Pattayasam

I dont claim to have a clue about this but common sense tells me the Land borders are going to be where problems are. I flew into Bangkok yesterday, I am Australian so VOA. I use Thailand as a Hub....I have about 25 VOA this year and passport is 3 years old.....so you can imagine the number.

If this is to be enforced at the Airport it will mean screening and checking by Travel Agents and Airlines before someone gets on a plane. If its like now where nobody seems to know for sure and Thai Immigration have some different interpretation its going to be a real mess. Suppose people stuck at the airport will fill the new place.

Land Borders........ pretty easy to turn them back and they are not in Thailand so no problem. Airport a lot different. My common sense ..... or lack of,suggests this scenarion. Like others I dont know for sure.

- Regulations can change retroactively at any minute without any warning. I think that no kind of visa is "safe". Not even the PR. Can not plan and can not count on anything. I would not plan my future and my retirement here, to be at the mercy of people who don't want me, just to be kicked out when old and sick.

Although most of us are law obeying and contribute to this country by putting money into the local economy when spending. Each one of us is spending in the neighborhood of B1,000,000 per year in this country. This money is going into the pockets of local business owners and circulates in the Thai economy. But our contribution is NOT APPRICIATED.

I live in Pattaya. Have so many VOA stamps this year as live with wife and kids but have businesses in US/Hong Kong/Philippines and BVI.....I travel a lot. I have rented a shop house in Pattaya and work permit is happening as I write. So that is covered.

However, with the seemingly endless changes to rules over the past few weeks my plans are changing a lot. The house I was going to buy this year...... no way and I have to believe prices are about to implode..... no not the general market but the Siam County Club Foreign price madness. I was going to buy 2 new cars this year ....... I dont think so now. I really hope that everyone does the same.

I have lived in many countries and I play by and follow the rules where I am living.....but never seen anywhere change more with such short notice....this is insane...... and it doesnt change what I am doing. ....but it will change my long term plans.... spending wise.

I live in Pattaya......but on topic

Live in SPvillage (rent) and I am suddenly flavor of the month at being shown houses of people looking to sell and I have seen people cut B500k off the price if I dont seem interested. Down the road SP village5 is under construction and it has, I think, 150+ plots of land. To date 15, again I hear but not 100% sure, have been sold.

Talk to people I know involved in development hear and its no problem....all normal again. I had one company genius contacted me to set up a second Thai company as "if its done by August 15th it will be exempt and OK to register land" what crap! Drive down past many developments here daily and I dont see this changing ....Thais here being priced from their land so if its not enforced 100% now, it will be at some point.

I am guessing the way around this will be register land to company and then change company shareholding after land registered so look for land to come already with company title to be transferred. That may work....for a while. Problem would come buying property and company from someone else and what liabilities are attached to the company and will that still be an option later on or that changed when its time to sell.

Rents here are high and people will still want to buy and I see them keeping on trying to get around the law. However, what works to get you in may not work to get you out and someone else in. Even if the developer can fix the problem I doubt he will be around and inclined to fix in 5 to 10 years if needed.

I am in the market to buy....and I dont have a Thai wife..... but I am under no illusions that selling may be interesting at some point in the future ....and what I am prepared to pay is dropping fast

I need to rent an office to

1. Satisfy my work permit ....and

2. Escape my kids.

Needs to be big enough for about 6 people. Have phone and ADSL available and a sane rental

Does not need to be ground level

Thanks