Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches in all the world. So, it's natural to dream of owning your own little piece of tropical paradise. But just how do you go about it?
Beach front land is the most exclusive type of real estate there is. Quality ocean front plots are also difficult to find, especially if you are looking for a smaller one. There are many factors to consider as well.
If you plan to build a beach house, first ask yourself if you want to be directly on the beach, or if you would accept being just a few steps away. If you elect for the latter, you can often save millions of Thai Baht. Also, being a short distance inland means you don't have to worry about beach erosion or storm surges. These factors come into play whether you are planning to build a private beach house or a resort hotel.
Of course, as with any land in Thailand, it is important to select full Chanote titled properties. This is because the exact borders of any other titled plot has not yet been verified with the neighbors. There is always the risk of losing a few meters on the borderline. This would be a disaster if your living room or bathroom happened to be in those few meters!
Another fact you should be aware of is that all beaches in Thailand are public. When you buy beach front land, you are buying private access to the public beaches. You are purchasing the view and the convenience of living right on the ocean. If your land is absolute beach front, your property line is at the water mark at high tide. If you are lucky enough to have a property where there is limited access to a stretch of beach because of natural obstructions such as a high water line or rocks, then you may have a "private" beach ... unless someone lands a boat there.
When beginning your search for beach front land, contact us. We have many plots listed, and others that are unlisted for various reasons. We are located in the Cha-am/Hua Hin area, but we have contacts with agents and owners in many different parts of HM Kingdom of Thailand.
First, give us your budget -- how much you are prepared to spend. Next, provide us with the minimum and maximum size of the plots you would consider, along with the beach front length. Another factor is utilities; if electric is not on site, you will have to pay to bring it in. Lastly, let us know if a gravel access road is OK or if you want a paved road. Sometimes, you will have to improve a government road that is little more than a goat trail.
Taxes are not a big issue in Thailand. When you purchase land of any type, there is a tax and transfer fee at the land office. This fee is often paid by the seller, but sometimes the buyer is required to pay half. If you get a super low price, the seller may sometimes ask you to pay all the tax. Yearly property tax is low in Thailand; beach front land carries a higher tax than plots inland. (In fact, rural land is pretty much property tax free.)
So, to summarize:
1) Absolute beach front or seaside
(walking distance to the beach) ?
2) Budget: How much are you prepared to pay, maximum? If you don't provide us with a figure to work with, there's no way we can find what you're looking for.
3) Size: What range of sizes (in square meters or t. wah or rai) are you interested in -- minimum to maximum?
4) Utilities: Will you consider a plot without electric, where you will have to pay to bring it in (at a cost of about 15,000 THB [Convert to Your Currency] per pole plus cable cost)? If a government water line is not in place, you can drill a well for a few hundred thousand baht.
5) Road access: Do you want a paved government road access point? Or would you accept a gravel road? Sometimes the government road is very primitive. You can improve it yourself (HM department of roads doesn't mind at all). It's important to make sure there IS actually a government road accessing the property and that the road is not actually owned by a neighbor. We can help check on this at the land office. This is something to be very careful about; some people have found themselves "landlocked" because their access road was private and changed hands -- the new owner can deny access. Even if you think you are friendly with the owner of the road, things can change!
The more information on your requirements you provide to us, the better we can find the plot you are dreaming of. You can browse our listings of beach front land here.
One more thing: click here to learn all about the rules of foreigners purchasing property in Thailand.
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