charles

Don't know if it has appeared on this website but there was an interesting article by "Chang Noi" in The Nation earlier this week on this subject.

Attempted to draw parallels with the experience of some Latin American countries and what could be coming in Thailand. Said something like there are currently 13 countries in that region with former leaders in prison or up in court.

The rather general formulas were:

Economic growth + corruption = the populace will live with it

Economic decline/crisis + blatant corruption = leaders can find themselves in the slammer.

It may seem that Thaksin has been building up a huge power empire encompassing business, police, military, provincial mafia etc but it's possible that the rug could be pulled from under him easier and quicker than many would have imagined if the economy tanks.

Are you over the 90 days? If so, the full fine for reporting late might be 5,000 baht and it might also be possible for it to be "discounted" as she suggests.

But if you within the 90 days of course it is free and I would say your manager's sister needs sorting.

I have some cash.. 6million + baht and would like to buy some property in BKK..

I am still quite young 27 and am looking for a long term investment.. any suggestions?

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If your objective is a "long term investment", personally I'd tread carefully in the 6-10 million range. It may not be easy to sell in the future or indeed easy to consistently rent out.

I'm still waiting to see signs of life in some of the newer apparently sold-out condo developments in this kind of price range, e.g. Lakes and Citismart (near Asoke) and Hamptons (Thonglor). I suspect the reason the lights are out is that a lot of people have bought them for "investment" or at least somewhere to park their money. Thing is I wonder where all this "investment" is going to end up if there aren't really many people who are actually going to LIVE in these places.

Suspend services sounds good to me.

Less pollution and less ex-cons driving recklessly around Bangkok in large vehicles.

over the next 12 months 1000's of houses and apartments are coming onto the market

add to this the downturn in places like Phuket, SARS, Chicken Flu VIrus, increasing AIDS problem, price of oil US$60 PB, over priced real estate market, unbelievable per capita personal debt (up 10 fold over last year), subsidized deisel price (2 years now and rising borrowed money) etc etc

get the picture

All inidcators are saying hold off on buying - catch the bargains next year

SARS?

Increasing AIDS problem?

10 fold increase in per capita personal debt in ONE year??? !!!

Yes, it is very likely Thailand will face some economic problems and this will weigh down on real estate but lets keep things realistic.

Buying a condo is not such a mad thing to do as long as:

1) You are buying something to live in and plan staying a long time

2) You carefully research the available projects/buildings and developers and pay a price you are comfortable with.

Personally I'd say look at stuff that is affordable to middle class urban Thais but out of the range of the lower classes. Probably most chance of a serious bubble in the upper class property (much higher rate of buying for "investment"/speculation/money laundering(?) in these places rather than buying simply to live in.

Probably the biggest source of potential fluctuation in real estate prices here for foreigners is the EXCHANGE RATE. And for many Western currencies this is at present extremely good (esp. GBP).

Yes, for prakan sangkhom you can choose one hospital from the public hospitals and MANY PRIVATE hospitals.

However, the list of private hospitals does not include the luxury private hospitals such as Bamrungrad, Bangkok General, Samitivej or Bangkok Nursing Home.

It does however include many very decent private hospitals (certainly not third class) such as Petcharavej (Petchburi Rd near Ekamai) and Camillian Hosptial (Thonglor). I think you will generally find the service and facilities at these places very satisfactory. Staff, being less used to foreigners are in my experience usually more pleasant and friendly too.

N.B. If you have prakan sangkhom you can still use another hosptial on the list in an emergency when you can't get to your regular hospital. Just that in this case I think you have to pay and then claim back whereas at your chosen hospital you just give them your card and don't have to pay for anything.

I personally prefer actions rather than words as a resolution to my own quipes.

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such as?

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Well for my ancestors, instead of sitting around and whinging (and yes, there was plenty that we could have complained about) about the Thai gov't... we got up and took over the whole country, gov't, army, police, and economy included. All walk, no need to talk (unless it happened to amuse us to do so).

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Might I inquire as to who the "we" are in your comments?

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You may.

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I think for Heng "my ancestors" means everyone in Thailand who has any distant or not-so-distant relatives who at one time migrated to here from China.

My ancestors are British and I believe by this logic "we" now run the USA, Australia, Canada and a few sundry other places, as well as the UK of course, and basically have much of the political, military and economic clout in the world. This makes me personally feel very important.

As for Heng's more immediate ancestors, I think they actually had to go off to the good old US of A (Texas) to get the education and capital to get somewhere in Thailand. Unfortunately, it seems the experience has left him with some feelings of resentment.

Poor little boy...

What's this obsession with pickup trucks safety?

Millions of Thais drive them and it never has been an issue.

You are right of course, safety is not an issue for millions of Thais.

Fortunately, for people for whom safety IS an issue, I think some posters are just trying to highlight a possible misconception that because a pick-up is bigger it is safer. Certainly a good point for discussion as many farangs may buy a pick-up in Thailand at least partly due to this (possible) misconception.

I think it could be said that a pick-up is:

1. Slower to brake than your average saloon car.

2. Less nimble to manouveur.

3. Much more likely to roll over.

Also, although it is heavier it seems a pick up may not absorb the impact so well in certain types of collision, i.e. the passengers have to absorb more of the impact instead.

On the other hand, a pick-up should give you better visibility (in front of you at least) and might be better in certain collisions. Certainly I'd have thought better than a saloon if you were hit from the side (assuming no side airbags which I don't think any sub 1 million saloon cars have in Thailand).

Looking on the site it's bt6,9999 and you get you a free Sharp TV .. woo hoo

http://www.ubctv.com/promotion/eng/promotion.aspx

totster 

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Yes, they often have special offers, change regularly, I think last month you could install it for 2,000 baht or so. I've also seen offers recently at Tesco-Lotus (I think) where if you are buying certain TVs (29 inch ones, 10-20K price range - not overpriced) then you can get UBC installed for free.

Not much use if you really don't want a TV of course.

Also, a farang owner, now relocating or whatever, needs to make a sale not save face.  So, why wouldn't their be opportunities for bargains from individuals, particulary from farangs?

And, what about the asking price for new building projects (OK, less building will occur) but wouldn't the new building projects reflect market realities?

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I agree, maybe a farang would, don't know how big a group such farangs are though. Imagine most relocating farangs will have been renting or if not might be under the influence of a Thai partner.

New projects are unlikely to drop in price in current conditions of undeniably higher construction costs. Those holding prices are probably cutting their profit margins (or reducing specs). But again, if they can't get margins they're happy with they just won't build/pull the plug.

i used to live there years go, could not wait for my lease to expire and move to thonglor

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Don't blame you! How did the rent on Thonglor compare to Ekamai? (assuming a similar standard place).

There was no discussion of a drop in prices, but, if demand goes down then prices are also bound to fall.

As explained, not necessarily in Thailand!

Perhaps it would be better to say "if demand goes down then transactions go down." As for prices they will largely stay where they are. It's just that noone is paying them.

So everyone just sits on their land/propertys. This applies not only to individuals but also banks who've inherited propertys from defaulting developers/individuals. Better for their balance sheet to keep it than sell at a low price.

As for builders/developers they will just cease developing for a while (already beginning to happen it seems).

I would imagine big drops in asset values are much more likely as regards the stock market (as seen in the past).

I've heard its less than 10 minutes in a taxi from the supermarkets (TescoLotus, Carrefor) in On Nut.

Did you hear that from the person trying to rent to you? Maybe 10 mins on a Sunday morning. Otherwise no chance. Ekamai is often very congested and getting through Phra Khanong (Sukhumvit Soi 71 area) at many times of day can be ######. However, as mentioned there is a Tops supermarket near Ekamai 12, although much smaller than Tesco/Carrefour and not a shopping mall. You've also get Majorcineplex just near the Sukhumivit-ekamai intersection. Quite a small mall, mainly fast food/cafes and of course a cinema.

If you want to use the skytrain, getting from there to the Skytrain is fine, less than 10 minutes by bus/taxi/motorbike. Coming back from the skytrain to your home in the early evening though you will find horrendous traffic gridlock. Probably best to walk (quite a long walk mind you) or possibly a motorbike taxi. It can also at times pay to use Thonglor Road to access Ekamai rather than going along Ekamai itself. I'd have a look for yourself during rush hours if I were you although it sounds like you might be outside of the country.

In true Thai fashion, they got a late start.  The row of stores (along the western edge of the property) were razed last August, and the land just sat there.  I'm sure the building will be ready a year later than expected. 

How have sales gone? Maybe they had to wait for a certain sales threshold to be reached before they got the OK to begin construction.

At least the Regent should look miles better than the "Trendy Condominium" (by the same company) next door. That looks pretty awful considering they're asking over 2 million for a studio. And wasn't it originally a building gutted by fire?

Check out the Thai section of "skyscrapercity.com". Has lots of pictures and updates plus a bit of discussion on many of the BKK highrise projects.

Link is below, scroll down and you'll find the Regent Residences.

skyscrapercity.com - thailand

Think activity has recently begun at the site, still in very early stages at the moment though.

As to the poster who said Pick ups are less safe than saloon cars, I dunno about that, I hired a saloon car and was at the lights next to a Toyota Vigo 4x4, I was wondering what would happen if I was involved in a crash with one of them, would I want to be down here , or up there?

No contest, If he hit me in a side impact collision he would wreck me, if I hit him, I would probably plough into his running boards, the height difference is so much that he would probably get away with no injury, if he hit me on the side, the height of his bumper would probably take my head off. 

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Fair point but think there are pros and cons as regards safety. If you needed to make a rapid evasive manouveur at a reasonable speed (as is not improbable driving out of city) you'd probably be better in the saloon car. As said on other threads, Fortuner as well as a less nimble response would have much greater risk of rolling over, which is a pretty efficient way to do yourself serious harm or kill yourself.

Stats don't tell it all, but in the US saloon cars (excluding small cars) have significantly lower death rates than pick-ups and SUVs.

Once tagged along with a group of Thais to a large place called "Mahathai Plaza" (I think) off Ramkhamhaeng rd. Guard of honour of wai-ing birds on entrance, seemed to be all private rooms. Rooms were all done up very nicely, plasma TVs and very diligent waiting staff. Didn't do much for me though and was saying to the wife when are we gonna leave? She said just wait a bit, think there's going to be some short of show. Soon in came two girls, door closed, waiting staff made themselves scarce, girls had a dance in front of the TV, stripped down to naked and then proceeded to bounce up and down on the knees of some of the male patrons, not including me sadly having been warned off by the wife.

Interesting experience. Didn't think that much to the girls though, maybe they would appeal more to Thais/Asians.

Condominium boom slows

“Construction has slowed at many projects,” said Raimon Land’s report, “creating doubts as to whether such projects will be completed.”

Seeing as newspaper reports won't tell you, anyone know the names of the projects that are doing badly and likely to stall?

As long as I'm working here, I'm all about the good ole Pragan Sang Kom...but you must understand that as an American, any form of social health care system  is a novelty. No way I actually use the 750B per month that gets taken out of my check for it, but since it's money I never see, I just tell myself it's free...

Prakan Sangkhom is not such a bad scheme, plenty of decent hospitals participate in it (e.g. Petcharevej which I and my family use). No payments at all, just show the card and you're done. Think there are some upper limits so it might not entirely cover multiple brain surgery but by and large it means free medical treatment (including run-of-the-mill outpatient treatment like you've got flu or tonsillitus etc.) and reasonable peace of mind.

It is also tax deductible, so if you're e.g. in 10% band it is in effect 675 baht per month. Me and wife have just had a child and it pays us 200 baht a month "child allowance" so now down to effectively 475 baht a month for my "medical insurance". Not bad at all. The scheme also paid me 6,000 baht cash toward the costs of the birth. Believe you will also qualify for a pension/lump sum later if you are still in Thailand after 50 years old! It won't be too much but seeing as you're not paying much in either (your employer has to pay in for you too) it is all round quite a nice scheme.

The perfect example is the "authentic fishing village" of Bang Bao ....... what a joke that place has become ! Arriving there now you will see first a huge 7/11 as your entry point to a strip of shops selling &lt;deleted&gt; souvenir t-shirts and so on......it is Damnoen Saduak on foot !!!  I sincerely hope that someone in the local community or TAT reads this.

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Couldn't agree more. Went to Ko Chang in January for the first time in 6 years and Bang Bao was the biggest disappointment by far. If that's an "authentic fishing village" then Pattaya is a lovely clean family destination. Luckily some of the beaches on Ko Chang are still quite nice (for the time being).

I agree, buy to live in, otherwise don't buy. Don't try to guess the so-called "market". Prices most probably won't crash, the "market" will just die. They'll just stop building for a while. Construction materials aren't likely to get cheaper.

Also for foreigners, I'd have thought the exchange rate was probably the biggest consideration. For example, I'm British and circa 75 baht to the pound looks v. good in my book. Could get better but look back at the past 10 years and you'll see it hardly ever has been better.

I am on my 13th week and really need to find a good place to settele with this  matter, I used to get my Ob/Gyn problems and other sicknesses dealed with at Bumrungrad... but yes they prefer C section.... sad....

the  only hospital that seems to promote natural birth is samitivej....

Been there and  when mentioned natural birth to a doctor, he almost laughed at me....

Deal ladies who have had  this unforgettable experience of natural delivery in Bkk, please comment ! Desperate !!!!!

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Just shows what Bamrungrad and Samitivej are really like - they would happily have you die if it was more profitable for them.

My wife recently had a natural birth at Petcharavej Hospital on Petchaburi Road. It is a decent private hospital, not as posh as Bamrungrad etc, but we've been very satisified - not that we are necessarily qualified to judge all aspects of course. Nevertheless, it seemed clear that a caesarian, although no doubt more profitable to them, was only going to be done if deemed necessary - as it should be. Also saw that on the notice board outside the delivery room, they had their quality assurance targets - one of these was caesarian births being less than 30%, i.e. natural birth preferred if possible. Their actual performance on this was apparently 35% casearian births.

Overall, I thought they did a first class job with nice, well organized child birth/care facilities and would certainly recommend them - at least to someone who is Thai or speaks the language very well. If you don't, I'd be a little hesistant. In any case, perhaps you should check out some of the less profit mad hospitals who could handle foreigners well e.g. St Louis, Bangkok Christian, or Camillian (Thonglor).

Not highly recommended for out of town driving I think, especially on anything remotely resembling mountainous roads.

Poor balance apparently, wouldn't be suprising looking at its shape.

Bumrungrad has a very high percentage of Ceasarian sections

What a suprise. You'd never imagine that Bamrungrad would seek to perform the more profitable procedure rather than what was best for the patient.

If it really is necessary to move her, personally I'd look elsewhere. Vichaiyut might be a good call.

1. Do I need to show that my 10% and payments come from overseas or just the closing payment

2. Should I have a lawyer take care of closing

1. The whole price of your condo has to be transfered in from overseas. Therefore what I think is usually done in a case such as yours is:

You transfer in the full price (4 million baht). Then at the time of ownership transfer, the developer pays you back whatever deposits/installments you have previously paid.

It therefore doesn't matter where your deposit/installments come from. Even if you transfered in from overseas, the amounts would likely be too small to qualify for the foreign exchange paperwork needed to transfer the condo to a foreigner. I think the minimum is 20,000 USD?

2. I think it really depends who the developer is. If it is a major PLC, e.g. L&H, Sansiri, LPN etc. then maybe it is less necessary to have a lawyer (but you may still wish to have one). If it's some one-off small time developer, it would pay to be more careful.