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scobie
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OK, this might sound like a stupid question, but what exactly is the difference between a condo and an apartment? Being a British / Kiwi living in Sydney, I've never heard the term condo before and from what I can make out, there is no difference between them.
Am I missing the point?
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:54 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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hzink
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Quote: from scobie on 2:54 pm on Sep. 1, 2004
OK, this might sound like a stupid question, but what exactly is the difference between a condo and an apartment? Being a British / Kiwi living in Sydney, I've never heard the term condo before and from what I can make out, there is no difference between them.
condo = condominium
An apartment, you rent.
A condo, you can own.
At the superficial level, they appear the same, as the better kind can have the same kind of additional facilities (gym, pool, etc..), but you can only rent (or lease) and apartment, while you can own, buy and sell a condo - i.e. it's in your name.
As far as I could tell, foreigners are allowed to own condos in Thailand, with some restrictions.
Hope this helps.
Harry
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 4:07 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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DrLove
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In Thailand there is barely a difference and Thais often refer to condos as apartments and the other way around.
As Harry said, condos are usually for sale and more luxurious/ more facilities than apartments.
Then, there are flats.... Ever heard of those? 
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:42 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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Abrak
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There is a legal difference between an apartment and a condominium in Thailand broadly along the lines described by HZINK.
A block of flats which has a single owner (who rents out the individual units) is an apartment.
A block of flats in which each unit has a different owner is a condominium.
You can buy a condominium but not an apartment.
In order for a block to be registered under the condominium act as a condominium it must reach various minimum requirements - such as the number of parking spaces, lifts etc.. This explains why condominiums tend to be built to a higher standard than an apartment.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 5:54 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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DrLove
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You can buy an apartment. Why not?
In my GF's apartment there are two different tenants...
those who bought a unit and those who rent a unit.
So is it a condo or an apartment?
As said not much of a difference in Thailand.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 9:30 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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CiaoCiao
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Even though some Thais may confuse the terms, there are definite general and legal differences between 'apartment' and 'condominium', as hzinc pointed out.
Sometimes they sell the land as part of the condominium package, but sometimes only the building improvements, i.e. your unit. Condominium ownership is often not in-perpetuity, that is, not forever, as is other real estate ownership. And in Thailand the ownership of condominiums, by law, is only for periods of about thirty years, renewable under certain circumstances.
Further, all condominium owners have to pay regular Association fees above and beyond their initial purchase price, which fees are to be set aside for taxes and maintenance of the complex.
And yes, farangs can easily purchase condos in Thailand, but cannot purchase the land under them, as they canot purchase any land in Thailand - except in very special cases.
In purchasing a condo you genrally have to be prepared to pay all cash up front, as Thai banks are not disposed to lend to farangs, and farang home banks/mortgage companies are not disposed to lend on Thai property.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:06 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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Mark Pressure
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To confuse the matter even worse you can rent a condo. For a weekend, week, month etc...
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:15 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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CiaoCiao
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Quote: from Mark Pressure on 6:15 pm on Sep. 1, 2004
To confuse the matter even worse you can rent a condo. For a weekend, week, month etc...
Sure, but that shouldn't confuse the accepted definition of a 'condominium'. A condo owner can rent anything he owns - his car, his fishing rod, whatever. That still doesn't detract from the common and legal definition of a condominium - i.e. below:
CONDOMINIUM:
"A single dwelling unit in a multi-unit structure in which each unit is individually owned. The owner holds legal title to his or her unit and owns the common areas (roof, basement, halls, stairs, etc.) and * land * jointly with other unit owners. An owner may live in his or her condominium, rent it or sell it. Owners pay individual property taxes and may claim tax exemptions just as they would if they owned a free standing, single-family home." (*but not in Thailand*)
Websters Dictionary
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:50 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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Abrak
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Quote: from DrLove on 9:30 pm on Sep. 1, 2004
You can buy an apartment. Why not?
In my GF's apartment there are two different tenants...
those who bought a unit and those who rent a unit.
So is it a condo or an apartment?
As said not much of a difference in Thailand.
So Dr.L I hate to be pedantic but you are sometimes. You cannot buy an apartment. Your GF is living in a condominium. You can rent a condominium off the owner. So in your GF's block there are those who own the condominium and those who rent the condominiums from the owners.
An apartment is a part of a block of flats where there is one single owner.
There is a very distinct legal difference in Thailand between the two. But you are correct in saying - that in everyday usage - everyone mixes and matches the terms apartment and condo.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 11:52 am on Sep. 1, 2004
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