expat1010

So a neighbour of my GF has her small 2 bedroom house up for sale with a Chanote and a very attractive price. I have suggested the GF and her son buy the place using her savings as a down payment and getting a 10 year mortgage for the rest (GF will retire in about 10 years). Both the GF and the son are gainfully employed and not at risk of layoff. Neither of them have financed a home before and as I am out of the country and not there to hold her hand I am looking for advice on: 1- which Banks are easiest to deal with for mortgages (her savings account is currently at Bangkok Bank, son at KrunThai) 2- what are the current mortgage rates and 3 - will the bank hold her hand through this process. Thanks in advance

I doubt many tourists will be coming this winter season. First a lot of people are just going to wait until they think it is safe, so that means after they get a vaccine. Second a lot of people are broke and have little money for holidays, as a result of the economic fallout from the virus. Third people will be looking for bargains and let's face it tourist operators in Thailand hate to offer big discounts to farangs. Finally a 14 day quarantine period will deter a lot of people either because they have limited holiday time or simply because they won't have that restriction for other tourist destinations. Personally I will comeback after I get vaccinated and after Thailand has dropped the 14 day quarantine nonsense. 

I am doing fine thanks. Talk most days via Line, but that is getting a little excessive after 6 months away. GF goes to work everyday, but is missing the benefits associated with her farang BF i.e. holidays at the seaside, regular dinners out, massages at the shops etc.. I am missing the obvious regular shop massages, the goofy stuff that happens in Thailand and of course my GFs attentions. Don't miss the bad drivers or bad air. Hopefully it will be safe to visit Thailand in Jan/Feb/Mar. 

I would say yes prices are softening. The economy is pretty tough for a lot of folks and there are not many buyers of properties and car, motorbike and other bank loans need to be paid. Sure if you have got money the government will reimburse you 3000 baht for staying at a hotel in Pattaya but a lot of folks are out of work and prices for essentials like pork, rice and vegetables are rising. A few days ago one of the local shop owners stayed late after he closed up. He is an old fellow and when he was leaving around 8 he was strong armed by a guy who was out of work for a few thousand baht, not a robbery per sea, but coercion for sure. Also more young "monks" have been asking local shop keepers for money. A house up for sale in the small town I stay in has dropped its asking price from 800K last year down to 600K now. Pretty sure my gf will be able to snag it for 400K if things don't get better b before Xmas. 

The older you get the more difficult, expensive and important health insurance becomes. Eventually insurance is either unavailable or unaffordable given preexisting conditions. I changed from a retirement visa to a 6 months tourist visa a few years back because of the insurance issues. While I can still easily afford insurance either as an expat or a tourist, the day will come when I cannot (75 years is my estimate). So I kept a house in my home country and just rent a place in Thailand. Will probably buy a small house when I can return as there are some nice bargains coming up in the area where I stay most often, thanks to Covid and the shutdown. My dreams of retiring in Thailand have adjusted to the reality of old age and now I am just 6 months here and 6 months away. Works fine for me and I have complete peace of mind when it comes to accident and health insurance.

Use of various Interferon formulations is being studied in a number of trials as a potential treatment (not vaccine/prevention). Looks promising as a treatment. Sort of make sense since that is what your body does naturally in responding to a viral infection. I think this study is using the 1B variant, I had thought of buying myself a couple of vials of 1a to inject in case I caught the virus, doubt it could do any harm.

on the plus side Huawei equipment is usually dirt cheap and of high quality. The software can be an issue sometimes, but that can always be upgraded. If Huawei can't make it better themselves the Chinese government will steal a better version from a competitor.

on the down side buying Huawei equipment basically means you are forever opening your kimono to the Chinese government 

so, up to the Thai government. My preference would be Ericsson and Samsung

Couple of points

1 - I don't like monkeys. I have had a few run ins over the years and the monkeys have gotten the upper hand on me. Stolen iced coffees right off my scooter, food also. They aren't to be trusted and can be downright vicious when provoked.

2 - Coconut milk is big business and a major agro-food export for Thailand. Vegan's are one of Peta's big constituencies and vegans use lots of coconut milk as a substitute for cow and goat milk. Hence the Ministry's quick action to head this thing off.

3 - Finally if I had known I can get a monkey to pick my coconuts I would not have paid my GF kid 200 baht to do it for me.

municipal water or the lack thereof has been an issue in parts of Khon Kaen province as well recently

my gf grew up dirt poor in a small village after her father abandoned the family when she was quite young. she worked hard at school, earned and saved money selling food in her spare time and eventually attend the public Ramkhamhaeng University on a scholarship/bursary. Today she is independent financially, owns her own successful business, has multiple homes and takes good care of her extended family. no farlang paid for her school or supported her family, it was done via hard work. 

help out if you want but know that most Thai's can and will get by on their own, if they have the drive to do so. Not so different from us after all.

Everyday my Gf asks me when do I think I can come back to Thailand? Everyday I tell her I am guessing November but it depends on what the Thai government says. Sure there are lots of folks in the same boat. 

I would guess that Thailand will start with those Asian countries that have things under control and have tourists with money. China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan; followed by Australia then the Northern Europeans and finally the Brits and Yanks last. The Asians and Australians this summer, Europeans in October and the rest in December. That way Thailand is open for the winter tourist season.  A lot of people still won't come especially the older retirees. They won't be going anywhere until there is a vaccine

Not worth the trouble. I'll come back to Thailand when the old system is in place for westerns from developed countries; visa free for 60 days with no additional requirements beyond a return ticket and sufficient funds. Don't think I am alone in this opinion.

Assuming the travel restrictions are lifted I am planning a 2 week trip to France in July followed directly by a month long trip to Thailand to visit the GF. I am hoping I can just come in on as a tourist on a 30 day visa exemption without any special health or insurance requirements

fingers crossed

Looks like he is throwing in his lot with the People's Republic of China. To be expected I guess given Trump's America First policy. Chinese expats in Thailand will outnumber farang in the near future.

What a waste of police resources. Only if she was behind the wheel of a car might she pose a danger.

I would think that by end of October 2020 they will open up in order to capture the start of the major tourist season. I think by then they will waive the insurance and med certificate requirement. but just my best guess

Kind of like closing the old proverbial barn door after the horse named Covid-19 has already pulled a runner. Should have closed it back in January or February or even early March. At this point herd immunity is now the default strategy for Thailand. 

He has known about the seriousness of Covid-19 for at least 2 months now, probably longer. Only now is the government taking the necessary steps appropriate to halt the spread of the virus in Thailand. Does the governments actions to date to control the virus inspire trust?

As part of the recovery program anyone found to have the virus but not showing symptoms should be given an all expenses paid 2 week holiday to China. 

This is like watching a car crash in slow motion. My heart goes out to the ordinary Thai people. My GF in Isaan has been following the basics since 8 February when I left; i.e. N95 when outside the home, washing hands with soap regularly, no touching the face, eating lots of fruits and veggies, etc. But I think it may all be for nothing. Her 21 year old son has still been going out to the local watering holes at night and now this. Herd immunity can not come fast enough for Thailand. ????