Cambodia’s rapidly growing property sector has opened up a new market for housing projects throughout the Kingdom. While condominiums continue to take the headlines in Cambodia’s construction news, little do outsiders know that Borey developments - gated communities featuring a range of popular residential housing - are beating condominiums in terms of popularity among Cambodia’s expanding middle-class.At the end of 2018, Knight Frank recorded a total of 46,197 units across 126 Borey developments. That number increased to 51,278 units across a total of 131 Boreys by the first half of 2019!The supply of landed property projects continues to grow in the first half of 2021 despite of the impacts of the global pandemic. 21 new projects were still launched in 9 districts in the capital which added l15,500 units to the future supply.This number is expected to grow in the coming years but you can get up-to-date Realestate.com.kh’s Real Estate Survey and Reports here.What is a Borey and what makes it so popular?A Borey development is a gated community featuring a range of housing types popular among Cambodians. It can feature single villas, twin villas, hybrid villas, linked houses, shophouses, and flat houses. These different housing types further offer a wide range of preferences in terms of floor area, number of rooms, and prices to accommodate the needs of individuals, families, and/or businesses.Since Boreys occupy a considerable amount of space, some areas of the development may be allocated for parks, children's’ playgrounds, markets, and retail stores. These gated communities also feature 24/7 security through private security personnel and infrastructure.Where to buy a Borey in Cambodia?According to the General Population Census 2019, over 2,200,000 Cambodians live in Phnom Penh. This makes Phnom Penh the most populated city in the Kingdom and it only follows that most of the Kingdom’s Borey developments are concentrated here.A high percentage of borey developments are located in the outlying districts of the capital city, because of two primary (and related) reasons.First, Phnom Penh’s almost-breakneck pace of development leaves little-to-no room for Boreys to be developed within the city center.Second, because of the speed of development, land prices close to the city center make it virtually impossible to make any Borey development appealing for a majority of Cambodians.Given the variety of Borey developments, we recommend buyers to check the latest Borey projects close to Phnom Penh.(Borey VIP in Dangkao commune, Dangkao district) (Borey Lorn City Lotussana in Chaom Chau commune, Por Sen Chey)   (Borey Galaxy 11 in Spean Thma commune, Dangkao district)As the Borey market in Phnom Penh gets more competitive, developers have started looking elsewhere in the Kingdom for future projects.Siem Reap, the second most populated city in the country with over 1,000,000 residents (General Population Census 2019) has started seeing its own Borey launches in the last couple of years.Most Borey developments have reported strong off-plan sales figures, with some citing sold-out figures in their first and second phases. The interest shown by the local market suggests that the city’s market is open to new property developments despite the popularity of shophouses and traditional Khmer houses in Siem Reap.The Borey market in this culturally rich city is growing every year. We recommend interested buyers to check the latest Borey projects in Siem Reap and some of the featured boreys below:Bakong Village - Bakong, Prasat BakongVnom Empire - Ampil, Prasat BakongBorey Royal Angkor Village - Svay Leu, Svay LeuSihanoukville has seen rapid commercial and residential developments since 2015, mostly focused on mixed-use developments. Borey developers, however, have taken an interest in the city as the on-going development of a USD $2 billion expressway from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, and a USD $294 million road rehabilitation within the city, makes it a strong candidate for Cambodia’s next major urban centre.For property hunters looking for the comforts of the city while having easy access to Cambodia’s beaches, we recommend interested Borey buyers to check  Borey VIP in Sihanoukville and all the latest borey developments in Sihanoukville.How are Borey properties priced?Borey properties vary greatly in terms of prices. This is mainly because of the aforementioned variety of properties offered within any given Borey development. For ballpark estimates, Knight Frank’s report cites that these could range from USD $750 to USD $1,700 per square metre in 2019.Then again, land prices in Cambodia are constantly on the rise so these prices are expected to further increase in the immediate (2-3 years) future.Factors that directly/indirectly affect Borey prices also vary. Here are some key considerations in Borey price assessment:How far away is the Borey community from the nearest commercial centre? (Shopping centres, theatres, banks, government institutions, airports, etc.)What are the included amenities in the Borey? (community park & events centre, children's playground, public swimming pool, etc.)Did the developer build the necessary residential infrastructure themselves? (electrical grids, water and sewage pipelines, access roads, etc.)Is the Borey overall an affordable/mid-tier/premium Borey?We suggest you consider these factors, in addition to your specific and personal needs, when buying a Borey, or any property, in the Kingdom of Cambodia.Find out more about property valuation fees in Cambodia.Tax law for Borey in CambodiaFor any property of any type with a freehold/hard title in Cambodia, whether you’re a local or a foreigner, there is a transfer tax that you have to pay whenever you purchase a property. The transfer tax is 4 per cent of the property’s value.An annual property tax is also levied on landed property exceeding 100,000,000 riels ($25,000) in value. This tax is collected annually at a rate of 0.1% of the property’s value. The tax is based on the value of lands, houses, buildings and other constructions built on the land by deducting 100,000,000 riels (USD$ 25,000) from the property in question.The (property) value of lands, houses, buildings and other constructions that are built on the land shall be determined based on the market price by the Property Evaluation Committee established by the Prakas of the Minister of Economy and Finance, according to the General Department of Taxation.Read more in our guide on property tax in Cambodia.Can foreigners own a Borey in Cambodia?Foreigners are prohibited to own landed property by the foreign ownership law in Cambodia that was promulgated on May 24, 2010. Since Boreys are considered landed property, this type of housing is essentially prohibited from being owned by a non-Cambodian citizen.A foreign national can either get married to a Cambodian and name it after their spouse, or gain Cambodian citizenship for themselves after satisfying state requisites.What type of ownership titles are available for a Borey in Cambodia?Cambodia uses three types of ownership titles. These are the soft title, hard title, and the LMAP title — the safest type of title. So, if you buy any Borey homes, it’s best to ask the project owner for LMAP title to be the most secure for your future immovable assets.What do you need to check when buying a Borey in Cambodia?The Cambodian government, through its respective agencies, has cracked down on erring developers who do not have the proper documentation for their projects. But it’s always good to exercise some due diligence on your part. That’s just being a smart consumer!Here are the 5 key legal documents you need to look for when checking a Borey’s legal adherence:Hard Title: You have to look at two classifications of hard titles when dealing with Boreys. The first is the hard title for the whole Borey development. This is called a master title - and will cover the entire piece of land on which the project sits. The second one should be hard titles that are subdivided for each residential unit included in the Borey. These are called individual titles.A legitimate Borey development should be able to produce both of these hard titles to potential buyers. If they can’t show this, don’t put any money down until they do.NOTE: It is also possible for developers to issue a Soft Title for their properties, but it would be in your best interest as a resident to get a Hard Title.Development Company Registration: Development companies will need to register themselves to gain approval from the necessary ministries to proceed with construction. However, construction is not always a sign that they’ve been approved. You can ask to see their company registration just to make sure both the project and the developers can proceed legally.Master Plan Approval: The Ministry of Land Management will need to approve the developer’s Master Plan first before the construction begins. A credible developer will be able to provide you with it or at least show you a copy.Construction License: The construction company then goes through a thorough background check with the Ministry of Land Management. Boreys must have a single registered construction company building the units and infrastructure to ensure consistency and quality throughout the development. Once this has been cleared, the construction company is then given a license.Borey License: The Ministry of Economics and Finance releases the license for the Borey once everything is in order. This means that the developer has satisfied the requirements of the Government in terms of quality, design, sales plans, and documentation.Is buying Borey in Cambodia a good investment?Good investments are always based on a given market’s projected needs - and Cambodians are increasingly demanding more and better homes every year. Land prices for Borey developments have already seen a considerable increase in recent years.According to data from Knight Frank, the average launch price of Borey projects in 2018 amounted to USD$ 715 per square metre. This jumped to USD$ 940 per square metre in 2019. The high-end of Borey developments have seen the biggest jump with 2018 launch prices ranging around USD$ 1,200 to USD$ 1,350 per square metre - this increased to an average of USD$ 1,700 per square metre in 2019.The global pandemic caused some fluctuations in the prices from 2020-2021 according to CBRE Cambodia’s recent Market Overview report.Another factor to consider is that Boreys currently in the pipeline, and consequently, other future Boreys, will be built further away from the city centres (especially Phnom Penh).Considering this rapid outward expansion, established Boreys will definitely see a massive increase in value in the coming years.How do you pay for Borey in Cambodia?The adage “Cash is King” is prevalent in Cambodian transactions. Having your own money in cash gives you good leverage in getting a discount for property purchases in the Kingdom.But if your current situation calls for more immediate purchase, with not enough cash to purchase the whole property, instalment options are also available through bank loans and other licensed microfinance institutions.If you’re getting a home loan, you can get one from ABA Bank, Chip Mong Bank, Vattanac Bank, and many more. To get a bank loan, you need to have regular monthly income, collateral, the hard title of the property, and guarantees.There will also be a background check for the prequalification on a loan payment to the bank.Should you buy an off-plan Borey in Cambodia?Many project developments in Cambodia are sprouting up with a new sales strategy by selling off-plan units. Off-plan means the project owners are selling their projects before and during the start of the project’s construction.Buying a unit on an off-sale plan can be advantageous: You can get a good discount, you can choose your unit in the project before anyone else does, and even influence the design of your house.There is, however, the risk that the development might run into trouble in the future that may lead to the construction being stalled or even cancelled. To help you better sleep at night, we strongly recommend you follow our guide to checking the developer’s legal papers in the earlier part of this guide.Stay up for up-to-date news on the real estate industry in Cambodia and get real-time updates on real estate news as they happen. Download the Realestate.com.kh App now!Article by:

The Sales Club of Cambodia (SCC) welcomes to the upcoming forum all the talented people with an interest to learn and improve their sales knowledge and skills.SCC will facilitate successful and experienced salespeople to share their knowledge with the community and the young-generation, allowing ongoing professional sales skills development and the improvement of livelihoods across the overall society.On 12th March 2017, SCC will hold a dedicated forum which will focus on Real Estate Industry opportunities. This will be held in partnership with Mekong Property Management and a selection of Developers and Investors willing to share their investment and development plans with potential salespeople.For this special opportunity, we have invited 5S Realty Group, namely Mr. Chan Sy, Chief Executive Officer; & LHC (Cambodia) Investment Co. Ltd, namely Mr. Charles C. Villar, General Manager. We have also invited Mr. James Whitehead, Director of Content at Realestate.com.kh, Cambodia’s leading real estate website, to present on the potential of the Real Estate market in Cambodia today.At the end of the forum, we encourage attendees to continue their study and apply to become an independent salesperson for all projects, with significant commission opportunities without the commitments of a full time job.Find the latest real estate news now on Realestate.com.kh

Cambodia is well-regarded for providing affordable living standards and is complemented by its trademark Asian hospitality. It’s no surprise that the Kingdom of Cambodia has been a choice destination for expatriates for more than a decade. Phnom Penh was even previously named Southeast Asia’s new capital of cool by Lonely Planet and regularly features in global travel guides as a must-visit destination.However, the actual nitty-gritty of settling into the country is not always well-explained. To make your life choice easier, Realestate.com.kh provides you with all of the essentials of how banking works for expatriates in Cambodia!Because living cheaply isn’t merely about spending less, but managing your finances well.Banking and currency in the Kingdom The Cambodian Riel (KHR) is the official currency of Cambodia, however, the U.S. dollar is widely accepted throughout the country. Both currencies are used in everyday transactions; with the USD used for larger transactions and the KHR usually used for smaller purchases or as petty cash.According to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), while the KHR is growing in terms of circulation, 80% of transactions in the country are still done using the U.S. dollar.Since 2019, the National Bank of Cambodia has been pushing for the de-dollarisation which has been supported by local businesses with the prices often now showing in Riel. NBC also launched Bakong, a central bank digital currency (CBDC), and has encouraged more digital payments since the global pandemic started in 2020.As an expat, what you do need to know is that all banks support both currencies when it comes to banking in Cambodia.Opening a bank account in CambodiaOne of the best things about expat living in Cambodia is the ease of opening an account with almost any bank. All you need as a foreigner to open an account in Cambodia are the following:A passport valid for at least 6 months.A 1-Year extended visa.A nominal deposit amount (depending on the bank).Bring all of these documents to any major bank and their staff will set you up with your very own Cambodian bank account. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some banks have even started accepting online applications of accounts.However, there are instances of some bank branches/representatives asking for additional documentation as an exercise of due diligence. Better have these ready just in case:A passport-sized photo of yourself (white background).Business patent/license/registration (if you’re self-employed or own a business in Cambodia).A copy of your rental agreement (lease).Proof of employment in Cambodia.So, the question now is, which bank should you go to?TOP 5 Banks for Expats in CambodiaAs a general rule for expatriates, we recommend you pick the bank that is most accessible to you. You can never be too sure when an emergency will arise, hence, we highly recommend that you also adopt this rule-of-thumb.But let’s say you’re in a major city and there’s a wide range of banks well within your area. This is where our recommendation of the best banks for expats in Cambodia comes in, all of which have won numerous banking awards. The banks in the Kingdom have also recently rolled out much better banking apps, contactless cards and digital payment options.ABA BANKPhoto courtesy of Khmer Times, K/T Mai VireakABA also is known as the Advanced Bank of Asia was founded in 1996 is wholly owned by the Montreal-based National Bank of Canada (NBC). ABA Bank serves financial products geared towards individual persons, micro-financing needs, and SMEs.While ABA Bank is not the biggest bank in Cambodia in terms of assets, they do have the most sophisticated online banking app and payment network. Expat communities online generally recommend ABA Bank as the best bank because of the ease of transaction within Cambodia and with personal accounts from their home countries.ABA Bank has branches nationwide, assisted by over 250 self-banking kiosks, and over 450 ATMs available across the country and in most major urban hubs.ABA Bank even offers an offsite bank account opening where their staff will go to your residence, along with the relevant documents to be filled out, to open an account right in the comfort of your home.Minimum Deposit Amount: USD $50 (for non-residents) / USD 10 (for residents)Maintaining Balance Required: USD $10 (both residents and non-residents)SATHAPANA BANKSathapana Bank is a Japanese-owned commercial bank in Cambodia. Its parent company, MARUHAN Corporation of Japan, originally operated in the Kingdom as MARUHAN Japan Bank Plc. in May 2008 and focused on providing commercial banking products and services, aiming at expanding its operation nationwide.In 2012, the MARUHAN Corporation acquired SATHAPANA Limited which was originally established as a non-government organization (NGO) in 1995, and at the time of acquisition, had become a deposit-taking microfinance institution providing funds to the low-income people throughout the country.Today, Satphana Bank has over 170 branches and over 230 ATMs providing reliable banking services as the “People’s Bank” in Cambodia. Sathapana Bank aims to empower entrepreneurs and improve their customers' business and living standards through access to financial services in a sustainable manner.Minimum Deposit Amount: USD $10 for Savings AccountMaintaining Balance: USD $5 for Savings AccountJ-TRUST ROYAL BANK (formerly known as ANZ ROYAL BANK)J-Trust Royal Bank (formerly ANZ Bank) was established in Cambodia in 2005. The bank was initially a joint venture between Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., and The Royal Group of Cambodia. In 2019, the Japanese J-Trust Bank bought into the partnership and has taken over official operations since August of the same year.Despite ANZ Royal Bank’s limited presence with only over 40 branches nationwide, the bank still boasts an impeccable banking portfolio as acknowledged by the Global Finance Magazine with their 2015 Best Trade Finance Bank in Cambodia. In 2016, the International Finance Magazine awarded ANZ Royal its Best Foreign Retail Bank in Cambodia.J-Trust Royal Bank’s entry into the booming Cambodian banking sector is set to bring the trust associated with Japanese quality.Minimum Deposit Amount: USD $500Maintaining Balance: USD $100BRED BANKBRED Bank officially opened its services in Cambodia in 2017 and is one of the newest banks on this list. It is owned and operated by the BRED Banque Populaire, France’s 2nd biggest banking conglomerate. It is the only French - and European - bank in the Kingdom of Cambodia.BRED Bank Cambodia’s CEO, Guillaumme Perdon, said in an interview with the Khmer Times that the bank aims to break Top 5 or 10 banks in the Kingdom.BRED Bank has multiple branches across Phnom Penh and has branches in other major city centres, such as Siem Reap and Battambang.Minimum Deposit Amount: USD $100 for Silver AccountMaintaining Balance: USD $1 deducted per month as maintaining fee for Silver AccountMAYBANK CAMBODIAMaybank Cambodia first established its operations in the country in 1993. It has since supported multiple sectors of the economy such as retail banking, SMEs, commercial business and corporations. In April of 2012, this Maybank officially became Maybank Cambodia to symbolise the regional bank’s commitment to its stakeholders in the country.It is the choice financier of Malaysian and Singaporean businesses operating in Cambodia - particularly companies focused on infrastructure development and the service sector.Maybank currently has over 20 branches operating in major population centres across the country. The bank has also expanded its services to support SMEs through various loan programs.Minimum Deposit Amount: USD $100Maintaining Balance: USD $10This is just a brief overview of some of the biggest banks in the Kingdom of Cambodia. As to which bank should you choose is completely up to you. Given that bank promotions change over time, we highly encourage you to visit any accessible bank to you and find out which one will suit your needs the best.Now that you know more about expat banking in Cambodia, you might be interested to read our guide to retiring in Cambodia. LOOKING FOR SALE/RENT PROPERTIES? CLICK HEREArticle by:

Selling your home takes a bit of thought process and energy sometimes. And one of the questions that frequently pops up is whether or not you should stick with one real estate agent - or list your property through multiple agents. This is especially true when you’re looking to sell your property fast for whatever reason.Both have clear advantages and disadvantages that sellers may want to consider first before deciding.Listing with Multiple Agents:If you want to make a quick sale, listing your property with multiple agents would seem like a logical choice. There’s a good reason for that. You get more exposure. These professionals can utilize different avenues such as the newspapers, real estate publications, and the internet to spread awareness for your property. More exposure means a gathered interest from a larger audience.This option also means more information about the property is released. Buyers can get to know your property better. Agents today are now also utilizing modern tools and techniques to target potential buyers better.The downside to using multiple agents though is that you’re working with a range of people and various sales strategies that are often times totally different from each other. This also entails that there are different degrees of understanding as to what type of buyers are qualified for the sale. There are self-professed private agents out there who will do anything to close a deal.Hiring multiple agents also means that negotiations will be done in isolation. The ones competing won’t be the buyers but the actual agents. This hurts your cause because you might find out too late that someone else may have made a higher offer.Listing with an Exclusive Agent:The thing about listing with an exclusive real estate agent is that their sales strategy – if it’s the right strategy – can save you a whole lot of time and effort. It focuses in on making sure that you get a good deal without demanding too much. This also offers the agent more flexibility to adjust their strategy based on your needs and on buyer feedback.You can hire a professional that specializes in your kind of property too. It is important to note that one effective person can outdo a hundred ineffective ones. Make sure you choose your agent wisely.Having an exclusive real estate agent also makes it easier for the buyer. Buyers would rather think about their personal needs more than they think about which agent they should contact. Keeping everything singular eliminates any possibility of confusion and makes it more convenient for buyers to make an offer.Exclusive agents also sometimes package property management services into the mix as a form of incentive. This is something you won’t get from multiple agents.The downside to this is that information about your property is limited to the stream of influence your agent has. Your reach is much more contained. There is also the risk of running into “commission cowboys”. These are self-professed private agents who will do anything to make a sale. This doesn’t always get you the best buyers.Remember that you will also play a big role in the process no matter what option you choose. What system you think will work best for you and how much effort you’re willing to put into the process is entirely up to you.  Choose wisely.Find Cambodia’s best real estate agents on Realestate.com.kh!

This article was provided by Desmond Yap, General Manager of Yong Yap Properties. It seems like the directive of H.E. Kong Vibol, Director General of GDT,  presented in Cambodia’s first Tax Forum in September  is swiftly moving into action, with officers checking rental contracts of commercial locations for VAT and now what appears to be the introduction of a soft titled property transaction tax.We will unofficially call this a “stamp duty” tax for now.At the start of the week, Sreyleak EnChan, Yong Yap’s star consultant, was processing a new sale transfer at the sangkat office (local authority) when surprisingly, a new procedure was in place to transfer, with the need for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) and the General Department of Tax (GDT) to be involved.Yong Yap Properties have met and discussed with the four main sangkats of khan Daun Penh in which they specialize in, along with verifying as much as possible with the khan and other related sources, the procedure now appears to be the following:Register to transfer property at your local sangkat office as per usualThe local MLMUPC office will be informed and an appointment arranged to inspect and measure the propertyA stamp duty tax invoice will be issued for the vendorOnce the sangkat has confirmed payment from GDT, the title process can continue as per normal to the khan.The additional costs appear to be $50 for MLMUPC to measure and issue invoice.  Stamp duty tax appears to be $6-8/m2 for the internal size of the property.  For the standard one bedroom flat, you would be expected to pay an additional $400-$700.  Transfer time is now expected to take 4 – 6 weeks, previously 3 – 10 days.This has come as no surprise as there has been rumors of imposing stamp duty tax on soft title properties since the start of the year.The surprise (or lack of in Cambodia) is that in typical Cambodian style, this law was enforced overnight without information passed onto the public or even the local authorities handling the situation, causing much frustration in the industry.Looking forward, if all our findings are correct, we hope this will bring more transparency and confidence in the security of soft titled properties to the market.  ACLEDA is the first major bank to provide loans for soft titled properties, with this additional tax registration, it should lead the way for other major banks to follow suit.See original story here.Find out more about land title in Cambodia on Realestate.com.khClick here to download your free copy!

The General Department of Taxation (GDT) has extended the deadline for owners to settle their immovable property tax.  The usual deadline is September 30 every year. This year’s deadline has been extended to October 31, 2016, a month longer than the usual date. “Property” is referred to lands, houses, buildings and other constructions that are built on the land.The GDT has already issued two official notifications, numbers 12723 and 13466, reminding all owners of immoveable property to submit their Property Tax Application and pay their tax.Notification No. 13466 ordered owners of registered immovable property to pay their 2016 tax at any tax office or branch of Canadia or Acleda Bank, using the receipt for their 2015 property tax payment if the size of their property had not changed size, been separated, demolished, or changed hands. If any such changes have taken place then owners must inform the GDT so the department can update its records for any potential additional tax payments.Note that the failure to register immovable property and pay tax may result in penalties in accordance with tax regulations.The purpose of the law is to rationalize the use of land and to benefit the sub-national administrative budget. The property tax is to be imposed in all municipalities and provinces of the Kingdom and applies to immovable properties valued in excess of one-hundred-million Riel (25,000 USD).Property Tax baseThe tax is to be collected annually at a rate of 0.1% of the value of the property. The value of the properties will determined on market prices as evaluated by the Property Evaluation Committee established by the Prakas of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.Property Tax Calculation: an example from Cam Accounting & Tax Limited is a leading audit firm (Chartered Accountants) in Cambodia which offers Tax, Accounting and Audit Services.Mr. Heng owns one three-level building (E0, E1, and E2) of 4m x 16m with a total land area of 10m x 40m. The market prices per square metre would be evaluated by the Property Evaluation Committee as follows:Land price: $400/m2 Ground floor (E0): $120/m2 First floor (E1): $80/m2 Second floor (E2): $65/m2 Land price: $400 x $400 = $160,000 Ground floor (E0): $64 x $120 = $7,680 First floor (E1): $64 x $80 = $5,120 Second floor (E2): $64 x $65 = $4,160 Total price of property: $176,960 Property Tax = (80%* of Price of property – $25,000) x 0.1% = ($ 141,568 – $25,000) x 0.1% = $ 116.5 The information in this article was provided by Mr. Keat Heng (ACCA, CPA), Managing Director of Cam Accounting & Tax Limited.Contact Cam Accounting & Tax Limited for further assistance. The company will assist you with your immovable property and any payments you are required to make, calculating the amount of tax due by calculating the amount of property tax payable and submitting the correct payment to GDT.For further information or assistance, contact: Cam Accounting & Tax Limited Head Office:Head Office: Room 508, 5 Floor, Bayon Market, No. 33‐34, George Dimitrov (St. 114), Sangkat Monorom, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Phone:(855) 97 5555 298 E‐mail: partner@cam‐at.comLearn more about Cambodia property tax by watching this video on property tax on Realestate.com.khClick here to download your free copy!

According to a recent August 5th 2016 “Reminder Notification from the General Department of Taxation to Property Owners to Comply with Prakas No. 493 SHV. BrK concerning Property Tax Collection” all property owners in Cambodia need to be aware of their annual property tax obligation. The reminder states that payment for annual property tax is due no later than 30th September, 2016. Anthony Galliano, ceo of Cambodia Investment Management, notes that, “Although the obligation for all property owners to make an annual payment of property tax was reinforced since Prakas  NO. 493, dated 19th July, 2010, there is still a degree of non-compliance and outright avoidance. Being a non-corporate tax, this is one of the very few direct personal taxes, and the average Khmer remains reluctant, making enforcement within the general population much more complicated.” Nevertheless, the tax should be paid, and non-compliance is increasingly being punished. In the “Reminder Notification” the GDT notes it has observed that some property owners have failed to comply with this annual tax obligation and the GDT encourages those property owners to pay the property tax by the approaching deadline. Failure to do so in punishable by law. Learn more about Cambodia property tax today on Realestate.com.kh!

Land prices have skyrocketed across Cambodia, with many local investors looking to strategically invest in pieces of land, of all sizes.Typically, developers/investors/friends will club together and buy a big piece of land (the bigger the land size, the cheaper the price per square meter). They will then subdivide – possibly providing some infrastructure and a master plan – and sell in smaller parcels to end buyers achieving a higher rate per square meter.Starting from net prices as low as a few thousand dollars for end buyers, these plots are often sold with attractive payment schemes and grand promises of guaranteed future infrastructure development.By choosing the right piece of land within one of these projects, at the right location, end buyers can also earn a relatively quick appreciation of that land asset. Some buyers are buying now with the intention of later building a home or business on this land once the area develops into a more viable suburban zone.However, not all of these land plot developments are safe investments.It is extremely important for end buyers to seriously consider the following:The location of any land plot that they intend to buy,The land title and certification being offered for that transaction and,The trustworthiness of the project owner or manager.They also need to consider what role their real estate agent is playing in the transaction.If these are not diligently considered, the buyer may not have as valuable an asset as they assumed. In the worst-case scenario, they may not have an asset at all…You can see all the available plots of land for sale in Cambodia.With this in mind, Realestate.com.kh, in cooperation with VTrust Appraisal’s highly experienced research team, have put together the ultimate plot land buyers guide.The intention of this article is to make sure that when you buy a land plot, you better understand how to protect against potential issues in the future, and choose a land project with the right legal framework, location and project planning.Broadly, any buyer needs to consider three important issues:Surrounding town planning;Infrastructure and amenities; andLegal issues regarding the plot of land itself.1. Surrounding Town Planning:The success of a land plot project relies heavily on the city master plan, especially local planning mapped out in or nearby the subject area’s periphery.If the government lays out a master development plan covering some parts of the areas in which a new satellite city will be developed, including major roads, drainage and other amenities, this means that those plots of land nearby this planned development will be in high demand and surge in price soon.So how do I choose the right location to buy plot land?A buyer needs to comprehensively study the location where the project plot is situated.Conduct due diligence regarding the surrounding environment, including a 500 meter to 1,000-meter radius scan on existing and future establishments, infrastructure, facilities and amenities that can help raise the standard of living of the residents at that location.In addition, conduct a scan on the Government’s master plan for plans regarding the nearby and surrounding areas, as well as potential private development schemes that could add value to the land plot, or detract value from the property.When will it be a good location? Consider your desired time frame…A location may take some time to become valuable. What if it takes up to 20 years, or even 30 years, for the location to be identified by the Government or large scale developers?Perhaps for many years residents will live with poor access roads, no drainage systems, undersupply of running water or electricity, or long commutes to public schools where they send their children; and by the time the infrastructure comes through for them, the perceived value for the buyer may be gone.Another potential issue with the plot location is its geographical features, for example, is it prone to flooding or other natural mishaps? Find out early before you buy.2. Infrastructure and Amenities:Regarding infrastructure, a buyer should be aware of two critical issues:Existing infrastructure; andFuture plans that affect the infrastructure there or nearby.What existing infrastructure is there?For existing infrastructure, a buyer should look at accessibility such as roads linked from the city centre to the location, running water supply, drainage systems, and other necessary amenities nearby, such as schools, community markets, public services, and so forth - or at least within a manageable distance.If the land has readily available infrastructure, it creates more value in that land immediately. This makes it worth purchasing the plots of land for resale or other purposes, but it may also mean you are too late to catch a great deal - because everyone else may have noticed the potential value too.Future infrastructure:However, not many land plot projects have infrastructure readily in place. And this is why the price is so attractive. Most of the land projects are located on the city fringes or peripheral parts of the capital, where there is minimal infrastructure.If that is the case, a buyer should look into the future of the location: whether or not there will be any town planning, including infrastructure, in reach of your desired land plot.The simple question is to ask whether there is likely to be viable development growth of the location within 5 to 10 years?Unfortunately, speculation like this can sometimes be hard to guarantee with 100% certainty. If the development does not materialise, this will lead to the land price stagnating or to a lack of a secondary market which will affect the returns.What if the buyer buys land, and then the Government changes their mind and does not supply infrastructure in this area?It’s bad news for the buyer! However, if private developers see potential in the areas nearby the plot and volunteer to supply some basic infrastructure, then the project will still have a good chance for appreciation.Some plot land developments are supported by the Government and some are not? How do we know which are? And what difference does this make?Only through due diligence can a buyer know clearly about these circumstances, by verifying development approval from the relevant authorities, title deed checks, or licensed plat/plan of subdivision for the plots of land.Positive media coverage regarding the land plot does not mean it is necessarily a safe investment, it could just be speculative.3. Legal issues regarding the plot land itself:A serious consideration of the plan of subdivision (of the plot project), which should be fully approved by the correct government authorities, is crucial before buying any plot land.An approved plan of subdivision means all the separated titles (or parcels of land) within the plot project are safe to buy with titles and will be respected at the national level of authority.A ‘letter of land transfer’ (a type of soft land title) registered at the district level if often used in plot land transactions - but beware that this is not a particularly strong statement of ownership for the end buyer and can create various potential problems moving forward.What sort of land title am I seeking?One common legal title for a plot of land is a ‘separated piece title’ which is derived from a master plat (plan) of land subdivision. To enable each of the ‘separated piece titles’, first, the developer has to hold a title deed for the whole land.Thirdly, the developer has to get the plan of subdivision approved by the urban planning authorities, especially at the national Ministry level, namely the Ministry of Land, Urban Planning and Construction.When this approval is given, it is legally feasible for a buyer to register a separate title at the ministry level for their piece of land within the project. Note though, that officially transferring this separated title will incur a transfer fee of 4% of the total value of the plot of land.Lastly, if the Government has already developed a master plan in regards to the location where the plot project is situated, then all the separated piece titles there can be registered as LMAP titles, one of the newest land titles in Cambodia.In most landed housing development projects in Phnom Penh, each separated title is offered as LMAP. Having an LMAP title means that the borders of your property have been perfectly recorded, and are free from any dispute over usages rights or ownership. What documents should the buyer ask to see before they commit?First, a buyer should verify the title deed, either of the land consolidation and/or of the land subdivision, that comes under the master plan.Secondly, check if there is approval from the related ministries (MLMUPC) for the plot project as a whole.What are the potential issues regarding land titles for the Plot Land Buyer?If due diligence by the buyer is not conducted carefully, there are potential issues associated with land plot purchase. These could be legal issues such as types of titles, as mentioned above.The problems of soft titles in plot land transactions:A basic letter of land transfer title (a type of soft title registered at the district level), which is still under the master plan of consolidation, might be safe in some cases.However, if the land title is only a soft title, buyers open themselves up to losing that land in the future if the project owner, for example, loses the entire piece of land (as collateral) to the bank if they fail to pay their mortgage.Another tricky situation is when the project owner chooses not to honour the soft title in the future, and reclaims the land, or sells the land to another buyer without revealing the soft title rights of the plot to the buyers.Another possibility is that the project seller in fact never had any ownership of the land in the first place, and the letter of land transfer title was totally fraudulent.You must do your due diligence and ensure that none of these outcomes are possible. Ideally, don’t buy unless you can buy with a hard title deed!So how can I turn my basic letter of land transfer title into a binding hard title?A buyer should first refer to the title deed for the master plat of subdivision to check there are no issues in regards to bank collateral commitments with that land.Then the buyer must register their title with the authorities (Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction) based on the master plat and their agreement with the seller.By doing so, the buyer can then convert their basic soft title into a hard title respected at the national level. This means the land cannot be taken back from them in almost any circumstance.If not registering at that level, the landholding title is still soft.What is the correct role of the real estate agent in the plot land transaction?A professional real estate company should not be the owner of the land for sale, as it represents a conflict of interest, as they are concurrently acting for the end buyers.Real estate agents would be able to act on the behalf of potential investors in terms of identifying a site and then selling the smaller lots, they should not have any equity interest in this.Meanwhile, a quality real estate agent acting for the end buyer, should be able to consult and assist in the process of due diligence demonstrated above.Check out some more great resources on Realestate.com.kh in our Location Profiles and Investor Guides. Learn more about Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap & Sihanoukville. Learn more about Investing in Cambodia, Foreign Ownership in Cambodia & the Cambodian Expat Experience!This piece was a co-production of Realestate.com.kh and V Trust Appraisal.

July 28, 2016 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia Officials have announced that they will be introducing a new category of visa for foreign retirees in Cambodia which will be called “Category ER Visa”. According to the director of the General Department of Immigration, Major General Veasna, this ER Visa entails a minor change in requirements where foreign retirees will have to present documentation from their home country that will prove their financial stability and capacity to live overseas during the duration of their stay. It’s important to note that expatriate retirees already on the “Class E” or business visa will not be required to change their visa type or apply for a new one, but they will be given an option too. Retirees currently residing in Cambodia appear to have no objections to it as well. One retiree, 49-year-old Bruce from Queensland, Australia, currently residing near Wat Phnom, says that this ER Visa is a welcome change, however “most expats staying here will not switch to a retiree Visa unless they have no choice but to do so.” This is probably because business visas have been beneficial because of the lack of enforcement. Many retirees on a business visa have been able to stay for longer periods through a visa renewal every year without actually being employed or owning any business entity in Cambodia.Read more about Retirement Visa in Cambodia here with our comprehensive guideClick Here

Recently, Century 21 Cambodia released it’s Condominium Market Report H1 2016 in Phnom Penh at the Raffles Le Royal Hotel.The release was well attended by various partners, investors, and Century 21 agency managers from across the nation. In the speech of Mr. Kuy Vat, Chairman of Century 21 Cambodia, he mentioned his appreciation of Realestate.com.kh and offered thanks for Realestate.com.kh’s cooperation with Century 21 Cambodia, and the development of the real estate sector in Cambodia generally.“It is with pleasure that Century 21 Cambodia work closely with Realestate.com.kh,” said Vat. He added that, “I think that Realestate.com.kh has become a renowned company in Cambodia. As this company has grown, they have played a very important role in the development of Cambodia, especially within the property market realm.”He also mentioned that in order to have the Cambodian property market continuing its strong growth, stakeholders in the market should partner to develop the industry together for the good of all, whether they are developers, constructors, real estate agencies or media companies. “For instance, Realestate.com.kh is an online marketing company which works to advertise property inside Cambodia on behalf of agents and developers. But, Realestate.com.kh also has a very comprehensive marketing reach outside of Cambodia,” said Vat.“Innovation like this will significantly help our country in promoting our real estate market to foreign investors,” says Vat.Century 21 Cambodia is the exclusive holder of the Century 21 Trademark & Systems in Cambodia and oversees all Century 21 franchise offices across the Kingdom. Realestate.com.kh is the official property portal partner of Century 21 Cambodia, and has actively cooperated and supported Century 21 Cambodia in bringing the Cambodian real estate sector to a wider international market. By doing so, Realestate.com.kh has increased the exposure of Cambodian property to investors across Cambodia and the world. And nowadays, Century 21 Cambodia is working and very hard to develop international networks of investors and agencies in order to take the Cambodian property market to the center of the world stage.Century 21 Global is present in over 78 countries worldwide, and Century 21 Cambodia are currently leveraging these connections to bring new investment opportunities and new investors to the Cambodian market. Vat believes that with strong connections between all stakeholders in the real estate sector, together we can support the long term development of this market.He also believes that development companies with long-term interests in Cambodia will only survive when they work with strong and innovative real estate agencies. “Success may not happen overnight, but if we partner with the right companies it is a matter of time before our real estate industry is very successful,” concluded Vat. Check out more videos about the Century 21 Condo Report from Mr Chrek Soknim, CEO of Century 21 Mekong and Mr Seraj Sutton, Director of Global Strategic Business Development at Century21 Cambodia.

Buyers of residential and commercial properties will be spoilt for choice when CAMBODIA PROPERTY AND INVESTMENT SHOW 2016 rolls into town at the Diamond Island Exhibition Centre (Koh Pich) from 8-10 September 2016. And Realestate.com.kh is proud to be the Official Property Portal Sponsor of this year's Cambodia Property and Investment Show! Visitors at the show can see all the projects in one location. Furthermore, buyers can enjoy many special offers available at only at the show. Billed as the largest property expo in Cambodia, the event will showcase some of the biggest property developments in the country. Supported by the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association, the Show will focus on quality projects that will also attract foreign buyers. Among the development on show are: The Cambodia Property and Investment Show looks set to be the biggest yet as more major developers signed up to display their projects. Many of them will be participating for the first time at the show. This reflect the continued strong growth and demand for quality projects. The property prices are still affordable as compared to countries around the region. As the country continues to attract investments in the manufacturing and tourism sectors, the rental market is expected to remain strong. The Expo is the ideal marketing platform to reach out to both local and overseas buyers as it is expected to attract over 10,000 serious buyers.To Book Your Booth please send your details to the organizer: CLICK HERE TO CONTACTAdmission to the Cambodia Property & Investment Show 2016 is free of charge. Invitation tickets are available: WANT TICKETS?  FIND OUT MORE

Internationals are increasing looking to invest their money in the Cambodian real estate market. According to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction in the first 9 months of 2015 investments in the real estate and construction sector had a combined worth of $1,752 million, as compared to $1,540 million during the same period in 2014, which means an annual increase of 13.8 percent. This is great news for the new developments market! According to Knight Frank Cambodia’s research, namely the Cambodia Real Estate Highlights 2nd Half 2015, the top five investing countries bringing capital to the Cambodia property market were Korea, China, Japan, Britain and Malaysia. Meanwhile, international buyers are particularly motivated to secure property in foreign markets, with around 60 percent buying property with cash up-front.  The world is changing fast, and people are happier than ever to live, work and invest outside of their home nations. In fact, according to the United Nations, around 3.2% of the world’s population has already made the move to live outside their country of origin. This is one reason the international property market is getting hotter everyday. At Realestate.com.kh, through our developer’s marketing packages, we easily and automatically help Cambodian property developers enter the lucrative international property market, make international real estate connections, and, ultimately, sell property to wealthy international buyers – all without leaving their computer chair. Established in 2009, Realestate.com.kh is a website business focused on helping people buy and sell property; and developing the Cambodian real estate market’s exposure to the world! All the leading real estate developers in Cambodia are working with Realestate.com.kh to develop their marketing strategy online and offline, and we are generating qualified sales leads for them everyday. For property sellers there is no need to waste your time and money listing property on other classified websites where user traffic is not related to property. Realestate.com.kh is ranked number 1 for search results on google.com and google.com.kh for almost all property search keywords related to Cambodia. Our website is also mobile and tablet optimized, which is perfect for Cambodia where this type of traffic holds a large market share. Meanwhile, we harness social media marketing to push your property to a wider audience, with over 70,000 Facebook followers and an audience of over 20,000 on LinkedIn. Realestate.com.kh also has a high level of traffic from international investors, around 30-50% of all organic website traffic. But in addition to this, for those developers that choose to list on our site we can also export that listing to international property portals around the world. Realestate.com.kh has an exclusive listing partnership with the Property Guru Group, Asia’s leading online property portal group used by more than 11 million property buyers and generating over 500,000 enquiries every month – as the market leading website across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Your listings will be co-listed on all of these Property Guru websites when you list on Realestate.com.kh, generating high quality international sales leads for your sales team or exclusive agency! Furthermore, ListGlobally, another co-listing partner of Realestate.com.kh, is the largest international real estate advertising network in the world and publishes property listings on over 50 leading property portals around the globe – including famous websites such as I-Property Singapore and Malaysia, Realestate.co.jp in Japan and many, many more. Your new development will appear on every single website in the ListGlobally network! When you work with us, Realestate.com.kh also co-list your new development on Juwai.com, the leading property website in China for Chinese interested in International Property Investment. Second only to the USA in terms of international buying power, Chinese buyers represent a tremendous new market opportunity for property sellers in Cambodia and Realestate.com.kh capture this traffic for you through our connection with Juwai. Chinese property buyers are also renowned for paying in cash! Juwai.com is the only international property portal hosted on both sides of China’s Great Firewall, and your listing will be translated and optimized to suit the Chinese market.  Also, early bird discounts are still available for the “Emerging Markets Property Show” in Singapore, a property expo organised by Realestate.com.kh and the Property Guru Group, on the 8th and 9th of October 2016. Cambodian developers can exhibit their projects and close deals with international investors. If you are interested in attending or exhibiting your new development project visit or call Realestate.com.kh on 095911466, 069 436756 or 017 436756, or email info@realestate.com.kh.  Harness the online revolution that is spreading across Cambodia and the globe – and get your listings sold to international investors on Realestate.com.kh today, Cambodia’s home of real estate.

With the Cambodia economy growing more and more each year, eyes from the international community are being pulled towards the Cambodian real estate market - and for good reasons. One of these reasons is recent legislation that allow foreign-ownership of strata titled office space. But what exactly is a strata title?  Strata refers to apartments being on multiple or different levels of the same building complex. Therefore, the strata title is designed and specifically drafted for apartment blocks or buildings with multiple levels - and co-ownership rights within these buildings. This concept originated in New South Wales, Australia, but later gained popularity in Cambodia after the “Law on Foreign Ownership” was introduced back in May of 2010. This law paved the way for economic growth as it gave investors an ability to penetrate the local market and, likewise, diversify it. Up until a few years ago, there were difficulties doing that for non-Cambodian nationals. Since the legislation, the Phnom Penh skyline has grown beyond recognition as property developers have identified the opportunity to bring foreign investors into the Cambodian market via strata title. Before the advent of strata titles, property owners were now allowed to divide their buildings into multiple private properties which they could sell separately with freehold ownership rights (hard titles). But now, post 2010, foreign investors are free to own up to 70% of these properties as co-owners, provided that they only buy private spaces above the first floor. Slowly, these titles expanded beyond just residential buildings and begun to cater to the international demand for office space in Phnom Penh - which is fast becoming an ASEAN business hub. For investors foreseeing a potential oversupply of condo in the capital city, buying office space seems a less risky alternative given Cambodia’s exponential economic growth. As James Padden, Commercial Agency Manager of CBRE Cambodia, puts it when he spoke at the first annual Real Estate Market & Outlook Conference 2016 (REMOC2016), “If we look at the Phnom Penh market, I think it's important to consider the context of what causes demand for office space. So, essentially, it's driven by commerce, trade and economic growth. Without trade and business growth, there's no need for office space.” He continues to say that Phnom Penh is particularly strong in that regard. Padden offers that, “From 2010 to 2015, we saw imports grow from 6.7 billion dollars to 11.5 billion - which is a 70 percent increase. Meanwhile, exports grew from 6 to 8 billion dollars which is a 33 percent increase.” Padden also mentioned that in terms of GDP, there was an increase by 7 percent each year and the GDP per capita appreciated from $879 in 2011 to $1,325 in 2016, an incredible 50% increase in a span of only five years. As proof of a growing economy and a successful real estate industry, there are now a total of 689 condominium units announced during the fourth quarter of 2015 alone. This brings in the number of off-plan condominiums launched over the course of 2015 to a total of 7,014. Yet - on top of this - as of 2015, there are also now 5 strata-title office developments in Phnom Penh up for sale to local and international commercial property investors. As the trend grows and furthers into its development, strata-titled office spaces will account for about 25% of total office stock by 2020 - according to CBRE’s research. A key benefit of the increase in strata titled office space and residential real estate in Cambodia is the practicality of the new legislation and the amount of time it will save for buyers and sellers transferring the actual titles to new owners upon the completion of new development projects. The process is relatively simple and, at the completion of this process, end buyers have full freehold property ownership rights over that space. Strata titled office space will also allow business entities to conveniently own the properties that are part of their business expansion infrastructure in the Kingdom, which offers superior control and legal protection for their business’ assets here. It is legislation like this that offers international firms the confidence they need to take their first steps into the Khmer market. As more and more strata-titled properties enter the Cambodian real estate market, both strata titled office space and residential units, international investors can see a smooth, safe and cost efficient  vehicle available to venture and expand into Cambodian territory.

Cambodian laws towards land titles for foreign ownership have been largely untested amidst the current construction boom.After months of collaboration with the lawyers of Sok Siphana & Associates and National 6A Investment, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) has now started to transfer strata titles to purchasers of residential units - creating legally binding ownership.Realestate.com.kh spoke with Antoine Petit, executive director for National 6A Investment - the development company and property manager for the Galaxy Residence on Chroy Changvar - about the various pitfalls that all investors should be aware of when acquiring strata titles.Realestate.com.kh: What are the steps to creating a Strata title?Petit: At the very first stage, the developer acquires the land that the development will be on with a hard title in the name of the development company. This happened around four years ago for National 6A Investment. However, from this original master title you cannot directly transfer private unit ownerships to individual buyers. Before this, you must first transfer the total collection of split titles into the developer’s name and ownership. In our case, these were 51 separate titles for 51 units, made from the original, single hard title. The land department of the ministry will also screen your common area regulations and practices at this stage. If the land department is satisfied that the co-owned areas will be correctly managed and insured, then the strata titles will be issued. Once these 51 titles have been created and transferred into the company’s ownership, we can proceed to transferring these individual titles to the individual buyers.Realestate.com.kh: What is involved in the transfer of the strata title from the development company to the end buyer and owner?Petit: The MLMUPC requires fully certified documentation of the identity and marital status of the end buyer and these documents must also be supplied and translated into Khmer. Importantly, the strata title is solely in Khmer, thus no English names are permitted on the strata title and all buyers need their name to be translated. Khmer buyers, foreign buyers and the development company all must satisfy slightly different process and documentation demands. During this stage, we chose to engage the services of Sok Siphana & Associates to review the certified documents and their translation, to liaise with the authority at the land department and to provide legal assistance to buyers along the process until the transfer tax payment.Realestate.com.kh: Does the buyer have to be in Cambodia to transfer the new strata title into their possession?Petit: Yes. The buyers must physically be present to affix their thumbprint on their certified documentation, but most importantly on Vente Definitive and on Application for Ownership Transfer, both of which are standard templates to be provided by the land department. This means international investors must come back to Cambodia to get the title transferred.Realestate.com.kh: What costs are accrued during the transfer process?Petit: There is a public service fee per strata title for the conversion of the master title. There is also a public service fee for each individual strata title to be issued in the buyer’s name. Concerning the transfer tax, once the set of certified documentation is reviewed and accepted by the land department, the exact same documentation with other forms will be submitted to the General Department of Taxation. The tax officials will then issue an invoice with the amount of transfer tax to be paid after assessment of the property value based on their determined ranges and calculation method. After issuance of the evidence from the General Department of Taxation  that the tax has been paid by the buyer, the land department will complete the title transfer.Realestate.com.kh: What if the buyer refuses the strata title transfer?Petit: In theory, this will bring problems when it comes to resale because the second buyer will have difficulties to do a thorough examination or to have certitude that there are no disputes, mortgages, judgments or unpaid taxes associated with the property sold. Pure investors are usually resistant to fulfill the physical paperwork and monetary demands to transfer the ownership in their name. Some developers in this case may accept to hold the title for them - but this can cause complications for buyers later. It is not really advised. On the other hand, such an arrangement also creates landlord liabilities for the developer holding the strata title. An effective way to mitigate this for the reassurance of the buyer is to enlist quality legal support, to ensure constant communication with the developer and to get education surrounding the process. Hiring a professional legal firm with experience in this has been crucial - because they can make this transfer process as smooth and predictable as possible.Learn more about Cambodian land titles, strata title transfers on Realestate.com.kh today!  Click here for current land for sale in Cambodia and current land for rent in Cambodia

Here are some clarifications of the most common misconceptions surrounding foreign property ownership in Cambodia for non-Cambodians.Foreign nationals are unable to buy land freehold within Cambodia as according the the Land Law 2001 and the Cambodian Constitution unless a landholding company is set up with the majority of shares being held by a Cambodian citizen or citizens.Alternatively, foreign nationals are able to acquire land on long-term leases as an alternative to foreign property ownership in Cambodia. These long-term leases for a foreign owner have a maximum lease term of 50 years as determined by the civil code established in December 2011. These leases can be registered at a national level with the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction. Long-term leases are a compromise chosen by many international investors due to the difficulties of foreign property ownership in Cambodia. Learn more about long term lease law.It is extremely important to remember that it is illegal for foreign nationals to own a property under soft title.However, due to a common misinterpretation of the Law on Foreign Ownership by local authorities across Cambodia, some sangkats (local councils) are currently allowing foreigners to purchase property under soft titles in their own names.In addition, this misconception is supported by some agents and brokers who mis-advise their foreign clients as to the true nature of their soft title, claiming that it in fact represents full ownership. However, not all sangkats allow this. Boeung Keng Kang Sangkat, for example, will not allow a foreigner to be represented on a soft title whatsoever.Furthermore, a sangkat officer can interpret a soft title as they wish.  As David Murphy, Director of IPS Cambodia, explains, ”Sangkat Officers are publicly elected officials who stand for election every five years. This means that when a foreigner owns property under a soft title in their own name, there is a significant risk that any change in the elected officials of the relevant sangkat may result in the correct interpretation of the law, jeopardizing or voiding that foreigner’s effective ownership.”To protect from this misunderstanding, ensure that you always conduct a title search with the relevant Ministry of Land Office or Commune Office before purchasing property. Such a search should confirm who holds the title to the property and reveal any registered mortgages or other encumbrances on the title.Keep in mind, as the land buyer; you may not be given the actual title to conduct the search, because this is the seller’s only evidence of ownership. The buyer will instead get given a copy of the title, so it is important that you confirm that it is the most recent copy.Foreign Property Ownership in Cambodia may not be simple, but it is increasingly possible. Always do your due diligence and take your time, and soon you will achieve foreign property ownership in Cambodia, and gain a valuable property asset.Learn More: “Cambodian Land Title Classifications Explained, Once and For All!" & "Can Foreigners Own Land in Cambodia?"