tango

I love it here, love it so much I'm buying a house.

We moved into our new home 2 months ago after a 6-7 month building period, and after renting for 20+ years. The construction/ house agency mentioned last week that had we started now there is no way they could sell us the 130+ sq meter property and house with our-added specs, for the price they did: if ever we decided to sell in the not too distant future they would pay us our costs 'plus'.

Their newest creation has all but sold out though most yet to be built, started at Baht 4-5 Million with the latest selling for Baht 6 Million plus.

They are having difficulty purchasing further reasonably priced Chiang Mai property sufficient for new housing estates because 'rich' Bankokians amongst others are buying up all available surrounding rice fields and land. They are kicking themselves for not having seen the trend before it enveloped them.

Any way, hope you've signed on the dotted line to lock in your new house price.

BTW, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) will write mortgages for farang-Thai couples purchasing in approved housing estates; they seem to be the only bank that willingly does so for non-Thais in our experience

Cheers

I read the BKK Bank PA form and the fine print states a farang must have a work permit, nothing about a 'retirement' visa. So being the latter, I did not apply.

#1 Re: '...I've given notice of "uninhabitable and notice to immediately vacate" '

Hi MC, was this clause part of your lease; is so, where did you obtain the lease?

Very insightful on your part.

Ensure you cover the bike for theft, fire, etc. A friend doing you a favor by keeping it at their place should not have to worry, apart from commonsense procedures, about loss of your bike.

Top it up and ask your friend to start it weekly moving it slightly to avoid resting on the same part of the tire. Removing a battery connection and keeping its lead isolated from the m/c body is possibly worth the effort, too; obviously reconnecting each week to start.

Yes, a friend indeed....

Re #5 '...an increasing number of businesses who have installed misting systems to cool and clean the air.'

These misting systems are possibly fine as long as the water, water hoses, and containers are regularly checked and cleaned of algae, and possibly worse, contaminants.

Somehow I doubt their purity, which is why I give wide berth to the mist, while covering my nose and mouth with a face mask of which I carry several. The one at the rear entrance to Airport Plaza meant keeping well to the opposite side of the stairs.

Just trying to play it safe given the incidence of lung infections.

There are at least two good furniture stores, with long histories among Chiangmai furniture stores, whom I believe also do built-ins.

They both offer solidly-built and stylish furniture, and may offer the pressed-wood 'furniture' found at many other places in Chiangmai; but, I've never seen or noticed any on their display floors.

1. One is Bangkok Furniture. Located off the Super south of CMai, on the road leading off eastwards at the Isuzu passover, and about 2-3 km further east on the left. The trip is worth it.

2. The other, whose name in Thai I can't recall, is handy the original Kasem store, further along near the next intersection, and just before the private parking lot whose ticket you get stamped by a local business for free parking.

Closer to the city, head towards the 700-year Stadium from the Phucombe intersection at Huey Kaew road. Just prior to the stadium on your right is a very large lake which you can walk the dogs around.

Find a suitable spot for them to enter and exit for a swim: I'd incorrectly chosen the concrete spillway at the back which one of my dogs could not scramble up so I ended up in the drink to carry him out.

Nice spot, it being handy is a plus.

Sorry to hear that DK, here's wishing your little pet a successful recovery.

Here ya go: Great series of crash videos, especially in slow mo, and in all directions.

http://on.aol.com/video/2012-ford-ranger-receives-5-star-euro-ncap-517189093

Cute.

#2 'Wait until after the crash'

What crash?

^ Good advice there Dolly

I dropped my TOT-based building LAN and bought a dedicated 3BB line a week ago.

Next door to Kad Suan Kaew, it's been consistent with advertised speed, and no loss of connection.

Hope it stays that way.

Have had 3BB since it first came to Cmai. Just moved from city to Sansai. Using a new ASUS Wireless router. Techs checked line in estate on Friday according to family but no go on Sunday when finally moved in and computer connected.

Phoned 3BB who asked to try the normal router, still no go. 3BB apologized and said techs would be at the house first thing Monday. I reconnected wireless router in anticipation.

Lo and Behold, the dogs alerted me to the techs at the electric pole outside the house first thing Mon AM 0830hrs, except the truck was TTnT. Asked if they were 3BB, I couldn't understand their answer. I shrugged, they left soon after.

Sat down to my computer to check some correspondence and casually glanced at the screen - my 3BB wireless was blazing away!

Color me a 3B Believer...

^^ ' And for catching people turning left on a red light! (Coming up from River Market road)'

Yes indeed. Been coming up that road for years and always when turning left simply merged into the traffic coming off the bridge, never realizing I was required to stop. A chap brought this up recently on another thread, and yesterday I did stop, and did notice a small rectangular sign with several lines in Thai apparently indicating so. Others were stopped too, yet even more continued thru, merging with traffic, which I believe is the accepted procedure. This was around 1900 hours so no chance of a police check, unlike during a normal working day.

Why no large cautionary sign with, say, a red Left-Turn Arrow superimposed with an international forbidden circle-with-slash over it, and accompanied by a traffic signal sign arrowing the red light? As it stands now even Thais can't see it as it is not prominent; 'for a reason' one might conclude.

Recently bought a 4Bed-5bath home near the city a few km near Meechok plaza, changing the proferred plan from a 3Bed-2bath to 4 Bedrooms-ensuite plus a guest bath. Build started last July. I lucked in, as in scanning the few remaining lots in many new developments, my eye caught a double empty plot of 130+TW at the end of a cul de sac at the back away from the morning-evening traffic. The foreign buyer who had bought years ago wanted out at the original B7500/TW price. Deposit made that day and paid in full the next.

Had been round to MoobahnSiripornGardenHome 10 at the time, expensive, as land there is double their other projects but with a glassed-corner 'modern'-take but smallish, only 3 or 4 at the time were spoken for. Visited last week and all but 3 or 4 have been sold. While surprised that they are essentially sold out and so quickly, the company laments that the land prices in CMai have escalated to the point where they are having difficulty buying another sector.

BTW, Thai folks are not into 'used' houses or condos, especially those like the one above which although possibly 'new' as in 'not lived in' has a certain dated look.

Closer to the city just past Toyota on the road to Mae Rim, beside the National Bank, prices start at 14 Million Baht and they seem pleased with contracts to date.

All the houses, in a new subdivision down the road at the junction of the newish police station opposite Toyota, sold out immediately at 2.3 to 3 Million Baht; nicely planned and laid out, handy the super at the junction before Rimping, mostly Thai.

I really do not think the average Thai would exchange such nice, relatively inexpensive, new homes now being offered near here and Meechok Plaza for a dull, noisy condo, and they are all noisy as one after another they are redesigned: most come with only a toilet and shower - no kitchen etc.

I am not only amazed at construction underway in Chiangmai, but at the fact that most new housing developments are quickly sold out. Many are out Meechok way and are now handy the many newly under construction mega centers - no need to get wrapped around the traffic axle in central CMai.

If you are considering buying, get out and check these new builds soonest, before you're forced to do a North American-style commute. Noticed too, the rentals within CMai for anything worthwhile has climbed into the B30,000 and up range. No doubt to cover their mortgages. FWIW

KCOR - butt out, just what is your problem?

The OP has serious problems here, not to mention his family, and you are being a complete pain.

Kan't be constructive,then take a HIKE.

#5 said 'He looks good for 78...'

That's his significant other - the wife.

#8 " could but wont because I dont think I m allowed to on here name you at least three other upmarket Thai type restaurants also with a river setting where the food is both much better and less expensive."

Ah com'on PM...name them...we're waiting.

Carpet floor coverings are not advised due to the dust, the insects and the humidity at various times of the year.

^^^ I agree. Kluay Hom is the variety I like. Kasem sells these.

The min-banana with the seeds is a far cry away in taste IMHO

Last week I got the brochure for Bangkok Bank's Personal Accident Insurance Package (PA Happy 45+) which includes riding or being passenger on a motorcycle:

2. loss of life Plan1 -Plan4 100K-350K

3. loss of body parts/ or disability 400K-1M

4. loss of body parts/ or disability 200K-700K

Annual Premium Plan1 -Plan4 3,180B-7,070B

Stipulates Work Permit or Permanent Resident

Have yet to re-visit to determine if Non-Resident status applies.

Tel Karn at 081-5953110 or kpantawong@gmail (Thai lang)

'Does anyone have good experience with the pouch attachment?'

Apparently this chap does:

Adulterers Attacked With Slingshot by Avenging Spouse | Pattaya Daily News - Pattaya Newspaper, Powerful news at your fingertips

#13 ' I feel another replacement coming on.' Whoa...same knee or t' other.

Good luck either way.

#9 I can empathize, Jarhead. My right rugby/Armour knee is acting up after years of crawling up and off armored tanks.

As you said you'd keep us informed, I will be awaiting your observations.

Jan 25 2013 - Amazon Kindle Paperwhite e-reader soon aval in more than 175 countries. In Southeast Asia, the e-reader is only available in Thailand and the Philippines.

It's not available in China.

Both the Wi-Fi and 3G models (ad-free versions only) are available internationally starting at US$139.

Amazon's latest e-reader has the addition of a built-in backlight. Its 6-inch E-Ink screen also boasts a higher contrast (hence its name) and a 1,024 x 768-pixel resolution, an increase from 800 x 600-pixel screen on previous Touch e-reader.

http://asia.cnet.com...ly-62220255.htm

Oh Happy Day and now Night reading!