Airalee

8 minutes ago, side said:

Thanks but that's not my angle. I have some money here in Thailand and I feel I'd like to do something with it here.

 

This avoids all currency concerns as it's already in THB. And to reiterate my OP, I have a well diversified portfolio sitting elsewhere already. So this is to compliment that main portfolio and it will sit close to home here in Thailand.

Good luck.  Let us know what you come up with. 

2 minutes ago, saengd said:

Depends what currency he's using, exchange rates can be fickle creatures that could easily wipe out all your profit.

That’s a risk I’d take before I would trust a Thai broker.   It can work in your favor also.

How about a US based Thailand ETF?  There is really only one option currently.

https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239688/ishares-msci-thailand-capped-etf

For chairs I think Nathan Rhodes design (Phra Khanong Sukhumvit 69) has good quality at good prices.

https://www.nathanrhodesdesign.com

For sofas, unfortunately, the best bang for the buck is found at the stores you’ve already crossed of your list and maybe Index.  

I have the same problem and noticed that there is significantly more dust when I hang dry my clothes/towels/sheets vs using a dryer.  

I also believe that the quality of the cotton in the fabric contributes to the amount.  Long staple cotton is what you want to look for.  It’s expensive, but the sheets will last longer 

If you like mid-century modern, there is a place in Bangkok that I feel offers excellent quality for the price.  I believe they also deliver anywhere in Thailand.

https://www.nathanrhodesdesign.com/collections/tables

After reading the guys letter, I’m gonna have to go with naive.  After all, who moves a piano to Thailand?

Reading between the lines, it isn’t so much that he wants a “peaceful retirement in Thailand”, but that he has trouble accepting the fact that most forms of socialized healthcare don’t cover you in Thailand.  Moving here at 75 put him in between a rock and a hard place without an option to purchase insurance.  Seeing that his former country covered his healthcare here for the first four years (no mention as to what would happen after that period) and then cut him off, perhaps he could have had the rug pulled from under him.  That sucks.

I believe that just as every society is experiencing a demographic shift as the baby boomer generation becomes elderly, Thailand is taking steps ahead of what they see as a (future) potential crisis.  They do need to offer a better policy however as the premiums for 400k coverage are over the top. 

Just now, madmen said:

50 sqm is still very small for that price

Then I suppose prices have further to fall.  

2 minutes ago, madmen said:

That's still crazy money for Chiang mai and for a studio with nice view of burning fields

There was no studio in my linked listings.  Nor were there views of burning rice fields.  I had a beautiful, sweeping, unobstructed Doi Suthep view over CMU.

18 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Look at the facebook marketplace property rentals in Thai, very cheap.

Decent places from 2,500bht.

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/507181329858436/

 

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/180431169206745/

I think those new units you posted a while back (you took a photo while walking around) were probably the best bargain I’ve seen in CM.

I wonder how much it would cost me to get garage parking somewhere in CM.  Even subletting a spot at someone’s condo would be cool.  Don’t want a car in Bangkok but would love to be able to tour northern Thailand in something fun.

8 minutes ago, cheeryble said:

There's certainly been competition with all the new buildings but they are much of a sort......the 32 sqm sort you don't like. They and even most of the bigger ones look good at first but in fact are pretty low quality, narrow hallways , melamine kitchens, cheap fittings etc.

Older buildings in very good locations have more advantages and places like Skybreeze are in great demand with all the advantages of a terrific saltwater pool and walks and rides through CMU campus and up the hills via very nice student eateries and coffee shops. 

Skybreeze is definitely a hidden gem.  Great area too.  I rented at Punna close by and negotiated my rent down from 15,000 to 14,000 for a 2 year contract back in 2012.  Now...exact comparable unit (same floor plan, size, view, etc.) is now asking 13,500 for a 1 year lease.

http://chiangmaiproperties.co.th/EN/condo/rent/Fully-furnished,-1-bedroom-condo-with-1-bathroom(s)-and-pool-in-Punna-Residence-4-@-CMU,-Suthep,-Mueang-Chiang-Mai/C2737.aspx

A buddy of mine rented the unit 2 floors below this one (carbon copy) at Mountainview for 15,000 in 2013.  Now can be had for 13,000.

http://chiangmaiproperties.co.th/EN/condo/rent/Fully-furnished,-1-bedroom-condo-with-1-bathroom(s)-and-pool-in-Mountain-View-Condo,-Chang-Phueak,-Mueang-Chiang-Mai/C2764.aspx

Prices definitely haven’t been going up when comparing apples to apples.

21 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I just had a look at your file. I am sure lots of people will find it helpful.

Currently I am working and I have an insurance and I don't have to worry about this.

 

A long time ago I sold health insurance policies and I think it would be good to add the following things to your file:

- Do the companies require a medical examination, and maybe starting at which age.

- How long do people have to report their medical history. I.e. some companies ask if someone was in a hospital in the last 5 or 10 years, some companies ask for any admittance to a hospital. And similar for outpatient visits to the doctor. Do they ask maybe only for 3 or 5 years or longer.

This is important for people who had i.e. a heart problem 11 years ago but did not visit a doctor since then. If the health insurance asks "only" for the last 10 years then maybe it does not have to be mentioned.

- Where are people covered? Only in Thailand? Maybe everywhere except the USA? If you travel that is important.

 

And I think people should think about why they want to sign up for the health insurance.

a) Do you do this to get money from the insurance when you are sick and need it?

b) Or do you do it to be able to stay in Thailand. It's more important to have the document and the payment is nice but not the primary motivation.

 

Because if it is b) and you care mostly about that document and you know you are not healthy (i.e. preexisting heart condition), then maybe you want to think about not mentioning your health history. Because if you do that you might not get any insurance and no insurance document at all. And that is then maybe the end of your life in Thailand (hopefully not but possible).

And be aware that health insurance companies talk to each other. If you wrote in one application form you have a heart problem and you get rejected and then you apply at another company and don't mention your condition that is a bad idea and likely a reason to throw you out.

 

In general about preexisting conditions: Insurance companies ask about your medical history. And in bad cases they might not insure you at all or they exclude preexisting conditions. But if they insure you that does not mean all is fine.

Because if you have some expensive bill, maybe years later, then at that time the health company might start digging if you had anything previously which you maybe didn't mention in the application form. And then, years later, they might tell you that they don't pay for the invoice which you just sent them. And in bad cases they will throw you out completely because you didn't tell them the whole truth. But obviously they keep the money which you paid over the last years.

 

I hope that helps a little.

Great post.  I also come from an insurance background (P&C) and wonder if one way for the Thai government/insurance companies to help make this more affordable, is to corral the “less risky” group into their forced insurance plan in order to better balance the overall risk profile.

Basically, this policy sucks because the market consists of people who are over 50.  Many of whom aren’t in the best health.  We need to bring the 20-50 year olds out of the woodwork.  The digital nomads....the perpetual tourists...whoever.  It doesn’t make sense for a country to try to milk that demographic for ฿500k - ฿1,000k for an elite visa when they could just railroad a few new visa categories through and start welcoming the younger group with open arms.  Get that demographic in the system completely including whatever requirements they feel are necessary (฿800k bank accounts, health insurance, etc).  

Thanks Sheryl!  Is there any way you can pin this at the top of the Health Forum?

3 hours ago, CM Dad said:

This kind of a problem is why I would never buy a condo or even a house in a gated community.  I don't want to live that close to people and don't want them living that close to me.  I am actually a very friendly, tolerant guy who is always willing to help others, especially my neighbors.  However, I just want my privacy.  I currently rent a rather old house that is actually a bit run down, but it is surrounded by two rai of land and cannot even be seen from the road or by the closest neighbors.  I have resisted buying anything here even though I am settled and have a Thai family simply because the various governments over the past more than three decades have not made me feel very wanted or secure.  I have kept my home and land in my country in order to have an alternative for myself and my family.  That said, I love Thailand, feel like it is my home after 30+ years,  and hope to live here until I die.  My family can then either move to my country or sell the property there and use the money here.  I have provided an education for my wife and children and they are bilingual as am I.  I do wish that the government appreciated expats like myself who have worked here, paid taxes here, and spent millions of baht over the years, but I am not holding my breath.

That’s quite the dissertation with regards to your relationship with Thailand, your wife, children, neighbors, the government etc. etc.

I have but one question.

What do you suggest the OP do with regards to the water leak?

2 minutes ago, NewbieInBangkok said:

You definitely think like me - I thought the same about getting 2 places for the 100k ???? but sadly it’s a big corporation with very fixed expat packages and terms so we just need to do things according to the system they have in place.

I know how the corporate machine works.  Bummer.  Definitely get the hell out of BKK on a regular basis.  So much to see in Thailand and to be honest, as much as I am thriving on the dystopian vision of what our future cities will look like (complete with the soma smiles) I think that BKK is really a less than desirable place to live for the ฿ spent.  Hotels in many exotic areas can be quite inexpensive and being in BKK, Airasia can whisk you around the country for next to nothing.

Hint...skip Pai.  Fly into Maehongson and rent motorbikes and explore.

9 minutes ago, NewbieInBangkok said:

Actually all 3 of those places (Sky Walk, The Line and Le Luk) look lovely so I will keep and eye out for them to see if they make an appearance on the list the company offers us. ????

 

 

Both Le Luk and Skywalk will have river views up high.  The only issue is that it gets the afternoon/evening sun so your power bills can be pretty high.  I’d look for something on a high floor of Skywalk, looking over Wyne Condo towards the port/refinery/Onnut myself.

30 minutes ago, NewbieInBangkok said:

We were only considering the upper PP area but I hear ya.  A while ago I thought I had found a lovely place (Kraam) But then I did a google earth walk down the road to the BTS and found a whole bunch of naughty massage parlours so that put paid to that street ????

 

I’m already wondering why all these boxes of apartments are sooo expensive ????. But furnishings, cleanliness and convenience are more important to us than space and more bedrooms.  We have lived in smaller and generally when we are abroad we live a much more minimalistic life so all we really need to bring are our clothes, golf clubs and my art table, shelves and easels.

whilst the cost of Thonglor might not be worth it (it definitely isn’t), it’s paid for by the company so the actual cost is irrelevant unless we go over budget and add more ourselves - which we won’t do as 100k should be plenty to find something we can be comfortable in for a few years.  It’s not like it’s a forever home.

 

The W district  you mention sounds great (yes, I had to google it ????) but there are no condos or apartments on the list that far down and even Ekkamai only has a few - the nicest of which is The Loft.

 

i think all things considered from some very valuable advice from all of you folks, is that we should live in upper Thong Lor.  It seems convenient to get to the highway and has a lot of restaurants and shops nearby.  If I need to catch the train on rainy days then I’ll just take a taxi and deal with the traffic to the BTS.  It’s not a matter of the right address but simply something that ticks most of the boxes with the access to the highway being #1 priority.

These are some of the condos on our list and within budget;

HQ Thonglor

Quattro by Sansiri

The Ivy Thonglor

maybe some others will appear nearer the time.

Yes the square footage is small but that’s the compromise we have to make.

 

We would like a high rise as we currently live on the 31st floor and love that and if we can’t have a view of the river then we’d like a nice view of the city and being higher than than mosquitoes is a bonus too.

 

Thank you for your info....it’s helped a lot.

I will definitely be checking out the W district ????

 

You think like me.  I’m an art “hobbyist” myself.  Just getting back into it after many years.

Anyhow, it’s too bad that the company doesn’t give you 100k and let you pocket the rest.  

Myself, being a bit eccentric, would probably approach my boss and say something like.  “Look...BKK is a concrete jungle and if I can’t get out of there on a regular basis, I’ll go crazy.  How about I rent a 70k unit in Bangkok and a 20k 1br in Hua Hin (2 hours away) so I can unwind on weekends.  Saves you (the company) 10k a month and also saves my sanity (add whatever else necessary )”

I can let you know what looks pretty good in HH too.  ????

8 hours ago, NewbieInBangkok said:

I see.  I’ve always lived in countries where Google Maps was incredibly accurate so I guess I’ll just use it as a guide in Thailand but factor in worst case scenarios.  

 

And Thong Lor - Phrom Phong seems to be where husband would rather stay if he can’t live at the Riverside.  If he can’t get the lifestyle then at least he wants to be close to where everyone else he knows is living.

 

Thank you.

When I was first in BKK, I stayed in a serviced apartment on Sathorn Soi 11.  While the neighborhood is somewhat upscale, it’s also quite sterile.  Move towards Silom and you’re in another sleazy area with Patpong nearby.  

Phrom Phong is a red light district as far as I’m concerned.  Not that I have any sort of issue with it, but I certainly wouldn’t want to live there.  By all means, make Emquartier your shopping, movies, groceries and dining outlet...just don’t waste the money living there.

Thonglor gets you out of the sleaze...but when you see it, if you’re like me, you’ll wonder exactly “why is it so expensive?” All I can think of is the name.  It’s not like it’s Beverly Hills...in fact, it has much of the same hodgepodge eclectic Thai style...(well...you’ll see) as most anywhere else.  It’s just not worth it.

2-3 more minutes by BTS and you have Ekkami.  Plenty close for your husband to see his friends, next to the driving range and while still somewhat posh, you get more bang for your buck rentalwise.  You can also head to the W District area and check out the few condos around there at Line, Le Luk and Sky Walk.  Don’t waste your time with the other condos in the immediate area as while they are nice, I think most don’t have the square footage you’re looking for.  Also, in between Line, Le Luk and Skywalk condos is the W District which has a great selection of affordable restaurant stalls with all kinds of different international cuisine (Greek, Sushi, Oyster Bar, Jamaican, French....you name it...all centered by an open aired treed courtyard eating area with some interesting art installations scattered around (it’s an artsy area).

One thing I recommend, is to sacrifice square footage when necessary and shoot for a high floor view unit.  Plenty out there for rent.  I’m in a penthouse unit myself and absolutely love the 180 degree dystopian Blade Runneresque view at night.  

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Tax collected on passenger cars was Bt1.28 billion

Being that about 80% of the cost of these luxury cars is tax, a 50 million baht Rolls will have 40 million in taxes. A 25 million baht Ferrari will have 20 million in taxes.  Porsche 911...12 million in taxes.

Do the math and you’ll see that the 102% increase in Bentley taxes paid is probably an increase from ONE car to TWO cars sold year over year.

Big whoop.

14 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Yeah. The whores are more behind closed doors In Phrom Pong. Plus its more of an Asian scene.

 

You want to catch a laugh dude, catch a buzz and go to Thong Lo BTS and watch the falangs going into Tulip or whatever the name of that famous brothel is. Some of them get all furtive and actually look around to see if someone is watching. Those are the tourists. You can get a snack and a Cha Manao right there aound the corner too. Better than Netflix.

Half the sois around there are veritable “walks of shame”.  

I thought the famous ones were on soi 33.  Or is that 31?  Or maybe 22, 24 or 26?  24.1 is more colorful than a supermarket detergent aisle.