Should I hire a real estate agent and lawyer?
The Thai real estate market presents some very appealing investment opportunities, however, it can be confusing, especially for foreigners who are willing to invest in the “Land of Smiles”. Question is, is it a good idea to hire the services of a property lawyer and of a property agent when investing in Thailand?
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Is it safe to buy a property in Thailand?
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Why is it important to use a real estate agent?
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Check their references and processes
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Check for how long they have been in the business
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Why is it important to use a real estate lawyer?
Is it safe to buy a property in Thailand?
in Thailand, property laws are moderately sound, and rightful property owners can rest assured that their assets safely and securely belong to them. However, as is the case in so many other parts of the world, there are people willing to profit from other peoples’ mistakes.
Provided you do everything through the right channels, then there is nothing to be concerned about. With this in mind, it is a good idea to hire the services of a reputable agent and a reputable lawyer.
A property agent in Thailand and a Thai lawyer will have all the knowledge they need about the markets, and they will also have experience. They will know how to make any contracts watertight to ensure you get everything you pay for. Their experience will also help you to avoid any pitfalls and help make the whole process go a lot more smoothly. They will also help you to find a great deal, giving you the best possible property for your budget.
Even if you are confident of handling the paperwork and bureaucracy yourself, it is still a good idea to hire the services of a property lawyer in Thailand. This is especially the case if you are trying to buy property in Thailand, but you do not live in the country.
Why is it important to use a real estate agent?
As mentioned, it is a good idea to use a lawyer when doing business in Thailand. This is because you can be confident of getting a good deal, that everything will be done within regulation, and that the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible. It will also mean that somebody else is doing a lot of the work that you would otherwise have to do yourself.
Here are a few tips on how to choose a property agent in Thailand you can trust.
Check their references and processes
If any businesses have references and testimonials that they can share with you and doing some researches on the Internet might also be a good idea to see whether the realtor you’re about to engage with, is reputable or not. This can be done easily by asking around the busy forums that are used by the many expats in the country.
Also, ask the agent about their processes. For instance, as an investor, you should ask them about the property laws, the property taxes or the rental guarantees in Thailand, but not only. A reputable agent should also be able to guide you regarding the best places to invest in Thailand, about the way they find sellers, and how do they find buyers when it comes to re-sell a property.
Check for how long they have been in the business
When trying to choose a property agent in Thailand, ask how long the estate agent has been in business.
If a company does not provide a good service then the news will soon get around, and they will struggle to stay in business. This means that a company that has been in business for longer has likely been providing good services and therefore, has more experience, and a well developed network.
Why is it important to use a real estate lawyer?
It is a good idea to use professionals when dealing with property anywhere in the world, and Thailand is no exception.
It is crucial to get the right lawyer to ensure everything is watertight legally speaking. There are several things that a good lawyer will need to do for you, and these include checking the history of the property, looking for irregularities, ensuring the deposit is secure, check ownership and the title deeds, and preparing the final contract.
Here are a few tips that will help you choose a property lawyer in Thailand.
- Certificates : Lawyers need to be fully qualified to do their role properly. With this in mind, it is a good idea to ask what certificates a lawyer has to be sure they are fully qualified for the role.
- Past projects : If a lawyer has a record of having worked in large projects successfully, you can be confident that they know what they are doing. Check to see what projects they have worked on in the past, and not only larger projects but also those that are similar to yours. If they have a strong track record of success, then they are certainly worthy of consideration.
- References : There is a large expat community in Thailand, and many of them have dealt with real estate lawyers in the past. With this in mind, visit some of the local forums to ask people about how to choose a property lawyer. This should help giving you a good idea of which lawyers are reputable, and which are not.
Also try asking for recommendations and you may be given some excellent suggestions that were not already on your list.