So here is the dilemma, if not Thailand then where?

[torrzent]

12 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I am still considering Portugal for future, since as an Europeen, you have rights, health care, close to family and other relatives, and it is a good center point for travelling west and east especially nice weather of the coastline of Brazil. Only 7 hours away. 

 

But, so far as long I am happy here in Thailand, and the situation stays the same as now or better, life is easy in Thailand. It is mind of state as always. 

Have to agree on portugal although not sure i would move somewhere because it is " only" 7 hours from somewhere else; better to move to one place full stop

Edited May 10, 2018 by torrzent

[lkv]

1 hour ago, JAZZDOG said:

I owned a waterfront home in Barra de Navidad and as I recall it was a 99 year lease in a subdivision and was easily handled by my attorney via email before I ever arrived. In Thailand a condo is the only game and a poor one at that. 

 

1. So if it was a 99 year lease then you did not own the house, you owned the lease. Or you owned the house but not the land under it.

 

2. You can also get leasehold in Thailand for houses. Condo is not the only game. For freehold it is.

Edited May 10, 2018 by lkv

[JAZZDOG]

1 minute ago, lkv said:

 

1. So if it was a 99 year lease then you did not own the house, you owned the lease.

 

2. You can also get leasehold on houses in Thailand. Condo is not the only game. For freehold it is.

Actually it was explained in another post. It is a trust set up with a bank. It is very common and actually very convenient as it was used as an investment rental and there was no need for me to attend closing when I bought or sold. As an investment location Thailand is way down on the list. I understand that folks desire that pride of ownership but my deal is bottom line investment return/capital gain. Nothing I have seen in Thailand can match deals I can make elsewhere. For instance I currently rent a condo in Jomtien priced at 8M baht for 25K/month. Reflection, a very nice project but sales are very slow. That same 8M baht spent on purchase plus association fees would pay me 75K/month just sitting in my Bradesco CDB which currently is at a 10 year low. Couple that with the fact I have total access to my funds and can pack up and move tomorrow makes it an easy decision not to buy a condo here. Don't see any deals on houses that would be much different. Again, nothing wrong if someone is committed long term here but it just doesn't work for me

[mogandave]

A few points;
1- The data was from the US Department of Commerce
 
2- Statistics based on some place you worked aren't exactly definitive
 
3- When talking about robbery in Thailand if one includes dual pricing, tea money bribes and lawyers then it would appear robbery is the national pass time.
 
I used to own a home in Jalisco State and I agree with you I feel safer here.

I don’t doubt the accuracy of the data, but rather the way the data is arranged.

It was a number of facilities for several companies over 20 years.

I started vacationing/fishing in Mexico in the late sixties when we’d run to San Felipe with boat & bikes and camp on the beach. Now someone will have to tell me it’s Baja, not Mexico but I’ve been to both. I was in PV last year and on the East Cape the year before that.

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, torrzent said:

Have to agree on portugal although not sure i would move somewhere because it is " only" 7 hours from somewhere else; better to move to one place full stop

Oh, forgot to mention our family house in Brazil, so cold wet winters in Algarve - Lisbon  coastline is avoided, and only 3 - 4 hours away from work. 

 

Also hassel free emmigration for my thai gf, since member of EC

[JAZZDOG]

20 minutes ago, mogandave said:

 

I don’t doubt the accuracy of the data, but rather the way the data is arranged.

It was a number of facilities for several companies over 20 years.

I started vacationing/fishing in Mexico in the late sixties when we’d run to San Felipe with boat & bikes and camp on the beach. Now someone will have to tell me it’s Baja, not Mexico but I’ve been to both. I was in PV last year and on the East Cape the year before that.


 

 

Graduated UCSB in the mid-70s and enjoyed many a session a K58. Great surf and lots of XXX.

[JAZZDOG]

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Oh, forgot to mention our family house in Brazil, so cold wet winters in Algarve - Lisbon  coastline is avoided, and only 3 - 4 hours away from work. 

 

Also hassel free emmigration for my thai gf, since member of EC

What type visa do you have in Brazil?

[Hummin]

17 minutes ago, JAZZDOG said:

What type visa do you have in Brazil?

In Brazil we both get 90 days on arrival. 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Brazil

Edited May 10, 2018 by Hummin

[JAZZDOG]

3 minutes ago, Hummin said:

In Brazil we both get 90 days on arrival. 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Brazil

OK, so you can extend with the federal police for another 90 days end up 180 days in / 180 days out. I did that for years, then got a five year business visa for $50K and the government nixed that. Then I got permanent based on having a GF, thought that was pretty cool.

[Gecko123]

Anybody have any comments or thoughts about Reunion or Mauritius in the Indian Ocean?

[torrzent]

7 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Anybody have any comments or thoughts about Reunion or Mauritius in the Indian Ocean?

Both nice places, and great surf, but need to beware of sharks when swimming.

[Jingthing]

OK, I'm gonna go there (here) again about Merida.

I'm seeing info now that Merida has the lowest murder rate than any city it's size (about a million) in all of North American (including U.S. and Canada).

Yes, sounds too good to be true.

The weather in the hotter season is not only super hot but also very humid.

There are lots of insects.

Hurricane risk in season. 

It is flat.

There are plenty of large stores and shopping malls (suburbs).

Not sure how realistic to be without a car if not living in the Centro area which presumably being touristic wouldn't be the cheapest housing. 

There has started to be high rise condos in more recent years, but locals don't like them. Mostly for Canadians, Americans, and Mexico City imports. Curious about the cost because I like condos. 

Many expats in either the Centro or northern suburbs. The southern suburbs are the "bad" part of town. 

Sketchy info on this -- maybe a way to buy into the Mexican national health system and in this area at least one top rated hospital. 

As the Mayan origin culture in the Yucatan is so very different than most of Mexico, I think it might be fair to say general assumptions about what Mexico is like might not hold up in the Yucatan (and possibly in a good way). 

Edited May 10, 2018 by Jingthing

[JAZZDOG]

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

OK, I'm gonna go there (here) again about Merida.

I'm seeing info now that Merida has the lowest murder rate than any city it's size (about a million) in all of North American (including U.S. and Canada).

Yes, sounds too good to be true.

The weather in the hotter season is not only super hot but also very humid.

There are lots of insects.

Hurricane risk in season. 

It is flat.

There are plenty of large stores and shopping malls (suburbs).

Not sure how realistic to be without a car if not living in the Centro area which presumably being touristic wouldn't be the cheapest housing. 

There has started to be high rise condos in more recent years, but locals don't like them. Mostly for Canadians, Americans, and Mexico City imports. Curious about the cost because I like condos. 

Many expats in either the Centro or northern suburbs. The southern suburbs are the "bad" part of town. 

Sketchy info on this -- maybe a way to buy into the Mexican national health system and in this area at least one top rated hospital. 

As the Mayan origin culture in the Yucatan is so very different than most of Mexico, I think it might be fair to say general assumptions about what Mexico is like might not hold up in the Yucatan (and possibly in a good way). 

Sounds sweet, the times I've lived there the locals were outstanding, very nice people. If they could just reel in the 1/4 of one percent narco gangs it would be fantastic. 

[metisdead]

Some more troll posts have been removed. 

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, JAZZDOG said:

Sounds sweet, the times I've lived there the locals were outstanding, very nice people. If they could just reel in the 1/4 of one percent narco gangs it would be fantastic. 

In Merida?

I do know that Cancun is involved in that but that's two hours away. 

So is this info dated or not?

 

Quote

Merida beyond the drug violence

Merida – slogan: “city of peace” – is not one of the main routes for drug trafficking. Residents can’t take credit for that, but they take pride in their urban culture and the low rate of violent crime. Meridians are deeply proud of their tradition of civility and “tranquilidad.” What’s dangerous in Merida, residents know and the tourists who come here learn, is eating too many habanero peppers or other good food.

https://joannavandergrachtderosado.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/merida-beyond-the-drug-violence/

 

Edited May 10, 2018 by Jingthing

[torrzent]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

OK, I'm gonna go there (here) again about Merida.

I'm seeing info now that Merida has the lowest murder rate than any city it's size (about a million) in all of North American (including U.S. and Canada).

Yes, sounds too good to be true.

The weather in the hotter season is not only super hot but also very humid.

There are lots of insects.

Hurricane risk in season. 

It is flat.

There are plenty of large stores and shopping malls (suburbs).

Not sure how realistic to be without a car if not living in the Centro area which presumably being touristic wouldn't be the cheapest housing. 

There has started to be high rise condos in more recent years, but locals don't like them. Mostly for Canadians, Americans, and Mexico City imports. Curious about the cost because I like condos. 

Many expats in either the Centro or northern suburbs. The southern suburbs are the "bad" part of town. 

Sketchy info on this -- maybe a way to buy into the Mexican national health system and in this area at least one top rated hospital. 

As the Mayan origin culture in the Yucatan is so very different than most of Mexico, I think it might be fair to say general assumptions about what Mexico is like might not hold up in the Yucatan (and possibly in a good way). 

No offense as I know you mean well, but it isn't this like saying Basra Is the safest city in Iraq, so it must be safe.

[JAZZDOG]

21 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

In Merida?

I do know that Cancun is involved in that but that's two hours away. 

So is this info dated or not?

 

https://joannavandergrachtderosado.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/merida-beyond-the-drug-violence/

 

The " City of Peace " Barrio de Paz gets my attention. In Salvador Brazil that is the name of one of the largest favelas. Ask my girl about it and she said if I were to drive in there it would be 50/50 if I made it out alive. Always got a kick out of the name. 

There are currently over a million expats living in Mexico but personally I would seek out another country without the stigma.

I lived in CR for over a decade and went on surf trips up to San Juan del Sur just above the border in Nicaragua. Much safer and cheaper than CR. Beautiful beaches and clear water. Very close to some of the nicest parts of CR in the north. All the property rights one has in the states and close to Int. airport. The only place in Central America I would consider.

 

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=Awr9GjBXTPRaZk0AwAxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbGZiMWJ1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDVUlDMV8xBHNlYwNwaXZz?p=san+juan+del+sur&fr2=piv-web&fr=yfp-t-s

[torrzent]

14 minutes ago, JAZZDOG said:

The " City of Peace " Barrio de Paz gets my attention. In Salvador Brazil that is the name of one of the largest favelas. Ask my girl about it and she said if I were to drive in there it would be 50/50 if I made it out alive. Always got a kick out of the name. 

There are currently over a million expats living in Mexico but personally I would seek out another country without the stigma.

I lived in CR for over a decade and went on surf trips up to San Juan del Sur just above the border in Nicaragua. Much safer and cheaper than CR. Beautiful beaches and clear water. Very close to some of the nicest parts of CR in the north. All the property rights one has in the states and close to Int. airport. The only place in Central America I would consider.

 

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=Awr9GjBXTPRaZk0AwAxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbGZiMWJ1BGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDVUlDMV8xBHNlYwNwaXZz?p=san+juan+del+sur&fr2=piv-web&fr=yfp-t-s

More fake news,  Nicaragua is extremely sketchy and in addition to the history of violence and overthrowing of law by communist zealots such as Ortega has very murky property deeds...don't believe me???Ok, read these posters then,

Stick to stocks and portfolio investments which can all be self managed online without all this wild west horse trading based on fake news

Edited May 10, 2018 by torrzent

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, torrzent said:

No offense as I know you mean well, but it isn't this like saying Basra Is the safest city in Iraq, so it must be safe.

No, not the same. 

 

QUOTE:

Statistics back up Merida’s reputation as Mexico’s safest major city

...

International security expert Ana Maria Salazar Slack, speaking in Merida in September 2015, said in terms of safety the White City is at the level of the great capitals of Europe. Authorities and the business community must remain vigilant to keep the crime rate controlled, which allows the arrival of capital and foreign investment, counseled Salazar Slack, who has worked in the U.S. Pentagon and White House security posts.

“In Merida security rates are at the level of Europe, even among the levels of the safest countries in the world,” she said.

http://www.theyucatantimes.com/2016/04/statistics-back-up-meridas-reputation-as-mexicos-safest-major-city/

Edited May 10, 2018 by Jingthing

[JAZZDOG]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

OK, I'm gonna go there (here) again about Merida.

I'm seeing info now that Merida has the lowest murder rate than any city it's size (about a million) in all of North American (including U.S. and Canada).

Yes, sounds too good to be true.

The weather in the hotter season is not only super hot but also very humid.

There are lots of insects.

Hurricane risk in season. 

It is flat.

There are plenty of large stores and shopping malls (suburbs).

Not sure how realistic to be without a car if not living in the Centro area which presumably being touristic wouldn't be the cheapest housing. 

There has started to be high rise condos in more recent years, but locals don't like them. Mostly for Canadians, Americans, and Mexico City imports. Curious about the cost because I like condos. 

Many expats in either the Centro or northern suburbs. The southern suburbs are the "bad" part of town. 

Sketchy info on this -- maybe a way to buy into the Mexican national health system and in this area at least one top rated hospital. 

As the Mayan origin culture in the Yucatan is so very different than most of Mexico, I think it might be fair to say general assumptions about what Mexico is like might not hold up in the Yucatan (and possibly in a good way). 

Tell you a bit of my story getting started overseas. Surfed CR all thru the 80-90s just 3-4 weeks at a time and loved pretty much everything about it. Along about 1996 I bought a little 62 acre farm with a great view of the ocean just north of Quepos. Built a house bigger than I need 5500sq/ft but then it only cost about $35 per sq/ft.

I segregated out two lots and sold them for $65K each. I bought the entire piece for $65K. After selling the two lots I had less than $130K in the project. Along about this time I met my GF from Brazil who had just divorced a local Tico. I had many friends and associates back in Florida who surfed and others who came down for the ladies. We started buying ocean view farms and at the height in 2002 we had over 1500 acres and were flipping many other farms to developers, Sold and traded much of the land over the years. Ran the house I built as a B&B for two years and sold it for seven times what I had in it. We still own about 450 acres there and just completed another smaller B&B. My girl and I got bored with the isolation and moved to Brazil so she could be closer to her family around 2008. Looking back I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Especially meeting my beautiful GF going on 20 years.I guess what I am saying is that whenever you ask people about a place two things for sure come out. First thing is most of them have never stepped foot in the country. Second is these same folks will be quoting other people who will be quoting other people that haven't been there either but are sure it is a bad idea. I only speak about places I have been. Don't know squat about Europe or most of Asia, never been there, read about it, not the same. Main thing is to complete your due diligence by at least hanging out where ever you choose a year at least. There are many great places out there, great opportunities, but you need to tune out all the negativity and pull the trigger. People that have actually experienced a place first hand will have good and bad things to say. CR is a great place, still love it and visit regularly. People who actually live in Nicaragua swear by it. Same for Panama and more recently Columbia.

I sold my house to this couple from Idaho, they have done well for eight years and have it on the market for $1.6M, a nice profit!

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g309274-d1674108-r463228761-Luxurious_Eco_Friendly_Mountain_Estate_Georgous_Ocean_Views-Manuel_Antonio_Provi.html

[Jingthing]

Addressing people's skepticism.

 

Murder rate in Orlando Florida USA (hardly a Chicago or St. Louis in high murder rates for the USA)

2015 --  12 per 100,000 population

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Orlando-Florida.html

 

 

Murder rate in Merida, Yucatan, MX

2017 --  2 per 100,000 population

https://yucatanexpatlife.com/yucatan-homicide-rate-10x-below-national-average-in-2017/

 

Picked close enough years to compare.

Ignored the 2016 spike in Orlando because that was the year of the Pulse nightclub massacre. 

 

Orlando, a city not even thought of as any kind of "murder capital" about six times higher murder rate.

[torrzent]

9 hours ago, JAZZDOG said:

Tell you a bit of my story getting started overseas. Surfed CR all thru the 80-90s just 3-4 weeks at a time and loved pretty much everything about it. Along about 1996 I bought a little 62 acre farm with a great view of the ocean just north of Quepos. Built a house bigger than I need 5500sq/ft but then it only cost about $35 per sq/ft.

I segregated out two lots and sold them for $65K each. I bought the entire piece for $65K. After selling the two lots I had less than $130K in the project. Along about this time I met my GF from Brazil who had just divorced a local Tico. I had many friends and associates back in Florida who surfed and others who came down for the ladies. We started buying ocean view farms and at the height in 2002 we had over 1500 acres and were flipping many other farms to developers, Sold and traded much of the land over the years. Ran the house I built as a B&B for two years and sold it for seven times what I had in it. We still own about 450 acres there and just completed another smaller B&B. My girl and I got bored with the isolation and moved to Brazil so she could be closer to her family around 2008. Looking back I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Especially meeting my beautiful GF going on 20 years.I guess what I am saying is that whenever you ask people about a place two things for sure come out. First thing is most of them have never stepped foot in the country. Second is these same folks will be quoting other people who will be quoting other people that haven't been there either but are sure it is a bad idea. I only speak about places I have been. Don't know squat about Europe or most of Asia, never been there, read about it, not the same. Main thing is to complete your due diligence by at least hanging out where ever you choose a year at least. There are many great places out there, great opportunities, but you need to tune out all the negativity and pull the trigger. People that have actually experienced a place first hand will have good and bad things to say. CR is a great place, still love it and visit regularly. People who actually live in Nicaragua swear by it. Same for Panama and more recently Columbia.

I sold my house to this couple from Idaho, they have done well for eight years and have it on the market for $1.6M, a nice profit!

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g309274-d1674108-r463228761-Luxurious_Eco_Friendly_Mountain_Estate_Georgous_Ocean_Views-Manuel_Antonio_Provi.html

Unless you spent time at the Hotel Del Rey, then you do not know CR.  That's where all the movers and shakers hang out.  Quepos is mainly a sport fishing town and there is no decent surf in Quepos.  Either spend some time in Guanacaste or if you are an adventurer surf the Salsa Brava south of Limon.....that's where the real surf action takes place.

 

The real money to be made in real estate in CR was in the 80s and 90s, so you missed the glory days there as well.

Edited May 11, 2018 by torrzent

[torrzent]

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Addressing people's skepticism.

 

Murder rate in Orlando Florida USA (hardly a Chicago or St. Louis in high murder rates for the USA)

2015 --  12 per 100,000 population

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Orlando-Florida.html

 

 

Murder rate in Merida, Yucatan, MX

2017 --  2 per 100,000 population

https://yucatanexpatlife.com/yucatan-homicide-rate-10x-below-national-average-in-2017/

 

Picked close enough years to compare.

Ignored the 2016 spike in Orlando because that was the year of the Pulse nightclub massacre. 

 

Orlando, a city not even thought of as any kind of "murder capital" about six times higher murder rate.

There is some merit in what you say, but there is alot more to crime than murder.  Willing to bet that ATM kidnappings (secuestro expreso ) are way higher in Merida (and almost non-existent in Orlando)

Edited May 11, 2018 by torrzent

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, torrzent said:

There is some merit in what you say, but there is alot more to crime than murder.  Willing to bet that ATM kidnappings (secuestro expreso ) are way higher in Merida (and almost non-existent in Orlando)

But who really wants to retire in Orlando, Tampa or Daytona? Florida is out of question. By the way the only place I have been at gunpoint in my life, and it was a police officer after speeding. 

[MaeJoMTB]

6 minutes ago, Hummin said:

But who really wants to retire in Orlando, Tampa or Daytona? Florida is out of question. By the way the only place I have been at gunpoint in my life, and it was a police officer after speeding. 

I quite like Florida, if I were American I would consider it.

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, MaeJoMTB said:

I quite like Florida, if I were American I would consider it.

I spent 3 winterseasons there, and no, no way I would like to live there of many different reasons. I find the American system way more offending to me than the thai. America is suppossed to be the land of free, and a devoloped country, but really? Thailand have an excuse, USA have not. 

[torrzent]

27 minutes ago, Hummin said:

But who really wants to retire in Orlando, Tampa or Daytona? Florida is out of question. By the way the only place I have been at gunpoint in my life, and it was a police officer after speeding. 

Have to agree but was just using the other punter's example. You might say Orlando is a "Mickey Mouse" destination

[Hummin]

40 minutes ago, torrzent said:

Have to agree but was just using the other punter's example. You might say Orlando is a "Mickey Mouse" destination

And Bush Garden in Tampa, and cars on the beach with gangsta music. Well I enjoyed Bike week for once, but thats it. 

 

What I really enjoyed about Florida was the Drop Zones in the bush, a bit wild and lawless in the good ald days, and also the good old DC3 engines they used. Young wild and freee since the police did not cross the railroad, and did not enter private property without legal permit :D

 

The best memory was the good mexican food, and Hot spicy chicken wings, and once and awhile flying to Flagler beach for a beach jump and barbaque. 

 

Florida was great for a young wild stud, but for me now who is about to retire? I do not think so. 

[torrzent]

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

And Bush Garden in Tampa, and cars on the beach with gangsta music. Well I enjoyed Bike week for once, but thats it. 

 

What I really enjoyed about Florida was the Drop Zones in the bush, a bit wild and lawless in the good ald days, and also the good old DC3 engines they used. Young wild and freee since the police did not cross the railroad, and did not enter private property without legal permit :D

 

The best memory was the good mexican food, and Hot spicy chicken wings, and once and awhile flying to Flagler beach for a beach jump and barbaque. 

 

Florida was great for a young wild stud, but for me now who is about to retire? I do not think so. 

And yet it is so popular with snowbirds?  Why?

[mogandave]

I spent 3 winterseasons there, and no, no way I would like to live there of many different reasons. I find the American system way more offending to me than the thai. America is suppossed to be the land of free, and a devoloped country, but really? Thailand have an excuse, USA have not. 

“Land of the Free” is not supposed to mean you get a lot of free things.