March 2010:

Buying a house in Thailand is done in half a day - both parties meet at the local government land office ( no need for appointment just turn up)- the buyer is carrying the money - the seller the Charnott title deed (There are 4 levels of title deeds ranging from 4 = absolute title - to 1 = a letter from somebody in the village normally government officer who reckons the seller has been on that land for some years (not recommended as proof of purchase or ownership!). The impressive looking charnott 4 document also lists on the reverse who has previously owned the land. After a lot of form filling the buyer hands over the dosh and the seller hands over the title deeds, the government do their bit and add your name to the reverse and levy a small percentage (5%) tax. The deal is concluded and in this case my wife is now the proud owner of a plot of land. Foreigners are not allowed to own land in Thailand and many other SE Asian countries - they are however allowed to own houses just not the land they are build on.