ballbreaker

You need to know for sure how seller wants payment. If he will take a cashier's check from another province pay the 700 baht and get the check because its peanuts considering the size of check. If he wants cash I would still go with the check and cash once arrive at destination. It makes your life worry free not traveling with large amounts of cash cross country.

I've deposited several personal checks and Bangkok Bank always quotes me 45 days. The quickest I ever saw was 21 days while most were around 30 give or take a couple days.

OP you are aware the rate you see at bank money exchange window is not the rate you get on a wire transfer. Wire transfer rates are in the same neighborhood that VASU and Super Rich gives you not what you see at bank exchange window. Provided the exchange is done in Thailand.

Several years back I just asked the nice folks at our amphur for a letter, and after some discussion, the nice lady in the ID card section told one of the clerks to make up something. She did, then the supervisor signed, and I was off to the driver permit office, worked fine.

I did exact same thing many years ago with same results.

Google search "pattaya condo guide"

The U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is the moving force behind foreign banks refusal to open accounts for Americans. According to the link below there are now currently 26 countries that have inter governmental agreements (IGA's) with the U.S. There are another 22 countries listed that have agreed in substance to an IGA. I'm sure many more will sign on in the coming year.

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA-Archive.aspx

Will Thailand be one of the countries that sign's and IGA in the coming year?

In reference to the O/A visa you don't need funds deposited in Thai bank. Some years ago when I obtained my O/A visa I justed provided copies of bank and brokerage account statements.

I suggest using Bangkok Bank after you arrive in Thailand only because they have a New York branch which makes it easy to wire funds to your Thai account.

Its also the retail industry that is taking a hit. I have a friend that sold clothing at MBK in Bangkok until middle of last year. She said the change in tourist from USA and Europeans to Russian, Chinese and Koreans greatly cut into her income because the tourist from the later three countries shop but do not buy unless in very small quanities if at all. The Indians and Arabs still continue to buy but the loss of US and European customers really cut into her income. Also the constant demostrations in central Bangkok by one Thai group or the other did not help the situation.

OP I don't know how many kilometers per liter you get on your 125 Wave but I am getting around 51-52 kilometers per liter on my 110i Wave running around town in Pattaya. My Wave is the 110i AT version (automatic transmission). I read somewhere they stuck the automatic on the 110i to create the AT version because of its fuel economy. Mine is two years old with almost 18k kilometers and so far trouble free.

I suspect the manual transmission version has much better fuel economy than the AT version.

The house will be included or at least it was in my case.

The lender will not allow a lease.

Sent from my SM-T311 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I would talk with the developer you purchased the condo and find out how to transfer your purchase contract to another person.

The path your agent has taken seems full of danger for you and the person buying your down payment.

I had same problem and drilled out the key lock. In my case it then required me to insert small finger in through the hole and release the lock leaver.

Then went to Home Pro and bought replacement key lock.

Oscar Mayer brand hot dogs at Villa Market when they have in stock.

The police order states not more than one year at a time. If I wanted to shift date it would certainly pay to ask.

On the extension applications you are asked to enter number of days you wish to extend. Normally you enter 365 days but is there any reason you could not request fewer days that would equal 5 or six months. At the end of that period you would go back to requesting 1 year extensions.

Get a usufruct contract between you and Thai partner and register at land office. It can be done at land office for a couple hundred baht. The usufruct contract grants the right to use, manage and enjoy benefits of property that is owned by someone else. With a basic agreement the owner of property could still sell the property but buyer cannot cancel the usufruct. You could include language in usufruct to cover selling property but not necessary because no one will buy property with usufruct agreement in place. It gives you the rights of ownership but you do not own the property. I suggest getting one for end of your life rather than a fixed term. The usufruct can be cancelled should owner and you wish to sell property.

Another option is lease but that can only be max of 30 years and taxes for full term of lease must be paid when registered.

If already married then its already to late for any contract.

As previously stated it varies from one development to the next. I pay 28 baht per sq.m per month in Pattaya. I look at one place prior to purchase that was charging 48 baht per sq. meter.

Go with a usufruct on property and house that's good till end of your life.

I would also have wife make will giving you property and house upon her death. You will be required to sell or transfer property into Thai persons name within one year. This allows you the option of selling and moving elsewhere but you will need to cancel usufruct. If you want to remain in the house then transfer to member of wife's family and the usufruct remains valid.

Thailand personal income tax rates.

0 - 150,000 Exempt

150,001 - 500,000 10%

500,001 - 1,000,000 20%

1,000,001 - 4,000,000 30%

4,000,001 - and up 37%

Thailand is slightly higher at 13.5% but that does not include deductible expenses and allowances which will lower the percentage.

Like you said every deal is different. Mine took a couple months because owner was out of country and he did not trust anyone in Thailand to give power of attorney. Upon owners return we closed the same week.

What did buyer and seller agree to concerning who pays which taxes?

Here are required fees and taxes due at transfer.

Government transfer fee - 2%

Stamp duty is exempt if Business tax paid - 0.5%

Business tax only due if owned less than 5 years - 3.3%

Withholding tax - tax at progressive rate

Condominium regulations are not open to interpretation by the condo management.

Condominium regulations must clearly state use of common property and if no renter restrictions are listed then renters can use. Any changes to these regulations must be done by meeting of co-owners and submitted by the juristic person manager to the competent officer for registration within 30 days from the date of resolution. The competent officer will verify changes in regulations are not against the law and if not will accept for registration.