moondancer

Another good example of great service / Thai kindness.

I was in a cab and realised the smallest note I got was THB 1,000. So I got the cab to stop outside a Family Mart store in Silom & I went in to break the B1,000 note by buying a bottle of mineral water. The cashier took one look at the note and said he cannot make change. I insisted saying I really wanted to buy the water. To my surprise, the cashier took out B15 from his own pocket to pay for me. I declined his kind offer and left. Went across the street and withdraw from the ATM. Used a THB 100 note to pay the cabbie.

I have a brand-new luxurious 2-bedroom condominium in Chidlom, Bangkok, for rent for a short- or long-term stay at reasonable rates. The location is ideal as it is in a leafy quiet neighbourhood in Soi Somkid. You are minutes away

from the Chidlom BTS, shopping malls like Central Chidlom, Siam Paragon, MBK Center and the Suanlum Night Bazaar.

The Address Chidlom is a newly-completed luxury residential condominium with 2 towers of 24 and 22 floors respectively. Services available to residents include free tuk-tuk and shuttle bus for a 3-minute journey to Central

Chidlom / Chidlom BTS and laundry service (chargeable).

Full condo facilities including swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam & sauna room, gym, aerobics room, game room, function room, childrens playground (all free access) and 24-hour security with CCTV and key card access.

Good central location at the heart of Bangkoks central diplomatic and business district. You can take the free tuk-tuk or shuttle bus for a 3-minute journey to Central Chidlom / Chidlom BTS, or you can walk for 5 minutes.

The Address Chidloms neighbours include the 5-star hotel Swissotel Nai Lert Park, luxury condominium The Park Chidlom and the British, US and Swiss embassies.

The unit is a high-floor (> 20 floors) 72-sqm 2-bedroom condominium with 2 bathrooms and a balcony with a view of the sky garden. All rooms are fully furnished including a personal computer, 2 LCD TVs, washing machine

-cum-dryer, refrigerator, stove & hood, oven, cutlery, crockery, full air-conditioning and water heaters for both bathrooms and kitchen (all brand new).

Daily or weekly maid service can be arranged. The unit comes with one parking lot in a sheltered carpark.

Please go to bkkbest.blogspot.com for pictures. Please PM me if you are interested. Thanks.

Does anyone have a translation for the passport info page that you can share? Thanks.

Up

I have a brand-new 2-bedroom condo on a high floor facing the British embassy & Park Chidlom for rent

- fully furnished

- immediate availability (you will be the 1st tenant)

- quiet & green neighbourhood with great views

Please go to bkkbest.blogspot.com for details. Cheers.

Tangoll, you are correct. It's the 1st case - the developer wants B100,000 to effect the name change from the 1st owner to my friend.

Thanks all for the good responses so far.

Thanks, Claus. The owner wants to split the fees/taxes with my friend on 50:50 basis.

The rates for the various taxes are valid until Mar 2010. Will get exact breakdown and receipt before making the payment.

Thanks, Jerry. I now understand the juristic office should provide a certified declaration of foreign ownership.

Hi, my friend is interested to buy a freehold condo from the 1st-hand owner who bought it from a developer. The owner has paid a small downpayment to the developer.

The transfer will happen in two months' time and my friend is now planning to buy the condo from the owner.

Please advise me what is the purchase procedure? Do we show up at the developer's office and effect the change? What's the related expenses - transfer fee 0.01%, Specific Business Tax 0.11% and Transaction Fee 0.01% ?

Can a foreigner and a thai buy a condo together? Would this be considered under foreign or thai quota or 50:50 ?

Many thanks.

Hi, any insight on this new project by AP Pacific Star. Mostly 1 and 2 bedroom units. Near MRT Ratchada. Is this a good buy for own stay or investment? Thanks.

Many thanks for the response. Any idea of the % bought for owner-occupation versus investment (rental) ? Market looks frothy from the asking prices for Athenee. Yield based on my calculation is likely to be approx 5% p.a. or less. Not a very attractive proposition.

How much could a 2-bedroom unit (94 sqm) in the Athenee Residence be rented out for? I'm trying to calculate the net rental yield for potential investment. Thanks.

Thanks everyone for the response.

I guess my best chance of getting permanent residence is to work or run a business in Thailand and pay taxes.

According to Sunbelt, "extension of stay based on investment is not eligible for the residence permit".

So it is correct then to say that getting an extension of stay based on investment allows me to stay in Thailand for an extended period (up to 1 year, renewable) but I would have to apply for permanent residence under one of these categories ?

• business operators / workers;

• investors;

• experts / advisors;

• religious workers;

• persons supporting / supported by Thai residents;

• persons supporting / supported by Thai national spouses; or

• retired government officials / employees.

Thanks.

Hi, my plan is to get permanent residency status in Thailand before rules are changed (who can predict the future, right?). I still have some years to go before reaching 50 and am single.

OK, please advise me if this plan makes sense.

1. I will put Baht 3m into a fixed deposit with a Thai government bank to get the One-year Permit-to-Stay (Non-immigrant Visa). Which bank in Bangkok should I go for and how long should the FD tenor be?

2. I understand I have to report to Immigration every 90 days but this can be done by post. As I don't plan to stay in Thailand for an extended period (for now), can I post this from overseas? I can use the address of a friend in Bangkok for reporting purpose though.

3. I also understand that I have to get a re-entry permit. I plan to travel in & out of Thailand every 2 to 3 months per year. Is a multiple permit the way to go?

4. After 3 years of holding a Non-immigrant Visa, I wish to apply for permanent residence and may before applying, buy a condo in Bangkok to show that I'm keen to establish residence (for example). Would this work given that I have not really resided in Thailand for the last 3 years for extended periods? If my application is rejected, can I still hold a Non-immigrant Visa (with the Baht 3m FD). Should I forget my PR dream then or try again 3 years later?

Thanks.