Expat Tom

I have lived in Thailand for over 15 years. During that time, I have owned 2 condos but I am a renter now. Personally, Thailand is too unstable and regulations are constantly changing. The risk of ownership to too great for me. It has been my experience that you will lose 40-60% of your deposit when renting. So, if you rent for one year you can figure your true cost of renting by taking 50% of your deposit, which the owner will keep, and dividing by 12 months. Add that sum to your monthly rent and that is your TRUE effective monthly rent. If you plan for that and get your full deposit back then you will be pleasantly surprised. The better deal is to rent for 24 months, then 50% of your deposit will be divided by 24 months and not 12 lowering your true monthly rent. You don't have to sign a lease for 24 month. Most yearly leases have renewal clauses. I have been charged for things that were broken before I moved in and things that were worn-out through time and usage (normal wear and tear). It is almost impossible to document 100% the condition of your condo when you move in. The owner will find something to charge you for. Remember, your deposit is not held in escrow. It is given to the owner. Further, if there is such a thing in Thailand as a "Small Claims Court" , a farang has no chance against a Thai. So, just plan well and consider the loss of part of your deposit as a cost of living here. Don't get angry. That doesn't work in this culture. I love living in Thailand even considering all of the little annoyances. BTW, I have been refunded my full deposit when renting from Thai owners on occasion. All people are not the same. I have been screwed by owners in my home country too. I have rented from Thai owners and farang owners. I have ALWAYS had 100% of my deposit returned by farang owners. Just my experiences. Always rent through an agency and interview that agency carefully. BTW, yes, I owned a real estate brokerage in my home country but in all cases remember, "You are in Kansas any more Dorthey". Thailand is a sovereign country with its own customs and culture and they don't care how you do it back in your country....nor should they. Tom

Any country that has a huge economic reliance on its tourism industry and builds that industry on the three pillars of Russia, China and India while ignoring its reliable core of long term expats deserves what it gets. Thailand is a wonderful country blessed with kind caring people and a wonderful culture but cursed by a corrupt inept myopic government. Thank god the Chinese hoard have descended on Vietnam and slacked up on Thailand. I wonder how this will work out for the Vietnamese and the Chinese. The two countries have a history 1500 years of war only broken during a brief interlude when the Vietnamese had to fight the French then the Americans. In 1979, after the American left, the Chinese once again invaded Vietnam in a war lasting only about one week. Exact numbers are impossible to verity but there are estimates the the Chinese lost 40,000 men and the Vietnamese lost 20,000 before chasing the Chinese hoard back across the boarder. I wonder how long the Vietnamese will tolerate the current Chinese invasion.

What GREAT NEWS! The three worse things about Thailand are Chinese, Indians, and Russians. Any country with a huge tourism sector who builds its tourism base on the three pillars of China, Russia and India needs to rethink its business model. Do you know what Chinese, Indians and Russians flock to Thailand? The answers is so obvious that its laughable. OTHER COUNTRIES DON'T WANT THEM! I have been in Thailand and love the people and the country....the Thai government not so much. I keep my exit plan up to date and when the SHTF , I will be very sad to leave. As a retired mariner, I don't believe in going down with the ship.

Throw the Italian out and keep the Thai Scott. We need more Thais with balls unafraid to themselves out there and less rude jerk farangs.,,,no ,atter what country them come from. Just one farang's opinion.

Thai's are very polite until they get behind the wheel of a car or on a motor bike. Instead of selectively harassing foreigners on motor bikes, as is very common on Beach Road in front of the police headquarters in Pattaya, the Thai police could balance their budget by ticketing every THAI driver who refused stop for someone is a marked crosswalk. If the ticked every offender and fined them only 100 baht they could pocket enough bribe money to put their kids through college or they could even turn the money in at their headquarters. The major underlying problem is that THAIS ARE TERRIBLE DRIVERS>

Why did it have to be an American? It is a crass thing to do no matter the nationality of the idiot. But, as an American expat and long time resident of Thailand, when I see one of my countrymen behaving badly I want to just kick the living crap out of him. Every time I see an article like this I hope and pray that the perpetrator is an Aussie or a Russian....just a little dig at my many Aussies friends. 😁

Sometimes it might look like a duck, walk like a duck and quack like a duck but not, in fact, be a duck. All of this is so confusing that it make me very happy to be an old fashion "Straight guy". All I can say is, "To each his/her/? own". I'm sure that Thai authorities can sort it all out with their usual unambiguous efficiency . 🤣

Interesting. How does the fact the Finland has one of the higher rates of alcohol consumption per capita in the world factor into their happiness? Should we just drink more to be happier? Statistically, the Fins consume more booze per person than Thailand. Perhaps the Thais just need to drink more. It least Thailand isn't boring. Finland, along with Norway, Denmark and Sweden are also ranked among the 15 most boring countries in the world. The takeaway from these two interesting facts are; If you are bored and drink yourself into a stupor then you will be happy! ?

Any country that builds its tourism industry on the three pillars of China, India and Russia deserves all of rudeness, disease, and criminality that comes with that decision. I have been in Thailand for over 15 years and taught at one of Thailand's leading universities. I love Thailand but I am completely mobile. After I sold my two condos about 5 years ago I will only be a renter here. I will be sad to leave my second home but almost daily, I add another item of two to my RFL file (Reasons For Leaving). I have an exit plan and, unfortunately, the day may come that I put that plan into action. Let's look at a few simple facts. The FIRST case of Covid 19 reported outside of China was a taxi driver in Bangkok who took two Chinese tourists from the airport to a hotel. Thailand has fallen from 106# on the World Corruption Index in 2023 to 107# in 2024 concurrent with the increase in Russians . BYW, Russia is 141st on that list. Indians are rude and obnoxious and cheap and generally HATED by the average Thai. The Thai government is worried about overstays and other visa issues while bars and clubs advertising Russian ladies operate under glowing neon lights on Walking Street. What kind of visas and work permits do these Russian ladies have....BROWN ENVELOPE VISAS? The corruption is so blatant in Thailand that it requires no research to find it. Its right in your face. I have traveled to over 70 countries and lived for longer than one year in 6 different countries. Thailand's problems are 95% due to terrible government. I will be extremely sad when I leave. I love the culture and the people. The problem is the leadership...or lack of.

I abhor war. I have seen war up close and personal. If there ever was a war I would not want Thailand as an ally. They would either shoot themselves accidently in the foot becoming a liability or accidently shoot their friends in the back. This is NOT are reflection on their military. It is a reflection on their leadership.

Thailand is just doing the bidding of "Big Brother" in China. Nothing unusual to see here. I have two bags. "RFL" -Reasons for Leaving and "RFS" - Reasons for Staying. I think I'll file this story in my RFL bag. In actual fact, I've been here for too many years already. Thailand is growing stale for me. I have been living in Thailand fulltime for over 10 years. In 2025 I will split my time and live elsewhere 6 months a year. I think I will appreciate Thailand a lot more if I spend less time here.

Living proof that the CCP has far too much influence over a supposedly sovereign nation...Thailand. China pounds its drums and Thailand marches. An old NCO from the Vietnam war (known in Vietnam as the American War) told me upon my arrival to keep my feet lose in the sand. I owned a couple of condos here in the past but never again. I love Thailand but do NOT trust their leaders regarding their intentions of competence. I keep my feet lose in the sand here and my exit plan updated. Other than sending the Chinese Uyghurs back to China where they will be likely placed in forced labor, another prime example of idiotic leadership is building Thailand's tourism industry on the three pillars of India, China and Russia and then complaining about the results. The average Thai doesn't like people from these countries but the government could care less. Thailand is the ONLY country in the world who rolls out the red carpet for these countries.

Ok. You are obviously a thin skinned Thai unable to handle any criticism. I love Thailand and have lived here for over 15 years. I have adapted to the culture and even adopted parts. I have travelled to over 70 countries and have not found heaven on earth yet. I have the resources to live where I want. Even though I chose to live in Thailand doesn't mean that Thailand is perfect. Let's make a time to get together on Beach road in front of the police station. Thai motorbike riders far out number farang riders yet for every Thai stopped they will be 10 farang stopped. Farang are stopped even if wearing helmets. Stopping farang is simple harassment and a money grab.

Get serious. If they break to law (IF) then arrest and deport. If they are not breaking the law, leave them alone and be thankful for the money they spend. If you want to focus on a real problem how about all of the "Russian Girls...Aka Hookers" operating under neon lights on Walking Street or Selective biased traffic enforcement (Aka harassment) of farang on motorbikes while giving all Thai riders a free pass.