Cambodia Real Estate Agency

The answer is YES

Ownership Rules in Cambodia

Foreign ownership of property in Cambodia is permitted; however, there are certain restrictions that you need to be aware of before committing.

For a foreign buyer or investor, anything from the first floor upwards in a residential or office building can be purchased if a Strata title applies to the building.

The foreign ownership level cannot exceed 70% of any one building. The Strata title acts as a kind of hard title, allowing the building owner to divide it into various individual properties for sale.

This is ‘Condominium Law’. As a rule-of-thumb, these are generally granted for new buildings that are now being built specifically for this purpose. A Strata title does not apply to buildings constructed before 2010.

Alternatively, a foreigner can own 49% of private property regardless of the structure if they partner with a Cambodian legal entity.

This is defined by the legal entity having 51% or more of the shares held through a Cambodian citizen(s). If you enter into this agreement with a Cambodian national, all types of property and land are available to you.

This a universally asked question for any country or city. 

To be able to find what you are looking for, you or your real estate company must ask the following questions:

• What is your budget?
• What are your requirements?
• Are you an individual or a family?
• Are you retired and want to live on the beach or inland?
• Are you working or potentially setting up a business? – If so, do you need to be close to office space?

These are fundamental questions that enable our staff to assess your demographic.

Phnom Penh, for example, has 1-bedroom houses up to 10-bedroom colonial villas, so there is a vast spread of properties and prices. 

If you take into consideration off-plan, opportunities can start as low as US$56,000, with the higher end of the market being anywhere between US$1.5-2.5 million.  

So there is something for everyone, but understanding your requirements is key.

After the Khmer Rouge fell, it took until 1989 where the government issued a Land Law. The law initiated a framework to recognise both property and property rights in the Kingdom.

Then in 2001, the Land Law was enhanced to help clarify ownership. Under current law, properties are registered in two ways:

• Systematic Registration
• Sporadic Registration

With systematic registration, the government measures a plot of land and gives it registration and titles. With sporadic registration, this is actioned through the Central Cadastral Office. You may be familiar with the name of the two titles available:

• Hard Title
• Soft Title

Land Investment strategies are also available so, if you are a foreign investor, you need to fully understand the legalities and benefits of the different ownership options. So be sure to speak to your Lux expert to get fully informed.  

Apartments can range from as little as US$25,000 on some of the older buildings in Phnom Penh up to luxury downtown penthouses in the range of USD$1-2 million.  

For rentals, if you are looking for a small, simply old-style Khmer apartment in the major cities, you could rent from as little as US$150pm. Shared apartments between foreigners are also another option to split costs.

Couples and families looking for a minimum of 2-bedrooms can find plentiful options between US$250-1000+ per month, depending on location and amenities.

In most of the cities, you will find reasonably priced accommodation.

First of all, you will require a current Visa and passport. 

Before we go any further, unless you have extensive knowledge of purchasing property or investment property in the Kingdom, you should seek the assistance of a real estate professional. The small fee incurred for this advice and execution is worth its weight in gold. 

Before you purchase ANYTHING, you should conduct an ownership title search. This search will confirm who holds the title referring to the land/property and reveal any mortgages or unknown encumbrances.  

Please understand that there can be hidden impediments in transferring the land/property that are not visible on the title search, such as a claim to the land/property from another local. 

Also, it is essential to note that the buyer will not receive the original title deed to conduct background research, you will only receive a copy, and the document must be checked to ensure it is recent.  

Land Ownership Rules in Cambodia

Foreigners can buy and invest in property and land in Cambodia.

There are four classifications of ownership in the Kingdom.  

Hard Title – Soft Title – LMAP (Land Management and Administration Project) Title and Strata Title.

Land Investment strategies are also available so, if you are a foreign investor, you need to fully understand the legalities and benefits of the different ownership options. So be sure to speak to your Lux expert to get fully informed.