Villas for Sale in Rawai, Phuket

Can a foreigner buy property in Phuket?

Yes, with one limit: a foreigner cannot own land in their own name. You can own a condominium unit freehold, and you can hold a house or villa through a registered lease of the land, or own the building separately from the land it stands on. Which route fits depends on the property, and it is a question for a Thai property lawyer before you sign anything.

What can a foreigner own freehold in Phuket?

A condominium unit. Under Thailand's Condominium Act, foreign buyers together can own up to 49% of the total saleable floor area of a building. Inside that quota the unit is registered in your own name, and you can sell it, mortgage it or leave it to your heirs like any other owner.

How does a 30-year lease on a Phuket villa work?

Section 540 of the Civil and Commercial Code caps a registered lease at 30 years. Leases longer than three years are registered at the Land Office, with a registration fee of 1% of the rent for the whole term. Renewal clauses are common, but a Supreme Court ruling has treated pre-agreed renewals stacked into a 90-year arrangement as an attempt to get around the 30-year ceiling — so treat a renewal as a promise to be reviewed by your lawyer, not as a guarantee.

What taxes and fees are payable when buying property in Phuket?

Transfer fee 2% of the appraised value, usually split 50/50. Specific Business Tax 3.3%, paid by the seller if they have owned the property less than five years; where it does not apply, stamp duty of 0.5% does instead. Withholding tax varies with the seller's tax position. Who pays what is negotiable and belongs in the sale agreement in writing.

General information, not legal advice — the rules turn on the individual property and your own circumstances. We will introduce you to an independent Thai property lawyer before you commit to anything.