Buying
How to choose a real estate agency in Pattaya
Pattaya has dozens of agencies and hundreds of freelance brokers. Here is how to tell the ones who really know the market from the ones who just forward someone else's brochures, and which questions to ask before your first viewing.
In short
- Check that the agency is registered in Thailand and has a real office.
- A good agent has been to the construction site and shows the project in person, not just from a brochure.
- Ask upfront who pays the commission and what deal support includes.
Why use an agency at all
You can buy a condo in Thailand without an intermediary, but as a foreigner you will have to deal with quotas, money transfers, a contract in English or Thai, and registration at the Land Office. A good agency saves you time and removes risks that are hard to spot from abroad.
Five questions to ask before the first viewing
- Is the company registered in Thailand
Ask for the legal entity name and registration number. You can check them in the Department of Business Development database (dbd.go.th).
- Do you have an office
An address you can walk into, and a map listing with real photos.
- Have you been to this project
An agent who has walked the site in person will tell you more about the view, neighbouring plots and road noise than any brochure.
- Who pays the commission
Ask this directly before any viewings. At Avalon the buyer pays the agency nothing, whether for a new development or a resale condo.
- What happens after the purchase
Will the agency help with the unit handover inspection, furniture, renting it out and property management.
Red flags
- They promise "guaranteed returns" without a contract that puts it in writing.
- They rush you to reserve: "this is the last unit, decide today".
- They suggest buying a villa or land through a Thai company with nominee shareholders.
- They cannot explain which quota the unit is in.
- They ask you to send money to a personal account instead of to the developer or seller under the contract.
How we work
Avalon Real Estate is registered in Thailand (Avalon Real Estate Co., Ltd., registration number 0205568034824), and our Pattaya office is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 19:00. We live in Pattaya, know the projects personally, visit construction sites ourselves and show every property in person. We support the deal through to key handover, and after the purchase we help rent out the condo and take it under management.
What an agency should not do for you
An agency helps you choose and close the deal, but the final decision and signature are always yours. Read the contract, ask questions, and do not pay large sums until you understand the form of ownership, the payment schedule and all the costs. We put together exactly what to check in Risks of buying a condo in Thailand.
FAQ
Does the buyer pay the agency a commission?
Not at Avalon: the buyer pays the agency nothing, whether for a new development or a resale condo.
How do I check an agency in Thailand?
Ask for the legal entity name and registration number and look the company up in the Department of Business Development database. Make sure the agency has an office.
Who should I send the money for the condo to?
Only to the developer or seller, to the account stated in the contract.
Sources
- Department of Business Development: Thai company register
- Avalon Real Estate contacts and company details
This article is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Laws, fees and project terms change: before a deal we check the current conditions for the specific property.
