iluvbeaches

I have used and still have to use Phuket International hospital for my Tetanus jabs(last one next week, fantastic service and at a very reasonable price!

How does Phuket international compare price wise to Bangkok hospital Phuket branch? I always assumed Phuket international is somewhere between government and private in price but less than bkk hospital because it is a local private.

good evening,

Crystal bay resort is located on a very quiet and beautiful little beach between Chaweng and Lamai.

For someone who does not rent and drive a motorbike (10 mn drive), and wants to spend the evening in Chaweng, I would rather recommand an other location, 10 mn walk from the center part of Chaweng ( and cheaper and quieter),

http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/samui/chawengresort/

http://www.tripadvisor.fr/Hotel_Review-g676072-d455082-Reviews-Chaweng_Cove_Beach_Resotel-Chaweng_Koh_Samui_Surat_Thani_Province.html

Agreed! Awesome place the whole takian bay crystal beach area but I always rent a car when I stay there. If you have to use taxis it will get expensive. The beach there is small but nice and it's a very good place to chill away from lamai and chawang.

Hello ... so I bought a 45 sqm studio in Kata beach and got email from the builder that they offer furniture package. Cost is 320 K BHT, and includes bed, table, tv and tv stand, etc. It is convenient but seems pricey. So, better to buy on my own, or go with the package? I don't live in Phuket but can fly there for a week or so. Advice please!

That's really expensive. My condo in Bangkok came with 200,000 in coupons to buy furniture for but I only used half.

For your size place it seems too high. In Kathu lots of furniture shops. Better to get a big plasma flat screen and pick and choose from SB, Index and some small things from Big C/Tesco furniture isle.

Don't knock the latter, you can find some diamonds there. Picked up a beautiful creme two-three seater faux leather couch there once for like 3000.

My wife is Thai and we have been holidaying all over Thailand for the last 15 years - but will no longer go to Phuket simply because of the Tuk Tuk mafia and a laod of my friends feel the same. Phuket must be losing billions of baht from the refusenicks who wouldlove to visit if there was a halway fair transport system. Last time I was there was qouted 400 baht to go from Patong to Central Resort Karon - wouldnt budge on the price so I had an invigorating 20 minutes brisk walk. Bugger em and let them rot.That's okay, there are too many tourists here already. When I first came here I had heard about the taxis and tuk tuks. I rented a car at the airport... Much better deal, if you know how to drive here!

Absolutely. BIG if though I only recommend it if you have a Thai drivers license and have some experience driving in Thailand. But renting a car costs around the same price as one or two trips. Totally worth it and safer than riding a bike.

Buying and selling would be more risky but MUCH more profitable. Just need to be there on the first day when the company opens a new project. For that you need to be an old customer or have contacts with people in the companies like SANSIRI SUPALAI ... Employees will usually know 1 month before and the biggest customer will lock the units right away. Lock it, spend 500k in a year and sell you unit on internet.

Agreed. Reputable developer where you can go visit their previous units and buy on day 0. Usually still 5% sold already by presale but that's what I did and I'm pretty happy.

Sawat-dee krap Everyone!

I've been in Bangkok now for 3 weeks and loving my plan to stay for quite longer, so I'm wanting to learn Thai (speak and read would quite suffice!) but have no idea where to start.

Would very much appreciate your opinion on best thai learning schools in the downtown area that may offer a good balance between quality, price and location (particularly near a BTS station).

Happun krap!

Max

Many friends have gone to language express at plen chid and are happy with the results. But it kind of depends on your class.

People are total wimps and think illogically when it comes to carrying cash. Does anybody know how large a 10k roll of 100 dollar bills is? Very small. Put it in a jacket in an inside pocket, how would anybody know it is there? The people that talk about somehow miraculously losing it; how many times out of 1000 flights have you lost your carry on luggage? You are way more likely to get run over by a semi than lose this money, I have no idea why people worry about it so much. I feel it is some sort of propaganda that certain people have put into our heads -- with no logic behind it -- to make money off of money transfers etc. To be honest, if you do lose it you probably deserve to lose it, so yes, wire it. I will end with some honesty, I have never carried 10k but about 2k was my max... and I would feel totally comfortable carrying more than 2k. IF nobody knows it is there it is pretty much no risk.

For some people, myself included, losing 10-20,000 usd at one time and not in the usual course of business is a lot of money to lose. It is not so much that it happens often that is relevant. It is if it happens once all those savings you made over years to get away from wiring money is gone and then some.

Instead, I wire to my Thai bank which costs me 15 euros and take out cash from my Thai bank via bank card and they charge me 100 baht.

Seems prudent to me. Not sure why you think it is so unreasonable to forget your jacket while its hot in the airport lounge get late for the plane and forget it. Hasn't happened to me but I'd rather not experience it to save a few pennies.

yeah, but why in the world would it ever happen? ever? if i was an 18 year old girl travelling alone id not carry a lot of cash, but that isnt me, i am a man. but do what you want; people just dont understand, for god knows what reason, there is no risk, and even the slight .001 risk there may be exists in your bank in say thailand, or any other risk you can think of with your money. doesnt make sense, if you are going to worry like that, you should worry about other stuff more. i think people worry way too much about this, and i wonder why. like i said i think it is some kind of clever marketing implant, which it would not be the first time. and i would not forget my jacket because it has money in it; if you cant handle that, you are right, not for you.... but i can think of many things that arent for you if you cant handle that.... very simple things too. so yes, keep giving your money to the banks, really fine with me and preferred for some, i have done it too of course.

That's a pretty childish mindset in my opinion. But it's your money do whatever you want.

I don't waste time or worries on anything for 15 euros because I charge way more by the hour for my services. Just the time it takes to go cross town to super rich to exchange the money is a waste of time and money for me.

are all british travel agents STARK STARING BONKERS. spent 2 hours on the web looking for flights to BKK FROM MANCHESTER for MARCH AND APRIL. THE EXITING OFFERS, WITH 90 % OF THEM ADVERTISE BKK £480+ IN REALITY THE DATES I WANT START AT £780 AND GO UP TO £4000+ THIS IS SHEER EXPLOITATION THEY ARE ROBBERS

Travel agent? Why not just look online on sites like momondo.com or others.

To get back on track, perhaps someone could enlighten me as to how I can leverage in Thailand?

Suppose I bought a condo for 3 million, our real esate experts tell me its now worth 6 million, to me thats 3 million of "dead money", why cant I leverage the appreciation to buy a new 3 million baht condo, thus freeing up my capital?

You could get the cash from a private investor. I know there are a few in Thailand. If you have a property in your home country, then you could re-mortgage that (at a good rate of interest) to fund another purchase here. I use my UK mortgage account as a way to get a cheap loan if I need it - 4% interest.

That's true. I did the same to pay for my condo here even though I had the cash. It's 3,5% in my country very cheap compared to what I make on other investments.

I wouldn't go the private lender route as they will want you to transfer the deed to their name and then get it transferred back upon fulfillment of the loan. Sounds risky to me.

To get back on track, perhaps someone could enlighten me as to how I can leverage in Thailand?

Suppose I bought a condo for 3 million, our real esate experts tell me its now worth 6 million, to me thats 3 million of "dead money", why cant I leverage the appreciation to buy a new 3 million baht condo, thus freeing up my capital?

Since the real estate market is so much more speculative here due to a lack of transparency valuations cannot be properly done until after a sale.

Also, as a foreigner, you cannot get loans unless you have steady employment (even then it is hard) and I don't think you can take a mortgage on an existing property because the banks don't want to deal with a potential foreclosure on a property held under a specific legal provision (condo act). Maybe some foreign (Singapore, Hong Kong branch) might let you leverage a small home equity line with the apt as collateral but I would be surprised if it was over a few hundred thousand baht.

You are right, if no one enforces the laws you are safe, but to believe you are legal is another story. You own and live by the discretion of the law enforcement agencies.

I would rather be legal and safe, have a life here and don't want a prohibited mark on the immigration computer.

You take your chances and play the game, if it goes wrong you have to walk or run away. I will stay legal and live my life out here. Have a wife and kids, too much to risk by playing games with the law. Jim

I agree with you whole heartedly about the risk but these are people I know who that investment isn't close to a majority of their holdings so it isn't as bad I suppose. Like I said nothing I'd do but I think this, for all it's flaws, is a much better idea than a bar, hotel or restaurant :-)

From what I read you are given a work permit automatically with the company, but best to check with an atty. See below:

Thai limited company is the form of business whose capital is divided into a number of equal shares. The investors of a Thai limited company are called shareholders. It is the most popular form of business in Thailand because the liability of the shareholders is limited to the unpaid amount of the shares subscribed by them unlike Sole Proprietorships or Partnerships whose owners are exposed to unlimited liability of the business.

A Thai limited company must have at least three promoters (who become the initial shareholders of the company) who file a memorandum of association, convene a statutory meeting and register the company. During the registration, one can choose to obtain a tax identity card and to register the company into the social security system at the same time. Some companies are required to register into the VAT (Value Added Tax) system, depending on the types of business and the level of their gross income. They must also follow accounting procedures specified in the Civil and Commercial Code, the Revenue Code and the Accounting Act. Companies are required to close their accounts and have an auditor audit their books and file their audited financial statements once a year with the Revenue Department and the Department of Business Development.

A limited company registered in Thailand is considered a Thai company only if the majority of the shares are owned by Thais. If not, then that company is considered foreign according to the Foreign Business Law.

If your company is Thai majority owned, you can do almost any kind of legal business. However, if it is a foreign majority company, then you have to consult the foreign business law to see if your kind of business activity needs to obtain a foreign business license to operate in Thailand

The Thai shareholders (2) are usually friends of your lawyer so this is already prearranged and part of your fee. As far as your control/ownership -- two classes, whereby the foreignor has all voting shares and controls the company so nobody can take your land or company (see below):

Because there's no restriction under Thai law that one share must equal one vote, it is allowed to issue classified shares: The A-Shares("Ordinary Shares") where the holder one share is entitled to one vote and theB-Shares ("preferred Share") where a shareholder must have multiple shares in order to obtain one vote. The foreign shareholders will subscribe to all A-Shares, whereby the B-shares are held by Thai holders. This structure enables the foreign minority shareholder to hold fewer numbers of shares, but in fact control the company by voting rights.

You need 4 employees, or 2 if a Thai wife partner, you must pay them and all taxes associated. plus social security payments, health care etc. before you can get a W/P.

You will not get a W/P for owning a house, law states that investors must use their own money to invest.

A business that trades is a business and legal. A home for a farang is not a business. It breaks some many laws. May be not enforced at the moment, but the law and taxes will catch up in the end. Jim

Just a quick ad on here straight from three company owners in phuket. you do not need to have a work permit as a director or owner. Department won't give you a work permit for simply being a director. If you are actively engaged in a business such as soliciting clients or tenants then you would need to employ thais and follow the above requirements.

The gray area is if you receive an email from a tenant or you send someone to fix stuff over there but upon inquiry they all were told it is not a big deal.

I guess it depends on interpretation but as we all know laws on the books and enforcement in Phuket, Samui and the south in general is notoriously poor at enforcing things. Just look at the jet ski and tuk tuk situation.

Don't suppose you read the article I posted a few days ago. December 2012 Government annonced they will be checking 27,000 farang business at ramdom to see if they are real or just companies formed to circumvent Thai land laws. there is also some new laws submitted to parliament that call for deportation of foreigners involved.

There will be a glut of homes on the market if that gets passed.

Not legal way to own or control land in Thailand, unless you are a big, big player. Jim

I'm not disagreeing with you on what the law is Jim. I'm just saying the reality of enforcement based on the people I know who do this specifically in Phuket is likely because it benefits the local population and businesses too.

Makes no difference to me, I don't own a company or house or anything of the sort. I just mean to say these "crackdowns" are announced every other year and half of Patong is still foreign "owned" so it seems to be PR rather than actual enforcement. As long as you have everything sorted, pay for auditing, pay "tax" on income, accounting etc.

It looks good but i don't know if the codecs that are there are enough. But for 34$ you cant really go wrong. The western digital ones are a lot more expensive and cheaper ones probably work too.

I'll give it a try, if it doesn't do the job I'll upgrade to something better like a WD.

The WD has several versions and generations. The best one and one I recommend is the WD HD live gen 3.

Also while newer blu ray and Tvs play flash drives they are being updated to scan for Cinevia which is an inaudiable frequency that shuts off the playback of downloaded movies within a few minutes on new movies. All big name brands will have it updated or installed within a year or so like LG, Samsung, Sony.

Off topic but figured I'd mention it in case someone reading was deciding on one of those keep that in mind. Got one for a family member and that issue came up.

People are total wimps and think illogically when it comes to carrying cash. Does anybody know how large a 10k roll of 100 dollar bills is? Very small. Put it in a jacket in an inside pocket, how would anybody know it is there? The people that talk about somehow miraculously losing it; how many times out of 1000 flights have you lost your carry on luggage? You are way more likely to get run over by a semi than lose this money, I have no idea why people worry about it so much. I feel it is some sort of propaganda that certain people have put into our heads -- with no logic behind it -- to make money off of money transfers etc. To be honest, if you do lose it you probably deserve to lose it, so yes, wire it. I will end with some honesty, I have never carried 10k but about 2k was my max... and I would feel totally comfortable carrying more than 2k. IF nobody knows it is there it is pretty much no risk.

For some people, myself included, losing 10-20,000 usd at one time and not in the usual course of business is a lot of money to lose. It is not so much that it happens often that is relevant. It is if it happens once all those savings you made over years to get away from wiring money is gone and then some.

Instead, I wire to my Thai bank which costs me 15 euros and take out cash from my Thai bank via bank card and they charge me 100 baht.

Seems prudent to me. Not sure why you think it is so unreasonable to forget your jacket while its hot in the airport lounge get late for the plane and forget it. Hasn't happened to me but I'd rather not experience it to save a few pennies.

There are devices as wd-tv that play those films to your tv. They even support formats like divx. Some you hook up with a usb harddisk and others read it straight from your computer through network.

Im now not home but in Pattaya, so i haven't got access to my computer. I can post some links later on.

+1

Got one and I love it. Plays nearly anything i throw at it. Hd 1080p

No problem. Remote control too.

Has wifi connection so it can download cover photos for your movies. Turn subtitles on or off. Internet on your TV.

So small you can take it anywhere and plug into a TV via red, yellow white rca plugs or hdmi cable.

Think it's worth 3000 to 4000 baht. Can't remember exactly.

Burning to DVD is so old school. Why bother.

What brand is it and where did you buy it?

It's a WD TV Live.

Made by Western digital

Great device. Plays absolutely everything except flv files. Spottily and pandora on it work great too.

Took over from my Apple TV though I miss iPad mirroring.

Ok, thanks everyone. We're going to drop the U.S. bank account idea, seems too much red tape and trouble for what its worth.

I'm going to start a new thread about other options. Specifically, we are thinking now about converting to U.S. dollars here (actually buying U.S. dollar Traveler's Checks) and then cashing them back in the States. I haven't even heard of anyone using these things in years. I'm wondering if there are any 'gotchas' going this route (i.e. legalities, expense, etc.)

I'm a non American and I opened a bank account in a Bank of America office with a passport and a SSN. Online they require you to tick the box that you are an American.

Looks to me like you (the OP) are saying that you tried to get cable (not ADSL) connected and failed because the cable signal wasn't good enough at your end of the corridor. So this will be some sort of internal cable wiring problem that the building management (or developer as it is a new build) should sort out. Talk to them.

The cable technicians normally wouldn't be equipped to deal with ADSL as there is no relationship between the two (different equipment, different wires, different distribution, different everything). You can get back in touch with True sales and they should be able to tell you whether they can provide you with ADSL or not. The internal phone wiring will already be in place and all True (or whoever you end up choosing) will have to do is connect the internal wire that runs to your room with their incoming wire downstairs. If True cant/wont help then just try another ADSL supplier. Whether you also need a TOT phone line or not depends on who you go with.

Personally I would put some more effort into trying to get the cable sorted out rather than mess about with ADSL.

Newer buildings should have true docsis via cable. Much more reliable, faster too, than the copper lines with dsl. See if you can get that.

From what I read you are given a work permit automatically with the company, but best to check with an atty. See below:

Thai limited company is the form of business whose capital is divided into a number of equal shares. The investors of a Thai limited company are called shareholders. It is the most popular form of business in Thailand because the liability of the shareholders is limited to the unpaid amount of the shares subscribed by them unlike Sole Proprietorships or Partnerships whose owners are exposed to unlimited liability of the business.

A Thai limited company must have at least three promoters (who become the initial shareholders of the company) who file a memorandum of association, convene a statutory meeting and register the company. During the registration, one can choose to obtain a tax identity card and to register the company into the social security system at the same time. Some companies are required to register into the VAT (Value Added Tax) system, depending on the types of business and the level of their gross income. They must also follow accounting procedures specified in the Civil and Commercial Code, the Revenue Code and the Accounting Act. Companies are required to close their accounts and have an auditor audit their books and file their audited financial statements once a year with the Revenue Department and the Department of Business Development.

A limited company registered in Thailand is considered a Thai company only if the majority of the shares are owned by Thais. If not, then that company is considered foreign according to the Foreign Business Law.

If your company is Thai majority owned, you can do almost any kind of legal business. However, if it is a foreign majority company, then you have to consult the foreign business law to see if your kind of business activity needs to obtain a foreign business license to operate in Thailand

The Thai shareholders (2) are usually friends of your lawyer so this is already prearranged and part of your fee. As far as your control/ownership -- two classes, whereby the foreignor has all voting shares and controls the company so nobody can take your land or company (see below):

Because there's no restriction under Thai law that one share must equal one vote, it is allowed to issue classified shares: The A-Shares("Ordinary Shares") where the holder one share is entitled to one vote and theB-Shares ("preferred Share") where a shareholder must have multiple shares in order to obtain one vote. The foreign shareholders will subscribe to all A-Shares, whereby the B-shares are held by Thai holders. This structure enables the foreign minority shareholder to hold fewer numbers of shares, but in fact control the company by voting rights.

You need 4 employees, or 2 if a Thai wife partner, you must pay them and all taxes associated. plus social security payments, health care etc. before you can get a W/P.

You will not get a W/P for owning a house, law states that investors must use their own money to invest.

A business that trades is a business and legal. A home for a farang is not a business. It breaks some many laws. May be not enforced at the moment, but the law and taxes will catch up in the end. Jim

Just a quick ad on here straight from three company owners in phuket. you do not need to have a work permit as a director or owner. Department won't give you a work permit for simply being a director. If you are actively engaged in a business such as soliciting clients or tenants then you would need to employ thais and follow the above requirements.

The gray area is if you receive an email from a tenant or you send someone to fix stuff over there but upon inquiry they all were told it is not a big deal.

I guess it depends on interpretation but as we all know laws on the books and enforcement in Phuket, Samui and the south in general is notoriously poor at enforcing things. Just look at the jet ski and tuk tuk situation.

Hoping to arrange a holiday with my Thai wife and 15 year old neice to Koh Samui in March.

Some info help from those who either live there or have visited would be appreciated

We live in Buriram and will have to go from Bangkok then fly to the island.

Have heard very nice things about the clean beaches and clear water but is there other places of interests (shows etc) to see beside the normal temples.

I am trawling the internet re hotels and find that it is quite expensive. The problems with the internet is they tell you what you want to hear and this can sound great until you actually get there. I don't want to have to pay out too much but I do like my comfort especially a mattress that does not feel like concrete. Will not have transport there, so do not want to be too far away from the beach or nightlife.

Any recommendations of what hotels to look at on the internet, will need either a family room or two rooms preferably together.

The way Thailand works I know to my cost that it is much cheaper to book on the internet as for some unexplainable reason the charges are considerably higher if you book direct or walk in off the street, as I found out when I went down to Pattaya earlier this month.

Any help appreciated.

I usually stay at one of the three or so places at Crystal Beach like crystal beach resort or tongtakian. Very nice water and smaller but less busy beach. Close to lamai and chawang. I drive everywhere though I can imagine taking taxis night be a pain and expensive from there if you are going several times a day though. They have some small restaurants, clean rooms and quite cheap for beachfront and a good ambiance.

Even cheaper is Mae nam but I don't really like spending too long out there. It can get a bit boring and a bit to drive or taxi.

Lamai and chawang have bars nightlife restaurants and fun. Fishermans is also nice for laid back nightlife.

For fun the beach club on the west coast Nikki beach can be great even for a day trip. Should be ok for your neice as long as it is not during a day time party.

Definitely check out the zoo on top of the mountain towards the west of the island, very nice to feed 15-20 deer with food !

I moved to Koh Samui in 2004 and rented a nice townhouse near the beach for a few years. I then bought 1 rai of seaview land under the corporation and built a large estate (registered in my name at the land office). Even though I was gouged by farangs and Thais alike I still ended up with a lovely place that I am happy with and will probably keep for a long time. Recently, I wanted to add on to it so invited fifteen builders to place bids. The add on was 200% more than the main house so I declined. I then asked the builders how much they would charge to build my new house today and they said at least 300% more than in 2007 when it was built. If I moved here today I would rent for at least six months until I found a condo on or near a beach for under 2MB. I love my house now because it is like living in a luxury resort with the ocean below and lovely gardens, but it is a lot of maintenance and as I get older (now in late fifties) it is getting more and more difficult to handle. And, by the way, I have a Thai wife, but would never put anything in her name nor has she asked me to, although I have made other arrangements to secure her future in case I die suddenly. Lastly, I wouldn't worry about losing money on your house or condo as I have farang friends who have made a fortune buying land and houses, living there, and then selling at much higher prices. Everything is a risk right now, the stock market, gold, currency trading, so why not risk on something you can live in and enjoy?

If I am reading this right, you want to get the land put in your wife's name ASAP.

Nominee companies where outlawed in 2009, any one caught now will have house and land confiscated and will be deported.

Believe they were talking a 20% of sale value as a reward for the person who informs on illegal foreign land ownership. Jim

Does this actually get enforced on a large scale? Or at all? I would have thought it would be quite easy to find out - just check the land registry to see if owner is a nominee company. Why would they need informers? And how would the property be registered at the land registry if it's outlawed?

Land office is just a registry, they don't care if the company is real or not. ,Not a law. find enforcement agency, that's a police agency's job.

Will find a newspaper article on the subject. Jim

I don't think this is enforced so long as the nominees or "partners" are wealthy enough to pass scrutiny ie. they own property themselves. In Patong I've had friends living there for over 10 years and they all own houses (European couples and mixed). If you are running the corp like a company, pay tax and do audits, have partners who are Thais with money does not seem to be a problem. That area is likely 70% foreigner "owned" I'd assume in samui it is the same deal. Probably wont work in Bangkok though!

I am just confused and wondering that The owner is living in England, he is not living here Thailand that's what the property agency said. How can they sell the house,then?

Normally if you sell a house you should go personally to the land registry office or something like that to change the name of the owner you sell a land or property.

And first of all, if you would like to sell the house,why theres no visitation from the new owner?

And if they already inspected the house before I rented the house. Then better in the beginning to tell us, that it is not available anymore.no?

And I talk with the tourist police about the house and saw my contract. They said we should stay. If they make harmful thing to us. We have to call quick to them or the police.

Btw what OP means?

Well he could easily sell the house by power of attorney, in other words an attorney or other person who has the legal power to act on his behalf in his absence.

The problem is that once the transfer is done you have a contract with a non owner of the house. You could sue him for breach and the new owner could sue him if he didn't know there was a tenant but you don't have a contract with the current owner. So he could eject you with the police from the property as he is the owner and you are squatting at that point.

Maybe the new owner wouldn't mind a tenant and that's why he bought the property. Can you get in touch with the new buyer? You could renegotiate a new contract with him and save yourself a lot of problems if you really don't want to move.

BlackPuddingBertha,

tnx for ur reply, but what ur saying is true for rental properties anywhere in the world.

Im trying to understand the specifics of the bkk property market, from people who actually own & rent properties.

The specifics of the Bangkok market compared to many other markets around the world, is that many condos are empty and unrented for months and even years. I have never seen anywhere else in the world where there is such an oversupply of condos. Just walk into a few condo buildings and say you're looking for a condo to rent. When I did this, most buildings were able to show me 5-10 condos that were available. This is unheard of in most major cities. These condos are all over, not just in a few buildings. You need to be very careful indeed if buying to invest. If you are asking on here for advice, then you don't know enough about the market to make an informed decision. Buy a condo and you might not be able to sell at anywhere near the purchase price. All depends on what you pay of course.

Is there any particular reason that you're thinking of investing in Bangkok? You could get 2.8% return on your money at Bangkok Bank, without all the hassles and expense of owning, finding tenants, fixing problems, etc. If you're not interested in capital appreciation, then most condos won't be worth your time. Others on here have found condos with 8% return, so it is possible, but I think that will be difficult if you don't have any experience of the market.

I think a lot of Thais are looking for a long term investment rather than a flip. Like how many Thais think gold is an investment. I mean it has been profitable for some recently but gold is really just considered a hedge to gain liquidity or earn capital growth when there is turmoil in the market.

Anyways, since juristic fees are so low (I pay less per year than I do for one month in my home country) it is cheap to leave the money parked in a condo for 10 years. If there is rental income great but most figure it is safer than banks, growth will be there in 10 years and they can use it.

That is very true about the SET the last year but emerging market stocks are extremely volatile so you can't expect or rely on growth numbers like that every year. When things go bad you might have a negative sign to the left. I also have an investment fund with 20-25% invested in different stocks, bonds and products emerging markets but it is more of a spice than my major holdings.

But in any case my point was just that diversification of your assets is key and not putting all your liquid assets into real estate, in any country, is smart. I look for a 4-8 year time frame with real estate. During that time if I get a forex windfall, steady cash flow in baht which I need and an actual asset that I can use from time to time that's what I want.

I personally know nothing of the Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, etc. markets but from my experience with vacation locations in emerging countries the interest and security levela fluctuate more than capitals where there is organic growth. In the end I would look to sell to a Thai not a foreigner as that's the domestic market. If a foreigner buys, great. In the meantime the area is in demand as people inquire about rents for the building on prakard, mine is rented now that I'm not there, and except for a few resales at 10% under the building is sold out 99% Thai and resales via developer are 18-20% higher than my off plan monthly payment price.

I'm happy with that. But I won't have to flash sell when/if times get tough as I have lots of other income streams. I do think Bangkok has a long way to grow in the next 10 years.

the band(s) that play in 5 Star (Soi Cowboy) aren't extremely polished but i almost always go there because there's a greater chance that they won't sing about one's achy, braky heart or country roads. they often play deep purple, hendrix, clapton, black sabbath, etc.

anyway, i'm always on the lookout for some other place like that. i'll be in town next week and i'm hoping (though i realize the odds aren't with me) that someone will be able to suggest a place that i haven't been to before.

not interested in a huge arena; a small venue would be perfect.

anyway, if you have any suggestions for a place that's fairly easy to get to, please let me know.

thank you.

Some rock bar/clubs on Ratchada Soi 4 towards the back down on SNOP side. Pretty Thai, more so than RCA but good music. Also been to a few random places around ekkamai / thong lor that throw up a rock band on weekends.

Just like when you pay for anything, and consume it, you have in fact lost those funds. They are gone in the end and you are left with nothing.

Not at all. I have the interest from the amount equivalent to the value of the condo that I have on deposit in the bank, that otherwise I would have spent on buying the condo. I also have saved the various charges that I have avoided paying because my landlord pays them for me (building fees, cable TV, "one-off" building surcharges for special expenditure).

MAybe we just disagree, but the thing I would bet on (some may say not wise) is that you will at least be breaking even on buying vs selling price unless you do something terribly wrong. That leaves a buyer after say a 5 year period paying no rent, and a renter paying say 10k a month amounting to well north of half a million baht. That is a lot of leos, and a lot of 200 baht ladyboys But if you feel like moving every 6 months sure, rent it up I guess.

That depends on the figures. I pay well under 4% of the asking price of my condo in rent, not even allowing for extra costs like agent's fees, transfer tax, building maintenance fees etc. Even assuming that I get no interest at all for the sum on deposit it would still take me over 25 years of paying rent to have spent the value of the unit. But I do get interest, and in fact at the moment I get more interest than my rent amounts to. Whereas the owner of my unit is trying to sell it (with no takers at all, I might add) for the same price he paid for it several years ago. So in my case I win either way. And of course another part of the calculation is that I will probably be dead in 25 years time, and I think my inheritors and executors in Europe would much rather deal with paper assets than unsellable Thai condos.

As for moving every 6 months, I've been where I am for getting on for two years and intend to stay until the fancy takes me to leave, at which point I will up and go without having to worry about anything more than redirecting my post. This lack of hassle suits me well.

It kind of sounds like it is a poor purchase on the landlords side, either location, overpaying or otherwise but I don't think you can describe all property purchases in Thailand over with one example.