NancyL

The only time we paid 20,000 baht/month for a 3.5 million baht condo was the first year off the boat.  After that with every move our rent has decreased and the quality increased, especially when we've reached agreements where we make modifications to our taste in exchange for a long lease. 

We've enjoyed the freedom to move, as in when we realized we were going to lose our view of Doi Suthep because of construction of a neighboring condo, we started to get the word out that we wanted a different unit higher up in the building where our view wouldn't be blocked.  We would have been SOL if we owned that previous unit.  We had time and eventually the right unit opened up.  Unadvertised, of course.

We've never had owner inspections or deposits withheld unreasonably.  Admittedly our cats have done some damages and I've been surprised that more money wasn't withheld for the damages the little dears caused, but we were honest with owners that we didn't expect a full refund and pointed out the cabinets they'd scratched and window screens they'd ruined.

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

But you wouldn't have that 3.5 million to invest for the duration would you? Presumably you've spent that 2 million on renovations at the start of the 12 year period, not in the final year just before you move out. So you're already down to 7xxx Baht per month interest. You're not going to rent much for that. Certainly not something as nice as the OP would get for 3.5 million.

 

Plus when I said he can sell for half the price, that's a little pessimistic on my behalf. In all likelihood he would get a lot more than that if he bought the right property and could afford to wait a few months to sell. In most cases the property would retain at least 90% of it's value, maybe even increase in value if he was lucky. And remember, Index funds can also go down. I wouldn't want my ability to pay rent every month to be determined by the success or failure of an index fund.

 

I understand renting things short term, maybe even a car if you're staying for 12 months. But long term renting of property just pays off someone else's mortgage while you are left with nothing. Not to mention landlords keeping deposits, raising the rent, inspecting your home every xx months (sometimes without your permission), deciding they want the property back and forcing you to move etc. Not a nice way to live in my opinion.

Oh my goodness, I don't worry about our "investments" being about to support our measly rent every month nor our landlord deciding to keep the deposit, raise the rent or make an inspection.  As I said, we checked out her and her husband as thoroughly as they did us.  We have many mutual acquaintances.  As I wrote earlier, you don't go into these arrangements straight off the boat.

31 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

A Thai lady I knew a few years back had an apartment in your block kitted out as a dungeon, whips, chains on the wall, etc. Nobody seemed bothered with all the male callers coming and going.

What the building security does that irritates some of the residents is that they ask to hold the ID of some visitors until they leave the building.  They did this with my Thai teachers until, with each teacher, I convinced the building staff that the same lady was coming to my condo on a regular basis and they already had her ID details on file.  They don't seem to be as consistent in doing this with our foreign friends who in the same demographic as us.  Or with Thai people who are regulars, like a lady who comes to care for a shut-in each day.

Hubby gets these from time-to-time.  It helps if he blows his nose.  Also, saline spray can help.  Staring at the sun can bring it on for him, but that's not the only cause.  Often it's just while he's sitting on the sofa watching TV and he'll let it go on until I get annoyed enough to tell him to blow his nose.

This is why you should have an international company for your health insurance, not a Thai company that will raise your rates or drop you if you make a claim.  International companies are governed by western rules that prevent these sort of things from happening.

Just now, NancyL said:

I've done the 90 day reports online for several years, but Chiang Mai seems to have a problem since the system was down earlier this year.  A couple days ago, Hubby and I did our second in-person report since the outage, using the drive-thru at the Immigration office near the airport.  

 

Something caught the attention of the officer processing our reports and a higher up came to the car window.  It was about the slip of paper he took out of a passport.  Maybe because I cut off the margins so it fits better in the passports.  Anyway, the supervisor came to the car window, recognizing me from my "glory days" as president of CM Expats Club and I asked when they would update the online system so I could resume online 90 days reports.  His response "no, come here, we want to see you."  Oh <deleted>

Oh well, at least it gives employment to the "Grab driver" who serves our building.  He says he no longer works for Grab, but just for the 20 or so foreigners who call him for transportation.  The most active is an 86 year old American woman with a serious card playing habit.  That's our Covid bubble.

I've done the 90 day reports online for several years, but Chiang Mai seems to have a problem since the system was down earlier this year.  A couple days ago, Hubby and I did our second in-person report since the outage, using the drive-thru at the Immigration office near the airport.  

Something caught the attention of the officer processing our reports and a higher up came to the car window.  It was about the slip of paper he took out of a passport.  Maybe because I cut off the margins so it fits better in the passports.  Anyway, the supervisor came to the car window, recognizing me from my "glory days" as president of CM Expats Club and I asked when they would update the online system so I could resume online 90 days reports.  His response "no, come here, we want to see you."  Oh <deleted>

Juneteenth was a state holiday when we lived in Texas, so Hubby and I are very familiar with it.  The traditional way to celebrate is with family and friends in a picnic featuring good southern food.  I was told this is the date when the slaves in Texas learned they were freed, even though the actual Emancipation Proclamation had been signed much earlier.

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

 

I do not see my report, and I am not able to report online....

Same for me.  I don't see my most recent report, done in person when the online system was down, nor am I able to report online now.  No change in arrival card number, passport number, same visa extension, etc.  Only difference was doing an in-person report when the system was down.

In Chiang Mai, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai (Suan Dok or Chiang Mai University) Hospital and Nakorn Ping Hospital have a foreigner room rate that is higher than what is charged to Thai people.  Other charges are the same.  They started to do this back in 2018 or 2019 after have several unfortunate incidents where foreigners (and/or their significant others) were more demanding than the average Thai patient.  These are both government hospitals.  Other government hospitals in Chiang Mai may do the same thing.  Private hospitals do not -- foreigners and Thai people are charged the same rate.

The government hospitals charge Thai people and foreigners the same rate for meds (a good bargain), outpatient services, tests, etc, it's just the room rates that are higher and really outrageously high for a bed in a ward that was designed for six beds and has nine crammed in.

I'm getting the dreaded "visit your local immigration office" message when I try to submit 90 day reports for Hubby and me.  Like others, we were able to do reports online but had to go in person when the system was down.  I use a laptop and don't want to download to my Android phone.  Is there something I can download or access from my PC that is going to work?  

If I call that phone number listed on the previous page am I going to be able to talk with someone in English who can fix the process.  We use the Chiang Mai office and I know they will be super unhelpful.

17 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

Chiang Mai must be run differently. No need for anything but PP#/photocopy of PP and address in Hua Hin (received QR coding which generated registration number at government hospital).

Yes, Chiang Mai province is running its own registration system.  This is the Chiang Mai forum.  

On 6/7/2021 at 9:27 PM, Tee00 said:

If I can't swim.why the hell would I be at a swimming pool

Some people just like to hang out at swimming pools.  Hubby owned three swim suits before we got married and I figured he could swim.  On our honeymoon, we went to the hotel pool and he made himself comfortable on a lounger, like he was sunning, even though it was an indoor pool.  I insisted in he come in water and I started to splash and jump on him, in play.  After all, it was our honeymoon.  When he didn't play along, I realized he was petrified.  He couldn't swim, despite growing up near an ocean.  

He did go on to take swimming lessons, although he doesn't do it for recreation.  At least he can paddle around a pool now.

Yes, this is exactly what I was going to suggest:

https://www.cancerconnect-chiangmai.com/senior-healthcare-facilities-survey

For someone who is more independent, consider Wellness Residence  http://www.wellnessresidencechiangmai.com/  and perhaps even a serviced apartment like The Dome, Viangbua Mansion or Smith Residence.  Use google to locate the websites of these places.  They have restaurants, maid services and very caring staffs.  

On 4/28/2021 at 2:35 PM, ubonjoe said:

He extension ends on the day he passes on. But unless she tells immigration she could stay until it expires.

Only a extension based upon marriage to a Thai remains valid.

Don't count on this.  With two recent foreigner deaths in our building Chiang Mai Immigration showed up along with the police.  Don't know who called them.  

Also, I suspect that if a widow tried what UJ is recommending and simply "didn't tell" immigration that her husband had died she might find herself hit with a big overstay fine when she next went to Immigration without her husband.  Perhaps even deported and blacklisted.  Of course, a good agent could work around this, but best to be proactive and not coast along thinking Immigration is going to be kind to a widow.

We've used Ao Framing near Suan Prung hospital for years.  I never knew their name until this thread.  They've done everything from very small items to a huge map of the world for our living room wall.  Very reasonable price and quick service.

On 6/5/2021 at 11:51 AM, NCC1701A said:

.....

been robbed by your cat. 

 

 

 

 

and been pranked by your cat

In addition to robbing us, as evidenced by what we find in her stashes whenever we move a major piece of furniture and discover missing small items, she has a trick of hiding from us and making us think she somehow escaped from the condo.  She won't come out when called, we can't find her anywhere and it doesn't help that she'd mostly black, so it's hard to locate her in drawers and closets.

We went through this a few times.  After several hours, we went to the building staff, offering a 500 baht reward for her return, showing them her picture and soon they were bringing us random cats to claim the reward.  Eventually she'd show up in the middle of the condo like nothing had happened.

Now we just ignore her and eventually she shows up when she gets hungry or has to use the litter box.  I think she's found a place to hide up in the couch or mattress.  If only she wouldn't try to get out every time the front door is open.  

5 hours ago, Thailand said:

And those who registered at BigC and Makro etc?

Assume nothing happened to those "registrations" unless you received a confirmed appointment, i.e. have a yellow book/pink ID card.  Use this new registration.  It's more detailed.

Do the shoes fit? 

(Personally, I can't imagine buying shoes online, but it appears that the OP did try them on in the genuine bricks-and-mortar store and then thought he could shop around online and find them cheaper.)

So, if the shoes fit, just keep them and wear them as a lesson learned about how if something is too good to be true, then it is. 

I have a "jade" necklace at I bought for 80 baht from a roadside vendor back in the 1980s at the temple on Doi Suthep when I was a tourist.  He assured me it was genuine jade.  Back home, I asked my jeweler to restring it, along with other necklaces I'd bought on that trip, to knot each bead so that if the string broke, I wouldn't lose the beads.  The jeweler called me later that day to say that the "jade" was glass.  Fortunately the others were OK.  He asked if I wanted to restring the glass necklace; it would cost more than the necklace was worth.  I told him to go ahead, I'd wear it as a reminder that if something is priced too good to be true, then it isn't.  

In Chiang Mai just the completed TM47 form, with the GPS coordinates of your residence and your passport.  Drive-thru at the office near the airport is very easy.  No copies needed.  Shame that online is offline again.