Transcript of the above video: 

This video is going to kind of be something of a review. For folks who have watched my channel with any frequency over the years, this issue of Chanote and title to Thai real estate might be something of old hat to you. If it is, apologies, move on on this video. But some of the new folks coming in, I find that the YouTube algorithm is such that I've done a video and I did it a year and a half ago or something, and in my own brain I'll say I made that video, but hey, people that are coming to Thailand new, especially coming into this high season here in 2025, might not have heard of this stuff and I think it's important to point it out again. Chanote title or title types in Thailand.

So there are many different types of title in Thailand, all the way down to something akin to what could be called “allotment land” associated with like native Americans in the United States where it is title but it's sort of held in kind of a Government trust but the people that it's held for are allowed to use it in any way they want, but the thing might not be sellable. Chanote title is the highest level of Thai title. That is what we would call in an American legal vernacular akin to Fee Simple Absolute, sometimes referred to as Freehold Title; I hear the Aussies call it that a lot. But Freehold Title, Fee Simple Absolute, a title deed; it's yours. You bought it; you own the property. That is Chanote title. 

Now for foreigners, the most they are going to run into this or most of the time when they are going to run into this, it's going to pertain to condominiums, because as I have discussed in other videos, there's a lot of 'yessing' people to death about corporate structures to own land that at the end of the day it's just not good legal theory to presume that that is the way to set something up as I have discussed at length in other videos. But for condominiums - pursuant to the Condominium Act - foreigners are allowed to gain Freehold title to a Thai condo. 

The point I'm trying to make with this video though is, we often times talk to folks especially guys, oftentimes men who are giving money to a Thai loved one - usually a woman - for her to buy property and sometimes, it might not be Chanote title. This is why due diligence is so important with property because even buying it for a Thai, you might not be getting what you think in terms of Freehold title or what we would think of as Fee Simple Absolute title. For this reason, again due diligence might be warranted even where money is being gifted to a Thai loved one to purchase land, because you may want to be certain that you are getting the title you are expecting. 

The point of this video though is Chanote title. That is sort of the top tier if you will of Thai title when it comes to real estate. It is akin to Fee Simple Absolute in the Common Law vernacular or Freehold in the sort of Australian or British Westminster vernacular; American Common Law for Fee Simple Absolute. In any event, useful information I hope especially for folks who are first time lookers if you will into the Thai real estate market.