Cambodian Real Estate Attracts Investors from Around the World

Great interest in Cambodian real estate began back in 2010, when a law came into force allowing foreigners to buy local square meters, but only above the second floor of buildings.

Until June 2010, foreigners in Cambodia could purchase real estate by registering it in the name of a legal entity or a Cambodian citizen with whom they subsequently entered into a long-term lease agreement.

At the same time, the authorities allowed foreign investors to acquire private property. Thus, land plots, private houses and small commercial properties are prohibited. In addition, foreigners are prohibited from buying real estate located less than 30 kilometers from the Cambodian border. This is due to national security considerations.

Since then, more projects have begun to be built in Cambodia, targeting overseas buyers, including D'Seaview by Singaporean developer HLH Group, which was launched in January 2016.

“The strong demand for apartments in our project is explained by the increased interest of Cambodians themselves in quality and affordable housing in the country’s key cities. Most of them are young professionals and businessmen. And foreigners also want to invest in it, seeing the rapid development of the Cambodian economy,” explains Dato Johnny Ong, CEO of HLH Group. Cambodia has also become an increasingly attractive destination for Japanese property buyers. According to the Japanese Embassy, the number of Japanese over 60 in this Southeast Asian country has soared by 30%. All this has stimulated the construction of new projects with apartments in the oriental style.

The country's reputation in the eyes of foreign investors was also improved by modernized laws in the area of housing construction.