Raptor7

cyrax,

dont relay on what sale girls tell you...they will say anything for a commission....

you should always carefully read the contract.

--------------------------------------------------

however, there is a strong legal argument if the condo purchase contract was not in the required format (as effective from July 4th 2008)....

was the condo purchase contract in the form required by:

( a ) Section 6/2 of the Condominium Act (as amended in 2008); and

( b ) Ministry of Interior Notification, dated July 1, 2008 (but effective as of July 4th 2008) referring to Section 6/2 (and attaching the required format of condo purchase agreements as forms Or.Chor 22 and Or. Chor 23)?

if not, the contract is not enforceable and in such circumstances, I would demand my money back from the developer....some developers have forgotten this law......

Well, you could buy off plan provided:

1) You are able to get a very detailed, balanced and well-worded contract; AND

2) A reasonable payment plan that follows the construction (never pay anything for nothing); AND

3) Payment through an escrow account.

I have yet to hear of anyone who has managed to accomplish that with a Thai developer.

I would be very interested if anyone knows of any developers that have set up an escrow account (with a third party bank).... I'm also looking to buy off-plan......some projects in the pipeline look kinda interesting...

in the past, I've bought several off-plan...but happened to have sold off the contracts before the building completed...

came across this discussion of QPM at the Next Condo Sukhumvit 52

http://www.prakard.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=287864

at Q House Sathorn condo

http://www.prakard.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=261265

lots of discussions in connection with other condos

sorry, I appear to have double-clicked and mistakenly posted a topic twice....moderator, please delete one duplicate topic...

does anyone have any experience buying gold bullion from YLG?

Hua Seng Heng (the largest Chinatown gold dealer in Bangkok) now seems to always be sold-out of bullion bars for sale...

Just to squirrel away for the future, I was thinking of buying a few bars from time to time from YLG in Bangkok:

they have:

( a ) Thai traditional 96.5% pure bars in 10-baht weights; and

( b ) 1 kilo bars 99.99% pure from Perth Mint, from Heraeus Swiss, etc.

http://www.ylgbullio...t-goldbar02.php

does anyone have any experience buying gold bullion from YLG?

Hua Seng Heng (the largest Chinatown gold dealer in Bangkok) now seems to always be sold-out of bullion bars for sale...

Just to squirrel away for the future, I was thinking of buying a few bars from time to time from YLG in Bangkok:

they have:

( a ) Thai traditional 96.5% pure bars in 10-baht weights; and

( b ) 1 kilo bars 99.99% pure from Perth Mint, from Heraeus Swiss, etc.

http://www.ylgbullio...t-goldbar02.php

UOB Thailand has offered me (as a single expat with residence book):

( a ) a 10 year mortgage loan for purchase of a condo at: MLR (minimum loan rate) - 0.50 = 7.25% per annum plus

( b ) a very nice-sized revolving overdraft facility (home equity line) at MOR (minimum overdraft rate) of 8.25% per annum.

Do these rates sound super high? or are they par for the course (compared to local loans extended to locals)? Any comparative examples would be very helpful.

(I like the idea of having a home equity line of credit on standby, just in case, and its certainly cheaper than a credit card interest rate).

wow..thanks for all of those ideas! I can wait just a bit (as my old HP Pavilion dv6000 still has some life)...but all of those new choices look great!

...to be fair on the comparison scale....I think I will wait to see the new sleek LeNovo U300S (that sfokevin mentioned)...hope it comes soon to Bangkok

[P.S. I like/luv Apple, but only for iPhone4, iPad1 (dont have money for iPad2) and iPod Nano6 (and AAPL stock of course)...

my AirMac1 laptop doesnt get much use...only my HP Pavilion laptop does--but I suppose that's because of Windows based work]

(a) I wasnt suggesting they use "my" mom's address. If they use a friend's or relative's US address for their US iTunes account, I don't think that is a fake account.

There is no need for a US credit card. You can buy iTunes gift cards with a Paypal account linked to your Thai credit card.

Genuine US iTunes gift cards are sold virtually at face value when online sellers have sales (like Jessica on the link above). She tweets her sales on Twitter.

( b ) Like I said, I don't think there are Thai iTunes gift cards for use on the Thai iTunes store.

your niece set up a US iTunes account with a US address..

That is exactly what I don't want her to do. It's her mother's iPhone and iPad, her mother has a legitimate iTunes account tied to her legitimate Thai credit card and legitimate address and I'm not telling them to go fake just for the sake of accepting my gift.

Why does Apple advertise gift cards for Thailand on their Thai store home page? I expect it to be something more than setting up fake accounts to make them work.

Are they available through iTunes itself, I mean the program? Maybe it's from one Thai iTunes user to another.

( a ) it's not a fake account....I use my mom's address....why do you say it's a fake account?

( b ) where are gifts cards on the Thai store home page?

just have:

( a ) your niece set up a US iTunes account with a US address..

( b ) then buy iTunes gift cards online with via Paypal payment (I have one linked with my Thai credit card)

http://epointsdelive.../apps/webstore/

( c ) then give your niece the iTunes gift card code number(s) on a sugar-free candy bar with a bow (as a present)

( d ) then your niece can buy songs, apps, games, movies, TV shows etc. on iTunes and enjoy on her iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV etc. ....

you will be her favorite uncle...

any thoughts on what is the most powerful ultra-portable windows-based laptop available to buy in Thailand?

(I'm thinking around 13 inches in display or less)...

(some google searches suggest the LeNovo ThinkPad X1 or X220 or Sony Vaio SB series?? ....)

could there be two new incarnated Night Bazaars?

(a) under development Suan Lum Night Bazaar Ratchadapisek (corner of Ladprao and Ratachadapisek Roads) http://en.wikipedia...._Ratchadaphisek

( b ) newly opened Siam Paradise Night Bazaar (opposite Sukhumvit 101/1, between new BTS Udom Suk station and new BTS Punnawithi station). http://bangkok101.co...r-new-suan-lum/

Having read through this post, I'm convinced now of the decline in civility and intelligent banter on TV. But I never give up, so.......

My simple question is this: Can farang gold, such as Krugerrand coins, be sold for a reasonable price in Bkk? And if so, where would one do so, and expect close to spot prices?

I sold gold Mexican 50 peso coins (37.5 grams or 1.2 oz of pure gold per coin) to Bangkok Assay. Their commission is 2% of the gold, but they are very honest and paid then current spot on the correct weight minus 2% (even though gold prices shot up during the day). They pay after they melt down the coins and extract the gold (which took 2 days). .........website here--> Bangkok Assay

Their head office is in Samut Prakarn, but they have 2 branches (closest to me at 1230-32 New Road (at corner of Surawong Road) ) Bangkok riverside zone

.

.

.

Coin shops in the US buy recognized international gold bullion coins such as Mexican Pesos and S African Krugerrands without melting them down, but I havent found any shops like that in Bangkok doing that...

There are many firetraps but the fire chief ignores them.

Just look at Pantip Plaza.

Most of the area near the fire exits have been rented out to vendors that set up tables and block the exits.

If there was a fire and panic, it could be worse than Santika.

I wouldn't normally Call Le Raffine a 'Firetrap'....

Its a relatively new building with Condos STARTING at $1 million.

All Condos are 2-Floor and have a private Swimming Pool for EACH Condo.

Click > Le Raffine

Just goes to Show how "Superficial" everything is here!

CS

you have referred to the wrong Le Raffine

the one under discussion is the older one on Sukhumvit Soi 24...

http://www.leraffine.com/LRProject.aspx?LRProjectId=4

the local Gold ETF traded on the Thai Stock Exchange (symbol GLD) up 7.4% today....

http://www.set.or.th/dat/news/201108/11030583.pdf

I don't know how much you have but you might want to inquire here -

http://www.bkkassay....eng/service.php

thanks cloudhopper for the tip..I just tried their service and found them very professional...

HUA SENG HENG one of the oldest and most reputable local gold firms also sells Baht 5, 10, 25 and 50 weight 96.5% gold bars (the prices per Baht weight (with only Baht100 spread between buy-sell) are listed online, in the local newspapers and at each store window.

NOTE: 1 Baht weight = 15.244 grams = 14.71046 grams pure gold

http://www.huasenghe...vice/ingot.aspx

I have personally bought and sold gold bars and Hua Seng Heng do so immediately in cash, no questions asked, if the bars bear their goldsmith mark..

incidentally, the price per 1 baht weight is Baht 23,350 buy and Baht 23,450 sell at around 2pm Thailand time today (Aug 3, 2011)

Bangkok Assay Office sells gold bullion

http://www.bkkassay....ub_catalog_id=6

they have three locations....one is at New Road near intersection of Surawong Road...

http://www.bkkassay....g/contactus.php

Silly boy you forgot porsche...... ];-)

Edit - I forget what floor they are on I think it's the third

oh yes! how could I forget Porsches, my dream favorite

I think its on the 2nd Floor......http://www.siamparag...h/v8/index2.php

Well met Raptor7

The Park is currently at a shade under 180,000 THB PSM I know because I have one of my homes there.

congrats PKRV!...the Park Chidlom is a excellent choice for your own private corner in the Big Mango...

the planned nearby "Ploenchit City" landscaping and ped connections involving the Swissotel Nai Lert Hotel, upcoming Central Embassy (with Park Hyatt), Parkventures (with Okura Hotel) and Noble Ploenchit with lo-rise offices will certainly make your area even better!!

and dont forget the new planned Bangkok Bazaar in those empty lots adjacent to Big C Rajadamri (across the street on Chidlom from you! will add further color to the area!)

Silly boy you forgot porsche...... ];-)

Edit - I forget what floor they are on I think it's the third

oh yes! how could I forget Porsches, my dream favorite

I think its on the 2nd Floor......http://www.siamparagon.co.th/v8/index2.php

Living in Bangkok is like living in the midst of a wet market, the crowd, the noise, the dirt, and traffic. Living in Singapore is like living in Singapore General Hospital (SGH), clean, orderly and highly regulated.

Your choice is?

Like most things... I opt for both, all three, or all of the above.

yes, good answer have a place in each port-of-call to add to the variety of life

It's sad that you have to conclude an argument not by providing anything substantive, but by suggesting that "I give it a rest".

quite amusing.......you are the one harping for years that there are high-priced projects (and you just can't understand it in our under developed city)...

the reality is that there are some very high-priced newer projects (for Bangkok) but they are relatively rare....but there are MANY MANY other nice projects which are much cheaper....there is a wide choice of places to live (super expensive, expensive, not-so-expensive and downright cheap )....

an analogous situation is with cars.....if you go to Siam Paragon, there are Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMW etc. dealers offering very high priced cars......not everyone wants a cheap Honda Jazz (even in our developing city)....

are you saying its not permitted to have a wide range of projects or products in Bangkok, just because we are developing?

there is no disconnect....it is a free market...if you dont like it too bad...

I'll say it again, give it a rest....

"until it's too late" ...not sure what that means? some people with money want to buy the best in location, specs, prestige, facilities or some combination (why not if you can afford it and want it right?,...life's short)....not everyone is speculating or looking to flip.....

I am not looking to flip. My reference to "until it's too late" is even if one is comfortable spending that sort of money on a condo, and one is rightly impressed by the construction and finish, as soon as you step out of the door, you're in Bangkok. And quite literally the pavement outside 185 Rajadamri is appalling. There's no getting around the fact that Thailand is a developing country (or worse in some people's view). Whether or not the two projects I mention are a rarity doesn't much matter. The fact remains that they are within this second rate environment, which as we are witnessing, is in the midst of huge socio-economic changes.

So one factor is the significant political risk attached to Thailand, which is easily masked by the veneer of up-market hotels and shopping malls. The second factor is that there is no secondary market of any depth. Foreign buyers quite often do not appreciate these..."until it's too late".

I think people buying at these levels are well aware of the comparatively "wild west" developing environment in Bangkok and lower liquidity levels...and do not need your repeated warnings.....

for example, I am aware that we lack facilities, smooth sidewalks, cold efficiency & regimented predictable politics (as compared to developed Singapore or my home cities in the USA for instance), but I personally prefer Bangkok over Singapore for a variety of other factors (and I do have a wide choice of places to primarily live)........I suspect a few others do too given the numbers coming here....

lastly, the rarity factor does matter.....you are going on and on (for years) about the very high price of the rare projects....but the reality is that the vast majority of projects are much lower in price...if you want to live in this horrible "second rate" city (as you describe it) then why not look at something lower in price? or move on to a "first rate" city (in your mind) and give it a rest......

Well, here I am revisiting this topic some years after I first initiated it.

I went to see the 185 Rajadamri showroom last week. Good job, but again the prices being asked are completely mad IMO - THB250k-270k psm, which makes the 222 sqm 3 bed flat about THB56m - or about GBP1.13m. For this particular property the main bedroom which has two sides of windows, looks into the next door Regent House.

I really don't get the disconnect that I've been yabbering on about - between secondary and new properties. Apparently 40% of 185 R are sold, but I never think this information is honest. There are a number of properties "reserved", to be released at a later date at a higher price.

I wonder who is buying these properties. Comparatively speaking even these high end properties are cheap compared to other Asian cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. But there's a world of difference between the first two and Bangkok, and I'm surprised that foreign buyers don't see that. Well, until it's too late.

yes, I agree the prices are high (for Bangkok), but you have been referring to the very tip-top of new freehold condo projects in Bangkok (like The Sukhothai and 185 Rajadamri)...these projects are relatively rare in Bangkok (even in the central districts).....if you can't afford them (or can afford them, but do not want to buy them), Im not sure it's productive to keep warning off people with words like "until it's too late" ...not sure what that means? some people with money want to buy the best in location, specs, prestige, facilities or some combination (why not if you can afford it and want it right?,...life's short)....not everyone is speculating or looking to flip.....

.the VAST majority of freehold condos in Bangkok (off-plan, new and old) are significantly lower in price (per sq. meter)......for one example, the Noble Ploenchit project (next to Wave Place and immediately adjacent to the BTS Ploenchit station) with something like 1,200 planned units (avg price I understand around B140,000 to 190,000 psm) sold 700 units off-plan on its first launch day on June 19th (at Siam Paragon)... vast majority of buyers seemed to be Thai.....the units are, on avg, smaller so the total price point is lower to own........perhaps you should look at those? or other centrally located but cheaper units if you are just looking to flip later? or go a an older building, but super centrally located and buy a unit on the cheap, renovate to a clean modern look, possibly enjoy a while and then eventually flip? I have actually done that a few times, but my primary goal was to enjoy the locations or have relatives and friends stay (and also enjoy the renovations and re-designs if you can believe that).....