newnative

Tourists should be banned from renting motorcycles.

What comes next? Nothing. Just like what's come before.

Total non-starter.

I think they were all on Beach Road--or at least it seemed that way with the early evening gridlock.

The only living Republican I can think of that I like.

Rents are certainly cheap and many prefer to rent rather than own here. For some it can be the best option. But, there are also some who like to own their own space, to do with it what they will, to have their own furnishings, to not have a landlord, etc. Count me in that camp; I've always hated when I rented. I love owning and making changes and improvements. I would buy even with the possibility of perhaps losing some money. Life is short. Your friend has put a roof over his head that he owns for less that $29,000. Not bad. I think it's unlikely it will appreciate much in value. But, it's also unlikely to lose much in value, either. I think condos in that project have been going for around 1MB for a number of years. Sort of like VT1 and VT2--not a lot of appreciation or depreciation. For many of the condos here that's not a bad outcome.

I doubt you are living cheaper if your housing, fuel, and domestic bills are higher there. Those three expenses likely cost more than your savings on water, beer, wine, and meat. (Is water really that much cheaper there?)

Always an idiotic 'catch'.

The companion story today is about a proposal to waive visa fees for foreign travelers. So, maybe the 'optimism' is actually not so high. And, perhaps it shouldn't be. Only 2 million foreign tourists the first 6 months leaves a long way to go to reach the predicted figures of 9 to 10 million for the year.

Here's an idea. Instead of starting new projects why not finish all the old ones first.

Well, kudos to the hoteliers for tactfully saying this is the dumbest idea to come down the pike.

That has to be one of the slowest projects in the World and at such an important intersection. The other day we drove by and there seemed to be just one worker there--sitting under a green umbrella. Month after month after month.

Agree. The US is one of the wealthier countries so how are things there? The average US Social Security payment is a little over $1600 a month, $19,000 and change a year. 64% of Americans say they have less than $10,000 in their retirement accounts so they are going to have to hustle to close the gap to bring their annual retirement income up to $80,000. For those that are retired, the average median retirement for US retirees 65 and older is $47,357 a year, well under the supposedly 'just getting by' 80k.

Totally, shockingly, clueless. Not that it will ever happen but he has obviously not given a thought to all the tourist businesses that cater to non-premium tourists.

Preparing us for tomorrow's announcement that, no, there won't be 10 million tourists this year, as previously predicted just the other day.

Thank you. I did not know this site.

Well, this is an easy one. Nobody anywhere ever inspects the finished work before final payment--whether it's new sidewalks in Pattaya or a parliament building in Bangkok.

Your mortgage may be 0 but other costs will likely be higher--including property taxes, HOA fees, and utilities. If you own a condo in the US, the monthly condo fees are also likely much higher. My monthly condo fee on my small Virginia condo was $500. I pay $67 a month in condo fees on my Bangkok condo and $100 a month on my Pattaya condo, both mortgage-free. Both condos are in doorman buildings with nice amenities in great locations--so, not dives. You're absolutely right that housing prices here are not rising 200%. But, the other half of that coin is housing prices here are still affordable--a good thing, I think, for any society. If one wants to own mortgage-free there are lots of very reasonable condos and homes available here. If one prefers to rent, also a wide selection, with many nice ones for less than $500 a month. Certainly, if you own property in the US I commend you. Buying my first condo in the US after too many years of renting was the smartest thing I ever did. However, for others not in that boat trying to keep a roof over their heads, Thailand offers reasonable choices both to own or rent--which saves money in Thailand, the topic of this thread..

"...possibly...". Uh, oh.

Good.

That's the biggie, isn't it? Keeping a roof over your head. Usually the biggest monthly expense for many, most anywhere. I know when I lived in America and was working, keeping a roof over my head was, like your pensioners, about 50% of my monthly income, too. In the beginning years probably more than 50% as I was low paid. And, it was 50% whether I was renting or when I finally scraped up enough money to buy a condo. Which brings me to Thailand. Whether I rent or own here, it costs me far, far less than what I'd be spending monthly in the US for something comparable. With a much smaller amount being spent on keeping a roof over my head, it leaves lots more to handle the price increases on other things. And, while rents and housing prices are skyrocketing in some other countries, that has not been the case here.

Aeras is newer, finished in 2017.

Built in 2014.

It's already a mess on Pattaya Beach Road too much of the time. You're often down to 1 lane as you have delivery trucks stopped in the left lane of the traffic lanes and cars stopped in the right lane waiting for a parking place. Parking needs to be eliminated on the beach side like it was before covid.

IKEA