khunPer

Yes, there seems to be numerous family-tourism on the island at the moment, many foreigners on the beach where I live. In older time, during the monsoon-period from November til just before Xmas the island almost closed, but that have changed. The lower priced pre-high season, where many Europeans headed to Phuket for a week or two, seems also to target Samui now, the tourists not aware of the difference in monsoon at Phuket and the west coat compared with the east coast facing Gulf of Thailand.

In my modest opinion, Thai girls lose their charm when having nose job done.

Google says: What is reco meaning? (ˈrɛkəʊˈrɛkəʊ ) nounWord forms: plural reco-recos. a percussion instrument consisting of a ridged gourd or bamboo cane that is scraped with a piece of wood or metal. What reco stands for? The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) regulates real estate professionals in the province. We protect the public interest through a safe and informed marketplace. However...😉 Is reco short for recommendation? The correct abbreviation for "recommend" is "rec." or "recom." Now, abbreviations are a bit like nicknames for words: they're a shorthand to save time and space...👍

First 90-days report is said needed to be done in person at an immigration office, thereafter online reporting works; I've used online for several years.

The last beams from Maenam Pier disappeared into the pier-hungry 2005 Xmas-monsoon storm... And the Thong Nai Pan Express-ferry stopped during the Covid pandemic, and never re-opened.

I do not think that the pier is there any more. Then again, I rarely go to Fisherman's Village. Yes, then the should have been repaired – or rather rebuilt – the pier since I last time gave up jumping over the missing wooden planks about 8-10 years ago; I'll take a close look for it next time I go there... And, by the way, don't believe in everything you read on World Wide Web...😉

From about 50,000 baht up in the neighbourhood of 4 million baht – of course depending of the duration – if that's the going rate for a "guide", it seems to be an OK win-win situation instead of previous going "long time" rates, but of course higher demand causes inflation...

Allowing foreigners to buy property beyond the present rules won't benefit Thais that want to own their home. It seems like yet one more attempt from the government's quick cash flow to recover the financial downturn after Covid closure. Where increased tourism might not have long term downside – apart from infrastructure and over-tourism – the property market might be more difficult in long term if prices are sky-rocking, so many Thai citizens cannot afford to buy a home.

Land prices under appartement building in central areas can be quite high, in Bangkok a million baht or more per square Wah (4 square meters); so, land still has a value. Some appartement buildings are however raised on 30-year leased land – around 1.300 hectares (3.200 acres) in Bangkok is leased land – where around 25 years are left for rental income after the construction is finished. So just to get the money and the land-lease payment back you need 4% percent – 100/25 = 4 – and on top of that, maintenance costs, capital interest, and gain/profit. So, that's also why the 8% to 12% of invested capital, as the professionel investors I know use as rent, makes sense in property business. A quote: "The amount of rent you charge your tenants should be a percentage of your home’s market value. Typically, the rents that landlords charge fall between 0.8% and 1.1% of the home’s value. For example, for a home valued at $250,000, a landlord could charge between $2,000 and $2,750 each month." Source link HERE. And I'm talking about percentage of property-investor's construction price. Later asking-for retail prices are often too high and often finally re-sold with some level of discount. Using re-sale price as calculation gives you a wrong "picture", as the rental-percentage seems lower. Re-sale asking price on newer build appartements can be 35% or more over market price, which also can be higher the actual construction costs, as a developer will add some markup margin if building condos for sale. If you read my original post to OP's question, I gave an indication of what rental-level to look at, for a similar condo, which was in the level around 30k baht a month. Others commented about the same price level. Then I suggested to do a calculation compared with OP's investment in buying a conde for little more than 4 million baht. OP didn't mentioned any details, so it's not known if it's a newbuilt condo or an older one on re-sale. When you own a condo you still have monthly fees to pay and the need to be included in the rental calculation, same with your loss of interest on the invested capital. You might find appartements for lower percentage rent compared with re-sale asking price, and that might be great value for money rather than buying a condo yourself. If OP can find something similar that OP likes for a lower price than calculated, then it might be better value to rent than buy, depending of the long-term time factor for gain as owner, which could be 15-25 years; or even longer. The basics of professional business investment is to make money, and that's what I talking about, when I mention the calculation of 8% to 12%; which actually is the one used base in property business; even that you can find cheaper examples.

The easy solution: You can make a portfolio in your own name and a last will that leaves the portfolio to your girlfriend/spouse. While you are still around, you have full control on investment, and nobody but you can touch the savings. There is so far no inheritance tax of reasonable small amounts – up to 100 million baht – in Thailand. I've given my girlfriend some annual savings on the condition that they are invested. In the beginning we used the so-called Fund Books, but later changed to a equity portfolio in her name, which she handles herself. It also made her interested in checking investment advices and find some stocks herself of interest. Besides that, I've written in my will that one of my two Thai equity portfolios goes to my girlfriend after I move on to a higher spiritual level; the other is left for our daughter.

Firstly: Don't drive fast in Thailand, it's another traffic culture than you are used to. Secondly: Don't use phone while driving. Thirdly: Check what your insurance covers before even considering entering motorbike or scooter, even as pillion rider. For the fourth: I wonder what happened to the mandatory motorbike insurance, which should cover the driver with some level of medical expenses, even when at fault. The insurance says: "Paid immediately without proof of liability... ...medical treatment up to 30,000 baht per person."

Some times there are empty property for rent, when for example there has been an over-investment compared to actual market – look for example at China – building apartments for rent is not a short process like buying an already existing condo, it's years of planning ahead. Probably, no one had included a COVID-pandemic in their long-term planning. Long-term investors, with good financial foundation, might also think it's better just to wait a few years to market change and get the calculated return and make a profit, rather than panic and rent out with a loss. However, if the capital foundation is not solid enough, the investor has a problem, again look at China. Mortgage or interest of the investor's own funds is around 6%. Mortgage-interest can change with market, while long term investors calculate with 6%-7% pay-back per year, the same figure as long stock stock investment pays; look for example at a 100-year stock average.

The tread is about buying instead of renting. You might likely rent at market price from Thais, which is around 10% of the invested funds. So, to compare one's investment of 4 million baht, I gave a figure of what rent to likely look for, and the possibilities for that in a long-term view it is better buying than renting, but needed to be calculated individually. And when a foreigner invest in a Condo for profit with often a guaranteed return of 6% p.a., the condo is not rented out for 5% or 6%, but rather minimum 8%. If some people – foreigners og Thais – wish to lose money by renting out too cheap, up to them. In Thailand generally buildings lose value over long term, while the land under the building increase value. The Thai property investors I know count's with 10% reduction in building value per year – following year 10% of 90%, an so on – while they also count 10% of their investment for rent.

I'm not talking about a foreigner that invest in a condo, I'm talking about how Thais are calculation for investment in property. Hand rule is: "10%" per year of invested capital.

Yes, your TIN number is same as ID-number, but earlier – perhaps it is still so – you needed to register for income tax, before the ID-number became a valid TIN.

Don't drink while wearing valuables – or rather, don't wear valuables more than necessary when attend the nightlife...

Generally for renting out property.

So, you would pay 6% interest in mortgage for a 5% return before expenses? "Thumb rule" is average 10% in Thailand, then it can be lower of higher depending om location, market and terms.

Airfares are relative high for a long trip from Europe to Bangkok and the currency exchange rate not in favour for budget travellers...

Rent is typically in the area between 8% and 12% of the investment; Average 10% of 4,000,000 is 400,000 baht/12 = 33,333 baht per month. You cannot use an asked re-sale price for percentage calculation, it's a dream of capital gain and many properties are finally sold with a discount. Now, if mortgage interest i around 6%, and you calculate a condo as business for the owner that rents it out, minimum 8% makes sense; location and market will increase the price. Some properties in prime locations are rented out for more than 12% the initial investment.

The Thai law seems quite clear on the matter: Section 564. A contract of hire is extinguished at the end of the agreed period without notice. Section 566. If no period is agreed upon or presumed, either party may terminate the contract of hire at the end of each period for the payment of rent, provided that notice of at least one rent period is given, but no more than two months notice need be given. Section 570. If, at the end of the agreed period, the hirer remains in possession of the property and the lessor knowing thereof does not object, the parties are deemed to have renewed the contract for an indefinite period. Source link to the law in English translantion HERE.

I've only been here permanently for 19 years so far – into my 20th right now – but if I'm countring the priods during the couple of years while still travelling between my home countrhy and here to prepare the move, I considers myself elligible to a comment in the category "spent more than 20 years here"...😉 I seems to be standing at "still pushing forward with life" with relative long term planning. I'm counting on staying here till the end. It should hopefully not be within the next 25 years that I'm moving on, and during my reming stay here I'm expecting to be quite active. OMG, I'm only 75; so, I still have quite some years ahead. I still head out preferably two-three times a week to a nightclub for some dancing...😎 –and a number of the girls also still looks fairly attractive...😍 To cut it short: Of course health can be an issue, but life is more fun if you enjoys it, instead of a row of endless complains. As it says on one of my favirite signs in the area where I stay in Land-of-Smiles: "The purpose of life is to be happy"...👍

Isn't that a question in general when marrying, Thai or not...

In general buying one's home is a better investment than renting, but there are a number of factors to consider; hereunder that it's in Thailand. I'm in level with @KhunLA's comment above. The economy can simply be based on your initial investment, loss of interest, and ongoing costs for share of maintenance. This compared to renting something like the condo of interest in same neigerbourhood. If you look at an around 4 million baht investment rent would typically be in the area 30,000 to 40,000 baht per month. Subtract the monthly maintenance fees for an owned condo and deduct the relative interest loss per month of 4 million baht invested in something that could pay you 4% p.a. – which could be around 13,000 baht per month – then you have the base famount to divide into your investment. This will how you how many year you need to own the condo compared to renting, before it's a gain. You might typically end up with between 15 and 25 years. Resale of conso might not be a gain in Thailand; however, widely dependin on location, as everywhere else. You might be lucking to get the initial investment back, but could both face a small loss or some capital gain. In Thailand it's mainly the land under the building that increase in value, while the building decrease it's value over time. Being at retirment age a 20-25 years planning ahead might be a bit long; however, depending if Thai-retirement-visa age – i.e., 50 years – or Western home country's retirement age at aroung 65-70 years of age. Especially of re-sale after limited period might not include a gain, but could even be a small loss. In addition, about the neighbourhood, are you sure you would stay there for the next perhaps 20 years?

I have same understanding and opinion; i.e. you can gift to a Thai spouse domestically; while if you do it in a foreign country and the spouse transfers the funds into Thailand, it's foreign income. Others have suggested that transferring gift-funds directly into a pouse's Thai account as gift might be a possibility. If you get professionel advice, please share.