I have heard that sometimes the government takes away property that we farang buy for our wives and their family. How likely is this and why do they do it? Are they afraid of a new class taking root in Thailand? I also heard that if a wife changes her last name she can't buy land.

I was thinking of buying property under my wife's and her family's name, but now I am not sure if it is a good idea if we are just going to get robbed.

Any info or comments on this topic would be appreciated.

Please let me know where you heard these pearls of wisdom.

I also heard that if a wife changes her last name she can't buy land.

False, old information.

I was thinking of buying property under my wife's and her family's name

A foreigner buying land by proxy is illegal. She also has to sign documents declaring none of the money came from you. If caught out, then definitely will have issues.

Actually most/all of your posted information is wrong. Suggest doing a lot more research into this.

Suggest you stay clear of the bar where you heard all of this !

While sat at the same bar did you also hear....

Thai's are only interested in farang's money.

Farang's will always be blamed in an accident.

Farang's fall below the dog on the family pecking order.

If her lips are moving she's lying.

Don't spend more than you can afford to loose here.

Farang's will never succeed in business here.

Always rent, never buy here.

Its possible to live on B200 per day in Thailand.

I also heard that if a wife changes her last name she can't buy land.

False, old information.

I was thinking of buying property under my wife's and her family's name

A foreigner buying land by proxy is illegal. She also has to sign documents declaring none of the money came from you. If caught out, then definitely will have issues.

What do you mean 'buying land by proxy'? If my wife and I buy a home or small shop with living quarters up stairs and the money is mostly mine, is that illegal?

I also heard that if a wife changes her last name she can't buy land.

False, old information.

I was thinking of buying property under my wife's and her family's name

A foreigner buying land by proxy is illegal. She also has to sign documents declaring none of the money came from you. If caught out, then definitely will have issues.

What do you mean 'buying land by proxy'? If my wife and I buy a home or small shop with living quarters up stairs and the money is mostly mine, is that illegal?

Wait til you go to the land registry office and they give you the piece of paper to sign that says none of the money used to purchase the property was yours, then you will find out how legal it is if you and your wife refuse to sign.

What do you mean 'buying land by proxy'? If my wife and I buy a home or small shop with living quarters up stairs and the money is mostly mine, is that illegal?

http://www.yaiban.com/housing/buying-land-thailand-nominees.php

I called a lawyer that said there is nothing to worry about, that the gov would never take the property away from the family... he sounded convincing but he is a lawyer...

Found this post, but it may be a bit old:

http://www.yaiban.com/housing/buying-land-thailand-nominees.php

I think that my original 'pearls of wisdom' where not that far from the truth.

If you are married 50% of the money is hers. So make sure you have double the amount on your bank account.