Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the condo market in Thailand and certain fluctuations within the international capital markets if you will, one being sort of specific here, but as I will get into it some of the analysis I think there are broader implications here, but it could be having an impact on the condo market directly. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Nation, that's nationthailand.com, the article is titled: Foreign buyers gain ground in Bangkok condos as Thai demand fades. Quoting directly: "Amid a property market facing volatility from both overseas and domestic economic conditions, and with Thai purchasing power having faded from the market, foreigners are now playing an increasingly larger role in condominium purchases. It is therefore believed that Thailand should introduce measures to protect the interests of the nation and the Thai people before it is too late. Sopon Pornchokchai, President of the Thai Real Estate Research and Valuation Information Centre at Agency for Real Estate Affairs Co., Ltd., (www.area.co.th) disclosed the results of a survey on condominium sales in all condominium projects currently on the market in Bangkok and its surrounding areas, covering nearly 2,000 projects, and found data that can be used to support policy and planning by the public sector, private sector and civil society, as follows. By the end of 2025, foreigners had purchased 6,160 condominium units in Bangkok and its surrounding areas, all of them primary-market homes bought from property developers. This was the highest level since the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020." Or more accurately, the government response to something the WHO said was a pandemic but theretofore would not have been defined as a pandemic; that was the so-called "outbreak". I think it's important to keep that context in mind folks. Quoting further: "These purchases accounted for as much as 23.5% of the total number of condominium units sold from developers' inventories in 2025, with a combined sales value of THB29.793 billion, or around 26.6% of the total value of all condominium units still held by developers and sold in 2025. However, before the Covid-19 outbreak, foreigners bought more condominium units than at present. The value of condominium purchases in 2025, at THB29.793 billion, was nevertheless lower than in 2024, when purchases reached THB39.640 billion." But let's be honest, I mean yeah, there's some difference there but all things being equal, it is pretty close. Quoting further: "A key reason was that the economies of the other countries had also weakened, including those in Europe, Russia, the former Soviet States and China." Quoting further: "China, in particular, had imposed especially strict controls on capital outflows." I'm not going to get into really pressing down, "oh it's all China". And frankly just as an offhand, I saw that apparently China is now executing child predators, so they seem to have something going on up there. They know a thing or two maybe about what they're doing, so tip of the hat to you China, good on that. 

But that said, yeah China in particular seems to be a focal point for this but I don't think that this is purely a China phenomenon. As things get more tense for lack of a better term, in the Middle East, as we see the fallout from the situation there, and the tectonic plates if you will of international trade and finance shifting, I think it's worth pointing out that probably many countries are going to have similar issues when it comes to fund remittances into Thailand. Again, it remains to be seen exactly what that looks like, but I don't think you can single out China and say, "oh, it's because of China." In fact, based on what I'm seeing with the current situation, they are probably more likely to be more lax than likely other jurisdictions might turn out to be especially moving forward when it comes to outbound remittances, especially for things like condos. Again, I can't say that with certainty, but my instinct tells me that based on everything I am seeing sort of on the ground here in Thailand. That said, across the board I don't think that this situation bodes well for fast movement of international liquidity, velocity of capital in the international markets if you will. 

For those who are unaware, it is possible for a foreign national to buy a condominium in Thailand notwithstanding the provisions of Thai Law which restrict other types of real estate ownership by foreigners. Foreign nationals can own a condo in Freehold also known as Fee Simple Absolute Title - in an American vernacular we call that Fee Simple Absolute - seems that sort of the Commonwealth nations, the Common Law nations otherwise Westminster if you want to call it that, they tend to call it Freehold. The Thais call it Chanote title. Again you own your condo; that's basically what you're going for. That is possible here in Thailand under the Thai Condominium Act. It remains to be seen if we see a vibrant condo market moving forward in light of the current financial situation in the world at large, but we will certainly be keeping folks updated on this channel as the situation evolves.