Thighlander

population only increased from 152,999 in 1980 to 207,627 in 2010.

I like Phayao.....even with the lake; it's not real touristy.  It is big enough to have a Tesco, hospital, a few nightclubs, and a KFC.  Soi dog problem minimal.

This is what 32 million THB gets you in Arlington, Virginia. 250 Wah....will likely be torn down. She paid 3.7 million THB in 1984. The cigs got to her, though, now deceased.

http://www.zillow.com/homes/119-n-fillmore-st.,-22201_rb/

I agree that there are many sub markets in Chiang Mai split by geography, price and housing type. But a major correction in the market will drive all segments down but at differing rates. The condo market could hold up a little better because of the higher percentage of foreign buyers. Those markets that have the highest leverage will suffer most. Part of my concern began when I visited several housing developments (non-condo) that we requiring only 50,000 baht down on 3 to 4 million baht properties.

That 50k down is most likely just the amount required to hold the property until you try and get financing from a bank.

I don't know about now but in the past many places had a 5,000 baht deposit and then you made payments for a couple of years just to build up the required down payment the banks required.

Exactly, Wolf'. This gives good insight into the knowledge of the market by some. 50,000 won't get you a lease on a 3-5 million THB property, if you are paying two months deposit plus first months rent. Could probably be enough "key money" for a deceased AIDS patient's Hillside 4 studio. It's part of a strict schedule of payments that will get you 20% down, and you will have to come up with the other 80% plus transfer fees, when it is completed. I can't remember the last time I saw a builder offering financing here....maybe never....they might have a preferred lender; but they aren't giving a farang a mortgage. Some will send you to a Singapore Bank, and it is way tougher than the US. You will need a large downpayment and verifiable current employment income. It is also illegal to have a mortgage past age 65 in Thailand.

Every thing can be fixed with a developer who wants to sell, and their contact in a Thai bank.

Home loan (90%) with falsified employment details (as in no employment at all), totally doable.

and not in your name......and 10% down is a lot more than 2% or 3.5%..........

I agree that there are many sub markets in Chiang Mai split by geography, price and housing type. But a major correction in the market will drive all segments down but at differing rates. The condo market could hold up a little better because of the higher percentage of foreign buyers. Those markets that have the highest leverage will suffer most. Part of my concern began when I visited several housing developments (non-condo) that we requiring only 50,000 baht down on 3 to 4 million baht properties.

That 50k down is most likely just the amount required to hold the property until you try and get financing from a bank.

I don't know about now but in the past many places had a 5,000 baht deposit and then you made payments for a couple of years just to build up the required down payment the banks required.

Exactly, Wolf'. This gives good insight into the knowledge of the market by some. 50,000 won't get you a lease on a 3-5 million THB property, if you are paying two months deposit plus first months rent. Could probably be enough "key money" for a deceased AIDS patient's Hillside 4 studio. It's part of a strict schedule of payments that will get you 20% down, and you will have to come up with the other 80% plus transfer fees, when it is completed. I can't remember the last time I saw a builder offering financing here....maybe never....they might have a preferred lender; but they aren't giving a farang a mortgage. Some will send you to a Singapore Bank, and it is way tougher than the US. You will need a large downpayment and verifiable current employment income. It is also illegal to have a mortgage past age 65 in Thailand.

I saw where someone paid the equivalent to 5 million THB per wah for 100 wah, at Manhattan Beach, California....it's residential, too. Gonna tear down the old house.

The Chinese are aggressive buyers in California/Arizona/Nevada; they buy here, too. They even buy in Japan, and are likely the biggest foreign buyers in Oz.

You could possibly be running into an obstacle on purchasing condo with Tourist Visa, if those are your intentions.  You also will need to show where the funds for purchase originated.....so you might want to wait until you have a deal, because the land office will require a letter specific to that transaction.  Say you wire over 8 million, now, and buy a condo in three months for 1 million......it might get tricky if you want to pay with your existing deposit.

Also, say you were converting AUD, today.  BKK Bank will give you 29.19, however, you would get 29.55 on a TT.  That's 1.23% more.....so on 250,000 AUD, that would be 90,000 THB...........

Is your thinking that the AUD will significantly strengthen?  What interest rate do you get on regular savings in Oz? 

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/05/canadian-professor-made-to-leave-burma-due-to-anger-over-buddha-tattoos-on-leg/

Is it worth getting deported?

You are not even in the right country mush less ball park.

Usually, I would respond, but since you have continually been recognized as the worthless posts, all-time leader, I won't bother. Maybe you can find a used set of Encyclopedia Britanicas...study up, and you might be able to convince some folks you have a triple digit IQ.

I call the US for free through my US based Gmail account.  Never put a dime in my account.  Actually calls numbers for free, too, not just other users.

With DTAC, 004 code will get you 3 thb per minute to the us....might work on ais, too.

The USMC has adopted new tattoo policy....http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/a/tattoo.htm

but yes, it seems like people have their heads up their . The difference in the service and respect you get as a traveller, here and many other places, if you are clean and neat vs. not clean and neat are obvious. It applies to airport security, checkpoints, immigration, hotels, and many other forms of customer service. Tattoo, beard, body odor, circus pants is not what I would call "staying under the radar."

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/05/canadian-professor-made-to-leave-burma-due-to-anger-over-buddha-tattoos-on-leg/

Is it worth getting deported?

I've been buying forty thb increments with AIS, from the phone shops.  You can do 20 at the machines, but they add 2 thb.  

It appears that the visa crackdown has impacted some backpacker businesses, it has has zero impact on the growth of Chiang Mai. The coup has likely hurt tourism, but that, too, has not hurt the growth rate of Chiang Mai. It's a desirable place to live, for people from far reaching walks (or motorbike rides) of life. One or two Chinese cities could keep this going. Living in CNX is a dream for many Bangkokians, also. I could tell that from just talking to cab drivers taking me to the DM, 10 years ago. They always seemed envious that I was going to CM.

It's an ego thing....there are tens of thousands of blueprints online, many for free, and some folks think they know more. Back in 2008, I knew a builder in BWT, who would build you a one level, 3 br, for 650,000 thb, about 100 sm....let's say it would be 1000000 today....or 10,000 psm....no extras, but were pretty decent houses.

I've seen people insist on European styles/qualities in the US and here. Its very taste specific and is throwing money away. Custom homes often go way over budget, too. Watched some Germans spend at least four years trying to sell their "masterpiece."

Wim Hotel and Gateway Hotel in Phayao, close to the bus station. Wim is about 400thb and Gateway about 900thb/night. Havng a picnic by the lake at nigth is fun...and visiting the oldest temple on the hill is an interesting tour...and Phayao is just 30 minutes from the White Temple in Chiang Rai......

Gateway...that's the one I was trying to think of...Agoda says 922 +17%, and Northern Lake is 340 +17%. Best nightclub is at Gateway..can byob for 50 thb. Gateway give free breakfast. Both places offer lake view for more THB.

There are CITIES in china that are built that no one lives in. These residences of condos,apartments and homes are sold! People bought them as investments due to all the people moving to the cities from rural areas. ONE PROBLEM. those people can't afford to rent them. Thailand has the 9th highest consumer debt in the world. USA # 8. Per capita income US $52k Thailand $10k. Do the math.

B U B B L E

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Mortgage debt is not considered consumer debt. And, you are talking about per capita GDP, not income. But, yes, it is high in both countries. I've seen very healthy markets, where 10% of the homes were on the market, at any given time. It seems to be far less than that here. How many of the 49% didn't pay cash? close to zero. How many require rental income? if they did; they shouldn't have bought new, because the ratios are poor. How many are the banks selling? Mostly the same junk from the 97 meltdown.....and there are much tighter regulations on how the banks handle NPLs; it seems to be more strict than the US.

If, and when the price drops come; they will hit first and hardest in the poor locations.....just seen it too many times in real life. If you want to buy, just remember you can change just about everything, but the location. That's why people, who insist on buying new are often making a big mistake. In the US, people like to say "we're building a new home in Rio Rancho, etc..., when in fact they are buying a new tract home, and their only role is to pick out the shade of beige carpet...and it's not going to be new after they lived in it. Foundation problems can take more than a year to surface....

My 4500 thb dental bill at Ram would have been about half that at a number of very good dentist in CM.  In fact the doctor's fees and x-ray were almost exactly 50% of the bill....but then the hospital fees.....sheesh.  I was very pleased with her work, but....I think there was a time when an had a near monopoly on providing western quality care in CM.  Now, there are several other choices.  Same goes for Grace Dental, they were first at being good, but now there are many other sensible choices.  I don't think anyone would claim Ram is in the same league as Bumrungrad, and I think they have gotten very profit driven, also.

If you have a long stay visa; you won't have to go trawling, that's usually for people on Tourist Visa.  However, TMB will require a Work Permit..so just ignore them.  ALso, from what I've read....they get you for more fees on FCA, than doing a regular wire...also, the interest on THB accounts can be double or triple or quadruple.....and when you go to change it into THB, periodically, your rate will be about .7% less than the TT rate.  I've brought mine over in chunks of 150-200K (except for the condo purchase), no regrets.  Getting 2.3% at Krungsri Airport Plaza, and apparently they are perfectly capable of writing the letter to immigration....interest is paid monthly, and no withholding on the first 20,000 in interest.  BKK time deposits are paying 2.8% for an 11 month, but they with-hold 15%....so that brings you down to 2.38%....It's worth it to me to not have to file income taxes in Thailand....plenty of thrills doing it in the US.

In Phayao, The street food scene in front of the Northern Lake Hotel is some of the best I have seen in Thailand. Ribs, Chicken, Fish, Corn,,,stuffed bamboo, pork on a stick. Northern Lake Hotel is a bit run down, but still good value for 400 per night. There is one that is quite a bit nicer close by, the name escapes, me, but it is more like a 1100 per night. Several places down by the lake, but you miss ut on that stretch of street food. Very bikeable town, walking very good, too.

I've heard good things about Nan, but it is farther than it looks on a map, and a lot farther than Phayao.

Only downside is that pages can no longer be added.  I got my new one in the US, last December, and I wish that I had done it here in September.  Mine took about three weeks, but it was over the Holidays.  A lot of people go into the local PO, but they are wasting 25 USD, and it doesn't speed up the process, at all.

Did they let you hang on to your old one during the wait?  In the US, it comes back a few days after you get the new one.

That other place on SUthep and on MM, near Mad Dog, are Hilltribe Craft Shops, which I believe are different than RPS.  I stopped by RPS today, Macadamia nuts, dry roasted lightly salted; 200 gram=200 THB.  The organic sesame seeds looked good, and some real nice peppers, that looked like a cross between an Anaheim and a Serrano...20 thb per bag, about 10 peppers.

I got a one year multiple entry Non-Imm O at Penang.

 

I had to show:-

 

Original bank book with 800k.

Photocopy of bank book with my name.

Photocopy of bank book with the 800k entry.

Original passport.

Photocopy of passport with my name.

Original return air ticket.

Photocopy of return air ticket.

Two passport photos.

 

Officially, the 800k should have been in the account for two months, but the embassy wasn't too bothered about this.

Mine had been in the account for only two weeks, but, they still gave me the visa.

 

For the one year extension, another 800k needs to be in the account for three months and from what I have heard, they are quite strict about this.

Also, for the extension, a letter from your bank will be needed.

Karen, could you reiterate on the plane ticket requirements?  Return ticket to Thailand, or proof you will be leaving Thailand.  I don't think you can even buy airline tickets a year out....it can vary, but usually only 10 months.  And what type of visa had you previously been on in Thailand?

yes, according to the 80 posts on the subject; The White Plate, but apparently, it has recently closed down, too.  The new Mcdonalds on Suthep is now open.

Dan, I've heard of others just coming on a 30 on arrival (who are 50+), then getting their 90 at immigration...and that was actually an easy step, compared to the extension.  It seems like a fly out trip would be more costly than an agent.  Keeping your soon to be ex out of the loop would probably be wise.

You might get better advice in the visa forum, this one is more for finding out important stuff like who has the best hot dog and egg breakfast, and even bigger headlines about motorcycle helmets.  Talk to "ubonjoe."