus, in fact, the real cost of taxes only for a buyer in Phuket is 1.5% at best. A different situation arises when it comes to paying commissions to a notary and a local real estate specialist (realtor). As a rule, the usual rate is from 3% of the price of the object itself.
Important to know! In addition to one-time payments, after the completion of the housing purchase procedure, the buyer will be relevant for systematic payments for property maintenance (up to $ 2.15 per square meter per month), land use (up to 0.7%) and others. For more detailed information, we recommend that you order a consultation with our lawyer on the purchase of real estate abroad.
What does the whole procedure for buying real estate (apartment, house) in Phuket look like today?
The specified procedure consists of several mandatory stages, which differ significantly depending on the chosen form of ownership. The key attention is paid to checking the title of ownership of the apartment, house and legalization of the buyer’s funds (proving the legality of the sources of origin of funds). The main stages are as follows:
- selection of real estate and reservation. To quickly search for an object and verify the identity of the owner, you can contact a lawyer. After the search and initial legal verification are completed, the buyer and seller sign a reservation agreement between themselves, subject to making a small deposit;
- comprehensive inspection of the real estate. At this stage, it is important to analyze the documents on the title of the land, house and apartment, check the absence of encumbrances (seizures, mortgages), investigate the availability of a license for construction work and permits for the construction of a new residential complex (if you are buying an apartment, house on the primary market from a developer), etc.;
- signing the main contract of sale of residential real estate. To fully settle with the seller, you need to open an account in a Thai bank in Phuket (or in an online banking system that is verified on its territory), obtain a bank confirmation letter for the purpose of purchasing real estate (issued when the transfer amount exceeds $ 50,000). After properly signing the agreement and making payment, all that remains is to go through the mandatory registration procedure;
- registration with the land department and obtaining a title document. For proper registration, it will be enough to have a valid passport, a confirmation letter from the bank, and a sales contract. At the end, the parties pay all mandatory fees (taxes, commissions), the buyer receives a Chanote (title document) and issues an annual Common Area Fee.
Support for the purchase of housing in Phuket (Thailand): why should you contact a real estate lawyer?
Contacting an independent lawyer may become a necessity for you, especially when you are buying housing in Phuket for the first time. Today, Ukrainians are increasingly facing problems due to poor understanding of the legislation of the region, lack of Thai language skills, and a banal lack of practical experience in purchasing housing in similar jurisdictions. Having the necessary experience and qualifications, a real estate lawyer at Prikhodko & Partners Law Firm will be able to:
- correctly prove the legality of funds from abroad;
- support the opening of an account in a local bank;
- correctly analyze and structure the agreement (preliminary and main);
- ensure correct registration of rights;
- obtain all necessary documents to complete the procedure;
- ensure the correct calculation and payment of taxes.
We will help you understand the strict rules of the legal regime for foreigners in Phuket and purchase housing here easily and legally. To get a consultation and find out the cost of legal support for buying real estate (apartment, house) in Phuket – fill out the form below.
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