Buying property in Cambodia

We look at what you need to know to buy a property in Cambodia, whether as a Cambodian citizen or as a foreign national living in Cambodia - which is possible although there are some restrictions. 

Is 2022 a good time to buy a property in Cambodia?

Although the global financial markets have been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 could be an opportunistic time to purchase property in Cambodia. Land prices and property investment have been on a positive trajectory for many years in the Kingdom, buoyed by massive growth in investment and development, especially from China. In late November 2021, Realestate.com.kh reported property developers are looking at price increases over the next 12 months through 2022 so buying sooner rather than later could be a good investment. China represents 43 per cent of Cambodia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2020 while Chinese tourists accounted for 36 per cent of arrivals in 2019. With the re-opening of Cambodia in late 2021, there are fewer travel restrictions and more flights making the trip to the Kingdom, allowing for increased investment.

Cambodian real estate market 2020-2021

In 2020, property buyers in Cambodia who are in the financial position to do so could purchase property at lower-than-market prices. However, as all industries adjusted to the effects of COVID, buyers were more patient and satisfied with the compromise of viewing properties online and take advantage of off-plan purchases of new developments. Despite the economic setback of the pandemic in 2020-2021, Moody’s Investors Service said in May 2020, that Cambodia has "strong fiscal buffers to counter disruptions to trade and growth arising from the COVID-19 pandemic." More recent GDP predictions for the Cambodian economy have seen estimates by the World Bank for Cambodia at 2.2 per cent for 2021. Some good advice from Realeastate.com.kh on the changes in trends in a post-COVID-19 Cambodia for property investments are:

1. As the rental market is huge in Cambodia, investors who own rental properties will likely have to rely on western and other foreign tenants to occupy their vacancies and will likely need to make concessions in terms of rentals to keep current tenants and even attract new ones.
2. Only purchase developments that are finished, close to finishing, or are from a reputable developer to mitigate development risks
3. As a landlord, you might need compromise on annual increases: instead of a 15% increase over 3 years, scale this back to 5% for 3 years.
4. Investors may need to look at buying a property below replacement cost and look for reliable and trustworthy property deals as developers will be eager to entice buyers in difficult times.

The Cambodian construction and property sector saw a 47% year-on-year growth in approved construction projects between January and February 2020. The total value of the projects was valued at $1.996 billion. In 2019, the construction and real-estate sector in Cambodia yielded investment worth approximately $11.43 billion, a 90% rise from 2018.

Cambodian Property Market 2022

Realestate.com.kh reported on the potential of the property market in Cambodia in 2022, quoting CBRE’s Lawrence Lennon: "Where condominium prices go over the next 12 months will heavily depend on overseas buyers' ability to purchase and travel. Conversely, Q3 '21 witnessed more positive activity in the landed property market, with most sub-categories correcting upward on average price by 11% during Q2 & Q3 - a reflection of Cambodian buyer's preference for landed property over more high-rise formats, though a trend bolstered by the high number of new launches.” Malay Nop, Branch Manager for IPS Cambodia added that “If an investor is looking at Phnom Penh, land prices coming at around USD $30 per sqm at the outskirts of the city are definitely worth checking." At B2B Cambodia, we outlined some of the prospective property sector highlights in November 2021 and some of the key changes caused in the property sector in Cambodia due to the pandemic:

• Local developers’ target market transitioned from foreign buyers to local Cambodian property buyers.
• Prices have adjusted downward to meet local budgets.
• Short payment terms have been extended to accommodate a preference for longer payment plans of the Cambodian market.
• Developers formed partnerships with local banks to facilitate longer payment plans to suit Cambodian property buyers.

Cambodian investment opportunities for foreigners

These are some of the common types of opportunities that are available in the Cambodian market to foreign buyers

• Condominiums and Apartments: These are the easier option for foreign buyers in Cambodia, but are also popular with Cambodian property buyers.
• Strata titled office space and commercial units: There are opportunities for buyers to purchase strata-titled office or commercial units in Cambodia.
• Serviced Residence, Hotel and Resort opportunities: Another buying option with potentially good returns in Cambodia Look for Guaranteed Buy Back option built in the purchase.
• Colonial-era apartments: Highly sought after but also potentially expensive, buyers could purchase an older apartment, with plans to renovate the property before selling it  at a profit.

Cambodia’s new foreign direct investments totalled $39 billion in the first half of 2021, which represented a year-on-year increase of 9.6 per cent according to the National Bank of Cambodia’s statistics.

Can foreigner (expats) buy property in Cambodia?

Yes, foreigners can buy property in Cambodia. Foreigners in Cambodia are not however allowed to own properties on the ground floor of a building and are not allowed to own land outright under the foreign ownership property law. Most foreigners will look to own a freehold condominium in Cambodia. The Cambodian Government also considers citizenship applications from foreigners when "a serious and significant investment is being made."

What property titles are there in Cambodia?

Property ownership in Cambodia can be secured by one of the following forms of Cambodia land title.

• Hard title
• Soft title
• Private Ownership in Co-owned Buildings (Strata Title)
• LMAP title (Land Management and Administration Project)

We suggest you contact legal and property professionals to get more advice on these when looking at buying properties in Cambodia. You can also read this article on Foreign Property Ownership in Cambodia. Image Credit: Realestate.com.kh

Where do expats live in Cambodia?

Most foreigners who live in Cambodia, still reside and operate a business in the capital of Phnom Penh. However, the other major cities are also popular and well as areas earmarked for growth and investment.

• Phnom Penh
• Siem Reap
• Sihanoukville
• Kampot
• Kep
• Battambang
• Koh Kong

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap You can also read up on other business and investment opportunities in Cambodia for 2022.