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A resale condo lets you inspect an existing home and building. That visibility does not remove transaction risk. Before accepting a non-refundable deposit condition, examine title, authority, management, physical condition and the contract together. A discount needs to be understood against those facts.
Establish the seller's authority
Match title documents, identity, unit number and registered area. Co-ownership, representation, inheritance and company ownership may require different documents and approvals. Check mortgages and other registered burdens through an appropriate Land Office enquiry, rather than relying on a photograph of a document.
A mortgage does not necessarily prevent a sale, but repayment, discharge, transfer and the movement of funds must be arranged in advance. Foreign buyers also need to check eligibility and the building's foreign ownership quota, with certificates appropriate to the unit and planned transfer.
Ask about the building's finances and rules
Confirm common fees, arrears, approved special assessments and rules for parking, pets, alterations, letting and visitors. Where available to you, review budgets, meeting decisions and maintenance information concerning lifts, shared systems and the building exterior.
A fund balance alone does not show whether reserves are adequate. Read it against building age and planned work. If there is a substantial project or dispute, request the known facts and consider independent professional inspection.
Inspect the unit you are purchasing
Test water, drainage, sockets, air conditioning, doors and windows. Check ceilings, external-wall junctions and cupboards for evidence of leaks. Assess light, orientation, noise, privacy and balcony safety, and match the advertised inventory to what will actually remain.
If renovating, establish permitted work, working hours and approvals. Another unit's renovation does not automatically authorise yours. Obtain a repair assessment where necessary and document agreed findings in the transaction paperwork.
Compare total cost and relevant evidence
Budget for purchase, taxes and fees, arrears settlement, repairs, renovation and replacement furnishings. Price per square metre is an initial comparison, but similar layouts, floors and condition in the same or comparable buildings are more useful.
Label asking prices as asking prices if verified transaction evidence is unavailable. A negotiated reduction does not prove a below-market purchase, and new decoration does not solve a title or structural issue.
Make deposit conditions workable
Specify the unit, price, payment dates, inventory, transfer deadline and cost allocation. Set out which failed checks permit termination and how money is returned. Quota, finance and title conditions should be addressed before paying, rather than requested as a favour afterwards.
Use independent legal and technical advice where appropriate. A property agent's help collecting information does not replace the final professional assessment of rights, condition, contract and taxes.
Sources and review date
Reviewed on 4 November 2026. Hypothetical figures illustrate comparisons or calculations, not particular listings or market quotations.
Thailand government: condominium ownership
Thailand government: registration documents
Department of Lands: foreign ownership information
Continue with Thailand Property Transfer Fees and Taxes to prepare your next step.
Ownership, tax and visa rules change and individual situations differ. This is general information, not legal advice — confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
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