northernjohn

knew that u would be first , please read my opening post again, and get a good grip of yourself,(if poss)

your above post and answers are not in any way, shape or form related to my questions

you are full of wind

Wow Weeeee you have 3 properties you are trying to sell and have dropped the selling prices by 15 to 20%. This reeks of a sales job to me and you make it so obvious.

Are these your properties or do you sell on commission? 3% I think is the going rate. A property valued a 5 million baht that`s 150000 baht in your pocket. Nice one.

He is relatively new to Chiang Mai. The very idea of having far more houses than prospective buyers is foreign to him. Another thing is who really wants to live out there that can afford a 5 million baht house. They would pick a more desirable area.

i'd take a bet that he has been around a good 15 years longer than you. and you still seem like you just got off the boat last week.

Well for some one that has been around that long he has sure missed a lot. I don't even dabble in the real estate market and have no problem understanding over supply.

He is relatively new to Chiang Mai. The very idea of having far more houses than prospective buyers is foreign to him. Another thing is who really wants to live out there that can afford a 5 million baht house. They would pick a more desirable area.

When is someone not "new to Chiang Mai" ?

If you think people "that can afford a 5 million baht house" do not live outside "c/mai city limits", how ever you want to define that, then you have not seen much outside of Chiang Mai city. There are many reasons people, both Thai and foreigner may want to live outside the city, "desirable area" being defined by themselves.

According to ES there are not that many. Read his posts. They are about not selling not about selling at a massive rate.

You have lost me, better not to think too much,just make the

best of the situation you have.be happy ,dont worry.my motto.

regards worgeordie

One way to view it is to decide for oneself if he or she would rather live in a very individualistic society, and few are more individualistic than the USA, or does one prefer to live in a more collectivist society, such as Thailand.

I definitely prefer to live in a country free of rampant individualism, however this is just due to my own personality quirks.

My brother, for example, loves to be in control at the top, and he would never feel comfortable yielding anything to anyone, especially in business or in the company hierarchy.

This is why it is important, in my view, to choose the country you like, according to whether or not the culture matches one's personality.

Individualism - collectivism

Power Distance and where one is on the continuum.

Additionally, it is important to consider where one is on the Extroversion Introversion scale, because Asians are more comfortable with people who are less extroverted and overtly power hungry, perhaps.

These traits are not particular to Thailand, but are obvious in general throughout Asia, or at least SE Asia and East Asia.

If one welcomes the traits in the culture that one finds in Asia, then this is the place to be.

I could also mention the continuum of culturally based expression of behavioral Masculinity vs Femininity traits, as exhibited by each gender.

It all boils down to knowing what to expect from the culture one is living in, and deciding if that culture is one which provides a feeling of acceptance, peace and liking.

Some are at peace living in the culture of Chiang Mai, and I think that I am definitely one of those.

I think that there are many who come here and fit right in within a week. I have met a few, and they just like it here, very much.

Sounds like a good reason for you not to stay in Thailand. If you have to analyze it that much. Do you put that much analyzing into the food you eat? You realize it does not all come from the same source so do you have a list of qualifications for it before you order a tossed salad. Do the servers know what you are talking about? I stay here because I like it here. I don't know any thing about the charts you have to use. I just plain like it.

My concrete shoe box in an A+ location has gone up more in the last 12 months than the previous year and a half. And it's nuts in BKK....and in fact, in my older building, it is the Bangkokians doing the buying. How do I know this? Because I am trying to buy another one. Exurbs aren't nearly as attractive to out of town buyers....and that is where they overbuild. And those are houses, which face more of a "ghost" issue. I can almost guarantee your land value has gone up, quote a bit. Saw someone asking 35K per TW in Hang Dong a few days ago, with no decent main road frontage, and I was thinking more like 8K. Up to you.

You can find 5K per sq. wa rather easily in a very accessible location near the Canal road. (roughly in between Hang Dong and Sanpatong, don't know how far that is but it's not crazy)

And it's not even something insane like dozens of rais, just small-ish plots of about a rai or so.

A little of topic but would those lots hold a good potential for future sails. I have often thought about buying property in the wife's name of course just so she would have some thing solid when she barbeques me.

knew that u would be first , please read my opening post again, and get a good grip of yourself,(if poss)

your above post and answers are not in any way, shape or form related to my questions

you are full of wind

Wow Weeeee you have 3 properties you are trying to sell and have dropped the selling prices by 15 to 20%. This reeks of a sales job to me and you make it so obvious.

Are these your properties or do you sell on commission? 3% I think is the going rate. A property valued a 5 million baht that`s 150000 baht in your pocket. Nice one.

He is relatively new to Chiang Mai. The very idea of having far more houses than prospective buyers is foreign to him. Another thing is who really wants to live out there that can afford a 5 million baht house. They would pick a more desirable area.

To each their own. I love the difference here. being a round peg in a round hole in Nanny land just didn't do it for me.

DANGER ...... What ??? are the veggo's taking over ?????

Just a few months back we couldn't find turkeys ... now not a ham to be found.... When you're on Thai Visa and can't find a turkey or a ham.... the end is near

Run for your life the price of eggs are all over the place like a yoyo and the sky is falling in. You caught me.

What are the hours that they have an officer on duty at Chiang Mai air port?

Is there one there at midnight or 6:00 in the morning?

I did it one year and was quite easy as they had two officers on duty and I was the only one there. But I have been through there at times and not seen an officer there. For sure you know they are going to take a lunch break.

Yes. The major British bookseller is the only one doing well - must be because the Brits don't read so much...

No, they read. But not enough to make e-books the number one seller. It's the electronic version that is killing booksellers that sell paper books. In fact, people are reading more than ever before, due of the convenience of e-books. You can carry a hundred books (or a thousand) in a device that weighs less than a single large paperback, bringing them all from home when traveling, eliminating the need for the tourists to buy so many used books.

I read a fair amount and it is no longer a problem when traveling to pack enough books. I have about 400 on my kindle. Also I believe their is not a book store in the world that offers the selection you can get on Amazon or other e book providers and generally cheaper. In fact many are free if you happen to catch them at the right time.

Edit

I might add that there are places that I have traveled to that I need to buy a book light to read them at night 5 watt bulbs don't do it. Also my wife doesn't like it if I have to have a light on. My kindle needs no outside light source.

The lack of reading by my fellow 'mericans is evident from their selection of the Republicker Presidential candidate! Faux Noise babbles on...

I think they still read a lot but it is hard to find "Look Dick look see Spot run" on an e book supplier.

Welcome. Retired, hmm? I wonder if you've figured out yet that there are virtually no chiropractors in Thailand. Hmm.......

I hope this will help you. You need suffer no longer. I have seen him twice the first time he helped quite a bit. The second time he informed me that I needed Physio Therapy and did not charge me.

Chiropractic clinic dates‏

Dr Philip Parry

29/05/2016

[email protected]

Hello,

Please be informed that this week I will be working at the Rajavej Hospital in Chiang Mai on the following days:

Friday 3rd June 9am - 1pm.

Saturday 4th June 9am - 4pm

Sunday 5th June 9am - 4pm

The next clinic weekend will be 2 weeks later on:

Friday 17th June 9am - 1pm.

Saturday 18th June 9am - 4pm

Sunday 19th June 9am - 4pm

Please inform the reception at the hospital on arrival.

Kind regards,

Dr. Philip Parry

Chiropractor

Apparently, CM Immigration disagrees with that interpretation at a big meeting at Riverside a few years ago. Most of the time, budget data is posted on the wall of the lobby.

What has immigration to do with it. that Riverside was a cluster <deleted>-k of different opinions and lasted quite a while before they got any thing settled. I presume it is alright now as we have not heard from them lately. From what I could see sitting on the out side looking in there is liable to have been any thing said there. It was a big power struggle.

This is way off topic as usual. The initial question was probably misunderstood.

The OP is not about how much you pay per sqm/month or year (common fee), but what does the management company charge for their service per month (excluding water, electricity, security, insurance, etc.).

Most of you do maybe not know, as you've never checked.

Anyways, the ones of you who do know, please share.

What you`re asking is like questioning, how long is a piece of string?

I take it you mean administration fees and these are going to vary greatly between different management companies according to how many residents and units the condo estates contain and the amount of work involved.

Every management company should hold a memorandum of association that outlines the rules and duties of your management company and details of the directors, you should be able to request a copy if you don`t already have one including a copy of the annual audited accounts that show how much everyone is getting paid and where the money is going. The management company should also hold annual general meetings where every resident can attend and these questions can be asked.

Another way of keeping on top of things is to form a residents association that is basically a group of residents which deal with residents inquiries and complaints, a sort of go between the management company and the residents. They become a watchdog for the estate and keep the management company on it`s toes. The bottom line is, you are going to have to do some leg work and gather this information from the MC yourself if you want to find out all that`s involved that is relevant to you.

The whole issue is like asking how long is a piece of string.

So far we have had 10 baht a sq. meter to 50 baht a sq. meter. I asked a friend who owns two condos in a nice building. No pool what they pay and I was told 15 baht a sq meter. One is not rented out and they are not even looking for renters considering selling it instead. 1,500 baht a year is not an issue to them descent renters are. I see on another thread where the owners have got together and fired the manager and are hiring a consultant to work with the home owners council. they did not mention the price but gave several names of condos he had helped get organized properly.

Are you still allowed to be 7 days late reporting in for the 90 day?

no answer to your 90 day report question, hardly surprising

best if you contact your bogus visa agent who u deal with

a hello dolly good luck to you

I have no bogus agent. My passport is as valid as yours and I do not have to keep it a secret who did it for me.

Speaking of asking agents I notice you are asking questions on Thai Visa. Your super duty secret agent not speaking to you.

Have no fear I am hear to save your hopeless quest. You are allowed 7 days late.

While we are talking I am glad to see you take a little time out from stalking Nancy to show me you know nothing.

have a good night.

correct...and it seems like the newer ones are running more like 40-45 psm. If it is brand new, they may ask for a year in advance and a one time payment to start the reserve funds. The best thing I've seen them do is in BKK, some buildings have everything on an ala carte basis....you can even opt out of the elevator....makes the second floor look attractive...and of course you can opt out of gym and pool too. It's all programmed onto the thumbprint scanner or your keycard.

So in a unit with 50 square meters you would be paying 2,000 to 2,250 baht per month in addition to the cost of the Condo?

I have not used any but here is the list from the above pinned topics. Maybe some one who has had experience with one of them or another will come along and relate it to you.

UROLOGY (Urinary/Reproductive)

Dr Pruk Kithirathrakan

Rajavej Hospital, 053 801999

Dr Jamroon Wattanasakult

Rajavej Hospital, 053 801999

Dr. Bunnakit

Sriphat, his own private clinic and occasionally at RAM

053 5394 6900/1

Sriphat is the private wing of the 2,300 bed Maharaj Nakorn Hospital - also known as Suan Dok

If you live within a ten minute drive of Promenada like I do I think a reasonable strategy for the retirement extension is to show up at 9 AM and see if any queue numbers are left. Being last in the queue has the advantage that you could show up at 2:30 or so in the afternoon to get processed. Being last means your wait to get your passport back will be minimized. If you time it right it might only take an hour or so to get in and out including getting a new re-entry permit.

Has anyone ever tried to get a queue number in the afternoon for the retirement extension? It seems from several reports that it is not all that unusual for some of the queue numbers to still be available. On such a day if you showed up at 2 PM and asked for someone to review your paperwork and assuming it was in order I wonder what would happen if you then asked nicely if it would be possible to get a queue number.

Grin

I tried that when I did my last extension. The girls out front insisted that they only give out at the time I believe 25 queue cards. I asked well if they are done with the 25 and still have time can I get one to see them? The answer was we only give out 25 queue cards a day. I have done three 90 day reports and once the girls out front seemed to know what was happening.

as i said on other im post

the wife has friends that work at immigration

the older bosses belive in every thing still on paperwork

as they retire the younger staff will turn to all computer work

thus time will be reduced i think is fair allround

this expat mob grump winge huff and puff just to make problem as they have no life

years ago went to expat meeting

they come here as guest of the country for a better life

then group together try to change the local people thinking to there way of life they left

does it make them feel good be at expensive places eating and wineing that locals cant do

is it before nobody now think somebody

get a life and join in local way of life or go home

So your wife says that when the old farts retire no more paper work just computers? Or are they going to have a magic want they pass over the papers and it automatically records every thing after it has checked the papers out that will be needed.

Welcome.

You will meet many people here some as you have already seen are not that friendly.

Don't let them bother you there are plenty of nice Ex Pats and Thai's here in Chiang Mai.

River Market. Excellent food, service and a great view as well.

An excellent choice as he has clearly stated 1,000 baht was a bit much for what is offered. I doubt another 500 baht any place would make that big of a difference. The Kantary Berry Hill sounds about the best bet for a buffet. Not tried it myself but the price looks good.

Perhaps some of the others would be worth it if you are a heavy drinker.

Being as it is a special occasion I can not say as to the scenery. I believe the River Market would deliver on that. The LA Meridian. ShangriLa, Empress and the Holiday Inn would be lacking for any thing special on a special occasion. I have eaten at all of them over the years and find them not that wonderful.

for around about 2 years and i might add approx , your battle/crusade has lost, all its appeal to the hierachy of the zoo, as its preparation was dumb as they come, not to mention offending,to say the least

your relentless insane efforts, had rub the zoo ,up the wrong way ,and J.M.O.. being under Marshall Law, you were indeed a lucky shelia, not to have the book thrown at you

To be honest for some one who pays to have it taken care of for him you sure complain a lot.

Maybe you should get a different agent.

May I suggest G4T at the Promenada. I have used them for my extension and found them extremely competent. I do my own 90 day so can not say on that point. But have heard no complaints from any one doing it. They only charge 300 baht if you so desire to have them do for you.

Out of curiosity as you have no interest in the immigration other than paying some one to do it for you. You also show no interest in the Ex Pat club but post a fair amount about it. Are you stalking Nancy?

Are you aware that calling immigration a Zoo could get you charged?

Have some people had problems such as no one on duty in the evening hours or night hours. Do they have certain hours such as the Promenada?

I was dramatically effected by the housing bubble in the USA, and it looks exactly the same here to me. I am waiting for the crash to pick up some nice properties

Prices do not drop as they would in the US. They will let the unit turn to dust before they lower the price.

While I know "this time it is different" are the 5 most expensive words in investing but..

I think theres a far greater reliance on credit and finance than there has been in the past.. That may well force liquidation on items that would previously simply sit.

Doubtful, the banks being the lenders have taken property and sat on it for decades as some are still holding property repossessed in the mid 90s. The ghost buildings.

Just out of curiosity has any one ever enquired into purchasing one of those old buildings that have just been sitting empty for at least ten years.

Recently, I've contacted some folks in other provinces with a large number of retirees to see why it is they don't seem to have the problems we have in Chiang Mai. Phuket has a very well developed group of Foreign Immigration Volunteers, being able to offer assistance in several languages during the entire time their Imm. office is open. They carefully check all documents before a customer is seen by an Imm. officer. Incidentally, they also check for back-up documentation for Income Letters. Yes, that's right, they help Phuket Immigration by making sure that ALL retirement extension applicants either submit proof of an 800,000 baht account in Thailand or proof of monthly income in excess of 65,000 baht/month and they use their Foreign Imm. Volunteers to look at the documents presented as proof because they're familiar with pension and bank statements from their home countries.

In Pattaya, and other provinces, a knowledgeable Imm. officer is the first point of contact for anyone who walks into the office -- not college interns. In Pattaya, that officer carefully checks documents and an applicant spends just a few minutes with the officer processing the actual retirement extension because the first officer caught all the problems. Here in CM, the knowledgeable officers do a document screening of the queue, but after they screen everyone waiting they go into the office and the interns tell anyone who comes in later that the retirement queue is full, even if they didn't distribute all the queue numbers that morning. That's because there's no one available to check documents after the early morning screening.

In many offices, they have safe storage for passports and issue receipts so people can go home and come back the next day to pick up their passport with their visa. No need to sit around for hours waiting for their passport to be returned.

Also, none of the offices seem to set a daily queue limit. Instead they accept applicants up to a certain time. If someone passes the initial document screen, they pretty much can just leave their application/passport there and pick up their passport the next day.

Pattaya has a couple of English-speaking foreign volunteers to help people fill out forms and answer questions, but they aren't as organized or important as the group in Phuket. Certainly, they aren't checking for evidence of someone's monthly income.

Most offices have an immigration officer who speaks decent English and is willing to take the time to help people. I've seen very little of this recently in Chiang Mai. If anything, I've seen Imm. officers deliberately say as little as possible, supply incomplete and misleading answers and do everything possible to "get rid" of anyone asking questions. Yes, I know they're busy and overworked, but I also think there may be the feeling that these people should be using agents.

^^^^same boring diatribe!!!!

Nancy L Commander In Chief . Expats Club, ,may E/S say the following

outside your world, life for most expats in c/mai ,the zoo is least of everyday,s life , of humps and bumps

your continuing crusade ,slagging the zoo services,has fallen on deaf ears ,apart from, few supporters

from all my reports, your service to your club, is impeccable, no doubt about that

but you are not representing the majority of expats residing in c/mai, just a handful(so to speak)

most that i socially meet , the zoo is not a talking point at all , they capably jump through the ZOO hoops which fronts them, by doing which suits their choce ,D.I.Y. or engage a Visa Agent

and very happily to get on with life

Fair Dinkum..get a new gig, then u be a great sheila, think about it

its a beverly hills, beautiful maerimite good nite to all

If you have any thing to say, speak up. No need to dribble on. For a person who thinks it is a zoo and pays some one to do it for them and is very happy about it you sure spend a lot of time here. I meet a fair number of Ex Pats and never is the subject brought up. Are you in a bar meeting these people?

Im sure Rhys or one of collegues will be along soon to sort this one out....personally Ive only ever paid ATV 1000 baht for the 90 day service, and that was added to the bill when they processed my yearly extension.

Its the first Ive heard of a 2 tier system from ATV, but then I dont read a lot of blurp off their website.

Yes the current fee is 1000 baht for 4 reports. If you only wish to have 1 report done the fee is 500 baht. The price was increased to 1500 baht due to the barcode system being issued. Once this was cancelled the price went back to 1000 for 4 reports. We have not ever ripped anyone off. We charged based on the work under taken. We also believe 1000 baht for 4 reports, including notifying every client of when there report is due to avoid the 2000 baht fine is good value for money. I hope this clears up any confusion

Are you still allowed to be 7 days late reporting in for the 90 day?

I like what you say but I would also like to look at the fact that the staff is just worn out with the constant over load and having to put up with people ill prepared. I am quite sure that if they had a thread of their own it would put us in as negative a light as we put them. Remember they have to put up with it every day of the working year. We only have to put up with it once a year and look at the way we carry on.

Your idea that we are causing the problem are selves by using the agencies has some merit. If we stopped using them and every one did theirs in person Bangkok would not think the system is working.

I have said this all along, it is not the responsibility of immigration to help prepare people`s paperwork and to guide them through the process and that these people should use an agency instead trying to use the system to sort out their mess as a bonus to avoid paying for advice and administrative services. If I had a legal problem, needed help, advice and had to see a lawyer, I would not expect the service for free. But I wonder, how does immigration in other regions deal with this problem?

I agree it is not there job yet people continue to show up ill prepared at times they have to go get photos or photo copies. How ever I believe the real problem is Chiang Mai is such a nice place to live that so many have moved here for permanent and they have not increased their staff.

As for the agents as you alluded to in an earlier post if no one used them and did them all them selves for sure Bangkok would know there is a problem. I believe they already know that and are content with the solution we have found are selves in the person of an agent.

Yes if I had a legal problem I to would seek out a lawyer to sort it out. If it is a simple one I might ask here on Thai Visa. Such as the one in my next post.

As for other areas I have heard of no complaints similar to are. They all seem to flow real easy. Maybe the officers have time to help due to not many retirement or extensions. Who knows. All I know is I have seen many times where no other office has are problems. In My Hong Son I have heard of the officer causing problems because they are a trouble maker. But that is a personality problem.

Yes there may or may not be money in it for them.

What I find strange is that the problem is they are understaffed and it is not them that do the hiring.

I get a kick out of all the people who think they are doing it on purpose to force people to go to the agencies. That would be a very good reason if it was up to them as to how many to hire and if they were the ones doing the hiring.

The fact is it is Bangkok where the decisions are made and the hiring done.

Several years ago the director who was getting ready to retire said Bangkok had allocated enough money to hire 15 more staff. The thing was that Bangkok be the ones that do the hiring.

Not saying who is at fault but being as to the best of my knowledge Chiang Mai is the only office in Thailand facing these problems and it has been the same under at least two directors there is more to it than the people you see in the office here in Chiang Mai.

I am quite sure that Immigration in Bangkok is well aware of what is going on. Unless they do some thing about it the problem will just get worse as people keep moving to Chiang Mai for one reason or another.'

edit

If Bangkok had nothing to do with it seems to me we would be hearing from other areas where they were getting the same run around.

Just a thought.

Same as what you are saying. I don`t believe this is a set up just to push us to use agencies. The Chiang Mai immigration was with no doubts struggling to provide a reasonable service that is becoming more and more under stress each year for reasons we already know about and that it`s fact they are not or cannot provide enough slots per day to cover everybody.

Here lies the problems. Although the officers are always polite, they don`t really care who gets a slot or who doesn`t. They have set quotas and even with the extra work load they will not work at a faster pace. This means the problem is passed on to us, so the only alternatives for the people that prefer not to suffer all the trauma at immigration or maybe too old or frail for the endurance is to use an agent. I think because the agency alternatives are there, Bangkok will think, great it`s working so we won`t bung anymore resources into it.

For the agencies this situation has become a bonanza similar to when the condom companies were on there way out due to the invention of the pill and then HIV and aids appeared on the scene that saved their day, made them richer than ever. Everyone knows there are a lot of people making a lot of money out of the situation even if it is perfectly above board. So while this system is in place meaning Bangkok does not have to increase it`s budget to Chiang Mai, the staff at Chiang Mai don`t have to work any harder and there are those creaming it off from the top of the cake, then I can`t see this system ever changing, because there are more incentives to continue on this way rather then go the other route and provide more resources to immigration. The most worrying thing is that if the situation does become worse and more people have to use agencies to prolong their stay in paradise, then the agencies will be in a position where they can charge whatever they darn well like.

I like what you say but I would also like to look at the fact that the staff is just worn out with the constant over load and having to put up with people ill prepared. I am quite sure that if they had a thread of their own it would put us in as negative a light as we put them. Remember they have to put up with it every day of the working year. We only have to put up with it once a year and look at the way we carry on.

Your idea that we are causing the problem are selves by using the agencies has some merit. If we stopped using them and every one did theirs in person Bangkok would not think the system is working.