Buying my first condo in Thailand, Russian man put name under Thai GF selling without his Thai GF

[webimpact]

Hi, this is my first post. I can't find the answer anywhere so thought I'll leave it here.

I saw an ad online, I liked the condo and it was 1.2 million baht. However, it was under a Thai name who was the ex-gf of this Russian guy.

They broke up 2-3 years ago, the chanote is under is Thai gf but he kicked her out and he said he can not get in touch with her anymore.

The Russain owner said he has the chanote and that we can do the transfer to my name without any problem. Because he said he went to Thai court to get this resolve, see the court letter in attachment "court-letter.jpg"

 

My questions and concerns are: is this a scam? Can a foreigner sell a condo unit under a Thai person's name? I don't want to buy this unit and a year later his Thai gf comes back thinking she stills own it. Can the Thai gf have a copy of the chanote since it is legally her property under Thai law, even someone else owns / pays it?

 

The Court letter translation from Google is (translation might not be accurate..):

 

Quote

Certification of final case

 

With a black civil case number Por.  1280/2016 Red number at Wed  7/2016 between Mr. Alek S.... (ALEX....), the plaintiff, Ms. Somporn Wongmanee, the defendant on the property back agent of the Pattaya Provincial Court, has a verdict on 16 January 2016 and extended the time to appeal to the plaintiff until the 17th.  April 2012, the plaintiff did not file an appeal within the said schedule.

Now the case is finally over. Given on the 5th of March, Buddhasakra, 2018

1

 

 

[geoffbezoz]

Ask yourself this. Would you trust a Russian, or would you trust a Thai ? Once you have answered that in your own mind act accordingly.

[Crossy]

The only way to be sure is to head off to the land office with all the paperwork and see if they will transfer legally to you.

 

If they will, hand over your cash when they have completed the transfer. There will of course be a fee to pay.

 

Personally, unless the deal is really sweet and you really like the unit, I would walk away, far, far away.

 

[from the home of CC]

if true why would he not have the condo in his own name?

[Crossy]

4 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

if true why would he not have the condo in his own name?

 

It's possible it's not in foreign quota, all the more reason to run not walk.

 

[RJRS1301]

If it is too good to be true, it probably is

[seajae]

you dont have to be a thai to own a condo(no land involved), maybe something isnt right about this set up, as above, if you really like the condo go to the land office and see if they will transfer it to your name with him as the owner, if its ok by them then pay him and the transfer fees(usually split when we have done it) but make sure they will transfer title to you first

[Peterw42]

OP, dont pay any huge deposits, if any, make sure there is a clause that you get deposit back if the Russian cannot complete the sale.

Check there is foreign quota in the building, the Russian get will get a letter from the condo office that says foreign quota is available.

 

Take a cashier cheque , some cash for the transfer fees, to the land office, (and FET),  if the Russian guy cannot sell the sale wont go through. If he can sell the sale will go through, when your name is on the Chanote hand over the cheque.

 

If the Russian isnt 100% able to sell the condo, the land office wont transfer to you. put the cheque back in your pocket.

 

For a couple of thousand baht, you could get a local agent to hold the deposit and accompany you to the land office.

 

[BMW Overlander]

1.2 mil...hardly a condo, probably just a studio apartment.

[anfh]

As stated, go to Land office to check etc, but in answer to the question about the thai GF turning up with a Chanot, there can only be one Chanot on a property, therefore, if he actually has the original, she cannot turn up with another one.

Also, go to the office manager at the condo block and check on the thai/foreign ownership quota in that block.

[baansgr]

2 hours ago, BMW Overlander said:

1.2 mil...hardly a condo, probably just a studio apartment.

Plenty one bed condos in Pattaya for sale at that price

[lubfishin]

16 hours ago, geoffbezoz said:

Ask yourself this. Would you trust a Russian, or would you trust a Thai ? Once you have answered that in your own mind act accordingly.

This is by far the very best and sound response. Do not buy real estate with your emotion.   Walk away from the deal. There are a million empty condos and it is buyers market.  As far as I know, Thailand does not have Title insurance..   

[mike787]

17 hours ago, geoffbezoz said:

Ask yourself this. Would you trust a Russian, or would you trust a Thai ? Once you have answered that in your own mind act accordingly.

Russians don't even trust or like Russians..

[mike787]

10 minutes ago, lubfishin said:

This is by far the very best and sound response. Do not buy real estate with your emotion.   Walk away from the deal. There are a million empty condos and it is buyers market.  As far as I know, Thailand does not have Title insurance..   

Is this the ONLY unit in all of Thailand?  Really?  NO other options - right?  IF there is other option and you NEED this more than air and water, then you MUST buy it sir.  Please separate yourself from your hard earned cash immediately or do as Lubfishin states.

[sfokevin]

The whole things sounds dodgy!... But if you do proceed I would not hand over the funds until you are at the land office and an official hands you a  chanote in your name!... (I assume you have a document from the condo Jurassic person saying there is a foreign quota available that you can have?)

 

And be prepared for a Thai lady to be knocking on her condo door in a year or two...

[newnative]

Follow everything Peterw42 has said and also make sure there is a debt-free letter from the condo juristic--I wouldn't be surprised if the Russian and his former girlfriend are behind in their condo fees and utilities payments and you don't want to be stuck paying them.

[RBOP]

Sounds risky. Hire a lawyer.

[murraynz]

10 minutes ago, mike787 said:

Russians don't even trust or like Russians..

russians dont like anybody??

[newnative]

3 hours ago, BMW Overlander said:

1.2 mil...hardly a condo, probably just a studio apartment.

A studio unit is a condo if it's registered as one at the Land Office.  Size has nothing to do with what is considered to be a condo.

[bkk6060]

38 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Plenty one bed condos in Pattaya for sale at that price

That and for less.

12,000 properties for sale in the Pattaya area lots of desperation can pick one up now for practically nothing.

[Graviton]

17 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

if true why would he not have the condo in his own name?

That's the correct answer..... I would say "DANGER WILL ROBINSON"

[wisperone]

I see your car taking one hell of a beating when she and her bf find out you are the new owner. Good luck with that????

[crazykopite]

Don’t touch it with a barge pole it will only end up in tears . 

[Hanuman2547]

First off, forget this condo.  There are zillions of condos all for sale in this country.  It is a buyers market.  Why go through the hassles of this condo when you're not sure who really owns it.  (FWIW I think the ex-GF still owns it)  Find another condo that doesn't have any problems with it.  You'll be a lot happier knowing that you are the owner.  

[webimpact]

Thanks to everyone reply. I am walking away and still looking.

Thanks again!

[Hanuman2547]

4 hours ago, BMW Overlander said:

1.2 mil...hardly a condo, probably just a studio apartment.

............and a very small studio at that!  Probably in an older building as well.

[Hanuman2547]

2 minutes ago, webimpact said:

Thanks to everyone reply. I am walking away and still looking.

Thanks again!

Excellent choice!  You are doing the right thing.

[petermik]

8 hours ago, sfokevin said:

 

 

And be prepared for a Thai lady to be knocking on her condo door in a year or two...

And if she is pretty you could offer her an inexpensive overnight stay.......

[Graviton]

1 minute ago, Hanuman2547 said:

............and a very small studio at that!  Probably in an older building as well.

Mine is bigger than yours, such trivia...

[KKr]

2 hours ago, mike787 said:

Russians don't even trust or like Russians..

Sounds like you know from experience.

So you are Russian then ?