jlelouer

Most distributors increased their prices without knowing what will be the tax increase... They just make more money with what they have kept in stock

Beers producers and importers cant distribute/import any new beer yet as they're waiting on the government to tell them how much taxes they are going to pay with the new law. That explains the shortages...

I think there is at Rajabhat University.

On July 30-31, there will be the Thailand International Judo Tournament at National Stadium. A dozen of countries will be joining.

Hi Jerome, thanks to your post I found out about this tournament and was able to go watch it today (Sunday). Were you the lone French representative who won the bronze medal match at 81kgs (or was it 90kgs) against a Singapore player?

I'm an over-the-hill brown belt that hasn't been able to train much for the last several years and am hoping to train a bit during my visits to BKK. I visited Thai-Nippon on Saturday and got thrown around like a rag doll by a strong young brown belt, need more training and am hoping to make it to Huamark Stadium sometime during the week as well.

Yes, that was me, under 90kg. Come by at Huamark when you can ! Let me know

On July 30-31, there will be the Thailand International Judo Tournament at National Stadium. A dozen of countries will be joining.

got my vios 3 years ago through financing. Just my gf name as a guarantee, but only my WP, bank statement and salary slips actually mattered. Deposit was 15 or 20% as i recall.

Does anyone know if the results have been published ?

Hi,

Yes, i'm still here, and still training ! Training places are changing from time to time, but there is training almost everyday. You can contact me for places / time...

By the way, starting Monday and until the end of July, Thailand is organzing a "training camp" for the Youth preparing the Youth Olympic Games next month. There will be the top (young) players of several countries of Asia. A rare opportunity to train with international players !

Hi Jerome,

Are you still in Bangkok?

I am a 1stDan black belt in judo. I live in Bangkok and I too have found it difficult to find an active judo club here.

/Herman

Hi Jerome,

I live in Thailand and i will be very happy if you can help me to find a place where i can train in Judo , I'm 1stDan and i really struggling finding a place in Bangkok, it's seams like from all the Thai People that i asked that they don't even know what is Judo.

Please Help!

Tomer

Hi Tomer,

you can go to "Huamark Stadium" (Ramkhamhaeng), every day Mon-Fri at 6pm (it is where I currently train). Alternatively, you can train at the "Thai Japanese Center" in Dindaeng on Satudays from around 4.30pm, and probably on sundays as well. There are other clubs in universities as well, but I hardly go there.

See you there !

Jerome

I found last year 3 banks (UOB/Landhouse/Kiatnatkin) ready to provide me loans on my name (no thai guarantee), offering from 50% to 70% of the condo value. I signed with the one offering 70% (1.3M only) - over 10 years repayment period - no deposit.

A no-go with local banks such as SCB/Kasikorn/Bangkok bank.

My bookkeeping company wants to make me pay 100 THB/transactions for a volume of over 50 transactions per month (i already pay a fix fee). Looks expensive to me... What is a "normal" fee?

Hi Nigel,

Thailand is organizing its yearly international judo tournament on August 7/8. In case you know foreign competitors that would like to join...

I have been competing there for the last 4 years.

Hi,

Yes, i'm still here, and still training ! Training places are changing from time to time, but there is training almost everyday. You can contact me for places / time...

By the way, starting Monday and until the end of July, Thailand is organzing a "training camp" for the Youth preparing the Youth Olympic Games next month. There will be the top (young) players of several countries of Asia. A rare opportunity to train with international players !

Hi Jerome,

Are you still in Bangkok?

I am a 1stDan black belt in judo. I live in Bangkok and I too have found it difficult to find an active judo club here.

/Herman

Hi all,

If the employee / employer decide to terminate an employment contract during probation, is there a notice period to give? What is the law?

Thanks.

- 5 years experience in Thailand

- Completely fluent in Thai (speaking/reading)

- Last position: Regional Finance Manager (Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia/Philippines) - until May 2010.

Can consider freelance opportunities as well.

Best regards,

Jerome

CV_Jerome_Le_Louer_2009.doc

I would be careful about investing in Thailand considering the fluctuation of the currency. What will be the exchange rate vs. usd or eur in 5 or 10 years?

Indeed, I signed the loan with my passport number/WP. So I will pay the developer with 30% from my pocket, and 70% from the bank. HOWEVER, I made a transfer from abroad of the full purchase price of the condo to get the Foreign Exchange Transaction form required to be able to have my name on the title deed.

This is getting somewhere.... So you made the full transfer from abroad to get FETF, which means you borrowed from someone to just show? or the bank loan amount is transferred to get FETF?

The money I transferred IN has been sent back to where it came from as it was just to get the FETF. And of course the bank loan amount has not been transferred to me but directly to the developer. They are not such fools

I am foreigner working in Bangkok for more than 3 years (with work permit).

I am planing to buy a Condo, how I can apply for loan? I can pay up to 40% upfront. I am single and not married.

When I went to LH bank, they said that if I get Thai wife, then only I can get loan, is it same for every bank in Thailand?

Any suggestion to get a loan for single chap living in Bangkok?

Not legal according to thai law.

Get a girlfriend, and she can borrow. have her sign a lease and a prepurchase/presale before paying downpayment. have her sign one more set valid 2years and 11 months later. Make sure her id card is valid for 6 years. Do not register her in tabien baan.

its not 100%, but if you want to buy, I dont see a safer solution. maybe someone else does?

Like I said, I found 3 banks allowing me to make a housing loan in my name without collateral. So it's possible.

Have you signed with your passportnumber (not a co ltd) a contract for a home loan, registered in your Chanote and funds been transfered? If not, I dont see it happening

Indeed, I signed the loan with my passport number/WP. So I will pay the developer with 30% from my pocket, and 70% from the bank. HOWEVER, I made a transfer from abroad of the full purchase price of the condo to get the Foreign Exchange Transaction form required to be able to have my name on the title deed.

I am foreigner working in Bangkok for more than 3 years (with work permit).

I am planing to buy a Condo, how I can apply for loan? I can pay up to 40% upfront. I am single and not married.

When I went to LH bank, they said that if I get Thai wife, then only I can get loan, is it same for every bank in Thailand?

Any suggestion to get a loan for single chap living in Bangkok?

Not legal according to thai law.

Get a girlfriend, and she can borrow. have her sign a lease and a prepurchase/presale before paying downpayment. have her sign one more set valid 2years and 11 months later. Make sure her id card is valid for 6 years. Do not register her in tabien baan.

its not 100%, but if you want to buy, I dont see a safer solution. maybe someone else does?

Like I said, I found 3 banks allowing me to make a housing loan in my name without collateral. So it's possible.

That's what they told me. And check their website, you'll find the same information as what i'm telling you. You are supposed to get fined if you don't keep the average balance at 3M.

http://www.hsbc.co.th/1/2/hsbcpremier-en/premier-account

http://www.hsbc.co.th/1/2/personal-en/loan/homeloan

Cheers.

Okay, it's Premier and not Premium... and now it's 3Mthb to open one and not 2Mthb... But what i stated is correct, if you want a loan from HSBC, you need either a resident permit, either a premier account with a balance of 3Mthb on it (otherwise you have to pay penalties).

My point was that I didn't have neither a resident permit nor 3Mthb cash, so i could not expect to get a loan with them.

I have never met any difficulties in having credit cards here... I have currently 3 credit cards for a total credit line of 3 times my salary. Every time i applied, they gave me my salary as a credit limit. All credit cards have been given quite easily at SCB / Citibank & Kasikorn. If you don't have any payment issues, then i guess you can get as many credit cards as you wish...

I agree that Krungsri is not very foreigner-friendly as they have refused me each time i applied (not enough work permit time...), so i've given up.

What a bullshit!

What guarantees you that a big developer does not cheat on you? I remember one real estate agent saying .... this is a big development. Here you don't have to worry!....

They haven't even had a proper land title there.

Go to your embassy, ask for a lawyer that checks everything and get it in a written form, you understand.

Nothing to do with big or small.

Calm down Loverboy, i'm just trying to help here... And why do tend to think that foreigners will be necessarily cheated?

I have a friend of mine who went with a small developer, his condo completion has been delayed for over 8 months now. And I have signed in May 2008 with LPN (one of the biggest developer in Thailand - listed on the stock exchange) for a condo that was supposed to be finished in June 2009, and they finished on time. Moreover their contract is quite professional as it states what's included/excluded, so they obviously know what they are doing.

Bigger/known developers tend to be more professional than smaller ones, it's true in all kinds of businesses ! Of course, check this as well with a lawyer.

Hello

Can someone please clarify if contracts in Thailand have to be in Thai when a foreigner is buying a condo in foreign ownership. I have been told that a contract in English is good enough.

Also, does a contract for a condo have to take a certain format?

Thanks

No special format from what i know. Mine is in Thai and i think it is mostly the case. I would recommend to buy only with big developers to avoid problems.

I went to see HSBC. They can't provide any loan unless you have the resident permit. The other solution proposed by the HSBC employee was that I open a "premium" account which would allow me to get a loan with them. The condition is to deposit 2Mthb cash that you can't move during the loan. So the employee told me with a smile:"of course this solution is notreally helping you as you are willing to lend 2Mthb..."

I'm sorry I can't tell you with which bank I signed as I'm transferring very soon and you'll understand i don't want to jeopardize it . They agreed on a loan of 70% worth 1.3M over 10 years. The 50% proposal came from LH Bank.