Thread: Financing A House Through A Thai Wife

Is there a legal way to finance a house in Thailand through my Thai wife? We already own a large house near Udon Thani free and clear and I am considering a second house along the coast. My wife does not work, but we have a pretty good monthly retirement income. Would she be able to take out a loan in her name to purchase a 3.5 million baht house? If so, what are the steps? Has anyone ever financed a house here in Thailand through a Thai your Thai wife?

I am not interested in owning or having my name on the house. The owner had a lawyer create a business so he could own the house since he is a foreigner. I do not worry about ownership since everything we own here in Thailand will go to my wife and son when I am gone, and I understood the risks involved. I always have a plan B.

Does anyone know bank requirements to secure such a loan such as down payments, interest rates and length of loan? Your assistance is appreciated.

A friend of mine did the same. I guarantor was required. That being said, i think things are a little more difficult to obtain than they were 10 years ago. Which is when he bought. All went tits-up btw!

I know things have gotten tighter with banks when purchasing motorcycles and cars and expect they are now tighter whenever wanting to purchase real estate. I can always buy a condo in my name, but unless you pay cash, financing is tough.

Could always rent a beach house, but just thinking about making an investment near the water.

I've done it several times and encourage the wife to reinvest as much as possible.

You need a contact at a bank to help your wife, without this it's difficult , once you have a decent contact vouching for you its a matter of providing neumourous documents as they want.

Interest is high, so borrowing for a "summer" house should be done with a view to long term value increase.

Send the wife down to the bank to see if she can establish a "friend"

Which bank did you use Andy? My understanding is that Kasikorn bank might be easier than others, but she has an account with Bangkok Bank. That is where I was thinking about starting with pre qualification.

I've done it twice before using Siam commercial bank. I had to show proof of income a copy of my contract from work and bank statements. I bank with Kasikorn and they would only lend one quarter of the price of the property over seven years. I got fifty per cent from scb over fifteen years.

Rebbu, I have an account with SCB, but plan to finance things through my Thai wife and I typically funnel all my money through her account since the US has stupid laws about residents having more than $10,000 in a foreign bank account. Funny, since I was able to transfer $50,000 to my wife's account in two bank transfers without any questions. I also transfer my monthly money into her account, so she definitely looks good on paper.

We've done this with different banks, I used UOB when I got a loan many years ago, was paying tax in Thailand and had a work permit, etc. UOB was my bank at the time in Singapore and a lot of the discussions were done there.

The wife has then had loans with SCB and others, in my opinion it really is about knowing somebody, we just changed bank in Bangsean for the latest venture due to "relationship".

Originally Posted by AndyCap

UOB

Yes. Try them. They will lend money to non working Thai wife with foriegn husband as guarantor.

Originally Posted by AndyCap

We've done this with different banks, I used UOB when I got a loan many years ago, was paying tax in Thailand and had a work permit, etc. UOB was my bank at the time in Singapore and a lot of the discussions were done there.

The wife has then had loans with SCB and others, in my opinion it really is about knowing somebody, we just changed bank in Bangsean for the latest venture due to "relationship".

I've been down this road a couple times myself, and correctly stated it's to one's advantage to have developed a solid contact/relationship with a bank insider......as it is for most everything here, it's who you know not what you know.

What is the interest charge for a Thai when taking on a mortgage ?

Depends a lot on the bank and how much they put as a down payment. In the US it can also depend on the individuals credit score, but not exactly sure what formula Thailand uses.

Originally Posted by Bower

What is the interest charge for a Thai when taking on a mortgage ?

Don't government works get near 0% mortgages and loans?

Teachers do. It's why they're riddled with debt.

I thought that government workers became government workers as it was a guaranteed pension, medical care for their parents, and interest free mortgages and car finance. Where otherwise they would be a 7-11 clerk or massage girl.

Plus the opportunity to sell contracts etc.

If your present house is on 'Chanote' titled land then I'd assume it would be piss easy to use that paper to secure a bank loan in her own right. I think she'd find it very easy to do, with that title paper.

Should be able to do it without a backhander or favour required.

A typical secured loan rate would attract up to 12.5% APR interest charges.

Still, anyone looking to buy a coastal property for a second home yet lives en famille in some ghastly Northern dystopia must be away with the pixies and is probably stupid enough to saddle himself with debt for nothing other than ill-thought out whimsy.

Who on earth is going to look after your house in Hua Hun/Prachuap/Pattaya/ Phuket when you and the family are up in shitkickersville?

Compound security ain't worth shit, usually.

Which if course is why folk looking for a place next to the sea as a second, holiday home always go for a condo - assured amenities, excellent security, good maintenance etc., and if it is front rank and actually adjacent to a beach then the investment is sound.

Wise words Mr. Gent.

We've only ever purchased to let, student accommodation is not bad at the moment. Years ago started with the smaller houses in Phuket, all good.

No point in saddling yourself with debt with rental options so low.

Good day,

Following the thread and as my wife and I will be looking at financing a house, I am wondering if any here have done so with the wife as primary on the loan and the husband as income source if he is on a retirement extension.

She has a good government job, fully owns a 3 million baht home, (it has a clear chanote in her name) where her parents live, I live here full-time, and my overseas income is most ample for a loan in the west, so just try to get a feel for things.

I am well aware of the pitfalls of 'purchasing' through the wife etc, so do not need advice on that, just have others in my situation done the same.

Cheers!

Down payment is a discussion point,messier from 30% upwards

Security

Type of property planned, value, location.

Still all easier with a contact on your side in the bank, not difficult, when you get there sound the people out, my ball and chain always manages to find somebody from her Ho,e area, related to her uncle sids dog, etc.

It's a process similar to the West or Oz.

You will be asked for all sorts of documents, don't ever try to understand any logic in this part...stay calm copy and sign, years ago I had to make 10 copies of every page in my passport, then sign them all...it's got better, but can still be a little trying.

Good luck with it

Parky

Should say "easier from 30% upwards"

But that could also be messier, sorry I'm on a Chinese motorway...

I would be wary about Rawai, and it's 'rental potential'. There are already so many units available at the moment either for sale or for rent. What are the monthly/yearly maintenance charges? Rawai beach itself is not a beach for either swimming or sunbathing. Nearest beach for that would be Yannui, the other side of Laem Promthep.

For 5.5m, it must be a very good size, say 100m2? There are pool villas for around that price in Rawai.

And once everything is agreed and has gone through you will get a call from the developer / supposed owner / whoever, stating that there has been a mistake in the calculation and the new price is 500,000 / 750,000 / 1,000,000 more expensive, with the new monthly payment already calculated for you (bless em). There will be very plausible arguments, Mickey Mouse documents, etc.

A quick Fcuk off ! Normally gets you to next base, but they will probably try it on.

For my 2 cents worth

The Beachfront » Phuket Thai Real Estate

This is the development and I am looking at the 1 bedroom.