KhunHeineken

It's not only poorly maintained and run down. Decent condo blocks can end up being run down, or worse. Here's an example. A friend came over for a holiday some time ago. He did the AirBnB thing at The Base Condo, so he took me for the tour. I saw his shoe box for 2 weeks, the pools, the gym, but also noted all the tourists all over the place, particularly Chinese. What about the expats that bought into The Base early, only to see the building turned into a hotel? How do 49% of foreigners vote no daily rental is permitted in their condo block???? Likewise, how do 49% of foreigners vote for maintenance to be carried out when the other 51%, who are Thai, don't want to spend a baht?

I have posted my motives before, and they have nothing to do with being a cheapskate. Firstly, I refuse to be forced to make a 800,000 baht donation to a Thai bank. Second, yes, Thai banks pay a pittance, so why would I? I can get around 5% in a bank in my home country. Third, interest earned in my home country more than covers the cost of the agent. Forth, why deal with any Thai government officials if you don't have to? Fifth, no gamble for me. I like Vietnam also. Sixth, Thailand is a 3rd World Country. Why deposit money into a 3rd World Country that doesn't even offer a realistic pathway to Permanent Residency, let alone Citizenship? Lastly, and something that weighed a little heavier on my mind than all of the above, I don't want to leave a mess for my kids. I want them to have the 800,000 baht as part of my estate with no problems dealing with offshore assets. Where's the cheapskate in the above????

Banks in Australia offering enough interest to easily cover the agent's fees. Here's a couple of comparison websites. https://www.money.com.au/banking/high-interest-savings-accounts https://www.infochoice.com.au/savings-accounts I can only comment on my own experience, and that is, I've never had a problem. Some people suggest the day could come when they stop the use of agents, but they have been saying that for years. Should that happen, no problem for me, I'm off to Vietnam.

Yawn. Been discussed on here many times. It's just a quick calculation. I can get around 5% in bank interest in my home country, even more if the money is in my managed fund. 800,000 baht x 5% = 40,000 baht per annum. At the time of posting, Kasikorn is paying 1.15-1.20% interest on a 12 month term deposit. 800,000 baht x 1.2% = 9,600 baht. You say your extension costs you 1,900 baht, but it's actually costs you way more, and you had to go to immigration. Not to mention, your money is in a 3rd World Country and not even at call.

Just catching up. What's your definition of an old post? 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 1 page in, 2 pages in????

Do you think that is typical of the experience of many expats? Just look at all the threads over the years of run down condo blocks where the management are either under funded due to Thai's not wanting to pay, or money has gone missing.

How can it be truly "freehold" if your everyone's vote is not equal to each others? Serious question. Perhaps you can post about your "freehold" percentage of the land the condo block sits on, and the rights you have over it.

That's a contradiction. Where? I forget. What was your's for?

If I understand correctly, you are 73 years of age and sold your first property here in 2005. That means you were 53 years of age at the time. You may have been holidaying here frequently, but if living here, that's quite young to retire. You also say you have sold 20 properties, so that averages at one property a year. I would not call buying, renovating, and selling a property every year a hobby. It is clearly a money making exercise. You also say you have never experienced any toughs, only peaks in the property market here, and the TOM (Time On Market) for your properties for sale was never greater than 6 months. You have the long term chart from the BoT in a previous link. I shows, of course, property increasing in value over the long term, and there has never been any argument from me about that, but it shows many peaks and troughs along the way, with some troughs lasting more than 6 months. So, you are either using your own purchase and sale prices to make such a comment, or, you have purchased distress properties and flipped them as an out of line sale to some newbie who has paid too much. For you to do what you claim, you would be know all over Pattaya as "The Wolf of Wongamat" and they will make a movie based on you in the future.

I'm sure he would be full of knowledge on all things Thailand.

Would your wife know anyone selling a condo in Wongamat?

If this reform is implemented, will expat pensioners receive the $3,300 every year? https://www.9news.com.au/finance/gst-raise-proposal-kate-chaney/0dac5b2c-c253-4115-bd46-e3482986816e

Should be some interesting proposals for tax reform come out of the productivity round table meeting. Here's one. https://www.9news.com.au/finance/gst-raise-proposal-kate-chaney/0dac5b2c-c253-4115-bd46-e3482986816e Instead of raising the GST, why can't Gina, Twiggy and Clive just dig more holes?

Yes, it's a good result for the forum. That way, members who do actually fact check can post relevant and accurate information for the OP, rather than opinions, as you do.

The goal is to provide accurate information to the OP, backed up by links, not opinions.

Expats in Chiang Mai are in luck. Neil Kilah is a registered JP in Queensland and Queensland JP's are able to witness documents outside of Australia. https://www.qld.gov.au/law/legal-mediation-and-justice-of-the-peace/about-justice-of-the-peace/registered#

You are confusing an act of war with human rights and genocide. Gaza is now one big concentration camp.

I'm using a Viber subscription. Unlimited calls to mobiles and landlines in Australia for $3.99 per month. Not saying it's the best or cheapest, just saying it's the closest user experience I could find to Skype. They have pre paid minutes if you are an infrequent caller and don't want a subscription, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. https://account.viber.com/en/call-australia

Yes. Australia, The Lucky Country.

For a country that doesn't even make a car, and can't even build a decent block of units these days, it's no surprise. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-15/mascot-towers-evacuation-leaves-residents-in-tears/11213422 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/25/sydney-olympic-park-opal-tower-evacuation-51-units-deemed-unsafe https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-30/last-holden-commodore-sold-at-auction-for-750,000/13105746

More like human rights going down the drain, hence a significantly large protest.

Where does it say he was from Sydney, he saved hard, and he salary sacrificed?

Yes, one scammer beat the other scammer to the money.

Why has it gone? Plenty of retired expats living in Thailand on State pensions with a Thai missus. Not the best of lifestyle, but doable.

Not really. It's the public service, after all.