THAILAND PROPERTY: What Buyers MUST Know Before They Commit

Added: 2026-04-29

[00:00:00]When people think Thailand, they think tourism, backpackers, cheap life, beautiful beaches, paradise, and that's changing a lot.

[00:00:10]>> You're dropping big money on places.

[00:00:13]Wow, mate.

[00:00:14]>> Wealthy global citizen. Yes, I'm in. A lot of people when I tell them I'm buying in Thailand, I say, "But you can't earn freehold in Thailand." I've just bought a freehold property in Thailand. I'm trying to promote Thailand and put it on the map and and attract wealthy >> wealthy individuals. was into here.

[00:00:30]You're doing the same thing. But I think even the press were like um and I was front page. You can choose where you live in life. Now, >> some people might think, oh, the LGR's for really rich people who, well, not really.

[00:00:45]>> Hello and welcome to the Asia Lifestyle Magazine podcast. Today we are offsite.

[00:00:49]We are filming with the most amazing backdrop. We're behind Surin and Bangtal Beach and we are joined by the one and only Samuel Leeds from the Samuel Leeds Academy. Mate, thank you so much for doing this.

[00:01:03]>> It's a real pleasure and thanks for helping me navigate my way through Phuket and super excited to be investing to be getting my wealthy global citizenship LTR and we can talk about that. And there's so many unknowns about that that people aren't aware of. They don't know how the Thailand market works. A lot of people when I tell them I'm buying in Thailand, they say, "But you can't earn freehold in Thailand."

[00:01:26]I've just bought a freehold property in Thailand. Um, and then when I talk about the wealthy global citizenship, that freaks people out, but it's a incredible place and it's I think it's a great place to do business. It's a great place to invest and I'm so fortunate that we met because you've really helped us. So, thank you for that, >> mate. Honestly, it's what we've been doing for years. So, my company, Easy Living Phuket, we're a boutique family office. We try and make sure that we can navigate for VIPs and and you are our target market.

[00:01:56]>> I appreciate it.

[00:01:57]>> So, let's talk about the LTR as well because it came on your mind.

[00:02:00]>> Wow, we're starting with that. Wow.

[00:02:02]>> You know, like if if if you're going to bring it up, I would I would definitely say that for target market, the LTR is one.

[00:02:10]>> Let me talk about what my opinion. So when people think Thailand, >> they think tourism, backpackers, cheap life, beautiful beaches, paradise, right? But lots of hippies, lots of travelers, and that's changing a lot.

[00:02:25]And and and now, >> I mean, maybe it's because the places where I'm staying in in in Phuket is changing. I first came to Phuket in 2016. In fact, I wrote my very first property book by Lauren Hai in Thailand.

[00:02:39]>> I just sat on the beach. I was at the mer um >> you're in the meridian.

[00:02:42]>> Yes. Le meridian hotel and uh it took me about 4 days to write the book back start to finish. But I think what Tai is wanting to do now and what the Tai government wants to do is attract more high net worth individuals, people that are you know investors, people that aren't going to get drunk um you know business people.

[00:02:59]>> So they've been doing this for a long time. And when they started bringing out these programs, so for the last, let's say, 10 to 12 years, because I've been here for quite a while, that's the direction that they wanted to go. And everybody said, "You're crazy. Thailand is backpacker central. It's where people go to do their gap year." It's not that kind of place. And evidently with places like Bangta, with places like, you know, Millionaires Mile and stuff like this, you've got to understand that these places are really elevating Thailand's profile, but also the quality of people that are coming.

[00:03:33]>> Did you see the thing in the news about the guy with the coconut that was really mad about how expensive coconuts are now in Thailand, and he was saying it's supposed to eat cheap and that that I didn't actually see the video, but I saw it in the news. I saw the screenshot and it's just indicative of what people's view of Thailand is and actually what it actually is.

[00:03:54]>> Well, let me tell you why I came to Thailand. I mean, there's many reasons.

[00:03:57]First, it's beautiful. We we we love Thailand. It's our favorite holiday destination. But >> a lot of people are telling me to diversify and get out of property and get into stocks and and get into cryptocurrency and get into investing in other things. But the thing is, Asa, all I know is real estate, okay? It's all I really know. And I think that you should only invest in what you know. I mean, sure, I got a bit of money in, you know, stocks and crypto and and and different things. But in order for me to invest millions of pounds, I only feel comfortable when it's in bricks and mortar. I can see it, touch it, it's safe, it's not going to get hacked, it's not going to get stolen. So, real estate is what I know. I've got over a hundred homes in the UK. I'm continuing to invest millions in the UK. I'm investing in the USA. I'm investing in UAE. And I just thought, what a great diversification. And it was the LTR that actually attracted me. So, for anyone that's watching who doesn't know what the LTR is, it stands for long-term residence. There's different types of LTRs that you can get if you're a pensioner, if you're But one particular type is a wealthy global citizen LTR.

[00:05:07]And that appealed just the name. I liked that. Wealthy global citizen. Yes, I'm in. Um, but what that means is that if you are a high net worth individual, you need to be a millionaire. You need to have a million pounds in in in global assets. Uh, e equity. You need to have half a million dollars invested in Thailand. You need to um have health insurance, which I know you're big into anyway, or a certain amount of money in your bank. and there's a criteria and I ticked all the boxes apart from one thing and that one thing was I don't have half a million dollars invested in Thailand. Um so I thought let me do that. But when you've got a LTR long-term residence in Thailand, what that means is you can live in Thailand, spend as much time or as little time as you like without having to apply for a visa. They are tightening the rules massively on visas. At the moment you can come to Thailand as a tourist on a 60day >> and they're shortening it. shortening it to 30. And I think one of the reasons that they're doing that from what I've seen is that there's a lot of people coming to Thailand and they're the bad tourists and they're getting drunk and so they're just trying to and also people are coming and and abusing it.

[00:06:18]They're working on tourist visas.

[00:06:20]>> They they've been doing this for years.

[00:06:22]So like traditionally there used to be something called a border run or a border bounce and they used to pick you up in wherever you were staying. you get in a bus and you just go across the border to either Malaysia um Burma or uh or Cambodia, wherever you're closest to and you just do that every every time that your visa run out. So, they're they're tightening it down. They want they want the nicer.

[00:06:46]>> You got a 60-day visa, but you can just leave for a day, pop, bounce back. So, people are just working in Thailand.

[00:06:52]They're running their business from Thailand and they're they're basically finding loopholes. And I think the LTR, the reason that they brought this in, cuz they brought in, was it last year they brought this in?

[00:07:01]>> So, yeah, it's actually a couple of years now. However, it's only been approved like I think the the the case the actual amount of approval is like 8,500 people.

[00:07:12]>> But not many people worldwide.

[00:07:14]>> Yeah, that's not many people. Don't get me wrong, there's a massive controversial point, and this is what they're trying to bring people to. It means that when you bring money into Thailand, you have to pay taxes. is if you're here for over 180 days with the LTR, you've got 0% tax on your >> It is like a shield.

[00:07:32]>> Yeah.

[00:07:33]>> Against being taxed because you're paying zero tax on your global income.

[00:07:38]Anything outside of Thailand and my understanding is if you do make money in Thailand, you're capped at just 17%.

[00:07:43]>> Yeah. So, when we get clients on the LTR uh through Easy Living Phuket, what we do is we obviously don't just sell them one property. We might do a little portfolio for them. And then that would mean that anything that you make in Thailand, you are capped at 17%. And that's a massive perk as well.

[00:08:01]>> Yeah, it is.

[00:08:02]>> You have to pay taxes somewhere in in life. Well, you can try.

[00:08:06]>> You can try not to.

[00:08:08]>> Depends how you navigate things, you know, >> but you know, reality is is that if you were to uh invest more in Thailand or rent out your place that you've purchased, you would be capped at 17%.

[00:08:18]And for a lot of people, that's that's enough of a draw to say that's for me.

[00:08:23]and evidently for you as well.

[00:08:24]>> Yeah, absolutely. Let's talk a bit about the Thai market just in general because you shouldn't probably invest half a million just to get an LTR. Maybe you should if you're going to save so much in tax. But for me, I was thinking, okay, let me look at the Thai market because you do hear a lot of uh a lot of rumors around, oh, the Thai government will take the property off you and it's it's really um it's really risky. It's super volatile.

[00:08:51]Um, but let's talk a bit about that.

[00:08:53]I'll give my opinion maybe and then you can tell me what you think. So, I'm completely unbiased. I mean, you've got a real estate company, you own a a business in Thailand, and you're selling property. You're selling So, some people could say you're biased, but me, I'm not biased at all. And here's my take on the Thailand market.

[00:09:11]Number one, I think that it is going to boom over the next few years. And the reason I think that is, did you know about the Straits? Did you hear about the uh >> tell me >> Thailand are spending 28 billion.

[00:09:24]>> Oh yeah.

[00:09:25]>> On on their own on their own straight where they're going to put oil and things. Did you hear about that? I What's that about?

[00:09:32]>> It's it's been nerfed. It's been re revitalized and then it's been nerfed again. And basically Thailand is quite long and there's a gap in between where they could do their own straight that would bypass the straight of Malaca.

[00:09:47]>> Okay. Now there's >> unfortunately not the uh the straight >> straight poor.

[00:09:52]>> No, that would be very good, wouldn't it?

[00:09:54]>> Reality I don't think Thailand should cut its uh self in half. I think Singapore and Malaysia would be very very uh yeah pissed on that to be honest. But reality is is that it keeps on getting re re Yeah, it come it comes to the surface a lot and it's one of those things. Well, I went to Dubai in 2018 and it was a lot of construction was happening and people joke about Dubai and say, "Oh, it's a construction site." M kind kind of not really. You go now in 2026 and it's just paradise developed. Incredible.

[00:10:29]I I come here. I mean, I've been coming to Thailand for the last 10 years, but it kind of almost reminds me in some ways of what Dubai was like 10 years ago. Loads of developing things happening. And I can just see like I mean, look developing right over there.

[00:10:41]That's that's obviously my investment.

[00:10:43]Um I I like to stay here cuz I can keep an eye on the builders.

[00:10:47]But I think that I think that the the development that's happening here is is amazing. Um I can see it like even now it's different. We were talking about the backpacker vibe that's kind of going and now it's a bit more Yeah, you've still got, you know, a kind of chill vibe. It's not like Dubai, but it's beautiful. Business people are moving out. You've got things like the LTR. Um they're bringing in direct flights more and more places. So you can now as from October according uh Richard Branson with Virgin they're bringing in direct flights from London Heathrow >> straight.

[00:11:19]>> So that's where that's where I'm obviously from I've got a house 20 minutes from from from Heathrow straight direct to Phuket this year. So I think I think it's on the up. I think that it's um an incredible place to live to do business. The yields are higher here than they are in they are >> than they are certainly in the UK. Even Dubai, I think the yields here are higher. You're getting about I mean I'll probably make maybe even 10% yield on my >> Your place is so unique and there's nothing quite like it. There's like a commercial area below. There's a lot of high-end businesses trying to get in there already. Yeah. And >> with 10% on a 56 million bat, which is about 1.75 million uh 1.3 million just that's quite high. Yeah.

[00:12:09]>> You know, that's quite high. So, the yields are good. The capital appreciation is good in terms of the whole freehold thing. Um, you know what?

[00:12:17]It's so funny cuz everyone that owns property that's that that that's villas, >> they seem to be like looking over their shoulder constantly. And I just thought, I don't want to be getting into that.

[00:12:27]No. And people were trying to pitch me on it. They go, "Oh, no. There's ways that you can buy a villa and you can do it and you can lease the land, but you can get a BVI company and you can." And I'm like, m. Whereas the property that you showed me was basically a villa, even marketed as a villa, duplex, two stories, but technically it's a condominium.

[00:12:48]>> It holds the license of a condo, >> right? So it's within a a development.

[00:12:53]So it is 100% freehold, which is like, wow. Maintenance will be much lower. Do you know I I have a quite a large property in Thailand and we have to have a full-time grounds keeper full-time, you know, house housekeeper. Like it's it's it's insane.

[00:13:09]>> I've got two empty properties right now.

[00:13:10]I got one in just outside London, >> big house, multi-million pound house. I got one in Dubai, again, big house. and both of them empty, but I've got full-time staff there, cleaners, guards, and it's just like that is just so annoying.

[00:13:29]>> Yeah, >> it's nice for me when I pop by and um I'm renting out the the the UK one. I've just just put that on the market, but uh it it's just I didn't want to repeat that in Thailand. they'll have some whereas this property because it's within a complex it's turnkey but also you've got you don't need security you don't need the you know what I mean everything's everything's all in so >> you've got a concurge you've got obviously lock and leave ability >> yeah exactly so and for me I'll stay there when I'm here I can stay as much as I want with my LTR if it's it's a nice little safe haven it means that um if I ever wanted to leave the UAE which I don't think I would because as you know I'm an absolute raging fan.

[00:14:10]>> You are a champion of the UAE.

[00:14:13]>> Yeah, I am. Aren't I?

[00:14:14]>> Literally, you're like, "So, isn't Puket?" I'm like, >> "It is, but UA is better."

[00:14:20]No, I I I love the UAE. And I love Phuket as well, and they're my two favorite places. Um, UK as well is is is one of my favorite places. Probably not to live, but certainly I think to start a business is absolut That's one thing this doesn't have actually. Like if I I could literally go to London from scratch and I could be a millionaire in 12 months because there's so much business and networking events and whereas here it's kind of more like when you've made the money then you come and invest here you live a good life.

[00:14:51]>> This is coming here from scratch. I don't know how I'd get on doing a financial freely struggle if I was coming here from scratch trying to do a financial freedom challenge. It's there's a lot of uh regulation and there's not much networking events.

[00:15:05]There's very little.

[00:15:07]>> Yeah. So, I used to host networking events. Did you?

[00:15:10]>> Yeah.

[00:15:10]>> Like the rich people here are just quietly. They're in the hilltop somewhere far away with gates and you don't know the And when they come out, they'll drive an old banger and be super lowkey. You won't even know who they are. That there there's you know what I'm talking about. It's just like I mean that's the case generally everywhere across the world, but particularly here the rich people definitely hide away.

[00:15:29]And that's why I got I even got a little bit of heat when I came out and did a video and I'm like I'm here in Phuket. I just bought this. I'm getting my LTR.

[00:15:37]This is what that like. Even the Thai press were like, "Oh, what do we I'm literally pro I'm trying to promote Thailand and put it on the map and and attract wealthy >> wealthy individual >> individuals into here. You're doing the same thing." But I think even the press were like um and I was the front page of the press and it was mixed. There was some good and there was some, you know, not so good. and they they were saying um we need to tighten the rules to stop these tourists coming and and it's like hang on hang on I'm a high netw worth individual I'm not a tourist coming trying to find loopholes I'm following your rules and promoting it and investing millions of pounds into the country like that's what you should be promoting yes >> you know and I'm an advocate so it's interesting it did ruffle some feathers though >> yeah it ruffled a lot of feathers there's a lot of people trying to keep it low-key here. And there's a lot of people that come to Phuket to have that bohemian lifestyle as well. So, when it starts to get promoted to high netw worth individuals, when it starts to being advertised as a luxury lifestyle destination, there's a lot of people that react to that because that's not what they came for. And it ruffles feathers. It really really attracts front front page news.

[00:16:55]>> Reality is >> protest in the streets.

[00:16:58]>> Yeah. The the reality is is that Thailand is changing. There's a lot of economic dismay as well all around the country, but Phuket is this luxury bubble.

[00:17:08]>> Here's my message to Thai people that might be watching this as well because I know that some Thai people were um you know, they get upset sometimes because they're like, "Hang on a minute. How can you come and pay no tax on your gloves?

[00:17:19]That's the point. Global income." Yes.

[00:17:21]>> Outside of Thailand, >> if we if I make money in Thailand, I'm paying tax.

[00:17:26]>> Yeah.

[00:17:26]>> Right. But they're just saying, "Look, we want wealthy people to come into Thailand. Why?" To spend money >> cuz I've been here, mate. I have spent more money in the last few weeks since being here.

[00:17:36]>> It's easy to do.

[00:17:37]>> It is. And you know what? Even last night, I went to what's the place called? Wagu steak.

[00:17:41]>> Yes.

[00:17:41]>> So, it's not cheap.

[00:17:42]>> No, it's not.

[00:17:42]>> It's not cheap. Like, >> you know, you might think I'm in need to look at the I can just pay. Be careful.

[00:17:48]You could go bankrupt. Like, there's So, so you got people like me coming with my whole family of of six, you know, four kids, wife. We're here spending a lot of money and and spending money. And who's that helping? Well, that's helping the locals because I'm I'm I'm I'm paying top dollar for, you know, massages and Mandy's booking her people to get nails done. We're buying handmade. Yesterday we bought a bunch of handmade clothes and and and bags from the markets.

[00:18:13]Beautiful.

[00:18:13]>> You know, and we're not haggling. And obviously I'm trying to teach the kids to negotiate, but but but like that's good for the economy. That's helping the locals. That's helping the families. We spent uh literally over over a thousand pounds so far since we've been here on Muay Thai classes.

[00:18:31]>> Yeah.

[00:18:32]>> Yeah. And that included buying some of the boxing gloves and stuff. So that's helping the gym. That's >> But that's the economy, >> right? But I think that's what the Tai government want. I think they want the types they what they don't want is they don't want people to come in and do backpacking and get drunk and hire a motorbike and drive crazy and and and and and then film that and put that out there and go, "Oh, you can come to Thailand and get drunk." And it's it's like no, no, >> it's the whole dynamic of why did you come to Thailand? Well, you came to Thailand to have an amazing life. They came to Thailand because they thought it was basically the backpacker destination it used to be. It's changing. It's It's changing whether >> if you want if you want a really cheap life where you can go and um and just live really cheap and drive a motorbike and that there are many other places.

[00:19:18]>> You can still do that in Phuket. You can still do that in Thailand. But it's becoming more and more evident that people want the finer things in life.

[00:19:27]And >> actually, if you change your geography when you're coming from the west anyway, you're always going to save money. Don't get me wrong, it's it's it's you can save money by changing your geography, that is the lifestyle hack. And even if you're making okay money in the UK, online, whatever, you can there are ways I would say as well, like you can I'm here now with some friends. I've been staying with friends and wherever I go, there's always there's always people that come. Sully's here as well, my guy. Um he's an absolute legend. And so I've been doing some training and and and and and things with him. But like, you know, you can live a very good life very cheap compared to other places in the world.

[00:20:09]Don't get me wrong. You can you can stay in mansions for 10 grand a month in pounds. You can stay in a nice beautiful um apartment with with beautiful views, few minutes walk from the beach for between $700 and,000 a month, which is mindblowing. Um the bills here as well.

[00:20:34]You I think it was you telling me on on that or maybe it was somebody else, but I was looking at the bills the running costs and it is so it's next to nothing.

[00:20:41]It's pennies >> for what you get. It's insane.

[00:20:44]>> It's pennies. So yes, you can live cheap and also with things like the LTR. And look, let me say something about the LTR. Some people might think, oh, the LTR is for really rich people who well, not really. If you've got a million pounds in assets, liquid lies in equity in assets, which yes, it's a lot, but it's not that much.

[00:21:04]>> It's attainable.

[00:21:05]>> It's very attainable. I mean, if you're in property, >> obviously, >> most millionaires in the UK got there by mistake by just buying a couple of houses or buying one house and then over 10 years, 15 years, oh, it's gone up in value. I'm now a millionaire. I know so many millionaires that don't realize they're millionaires.

[00:21:20]>> Yeah.

[00:21:21]>> Because it's just in their house.

[00:21:22]>> Yeah.

[00:21:23]>> So, they're like, I'm a millionaire. I don't feel like a millionaire. I'm still working at McDonald's. You know, it almost can be like that. They've got no cash flow, but they are technically a millionaire. So, you need I think it's 80 80 grand salary. I think I think it is. you need uh listen obviously check with your lawyer. Don't go off this video. Um I'm just speaking from my experience. Health insurance um and then half a million which right now at the time of filming is only £375,000.

[00:21:49]>> Yeah.

[00:21:49]>> Invested in a property. That's not that crazy. And it's if it's so it's attainable for if you're if you got nothing, you got no money and you're and and and you're in the UK, you could get to that point within a few years and then move to Thailand, have a business which you you you have a virtual business. I mean the way the world is going now if technology and AI and how things are so global, become a sovereign individual and if you've got things structured in the right way, you can pay very little tax.

[00:22:19]>> Yeah. you know, it's not work from home anymore. It's work from anywhere >> and live and live like a king, >> you know, it's very if you want to go down that route, you can do that.

[00:22:28]>> You know, like I I love the fact that you understand finances so well. You've had the Samuel Leeds Academy and we've talked about Thailand, but I want to talk about you because you're dropping big money on places. Wow, mate.

[00:22:41]>> How fast was it? How fast though?

[00:22:44]>> Yeah, but how fast did I make the decision to buy that to buy that place?

[00:22:47]You did a lot of checking off video, mate. You did like >> Yeah, but it was fast.

[00:22:52]>> No, no, no. You knew what you were doing. I'd say that you were Okay. Yes.

[00:22:57]It was a fast decision.

[00:22:58]>> We met and 7 hours later, I had signed a contract.

[00:23:03]>> Yeah.

[00:23:04]>> And I did do a lot of d You're right. I was there like away in the background doing my stuff. I did my stuff on that development.

[00:23:10]>> Yeah.

[00:23:11]>> But then when we walked in, initially I was going to buy a property that was $500,000.

[00:23:15]>> Yeah. and you were trying to sell me the three bed and then I I was like, "This block is so good." And I won't say on camera about some of the stuff, but some of the the the the uh >> Yeah.

[00:23:27]>> the the not quite confirmed, but people cuz there's a shopping there's a little shopping center in like a mini mall.

[00:23:33]>> Yes.

[00:23:34]>> And I know who's coming and what shop to come in and and and and what's what what what's happening. We can't say the name when it gets launched if it gets confirmed like I I will put it on this video, but like we're still waiting.

[00:23:48]>> Yeah, we're still waiting. But like I fell in love with the block. I'm like this is a good block. It's good to I want to live here. It's right next to Aman Aman Pure and Aman Pure is our favorite hotel in the world. It's the best hotel in the world. It's so lowkey though. It's so understated.

[00:24:04]>> It doesn't have a sign.

[00:24:05]>> It doesn't have a sign.

[00:24:06]>> You if you know, you know.

[00:24:08]>> Yes. me we went we went we we've been staying we we've been there while we've been here this this month you know we just absolutely love Ammon Pure and this property that we're buying is a stone that it's like two 3 minute walk to the entrance of the Amman Puri hotel you can walk to our favorite gem you know Sutai Mutai gem there's so much it's right bang in between Saurin beach and Bangta beach you can walk to the beach in 2 minutes I'm like this location. I know the yield will be high. I would want to live here. But the problem is this three bed. I wouldn't want to live in this three bed. And that's when I just said, and this was quick. I was like, "What's the most expensive property you got in this entire block?" And then the uh she said, "Uh, ah, it's this one." And I looked at the and within 3 seconds, I just went, "We'll take it."

[00:24:58]>> So, the due diligence happened on the block on the developer.

[00:25:01]>> Yes.

[00:25:02]>> Um, but yeah, but anyway, sorry you were asking me about me.

[00:25:04]>> I was, mate. I I I I just want to champion you because you get so much attention, bad press. I've I've I've met you properly now. I know you now. You're an amazing human being.

[00:25:17]>> I appreciate that.

[00:25:18]>> Really an amazing human being. You've done so many um how can I say you you make people rich, mate. I'm not I'm not I'm not championing your program cuz I've not done it. But >> you've met people that have >> I've met people that have.

[00:25:32]>> Even people coming up to me in Thailand, >> mate. Even my clients that have bought properties from me, they've sent me a message saying, "Oh, you know, Samuel Leeds, I went on his course and they came to me afterwards." Yeah. Like, so to to be okay, to be very clear, my agency in Thailand is a family office.

[00:25:50]We are, how can I say, operating at the highest of levels and we do like a VIP service and we've got a full crew. It's not just me. Yes, I'm the face, but we've got lots of Thai staff. Nearly all of them have their own insurance licenses. We're a legit company. When people come to us, they are creme de la creme people and people that just genuinely want the best advice.

[00:26:11]Most of my clients that have messaged me saying, "Yeah, I've done the Samuel Leads. Yeah, I've done the Samuel Leads." A lot of the real estate professionals here, they've done your course.

[00:26:20]>> Yeah. No m. And and and and they've been part of the academy or they've done stuff. And it's it's it's awesome having like a bit more of a global presence as well because, you know, in the UK it's awesome. And that's I think the UK is my favorite place to start to start a property business still.

[00:26:38]USA huge >> money >> money great for starting from scratch.

[00:26:43]Um but yeah no it's it's it's amazing and um and and and and I think yeah you say about a bit of bad press. I get a little bit of bad press. I I do for sure. But it it's more memorable, isn't it? Like you can get 10 articles about you in the newspapers and then one can be a bit negative and it's like like I've been in Thailand papers a few times but then there was that one that was a bit negative. Yeah, >> that's the one I remember, you know, cuz I'm like >> since since removed.

[00:27:07]>> Yeah, I think it got removed, didn't it?

[00:27:08]Which is which which is which is good.

[00:27:10]Uh they did a bit of factecking and due diligence and then realized that there were cuz they were talking about me as if I was doing something wrong. As if I was like coming into Thailand to try and play the system, but actually I'm like, "No, I'm following the rules."

[00:27:23]>> Following the rules. going for basically the market that Thailand wants to attract. That's that's where you are.

[00:27:28]>> Well, a lot of people don't know about the LTR. They don't know about the global citizenship.

[00:27:31]>> Yeah. I mean, a lot of people don't know about the LTR realistically. I think the options for people because there's another visa that's obviously not quite as high.

[00:27:42]>> What was called the elite?

[00:27:43]>> Yeah, you've got the elite visa >> which is not that elite.

[00:27:46]>> It's I mean it used to be now the LTR kind of surpasses it. There's a lot more hoops to jump through for the LTR though. the elite, you just pay to play.

[00:27:54]>> There's another visa that's quite interesting is there's certain developments that will allow you to invest a minimum threshold of 3 million Bart. So, you're probably going to spend a little bit more in there. It's going to be like 3.5, maybe 6 million, something like that. But it means that you can get a one-year visa renewable for you and your dependent as well. It doesn't come with the tax benefits that the LTR comes with. Yeah, the tax benefits is is but if you want to just live here and if you're not high net worth individual and if you don't you know you might not be that worried about the tax. I tell people don't stress too much about taxes until you've got a bit of money first. Um for people that see me you know with different structures and companies and doing things and they're like oh I want to I want to Samuel can you help me set up a trust and I'm like >> what's your net worth?

[00:28:37]>> Yeah. Is it really worth it?

[00:28:38]>> Yeah. Or Samuel how do I get around inheritance tax when I die? Yeah. Well, don't worry. You won't pay any inheritance tax because normally when you don't have anything, you don't pay tax, you know, and if you've got less than half a million >> Yeah.

[00:28:51]>> pounds, you're probably not going to pay much inheritance tax anyway. Don't worry about it. Um, but yeah, no, there's there's just so much you can do. And and and I think the biggest thing I would tell people as well is uh a couple things. Number one is learn the rules properly. Never wing it. Don't there you can't afford to to mess around with getting things wrong and guessing. get the right advisor around you as well.

[00:29:13]Like even people like yourself. Um you're very well connected. You you you know what you're talking about. Um you you you've experienced it. You speak fluent Thai. That shocked me by the way when when when I saw you when there was agents and stuff that were from Thailand and you start chatting with them in fluent Thai. Damn. Yes, he's with me.

[00:29:32]You know what I'm saying? Like that that was epic. But learn the rules properly.

[00:29:36]And also um a little little lesson I learned from Nomad Capitalist friends there is is go where you're treated best.

[00:29:44]>> Yeah.

[00:29:44]>> And I I did to be honest I said to you when I was I just put an offer down on on on that place and then like the day after I'm in the press and they're saying like oh Samuel lives and they're talking bad about me and I'm like >> h am I being am I going to be treated best here? I don't want to be in in a country where I'm being um you know not not wanted.

[00:30:03]>> You know what I mean? Like do you want my money or not? Like, do you want me to come and talk about how great Thailand is and talk about the LTR? I know that the Thai government are actively got campaigns to promote the LTR and they've only got about 8,000 people that have done it. I reckon, not being arrogant, I reckon I could get another 8,000 myself individually. Like, but if you're going to talk bad about me in the newspapers and paint me out like I'm a controversial person finding loopholes, I'm not finding loopholes. following the letter that you have put out and promoting the fact like >> I I even had to say to you I have to apologize for that because I know the owners of those newspapers and I'm not naming names but you know who you are and stop it because really that's not what Thailand is about. Thailand is about amazing people, amazing culture, and just trying to make a headline just because of a a couple of clicks. That's really, really poor. That's bad.

[00:31:02]>> It was poor. It was poor. And it it certainly made me feel a certain way.

[00:31:05]You know, I'm just cuz cuz I' I've had that in the UK. The UK is very much, you know, the tall poppy syndrome. If somebody succeeds, you know, knock them down. and and and and you know I've had been talked about in parliament um saying you know we need to investigate Samuel's taxes and stuff in parliament and and it's it's like why I'm literally >> doing doing what >> I'm following the rules I'm not break and and here's the thing that upsets a lot of governments though is when you then share it >> yes >> cuz the rules were created for the wealthy so when you put it on YouTube and tell everybody how to do it and step by step >> they don't like it >> they don't like it they don't like it one of the I love the UAE as well though is um and I hope Thailand's this way.

[00:31:46]I'm still new in Thailand, so we'll find out. But I the thing I love about the UAE is how much they do champion success and entrepreneurship. You genuinely feel like Nomad Capitalist go where you're treated best. You genuinely feel like you're welcomed, wanted, your business is wanted, you're celebrated. And people have accused me of getting paid by the UA government >> because you're championing them so much.

[00:32:08]>> Yeah. They're like, "Oh, are they paying you?" Um, no. It's just strange trusting your government, you know. It's strange cuz in the UK I do not trust the government. I love the UK. It's where I am British and I love the opportunities that you can do. I But but as soon as you become successful, >> Yeah.

[00:32:31]>> and you talk about it, then then then yeah, you're going to be ostracized.

[00:32:35]It's all taboo and it's all and and and and I hope that in Thailand I hope that as I champion the the the the government and the country and make money here and show people and more high netw worth individuals come here. Um you know I hope that that is something that the that the the newspapers and the Thai government and the and the Thai people even can say actually that's that's good for the that's good for Phuket. We want more of this. I mean, wherever I go, mate, I bring people, you know. I'm I'm I moved to a little village in Buckingham Shere and I brought 56 people with me. Winning, >> you know, 56 people moved to the village, either staff, family, friends >> to be with me.

[00:33:14]>> Same thing in Dubai. I moved to Dubai, a bunch of people start moving. I got, you know, now I'm doing stuff in Thailand. I hope that um you know the type people can say we want people that are uh you know families, respectful, wealthy, wanting to spend money, what being respectful, clean criminal record, not breaking the rules. We want people like this here rather than being like, "Oh, he's a brash influencer." No, I'm not an influencer. I'm a businessman with influence, not an influencer with a business.

[00:33:45]>> I love that. I'm a businessman with influence. Yeah, cuz people call me an influencer and oh, he's an influencer because I got cameras and because it's like, well, no, no, I'm I'm a businessman, >> but I just tell people what I'm doing, you know? It's the difference.

[00:33:59]>> The crazy thing is when people if you are on camera, and this is one thing that I started a while ago, this podcast, when you are on camera, they go, they try and categorize you. They say, "Are you an influencer?" Well, no.

[00:34:11]I am doing business, but I need to get the word out. And that's it. Basically, >> it's the same as the courses as well.

[00:34:16]Oh, he sells courses. It's like I actually don't really sell courses. I I have a consultancy company and and I have lawyers and accountants and because I tell I'm an advocate for getting the best advice. And if you want to be anything, if you want to be successful in uh basketball, you get a coach. If you want to be a pilot, you go to flight school. And I think if you want to be an entrepreneur, if you want to be in real estate, you probably need to get some mentoring. You need consultants around you. and I run a consultancy company and you know we do very well and we have a lot of impact and off the back of it I have a lending company and I have my own investment company and I have so um yeah there's a lot of shtick with you know oh you're an influencer and you sell courses well it's not quite that's not quite how it is you know so >> you know like when when it comes down to it it's basically the way the way that I look at the whole situation with bringing people to Thailand to It's basically bringing up the entire economy. If we're attracting people like you, we're attracting people that have money and they're happy to spend it, then that's all good for Thailand and and that's evident. It's happening.

[00:35:25]>> I would suggest that people want to invest here, just come here and spend a week or probably a couple weeks, spend a couple weeks here and don't buy anything. Don't invest. Come experience life. View some different properties.

[00:35:41]um meet some people maybe like even like yourself or or or or or um company owners, agencies, stay in Airbnbs, look at the calendars and just start thinking and and and exploring. Then go back to wherever you're from and think and then come back a second time with a checkbook. You know, that's probably what I would say. I've been here six times.

[00:36:00]>> Yeah, you've been here loads of times. I was about to say I would say a lot of the time that people come on their first visit and they're trying to rush in to look at properties I tell them to stop because this is >> okay the returns are really good but not everything is the golden goose and the other thing as well so you have to sift through a lot of noise but the other thing as well is most importantly fall in love with a place this is a lifestyle investment more than anything >> it is well even my property you know the reason I went with the most expensive and I went with the duplex uh with with with four bedrooms is because I wanted to be able to stay there myself. And you know, I thought if I get a three-bedroom place and it's just an apartment over one story, you know, I'm probably not going to actually ever want to stay there myself because if I'm just want if I'm just with my wife, I want to be at the Yaman Pure Shan Pure. If I'm with my family, it's not big enough. I'm going to stay in a villa. Whereas whereas this one, I think, we'll see once it's built, but I think it's going to be a perfect second home. Yeah, >> I keep saying second home cuz we got it's more like sixth home. You know, we got properties all over the world, but it's going to be a great second home.

[00:37:04]When I'm not there, it can be um you know, rented one month at a time on on medium on medium-term uh less. And um I love the service that you guys can help us with, which is literally when we leave and we rent it out, your company, you send people in that take everything, take pictures, put everything in storage, and then when we want to come back to stay there, maybe 6 months later or whenever, everything goes back exactly as it was to toothbrush in the same spot, clothes in the wardrobes to the point we wouldn't know. Having homes like that across the world where you can stay there whenever you want and all your stuff is there but then when you're not there it's making money like that is that's living the dream really >> that's been over years we've honed in every single service that people need to live in Phuket or invest in Phuket and easy living Phuket is that we make your life easy in Phuket we have teams of people doing different things and we have insurance team individually licensed agents, financial adviserss, all with their Thai credentials. We've got internship program where >> and you have your own um media outlet as well, right? Which is really really cool.

[00:38:19]>> You know, I started it because I wanted to get my good news out there. There's a lot of bad press just because of clicks.

[00:38:27]>> I don't believe in it though. I think this is where the UAE have got it so right. the UK and even Thailand. I was looking at the uh the Tiger News and they'll something will happen bad.

[00:38:36]Someone have a m motorcycle accident or there'll be a parachute that um breaks and someone almost dies and ends up in the sea and they'll sensationalize it and you'll think like it's worse than it is and you be okay. But it's like why are you promoting bad things? Like are you not trying you would you wouldn't talk about your own family in a bad way would you? You wouldn't be like, "Oh, oh, my kids are so annoying or me and my wife just had an argument or and and promote that to the world." You want to you want to you want to promote your promote yourself, promote your fan. And in the same way, you should be proud of your country. You should be promoting.

[00:39:11]And this is where the UAE UAE have got a lot of shick because that people are upset that they um you know, they silence um people and they they don't let you say bad things. But it's like, but why would you want to? If you don't like a country, you should leave.

[00:39:24]>> Yeah. You shouldn't be talking bad about any country that you want. You know, now I got a place in Thailand and this is I'm I'm trying to get my um my LTI here and stuff like I would never talk bad about Thailand. I would never talk bad about the Thai government because this is a second home to me. Yeah.

[00:39:40]>> Um you know, so yeah, I think I think um it just really annoys me even the UK.

[00:39:46]Like if you talk back there's people I know there's a guy I won't name him but there's a guy in the UK a rival to me who I actually beat up once in a fight and he he continually bad mouths the UK talks about how bad it is taxes are too high it's awful but he lives there it's like mate mate that's not that can't be good for your mental health like if you're going to stay in the country see It doesn't make sense to me.

[00:40:17]>> I choose to be here.

[00:40:19]>> I I choose to be in Phuket. My family is here. I love this place. And I'm going to be here at least until my kids grow up.

[00:40:27]>> The fact of the matter is you can choose where you live in life now. And changing geography, choosing where you live, making money anywhere.

[00:40:36]>> Oh, that's the big thing, making money anywhere. Being able to systemize your business >> so that it runs with you can run it from a laptop. And people think that you can't run a big company from a laptop, but I know billionaires and they run it from a laptop.

[00:40:50]>> Yeah, >> they are global citizens. They're living in different countries, Portugal, Australia, and they're running big companies. Um, I think that is the future. And the way that the world is going with technology and and and AI, I think it's great. So, would highly recommend getting a property in Thailand. Understand it though. That's another reason why I got a lot of um a lot of heat because I said I've just bought a freehold home and they're like, "You can't buy freehold." Well, yes, you can. You just need to know how to navigate through it. I didn't buy a villa in uh I don't own land. Um in fact, would you explain how it works?

[00:41:26]Yeah. About how how to buy how how a condo like my property can be 100% freehold.

[00:41:32]>> So, a lot of the time when people buy property in Thailand, you got to understand Thailand is a very big place.

[00:41:37]And if you're going to buy a place in the village, there's not going to be any condos. So you end up doing a structure that's probably not as safe as you're supposed to be investing in. Let's say for example, you do invest in a major hub. Let's call it Bangkok, Paya, and evidently Phuket.

[00:41:56]They have structures from the 1970s, the condominium act, where if you license and register your building as a condominium, then you can do a divide.

[00:42:07]49% of that building can be foreignowned. 100%. Your name is on the title deed and that is clear as day. 51% of the building can either be leaseold or tie owned. And that is simple. Now the reason why they've done that is because obviously foreign investment is uh a good thing for the country. And the fact of the matter is that they do want the nice people to invest money here. So when you do buy here, you have lots of options. If you want to buy a villa, you buy the building and you lease the land.

[00:42:40]And the reality is is that they don't want to sell the entire country to foreigners. It's that simple. It's their land. And I respect that so much. If you're going to do the villa thing, you do the calculation. A lot of people, it makes sense. We saw my client the other day um in the spa. They've just bought a villa and they're leasing the land from >> Great. No problem.

[00:43:01]>> And it works for them. And the reality is they've got exactly what they wanted.

[00:43:05]They've gone into it with eyes wide open and it just so happens that the asset that they bought, it does actually qualify them for the LTR, >> but they do have to renew the lease every 30 years. It's not a guaranteed renewal by law because it's in a contract. There are certain circumstances that you have to adhere to and that's why you need people like myself >> and that's why you need a lawyer that will do full due diligence >> 100%.

[00:43:28]>> So basically because because any building can't be owned more than 49% by foreigners. If you've got an apartment building, the entire apartment building can't be owned more than 49% by foreigners. But if you buy an apartment or a condo or a duplex within the block, that building can be 100% yours. So what I bought, that twostory duplex with four bedrooms, that is 100% mine. There's no lease. It is freehold. But that's because it's part of a bigger Yes.

[00:44:02]development.

[00:44:02]>> Yes.

[00:44:03]>> And and and and that's how it works.

[00:44:05]>> You know, when people are looking at investing and they go for the freehold, it's a little bit more to go for freehold. Totally worth it.

[00:44:12]>> Totally worth it. But if you do want a villa, then you just need to know, okay, let me navigate through the through the lease hole, make sure I got the right structure, make sure I got a good lawyer. And I did look at some you showed me a villa. I'm like, wow, this looks great. But I just thought it'd be more cleancut, freehold, uh, and it makes sense. Could you just touch on how we how we connected because it was that was quite an interesting story really.

[00:44:33]>> So, do you want me to go back back with Chris or >> No, you can just whatever.

[00:44:37]>> Okay. So, I've been following you since you started and just so you know, I'm Buddhist. I'm not Muslim, but I started following you because of your political you were giving loan uh halal loans or Muslim Muslim backed loans.

[00:44:50]>> Islamic financing. Yeah.

[00:44:52]>> Bridging and I just and you got so much slack for that and I've gone, "Wow, mate." No, no, you you've seen a problem. You've created a solution.

[00:45:00]>> What about making property inclusive for all?

[00:45:02]>> Yes.

[00:45:03]>> Regardless of your race, religion, backgrounds. I want to make everybody accessible. And then I started following you for other things. And I was like, "Listen, this guy is is is talking and obviously I see the bad press. I can see through it. Bad press gets clicks. I get it. But the good press and everything that you're doing." I was like, "Okay, this is cool." I saw you were uh you said, "It's my birthday today."

[00:45:24]And I recognized the restaurant and and I and I >> of course you did. It's in Phuket. Like you know every restaurant in Phuket blah blah blah. And I sent you I do and I sent you a message and I said, "Hey, happy birthday. By the way, I do property as well." And I'm a hunter, you know, like we we look for the right kind of people. Not everybody is for our market. I'll say that now. Like you kind of our market is, you know, we we we look after people at the highest of levels. So you are my target market. And I went, "Hey, happy birthday. If you want to connect, I can show you some stuff d or my company can show you some stuff." I got a response from your team.

[00:45:59]And it was literally, "Oh yeah, Samuel's always on the move. We never know where he is." I'm going, "Okay, cool. Let me try and find someone who I think has his number." So I I messaged somebody. Um and I said, "Hey, Samuel Le is in one of my academy members."

[00:46:13]>> One of your academy members. Yeah. And I've gone, "Hey, Samuel Leeds is in Phuket. I want to connect with him. His number." He said, "I can't really give out his number." And I've gone, "Mate."

[00:46:25]So, he gave me the uh he gave me your number. Be careful. Be careful. And I was writing you a really carefully scripted text. I was like, "Right, I can't say that. I can't let me just let me just say this." And then before I could send the message, you already sent me a voice.

[00:46:42]>> I hunted you down.

[00:46:44]We hunted each other down.

[00:46:45]>> It was good, man.

[00:46:46]>> Yeah. No, I was looking for some for some good um you know, agency owners and and and people that would be able to help me navigate through the market and were well connected here and um yeah, I actually found a guy and he lined up a whole bunch of viewings for me and then he cancelled on the day and that was just like wow that is crazy.

[00:47:07]>> You know, a lot of people don't want to put their faces out there with money here and you know I I I've got one of my former >> He got shook. That's what happened cuz I said to him >> I said to him, "Listener, am I good if I film bits? Uh, here's, you know, here's what I'm doing." I said, "If I'm happy not to, but I want to document the journey to show people what's what." And he's like, "Yeah, yeah, that's fine."

[00:47:26]And then I think I sent him my my YouTube channel and I think he checked it out and got shook and like, "Oh, is this controversial and cancelled on me?" And uh and then and then when you were messaging me, I thought, "Hang on, this guy's way more reputable than this guy." And he's saying, "Yeah, man. Come on. Bring the cameras. bring. Obviously, there's certain things we couldn't film. You know, there's certain places and certain projects and you know, you got to you got to be respectful and you got to get permission if you're going to film. Um but but you were totally down for it.

[00:47:52]Let's do a podcast. And and for me, that's that's if someone's uh cuz I want to I want to showcase. It's not about bragging. I want to show Everyone hides.

[00:48:01]Wealthy people hide. They don't want their properties known. They don't want their their secrets.

[00:48:06]They keep it like this. And for me, that's I started from nothing. I climbed the ladder. and for me to then remove the ladder because I don't want anyone else to like no I want to showcase what I'm doing and uh I respect that about you. The fact that you've got a magazine, you're putting good news stories out there, you're happy to be on camera, you're happy to show people, I think that's really really admirable because you don't need to. I saw um you you've got a an apprenticeship program, you help, you know, you've got young guys and you Yeah, they've got to work, but you give them opportunity. There was a couple guys, we were yesterday, we were just at the uh shout out to Doper Spa. Oh my goodness, that place is good.

[00:48:40]Yes, >> they don't need more business. So, they do not need my my advertisement or endorsement because they are packed. But what they do need is a land next door.

[00:48:47]They need to get a doper too because that place is sick. But like, you know, people coming up to you, there's know you from from from Instagram and from your magazines and your outlets they're doing. They're like, "Oh, can we get an apprenticeship?" And you're like, "Yeah, man. Here's my number. Come. It's going to be hard. You have to." So, I I I really rate that. I really respect that.

[00:49:03]Um and and I love Thailand. Uh it's rude to ever go into a country and you know I might see things where I think oh things could maybe done a bit better but but if you go into someone's house and you're a guest you take your shoes off and you be respectful. You can't go into someone's house and start you know so so that's just rude. So um you know I'm mad fan.

[00:49:23]There's only a few countries I invest in. I invest in a few African countries.

[00:49:26]Um UK, USA, UAE and and now Thailand. So um yeah it's a pleasure to be here. It's hot as ever though. I'm sweating like a mofo.

[00:49:37]>> Yeah, you've literally got the >> I was in the shade now and and it's the end of April and it's the hottest time of the year. Um, but no, it's it's epic.

[00:49:46]So, I want to commend you for what you're doing >> and uh yeah, no, it's been it's been great. I've enjoyed getting to know you on a personal level, but also on a business level doing stuff and no doubt we we'll do a lot more business.

[00:49:56]>> Samuel, thank you so much for trusting in our company and we will do you proud as well. Like we do everyone. So, yeah.

[00:50:02]appreciate you so much and thanks for sorting out. Thanks for the gift. You got me a Japanese toilet, >> which is the kindest gift you can get me cuz I love those Japanese toilets. And when that when the house is built, that's it right there. When it's built, you can see people you my kids will be able to watch me and my wife swimming because there's like a You just wait.

[00:50:20]You just wait, guys.

[00:50:21]>> The window from the pool to the game room is next level.

[00:50:24]>> Next level. Thank you. Elevated to the room. You wait, folks. You wait to see that property. And if you want to get into the Phuket market, Easy Puket Living, absolutely recommend.

[00:50:33]>> Easy Living Phuket.

[00:50:36]>> So, yeah, Easy Living Phuket is my familyun agency. We're privately owned.

[00:50:40]There's no um Yeah, literally we've done it ourselves and we do have an apprenticeship program as well. So, if you're interested in anything that you've seen in this video, all the links in the description uh below has all of that. And yeah, follow Asia Lifestyle magazine for some good news as well. So, nice one. Thank you very much.

[00:50:59]>> Catch you