Often when looking at land there are middle men aiming to get a % of the sale. Is it possible to find the land owner themselves thru the Amphur or something like that?

For a fee you can request the information at Land and house department (Khom tie din).

You'll need a copy of the land title deed (Chanut), normally those middlemen always have one to show you! Failing that you'll need the numbers on the concrete landmarkers, and then try to find the plot on the master plan at the land department.

However, often the address on file is not updated, so sometimes it can be quite a search to trace the real owner!

^^ Agreed, this is what we do and yes it can be quite a long and frustrating process at times!

Be careful if someone has shown you the plot first, and then you try to find the owner yourself, chances are, that if they find out that you have bought the land, that they will still feel that are due a finders fee.

Of course, if you find the land yourself, this won't be a problem.

Be careful if someone has shown you the plot first, and then you try to find the owner yourself, chances are, that if they find out that you have bought the land, that they will still feel that are due a finders fee.

Of course, if you find the land yourself, this won't be a problem.

In this case there was a sign put up, however the contact details aren't for the owner, just for a middle man. He claims it's for his sister who's overseas, however we've been told differently.

Try the neighbours also.

On the land title documents, there is listed the neighbouring properties and their title numbers. You can use this to get the titel number then go to the land office. This is the case with chanote titles, not sure for lesser titles though.

I have been told that only lawyers are allowed to get this information, ie it is not released to the public.

My wife faced this herself in Bangkok, perhaps country land offices are less strict.