newnative

Once again, as stated already by another member, Pattaya is not a 'resort' When I saw your thread title, I thought it would be for resort recommendations. You weren't asking, but I would recommend Centara in Wong Amat if you want a resort. Very nice, and 'family friendly'. Centre Point Space recently opened in North Pattaya and it is also geared toward families. Pattaya is a big city. Jomtien, Cosy Beach, South Pattaya, Wong Amat, Pratamnak, Naklua, The Darkside, etc., are all part of greater Pattaya. The bar/go-go adult entertainment areas are mainly in certain areas of center city Pattaya, which, again, is just another area of greater Pattaya. Soi 6, for example, is just one block, easily avoided. I, by the way, am a Pattaya resident, living on The Darkside with my spouse. We are often in the center city area to shop, eat, or see a movie at one of the big malls. At spots all over Pattaya, we can use one of the hospital choices, or find somethng we need at the good selection of big box retail avaiable in Pattaya, such as Index, Boonthavorn, Home Pro, Mega, Chic Republic, Big C Extra, etc.. As a big city, yes, there will be some crime. I feel safer here than I did in the large American town I lived in. As noted, a lot of the Pattaya crime seems to take place in the wee hours of the morning. Each incident, and I don't think there have been that many for a big city, seems to be played up by Asean Now as a big news event. Someone mugged and their cell phone stolen or gold chain snatched would likely not get even a mention by the news in any American city of similar size. Here, it's always the headline on AN, which leaves the false mpression that crime is a big problem in Pattaya. It's not. If you ever get to Pattaya again, maybe venture out a bit--there's a lot more to Pattaya than just the small areas you visited. You'll likely find out why your pal, who lives in the Jomtien area of Pattaya, in your words, 'loves it'. He's just one of many.

Not really. Time for an Executive Summary: You seem to remain confused by not seeing 'false' in the OP list of EV statements. Hence, your comment, 'The real article had "False" appended to all the statements. Which, it actually didn't. But, your implication being, the OP should also have had false appended to its statements. Which might, or might not, have prevented your confused post questioning why the original poster thought Britain's power grid was 'creaking'. Which left several of us going, huh? How did he come up with that? Obviously, misread the original post. (When some of us highlighted your gaffe, it didn't help your cause any to accuse the original poster of not doing a 'proper job'.) Another, huh? In any case, the purpose of the thread was to call attention to the article and invite readers to click on the article to discover for themselves whether the statements listed in the OP were true or false. In summary, here's a list of statements regarding electric vehicles. Are they true or false? Click on the article and find out. The answers are not here in the OP.

Just admit it. You misread the original post (OP). And, apparently, are still misreading it. You missed the sentence, "Questions covered in the article:'. The OP then listed a number of statements regarding electric vehicles, with a link to an article that explained whether they were true or false. You had to click on the article, and actually read it, not the OP, to see whether a statement was true or false. By the way, the 'real article' did not have false 'appended to all the statements', as you claim. One statement was appended 'incomplete' and one was appended 'mostly false'. So, if you actually got to the 'real article' you misread it, too.

Deathtraps

I think most of us careful readers easily understood the OP's useful post, with the helpful link to the actual article, which I found interesting. I don't know what more 'proper job' he could have done.

As a US citizen, I plan to keep my head down and go about my usual business. I plan to transfer about $30,000 before the end of the year, in transfers under $10,000 each. Spouse and I also have money that is already here to draw upon, that shouldn't be subject to taxes. If we need money from the US at sometime in 2024, I'll transfer the exact amount of my monthly SS payment, and not notify anyone. If someone from RD ever knocks on my door, I'll remind them the money I sent was shielded from Thai tax by the DTA between Thailand and the US, and plead ignorance if they tell me I should have filed paperwork of some kind. Perhaps by the time I make any transfers next year things will be better clarified.

Terrific suggestion to have the thread take you back to the post you have quoted after you hit 'submit reply'. Like now, I am quoting your post, which is on page 8. Once I submit this, I will be at the end of the thread. To continue reading the thread, I have to go back to page 8, and then find your post to start reading the thread again. Hope AN staff will see if they can make this very helpful change.

I personally feel less is more in the way of moderation/changes. Some of the topics posted by members may be considered frivolous by some other members but, if it seems like a frivolous topic, just ignore it. I've found some of them to be actually interesting and I've posted my thoughts on some of them. I, myself, don't mind at all if sometimes a thread meanders off-topic--sometimes those threads can be some of the most interesting and fun ones. I frown a bit when I read the message, 'Some off-topic posts have been removed.' What did I miss? If someone bothers to take the time to post, I think the posts should remain, unless they are in violation of Forum rules. Also, there is sometimes a fine line between what might be considered bickering by some and lively debate by others. When in doubt, consider the posts to be lively debate and keep them. I feel very fortunate that we have such a thing as AN here. It keeps me up-to-date on Thailand and other news, and, especially, on things that can impact my life living here. I heard about the proposed tax changes here, before anywhere else, for example. It was a fount of helpful information when I was first learning how to file my 90-day reports on-line--starting with telling me there was now such a thing I could use to avoid treks to Immigration. Sheryl, of course, is always so patient, helpful, and informed on health issues--so lucky to have her. And, she's just one example. There are others who also step in and help with other issues and topics. I wouldn't change too much.

Yes, it is very common, as you have seen from other posts. No, there will not be 'a bank guy' from any bank 'closing the deal' with me. Never has been. Many foreigners here, including me, pay cash for property purchases and don't get mortgages, which is also very common.

Me, too! Yes, that is great news! While you have your eyes on Royal Cliff, I'm patiently waiting for Saranchol Condo in Wong Amat, built waaay back in 1994. My goodness! That isn't even this century! Cheapest condo is still 25 million baht but I feel sure Keep Right is correct and it's going to deteriorate into a slum any day now. Yes, any day now. Way overdue. Just a little more patience . . .

It actually is a hobby of sorts for us. My Thai spouse has a regular job and I am retired. I think our only 'business savvy', if any, was always buying seaview condos, both in Rayong and Pattaya--and, we always did that because we, ourselves, wanted a seaview. We always buy and renovate with ourselves in mind, not a future buyer. Most of the projects were small, because that was all we could afford in our early years here. It was easy to move from place to place because we always sold the condos furnished. We did six View Talay studios, for example, plus at least that many small 1 bedrooms at different projects. We were always fixing up places for us to live in ourselves, which we did--just for not too long. I don't think much in the way of 'details' is missing. Things are simple here, with real estate, compared to the US or the UK. Transactions can, and often do, conclude in a few weeks, or less. In our case, we have never had any of your mentioned marketing or advertising costs. We list with as many realtors as we can, which is free, and we use free marketing, such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You don't necessarily need to use a lawyer to do a real estate transaction here, although I would recommend using one if you are uncertain about the process and what should be, and not be, in a real estate contract. In any case, just a small expense. I'm not following your statement, 'You can sell at a profit but still make a loss overall.' In my book, you either make a profit or you don't. It's always one or the other, and easy to tell which, if you keep accurate expense records. We always pay cash for a property here so there are no mortgages involved, and no costs associated with them. Also, no appraisal costs, no termite inspection costs, no costs to test for radon, no settlement attorney fees, etc., here. But, yes, always closing cost fees and taxes, and usually realtor commissions. It's all pretty cut and dried. You are correct that there are monthly maintenance fees and utilities. We don't bother to figure them in because, frankly, they are so low here, and we see them more as cost-of-living items. For a year, it might be 50,000 baht, more or less, for a condo's maintenance fees. The house we just sold had monthly estate fees of 1,500 baht, or 18,000 baht a year. Utilities don't figure in at all, in my opinion. We also don't figure in rent savings, although we do save on not paying rent.

My spouse, whom I met in the US, is Thai.

Agree. Very common practice.

No, of course you don't make those kinds of profits here. Perhaps, I should qualify that statement to just speak for myself and my spouse and say that we have not made those kinds of profits here. Maybe others have, and I don't want to speak for them, but we have not. However, it is also true that we have never lost money on any condo or house purchase we have made in Thailand. Never. That includes 2 condos in Rayong. 1 condo in Bangkok. 2 houses in Pattaya. And, 18 condos in Pattaya. The larger 2 and 3 bedroom condos and the houses made bigger profits than the smaller studio and 1 bedroom condos, but they were all profitable. Since we have only been in Thailand since 2010, it's easy to see that most of the above properties were not owned for very long--none for your 10 years. 5 of the Pattaya condos were bought as rentals and then sold when we decided we didn't want to be landlords anymore. We have always made a profit because we don't sell until we do make a profit. It's that simple. We have, luckily, not been in a situation where we needed to sell quickly, even at a loss. Deals will come along, even during covid, when we sold a condo and a house. Even during a pandemic, people need a roof over their heads. Sometimes properties sell quickly, sometimes patience is required.

Plenty of reasons 'why'. If you actually lived here, rather than, perhaps, just visited the tourist spots, you'd know why lots of people choose to live here, rather than anywhere else in Thailand. My spouse and I could certainly live anywhere in Thailand--we have a Bangkok condo and spend time in Bangkok now and then--but we choose to live in Pattaya full-time. It just suits us better than anywhere else we have been in Thailand, for a variety of reasons 'why'. As a growing city, apparently many others feel the same way.

Blah blah blah. I didn't see anything concrete being proposed that would actually make a difference--just more of the same old same old.

Not necessarily true that a condo buyer '...is just sitting in the same place for the 10 years.' My spouse and I have been in Thailand since 2010 and we have owned condos and moved around in Pattaya from one owned condo to another eleven times, plus 2 moves, so far, in Bangkok. Not to mention our initial move from a condo we owned in Rayong to Pattaya. Certainly, one can stay in a single place, if that's what floats your boat, but owning has never kept us from moving when we wanted to try a different area. Or, in the case of the Bangkok moves, from a smaller condo to a bigger one closer to the MRT.

Totally agree with your post. And, there's nothing stopping a condo owner from also investing in other financial investments besides the condo he/she has purchased. You're allowed to walk and chew gum at the same time.

I disagree. Some of the nicest condo projects in Pattaya are in Wong Amat, including The Cove, Northpoint, The Palm, Saranchoi, Zire, and others. North Pattaya/Wong Amat has also attracted a lot of the new development the past few years--Terminal 21, Centre Point Space, Arom Wong Amat, Ozo Hotel, etc. New signs up recently for a large highrise project coming near The Cove.

I said it was normal that there was such a thing as condos sold with parking spaces in condo projects in Thailand, and not just in Bangkok--in response to your post, from another poster, that you had never seen any, and the whole idea was, in your words, 'ridiculous'. In regard to using the word 'normal', one example. It's normal for some people to have naturally wavy hair. It dosn't mean everyone has naturally wavy hair. Ditto for condo projects, regarding parking, reserved and otherwise. So, you then changed your story (where Trump comes in, just for some fun) and replied that if there was such a thing, it would only be in super-luxury projects. I again pointed out that this was also not correct, and gave several examples off the top of my head, none of which are super high-end condo projects, which you claimed were the only ones that would have such a thing. I think that sums it up. Take a deep breath--it's no big deal. And, feel free to skip right over anything I post.

So, now you are qualifying your answer, saying yes, my answer was correct, this is only true for 'ultra luxury buildings'. Something is either true or not true. There's no 'alternate truth', much as Trump would have you believe it. In any case, View Talay 7 and View Talay 5C, possibly 5D in Pattaya, whch are not 'ultra luxury'. In Bangkok, my condo, high-end but not 'ultra luxury', has units that came with reserved parking spaces that were purchased with the condos. The rest of the parking, which is ample, is on a first come, first served basis.

Quite normal--and not just in Bangkok.

With regard to the sqm issue, the realtor may have assumed you were aware of how condos are measured here. Thailand does not have an MLS system--multiple listing service. It's perfectly normal for a property to still be advertised for sale and yet actually be sold--by another agent in another agency. There is no way for an agent to go on to a centralized MLS-type system and get up-to-date information on a property's status--still for sale, under contract, or sold. Several years ago we sold a condo in Northshore. We had it listed with a lot of agencies. I think it is still advertised on Hipflat with a few obscure agents, even though I notified most that it had sold. If you see it on Hipflat and ask about looking at it with your agent--or even the agency with the listing on Hipflat, the first thing they will do is check if it is still for sale, or did it sell with another agency. If it is sold, I see nothing wrong with an agent asking if there is anything else they can show you. We still get calls for some of our condos that have sold years ago--that's an agent doing their job and checking first that a property is still for sale before taking you around to see it, only to discover it has been sold. You have a legitimate point with an agent connecting the right properties with the right buyers. Several times we have had buyers view our properties when clearly our property was not suitable--for reasons such as too small or too big, priced way over buyer's budget, etc. These cases were mostly with what I would call non-legitimate agents, and, in some cases, not really very serious ones. We try to work with legitimate agents from established offices--and those are the ones who have mostly sold our properties, but we are gracious and welcoming to any agent who brings a client, even if it sometimes turns out to not be a fit. You never know . . . A good agent, from a legitimate, established office, should do a detailed interview with the buyer before showing properties--no good agent wants to be wasting their time showing you something not suitable. It's also up to the buyer to be as specific as possible as to what they are looking for and give a maximum budget--there should be a good two-way communication going on between the buyer and the agent before the first property is viewed. It can be helpful to view photos of properties before you set out. If you like the 'great room' concept and the house the agent wants to show you has the kitchen hidden away, you might say strike this one and find me something where the kitchen is visible from the lving/dining areas. If you like a big kitchen island, say so. Ditto for a bathtub or two car garage. If you do not want a condo facing west under any circumstances, say so. Ditto if all ground floor units are out. The more information, the better. And, if an agent or agency isn't meeting your needs, for whatever reason, look elsewhere.

I should add that the OP is incorrect about both the age of The Base and its original average price per sqm. As I mentioned, my partner and I were original owners of a top floor seaview 1 bedroom unit, 35 sqm. We paid 3MB for the unit. That works out to about 86,000 baht a sqm., not 150,000 baht. We sold for about 122,000 baht a sqm. and Hipflat has the current average price per sqm at around 120,000 baht a sqm.

Lots of Pattaya condos are over 100,000 baht a sqm., especially new and high-rise. The Edge, next door to The Base, at one point was priced at around 180,000 baht a sqm. during the pre-construction period. Hipflat still has it at 178,888 baht per sqm. We actually were one of the first owners of a 1 bedroom condo at The Base and rented it out for a year. But, we could see the Airbnb problems arising and sold it after the first year of owning it. I think the OP's experience is not typical for most condos that have avoiding becoming Airbnb hotels. We have owned at a number of different projects and most were being maintained fairly well. I think some of the new projects, that have been really slammed with Airbnb tenants and, really, have been used essentially as hotels, without the much higher maintenance a hotel requires, have started to show some of the effects.