Author: James Whitehead
Published: 2025-02-12
Categories: Expat Guide, Investor Guide, Property Market news, Travel Guide
For incoming foreign investors in Cambodia’s real estate market, the country offers the potential for huge long-term growth and appreciation. Meanwhile, short term returns on investment (ROI) for Cambodian investment properties outweigh regional and international peers. Not only that, it’s a great place to live! Offering a high quality yet affordable lifestyle for expatriates that love to live in Asia.
Here’s the opportunity, in a nutshell:


Find out more about investing in Cambodian real estate with IPS Cambodia today!
Over the last decade, Phnom Penh’s skyline has changed dramatically. But if you want to see where the real “new” Phnom Penh is being built, you have to look toward the water. Phnom Penh is one of the few capital cities in the world defined by the meeting of three major rivers: the Mekong, the Tonle Sap, and the Bassac. Historically, these rivers were the lifeblood of trade; today, they are the driving force behind the city’s most prestigious real estate.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) recently issued a new notification (dated January 16, 2026) regarding the extension of tax incentives for the real estate sector. Following the recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Manet, this move is designed to alleviate the financial burden on citizens and stimulate growth within the property market through the end of 2026.
Cambodia’s real estate market has seen significant growth and interest from foreign investors. While many prospective buyers begin their journey by asking, “Can foreigners truly own land in Cambodia?”, the reality is that direct freehold ownership for non-nationals is restricted to co-owned buildings (condominiums) above the ground floor. However, since 2019, alternative structures like trusts have offered a safe, legal, and viable pathway to secure landed property.