Is It A Good Time To Take A Position In Foreign Real Estate?
In recent years Bangkok Bank has had a loan program for foreigners with qualification being very like that in the west. You complete an application, submit evidence of revenue, tax returns and other documentation. With this program, buyers can finance up to seventy percent of the purchase cost of the home. The issue with this program is that it’s not been habitually offered, and as of this writing the programme has been suspended.
In some resort areas such as Pattaya, local banks have begun to design loan programs for foreigners who live and work in Thailand. Kasikorn Bank, for example, allows foreigners who have got a work permit for two or more years to get mortgage financing for up to 50% of the value of the topic property. This programme was just launched early 2010. With the present worldwide financial footing you are best to look into your options at once with Kasikorn Bank, Bangkok Bank ( Singapore ) and other lending institutions to figure out the existing standing of any loan programs which may be available for foreigners.
you will also use a lease structure to make your required property cheap. Available structures include lease with the option to buy and long term leases. Any lease for a term of more than three years can be registered on the title deed at the land office, thereby making a property right as well as a contractual right to occupy the house or condominium. Most local Thai counsels can handle this exchange on your behalf for a small fee.Prior to moving to Thailand, Michael lived and worked in the Boston area as a successful business executive with over twenty years of finance management and management consulting experience. Roles included monetary Controller at Harvard University, CFO / Director of Finance for a couple of Boston-area hospitals, and Consulting executive for a “Big 3″ consulting firm.
An example of such a programme is The Meadows, a housing project in Pattaya. The developer offers fifty percent three year financing at 8% per annum. Although the loan term for a number of programs isn’t so long as standard mortgages in the USA and Europe, such programs are useful.Individual property owners have recently become more open to extending financing to buyers of Thailand homes and apartments as a means to excite interest in their resale property. Under such an arrangement, the buyer and seller sign both a purchase and sale agreement and a promissory note.
in contrast to what one might expect from a semi developed country, the Bangkok home market is a stable and low risk market to take a position in. This is generally because of the culture of Thai folks, and that many properties on the market are not the primary residence of the owner. Thais sometimes sit on their property until they can get the price that they desire for it. This could be for years , forever , and because lots of properties on the market aren’t the primary residence of the owner they are in no rush to sell. Also, pride plays a part. Due to these factors, you may notice the Bangkok real estate market is awfully powerful in times of slow business expansion or recession, and prices rarely fall. the Bangkok home market is low risk. Of course, let’s not forget the economy crises that arose in Thailand in 1997. With a developing country there is still risk, but as time passes the likelihood of a re-occurrence of such an industrial crises on this scale becomes quite little.
As with developer financing, barter the purchase price separate from the T&Cs of the loan. Vital to note is the undeniable fact that the vendor will continue to hold the title deed ( Chanote ) to the property till the loan repayment is made in full. Make sure your lawyer reviews your deal and makes sure that all documents are updated and properly protected to protect your investment.There are often 2 other options available to foreigners to finance their Thailand house or condo purchase. Historically, many foreign customers had taken a mortgage against their property in their home nations. This is harder than ever given the commercial crisis, yet still an option for some. Again, check with your local bank to figure out what programs are available to you.
source: thailand apartments