john1000

_{So the Rouble is worth less in Thailand than it was. If a Russian has property assets in Thailand, then he can sell and covert to Roubles and make a profit..Logically many Russians would better off selling. Given there is an unlikely scenario where current sanctions will be lifted any time soon.}

_{Hence there should be many second hand condos on the market driving the price down...but this is Thailand.}

Time your border run as close as you can to the end of the first 60 day period each time.

IMO You decide why you want to buy. A home or investment??

A place to stay and call home that you can afford in a good location at a reasonable rent will give you peace of mind, and no stress re prices fluctuating.

Investment wise, too dodgy to call in the present climate. Long term is an unknown in a volatile country.

Well most older guys, me included, focus on the present. Try not to dwell what others are doing or analyse perceived behaviour practised by people we don't know.

The op is either stupid or naïve if he does not know the answer to his question.

Or maybe killing time on the board as nobody around to have a nose about so he can somehow feel superior.

^{Assuming a bonafide op, consistency among Thai officials is much to be desired.}

rayongchelsea, on 01 Dec 2014 - 16:14, said:

DD13, on 01 Dec 2014 - 15:36, said:

Setting up a "Thai" company (as with land ownership) is the way

The worst possible way!

Agree.

How long before a closer look at companies, solely created to own property as so called assets of a company, are put under the microscope.

Farang may not lose their home but hefty fines would be a good income stream for the government, given the number of places owned in this way.

Nothing remains the same or ever will. Sometimes people don't though.

NanLaew, on 23 Nov 2014 - 04:13, said:

micmichd, on 23 Nov 2014 - 01:14, said:

That's probably why my gf permanently shouts at me to get me out of her cooking area - that is her private region.

...

How quaint. My bird prefers to call her private parts the 'Secret Garden'. Personally, I am down her allotment all the time.

Do you have to queue?

thaibeachlovers, on 16 Nov 2014 - 20:18, said:

Flanno, on 16 Nov 2014 - 19:35, said:

The bar scene around Soi Post Office and Yamoto has been dead for about 10 years now. There's plenty of cheap guesthouses there and a few regular drinkers still stick to the bars they been drinking in for years. But the scene has moved to the area around LK Metro. Soi Yamoto has a few lady boy bars and Stringfellows Go Go and it would not surprise if this is the direction it's heading in. I know these Sois well. I don't seem to recall running into Russians there, except those cutting thru to Second Rd from the beach.

I really don't know what you are whining about. Prices around Soi Buakhow and Soi Diana are still very reasonable. I will be back in 2 weeks and staying at an old time favourite guesthouse for 500 Baht a nite, fan room, high season. Same daily price all year round. Still plenty of good decent bars where I pay 50 Baht for a cold Tiger and a great variety of eating places at very reasonable prices. I cannot wait to get back. But if it's not your scene, or too expensive, or too many Russians why don't you go somewhere where you may be happy.

You seem to be reading a lot into what I say that I didn't mean.

I don't mind the Russians, as the women are pleasant to look at on Walking St.

I get an AC room on Buakhao for 500.

I have been trying to answer the OP, with reasons why less farangs may be going there.

Have to agree with you there. Best eye candy around.

I think the best thing you can do, is as suggested in an earlier reply come and rent week by week and look yourself. Nobody can say this or that is good for you, as you only know your taste and standards.

If you need a Baht bus for transport, then keep near to the main roads.

Nirun is a dump IMO

trogers, on 14 Nov 2014 - 18:02, said:

Tenants should be responsible for replacing consumables, eg. light bulbs and water filter elements. Tenants should also be responsible for maintaining items needing regular maintainence like cleaning removal air-condition filters, cleaning the stove and hobs, microwave, oven, fridge, etc.

Normal wear and tear should be borne by the owner when the lease is for a fully furnished property. The reasonable test would be the age of the fixture or equipment.

Yes that's common sense.

Aware some landlords in Udon, specify maintenance in the contract where the tenant has to bear responsibility for major issues including the roof??

ubonjoe, on 14 Nov 2014 - 01:42, said:

john1000, on 14 Nov 2014 - 00:20, said:

Non O visa now requires medical and police check. Not sure if this is required if obtaining within Thailand from a tourist visa.

That is not required for a non-o visa or an extension of stay here at immigration.

It is only required to get a OA long stay visa at an embassy or a official consulate.

See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15385-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22O-A%22-(Long-Stay).html

Friend needed a multi non immigrant O visa, was informed at Cardiff last week, he needed to provide police check, medical and normal proof of income.

He wants to retire and has taken a triple entry tourist visa because of time restraints hoping to convert this to a non O in Pattaya. Then on to a retirement visa.

I was under the impression a tourist visa cannot be converted to a non O..?

Pattaya will always have people visiting given the amount invested by businesses e.g. condos, malls etc. The usual Western tourists are being displaced by new arrivals.

Different market will prevail.

No secret the Junta are embarrassed by the red light scene. Income generated by this will be slowly be replaced by the service industry. All these condos and hotels need employees.

A bonus for the establishment would be reduced crime, drugs violence.

Non O visa now requires medical and police check. Not sure if this is required if obtaining within Thailand from a tourist visa.

RIP very sad. All too easy to forget basic safety when in an environment unshackled from enforced restrictions.

Remember at 16 in the UK jumping on a 250 BSA, never ridden a bike before. No helmet and whizzing around on busy roads high speed. Crazy when I look back.

NeverSure, on 01 Nov 2014 - 05:55, said:

So they will buy a Prius, a Nissan LEAF and a Chevy Volt and reverse engineer them.

What are they going to charge the batteries with? More coal fired power plants?

Do they know what they are going to do with 200 kgs of batteries when they need replacing?

Do they know what small market share electric cars have in the developed world?

Do they know that manufactures don't make real money on these cars, but rather sell them to be PC?

Do they know that even then the cars are expensive compared to those with just an internal combustion engine?

Do they know that the USA has a 100 year supply of natural gas already drilled with many more places to drill?

Do they know the sticker shock for the consumer when he has to replace the batteries?

Do they know that these cars are more often rich guys toys rather than the main family car?

Do they know that "peak oil" is a myth for our lifetimes and that more oil is being discovered every year than is being used causing the supply to increase? Think Russia, Canada, Brazil and the US just for starters, and the UK with natural gas.

Do they know how clean the newer internal combustion engines run, and what great fuel economy some of them can get?

Do they know that some places are beginning to consider an annual tax on cars instead of a fuel tax because fuel economy is improving so much not enough tax is being paid to maintain the roads?

This announcement ranks right up there with big announcements of government to government rice sales that never happened.

This a short sighted view IMO. It will happen and pretty fast as more money is pumped into the R&D.

Each to their own. One mans meat and all that. But in all honesty some people are never happy and never will be. The way they are made.

If you opt for a life changing move, expect big differences in lifestyle. Not all will be better.

Grass always looks a bit greener in the distance.

Roger Lee, on 23 Oct 2014 - 11:07, said:

Not worth the trouble, no way would I want to get physical with a Thai especially after watching the dog pack mentality when it comes to confrontations.

jomcondo, on 23 Oct 2014 - 10:57, said:

Carry a baseball bat & start swinging it around when any future problems arise.

Think this was a joke.

Berkshire, on 07 Oct 2014 - 14:33, said:

Munger, on 07 Oct 2014 - 14:13, said:

Berkshire, on 07 Oct 2014 - 05:10, said:

Lukecan, on 05 Oct 2014 - 19:36, said:

Its more fun to be single in Thailand if you're young.

The cool thing about Thailand is that the older farang guys are dating pretty much the same sort of Thai women as the younger farang guys. Can't do that back in farangland.

Nonsense, its not cool, and most of the older farang guys are NOT dating Thai woman. They are usually paying for a prostitute, long time / term. They can do it back in farangland, but it will be more expensive.

You can believe what you want. But in Thailand, some old guys buy prostitutes, and some young guys buy prostitutes. The farangs that are not dating prostitutes--young and old--pretty much dating the same types of Thai women. At least that's what I see. With my own eyes. If you see differently...perhaps you're living in a parallel universe.

Agree 100%

Older guys often seen as less of a butterfly ( theory anyway ) and liable to treat ladies as a lady. Good to exploit this..lol ( joke )

Ten years down the line all these shiny new condos will most likely be occupied by non Farang and only a few enclaves for the bar scene may be left.

There is a culture shift driven by the new arrivals who holiday here. But new destinations are opening up slowly.

Locations change with the times. LK Metro seems busy. Soi 7 and 8 certainly not what they used to be. No doubt that the busy locations will change again.

Sorry to hear but I think this hassle can be common place when an infringement takes place. Thing are never straight forward even after assurances.

I would love to have a bike in Pattaya but don't feel comfortable riding around. Accident prone .

These are different peoples interpretations and some opinions. Better to get a statement from the Thai authority. Unfortunately the web site sometimes is not always updated with any major changes.

Berkshire, on 07 Oct 2014 - 05:10, said:

Lukecan, on 05 Oct 2014 - 19:36, said:

Its more fun to be single in Thailand if you're young.

Hmmm, not sure I would agree with that. Is it more fun than being young back in farangland? I could tell you that life was pretty fun for me back in the states when I was young. Like dating girls that I could actually communicate with perfectly. Of course, having a personality was a requirement. I could see where some young guys would prefer Thailand because having wit and charm are not essential.

The cool thing about Thailand is that the older farang guys are dating pretty much the same sort of Thai women as the younger farang guys. Can't do that back in farangland.

Yes, and as long as you can walk away with emotions intact, not getting hung up on a woman it's a great place.