Buying An Island

[JurgenG]

A lot of things we can only dream of back home can becomes reality here because, lets face it, things are much more affordable here.

Is buying an island one of them ? Or at least a nice house with a big beach in front and nobody within at least a 10km radius ?

There was this movie "the Beach", people I know who came here 40 years ago, in the 70's, say there is some truth in it. The only problem is it was 40 years ago.

If you're not Warren Buffet, is it still some pieces of dream land that are still available in Thailand ?

PS : It's not about real estate, the real question here is : are we too late ?

Edited February 10, 2011 by JurgenG

[bkkjames]

Work you way up to island. Start with a freehold condo, then try a semi-detached townhouse - work you way up to a bungalow: once accomplished, then go for the island. Let us know how you make out.

[JurgenG]

I don't think that's what people who came here in the 70's had really in mind.

[DP25]

People who can't own property aren't going to be able to own an island

[bkkjames]

I don't think that's what people who came here in the 70's had really in mind.

maybe too late for thailand but look elsewhere: i hear you can get nice beach front freehold in Somalia - probably some deals to be had in Egypt.

[clinique]

islands in Thailand are property of the Crown or National parks, private ownerhsip is (supposedly) not permitted. There are however still islands with secluded beaches and resorts where you can go to 'escape' - as in the Beach movie.

There are other countries where ownership of an island is possible. I know 2 people who own their own island.

So, is it still possible - yes.

[JurgenG]

I don't think that's what people who came here in the 70's had really in mind.

maybe too late for thailand but look elsewhere: i hear you can get nice beach front freehold in Somalia - probably some deals to be had in Egypt.

I get your point.

But I've the feeling some people may have a different opinion.

[JurgenG]

maybe too late for thailand but look elsewhere: i hear you can get nice beach front freehold in Somalia - probably some deals to be had in Egypt.

But if I knew the perfect hideaway in Thailand, I would probably write the same reply.

Somalia.... .a good one ...

[simon43]

Although not Thailand, there are plenty of opportunities to buy your own private, freehold islands, courtesy of a well-known web-site which specialises in the sale of islands, with prices that range from a few thousand $ to many millions of $.

About 7 years ago, when I was a little richer than now, I 'almost' purchased a 2 acre Greek island which was up for sale by the owner, together with several other larger islands, lying about 3km of the Greek coast. The price to buy my 2 acres od barren scrub and beautiful sea front was about 1 million baht!

I put in my purchase offer, which was accepted and I went out to Greece to see my little spot of paradise. It was a beautiful place to build a private house, with minimal building restrictions.

Alas - the sale fell through when a person of considerable more wealth than I purchased all the islands as a 'job-lot'!

But I occasionally visit the web-site which offers islands for sale, and I still see islands in Canada and chile for a few tens of thousands of $

Simon

[doggie888888]

Try Phillipines. Just make sure you don't buy the ones that end up under water at next high tide.

[JurgenG]

Although not Thailand, there are plenty of opportunities to buy your own private, freehold islands, courtesy of a well-known web-site which specialises in the sale of islands, with prices that range from a few thousand $ to many millions of $.

About 7 years ago, when I was a little richer than now, I 'almost' purchased a 2 acre Greek island which was up for sale by the owner, together with several other larger islands, lying about 3km of the Greek coast. The price to buy my 2 acres od barren scrub and beautiful sea front was about 1 million baht!

I put in my purchase offer, which was accepted and I went out to Greece to see my little spot of paradise. It was a beautiful place to build a private house, with minimal building restrictions.

Alas - the sale fell through when a person of considerable more wealth than I purchased all the islands as a 'job-lot'!

But I occasionally visit the web-site which offers islands for sale, and I still see islands in Canada and chile for a few tens of thousands of $

Simon

You got me Simon :jap:

1 million Bahts for an island in Greee? Nowadays you can barely buy 2 rais in Nakhon Nowhere for this price

I almost failed for it.

But I would try to look for 'island for sales" on google, who knows ....

[travelmann]

You can get VERY nice beach front at Chumphon with few neighbours 1 million per r ai

[IanForbes]

People who can't own property aren't going to be able to own an island

True, unless they marry someone with connections. There are hundreds of miles of relatively uninhabited shore along the Thailand coast. Would you REALLY want to live there? As for myself I would go stir crazy. It's cheaper and wiser to just rent some place that suits your needs. Then you can pack up and leave when it eventually gets too crowded. I remember beautiful, relatively uninhabited beaches south of Pattaya. They are now filled with condos. The same happened in Hua Hin that was once a sleeply little holiday area for the Thais in Bangkok.

Some day when Burma joins the modern world they are going to have a garage sale on property for investment. There are untold miles of islands and beaches along their portion of the penninsula.

Edited February 10, 2011 by IanForbes

[JurgenG]

It's cheaper and wiser to just rent some place that suits your needs. Then you can pack up and leave when it eventually gets too crowded. I remember beautiful, relatively uninhabited beaches south of Pattaya. They are now filled with condos. The same happened in Hua Hin that was once a sleeply little holiday area for the Thais in Bangkok.

If you buy, you can still sell, pack up and leave.

And if you bought in a sleepy neighborood and sell when they start building the condo ... checking you bank account can help ease your pain.

When sometime ago I asked my banker if it was wiser to buy or to rent, he asked me " do you prefer to pay for your mortgage or pay someone else's mortgage ?"

Some day when Burma joins the modern world they are going to have a garage sale on property for investment. There are untold miles of islands and beaches along their portion of the penninsula.

That's very exciting. Now when to move in, that's the million $ question

[Kilgore Trout]

People who can't own property aren't going to be able to own an island

Land, you can't own land, but yes I agree

[tim armstrong]

I've recently investigated this one. Well you may be surprised that around Indonesia, and especially near Fiji and PNG there are many islands for sale at not unreasonable prices ($100,000) I know of one now, near Bali for $150,000. But as those who have lived on one will know, the cost of getting anything to an island is about double.The cost of building is about double, and in the off season you may be stranded for days, unless you have a good boat. There are also some near Cambodia. But In this part of the world there are 2 other major issues - firstly security and keeping unwanted visitors away, and more basic than that, and by far and away the largest problem - WATER. So many islands don't have their own supply or its sub standard. That is why many smaller islands are cheap. The other problem with water is that in parts of the Pacific for instance, global warming is happening now, and islands are getting smaller as the sea rises. Buyer beware!

[BngkkB]

After the cost of the Island, then putting in a Genorator for electric, how much will it cost to have Sparkletts deliver Fresh Water every week?

[JurgenG]

you listed a couple of major issues.

One is getting there. An other is safety, pirate are unfortunately not things of the past. And of course there is water.

People who complain about corruption and police behavior in Thailand obviously never been to Philippines and Indonesia. So they are off my shopping list.

Burma probably too early, Cambodia I don't know

That what I was hoping there was still some undiscovered gems in Thailand .....

[Boater]

there are a few in Thailand

Rangyai Island is a 160 Million USD

[IanForbes]

It's cheaper and wiser to just rent some place that suits your needs. Then you can pack up and leave when it eventually gets too crowded. I remember beautiful, relatively uninhabited beaches south of Pattaya. They are now filled with condos. The same happened in Hua Hin that was once a sleeply little holiday area for the Thais in Bangkok.

If you buy, you can still sell, pack up and leave.

And if you bought in a sleepy neighborood and sell when they start building the condo ... checking you bank account can help ease your pain.

When sometime ago I asked my banker if it was wiser to buy or to rent, he asked me " do you prefer to pay for your mortgage or pay someone else's mortgage ?"

That is very true in some place where you alone can own the deed to the land. Unfortunately, a foreigner can't own land in Thailand. They can only own the buildings on it. That leaves a big risk if you have to have a Thai national owning the property. Knowing that 50 % of most relationships (both marriage and business) fail, it's sort of like cutting the cards for half of your possessions.

[jimbeam1]

I think I read somewhere once, that a foreigner could own land as long as it was over 40mill but what currency I don't know. The op does have a point though. Now if some entrepreneur was to get together with a consortium, he could be on to something here. In the UK some years ago people formed a cooperative to buy land and build houses. Each member had to have a useful trade. I will watch this space?

jb1

[dunkin2012]

As far as I know, the government won't allow even the locals to own any piece of land on any islands. There are no legal documents. Only some islands, the owners can has the papers. else that is not true.

[JurgenG]

I think I read somewhere once, that a foreigner could own land as long as it was over 40mill but what currency I don't know. The op does have a point though. Now if some entrepreneur was to get together with a consortium, he could be on to something here. In the UK some years ago people formed a cooperative to buy land and build houses. Each member had to have a useful trade. I will watch this space?

jb1

It works in Thailand too for people who have a piece of land in a nice place but no money to do anything. They can sign a contract with a company who build resorts and they share the profits, I know some places where this has been done. Unfortunatalely it usually end up with the land owner selling the land for a quick profit. But if he is smart and hold to the land, it can be a win-win situation

[JurgenG]

It's cheaper and wiser to just rent some place that suits your needs. Then you can pack up and leave when it eventually gets too crowded. I remember beautiful, relatively uninhabited beaches south of Pattaya. They are now filled with condos. The same happened in Hua Hin that was once a sleeply little holiday area for the Thais in Bangkok.

If you buy, you can still sell, pack up and leave.

And if you bought in a sleepy neighborood and sell when they start building the condo ... checking you bank account can help ease your pain.

When sometime ago I asked my banker if it was wiser to buy or to rent, he asked me " do you prefer to pay for your mortgage or pay someone else's mortgage ?"

That is very true in some place where you alone can own the deed to the land. Unfortunately, a foreigner can't own land in Thailand. They can only own the buildings on it. That leaves a big risk if you have to have a Thai national owning the property. Knowing that 50 % of most relationships (both marriage and business) fail, it's sort of like cutting the cards for half of your possessions.

Something I'm investigating, so any input welcomed, what if you start a partnership with 50% of the investment abroad. To make things simple you buy a house for 10M Bahts and a similar asset in Singapore Basically you have 20M in you partnership, half in Thailand and half in Singapore. And any disput has be resolved in Sinagpore. Did anybody has ever tried that before ? ((the idea is if you thai partner want to keep the assets in Thailand, you have the assets in Singapore as garanty)

[LaoPo]

I've recently investigated this one. Well you may be surprised that around Indonesia, and especially near Fiji and PNG there are many islands for sale at not unreasonable prices ($100,000) I know of one now, near Bali for $150,000. But as those who have lived on one will know, the cost of getting anything to an island is about double.The cost of building is about double, and in the off season you may be stranded for days, unless you have a good boat. There are also some near Cambodia. But In this part of the world there are 2 other major issues - firstly security and keeping unwanted visitors away, and more basic than that, and by far and away the largest problem - WATER. So many islands don't have their own supply or its sub standard. That is why many smaller islands are cheap. The other problem with water is that in parts of the Pacific for instance, global warming is happening now, and islands are getting smaller as the sea rises. Buyer beware!

Not, if you know how to do it and someone trustworthy to organise the building. I know of one Farang, living for ages on Bali and a VERY experienced builder who has built quite a few dreamhouses there but also abroad on Hawaii and elsewhere.

He knows how to do it.....IF he wants to do it since he doesn't want to work for everybody only people he likes.

LaoPo

[sbk]

As far as I know, the government won't allow even the locals to own any piece of land on any islands. There are no legal documents. Only some islands, the owners can has the papers. else that is not true.

Depends on the island. There are extensive landholders with full legal Chanote titles on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Koh Tao they cannot hold a chanote but something else that allows use of the land, can't recall the exact title. It allows transfer and use but it is not an owned piece of property.

National parks are generally restricted to either the title allowed on Tao or nothing at all.

[Mike West]

Get yourself your own mini floating town, a miniature version of Ko Panyi, the town near James Bond Island, more affordable, and you avoid falling under thai land ownership laws. Oh and if you do it, will I be invited to the inauguration party?

[Mike West]

Although not Thailand, there are plenty of opportunities to buy your own private, freehold islands, courtesy of a well-known web-site which specialises in the sale of islands, with prices that range from a few thousand $ to many millions of $.

About 7 years ago, when I was a little richer than now, I 'almost' purchased a 2 acre Greek island which was up for sale by the owner, together with several other larger islands, lying about 3km of the Greek coast. The price to buy my 2 acres od barren scrub and beautiful sea front was about 1 million baht!

I put in my purchase offer, which was accepted and I went out to Greece to see my little spot of paradise. It was a beautiful place to build a private house, with minimal building restrictions.

Alas - the sale fell through when a person of considerable more wealth than I purchased all the islands as a 'job-lot'!

But I occasionally visit the web-site which offers islands for sale, and I still see islands in Canada and chile for a few tens of thousands of $

Simon

link to this "web-site"?

Edited September 17, 2012 by Mike West

[MrRealDeal]

if you have to ask you can't afford it trust me.

[JurgenG]

Funny, I didn't remember starting this thread almost 1 1/2 years ago ...

Things have changed a lot since, especially in Burma. There are plenty of islands there ... If we are too late for Thailand, maybe it's worth it exploring the Burmese coast.