seaeagle

You have a child ??

Put the property in the childs name.. Then lease or usufruct from the child..

The divorce issue is solved, the property is duly owned and needs an additional layer of legal protection against sale until the child is an adult, you have a lifetime or 30 year period of use, and should everything go tits up your going to give it to the wife and child anyway no ??

I guess I am more relaxed than most (despite owning a largish land parcel and having separated from my wife) in that, when I marry someone I do so on the understanding that this partnership comes with a commitment.. If we split I am going to support her, doubly so with kids involved.. I dont need a law court to enforce that role, I would do it willingly. Sure use a usufruct or lease to help with some bargaining issues, to help protect you a little, but at no point did I ever think of any of it as 'mine' its 'ours'.. If you cant have that mindset I would avoid buying under any scheme or system.

Yes, you could put it in the name of a child, but I'm pretty sure "the child" could not then grant either lease or usufruct. Reason is that this would not be in the interests of the child, and the court would protect the child interest above your own.

It's the reaction of the villagers that I find most disturbing........... tribal, like a pack of animals, ignorance, beating, 'law of the jungle', attacking the rescuers.

A very worrying mentality among many people here.

Had a tenderloin at Buffalo in Kata just before Christmas. Easily the best steak I've ever eaten.

Legally in Thailand you must be a Thai national/citizen to deal in land

and no license or training is required

That aside, everyone is a real estate agent here taxi driver to apartments owner

The only way to purchase a property here is to come and look for yourself

Different areas different prices but when you see 2 similar houses in the same

area and one is twice the price of the other you will understand

It took us 6 months to purchase a house here and i had been studying the

market for a long time before we started looking

Agents do not value the houses here the owners do, They do very little

accept take there commission if they manage to sell a house

Due to forum rules, it's not possible to say who's 'bad and without ethics' here. But, petercallen makes some very valid points. Agents will only look at their own slice, and take little account of buyer / seller preferences. There's no real estate 'governing body' from which they could get thrown out for doing dodgy dealings.

Some desperate sellers will promise up to 10% in commission to an agent, so you can guess which properties the agent will say are 'brilliant' and 'offer excellent value'!

Having said that, I feel I can offer support to 2 agencies who show a degree of professionalism over and above what is the norm here. Tropical Properties, based in Patong, and run by Belgians. And KB Real Estate in Nai Harn, run by a Danish guy. There's also a new kid on the block - Century 21, in Patong. As a franchise, they seem very proactive and have to toe the line of their franchise rules. Although i haven't dealt much with them yet, they communicate well and the office appears to be a hive of activity, rather than the sleeping dormitory that you find some agents offices to be.

As the above post says, I'd also suggest you drive around yourself. Anything for sale usually has a private 'for sale' board outside, so take a look and make a few calls. Don't be afraid to drive up some small streets / sois, as you'll find lots of houses that way.

As an expat from north Europe, one of the crass things that such people do, I feel, is to insist on going to the beach on Christmas Day. You can't do that where I come from!

However, I usually try to do the opposite of what is 'expected' of me, so refused to do the beach-thing on Christmas Day, but said I'd go on Boxing Day instead.

Fortunately, we woke up feeling pretty lazy on that morning, and just stayed in the house. Fate played a hand for me then, I'm certain.

Didn't know anything at all about it in Chalong, until Mother-in-law rang to inform us at 2pm. Then, I turned the TV on, and found all sh1t breaking loose 10km away from me.

Not felt anything, but heard a load of alarms, loud speakers and other sh1t going off in Rawai about 10 minutes ago - and then I've just logged on to read this thread!

Keep the info coming, guys!

While I wouldn't recommend Kajonkiet for purely the reasons of 'Thai standards', you do say that International Schools aren't possible for you. In that case, I think Kajonkiet have a 'branch' of their school up in Cherng Talay. Geographically, that should suit you.

Maybe some members up there can confirm the school location, or otherwise.

Not sure of any bed suppliers for your needs, but if you know the dimensions you want, then quite easy to get one custom-made.

If you want something made entirely out of quality teak wood, then I can help you, so just PM me.

My wife reckons that there's a DIRECT bus service now from Phuket to Phitsanulok, ie without transiting through Bangkok. Other than this 'hearsay', she has no more details.

Anyone know of this service, and where to get more details? Thanks.

My wife reckons that there's a DIRECT bus service now from Phuket to Phitsanulok, ie without transiting through Bangkok. Other than this 'hearsay', she has no more details.

Anyone know of this service, and where to get more details? Thanks.

Just get a taxi to Rassada port in the morning - easy to buy a ticket just before you board.

Just heard that a couple of you guys up in CM are buying some land in Phuket.

Land is finite there, so it's always a useful long-term investment. However, you should really check your prices first - the prices allegedly being paid by these buyers from CM are way too expensive.

Just be careful and take your time to weigh things up.

New cars - same old police attitude.

Was behind one of these new police cars earlier today, when out of the blue, from behind me, came a normal-size pick-up truck, but with 4 huge customized tires each the 'size of a house'.

It sped and weaved left and right through the traffic, passing the police car, and passing all cars in front of that. One of the worst examples of dangerous driving, in a big vehicle, that I've seen here.

Did the police do anything? Give chase? Of course not. A total disregard for the law, and disrespect for the police, from the truck driver. And total ambivalence by the police in their 'job' to maintain road safety.

Can't wait for the speed cameras to be installed!!

Anyone know the going salary rate for Thais working as airline stewards and stewardesses?

Not just for Thai Airways, but also for other airlines employing Thai air crew.

Well, now we know what those "late teenagers / early 20-somethings" are doing!!

Never mind "new challenges", I really don't think they can even cope with current and existing challenges.

How close do you need to be?

Even the southern-most part of Phuket is only 1 hour away from the airport. So, in between, you've many, many options for the price you're after, and with a reasonable travel time.

Up near the airport, do check out Nai Yang Beach Resort. Probably over budget, but you may get a deal if you ask.

and get the thread back on an informative track.

Since I kicked this whole thread off, I'll have a go.........

I was asking about what late teenagers / those in their 20's are doing - NOT about relationship building and educational standards. For the latter, I'd probably suggest that, with lower class sizes, the education is likely to be better here, than in the average UK school.

BUT, I'm more interested in what you do with an education here. Go through an International School, or even one of the better govt, schools, in Phuket from Early years to IGCSE, and then what?

My opinion is that even with a higher ratio of teacher to students in the UK, and some of the social downsides you get in the west, the overall outcome for a student having these 'drawbacks' is infinitely better than the prospects of a school leaver / graduate staying in Thailand.

I'd also strongly argue that taking a child to UK in, say, their mid-teens to continue the final years of education and begin a career path, would be akin to taking a fish out of water. By that age, they've developed a personality, and I'm convinced they'd struggle in the less-forgiving and competitive west.

It's okay saying that, if you feel the need to move away from here in the future, you'll do so. But, how easy is that? If you own your house, and intend to move back to UK in 10 years, then I'd suggest you contact your estate agent right now!!

Slight deviation to the thread, but I had a pork pie from Flints-ones recently. Not exactly a 'Melton Mowbray', but as good as I've had around here.

I know a Russian lady who speaks excellent English. She's capable of doing it herself, or otherwise she'll certainly put you in touch with someone else. PM for her details, if you want.

Just done 3, and passed all 3. Mind you, it wasn't with 'flying colours', though!

I suspect problems exist for test takers by not reading the question carefully and slowly. Being nervous, and foreign, doesn't help, of course. With multiple choice, there were often questions where the answer was bleedin' obvious - just take a few seconds to filter out the crap.

Others, simply, require the knowledge. It's learning by rote, which, for Thais, should be something they're used to.

Sadly, a couple of questions were awful and badly written - even I had to take a wild stab as I hadn't a clue what the question was about. Without doubt, those questions should be changed to a clearer question.

2 answers - 2 different ones!

Anyone know for sure?

I have a feeling that, for land crossings, poorsucker is correct, but I'm not sure - hence my post.

If a person has dual nationality, eg Thai and another, can they change their nationality in Thailand by exiting on the Thai passport, and re-entering on the other passport?

I know the 15-day rule will apply on re-entering, but that's not a problem.

On the little road between the hotel and Ao Sane beach. At the road high point, the view is great looking south over Nai Harn, the windmill, and over to Promthep. Even better when there are boats moored in the bay.

Worst - any of the rows upon rows of shophouses with For Sale / Rent signs on them. No, wait a minute, the worst is the rows of shophouses at the north end of Patong Beach, which are all empty and where all the shutters are just rusting away. Truly "innercity-esque".

Just been up today, and used a 'visa run company' for the first time.

Went with TVR, and it was excellent. Timings were as per the script, and couldn't have been better. Like others, I was a bit concerned about the guy behind the wheel of a minibus. Needn't have worried at all - young guy, very smartly presented, and, at times, I was actually thinking he could drive a little faster!

Eve has a decent reputation, but I did ask them first about my trip. Have to say that I thought their attitude was a little dismissive and arrogant, and I'm delighted I rang TVR instead.