ripley

Been away for a while, but thanks for your comments. Our problem doesn't seem to have anything to do with our bank. It is just about our marriage certificate - the one which has been submitted and accepted for many years. For us it's back to India and the Thai Consulate there to try to sort it all out. The way things have been going tho, no telling if we'll get correct information there. Jomtien Immigration was shocked at the BKK response. Nobody here seems to know or understand what the rules and procedures are and that's what makes me nervous. I will keep you posted on what happens and what I learn.

Regarding the word "bond" - I was using that term to describe the 800,000 baht we're required to keep in the bank according to the terms of the Retirement Visa. Ours has always been in a savings acct, per instruction when we applied. All has been done for many years and according to instructions received which is what makes it all so mind boggling.

On 6/24/2019 at 11:17 PM, ubonjoe said:

Immigration has required that a marriage or birth certificates used to prove their relationship to you be legalized for a few years now. It is certainly nothing new.

You have just been lucky it was not asked for before.

Of course immigration wants to see your certified marriage certificate. We HAD a certified Marriage certificate, one which had been accepted for years. It was even accepted for me this time. Just not for my partner. Suddenly new certifications were required, causing us a trip to BKK and overstay charges with the result that we were told to go back to India to sort it. Again I say Thank You to the Jomtien Immigration dept. for seeing the problem for us thru no fault of our own and did the needful.

As most of you know, the immigration visa laws have changed and are very confusing to officials as well as users. Here's a problem to be aware of. Having visited Thailand on a retirement visa for at least 15 yrs w/ no problems, my partner encountered a biggie. At the Jomtien Immigration office, I was given my renewal immediately. My partner was refused. On what grounds? Our 30 yr old marriage certificate. It apparently required certain stamps and certifications. This document was not targetted in any way as a problem for me. We were sent to BKK to get stamps, certifications - no joy. Then told we had to go back to India where we live and do paperwork there. Meanwhile, charged 500Baht per day overstay charges. Not sure - it wasn't stated - but seemed to have something to do with our Bond money being in an acct. in my name - which we were instructed to do some years ago. Not even clear whether a joint acct. - if allowed - would have made a difference. 

We had the good luck to be handled the second time by the Jomtien Immigration people who went out of their way to provide us with permission for another year's stay. When in India we will have to go thru channels again.

Can't give you any advice about this as am in the dark myself for the most part. But be as prepared as possible.

Yep. His intention is to ultra-modernize the place which was very "ethnic" in decor. I'm hearing that people are looking for "modern" looking condos these days - white, chrome, glass, etc.

Still have my studio, but will try to sell that as well most likely. Time to move on.

Agent found buyer who looks for places to renovate and sell on.

Hello All - Don't know whether anyone will see this as topic probably died. But just wanted those of you who offered good counsel that my unit is in final stages of being sold! I didn't renovate anything, tho the place looked pretty good. Sold to a guy who buys places for the purposes of renovation and then sale. Got a fair price.

Thanks so much for your responses.

You were right and this is a picture of the studio as it was. Old picture, so chairs and bed are now different. Those chairs were actually light brown but are now gone! But nothing is modern and uniform, it's true.

Also, to make the unit living space larger, I originally extended room into the balcony so there is a small balcony and a larger room. Pluses and minuses!

Thanks Airalee.

Thanks for critique. Helpful to see thru another person's eyes. I think you were looking at the wrong studio, tho. Mine doesn't have a trace of pink! Furniture is brown sectional sofa, adjustable 1-person sofachair, 1 arm chair. desk chair, stackable ottomans, v.small glass dining table, coffee table, bed and bedside tables and privacy screen. Pretty basic stuff.

Still, there are many changes I would love to make to the places but can't afford them. 

As I said, I don't live here so can't follow up on these things, tho I'm sure they're good ideas. As for the rest "From your mouth to God's ears!"

It's unfortunate that I don't live here full time - would have more options. However, as I don't, have decided to try the suggestion offered here to greatly lower my rental prices in hopes of encouraging a more regular cash trickle while awaiting a buyer. Will post here in future to let you all know how this works.

I dunno about this. I read online that, although a beautiful country, Turkey has some serious political problems and warnings are up.

Hi Delight - I remember you mentioning earlier that you only expect 75% of original purchase price. Hard to believe as prices were so low at the time I purchased. If you add in the renovation costs, etc. 75% is next to nothing! A pretty huge cut-down for me.

What do you think of the suggestion here to greatly reduce the rental price of units while waiting for a sale. Make the rents attractive so the money flow continues? To me it makes some sense.

I'm thinking over a suggestion on the previous page that I try lowering my rental prices to a very attractive level in hopes of getting permanent occupancy. Interesting....

As I said in the beginning, my reason for starting this topic was to get tips on selling strategies. I didn't want to appear to be flogging my property here. But, if okay with the monitors, and because of the questions asked here, I will tell you that the building is Jomtien Complex Condotel - the large and rather ornate one with a red roof. My units are next door to each other and on the 5th floor just over the swimming pool and garden.They are 63.53 sqm and 121.92 sqm respectively. Each has a limited sea view due to the VT7 building in front. Units are on only one side of the corridor which makes them appear more spacious and  quieter. Nice bldg. I'm represented by East Coast Real Estate for long term rentals only. Khun Pan on the Lobby floor represents as well and does shorter term rentals (1 month minimum). I do have other agents as well. Prices have just  been reduced to 3,000,000 and 6,000,000 baht.

There is East Coast Real Estate, Pattaya Premiere.  Both in Jomthien. But, for me still no sale or even offers.

Thanks for posting this topic. I'm also curious.

I've got to thank all of the TVF members who took the time to write in to this topic. This thread is an encyclopedia of information which I really need and  to which I'll be referring constantly! Also I thank you all for your good wishes. If you think of anything else, feel welcome to add it. 

I'm not allowed to access TVF from India where I live part of the year, and I've really missed it!

Forgot to mention - I increased the ceiling height. Made a huge difference.

kannot - 

Whenever I buy a condo here I usually rip out the entire lot and start from new with low maintenance hard wearing stuff, no crappy laminate  floors as the first leak and its toast, replace  crappy laminate work tops  with stone for the same reason. Buy some nice but hard wearing decent  furniture and ALWAYS with removable washabe covers as they will get filthy. Built in cupboards easy to replace  doors if they get damaged

That's what I did initially. I've found the removable,, washable covers very useful and the use of neutral colours practical to which I've added a few accent pieces. Installed a new western-style kitchen complete with oven. Overall my places have worn extremely well. It would be nice to change the wallpaper in one room, but it is still pleasant. Fact is, I can no longer afford an overhaul. Especially when there are so many people telling me that it's just throwing away money. If I had my way I would still tart the place up for my own peace of mind! But it is true that people have different and very definite tastes.... For instance, someone into modern chrome and steel would NOT like my place.

Popular wisdom seems to be "don't spend on renovations" because the buyer will likely rip everything out and renovate to suit themselves. But I agree that tarting up a place has an effect. 

A farang friend died in LOS and I was a joint Executor of his Thai Will (written in English). The heir was his daughter in the UK. Although I suggested a Thai lawyer to obtain probate, the daughter preferred to engage her own Thai lawyer which she found through her UK lawyer. I signed over my responsibility as Executor to the Thai lawyer. The matter was completely resolved after a few months to everyone's satisfaction, even though my friend held substantial funds in several Thai banks and investment companies. The daughter did not come to Thailand.

This is most interesting and something I've been wondering about. Thanks!

ahh ...! Here lies the rub: As you get older there are fewer and fewer people you can trust. You've seen too much for that.

Yes, the unit looks nice. Suspect it feels smaller than it looks, tho. Beautiful and new!

Thank you JazzDog for your very useful post! As I don't live here all year, there is a limit as to how much work I can put into marketing - but I can do better than I have been, I'm sure. Must look to the price I guess, even tho it is commensurate with what others are asking in our building.

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Scuba Scuba -  No need to announce the fact. Just get bored and split!