I'm thinking of buying an apartment. With all the problems involved in falangs owning land in Thailand this seems a better option than buying a house.

However, I've searched the Web and RTFF but it seems there are only houses for sale in Udon. Is that really so?

Foreigners can own in Thailand:

- Apartments
- Condos
- Townhouses..

Foreigners are not supposed to be able to own land or free-standing houses on land.. However, long-term leases of houses is acceptable. Check some of the realtors that are sponsors on the Forum. I'm sure they'll answer any inquiry quickly and with property listings and perhaps photos..

If you walk into almost any bank in Udon you'll see bank-owned foreclosed properties for sale. They almost always include townhouses or various sorts...

Yes, I know there are roundabout ways to circumvent the ban but I dont want to enter into complex legal schemes and long-term lease is not my first priority. Therefore I prefer to buy an apartment/condo.

Besides I plan to live there for only a few months in a year and also look upon it as some kind of investment It seems to me that leaving a house vacant for a long time is riskier than a freestanding house. Therefore I prefer to buy an apartment/condo.

I checked the sites of the realtors but didn't see any apartments for sale. I'll take your advice and contact them directly.

No need mate there are no such things in Udon, best try Bangkok, Chiangmai, Pattaya and Phuket, Udon is a back water Country town and will probably stay that way for many a year. A great place if you like to smell the Roses

Frazer I did not know expat could own a townhouse because when I was living in Jomtien they were selling for 650.000 baht they were 4 meters wide I don't remember how deep they went but they were two stories bedrooms upstairs sadly only 1 toilet and it was upstairs from what I remember

Aardvark wrote: A great place if you like to smell the Roses

Or the local Gas works near 'mortiboys' area.

Or the blackwater creek that crosses Prajak & Wattana Rd hihihi

FrazeeDK wrote:Foreigners can own in Thailand:

- Apartments
- Condos
- Townhouses..

Foreigners are not supposed to be able to own land or free-standing houses on land.. However, long-term leases of houses is acceptable. Check some of the realtors that are sponsors on the Forum. I'm sure they'll answer any inquiry quickly and with property listings and perhaps photos..

If you walk into almost any bank in Udon you'll see bank-owned foreclosed properties for sale. They almost always include townhouses or various sorts...

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Is that correct that us Farangs can own Townhouses???? Noticed a row of them for sale near the Airport.

I thought it was only condo's we farangs can own.

Aardvark wrote:No need mate there are no such things in Udon, best try Bangkok, Chiangmai, Pattaya and Phuket, Udon is a back water Country town and will probably stay that way for many a year. A great place if you like to smell the Roses

Sorry Aardvark, that's not completely true. I lived in an apartment complex about 18 months ago and was asked if I wanted to buy. The one next door was owned by a farang who still worked in UK and only visited for a few weeks at a time when he could.

I've PM'ed the OP as to the whereabouts of this apartment complex.

I believe a guy named Gareth ( english ) is about to lanch a major new development which allows farangs to buy the condo ...

He has a new company in Udon - Udon property .......... see the beer coolers in Aussie Bar , Tongs etc

There is a condohotel in NK on the bank of the Mekong.The units are privately owned even though there are alot of falang renters!

condos or apartments that are actually deeded as condos have common land, hence the ability for foreighners to own. also think 51/49 % ratio applies, thai/non, and once full or certain percentage, same as moo bans, common grounds become responsibility of owners to maintain, secure, clean, trash removal. all should be spelled out in deed/contracts. who how when or even if common grounds responsibilities transferred. if not, then guessing there would be a maintanence charge for services.

don't know about you, but i haven't seen too many moo bans that haven't gone to sh*t after so many years of self rule. would suspect condo to do the same. plus possible condo association telling you can/can not do this that.

info and opinions above may not be 100 % accurate for every situation. that one would definitely need a lawyers advice, to decifer deed/contracts/responsibilities.

aznyron wrote:Frazer I did not know expat could own a townhouse because when I was living in Jomtien they were selling for 650.000 baht they were 4 meters wide I don't remember how deep they went but they were two stories bedrooms upstairs sadly only 1 toilet and it was upstairs from what I remember

I want to make a correction to my post they were 8 meters wide
there also some here being sold but the area is dirty to many stray dogs
crapping all over plus the people walk there dogs and they crap and it left behind for you to clean cans & plastic bottles thrown all over real dumpy looking and they are loaded with sewer roaches

them sewer roaches moved up from patters ron ?