How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand [Paperback]

Philip Bryce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 2006

This book contains essential information for anyone contemplating buying or leasing land and building a house in Thailand. It is meticulously researched and draws on expert legal and construction information from Thailand, America, Europe and Australia. Concepts, techniques and instructions are explained in simple, clear, and easy to understand language. How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand helps you... protect your investment by learning about foreigner ownership and lease options, land titles, contracts, taxes, permits and lawyers; save money by following useful tips about transferring money to Thailand, delivery of building supplies, deposits and special order items, temporary housing for workers; learn how to choose the best architect, builder and project manager for your needs; find out what you can afford and visualize what you want before you pay anyone anything; learn useful Thai, land and building words and phrases; avoid communication problems and enjoy your building experience; follow essential checklists of important must check items every step of the way; eliminate the guess work from building project management; build a house that is well made, structurally sound, nicely finished with no weird smells from the plumbing or unsafe electrical installations. How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand follows the construction of the author's 220 sq. meter house in Ko Phangan, Thailand with over 100 photographs, 2D and 3D drawings and 700 English-Thai words and phrases. This book is your ultimate resource for "buying" land and building a house in Thailand.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

After twenty plus years of renovating and remodeling old houses in England and the USA, Philip Bryce moved to Thailand in 2004. With his Thai wife, Philip designed and managed the building of his own house in Ko Phangan. That experience was the basis for the first edition of this book. Subsequently, Philip and his wife have established a highly successful building project management company and have build six houses over the last three years. Philip continues to update this book as he strives to build the perfect Thai house.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: Paiboon Publishing; 2nd edition (September 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887521712
• ISBN-13: 978-1887521710
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,052,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Build Home Without It!, December 31, 2006

By 

E. Ingraham (Sandy, Utah USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand (Paperback)

Well written, and quite valuable. Very detailed as the topic is technical, yet also readable. VERY useful information it would take a while to find yourself. I would have liked to have some of the information in front of me before I purchased land there. As for building, its very local specific, for Thailand, and some region specific info also. Thats a good thing....

I'd say "Dont Build Home Without It," to play on the AmEx slogan (not that I have any fondness for those corporates....:). I wont. Many of the details here you will likely be faced with at some point, in a relatively complex place (land ownership, etc). The experiences (and knowledge) of others is an invaluable gift. It helps if you can also write, which he can.

Highly recommended, as is his other book (with Thai co-author), Retiring in Thailand. If you plan to do this also, it will save you (and will me) a lot of pain and frustration, I am sure. Also very detailed yet readable. In my experience (Belize, Panama) its some of the best of the genre. Unqualified 5 stars, as is this book. Thanks, Phillip....!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on Building a House in Thailand!, November 28, 2006

By 

James H. Cogan (Thailand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand (Paperback)

Mr Puterbach's polemic against "How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand"
has almost NOTHING to do with the book he pretends to be reviewing.

Yes, "stuff" happens everywhere, all the time. But if you are dumb
enough to put your newly built house in the name of a nearly broke single mother
you just met in a bar, you are likely not bright enough to be building
a house on your own in another country to begin with!

Having said that, I found Mr Bryce's an EXCELLENT book on the pros and
cons, the risks and rewards of building a house in Thailand.

I personally found his experience and information invaluable, and would
STRONGLY recommend you not even consider building a house in Thailand without reading this book first!

There are indeed many complexities involved,and this book is the easiest
way thru the challenges you will indeed encounter.

Jim Cogan

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good advice!, December 25, 2008

By 

Funny Plumber (Fountain Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Buy Land and Build a House in Thailand (Paperback)

This book has good advice although some of the information and terms are incorrect. Example: septic system instead of cesspool in plumbing section. I would recommend it as one of the books that a farang (non-Thai) should read before even thinking about building a house in Thailand.
By the way, this is one of the books that helped me to make the decision NOT to build a home in Thailand but to buy an existing home and fix it.