I'm so happy to be working with my Nephew with the mission to create things to help Thailand Lovers get closer to the country we all love so much....so if you are looking to buy or rent something here it's Adam who'll be your first point of contact. You can reach him here: connect@retiredworkingforyou.com
We’re planning to retire in BKK soon. But each person/family needs are different, but ditching out 5-10 plus millions Baht doesn’t making any sense to us. Instead putting 5-10 millions Baht into Index Fund and living off on your return and use that money for rent. Rent in Thailand is cheap. This way we will never run out our investment principle. If your circumstance change, you can move, instead of struck with a property you cannot sell and recoup your money. That’s are plan, rent instead of buying. We want to be mobile, if the neighborhood change, we can move to another location.
I'd agree. The fact that foreigners can't own land in Thailand doesn't help either. People be buying and selling houses without owning the land they're on. Bit crazy to my mind.
As a Canadian Expat, I’ve been living in Phuket for the past 24yrs. Living on my boat initially, I purchased a Freehold property inside one of the local golf courses in 2003. I had the house completely “gutted” down to a concrete shell and rebuilt from the ground up…. spending much, much more than I should have (18MTB… more or less…. Probably more. Hahaha…. Factors that many newbies don’t consider when building new, or when buying an existing property is if the property is Freehold or Leasehold, Common Area Maintenance Fees, Security, Road Traffic, Electrical….etc. What I pay annually for my Common Area Maint Fees (26,000B/yr) are what some developments charge per month. Regarding Electrical Billing…. Make sure that you pay directly to the Provincial Electrical Authority (PEA) as I do. Otherwise, the developer managing the housing project will charge you more than the standard PEA rate. Earlier this year I installed a Solar Grid-Tie Inverter (GTI) system (No Batteries) that is reducing my monthly electrical bill by -30%. I plan to double up the system for a total reduction of -60% early next year. Prior to installation of the GTI my monthly electrical bills were around 2,400B/mo. Now they’re around 1,600B. With the system completed early next year…..800B/month. ROI for the GTI system is about 3-4yrs. I have met some expats who pay 16,000B+/mo mostly because they have a swimming pool, a wife who wants Air-Con 24/7 and a ridiculous electric car…. Freehold with Chanote vs Leasehold (30yr Rental) I chose to avoid Leasing as there is no guarantee that the Thai owners of the land/project will renew the lease. They could very easily and legally say Bye-Bye to you at the end of the 30yrs. I chose Freehold with an Usufruct and actually own the house / structure. I have a Tambian Baan (Yellow Book) with my name in it, which has also allowed me to obtain the Thai ID Pink Card….. which is a great “supporting” document for when dealing with government officials etc….. Legal Due Diligence issues. Many property developers have in the past, been in bed with local law firms. In order to avoid any unwanted “issues” or improprieties, I hired an American law firm in BKK to conduct the DD on both the developer and the property in Phuket. There is a lotta work involved to get it done right, but if it is done right….. it’s worth it.
@@user-wm2tw While I may have been in what many would consider a high income bracket, that is no longer the case. In July 2020 due to C19, all pilots over the age of 60yrs (I was 62yrs at the time) were forcibly “Retired” from the cockpit in Abu Dhabi where I was flying helicopters to offshore oil platforms. Working a 2 month ON / 1 month OFF rotation for over 24yrs in the mid-east…. Life was good. Fortunately all is bought and paid for here on Phuket as I have some doubts as to weather my $435CAD (12,000B) monthly pension cheque would cover all my expenses…… Hahaha
@UCgQKAUo7MfrphfmXJGY3soQ All assets and property remain secure. Had a Thai wife once… Never again. I too old school. I don’t particularly care for my wife leading a double life with her Swedish Boy-Toy, while I was away at work in Abu Dhabi. Shit happens…. Deal with it. If you want companionship…… Get a dog. With that said, I now have a 21 month old Golden Retriever…..
@@verticalift well said. Lots these people are so eager to buy Thai women houses and businesses just so they can live in TH. What happened to renting? It’s crazy.
I went to Samui earlier this year and did the full property tour with an agent for a day. What you dont see is how bad the infrastructure is on the island. Constant black outs, when it rains the road is totally covered in dirt. You could be buying a place that costs 700k USD and right next to you are people living in DIY huts made out of sticks. Some of those villas on the hill, the road to get up there is downright scary, 30 degree plus inclines, very narrow road with huge drop offs. Also theres no real investment opportunity here, the prices dont go up like they say they do, if anything they go down. Its just like in Bangkok where developers are pumping out new builds. The more you customise it the harder it is to sell and the more expensive the smaller the target market on resale. I was completely turned off when i went to see for myself and in the same breath i can say this video makes the place look great. Thailand is a very strange country, i lived there for long enough. It has a lot of positives but it also has negatives that are not often spoken about.
I lived in Phuket for 4.5 years and what they don't show is the dreadful build quality, saw lots of building work in my time there, read the local newspaper and see the complaints from even wealthy Thais who buy them and complain how badly they are built, leaking roofs etc, water pouring in when it rains, electricity brown outs were often in Phuket
@@malcolmrowe5031 Exactly right. I think low quality is pervasive in the entire country in many different areas. They will always do the dodgey or cheap easy fix rather than do something properly.
THATS RIGHT...this is why you should never ever pay 300k upward 700k is laughable! The purchase infrastructure and amenities is of non existence and everything u say.. one can get more in Texas for under 300k. Yes folk in Thailand are so very greedy n opportunistic sadly! Just cannot compare Western pricing to anything in Thailand. I mean look at Bangkok right now. Flooding hell hole because of the new train infrastructure, clearly civil engineering is grossly lacking, this is what I'm talking about! Value comes about with high quality standard of living through local council and infrastructure.down into the town amd surrounds, I mean I don't see correct drainage if any hence flooding roads everywhere.. I would be concerned with land slides with poor building developments and substructure of buildings.
Samui, Phuket, Bali are definitely slowly offering more and more expensive houses, more and more western property developers have moved in and are looking for huge profits off the backs of cheap labor and cheap materials. capitalism at its finest. enjoy these islands while you can because eventually all the islands will eventually become developed and expensive. foreigners are moving in more and more and changing the landscape.
The second site -option #2( still being developed) I’d be concerned with erosion with mud slides during continuous downpours. ) - Something to be aware.
Beware: What they don’t tell you in this kind of bs videos is that you “ buy” the house but it’s actually a 30 year lease with option for another 30 year lease. So if you pass away your heirs get nothing. They keep everything. That’s the trick they don’t tell people till they are too far into the deal.
Not entirely correct. There are new rules. There are also several ways to structure ownership. Talk to a lawyer who knows what options are open to you.
@James Wynn you mean get around the law that prohibit ownership of land by foreigners. ? Which is never a good thing because it can can create legal issues later on in so many different ways. There are people who go around spreading that narrative to gullible people that you can just go buy a house in TH ; and guess what the people who are spreading that narrative online are local Thais with western fake online names. Good thing is that more and more people are becoming aware of this bs narrative.
@James Wynn yes I know the company route well. Thai law actually does not look favorably at companies created for primary purpose of home ownership. And what percent of company is to be owned by that nationals?? 51% minimum? Often times the attorney owns what 2-3%? And “home owner” owns 49% of the company? ok. That workaround and not seen favorably by Thai courts. They may look the other way but one day they may not. So much for the workaround. Typical I know someone who has a friend.. anecdotal nonsense. 🙄🙄
If buying a new build/from a developer you must do proper research and should only buy from a developer that has already completed multiple successful projects (hard to find on Samui). There’s far too many that go bankrupt part way through and either don’t get finished at all or get finished to poor quality/don’t finish communal etc and you end up pouring more money in. So many horror stories, we were lucky and got a finished villa but only after a 4 year delay and having to pour thousands more in to redo most of the stuff as well as having to pay to finish communal areas.
Building on the side of a soil mountain brings much concern to me. Malibu during the rainy season. What seems solid one day is sliding down the hill in heavy rain. Build look great though.
Thanks for this video Chris. I'm driven up to some of these developments in Koh Samui. Although the views are amazing, I couldn't see myself driving those extremely steep roads on the daily much less walking them.
Hello Chris. always enjoy your videos. I know you love samui. I am an American engineer looking to build or buy with my thai wife. I understand these hills are sand with no rock? The foundations would not be a problem if they are using piers, but I wonder about the long term maintenance of the roads. What is your experience there? Also do you know how all these pools I see with so many new builds are maintained? Pool boys? Thanks so much
@@loveknowsnoborder See i can tell you the secret nobody with real $$ here wants me to tell you. And the thing is, you wouldn't even care; you wouldn't have the means or the know-how to do anything with the information anyway. So here goes: MOST of the foreigners making CONSIDERABLE wealth here, have done so in real estate. Now you ask yourself how that jives with your narrative, that investing in real estate here is a fool's errand. And then ask yourself if it's possible that this narrative you and everyone else in the comments seem to have, might just be a little flawed. FYI, they (the ones creating generational wealth) love that you all seem to think you have it figured out. But you don't. And me telling you this won't change anything for a single person, especially you.
I thought foreigners couldn't buy land in Thailand. I heard they can buy some condos if the foreign ownership percentage is below a certain amount, but a detached villa would require a land purchase or lease.
Hi Chris, first time I have watched your vids and really enjoyed, so subscribed, those condos were pretty amazing, loved the views and the facilities. My partner and I are coming to Bangkok late March early April, will also visit Hua Hin and Koh Samui. Will look around, Cheers mate
Mixed feelings when I watch this YT, sure the houses they are building are very nice but you also see the huge amount of nature they destroy on the hills everywhere where in the North of Samui. You want to live there on a beautiful Island with a lot of nature with getting less and less rapidly😔. I been too Samui 6 times from 2001 until now last time May and I understand the need for resorts and real estate but it has go way too far in my opinion.
@@carloscort7604 something like that in N. Dallas would cost no more than $600K, walk in closets the lot. No view of course, maybe that what they think warrants the price?
Moving to Thailand from US, do you have any issues accessing your US bank acc there, i know 2 of my accounts have IP based security, i am concerned i will not be able to have access there... Any advise?
I was under the impression that the reason to move to Thailand was to get more for less at 2M for a villa with hardly any land I can buy 1 to 160 acres and build a Palace in the US. I guess is becoming more expensive that the place is supposed to replace for that price I stay at home and visit Thailand. I didn't see anyone using rebar or steel beams in their construction, it looks to me like highway robbery.
Thailand is well known for shoddy construction work, cutting corners to pocket cash with cheap materials, and poor design. It's virtually unheard of to have walk in closets, and they give you nothing for your money. But at least the Australian developer did that with his. Too pricey for me though that one, and as you say we can get better quality and value for the same money (or less) in the USA. I guess you are paying for the tropical experience and view?
Property in Thailamd is just like food there....a farang price and a local price. Is ok to pay for farang price if you visit for a week. Unless one marry a local then is a good idea to buy a house.
Aren't there legal issues? Technically buying under a company name, unless a REAL trading company is totally illegal - sure people get away with it often enough.. I disagree wholeheartedly with wealthy foreigners buying up property in Thailand as investment opportunities alongside wealthy Thais - that works so much against the equality/wealth gap for the majority of local Thais. I'm not a hater - but ethics are so important...
In Puerto Rico is the same story but worst because the Corrupt PR Goverment are giving the Island to foreigners with a stupid made up law and receiving vribes....Thailand government has more control of their land, because they can take the Property in any moment if the foreigner doesn't met legal documentation
One thing that really bothers me about these hill side builds is the terrible roads, lack of drainage and slippage. I was on Samui and have a great photo of a hill road half washed away because of bad engineering and to fix it when it falls down will cost a fortune. In heavy rain over years I worry that these places will suffer severe erosion and become unlivable.
Agree 100% on the homes built on the sandy hills. The last home is viable however. Rule number one in SE Asia. Build the home on the granite bedrock if at all possible. The area is well overdeveloped compared to 20 years ago. It's amazing how things have changed pre and post Covid w/r/t real estate.
So mark. You mean to tell me this hill is just sand and not rock? Building the foundation would not be bad, but the roads would be problematic. Do you have personal experience in samui you could share? My thai wife and I may build or buy on the island.
@@robdavinroy1761 No experience in Thailand personally but in the Philippines. The foundation pilings may well be set in bedrock in the hills of Samui but I would not bet on it. I have seen reports over the years of significant erosion problems during the monsoon seasons. Just from looking at the construction site in this video the ground they are working with looks like a mixture of sand, gravel and smaller sized rocks. The construction practices in Thailand are much better than the Philippines so it may well work out for a few years but to me this development on the hills is a red flag. The Australian's project looks much better as you can control drainage more easily. Remember ...... water always wins and flowing water can kick your ass.
@@markmielke5283 mark. Thanks for the insight!!. I am a river engineer and trust me you are right about water. You may be an engineer too because you are very observant about the geology. The thing about Thailand or for that matter Asia where you have the monsoon cycle is that if you build low like in the second house you risk flooding flooding of the ground floor and sewage backup. I have relatives and friends in bangkok and it’s a real mess in the monsoon. The majority of the cities in the country are built along rivers in the floodplain and are always subject to flooding. I’ve had my eyes on building higher but it’s a trade off you are right. Then of course there is also the slight risk of Tsunamis on houses low along the sea, but that side of Thailand is lower.
Or lease land for 30 yrs build on it and when lease is over say good bye to house because you can’t move your house back to your country when lease is over . Basically the investment will be a waste.
I really liked this video. I miss living in samui and imagine that both you and your friend Andrew both have wonderful lives. Do yourselves a favor and wear your seat belts because whilst watching your video I noticed that the pair of you were cruising around without them on.
yup Chris needs to explain all this, especially since he is setting up a Thai property company (I imagine with the required number of Thai employees). I suspect the house he is building is going to be owned by his new property company? If that's the case, fine, good for him, but it's not how the average Joe here is going to be able to do it.
I live in the south of Samui, not crowded at all and palm trees everywhere. I will be doing a custom build and know buying a similar home would cost double here. Lamai will be a 7 minute drive away, Chaweng 30 minutes. I could not imagine escaping to a tropical island to retire and then living in a home side by side with many others, shopping malls, traffic congestion, a miniature concrete jungle. Land is less expensive in the south (draw a line from Lamai to Nathon, anything south of that) so you usually have a large garden as well, or a multi-building dwelling. My wife sells land all over the island so I have a good idea of prices and locations. Point being, there are many, many cost and location options on Samui, especially when you get further from the northeast corner of the island.
@@carloscort7604 Thailand is not a third world country, and you don't have 2 million USD, so what you would and wouldn't do with that amount of money is irrelevant.
@@luxuryseaviewvillas6744 thailand is a definitively third world country and many people with disposable income have nothing better to do than sit on thir asses and fck off on the internet its issues the government and infrastructure in thailand esp on the estate islands is fcking atrocious due to somuch greed and corruption vs the extreme poverty ....
This was a great video. From what I have always understood, 'a foreigner' in Thailand is not permitted to own a home in their name. I understand that a person can own a condo in their name, but never a villa or a home. Am I missing something with that? Or do I need to put the villa in my or under come on my business name? Thanks
You can “own” a home here in Thailand…. But, you can not have the land registered in your name. A foreigner can not own the land. The foreign owner of the home (“Improvements to the Land”) will be issued with a “Yellow Book - Tambian Baan” with your name written in Thai script inside.
You should do a video with buying cheap condos or apartments I have seen other people on youtube in other countries showing what its like to buy 5,000 to 10,000 dollar studios apartments. Cause someone like me who wants to move to thailand one day could not afford a 200,000 dollar place lol.
LOL are you chinese? Sorry couldn't resist that. But seriously....that's OK short term such as your vacation visit but thinking of living in a small box forever with no storage space or cupboards and you can't swing a cat....I couldn't do it.
Great video as always. Myself and my wife here in Samui right now till mid next week. What an absolute paradise.Can see ourselves owning a nice villa here in the future. Staying at the boutique hotel Villa nalinnadda which we seen in a vid of yours some time back.
Yeah, great!…..that 3rd villa, spend a fortune for the view and peace and tranquility……but you conveniently forgot to mention the airport flight path right in front of you with tourist jets thundering past non stop 24/7…….you’d be nuts to buy this!!
i built a house right around the corner. the planes aren't a bother at all. i guess for some they might be but it's some of the most sought after property in samui in that area.
Hi. I think we saw in one of your videos in Phuket you visited a restaurant called Baan Rim Pa. Can you remember if it was any good? We’re visiting next year and want a good restaurant for an 18th birthday meal. If this one’s no good, any other suggestions? We’d like somewhere special. Thanks! 😊
looks like a treacherous road too. And the monsoon season, you might just find your house foundations get eroded and falls over. What if you are even further down and it falls on your house from above! Mudslides wipe out whole residential area when you build on hills and cut down the trees, in a monsoon.
Fyi: Australian built = cheapest low quality materials looking for someone who has no idea about construction to pay a ridiculous amount of money for them.
Yes exactly, the owners don't care about the build quality, as long the villa has a very good ROI... There are also many rich Thais who invest in rental villas...
Hello Chris, thanks for another vid:) i would say the problem here with any kind of property is that you cannot own a house , just condos right? everything is under long term lease, and who knows what is gonna happen with your property after 30years your lease expire :( its my dream to move to thailand, but the fact that you cannot own property, and its very hard to get visa makes it impossible for me. I wonder what kind of visa are you on, how did you manage to get to thailand and stay there, is it one of those ELITE visa? would be awesome if you reply, if not all good buddy.. have a good one
is thailand the only option you are considering? if not, you may consider southern europe, eg Portugal, they have D7 visa for nomad or retiree which is a steal.
I actually thought Chris was going to discuss all this in this video, including how to legally buy. But nope. I know his Moonstone villa is a business and he bought it as a company, but that means he can't live there, which is not quite what people are looking for, they want a home.
Looks great. Finally booked our tickets to get back to Thailand 🇹🇭 in early January. It will be my second trip to Thailand so very excited. And I am in the process of setting up Thailand business now. :) can’t wait 😃🏝
@@RetiredWorkingForYou can you make a video about the process how to buy land or property as a foreigner in Thailand? I think that'd be something a lot of ppl are interested in
A shame they ever started building in the hills … I knew Samui before those building projects and see how many troubles they have with the water making its way down ..even the roads to those houses … you must be skilled to drive up and down. Responsible Urban design Thai style …
Dunno how that last one is 1 mil. In Thailand. The cost to build there is much cheaper so the markup is overkill. Reality it’s prob 400k to Build all in.
Hi criss love your video .i was wounding if you know a good hospital in Thailand for surgery.i am from Vancouver Canada and the waiting lis is awful.i really appreciate it if you recommend it
check out this service that lets you browse all your options....... it's like the Airbnb of medical tourism and a good way to navigate through your process..... ever.healthcare/?RW4UYT01
I'm just curious why most of house use concrete in those country to build house. I know the wood can cost alot of $$$ in some country. But if someone want to be more ecologic ( I can't believe i say that word) and want it built with wood it is possible ???? or using sea container ??? Because where I'm from is more wood we use in Canada for house and I wouid like to know why concrete and not wood or something more ecologic methode. Thanks
@@Phornphan22 absolutely. Imagine in a tropical lush location, they bulldozed an area to build. Next thing you know the termites have taken residence. ouch. It's one of my major concerns if I were to buy, and I don't trust property assessors. I personally know many people in Bangkok with termites eating their condos and houses.
The last property you show you fail to mention the access road goes through around 50 undeveloped run down concrete skeletons! The view in front can also be developed so slightly misleading
They always say go the company route. But most who do that claim they are going to rent it out. I think most people are not looking to do that they want to live there. Chris has moonstone villa but he rents it and doesn't live there. And he may have been able to build his samui house too using that Thai company he formed as the land owner? Wish he would do that sort of video and explain his situation.
I've been pondering the idea of buying some real estate in Thailand in the next year or so. In fact, I contacted someone about a week ago in Pattaya about such an adventure. I copied the email you gave. When I am ready, I will send a message and get some help with this project.
I'm so happy to be working with my Nephew with the mission to create things to help Thailand Lovers get closer to the country we all love so much....so if you are looking to buy or rent something here it's Adam who'll be your first point of contact. You can reach him here: connect@retiredworkingforyou.com
How can you buy it? If u are not Thai?
@Mauwie Morris 30 year is no guarantee. they can throw you out!
@@scott8057 ?
@@SofyaBarth you have to be married to a Thai to own individual houses . The only thing you can own is high rise condos.
@@robdavinroy1761 Not true ~!~~ Land you can't own, house yes!!
We’re planning to retire in BKK soon. But each person/family needs are different, but ditching out 5-10 plus millions Baht doesn’t making any sense to us. Instead putting 5-10 millions Baht into Index Fund and living off on your return and use that money for rent. Rent in Thailand is cheap. This way we will never run out our investment principle. If your circumstance change, you can move, instead of struck with a property you cannot sell and recoup your money. That’s are plan, rent instead of buying. We want to be mobile, if the neighborhood change, we can move to another location.
You can buy a condo for around 3.5 million Baht and less. More also but it depends on how many people you have loving with you.
Not to pry, Can you recommend any index funds that have been promising or look to be in 2023? 😁 Have a blessed New Year.
@@man4YAWEH454splg
You are very correct!! Wow never thought of that! Put it in an index fund and just rent!!! Plus you can't even own in Thailand
I'd agree. The fact that foreigners can't own land in Thailand doesn't help either. People be buying and selling houses without owning the land they're on. Bit crazy to my mind.
As a Canadian Expat, I’ve been living in Phuket for the past 24yrs. Living on my boat initially, I purchased a Freehold property inside one of the local golf courses in 2003. I had the house completely “gutted” down to a concrete shell and rebuilt from the ground up…. spending much, much more than I should have (18MTB… more or less…. Probably more. Hahaha….
Factors that many newbies don’t consider when building new, or when buying an existing property is if the property is Freehold or Leasehold, Common Area Maintenance Fees, Security, Road Traffic, Electrical….etc.
What I pay annually for my Common Area Maint Fees (26,000B/yr) are what some developments charge per month.
Regarding Electrical Billing…. Make sure that you pay directly to the Provincial Electrical Authority (PEA) as I do. Otherwise, the developer managing the housing project will charge you more than the standard PEA rate. Earlier this year I installed a Solar Grid-Tie Inverter (GTI) system (No Batteries) that is reducing my monthly electrical bill by -30%. I plan to double up the system for a total reduction of -60% early next year. Prior to installation of the GTI my monthly electrical bills were around 2,400B/mo. Now they’re around 1,600B. With the system completed early next year…..800B/month.
ROI for the GTI system is about 3-4yrs. I have met some expats who pay 16,000B+/mo mostly because they have a swimming pool, a wife who wants Air-Con 24/7 and a ridiculous electric car….
Freehold with Chanote vs Leasehold (30yr Rental)
I chose to avoid Leasing as there is no guarantee that the Thai owners of the land/project will renew the lease. They could very easily and legally say Bye-Bye to you at the end of the 30yrs. I chose Freehold with an Usufruct and actually own the house / structure. I have a Tambian Baan (Yellow Book) with my name in it, which has also allowed me to obtain the Thai ID Pink Card….. which is a great “supporting” document for when dealing with government officials etc…..
Legal Due Diligence issues. Many property developers have in the past, been in bed with local law firms. In order to avoid any unwanted “issues” or improprieties, I hired an American law firm in BKK to conduct the DD on both the developer and the property in Phuket.
There is a lotta work involved to get it done right, but if it is done right….. it’s worth it.
Thanks for putting in the effort to share this info. You may save someone's bacon by providing these insights.
You clearly are in very high end income bracket. Thanks for sharing. Important info.
@@user-wm2tw
While I may have been in what many would consider a high income bracket, that is no longer the case.
In July 2020 due to C19, all pilots over the age of 60yrs (I was 62yrs at the time) were forcibly “Retired” from the cockpit in Abu Dhabi where I was flying helicopters to offshore oil platforms. Working a 2 month ON / 1 month OFF rotation for over 24yrs in the mid-east…. Life was good.
Fortunately all is bought and paid for here on Phuket as I have some doubts as to weather my $435CAD (12,000B) monthly pension cheque would cover all my expenses…… Hahaha
@UCgQKAUo7MfrphfmXJGY3soQ
All assets and property remain secure. Had a Thai wife once… Never again. I too old school. I don’t particularly care for my wife leading a double life with her Swedish Boy-Toy, while I was away at work in Abu Dhabi. Shit happens…. Deal with it.
If you want companionship…… Get a dog. With that said, I now have a 21 month old Golden Retriever…..
@@verticalift well said. Lots these people are so eager to buy Thai women houses and businesses just so they can live in TH. What happened to renting? It’s crazy.
With so many affordable options to rent in Thailand it’s a no brainer.
I went to Samui earlier this year and did the full property tour with an agent for a day.
What you dont see is how bad the infrastructure is on the island. Constant black outs, when it rains the road is totally covered in dirt.
You could be buying a place that costs 700k USD and right next to you are people living in DIY huts made out of sticks.
Some of those villas on the hill, the road to get up there is downright scary, 30 degree plus inclines, very narrow road with huge drop offs.
Also theres no real investment opportunity here, the prices dont go up like they say they do, if anything they go down. Its just like in Bangkok where developers are pumping out new builds. The more you customise it the harder it is to sell and the more expensive the smaller the target market on resale.
I was completely turned off when i went to see for myself and in the same breath i can say this video makes the place look great. Thailand is a very strange country, i lived there for long enough. It has a lot of positives but it also has negatives that are not often spoken about.
I lived in Phuket for 4.5 years and what they don't show is the dreadful build quality, saw lots of building work in my time there, read the local newspaper and see the complaints from even wealthy Thais who buy them and complain how badly they are built, leaking roofs etc, water pouring in when it rains, electricity brown outs were often in Phuket
@@malcolmrowe5031 Exactly right. I think low quality is pervasive in the entire country in many different areas.
They will always do the dodgey or cheap easy fix rather than do something properly.
Exactly, he is misleading people
THATS RIGHT...this is why you should never ever pay 300k upward 700k is laughable! The purchase infrastructure and amenities is of non existence and everything u say.. one can get more in Texas for under 300k. Yes folk in Thailand are so very greedy n opportunistic sadly! Just cannot compare Western pricing to anything in Thailand. I mean look at Bangkok right now. Flooding hell hole because of the new train infrastructure, clearly civil engineering is grossly lacking, this is what I'm talking about! Value comes about with high quality standard of living through local council and infrastructure.down into the town amd surrounds, I mean I don't see correct drainage if any hence flooding roads everywhere.. I would be concerned with land slides with poor building developments and substructure of buildings.
Chris sunk his retirement cash pot into a huge Samui villa so he's got the delusion of a sunk investor.....
Samui, Phuket, Bali are definitely slowly offering more and more expensive houses, more and more western property developers have moved in and are looking for huge profits off the backs of cheap labor and cheap materials. capitalism at its finest. enjoy these islands while you can because eventually all the islands will eventually become developed and expensive.
foreigners are moving in more and more and changing the landscape.
Great Video Chris! Thank you for making this!
The second site -option #2( still being developed) I’d be concerned with erosion with mud slides during continuous downpours. ) - Something to be aware.
The third option, never do business in Thailand
Are these houses on the hill Bulit on bed rock , has the foundation been fixed on rock
Beware: What they don’t tell you in this kind of bs videos is that you “ buy” the house but it’s actually a 30 year lease with option for another 30 year lease. So if you pass away your heirs get nothing. They keep everything. That’s the trick they don’t tell people till they are too far into the deal.
Bs is right
Caveat Emptor
Not entirely correct. There are new rules. There are also several ways to structure ownership. Talk to a lawyer who knows what options are open to you.
@James Wynn you mean get around the law that prohibit ownership of land by foreigners. ? Which is never a good thing because it can can create legal issues later on in so many different ways.
There are people who go around spreading that narrative to gullible people that you can just go buy a house in TH ; and guess what the people who are spreading that narrative online are local Thais with western fake online names. Good thing is that more and more people are becoming aware of this bs narrative.
@James Wynn yes I know the company route well. Thai law actually does not look favorably at companies created for primary purpose of home ownership. And what percent of company is to be owned by that nationals?? 51% minimum? Often times the attorney owns what 2-3%? And “home owner” owns 49% of the company? ok. That workaround and not seen favorably by Thai courts. They may look the other way but one day they may not. So much for the workaround. Typical I know someone who has a friend.. anecdotal nonsense. 🙄🙄
If buying a new build/from a developer you must do proper research and should only buy from a developer that has already completed multiple successful projects (hard to find on Samui). There’s far too many that go bankrupt part way through and either don’t get finished at all or get finished to poor quality/don’t finish communal etc and you end up pouring more money in. So many horror stories, we were lucky and got a finished villa but only after a 4 year delay and having to pour thousands more in to redo most of the stuff as well as having to pay to finish communal areas.
GREAT advice.
How about something more affordable, ranging ~75k - 120k usd ? anything of this sort for a single person ?
There certainly is. You could get a nice little condo for that.
Building on the side of a soil mountain brings much concern to me. Malibu during the rainy season. What seems solid one day is sliding down the hill in heavy rain. Build look great though.
what would you recommend in looking for and being cautious about , for a person coming from the US for the first time.
Just do not purchase haha easy! Rent!
@@lecannet yup
Thanks for this video Chris. I'm driven up to some of these developments in Koh Samui. Although the views are amazing, I couldn't see myself driving those extremely steep roads on the daily much less walking them.
yeah, i personally wouldn't live up in the hills either.....but some people love it. i prefer an easier drive home.
Hello Chris. always enjoy your videos. I know you love samui. I am an American engineer looking to build or buy with my thai wife. I understand these hills are sand with no rock? The foundations would not be a problem if they are using piers, but I wonder about the long term maintenance of the roads. What is your experience there? Also do you know how all these pools I see with so many new builds are maintained? Pool boys? Thanks so much
@@robdavinroy1761 The roads wash away easily in big storm!! the land they are build on is not stable!!
@@loveknowsnoborder and that amazing logic isn't working for you on your billion dollar youtube channel you poured so much work into?
@@loveknowsnoborder See i can tell you the secret nobody with real $$ here wants me to tell you. And the thing is, you wouldn't even care; you wouldn't have the means or the know-how to do anything with the information anyway. So here goes: MOST of the foreigners making CONSIDERABLE wealth here, have done so in real estate. Now you ask yourself how that jives with your narrative, that investing in real estate here is a fool's errand. And then ask yourself if it's possible that this narrative you and everyone else in the comments seem to have, might just be a little flawed. FYI, they (the ones creating generational wealth) love that you all seem to think you have it figured out. But you don't. And me telling you this won't change anything for a single person, especially you.
I thought foreigners couldn't buy land in Thailand. I heard they can buy some condos if the foreign ownership percentage is below a certain amount, but a detached villa would require a land purchase or lease.
Correct
Great video and information for someday when I can afford to buy a villa in Samui! 🏝️🏡
Great info P. All 3 places look amazing. Think I stayed in Simon's pad several years ago. Good luck with the new branch of RW4U real estate.
Thanks Birdy.
Hi Chris, first time I have watched your vids and really enjoyed, so subscribed, those condos were pretty amazing, loved the views and the facilities. My partner and I are coming to Bangkok late March early April, will also visit Hua Hin and Koh Samui. Will look around, Cheers mate
As others stated beware you can’t own the land only the house. Similar to Bali.
Mixed feelings when I watch this YT, sure the houses they are building are very nice but you also see the huge amount of nature they destroy on the hills everywhere where in the North of Samui. You want to live there on a beautiful Island with a lot of nature with getting less and less rapidly😔. I been too Samui 6 times from 2001 until now last time May and I understand the need for resorts and real estate but it has go way too far in my opinion.
The House isn't worth 2M
@@carloscort7604 something like that in N. Dallas would cost no more than $600K, walk in closets the lot. No view of course, maybe that what they think warrants the price?
I really enjoy your site. I wish my children were older. I'd move to Thailand tomorrow.
They are so close together. I would want one but I need space
Beautiful places . Would love to see more .
Great vid Chris. Could you do more similar vids of cheaper properties on koh Samui please preferably 1/2 bedrooms. 😊
Plan to explore Thailand once more on motorbike. Its all about the numbers..
Thanks for this informative video 🙏🏻
Moving to Thailand from US, do you have any issues accessing your US bank acc there, i know 2 of my accounts have IP based security, i am concerned i will not be able to have access there... Any advise?
I met Andrew thanks to you. He was great!
Cheers @N Dowling. Was great to meet you, too. See you when you get back
I was under the impression that the reason to move to Thailand was to get more for less at 2M for a villa with hardly any land I can buy 1 to 160 acres and build a Palace in the US.
I guess is becoming more expensive that the place is supposed to replace for that price I stay at home and visit Thailand.
I didn't see anyone using rebar or steel beams in their construction, it looks to me like highway robbery.
Thailand is well known for shoddy construction work, cutting corners to pocket cash with cheap materials, and poor design. It's virtually unheard of to have walk in closets, and they give you nothing for your money. But at least the Australian developer did that with his. Too pricey for me though that one, and as you say we can get better quality and value for the same money (or less) in the USA. I guess you are paying for the tropical experience and view?
Property in Thailamd is just like food there....a farang price and a local price. Is ok to pay for farang price if you visit for a week. Unless one marry a local then is a good idea to buy a house.
It's not a really a cogent long range investment given the international issues in the region. I'd rent and be prepared with a swift exit strategy.
swift exit strategy? How much would like to bet that wherever you live is more dangerous than Samui?
Just rent.
Keep your house at home and rent that out too.
The capital growth will be far, far greater.
Aren't there legal issues? Technically buying under a company name, unless a REAL trading company is totally illegal - sure people get away with it often enough.. I disagree wholeheartedly with wealthy foreigners buying up property in Thailand as investment opportunities alongside wealthy Thais - that works so much against the equality/wealth gap for the majority of local Thais. I'm not a hater - but ethics are so important...
In Puerto Rico is the same story but worst because the Corrupt PR Goverment are giving the Island to foreigners with a stupid made up law and receiving vribes....Thailand government has more control of their land, because they can take the Property in any moment if the foreigner doesn't met legal documentation
Exactly. Only Thais can own land in Thailand. This video is so misleading.
Cry
@@TheBobbysPerspective go right ahead 😂😂
Thais do very well out of foreigner, from lawyers down to garden man.
@retiredworkingforyou when purchasing a property does it have to be paid in full at the time of purchase?
If you’ve got $2 million to spend on a house I don’t think worrying about the government water rates is of great concern……
One thing that really bothers me about these hill side builds is the terrible roads, lack of drainage and slippage. I was on Samui and have a great photo of a hill road half washed away because of bad engineering and to fix it when it falls down will cost a fortune. In heavy rain over years I worry that these places will suffer severe erosion and become unlivable.
Agree 100% on the homes built on the sandy hills. The last home is viable however. Rule number one in SE Asia. Build the home on the granite bedrock if at all possible. The area is well overdeveloped compared to 20 years ago. It's amazing how things have changed pre and post Covid w/r/t real estate.
So mark. You mean to tell me this hill is just sand and not rock? Building the foundation would not be bad, but the roads would be problematic. Do you have personal experience in samui you could share? My thai wife and I may build or buy on the island.
@@robdavinroy1761 No experience in Thailand personally but in the Philippines. The foundation pilings may well be set in bedrock in the hills of Samui but I would not bet on it. I have seen reports over the years of significant erosion problems during the monsoon seasons. Just from looking at the construction site in this video the ground they are working with looks like a mixture of sand, gravel and smaller sized rocks. The construction practices in Thailand are much better than the Philippines so it may well work out for a few years but to me this development on the hills is a red flag. The Australian's project looks much better as you can control drainage more easily. Remember ...... water always wins and flowing water can kick your ass.
@@markmielke5283 mark. Thanks for the insight!!. I am a river engineer and trust me you are right about water. You may be an engineer too because you are very observant about the geology. The thing about Thailand or for that matter Asia where you have the monsoon cycle is that if you build low like in the second house you risk flooding flooding of the ground floor and sewage backup. I have relatives and friends in bangkok and it’s a real mess in the monsoon. The majority of the cities in the country are built along rivers in the floodplain and are always subject to flooding. I’ve had my eyes on building higher but it’s a trade off you are right. Then of course there is also the slight risk of Tsunamis on houses low along the sea, but that side of Thailand is lower.
Good luck to whoever buys it.
Was that washing machine knocked down into the floor on the first property?
I thought we’re not allowed to own property in Thailand unless we put it under a Thai person’s name
Correct, you can't own land unless you are Thai
And you are correct. Condo is all you can have under your own name.
Or lease land for 30 yrs build on it and when lease is over say good bye to house because you can’t move your house back to your country when lease is over . Basically the investment will be a waste.
You an own a condo. That’s it.
Rules hasn't changed !!
Do not buy prebuilds unless you like loosing all your money - multiple cases where the developer just does not build and keeps your money
It's all about the reputable developer. You make money while you buy a property, not when you sell it. Presale prices are way cheaper.
All the best for your new business venture.
My first trip coming up in January
Can a foreigner buy residential property in Thailand ? Condo perhaps .
Do any of these have insulation? Exterior walls look like blocks only
Correct cheap made homes
you'd like to hold the heat in? in a tropical location? you must be a contractor with all that expertise.
can you buy s as a foreigner in thialand villas? was thinking you can buy just flats.
New park in Bangkok open. อุทยานเฉลิมพระเกียรติ รัชกาลที่ ๙ (สนามม้า นางเลิ้ง) พื้นที่ 217 ไร่.
A little bit off topic , what is the brand of your sunglasses they are really nice ?
I really liked this video. I miss living in samui and imagine that both you and your friend Andrew both have wonderful lives. Do yourselves a favor and wear your seat belts because whilst watching your video I noticed that the pair of you were cruising around without them on.
You said you're building a house, who will own the house and land it sits on? A business 51% or more is Thai owned?
yup Chris needs to explain all this, especially since he is setting up a Thai property company (I imagine with the required number of Thai employees). I suspect the house he is building is going to be owned by his new property company? If that's the case, fine, good for him, but it's not how the average Joe here is going to be able to do it.
Why is the washing machine sunk into the ground in the first villa?
haha I noticed that too. Maybe it didn't fit the space? Does that mean the countertops were fitted too low? Appliances are standard sizes.
Are foreigners allowed to own land/property in Thailand? Or just rent
Foreigners aren't allowed to own property. That's what this video won't tell you
You can fully own a condo
@@marmary5555 well technically you can own the property, just not the land it's on. But I agree with your statement.
I live in the south of Samui, not crowded at all and palm trees everywhere. I will be doing a custom build and know buying a similar home would cost double here. Lamai will be a 7 minute drive away, Chaweng 30 minutes. I could not imagine escaping to a tropical island to retire and then living in a home side by side with many others, shopping malls, traffic congestion, a miniature concrete jungle. Land is less expensive in the south (draw a line from Lamai to Nathon, anything south of that) so you usually have a large garden as well, or a multi-building dwelling. My wife sells land all over the island so I have a good idea of prices and locations. Point being, there are many, many cost and location options on Samui, especially when you get further from the northeast corner of the island.
I agree i love the south end of Samui its heaven and the tourists cant seem to find too.
I would never pay 2M for a home in a third world country
@@carloscort7604 Thailand is not a third world country, and you don't have 2 million USD, so what you would and wouldn't do with that amount of money is irrelevant.
@@luxuryseaviewvillas6744 thailand is a definitively third world country and many people with disposable income have nothing better to do than sit on thir asses and fck off on the internet its issues the government and infrastructure in thailand esp on the estate islands is fcking atrocious due to somuch greed and corruption vs the extreme poverty ....
This was a great video. From what I have always understood, 'a foreigner' in Thailand is not permitted to own a home in their name. I understand that a person can own a condo in their name, but never a villa or a home. Am I missing something with that? Or do I need to put the villa in my or under come on my business name? Thanks
You can “own” a home here in Thailand…. But, you can not have the land registered in your name. A foreigner can not own the land.
The foreign owner of the home (“Improvements to the Land”) will be issued with a “Yellow Book - Tambian Baan” with your name written in Thai script inside.
@@verticalift got it. Thank you!
For what I know a farang can't buy a land in Thailand right or wrong?
You are right. It’s a misleading video to say the least.
How far away is the beach and restaurants, shoppingmalls...location, location, location...
I like. But I'll wait till after Thai Baht devalues further.
Hey 🎉
Can I buy if I’m British foreigner? Thought we couldn’t buy?
You should do a video with buying cheap condos or apartments I have seen other people on youtube in other countries showing what its like to buy 5,000 to 10,000 dollar studios apartments. Cause someone like me who wants to move to thailand one day could not afford a 200,000 dollar place lol.
LOL are you chinese? Sorry couldn't resist that. But seriously....that's OK short term such as your vacation visit but thinking of living in a small box forever with no storage space or cupboards and you can't swing a cat....I couldn't do it.
Great video as always. Myself and my wife here in Samui right now till mid next week. What an absolute paradise.Can see ourselves owning a nice villa here in the future. Staying at the boutique hotel Villa nalinnadda which we seen in a vid of yours some time back.
Fantastic!
God help you
I thought foreigners could not buy property in Thailand.
condo you own 100% villa 49% have to set a company when you rent out you pay in company tax rate
@@newstime3229 Thanks!
@@newstime3229 not as easy as that 😂
You are right. This video is misleading to say the least.
@@newstime3229 but ppl on here are looking to live in the property, not as a rental investment.
I like the “TURNK” Villa, Chris & Adam. 😂 Great information, Beautiful location in Samui! 😊
What about the fact no foreign can actually own a land in Thailand? Just came from Thailand and we' ve heard about that
You are correct. This video is misleading .
Yeah, great!…..that 3rd villa, spend a fortune for the view and peace and tranquility……but you conveniently forgot to mention the airport flight path right in front of you with tourist jets thundering past non stop 24/7…….you’d be nuts to buy this!!
Conveniently forgot? Chris literally shows a plane landing and mentions the airport. 🤣
i built a house right around the corner. the planes aren't a bother at all. i guess for some they might be but it's some of the most sought after property in samui in that area.
@@RetiredWorkingForYou I’m sure it is…..you know White Rose KS?….my cousin owns it
Hi. I think we saw in one of your videos in Phuket you visited a restaurant called Baan Rim Pa. Can you remember if it was any good? We’re visiting next year and want a good restaurant for an 18th birthday meal. If this one’s no good, any other suggestions? We’d like somewhere special. Thanks! 😊
no such thing as a bad restaurant in Thailand.
I don't get it. Aren't only Thai nationals able to own property? When you "buy" a villa surely it is only a land lease? How does it work?
Good job dude!
Thanks!
Oh dear
So when a car goes off the road it crashes into your bedroom.
Living below the road level would never be an option for me.
looks like a treacherous road too. And the monsoon season, you might just find your house foundations get eroded and falls over. What if you are even further down and it falls on your house from above! Mudslides wipe out whole residential area when you build on hills and cut down the trees, in a monsoon.
Nice cribs! Gracias.
Of course the energy demands for a building that size driving up costs for the entire country. But as they say…lucky farang.
Absolutely amazing Australian Built luxury home.. brilliant Job.. professional presentation 👌
Really lol not for 2M
Fyi: Australian built = cheapest low quality materials looking for someone who has no idea about construction to pay a ridiculous amount of money for them.
Hey, I'm in Lamai. Fancy a Leo?
Very beautiful places. But with the "dollar milkshake theory" becoming a reality buying with USD in 6 to 10 months should be extremely favorable.
Are most villas built for vacation rentals?
Yes exactly, the owners don't care about the build quality, as long the villa has a very good ROI... There are also many rich Thais who invest in rental villas...
Hello Chris, thanks for another vid:) i would say the problem here with any kind of property is that you cannot own a house , just condos right? everything is under long term lease, and who knows what is gonna happen with your property after 30years your lease expire :( its my dream to move to thailand, but the fact that you cannot own property, and its very hard to get visa makes it impossible for me. I wonder what kind of visa are you on, how did you manage to get to thailand and stay there, is it one of those ELITE visa? would be awesome if you reply, if not all good buddy.. have a good one
is thailand the only option you are considering? if not, you may consider southern europe, eg Portugal, they have D7 visa for nomad or retiree which is a steal.
I actually thought Chris was going to discuss all this in this video, including how to legally buy. But nope. I know his Moonstone villa is a business and he bought it as a company, but that means he can't live there, which is not quite what people are looking for, they want a home.
Looks great. Finally booked our tickets to get back to Thailand 🇹🇭 in early January. It will be my second trip to Thailand so very excited. And I am in the process of setting up Thailand business now. :) can’t wait 😃🏝
What are the property taxes annual in Thailand?
I'm ready before the video begins 😂
Thanks, i'm actually looking to get a condo wich i could rent half year... awsome vid
God help you
Removing the trees along the hillside will make it a greater risk of mud slides.
first😎
but 210k for an apartment or villa how you call it is quite expensive for thailand, isn't it ? not even seaview or anything..
depends where in thailand. on samui it isn't but in rural thailand areas with less tourists it is.
@@RetiredWorkingForYou can you make a video about the process how to buy land or property as a foreigner in Thailand? I think that'd be something a lot of ppl are interested in
A shame they ever started building in the hills … I knew Samui before those building projects and see how many troubles they have with the water making its way down ..even the roads to those houses … you must be skilled to drive up and down.
Responsible Urban design Thai style …
I thought those exact same 2 thoughts watching it.
Disastrous!
Are there any studio and one bedroom apartments you can purchase that doesn't have an HOA fee ?
White paint incorporated!
Dunno how that last one is 1 mil. In Thailand. The cost to build there is much cheaper so the markup is overkill. Reality it’s prob 400k to Build all in.
I believe the last one was $2M
thought foreigners couldnt own property in thailand other than condos?
You are correct. This video is just a misleading advertisement . Complete lack of ethics.
Great video chris! Would love one of those nice homes on Samui. It my dream spot to live.
Hi criss love your video .i was wounding if you know a good hospital in Thailand for surgery.i am from Vancouver Canada and the waiting lis is awful.i really appreciate it if you recommend it
check out this service that lets you browse all your options....... it's like the Airbnb of medical tourism and a good way to navigate through your process..... ever.healthcare/?RW4UYT01
I'm just curious why most of house use concrete in those country to build house. I know the wood can cost alot of $$$ in some country. But if someone want to be more ecologic ( I can't believe i say that word) and want it built with wood it is possible ???? or using sea container ??? Because where I'm from is more wood we use in Canada for house and I wouid like to know why concrete and not wood or something more ecologic methode. Thanks
termites!
humidity
@@Phornphan22 absolutely. Imagine in a tropical lush location, they bulldozed an area to build. Next thing you know the termites have taken residence. ouch. It's one of my major concerns if I were to buy, and I don't trust property assessors. I personally know many people in Bangkok with termites eating their condos and houses.
The last property you show you fail to mention the access road goes through around 50 undeveloped run down concrete skeletons! The view in front can also be developed so slightly misleading
So what is the story about owning land by a foreigner? Has that law changed?
Chris, you are liked and trusted. This sort of video hurts your reputation. Anyone who says a foreigner can buy a villa in Thailand is lying.
They always say go the company route. But most who do that claim they are going to rent it out. I think most people are not looking to do that they want to live there. Chris has moonstone villa but he rents it and doesn't live there. And he may have been able to build his samui house too using that Thai company he formed as the land owner? Wish he would do that sort of video and explain his situation.
Can we see some houses with privacy? All these places are houses right next to each other.
thank goodness they make it hard for foreigers to own property thailand.
Funny that most people with the money to afford houses like this have little opportunity to enjoy them!
Nice one one for this. Would really like to see what kind of villa I could get for £50,000 to £75.000.
You would just about get a small house only made for that budget but not on this island I’m afraid
@@JohnMartin22222 I guess it comes down to location. Can buy a brand new villa in chiang mai for £50,000
@@nick.gaffney the word villa to me though is a pool villa. I’m sure you can’t get that for 50k
Maybe one day can have a dream condo in samui.
Keen !
I've been pondering the idea of buying some real estate in Thailand in the next year or so. In fact, I contacted someone about a week ago in Pattaya about such an adventure. I copied the email you gave. When I am ready, I will send a message and get some help with this project.
God help you