So I am currently on a non immigrant O and planning on extending it on the basis of age and money in bank (i.e., retirement) but, will there be any requirement to have found permanent accommodation to get this extension? I am staying in a hotel and intend to do that until I find the right apartment, which I dont want to rush. Info and advice much appreciated.

I have a friend who applied for a conversion in Bangkok (so a slightly different case from you). He told immigration he was staying in the hotel while looking for permanent accommodation, and this was accepted. I suspect the same would have been true for an extension. The result could be different with another immigration office or official. Are you planning to use one of the more reasonable offices?

To apply for your 1 year extension, u need a receipt of notification in the back of your passport, so your hotel needs to have registered you,  and you need visit immigration and get the receipt. The bottom of the TM 30 form.

As Far as PHUKET goes, you also need a photo of you standing in front of your residence showing the house number.

thanks guys, so hotel ok to be staying in. good to know about needing receipt of notification, i guess the hotel will have done the paperwork, will check with them.