Almost every conversation we have with a first-time buyer arrives, sooner or later, at this question. Here is the plain version, the way we would explain it to a friend.
Freehold, within the quota
You can own a condominium unit outright as a foreigner, provided foreign owners hold no more than 49% of the building's saleable area. This is the simplest form of ownership for a foreigner, and the easiest to resell. The two checks that matter: confirm the foreign-quota space is still available in the specific building, and confirm the building is licensed as a condominium (some are not, and the rules don't apply).
Registered leasehold
For a villa on land, the common path is a registered 30-year lease, frequently with contractual renewals. It is durable when structured properly — the lease must be registered at the Land Department, not just contractual — and it is how a great many of our happiest owners hold their homes.
What we don't recommend
Thai nominee company structures designed to disguise foreign control of land. We've written about this separately — they are fragile, and they are now actively scrutinised.
