Foreign Condominium Transfers Rose 1.4% in the Second Quarter, and the Foreign Share of the Market Still Fell
REIC data reported by Nation Thailand, Infoquest and Daily News shows Q2 2026 foreign condominium transfers up 1.4% by volume and 20.2% by value, while the foreign share of the whole condominium market slipped to 10.2%.
REIC Reports a Rebound That Still Leaves Foreign Buyers With Less of the Market #
Key takeaways
- Q2 volume: 3,292 units, up 1.4% year on year.1
- Value outpaced volume: up 20.2% against floor area growth of 8.1%.12
- Share still fell: 10.2% of units, 20.0% of value, both down.2
- Better-than-Freehold™ takeaway: condominium freehold is capped and building-specific, so house and land buyers need a structure like Better-than-Freehold™ instead.
What Do the Q2 2026 Numbers Actually Show? #
- Why Did Transfer Value Rise Faster Than Volume?
- Does the Q2 Rebound Mean the First Half Recovered?
- What This Means If You Already Own Through a High-Risk Structure
- What This Means If You Are Considering a Purchase
- The Better-than-Freehold™ Solution
- FAQ Section
- Related Terms
- Expert Guidance
Why Did Transfer Value Rise Faster Than Volume? #
Fewer, larger transactions, not a broad revival. Dividing REIC's totals gives an average Q2 transfer near THB 4.5 million, our calculation, against THB 4.3 million for the first half. Value outrunning volume is a narrower signal than the headline rate suggests. Bank of Thailand data does not break this segment out. Bangkok still carries 235,000 unsold condominiums.
Does the Q2 Rebound Mean the First Half Recovered? #
No. The already-reported first-half totals, 6,533 units (down 8.8%) and THB 28.267 billion (down 1.5%), still trail last year.3 REIC blamed slower Thai and global activity, with buyers postponing.3 Chinese buyers led on both unit count and transfer value.12
The nominee enforcement campaign against land structures is not legibly visible in these numbers, in either direction. These are condominium transfers, the route to outright ownership under Condominium Act B.E. 2522 s.19 bis.
What This Means If You Already Own Through a High-Risk Structure #
Nothing changes your exposure. A high-risk property-owning company is untouched by a condominium report; the Foreign Business Act case against structures like yours sits with the Ministry of Commerce's DBD. Divestment still runs eight to sixteen weeks.
What This Means If You Are Considering a Purchase #
The quota is real and finite. Foreign ownership is capped at 49% of floor area per building, tracked at the Department of Lands. Once a development hits that ceiling, budget stops mattering, which is why buyers wanting a house or land reach for structures the law does not offer them. Notice where 2025's strongest growth landed, per Thailand's property market data: Phuket, Surat Thani and Prachuap Khiri Khan, the same provinces under the heaviest nominee investigation.
The Better-than-Freehold™ Solution #
Compliance comes first. Thailand Investor Network, a 100% Thai-owned property holding and management company, holds legal title and grants a 30-year registered lease. Security follows: Clear Blue Security Agents (CBSA) hold enforcement and step-in rights, backed by a registered first-charge mortgage and share pledge. The benefits complete the picture: SPH Trustees holds the lease, mortgage and option for the client, financing to 50% loan-to-value is expected Q1 2027, and the investment passes to heirs without Thai probate.
Free to start · No obligation · Your decision at every stage
FAQ Section #
Related Terms #
- Thailand Property Market Analysis - transfer data and forecasts
- Nominee Company Risks in Thailand - what forced disposal entails
- Foreign Business Act Thailand - the statute behind nominee cases
- Anti-Money Laundering Act Thailand - where nominee conduct sits in AML law
Expert Guidance #
Immediate Action Required #
Holding property that would not survive a DBD review? Get an honest exposure assessment now, while divestment still runs eight to sixteen weeks. Contact the Better-than-Freehold™ advisory team for a confidential compliance assessment.
Long-term Security Strategy #
Condominium buyers should watch quota ceilings before committing. House and land buyers should structure it correctly from day one.
Free to start · No obligation · Your decision at every stage
Conclusion #
A quarter can rebound and still lose ground. Foreign buyers moved more money, yet ended with a smaller share of the market. Nothing here is cover for owners still exposed; the compliant route for a house or land runs through a structure built for it.
References #
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. Laws and enforcement practices change; obtain advice tailored to your situation before acting.
Footnotes #
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Nation Thailand. (2026, September 11). "Condo transfers to foreigners rise 1.4% in Q2 2026, REIC reports." Akarin Vibultangman. https://www.nationthailand.com/business/property/40070917 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
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Infoquest. (2026, September 11). "ศูนย์ข้อมูลอสังหาฯ เผย Q2/69 ต่างชาติโอนอาคารชุด." https://www.infoquest.co.th/2026/647516 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
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Daily News. (2026, September 11). Report on H1 2026 foreign condominium transfer figures. https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/6181464/ ↩ ↩2
About the Author: Andrew Moore FPFS, CDir
Chairman, Better than Freehold
Andrew Moore has been an active investor in Thai property since 2004. He is a Chartered Director and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. He has invested in and built properties in several countries since the late 90's and first invested in Thailand 20 years ago. Having owned residencies in Bangkok, Samui, Phangan and Phuket he can offer a unique perspective on the island's property markets together with past and future trends in both ownership and investor opportunities.