Koh Tao

[robertw]

Aloha,

Can anyone please help?? I been wanting to move to koh tao but cannot find any web links to realtors or even listing. Does anyone own in Koh Tao. if so wat are the current averages for beach front, ocean view and inland. Is anyone selllng or know of someone selling. Best time to visit and how much time should be alloted in finding something. Also is the process of buying fairly straight forward? Do the locals own large lots and willing to sell?

if any one can help please

many many mahalos from

The Garden Isle, Kauaii, Hawaii

rw

[The_Other_Mac]

Land for sale in Koh Tao.

For discussion of the difficulties of buying land here, search and read the rest of the forum for a good long time...

[chuchok]

I would be very careful buying land on Koh Tao. Some of it is still deemed national park, so best if you get a very good lawyer...(one from the mainland that has no connections there.) to check out the title.

Edited May 12, 2005 by chuchok

[EVO]

I know a couple of people who have lost decent sums of money (into the millions of Baht) investing in Ko Tao for the simple reason it is such a small, closed community that is run by a couple of 'bigwigs'.

Research well, and spend time there getting to know the rules forst.

Regards

[mackintosh]

There are large land plots for sale, and it is quite expensive. Land on the beach can be up to 8 million baht a rai (approx 200k US$ for 1/2 acre) going down to about 300,000 baht a rai on the mountains.

Land is either leased from the government x 30 year contracts or bought with Por Tor Bor Ha, which is essentially agricultural squatters rights. Most of the islanders own land under the latter option, as it is anticipated that the government will eventually grant Chanote - or full land title deed. The worst scenario envisaged is that if Chanote is not granted to Koh Tao landowners (as it was in Koh Phangan, Samui and others) then they will be forced to lease their land from the government instead.

This arrangement makes a lot of foreigners nervous about investing, but the local Thai and Forigner community are quite relaxed and confident about it - hence the high prices!

It has recently been confirmed that Sofitel have offered to buy the lease of Koh NangYuan, the private island off the coast of Koh Tao, if that helps.

If you are interested in buying land in Koh Tao, I would go to the island and speak to someone called Khun Ood, who you can contact through the Orbitor (or government office).

Let me know if you want anymore info.

[robertw]

There are large land plots for sale, and it is quite expensive.  Land on the beach can be up to 8 million baht a rai (approx 200k US$ for 1/2 acre) going down to about 300,000 baht a rai on the mountains.

Land is either leased from the government x 30 year contracts or bought with Por Tor Bor Ha, which is essentially agricultural squatters rights.  Most of the islanders own land under the latter option, as it is anticipated that the government will eventually grant Chanote - or full land title deed.  The worst scenario envisaged is that if Chanote is not granted to Koh Tao landowners (as it was in Koh Phangan, Samui and others) then they will be forced to lease their land from the government instead.

This arrangement makes a lot of foreigners nervous about investing, but the local Thai and Forigner community are quite relaxed and confident about it - hence the high prices!

It has recently been confirmed that Sofitel have offered to buy the lease of Koh NangYuan, the private island off the coast of Koh Tao, if that helps.

If you are interested in buying land in Koh Tao, I would go to the island and speak to someone called Khun Ood, who you can contact through the Orbitor (or government office).

Let me know if you want anymore info.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[robertw]

There are large land plots for sale, and it is quite expensive.  Land on the beach can be up to 8 million baht a rai (approx 200k US$ for 1/2 acre) going down to about 300,000 baht a rai on the mountains.

Land is either leased from the government x 30 year contracts or bought with Por Tor Bor Ha, which is essentially agricultural squatters rights.  Most of the islanders own land under the latter option, as it is anticipated that the government will eventually grant Chanote - or full land title deed.  The worst scenario envisaged is that if Chanote is not granted to Koh Tao landowners (as it was in Koh Phangan, Samui and others) then they will be forced to lease their land from the government instead.

This arrangement makes a lot of foreigners nervous about investing, but the local Thai and Forigner community are quite relaxed and confident about it - hence the high prices!

It has recently been confirmed that Sofitel have offered to buy the lease of Koh NangYuan, the private island off the coast of Koh Tao, if that helps.

If you are interested in buying land in Koh Tao, I would go to the island and speak to someone called Khun Ood, who you can contact through the Orbitor (or government office).

Let me know if you want anymore info.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey thanks macintosh

contact info! Nice! u da man!

r u on island now?

God willing i should be there in about 3 months. planning on staying for several months to find out whats goin on/meet some peeps. Currently in the process of getting my thai passport. Dual citizen. Thai/U.S>

so your saying theres no (nor3)or whatever? Real ownership titles? about.

Havnt been bak in 30 years let alone to one of the islands. I never even been to koh toa but been having dreams about it. literally the island is calling me. u know when u know?

im cryin inside to get home.

Thailand. I feel Joy.

many thanks from the Garden Isle

Kauai, Hawaii

Robert Sahijit Wilson

[london-matt]

Hey Robertw,

Good luck in finding somewhere in Koh Tao. My brother owns Simple Life diving school there (surprise surprise! another diving school) and he's currently buying some land away from Sairee beach towards the hills.

If it's any help at all I'll call him and find out some more details on prices for you? At the moment all I know is that he is buying 2 rai and he wants to borrow £13,000 from me but whether this is the total cost of the land or the cost of the land plus the cost of building on it, who knows?!?

Definitely check the place out first though. Somebody posted above that it is a very small island and the people there are quite a tight knit group so it can be difficult to mix. I went for 10days to see my brother back in Sept' and it's a beautiful place but I found the a majority of the 'Farangs' weren't too friendly or polite but the local Thai's were lovely.

Hope this helps

[Scubapete]

Hi Robert,

I hope the following helps.

I have just returned from a trip to Koh Tao. Like the other posters i would be extremely careful about buying land on this island.

A little history..

About 70 years ago the Island was used as a political prison. The prison departed and the island was inhabited by squatters. Because of the prison the Finance department believe the Island to be under their authority and want rent for any register land. Around 50 years ago the Civil department allowed a squatter to register a parcel of land, setting up a still going on battle between the Finance department and civil department. This is just a side story though...

The island is virtually mafia. The police and locals and local government are to be reckoned with. A lot of the supposedly registered land is claimed by more than one person ( the way that the land was marked out is by sprayed symbols on trees). A lot of farangs (foreigners) have bought land only to find out the title was not the vendors to sell.

Having said this i found 10 rai (1 rai = 1,600 meters) which is correctly registered yet i am very wary of buying because there are rights of access problems etc.

You can still find land with great sea views for around 400,000 bhat a rai if you know where to look. But... there is no Chanote.

My view on buying land on Koh Tao before the freehold rights issue has been resoved is this. As a foreigner only buy land with money you can afford to lose as it could all go tits up. The land is a lot cheaper than Samui and may well be a good investment. I plan to bay a few rai and sit on it until the issue is resolved. If it is resolved then i will build my house. But you also have to set up a Thai company and mess with the "spirit" of Thai law to own land as a foreigner.

I had meetings with the top architect on the island and some of the top foreign land owners.

The locals are refusing to rent from the King as this means they are tied into 30 year leases. But.. you can buy land and then rent from the king on a 30 year lease, that way you can renew the lease to your own company. The annual rent is 100 baht a rai for residential (2 beers a rai a year :-) )

If you want a full explanation pm me and i will be pleased to give you my phone number to discuss.

Slainte,

Pete

[mackintosh]

Hi Rob

I don't live in Koh Tao, but have visited 2 - 3 times a year for the past 5 years, so know it well. I do own land there and run an animal rescue centre.

I also understand your call, as I was bought up in Thailand and had the same beckoning, hence my association with KT.

I agree with a lot of the postings that you need to be careful when you buy land here. You should use a good lawyer - I use a reputable one in Bangkok - to research the land registration etc. Every Por Bor Tor 5 is registered at the land office at the Orbitor so can be checked for validity.

I actually used the lead architect, who has been mentioned on a posting, to help me find my land as I know him to be honest and helpful. In his professional capacity, he knows about what land is available and whether there are any issues associated with that land etc, which is a great start so you don't waste time and money with lawyers when you do further investigations.

As a dual Thai citizen, you can own land outright and don't have to go through these circuitous legal loophole routes that us Farangs have to endure. There is a risk attached, but the adamant position by the local community is is that as long as you do something on your land - clear it, grow trees or build a house etc, you can assure your rights, and the worse that can happen is you will be forced to lease it.

There is the ongoing debate between the island community and the government about this issue, and the former are confident that the latter will buckle and grant Chanote. However this is something that you need to assure yourself about, and consult your lawyer. Once Chanote is granted then prices will rocket, so you need to consider that fact when assessing your risks and rewards.

There are some different opinions posted about the island community - it is probably better for you to ascertain this first hand when you are there for 3 months.

I am going out again in November, so can find out about what land is available and the prices, if you would like.

Keep with your dream... but tread wisely!!