KhunHeineken

But their extension ONLY costs 1,900 baht.

Ok, so, say a serious injury or illness was to happen and you dip into your 800,000 baht. You have to hope it doesn't happen 2 months before extension time, right? You'll have to replace it, so what's the difference? If you don't or can't afford to replace it, you have no choice but to use an agent, right? What happens after they use some or all of it???? Their only choice is then to use and agent, right? Then I gather if they were to use some or all of their 800,000 baht then they have no choice but to use an agent for their next extension, right? That can be done by transferring though companies like WISE. The money is here in seconds. Where's the need for it to be in Thailand 24/7????

So, Wongamat is not a good "investment." I mean, you only buy where property increases in value, right?

Yes. He says he's not a realtor but he is.

It's not a hobby. You are working illegally. You constantly talk up property values and ownership on this forum. You clearly have a conflict of interest.

Setting up a Thai company solely for the purpose of owning property is illegal. But, but, but another member said foreigners can own condo's "freehold." He never said 49% "freehold.

How do 49% of foreigners in the condo block stop daily rental???? Serious question. Are you suggesting the involve the police? Is it a criminal matter???? You just said daily rental is illegal, so how could they have known their small condo in the center of Pattaya will end up a hotel???? What happened to the law???? It's not just small condo's in the center. It has boomed all over Pattaya.

But, but, but, the 800,000 baht that was transferred to Thailand 10 years ago has appreciated in value. I can't use any of it, and it has to stay in the bank until I die, but it has gone up in exchange rate.

Can you give an example? Why would you get stuck in Thailand? Even Covid didn't stop international money transfers. I can transfer a significant amount of money to my Thai bank in a matter of seconds through WISE. I have health insurance. I don't drink and drive / ride. If you touch your 800,000 baht you have to replace it, so what's the difference?

Wrong. Not paranoid, I made an informed decision to use agents, and I have given my reasons. Not cheapskate, I could transfer 800,000 baht here tomorrow, but why would I? Not risk naive, if Thailand stop the use of agents, which I can't see happening, but say they do, I will reassess my position, but I have no ties here and could leave for Vietnam tomorrow. I'd probably do 6 months in Thailand and 6 months in Vietnam, which is something I considered when the news about taxing remittances broke. Wrong. If you want to do your own extension for 1,900 baht, you lose access to the full 800,000 baht. Sure, you can withdraw it, but you have to replace it, so same same. It's a donation to a Thai bank until you die. It's not about the money. It's about the list of reasons I posted why myself, and many of my friends, chose to use agents. Ditto. As said, it's not about the amount of money. I don't keep the 800,000 baht in my home country solely because it makes more money there. Sure, it's one of the reasons, but not the sole reason. No paranoia. I don't even have to do the 30 minutes. I'm probably on the golf course whilst my extension is being processed. Correct, however, 6 months Thailand and 6 months Vietnam is fine with me. It was an option I considered when news of taxing remittances broke. No paranoia. Thai Airways went broke, just as one example. I've been saying for some time the amount can't stay at 800,000 baht forever. It will have to increase in the future at some point. What an easy way to capitalize your bank/s. Just force farang to inject more money into them. Why must one of my kids come to Thailand at all if they don't have to? Most of your list is just making excuses for the system, a system that I chose not to participate in and still live here. Yes, and I have no problem with people who put the 800,000 baht in a a Thai bank, but just don't think people who don't can't afford to, and don't say your extension ONLY costs 1,900 baht because it's costing way more than that in lost interest. Well, it's a little more than a just a few thousand baht. Sure, do what makes you feel comfortable. I am doing the same, and have listed my reasons, and I'm not the only one. There's a reason why agents have shops all over Pattaya.

Managed funds were still making money, even after the GFC. What good is the value of the Thai baht if you can't access the 800,000 baht???? It's a donation until you die. I can do what I please with the money, and it more than covers the agent's fees. I have no problem with people having 800,000 baht in a Thai bank and doing their own extension for 1,900 baht, but I just laugh when they suggest EVERYONE who pays an agent is too poor to be able to transfer 800,000 baht to a Thai bank. They truly believe their extension ONLY costs 1,900 baht, but it's actually costed them more than people like myself who use an agent. Do you disagree with the math?

How so? I guess the hammer just dropped and you have realized you have been ripping yourself off for years.

More like borrow and spend. Australia is broke. No surplus expected for another 10 years. There will have to be new taxes or tax increases, or both, just to pay the interest on the below. http://australiandebtclock.com.au

It's all about getting elected for a third term. In order to do that, "the books" have to look good. For the books to look good, taxes have to keep the money rolling in. They will need either new taxes, or higher taxes, or a combination of both. I posted a link showing one idea that will be on the table, the raising of the GST, yet, you think, under Albo, no one will ever be negatively impacted by his government's decisions. The money has to come from somewhere to pay for the below. http://australiandebtclock.com.au

"no changes to current taxation polices" yet he back flipped on the Stage 3 tax cuts. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-08/stage-3-tax-cuts-my-word-is-my-bond/103443980