Greenman

Came across this interesting topic and the poll that went with it.

47% reckoned prices would fall......wishful thinking perhaps.

If this was any other country in the world the backside would have fallen out of the property market. We had a coup and we had bombs going of yet the Baht gets stronger.

Prices haven't dropped a cent as people aren't stupid enough to sell their condo's when their is no real panic.

The Thai side of the market is down sales wise by about 18% to 20% I am told, whereas the Farang purchases are down a massive 38%. A lot of this is to do with people thinking they can buy for nothing.

It's obvious now, the market is only going to go one way. New governement comes in American Dollar regains some of it's loss and BOOM!!! the market will take off like a rocket again. Property in Thailand is still dirt cheap and Bangkok is improving as a city every single day.

You may be able to squeeze a bit more out of someone who wants to sell right now but you try doing so about May-June 2008 and you will have no chance.

This is only my humble opinion but then I am never wrong LOL,,,,,,,,,,,,he wishes

Let's see what the birdie says come June. I'll go for a massive 14.75% increase

Yep everywhere in the world you get these propblems but it's fashioable to slag the Thais. "He who hath not sinned cast the first stone" Just doesn't compute with some Farang.

Having said that you still have to be careful and for Pete's sake get ONE manager you can trust....Never ever loose the place with any other Thai on the job, buy them a few beers on a Frday after work and if they like you they will work their backsides of for you.

FUNNY BUT TRUE: You do get some crackers here, but this guy really takes the buscuit. A customer who had asked me to build his house when I was too busy to oblige, had go another squad to do it for him. They were a bit expensive but the place is out of this world.

He was going on a trip and asked an electrician for a quote to install some ceiling fans cos he thought the original builder wanted too much. This electrician was a superstar if ever there was one.

The quote was fair so he left the cash with his daughter. The guy finished the job in jigtime without a hitch, got paid and off he went.

My friend comes back from his trip and sees all the fans have been installed exactly how he had asked.

One slight problem ..........No wiring ...worked out about 200 baht per screw

ONE manager ONE squad is the only way to go!!!

You can download a free copy of the book scandal here, http://allencarr.com/central/article/100/f...st-book-scandal

Thanks for that........It's taking ages to download..but it's ok I can have a smoke while I'm waiting ,

When I am with a certain young lady who hates smoking then it's no problem for me. When I go home and get in front of this computer can go through a packet in a matter of a few hours.

If this books help and we end up getting married I am going to call our first child Doc or Pla after you

If you build or remodel, be prepared to be overcharged every step of the way and expect nothing but inferior workmanship.

The integrity of the workmen I have been involved with is appaling.

Same in most countrys, not just Thailand, there are cowboys in the UK overcharging,

I have built 2 houses in Esarn, Workmanship superb and not overcharged, rule no1 is make sure you get a reputable builder and ask to see some of his projects, (Ferang houses), even ask the owner if they are happy with the finished product and time scale, this will put your mind at rest, good luck.

Now come on, dont even think about comparing the rest of the world to Thailand in regards to workmanship.. sheesh!

I agree with you that if you CAN FIND a reputable builder, your half way there.

I was a builder in the UK and the standard of finish was deplorable. They originated the saying "Putty and Paint makes a carpenter what he aint" Such are the bonus systems they shoot through work faster than a speeding bullet. Sheesh!! I have seen some real bad work in my time.

At least here you can ask them to redo things here without having a war on your hands.........They basically do a fiairly good job but then look at you as if you are stupid when you hand them a snagging line. So you have to stand over them while they sort out the small niggly things.

They just don't have the same standards that we as Farang expect when we are the one paying.

In short they cover mistakes in the West with putty and paint. Here in Thailand they just paint them

I am a Bangkokonian ( New word lol) and to me home is where you lay your hat.

Pattaya does have a bad reputation here for violence and you often here guys saying all the no gooders flock to Pattaya.

It's all BS and you get the same crap all over the world........my green grass is greener that yours type of thing.

I often stay an the Asia Pattaya Hotel and sitting down in the bay I feel like I am in the best place in the world...............I find Pattaya a nice relaxing place.

BUT Pee Pee Island now that is a shi****........ok it's lovely to look at if you like diving shops, diving shops, diving shops Hope no one lives there and diving shops.......it's a shanty town if ever there was one.

After many years in SE Asia "dating" 100's of the best looking women in the world, I know I would find it almost impossible to settle down in a relationship with just one woman for the rest of my life.

I've had truly wonderful gf's, almost perfect, well educated, good looking etc etc, but after a year or less I'm out there looking again. (in between this, there are also many, many one nighters, most paid, some not)

Is there hope for me to mend my ways and become "normal" again?

I don't mean normal in the western world sense, like grovelling after overweight, solemn women at discos, but as in sticking with one women and building a solid relationship.

You haven't asked a question here, you have answered it If there was any hope for you, you wouldn't need to ask..........I reckon you are doomed.

But Hey! what are friends for.........let's see if we can help you.

Rule No 1. The way to compete happiness lies right in front you all you have to do is stop looking for it.

Rule No 2. There is no number 2

She leaves you cos your messing about you are going to be one sorry boy mate.

And she's not ALMOST perfect you can cut that **** for a start...........wake up and smell the roses before it's too late.

Take the punt and build the house yourself. Don't listen to the know it alls who probably never worked with a Thai in their life. They tell you Thai people will rip you off they are no where near as bad as many Farang make out. Well not unless you are totally stupid and got money coming out your ears.........then plenty farang who will rip you off without having a Thai do it LOL

I have been involved in renovations and building for more than a few years in Thailand (no i don't want to build your house) and the fun you get from doing it is second to none.

If you are told it's going to cost 1.5 million baht to build then add 20%. At some stage near the end you will get the Thai in charge coming up to you to say he doesn't have enough tiles or needs more wood. Pay them too much at once and don't expect them to turn up on the Monday. If you can accept that then you are half way there already.

It's not that they are ripping you off it's basically they have no idea how to plan a job out. They cut the biggest piece of wood they can find with no thought of what comes next. So be prepared for a few headaches.

However the joy you can get from doing it on your own is second to none. So what if it costs you a couple of hundred thousand baht more than you expected......still a dam_n site cheaper than buying someone elses that you end up changing the hel_l out of anyway.

You can get drawings fairly cheaply. My friend is an Engineer and he is building his own 4 bedroom house somehwere south of Hua hin. He has spent hours on end checking and improving the drawings and has now started. He bought them of the shelf from an architect for around 30,000 baht and paid another 20,000 to have him make the changes he wanted.

I was out for a few beers with him last night and he is already pulling his hair out but loving every minute of it.

All you need is one decent Thai guy with building experince.....not as difficult to find as some would have you believe.

Go for it mate you're only old once LOl

There is a way you can get what you want without you moving to sunny Buriram.

There are around 40 condo's in the Suhkumvit/Phrakanong are within your price range coming up for sale at an Auction on the 8th of November. It's a bit late in the day to be telling you as sadly it not just a case of going along and sticking your hand up. There is a lot of leg work and investigating involved before you spend your hard end cash or you could end up with a pig in a poke.

A Farang who can't speak fluent Thai wandering out on his own would be lucky to get past 1st base.

There is a small company on Sukhumvit who provide a service for farangs but your budget is very small and it may not be worth their while.

However drop me a line and I will give you their details.

http://www.trendycondominium.com/unitplan/unit_b3.html

i see the same layout that perhaps some people like, but for the life of me I cant understand why.

for condos in the 60-70m2 range its 1 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. There is one bathroom in the bedroom, and another in the living room. The living room and bedroom are seperated 50/50...

Neither bathroom has a tub. Why not make it one large bathroom acessible from both the bedroom and the living room? Why do you even need two bathrooms? It is a big waste of space. I would rather use the space for a big walk in closet.

Try selling or renting a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom condo and you will soon know why.

Did some business and made friends with a Doctor in Bangkok who is best friends with the Mayor of Payttaya, He soke very highly of the guy but personally I wouldn't know him from Adam.

Come to think of it, that was 5 years ago and the Mayor Maybe no Mayor no More or May be Mayor still.

Hello Begbie.

Geez Renton where a ya been man?.........let's get rem!!! cannie lit them away wi' that.......William wis a good man... an' a mate.....Can you no remember whit he said that efternin:-

Fight and you may die, run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM

or huve u been oan that heroine again? Upbringing? I'll gie them upbringing mate!!!!

Why do you think they made it illegal hundreds of years ago to marry family in the west? Because if you do you get funny babies. Could be deformed, could be gay (no offence), could be whatever.

Dear Greenman,

Oh so gays are genetic defectives are they? Plz share your evidence for this as I am sure the scientific community would love to know. You know this is now an old way to express homophobia – just lump the gays with criminals, mental defectives, prostitutes etc etc because it's a really cool way to do it and the moderator can't complain can he?. Oh and I like the (no offence) bit – it adds a certain respectability. Oh, obviously the guy was a repressed homosexual with a grudge against women. Oh and look at the pic – 2 contented looking women on a beach early in the morning – must be dykes – the whiskey bottle is a sure giveaway. Greenman, I suggest if ever you feel the need to have carnal knowledge of your mother, sister or daughter then you should use a condom – it will ensure no gays, blacks, Jews, or gypsies are generated (no offence).

You seem to have taken my post very personally but lets not go there.

Go back to the basics my friend..have you ever heard of a mongerel dog?

Do you know what the odds are against being attached by a pedigree compared to being attacked by a mogrel.

We like dogs are bred and how we are bred (and brought up) dictates what kind of person we turn out to be.

Of course its genetic you dumb cluck.

I have nothing against gays, whom you can't wait to defend for reasons only known to yourself, but let's make a comparison.

Go into McDonalds in London Glasgow Tokyo Sydney or Rome. Have a look around at the young boys (and no cheap sexual remarks please) around 10 to 12, who are not yet sexually aware.

See if you can spot the Katoys.

Then go to McDonald in Bangkok or Pattaya and see if you can spot them. Why so many, in comparison to western countries that are not 3rd world?,,,they are obvious and easy to spot here, but they still think it's for peeing over a high wall..they don't wake up one day and think I want to be lady boy or a woman they are simply born that way.

You live hear with the Thai people you learn to accept it, as just the way it is. These are harmless people in the main and I do not find them offensive in any way whatsoever.

Furthermore exactly when did I refer to the girls as Dykes smartass????......I did no such thing. perhaps when you are chatting to your scientific freinds one will give you a copy of the ABC )

I come from one of the hardest cities in the world mate I have mixed with the scum of the earth.

I knew their mothers and fathers who were tarred with the same brush as they were. You think it's not genetic your in a dream world. Sure some people from good families do bery bad things despite their grand breedings etc., but the majority of nutters in this world come from area around out local cities we can all mention at the drop of a hat....it has been their way of life for generations......and don't confuse it with poverty..most of them made fortunes out of drugs and still go around knifing abd shooting people etc......if they are what we determine as normal then I'm your Auntie Fanny.

Jast a point....Take a look at the picture posted by our friend of the 2 girls.

Do they look like they were resisting a robbery?......looks more like he walked up shot them dead then robbed them.

This convicted murderer is only 24! Then he should be spending the rest of his natural life in prison which I feel is a far worse punishment than the death penalty! It's been proven that the death penalty is no deterrent for violent crime!

There's my 2 cents!

*Life imprisonment is a pointless sentence. The person never recovers and it costs society money to keep the prisoner with the possibility of escape. You can be sure a lifer will do anything not to be caught including killing again...after all nothing to lose.

More lifers can teach short timers 'old tricks' hardly good for society. While I don't believe in death sentence worse is life imprisonment. (dont believe in death sentence only because so many innocents convicted)

Well, the person sure won't recover if he's dead, will he? neither will there be any research subjects for understanding how to prevent further murders And won't a killer do anything not to be caught if he faces a death sentence? And maybe lifers will teach short timers why it is better to reform than end up like them. Death sentences simply don't work - they merely provide a warm feeling to populist sentiments for revenge. Moreover, they are targetted disproportionatley at the poor who have few resources to get off the hook unless they are postumously pardoned. If the poor, black etc are just as good as rich white people, why are they executed disproportionately?

You know that wasthe war cry for people like me for years. Better to keep them alive and study them. Probaly because like yoiu, I read it somewhere and thought that's a good idea.

The harsh truth is people like this guy cannot be reasoned with. Where I come from I knew guys just like him and I can tell you, No Way can you reason with them........I had a friend stabbed to death by a guy who got a light sentence for a previous crime he should have got 10 years for. A known vicious Bast**** with a reputation just like this guy.

MyThai Wife's Grandparents were shot dead over complaining about too much noise during a soccer game. Made the front page of that nasty paper pools of blood the lot,

It bugs me to hel_l that people like him are allowed to walk the streets at all....i want to feel safe, I want my family to feel safe...If it had been your wife or your daughter Yeah study him......right after you decapitated him.............or maybe you would turn the other cheek?

He is simply just the way he is and unless you can turn the clock back 1000 years and tell all the locals in all the villages to stop all the inbreeding then your stuffed. That may sound a little Hitlerish but it is a fact of life. That's why that mass murderer wanted the perfect race....the impossible race of course>

Why do you think they made it illegal hundreds of years ago to marry family in the west? Because if you do you get funny babies. Could be deformed, could be gay (no offence), could be whatever. Sure it's not their fault people are what they are, but when it comes to a born Murderer and cold blooded murderer at that then the only solution is get rid of them...........Why should other prisoners in Thailand be subjected to being in the same prison with a maniac like this <deleted>? What happens if he needs a ciggie and doesn't have any? Where do you keep him.......a high security Sanitarium? Who pays for it and to be told what.........this guy is one real bad Dude and would kill you for a lousy couple of Thai grand?.......think we know that already.

What makes him tick.......guys what we call a loony mate. The brain doesn't quite function like ours.

This is not some guy who had a fight with his wife........He murdered 2 helpless Russian Female Holiday makers in cold blood for next to nothing.

All this talk about Russuian Mafia and prostitues........that makes no difference. Anyway I thought they were here on a holiday package.

We get people like this because they are not quite right in the head. We don't need to study them to know that.

So what do we do? WE!! the people of this world make laws and the laws are the same for everyone. This is not The USA or the United Kingdom and I doubt thailand do much in the way of lets "study a nutter programs"

The judge made the only decision he could and for me it's the right one.

As far as Recover is concerned.......Recover and become what? I think it would like saying its getting nicer the rain is calming down to a thunderstorm.

I for one wouldn't like to be walking in front of him with a rolex on

24 or 26, isn't the issue, but the victum's families should decide the outcome of his crimes, as long as it isn't letting the guy off with a short sentence!

Yeah ... I want to cut the nuts of a guy who walked on my daisies.

It's a pity people like you have the vote (assuming you do).

If victUm's family sentences a person for their crimes they'd all be hung, drawn and quartered like the good old Christians used to do.

I don't think Willam Wallace thought they were Christians LOL

Yup a crazy idea.........I don't agree with the death sentence but I can't come up with an argument against the judges decision in this case.

The guy had a long criminal record and he is obviously well known by the police.

Consider that along with the fact this animal Killed 2 defensless women he was supposidly trying to rob.

What were the girls going to do with a gun in their faces,other than hand over anything they had on them?

This guy killed without reason/need and without any regard for human life and from the outside looking in the judge made the right decision.

Someone reckons he will get a reduced sentence on appeal........Absolutely no chance!!! IMO

Maybe the pilot was inexperienced and was just winging it

The Thais have to be commened for what is an amazing feat.

We are too quick to critisize at times and smug remarks like they must have brought their own life jackets doesn't wear well with me.

The sea is one of the most dangerous places in the world when it turns against you.

Some brave people risked their lives to save others and for that I say "RESPECT"

I am sure Thaksin is shaking in his boots. This is just a procedure to discredit him even further to ensure he has no influence on the election.

Perhaps once the new Government gets in the will be thinking how can we make a few bob: Some bright spark will think "I know lets drop all the charges in return for Man City plaing 3 or 4 games in Thailand for charity...."yeah for our charity" That's 4 X a lot X 3 years.......yeah that should pay the rent.

Daft as that may sound I would put nothing past them.

They should be concentrating on more serious matters like All night drinking for ex-pats, restrictions on how much a bar girl can rip us for, and of course most importantly free visa for all.

Don't worry! BKK is not Bagdad. You have most chance to die in NYC or London!

Maybe but what's the point if you can't have fun in the evenings. What exactly do they mean by?

He said revellers would be banned from applying talcum powder on others and each day's festival would end at 7 pm. Water gun is one of the favourite equipments to splash water on others during the festival.

Will pubs and restaurants still be open? How will they stop people squirting water at places such as Khao San Road without closing the whole place down?

I remember walking on Sukhumvit Road on New Years Eve. The place was completely dead.

It's a pity that a few people can destroy so much for so many.

I was in Sukhumvit Soi 7 on New Years Eve and there were hundreds of people in the beer garden when the news filtered through. There was only one policeman at the front door who assured us there was no chance of any bombs going off on Sukhumvit.

How the heck he knew that I have no idea

We went into soi 7/1 to a friends bar and some Thai guy let of some small fireworks off in rapid succession. That was followed by a huge bang. With the bombing on our minds more than a few of us jumped up thinking world war 3 had started.

Within 30 minutes more than half the customers had left.......point is these bombings no matter how small have everyone concerned.

Mind you I personally feel safer here than I would walking the streets of London or Glasgow late at night

Wonder what the fire brigade think about this ban

Hello to everbody,

Anybody thought about setting up a window cleaning business in Pattaya, I know we have tip top but don't know much about them, have they got a window cleaning round going on? Set up costs wouldn't be a lot but there are a few major factors against it that I can see, 2 of them being:

- most people have bars on their windows making them very hard to clean

- and window cleaners generally clean windows once a month often when people are not home, don't know if that one would go down too well

Its not something that I would set up but it just came to me and thought somebody might want to give it go

Ruds

You can clean the bars with Duraglit The problem you may have is that maids and staff here do them already. In the UK where having a window round is worth it's weight in gold people simply don't have maids. Thais who own their own property can easily afford a maid and would simply not use an outside service that they couldn't trust.

Why not try delivering morning rolls to farang? I was in Pattaya recently and went into a supermarket not far from the center. Couldn't believe it when I got this amazing smell of rolls wafting past me........Exactly the same rolls we get back in Scotland delivered to our doorsteps.........wish we could get them in Bangkok, I bought a dozen and my 2 friends and scoffed the lot on the trip back.

Anything is worth a go as with no income here sooner or later funds dry up and it's back home........perish the thought

You can bet your botton dollar (excuse the pun) it will sneak up again and those with a bunch of $ stacked away will make plenty.

A new Thai government, put George Bush in a cat and dog retiral home and Bingo everything should go back to normal.

Surely it's in the Thai interest and every other Asian country to see the dollar strengthen and it's only a matter of time before it does.

I have an investor friend who reckons if the dollar takes another huge drop the only thing worth having in any country will be actual gold.

I find the whole thing confusing but my money would be on a dollar recovery by Xmas.........I'm just not sure which year

Guess they are just playing it safe. Some OZ wizards has decided....."Don't say we didn't warn you".....Then if some poor tourist becomes a victim they cant go back and say they weren't warned.

If they are that well informed why don't they expose their source and have those involved arrested....lorra lorra guess work going on if you ask me.....which you didn't

You can choose to believe this type of report or not..........as we all know paper never refuses ink. However, to critisize is so easy.

One thing is for sure and that is bulls8 is not exclusive to Thailand, like many would have you believe.

Yesterdays UK headlines...........Diana and Dodi...Prince Charles and Prince Philip....what a fairytake that is and beats the sawadi K out of any newspaper story I have ever read in Thailand. That sort of thing leaves no room for us UK mofos to critisize anyone.

BUT, it's not like the police claim to have caught someone everytime one of these horrific crimes take place. I believe the Thai Police have got their man and congrats is in order.

This government really has got to grips with improving things.

Now`lets see........Take all the guys who sit on the footpath at Sukhumvit Soi 33 and stick them on the roadside.........Block half the road and cause a massive traffic Jam back to Asoke.....Everyone starts leaving their cars at home.......Fuel sales fall.........staff get paid off...need a new job........I know they can all become m/cycle taxi drivers.