In a move aimed at supporting Thai citizens and stimulating the real estate market, the Thai government has announced significant reductions in fees for property transfers and mortgage registrations through the end of 2024.

Driven by a Cabinet resolution on April 9, 2024, the Ministry of Interior is set to issue two announcements lowering the government fees and expenses related to real estate transactions under existing laws and regulations.

Reduced Fees for Houses, Land, and Commercial Properties: The first announcement, issued under Article 2(7)(Dor) of Ministerial Regulation No. 47 based on the Land Code B.E. 2497 (1954), reduces fees for registering transfers and mortgages on residential properties, commercial buildings, and land with buildings such as single houses, semi-detached houses, and townhouses.

Specifically, the transfer registration fee has been cut from 2% to just 0.01%, while the mortgage registration fee has been lowered from 1% to 0.01%. However, this reduced fee structure only applies to properties with a purchase price, appraised value and mortgage amount not exceeding 7 million baht. Additionally, the provision is limited to real estate purchases by natural persons of Thai nationality.

Condominiums Also Get Fee Reductions: The second announcement from the Ministry of Interior targets reductions in government fees for condominium unit transactions. Issued under Article 1(77)(Chor) of the Ministerial Regulation related to the Condominiums Act B.E. 2553 (2010), it slashes the fees for condominium units transfer registration from 2% to 0.01% and mortgage registration from 1% to 0.01%.

As with the reductions for houses and lands, the lower fees for condominium units only apply to a purchase price, appraised value, and mortgage amount below 7 million baht threshold. The reducing of condominium unit fees are also exclusively for Thai national buyers.

Temporary Relief Until End of 2024: The Ministry of Interior’s fee reduction announcements for both property types will go into effect once published in the Royal Gazette, with the lower rates remaining valid until December 31, 2024.

This temporary reprieve on transfer and mortgage fees exhibits the Thai government’s commitment to easing financial burdens around property ownership and uplifting the real estate sector during the current economic climate.

Industry analysts expect the fee cuts to provide a substantial boost for prospective homebuyers and real estate investors over the next 8 months. Developers and brokers are gearing up for heightened housing market activity in response to these government incentives.