I am curious if anyone can give me some biz and home ownership info. I am interested in the phukett area(but away from the tourist ghettos) my questions are as follows:

1-Is it possible for a ferang to own and operate a guesthouse?

2-if so,what is the safest way to have control even though one only owns 49% of business? In other words, if you can own the land on a lease basis,how does it work that the business operates out of the guesthouse? Or if purchased is it all considered business(49%ownership only allowed)?

3-when looking at asking prices listed what is the rough area of negotiations of price 10%,20% 50% less? or is the price normally firm?

4-(related to 3) if it is a rental--what is the area of negotiation in price?

5--can a ferang operate a private school in thailand?

6-can you register part/section of a business as a charitable organization in thailand if you are foreigner?

7-how do you find an agent who can help find possible properties of the beaten track?

8-how does rent to own property work?what are the positives and negatives of this situation?

9--if one was interested in a possible partnership(with ferang or thai) what would be the best way to go about it--especialy in terms of makng sure one does not lose control of their business plan and/or so one can be assured not be pushed out of the business venture at a later date(or for that matter once the leg work has been done)?

10-finally-what is the minimum deposit required to purchase a property-20% ,30% 50%, 100%

thanks in advance,muchly apreciated to all those with info and offer their help and ideas. cheers

I am curious if anyone can give me some biz and home ownership info. I am interested in the phukett area(but away from the tourist ghettos) my questions are as follows:

1-Is it possible for a ferang to own and operate a guesthouse?

2-if so,what is the safest way to have control even though one only owns 49% of business? In other words, if you can own the land on a lease basis,how does it work that the business operates out of the guesthouse? Or if purchased is it all considered business(49%ownership only allowed)?

3-when looking at asking prices listed what is the rough area of negotiations of price 10%,20% 50% less? or is the price normally firm?

4-(related to 3) if it is a rental--what is the area of negotiation in price?

5--can a ferang operate a private school in thailand?

6-can you register part/section of a business as a charitable organization in thailand if you are foreigner?

7-how do you find an agent who can help find possible properties of the beaten track?

8-how does rent to own property work?what are the positives and negatives of this situation?

9--if one was interested in a possible partnership(with ferang or thai) what would be the best way to go about it--especialy in terms of makng sure one does not lose control of their business plan and/or so one can be assured not be pushed out of the business venture at a later date(or for that matter once the leg work has been done)?

10-finally-what is the minimum deposit required to purchase a property-20% ,30% 50%, 100%

thanks in advance,muchly apreciated to all those with info and offer their help and ideas. cheers

Why operate a guesthouse away from the tourist ghettos? Anticipating a quiet life perhaps????

I suggest you do some homework first on these points but my two pennies worth is that I am always surprised when someone wants to acquire property/guesthouse/hotel in Phuket at such high land prices and then expect to derive a income and ROI based on selling rooms at around 1,000 baht a night. Somehow the numbers dont stack up to me but maybe I am a bit more cynical than most.

Thanks for your two pennies-i understand your comments and respect them--thanks--However-- i have done my homework(in regardss to business ventures)---and my plan is not in need of a quiet life or a guesthouse/hotels etc--at a 1000 baht a night--very different-----i completly understand that would be a fools venture and not where i would make money,or for that matter be able to suvive--but i do appreciate your concern---My plan is very different(yes i know everyone says that--but it is)--I have lived in asia for many years and also been to thailand several times(however not lived there)----this is why the questions are as stated---and also it should be noted that in my years in asia i haved done business here and learnt alot from those ventures, and also researched some business ventures in thailand and i have noticed a common problem which i think some persons are not aware of(yes i agree about naivety is a strong reason amoung others)and ,therefore,why many fail---my problem is not naivety --it is in regards to information-- so once again --if anyone does have some info on any of the questions -muchly appreciated--cheers-and thanks again