Buying an apartment in a condominium (condo) is the easiest and safest way for a foreigner to own a property in Thailand.

In Bangkok and in tourist areas such as Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Hua Hin, an important number of properties are sold under this scheme, which is defined by the Condominium Act. And the condominium market keeps on growing across the country.

There are many similarities with the notion of condominium or divided co-property existing in many other countries, such as the USA, Canada, France, and this includes the principal: each co-owner of the residence individually owns the unit he has purchased, while an association of owners jointly owns the common areas of the building, each owner receiving shares in proportion to the private surface that he individually owns.

Although the purchase of a condominium in Thailand is quite simple, you sould still make a few verifications in order to avoid  disappointment.

Among the basic verifications, you should check at least the authenticity of the title, the seller adress and the mortgages that could concern the property… In many countries, such as France, UK and others, these verification are done by the Notary, who alone is authorized to write the deed of sale. In Thailand, the Notary profession does not exist, so your interest is to secure the transaction by entrusting the preparation and verification of the legal documents to a trusted professional who will not be one appointed by the seller.

Before that step, showing that you are aware of the basic rules will make you more credible during negotiation, and protect you from unscrupulous people.