Newbie Land Purchase

[Time to grow]

I have been looking at land around the Koh Samui area for a couple weeks. Recently found a plot that looks good to me as well as a second that might work. I am new to buying land and terrified of the process. On the other hand, I don't want to pay a bunch of questionable experts to look out for my interests if it's not necessary. Should I hire a lawyer for a title search and other encumbrances, a realtor to smooth the process, or some other official? Are there specific pitfalls that you might be aware of? Any advice or experience would be most welcome. Even just the name of a local expat hangout where I might get some advice.

The property I am considering is two adjoining (at least I an told they are) parcels. It's pretty overgrown and I have yet to locate the concrete chanote posts but I plan to. The property is being sold by a Thai individual to my Thai wife. Yes, I am fully aware of the argument against this plan. It's on a dirt road that the government is supposedly concreting next year. Utilities are about 200 meters away. The combined size is is nearly a rai and a half of raw land. My intent would be to build a primary residence on this land after some leveling.

[Destiny1990]

Good luck! If i were u i would even buy 3 plots so u can make higher profits.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Hire a lawyer to determine the ownership of the land, for this you should have copy of the chanote. The present owner must clear the land to enable you to see the Land office corner posts. Only when you can identify these posts can you be certain the chanote is for this land. If any posts are missing the present owner must ask the Land office to remeassure the land and replace the post. Dont fall for the post is here somewhere we just cant find it. This may take a while but it will give you cool down period in which you can continue to look around. Visit this land you want to buy at different times of day and night to see if there is any negatives coming out, loud music or traffic. When it rains hard go and look what the water run off does. Take your time and relax dont ever rush a deal. Oh and if there is people staying around the land let your wife talk to them about the area and the owner. Sometimes they know more than what you will think.

[williamgeorgeallen]

land scams are a dime a dozen in thailand. actually they usually end up costing more than that. 

[Jacz]

Koh Samui has a very good solicitor who specialises in real estate, she has a reputable practice and speaks good English,  her name is Mas...........samuiparadise@ ................. I am sure you can find her if not I will send more precise details, I happily recommend her work and prices plus she knows the island VERY well

[ronaldo0]

If you are buying land in samui to make money then I would say not likely going to happen. Cost of your property should also be a factor as you have to think will you ever get the money back you pay out.

Several large companies have came here recently and are building projects from 12-40 houses that are sold out as quick as they are being built as the price is so cheap for what you get and location and size etc are all good.

Take a look at any estate agents websites and you will see the reductions on some places are huge. Some are people who were asking too much and are now having to reduce to sell and a lot are people wanting out off here due to finances .

If you are buying the land to build and live the rest of your days here then I suggest you check it out in all weather conditions etc and various times of night and day to see what the drainage , neighbors , street lighting are like.

Hire a lawyer that is recommended by several people not one that someone you know says is great , post on samui community page on Facebook and several names will be suggested im sure.

I would check out if the owner will clear the land so you can see what you are buying , if not find out how much it would cost to remove trees etc so you can see . I would also be checking the state of the dirt road as some people are still waiting for their roads to be concreted years after building and every year in rain season the dirt roads get washed away.

Last of all I would ask around the area for other plots as they might be far cheaper than you are going to pay or have a good drive around as there are signs everywhere saying for sale. Also out of interest what area of the island are you looking at ? And no I don't want to try sell you land . There are no shortage of people willing to sell land here or help you .

 

[MyFriend You]

First Rule - Hire a lawyer from Bangkok, not Koh Samui, Phuket or any surrounding city...........do not under any circumstances use the suggested 'my lawyer will take care of paperwork - no publem'  get your own.

 

Second rule - there is none 'cept the first rule.

[robertson468]

1 hour ago, TunnelRat69 said:

First Rule - Hire a lawyer from Bangkok, not Koh Samui, Phuket or any surrounding city...........do not under any circumstances use the suggested 'my lawyer will take care of paperwork - no publem'  get your own.

 

Second rule - there is none 'cept the first rule.

I have lived on Samui now for going on 13 years and have dealt with two different Lawyers regarding Land and found them to be efficient and honest, so do not listen to the "know it all" comments by the likes of TunnelRat69, who appears to know every Lawyer on the Island, how efficient and honest they are etc.  If you would like details of a good Lawyer, whom we would be more than happy to provide a reference for, please pm me. 

[Just1Voice]

First off, if you're a foreigner, you're not allowed to own land in Thailand to begin with. 

 

[transam]

5 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

First off, if you're a foreigner, you're not allowed to own land in Thailand to begin with. 

 

He did state his Mrs was buying.....

[Just1Voice]

22 minutes ago, transam said:

He did state his Mrs was buying.....

Thanks, I must have missed that part. :)

 

[MyFriend You]

2 hours ago, robertson468 said:

I have lived on Samui now for going on 13 years and have dealt with two different Lawyers regarding Land and found them to be efficient and honest, so do not listen to the "know it all" comments by the likes of TunnelRat69, who appears to know every Lawyer on the Island, how efficient and honest they are etc.  If you would like details of a good Lawyer, whom we would be more than happy to provide a reference for, please pm me. 

Meant no disrespect to the Lawyers on Samui, or any other Lawyer in Thailand, I do know from experience that it is a game changer when you show up with your own solicitor. 

To the poster, I wish you luck, real land purchases in Thailand can be daunting and convoluted, especially when extended families are involved - tread lightly.  My own lawyer is reluctant to represent me in Pattaya, he grew up there - his family, friends of family, friends of friends in Government etc etc are there so he sends a colleague to assist to keep things on the up & up.

Mea Culpa

[swissbie]

12 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

Hire a lawyer to determine the ownership of the land, for this you should have copy of the chanote. The present owner must clear the land to enable you to see the Land office corner posts. Only when you can identify these posts can you be certain the chanote is for this land. If any posts are missing the present owner must ask the Land office to remeassure the land and replace the post. Dont fall for the post is here somewhere we just cant find it. This may take a while but it will give you cool down period in which you can continue to look around. Visit this land you want to buy at different times of day and night to see if there is any negatives coming out, loud music or traffic. When it rains hard go and look what the water run off does. Take your time and relax dont ever rush a deal. Oh and if there is people staying around the land let your wife talk to them about the area and the owner. Sometimes they know more than what you will think.

Absolutely agree with your post, except, that for the determination of the ownership there is no need for a lawyer, OP, do it like the banks, ask for a certified copy of the chanote from the land office.

[pailyn]

My husband, an American has a beautiful property for sale in peaceful area of Samui, near Kamalaya Welness Center. If you are interested please let me know. The price is very reasonable. Due to health issue, he has to put this property for sale. Thanks

[catman20]

16 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

Thanks, I must have missed that part. :)

 

you both missed he is doing the paying bit 

[GreasyFingers]

Iyou do not mind doing  a bit of leg work yourself get a copy of the chanote (both sides)from the vendor and go to the Land Office to check it against their copy. Get a copy of their "charting map" that shows all of the surrounding properties (minimal cost). Check that the access is a public road (something like satha la na). There are properties sold on Samui that do not have legal access. Go to the local municipal office with the map and ask them what restictions there are re buiding etc. Simple stuff but it helps if you know what questions to ask as you would/should in your home country.

[Tofer]

20 hours ago, swissbie said:

Absolutely agree with your post, except, that for the determination of the ownership there is no need for a lawyer, OP, do it like the banks, ask for a certified copy of the chanote from the land office.

We did this and went along to the land office to check the chinote against their master plan which shows all the areas plots and post references / coordinates.

 

Check also the status of the Chinote, i.e. offered for purchase by the land office or ""bought"". There have been a lot of incidents where Chinotes were ""bought"" and rescinded by the head office wherein corruption was sighted.

[Time to grow]

On 6/29/2017 at 8:44 AM, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

Hire a lawyer to determine the ownership of the land, for this you should have copy of the chanote. The present owner must clear the land to enable you to see the Land office corner posts. Only when you can identify these posts can you be certain the chanote is for this land. If any posts are missing the present owner must ask the Land office to remeassure the land and replace the post. Dont fall for the post is here somewhere we just cant find it. This may take a while but it will give you cool down period in which you can continue to look around. Visit this land you want to buy at different times of day and night to see if there is any negatives coming out, loud music or traffic. When it rains hard go and look what the water run off does. Take your time and relax dont ever rush a deal. Oh and if there is people staying around the land let your wife talk to them about the area and the owner. Sometimes they know more than what you will think.

Some good sound advice, thank you. I am looking for a single plot of around 1.5 Rai. The property will be for a modest single family dwelling and subsistence farming. Many of the plots available seem to have been subdivided into smaller sections. One solution I have considered may be to purchase two adjoining plots but that being said, I would rather not be in or near a housing development anyway.

 

The South or Southwest end look much more appealing to me. Quieter, more laid-back, better sunlight for agriculture but much of the  available land looks like it floods easily. As one moves up in elevation to get out of the water, a premium is attached for a sea view. I am not telling many of you anything you don't already know but trying to find a happy medium without requiring excessive fill.

 

The property  I gave as an example in the opening post turned out to be a non-starter. A visit to the land office quickly revealed that the plots were not adjoining as the representative had billed them to be. Additionally, the individual plots were too small to be of use to me.

 

From most of the comments, it sounds like I would be wise to hire a lawyer to verify the legitimacy of the title and assist with due diligence. Again, thanks for all your input!