Rorycook

So, in the meantime I have started looking at prices to buy as I view this as slightly better than throwing my money away each month :-)

I would like to know the requirements for buying - do either me or my wife need a salary to show a bank or lender our income or can we go straight to an apartment owner?

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By renting, you are not throwing yor money away. At least not in BKK.

There are thousands and thusands of apartments nobody wants. Real Estate agencies are drowned under the supply.

If you bought one at a favourable price, what would you do with it if you wanted to sell?

Nobody would listen to you.

BKK is a place for cheap sex, nothing more than that.

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True 'think_too_mut'

I have heard that this is the case but still new apartment blocks are going up? and if these develpoers are so desparate to sell their space why are the prices still higher than a lot of Thais could afford?

Another thing, I agree with the comment that I'm not completely throwing my money away but a friend of mine is paying B2,000 less than me every month and she has a 2 bedroom apartment whereas ours is only a 'studio'

I would still like to look into this as I feel that I would get more for my money even if the apartments crumbled to the ground before my final payment so if anybody has any idea on how succesful my application would be given the following circumstances:

I would like either to get a loan OR a mortgage - I'm really not fussed(unless somebody can tell me why I should be??)

I am willing to pay whilst the apartment would be in my wifes name

I am willing to spend up to B10,000 per month

I would like a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment near Pin Klao preferably but anywhere within 3 or 4km of the banglampoo area

Thanks in advance for the help :-)

Rory

Hi to all the usual posters, I'm sure I already asked this question but I've been away for a bit and haven't had a chance tocheck replies - and now I can't find my original post??

I am interested in buying an apartment or condo in Bangkok. I would like to know what I will need to take to the bank to prove I can kep up payments, I have been told by a friend that all i need is a healthy looking bank statment but that sounds too easy to me..

I am not employed as such but do have regular payments into my bank and can more than afford to keep up payments.

Help is appreciated :-)

Rory

Hi to all the usual members :-)

I have given up trying to find an apartment with my perfect requirements, there seems to be so many apartments in BKK but I still haven't found one that would let us use gas which is up to decent living standards!? If anybody knows of one on the west side of BKK please let me know..

So, in the meantime I have started looking at prices to buy as I view this as slightly better than throwing my money away each month :-)

I would like to know the requirements for buying - do either me or my wife need a salary to show a bank or lender our income or can we go straight to an apartment owner?

I do have an income which is high enough to afford the payments but it is not a Thai salary so where do I stand on this??

Thanks in advance for your help :-)

Rory

Cn anybody recommend a good website for maps of Bangkok so I can get a rough idea of all these places that are being recommended to me?

Thanks

Rory

Good advice everybody, thanks, I'm still looking but not rushing as there are so many option aren't there!!

Regarding financing - what would I need to provide to qualify for financing in BKK?

Thanks in advance

Rory

I couldn't possibly comment on the name of the apartment...

My rambling might be built up frustration because I found out the other day that we are paying the same as most and in fact our apartments have not upped the rates for a long time, still the place is a shit hole!

I want to say thanks to everybody who has sent advice on this subject, especially the huge list of links to other apartments in BKK, I have been out looking and there is either dark & dirty apartments for cheap prices OR adequate & expensive condos, is there any moderation here? Ok, so I have only looked in my area so far and Pin Klao is a small area of BKK as far as I'm concerned, I would love to move out further to Nonthaburi as someone suggested but my commitments would be compromised if I had to travel too far in every day...

I'll keep looking and kepp everyone posted, thanks again

Rory

Hello to the usual posters, I'm back and in need of somewhere to vent my frustration and ask for more advice, tips & general knowlege..

I am currently staying in rented apartments in the Pin Klao area of BKK, however, after spending some happy days there with my wife and baby I have slowly seen the apartments fall apart around us, first the gym closed, then the snooker hall then the restaurant, then one of the two lifts and now they are upping the price of electric to 8 Baht per unit and the water to 6 Baht per unit, one more thing, they aparently don't clean the pool anymore which is disgusting, I guess we are lucky we still have one but this does not make me any happier as I am still paying the same rent as before everything closed down!..

I'm not sure what the electric & water rates are in a regular house or apartment but I am aware that we are paying more than most, I forgot to mention one more thing - we are not allowed to make or recieve international calls anymore, maybe they can blame that on feul prices??..

What I'm after is some recommendations, I want to spend no more than 7,000 Baht per month before electric & water and preferably no more than 10,000 Baht after bills, we use the aircon quite regularly and our rent is doubled because of it, see what I mean?? I am sure we are already being screwed for our money!

I would love to stay in the Pin Klao area of Bangkok but anywhere in the surrounding areas I would consider, I have looked at all the websites and listings around here but nothing for less than 15,000 Baht ever appears

Does anybody live near here who has a nice apartment?? Why is it so hard to find somewhere without getting on the back of a motorbike and telling the driver to go forwards in search?

PLEASE HELP

p.s. the new prices come into effect at the beginning of August so swift replies are appreciated! Thanks :-(

No weekend Consulates I'm afraid. The agents in Penang are good. You can search them on here. Forget agents in Pattaya. Without the mother, you may need to prove that you have custody.

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How on earth can i prove custody? We are just living day-to-day in a private condo with no official residence or jobs.. :-( Or anything! :-)

Another thing, I read that you can pay agents 'overtime' fees for late applications, if I arrive Friday morning/lunchtime and submit my application will it be ready for pick-up on Monday?(or earlier - on the snide..)

Sorry Dr Pat Pong or anybody else that is looking, you didn't say whether the agents could guarantee an outcome...or did you by saying "The agents in Penang are good"

Thanks

Rory

You'll need the birth certificate and taking the mum with you might help. Tha application should go in in the morning and the visa should be ready by early the next afternoon.

Good luck.

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Thanks again Dr Pat Pong, more questions though..

Is the Thai consulate on Penang open on weekends?

Are visas guaranteed from any of the agents on Penang? I have read a few reports that some agencies in Pattaya guarantee??

One more thing, taking the mum with me is not an option, she is strickly Thai food only, shame no?

Thanks in advance

I've checked the flight availabiity on AirAsia and I'm being quoted B4,100, is there any cheaper options? would it be cheaper to jsut turn up at the airport on the day?

Thanks

Rory

You can try for a multiple entry O at Penang. That'll permit 90 day stays and is valid for a year.

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Hi Dr Pat Pong, I've given in and am planning a trip to Penang in a weeks time, after reading several views and opinions on this forum I am still a little bit unclear whether or not I will qualify for a non-o visa, would it help if I took my sons birth certificate with me? Also, how long would I have to wait on Penang for the visa application?

You help is appreciated :-)

Rory

definitely not no, I guess I'll just have to lump the monthly run until I can sort this one out won't I? Any other options?

Thanks

Rory

And yes Totster it is very enjoyable even with all the sacrifices :-)

Thanks Totster, lots of good advice, one more thing please

I have heard various stories about starting up my own business, do you have a basic list of requirements and costs for this procedure?

Thanks in advance

Rory

Yes I am Dr Pat Pong but I haven't yet registered my baby for a british passport or done anything infact, too busy changing nappies!

Can anybody elaborate??

Please elaborate Totster

Thanks

Rory

Please help me!

I've looked through many threads but I still don't have a clear picture with regards to my predicament..

I am living with my TGF and newborn baby in BKK, every 30 days I need to do a visa run, as most of you know this is very tedious especially when I feel I have a more valid reason than many for needing/wanting to stay here - to take care of my GF and baby!

I don't have a job but I am earning a decent living which is not dodgy at all - I'm just a small-time trader of Thai bits and pieces.

I want to know if I can get a longer stay visa at a sensible price, I have had a Non-B before but the second time I tried to obtain one I was told "Not easy get into Thailand now" this was at the Thai embassy in Kensington so since then I've had to fart around going to Hat Yai or Poi Pet.

Can someone give me detailed up-to-date costs and requirements or recommend me to a border where acquiring another Non-B is possible?

Please can anybody help me??

I have found a beautiful antique chest of drawers and I want to take it back to the UK but someone warned me that I would need an Export license, I've looked on the Thai customs website for a link to a form or some kind of guidance but to no avail!

PLEASE HELP