A foreign freehold condo is the one form of Thai property a foreign buyer can own outright, with the title deed in their own name and no expiry date. It is the opposite of a lease: nothing runs out, nothing needs renewing, and the unit can be sold, let or left in your will like any other property you own. This page lists the Phuket condo projects where we can sell you foreign freehold, what each one offers, what it costs to buy and hold, and what to check before you reserve.
Foreign freehold is limited by law, so it is worth understanding before you fall for a unit. Each registered building can sell up to 49% of its total unit area to foreigners as freehold. Once that share is used, further foreign buyers can only take a lease, although a unit that a foreigner already owns freehold can be resold to another foreigner as freehold. That is why we confirm the position building by building, and unit by unit, before you commit.
Foreign freehold at a glance
| What to know | |
|---|---|
| What you get | Full ownership of the unit and a share of the common areas, with the title deed in your name |
| The legal limit | Foreigners can hold up to 49% of the total unit area of a registered condominium |
| Where the money comes from | The purchase price must be sent from overseas in foreign currency and evidenced to the Land Office |
| If the foreign share is full | A registered lease of up to 30 years, or a freehold resale from an existing foreign owner |
| Residency | Owning a condo does not by itself give you the right to live in Thailand; visas are a separate matter |
| Our role | We are your agent. We confirm availability and tenure, and recommend an independent Thai lawyer |
Phuket condos with foreign freehold
These are the projects we sell where foreign freehold is on offer, with our featured project first, then the rest from the highest entry price to the lowest. Prices and unit types update automatically from our current listings, and each card tells you how freehold works in that building.
Hythe by Botanica
Foreign freehold available now (THB 10,000 per sqm over the leasehold price)
Banyan Tree Beach Residences Oceanus
Freehold and leasehold units both available
Twinpalms Residences MontAzure
Foreign freehold units
Banyan Tree Beach Residences Sirena
Foreign freehold up to 49% of the building
Angsana Oceanview Residences
Freehold and leasehold units both available
Angsana Golf Residences Topaz
Foreign freehold units
Laguna Beach Residences Reef
Foreign freehold units
Laguna Beach Residences Bayside
Foreign freehold units
Bellaguna Lake Residences Lotus
Freehold and leasehold units both available
Residences at Garrya Phuket
Foreign freehold up to 49% of the building
Laguna Lakelands Waterside Residences
Freehold and leasehold units both available
The Standard Residences, Bang Tao
Foreign freehold resale, limited units
Bellaguna Golf Residences Hibiscus
Freehold and leasehold units both available
Laguna Lake Residences Aster
Freehold and leasehold units both available
MGallery Residences MontAzure
Foreign freehold up to 49% of the building
Bellaguna Golf Residences Pentas
Freehold on the higher floors, leasehold lower down
Skypark Elara
Freehold and leasehold units both available
Skypark Celeste
Freehold and leasehold units both available
Availability depends on each building’s remaining foreign share and changes as units sell, so send us your shortlist and we will check it. Some projects we sell offer foreign buyers leasehold only; you will find them with the rest in our full list of Phuket condos for sale.
Foreign freehold compared with leasehold
Many projects offer both, often at different prices, so it helps to see the two side by side.
| Foreign freehold | Leasehold | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | The unit itself, with the title deed in your name | The right to use the unit under a registered lease; the title stays with the developer or a Thai owner |
| Term | No expiry | Initial term of up to 30 years, registered at the Land Office |
| Renewal | Not needed | Often offered in the contract, but not guaranteed by law |
| Foreign share (49%) | Counts towards the building’s limit | Does not use the freehold share |
| Price | Usually higher, in some projects a set amount per square metre on top of the leasehold price | Usually lower |
| Resale | Can be sold to a Thai or foreign buyer; a foreign buyer needs room in the building’s foreign share | The buyer takes over the remaining lease term, so value falls as the term shortens |
| Paperwork | Funds sent from overseas in foreign currency, evidenced for the Land Office, then registered transfer | Lease agreement, registered at the Land Office |
Neither is right for everyone. Foreign freehold suits buyers who want a long-term asset they fully own and can pass on. Leasehold can suit shorter horizons, or buildings where the foreign freehold share has already been used. For a fuller comparison, see leasehold vs freehold in Thailand.
Foreign freehold condos by budget
Entry prices vary widely, from compact apartments to beachfront residences. This is how the projects above group by their lowest current price.
The lowest price is a guide to where a project starts, not what most buyers spend. Larger layouts, higher floors and sea views cost more, and the cards above show each project’s full range.
How the 49% foreign share works
The 49% limit is counted by floor area, not by number of units, and it is tracked for each registered condominium. When a foreign buyer takes foreign freehold, the area of that unit is recorded against the building’s foreign share. The building’s juristic person, and the Land Office at transfer, keep the count.
Foreign freehold comes to market in two ways. In a new development the developer sells units from the building’s foreign share, so early buyers choose from the full range of floors, views and layouts. Later, freehold units come back on the market as resales when an owner sells. If a foreigner sells to a foreigner, the unit stays inside the foreign share. If it is sold to a Thai buyer, that share is generally freed up again. In established buildings where the foreign share has been used, resales can be the only route to foreign freehold, so the choice is smaller and tends to move quickly.
We sell both, and we tell you plainly which one a unit is before you spend time on it.
How buying a foreign freehold condo works
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Shortlist | You tell us your budget, preferred area and whether you will live in the unit, let it, or both. We shortlist units that fit. |
| 2. View | See the building and unit in person when you are on the island, or start with a video walkthrough to narrow things down. |
| 3. Confirm foreign freehold | We confirm that the unit is a foreign freehold unit and still within the building’s 49% share. |
| 4. Reserve and contract | You reserve the unit, and your Thai lawyer reviews the sale and purchase agreement and does the due diligence. |
| 5. Send funds from abroad | The purchase price is sent from overseas in foreign currency, with the bank’s confirmation (a Foreign Exchange Transaction form or equivalent), since the Land Office will ask for it. |
| 6. Transfer | Registered transfer at the Land Office, and the title deed is issued in your name. Off-plan units follow the developer’s construction timeline, with payments staged against build milestones. |
Keep the bank’s confirmation safe. If you ever sell and want to take the proceeds out of Thailand, it is the evidence that the money came in from abroad.
Costs of buying and owning
The price on the listing is not the only figure. These are the usual costs, and your contract and your lawyer will confirm exactly who pays what in your case.
| Cost | Typically |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee | 2% of the registered value, shared or allocated by agreement between buyer and seller |
| Specific business tax or stamp duty | Usually one or the other, depending on how long the seller has owned the unit; normally paid by the seller |
| Seller’s withholding tax | Paid by the seller at transfer |
| Sinking fund | A one-off contribution to the building’s reserve fund, set by each building |
| Common area fee | An ongoing charge for maintenance and management, usually calculated per square metre |
| Legal and other fees | Your Thai lawyer, translation of documents and any furnishing package |
On new developments the developer often sets who pays the transfer costs in the contract, so ask for this in writing before you reserve. Rates and rules can change, so treat this as a guide and confirm it with your lawyer.
Letting a foreign freehold condo
Many buyers plan to let the unit for part of the year or full time. How you can do that depends on the building, so check these before you buy:
- Letting rules. Thai law restricts short stays of under 30 days in buildings that do not hold a hotel licence, and the building’s own rules can add to that. Longer lets are generally simpler.
- Rental programmes. Some projects run an on-site rental programme through the management company or a hotel brand. Ask for the terms, the split of income and how many nights you can use the unit yourself.
- Real occupancy. Ask for actual booking and rental history in that building, not the developer’s projection.
- Running costs. Net income is what matters, so allow for the common area fee, management charges, utilities and tax on rental income.
If letting is part of your plan, tell us at the shortlist stage. It changes which buildings we suggest.
What to check before you reserve
- The unit’s tenure. Make sure the contract says foreign freehold for that specific unit. Some buildings mix freehold and leasehold units on different floors.
- The foreign share. Ask for written confirmation that the share has not been used up, not a verbal assurance.
- The completion date. For off-plan units, check the developer’s date and what happens if it slips.
- Running costs. Ask for the common area fee and any sinking fund for the building, since they are a real annual cost.
- The developer and building management. We work with established developers and check their track record before we list a project.
- Your own lawyer. We are an agent, not a law firm, and we recommend an independent Thai lawyer for every purchase.
Where these condos are
Most of our foreign freehold condos are around Bangtao and Laguna, the polished stretch of the west coast with beach clubs, golf and some of the island’s best restaurants, with others in Kamala, a quieter stretch of coast within easy reach of Bangtao. Which one suits you depends on whether you are buying to live in, to let out, or both, and we are happy to talk it through.
Talk to us about your shortlist
Tell us your budget, the area you prefer and how you plan to use the condo, and we will come back with the foreign freehold options that fit, with the tenure and availability confirmed for each. Contact us to start.
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and building quotas change, so we confirm the current position for any unit you are considering. Related reading: can foreigners buy property in Phuket? and all Phuket condos for sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners really own a condo in Phuket freehold?
Yes. A foreigner can hold a condominium unit freehold in their own name, as long as the building's foreign share, 49% of total unit area, has not been used up.
What happens if a building's foreign share is full?
Foreigners can usually still buy leasehold, normally registered for up to 30 years, or buy a freehold resale unit when one comes up. We tell you which applies before you reserve.
How much more does foreign freehold cost than leasehold?
It depends on the project. Freehold is usually priced higher, and in some projects it is a set amount per square metre on top of the leasehold price. We give you both prices side by side where a building offers both.
Is leasehold a bad option?
It is a lease, so we suggest valuing it on its registered term. For many buyers the lower entry price makes sense, particularly in newer projects, and many buildings offer both so you can compare.
Does the 49% limit apply to the whole project or each building?
It applies to each registered condominium. In a large project made up of several buildings, the position can differ from one building to the next, so we check the specific building.
How do you confirm what is available?
We ask the developer or the building's juristic person for the remaining foreign share and the units open to foreign freehold, and we pass it on before you reserve anything.
What costs should I budget for besides the price?
Mainly the transfer fee, usually 2% of the registered value, plus the sinking fund and the ongoing common area fee, and your lawyer's fees. Specific business tax or stamp duty and the seller's withholding tax are normally paid by the seller. Who pays what is set by your contract, so we ask for it in writing.
Can I rent out a foreign freehold condo?
Usually yes, subject to the building's rules. Short stays of under 30 days are restricted in buildings without a hotel licence, so check the rules or the rental programme before you buy. We can point you towards buildings with a genuine occupancy record rather than a developer's projection.
Does owning a condo give me a visa to live in Thailand?
No, ownership on its own does not give you the right to live in Thailand. Visas are a separate application with their own requirements, and your lawyer or a visa specialist can advise on the options.
Can I sell a foreign freehold condo later?
Yes. You can sell to a Thai or a foreign buyer. A foreign buyer needs room in the building's foreign share, and a sale to a Thai buyer generally frees up that share. Keep the bank confirmation for your incoming funds, since you will need it if you want to move the proceeds abroad.
Do I need a Thai lawyer?
We recommend one for every purchase. We are an agent, not a law firm, and we work alongside your lawyer.