Best guidelines to help weather the storm

As the book was first published in February, readers can be confident the information is relevant and up to date and that Dubout's 12-year experience in foreign property purchases means he knows his subject very well.

"How to Purchase Real Estate Offshore Safety: The Case of Thailand" is one of a few English-language entries that cover a wide range of issues regarding property transactions in Thailand. It also includes legal implications, as the author is a lawyer practising in Thailand assisting foreign investors. Along the way, he has gained a broad knowledge based on the experiences of real-life clients and friends.

The book is dedicated to anyone considering a property purchase outside their home country - be they expatriates investing in Thai property or Thai citizens looking for overseas homes - who should be better equipped to make realistic evaluations of the risks involved.

It also explains how to take easy steps to check the credentials of developers before committing to often lengthy and costly investments.

Content is divided into two clear and informative sections: firstly, explaining the fundamental questions that buyers of overseas properties should be asking and ways to avoid common pitfalls, then putting these tools to practice in the Thai market, with detailed examples covering taxes, zoning and other legal issues.

The book contains insightful and amusing stories. A particularly useful tool devised by the author as a starting point for buyers is his Developers Test, which consists of 5 basic questions that give buyers the first warning signs of a potentially risky purchase. The reality of this test is that sadly, despite already sensing some pitfalls, many buyers at this point will still proceed without seeking professional advice. In writing the book, Dubout hopes to educate overseas property buyers about the type of questions they should be asking and importantly, what the answers could mean.

Particularly relevant chapters cover issues like rental guarantees, and whether they are indeed a reality or simply a gimmick for developers to make easier sales.

The rest of the book is devoted to Thailand's property market and legal issues arising from ownership. In four clear and concise sections, the book covers land tenures and relevant regulations, buyers' rights, immovable property rights and tax issues all relating directly to purchases in Thailand.

While this part of the book can be hard going in terms of general reading, if you are a potential or current purchaser you may just find the answers you've been looking for. Dubout's experience also enables him to point out issues many buyers wouldn't consider, such as the Environmental Impact Assessment, the complexities of property tax and dealing with the Land Department.

In concluding, he makes informed comments on how the current economic climate could pan out, based on lessons learned in the 1997 crisis.