Any stats avail on the number of expats returning home?

[dode57k]

18 minutes ago, Caine said:

Don’t know where you call home but I can confirm Thailand has now become far more expensive than the U.K. unless you live in a shithole hut somewhere in Issan of course 

Utter nonsense, do you sit in bars drinking pints of Guinness all day?

[Kenny202]

1 hour ago, Kurtf said:

I too am completely fed up with the moving goal posts. I feel unwelcome here now. After living here 7 years I am ready to return to my home country. But the problem is with the declining economy in Thailand, I am finding it almost impossible to sell the house I built and without that happening, I am financially STUCK here.

I've been coming here 8 years and living here for 5. There has never been a good time here to sell a house in the country or city. I've lived in farang type estates and villages and never seen any of the houses in those areas that were on the market sell. Seen some land sell at about 50% of the market price. Houses on the market are usually ridiculously overpriced (wishful thinking) and the houses that do sell seem to have to be ridiculously underpriced. I have always gone with the general attitude do not invest in anything in Thailand unless you are prepared to walk away from it. 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Kurtf said:

I too am completely fed up with the moving goal posts. I feel unwelcome here now. After living here 7 years I am ready to return to my home country. But the problem is with the declining economy in Thailand, I am finding it almost impossible to sell the house I built and without that happening, I am financially STUCK here.

I bought my house with a 90% mortgage over 27 years.

I can walk away ............. no big loss.

[BritManToo]

30 minutes ago, Caine said:

Don’t know where you call home but I can confirm Thailand has now become far more expensive than the U.K. unless you live in a shithole hut somewhere in Issan of course 

I can confirm there is no house in the UK I can afford to buy or rent.

I have a relatively new modern 3 bedroom house near Chiang Mai, cost 40,000 pounds (no shithole hut).

Rural France, entirely different, I can get a fixer upper with a couple of acres of land for around 20,000 Euro.

 

Where you get the idea the UK is cheaper than Thailand, god only knows.

[stailmanki]

2 hours ago, Russell17au said:

I think that you need to re-word the first sentence of your opening question, Kenny202. I think it should read "How many are bailing out of Thailand for other places". I would say that there are many who could not afford to return to their home country but can afford to move to places like Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia or Malaysia. There would be no way of knowing what the number would be that are leaving Thailand because there would be no accurate record of how many expats are in Thailand. I do know that the exports from Thailand has dropped by 5.8% plus the tourists numbers has also dropped and the Thai Baht is being artificially kept high, so I can see a further drop in exports because Thai products are getting too expensive to import. If I am forced to leave Thailand I will not be returning to Australia as the climate does not suit my injuries. I would be on continual pain killers where as with the climate here I am not on any, so I would be looking at a place with a similar climate as here.

Try Northern Queensland - Northern Territory - North Western Australia 

[mike787]

23 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

I too love the Vietnamese people and the country. Was my initial choice of place to live although I met a Thai girl. The thought (and expense) of getting rid of everything is daunting. I have heard of many guys going to Vietnam but never heard any details of visa situation. Are there one year visas available or retirement visas?

Sent from my SM-J730GM using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Vietnam 1 year Visas are cheap and easy.  YES.  Vietnam much better option.

[mike787]

On 6/28/2019 at 2:44 PM, scotinsiam said:

I can give you my personal circumstance and that of my many friends who visit. I am a single guy from the UK now 55 who has been living here since 2005 as non resident in the UK for tax.

When I came visas were no problem, Immigration was easy currency rate was very good etc. I worked 5 weeks in Saudi and 5 weeks off in Thailand with travel to neighboring countries during my time off.

All was good ???? I started getting retirement extensions when I became 50 (800k method) I have never overstayed or had any run ins with the authorities.

I have owned vehicles and several condos in my own name - I have no money issues. 

 

Fast forward to today, Of the large group of friends I regularly meet, I estimate about 20 of them come to Thailand every year for 2 to 3 months and spend a lot of money on their holiday (some have been coming here for over 30 years) This year I know only about 4 or 5 guys are coming and not for the long 2 or 3 month breaks.

 

I myself have grown tired of the constantly changing goal posts with immigration, the needless and ever changing paperwork, the corruption, the political uncertainty, the poor attitude to foreigners now and a lot of other small things are beginning to wear me down also.

 

So I have quietly sold up - almost everything has now been sold and the majority of the proceeds sent to my Singapore bank. I am off to Vietnam where I also worked in the oil business and know it well. I have already spend many long periods there and it is a breath of fresh air to be smiled at and spoken to by the locals as you walk on the beach in the morning.

 

I will apply online for my Vietnam visa probably next week - then it's over for me unfortunately, no more LOS apart from the occasional weekend perhaps as my current retirement extension has 10 months left, it's been fun - but its over.

 

I am just a normal guy so wont show up in any figures anywhere but my 1 1/2 - 2 million or so I spent here annually is gone. The apartment complex I currently rent in has lost dozens of westerners in the past months who have also just silently gone.

 

Well stated.  I am in the same boat and share the same perspective as many of my expat friends from many parts of the world.  They have grown tired of Thailands BS, NO longer feel appreciated/wanted/or welcome here.  Taking their lives and money else where.  Many that chose to stay in Asia have moved to Vietnam.

[GeorgeCross]

42 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Rather than saying you can "confirm" your outlandish statement how about proving it by giving like for like comparisons.

 

please feel free to provide some stats yourself as a counter argument to his "outlandish statement" (if you can find any..)

 

 

 

[madmen]

I've been coming here 8 years and living here for 5. There has never been a good time here to sell a house in the country or city. I've lived in farang type estates and villages and never seen any of the houses in those areas that were on the market sell. Seen some land sell at about 50% of the market price. Houses on the market are usually ridiculously overpriced (wishful thinking) and the houses that do sell seem to have to be ridiculously underpriced. I have always gone with the general attitude do not invest in anything in Thailand unless you are prepared to walk away from it. 

Not true. Try and steal a condo a short walk from Asoke bts lower Sukhumvit! New condo Nana bts selling 1 to 5 million USA DOLLARS!

Build a house in a thai ghetto village and you will die with it.

[GeorgeCross]

30 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

I've been coming here 8 years and living here for 5. There has never been a good time here to sell a house in the country or city. I've lived in farang type estates and villages and never seen any of the houses in those areas that were on the market sell. Seen some land sell at about 50% of the market price. Houses on the market are usually ridiculously overpriced (wishful thinking) and the houses that do sell seem to have to be ridiculously underpriced. I have always gone with the general attitude do not invest in anything in Thailand unless you are prepared to walk away from it. 

 

3 houses in my street have sold in the past year, at good prices too

 

one's being renovated right now by the new owners and starting to look pretty nice

 

all about location & desirability

 

 

Edited June 29, 2019 by GeorgeCross

[emptypockets]

2 hours ago, Russell17au said:

I think that you need to re-word the first sentence of your opening question, Kenny202. I think it should read "How many are bailing out of Thailand for other places". I would say that there are many who could not afford to return to their home country but can afford to move to places like Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia or Malaysia. There would be no way of knowing what the number would be that are leaving Thailand because there would be no accurate record of how many expats are in Thailand. I do know that the exports from Thailand has dropped by 5.8% plus the tourists numbers has also dropped and the Thai Baht is being artificially kept high, so I can see a further drop in exports because Thai products are getting too expensive to import. If I am forced to leave Thailand I will not be returning to Australia as the climate does not suit my injuries. I would be on continual pain killers where as with the climate here I am not on any, so I would be looking at a place with a similar climate as here.

Australia is a very big place.North Queensland , Northern WA or the NT have climates similar to Thailand. 

I have a place in NQ if you interested.  House and twenty acres,  offers around 500,000 AUD will receive consideration.

Edited June 29, 2019 by emptypockets

[RichardColeman]

 

Personally I found the way to make up the 10,000 baht drop in my income due to currencies and Brexit worries was send the wife out to work. 

 

If your wife is not willing to help out when things get tough - you married the wrong one !

 

[madmen]

How much has Thailand really moved the gold posts. Nothing changed except now need to season the 400k but if you really had the 800k and 65 k to begin with and your not one of the thousands committing fraud on affidavits and stat decs then your good to stay

 

Im anticipating a massive cull of expats living above dingy bars on soi buakhao. I guess they will set up again in Vietnam , Nice win for vietnam ????

 

 

Edited June 29, 2019 by madmen

[Mikisteel]

I observe farang decline a lot.

 

The thing I do not understand is why Thailand does not see the big gaping chance it has to offer sanctuary to a shed load of textiles manufacturers and shoe manufacturers who are all looking to jump ship from China. 

 

Now is the time for Thailand to capitalise and diversify their export revenues beyond agriculture.

 

The FFP guy said it best. Vietnam is ahead of them in many ways and those guys had a mountain to climb. Adidas produce 36% of their shoes in Vietnam and China is also 36%. China's share will continue to decrease.

 

By devaluing the THB it's a win win for tourism and exports so I have high hopes the Thais will at some point realise the opportunity that Vietnam have grasped, is there's to grasp too.

 

This is data driven analysis btw so please no bar stool responses.

[madmen]

4 minutes ago, Mikisteel said:

This is data driven analysis btw so please no bar stool responses.

You sure you replied to the right thread? Your way off topic so your comment a bit ironic

[JRUSA]

On 6/28/2019 at 10:34 AM, Kenny202 said:

I too love the Vietnamese people and the country. Was my initial choice of place to live although I met a Thai girl. The thought (and expense) of getting rid of everything is daunting. I have heard of many guys going to Vietnam but never heard any details of visa situation. Are there one year visas available or retirement visas?

Sent from my SM-J730GM using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Yes I just got my 2nd 1 yr tourists visa no Finacial requirement 

[CNXexpat]

I relocated with my Thai wife after living 10 years together in Germany, where we met, 3.5 years ago to Chiang Mai. We bought our house for a bargain price 6.5 years ago when we got 45 Baht for one Euro. 

 

The visa regulations haven´t change for me, the 90 days report is a bit annoying but at the end a one hour thing including the driving. What´s not so nice is the air for 3 months in Chiang Mai but next year we´ll rent a condo or house for this time at the sea or travel, so it´s ok. 

 

I am living from dividends and stock trading, so the bad Baht rate doesn´t make me happy (I change and spend around 30.000 Euro per year in Thailand, I calculated before I relocated with 100,000 Baht/month and 40 Baht/Euro - now I get 15% less, so I can spend 85,000 Baht per month) but is not a soooo big problem. No reason to leave the country. 

 

Just for fun I checked Vietnam and the Philippines. For a house like mine I would pay in Da Nang much more than 1,000 USD per month but the food would be acceptable for my wife. At the Phils, by example near Cebu City I wouldn´t find a house like mine and the food would be unacceptable for my wife. 

[scottiejohn]

1 hour ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

please feel free to provide some stats yourself as a counter argument to his "outlandish statement" (if you can find any..)

 

 

 

I suggest you let "Caine", who made the "outlandish statement" in the first place defend it him/herself unless of course you are from the same planet and can make(up) that proof for him/her.

Edited June 29, 2019 by scottiejohn

[jimn]

1 hour ago, dode57k said:

Utter nonsense, do you sit in bars drinking pints of Guinness all day?

Its not utter nonsense I am afraid to say. I spend 7 months in Thailand and 5 months in the UK. I am now in the UK and can confirm that the UK is cheaper for almost everything. The only things that are cheaper in Thailand is eating out, petrol and the Thai markets. The UK now has some high quality low cost supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi which sell excellent products. It has forced the large chains to compete. Beer and spirits are also cheap as is wine that is a crazy price in Thailand. Drinking out is cheaper especially Wetherspoons. Clothes are good value from Primark, H&M and Butons. This is all based on the really poor exchange rate. Of course if you work and keep your money in Thailand full time you will have a different view, but if you bring money in now especially from the UK, it is more expensive in Thailand.

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, jimn said:

The only things that are cheaper in Thailand is eating out, petrol and the Thai markets.

Council tax, electricity, water, rent (or house purchase price), car tax, car repairs, house repairs, heating bills ....... all cheaper in Thailand.

Assuming you're an adult and not living with mom.

 

If the UK is that cheap,

Find me a fairly new 3 bedroom house in the UK, nice area, for less than 40,000 pounds or 300 pounds a month?

Link to estate agent advert will do.

Edited June 29, 2019 by BritManToo

[balo]

Vietnam 1 year Visas are cheap and easy.  YES.  Vietnam much better option.

I've been told you can't live in Vietnam on a retirement visa. They only offer 1 year visas (business) and if you live there too many years you could end up getting kicked out. If it wasnt for the agents it would be a lot tougher to get a visa.

[Thaiwrath]

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Council tax, electricity, water, rent, car tax, car repairs, house repairs, heating bills ....... all cheaper in Thailand.

Assuming you're an adult and not living with mom.

And over 6,000 baht (eqivalent) for a TV licence in the UK.

However, 50% discount if you are blind ! Just another UK scandal !

[totally thaied up]

I have seen a increase in people marrying now and more are using agents. Most of my Australian friends do not have the required income to stay unless they use a agent and they do not have a house back in Australia. That's were most went wrong, cutting ties totally. Before I use to think most had no troubles at all staying but once the income letters stopped, the truth came out. Last time it took me two goes at Immigration to get a number for the marriage extension. 

 

I would never cut my ties with Australia. If you own your own home, you are ahead just with free medical care.

[NanLaew]

On 6/28/2019 at 2:44 PM, scotinsiam said:

...but my 1 1/2 - 2 million or so I spent here annually is gone...

Is that all?

 

Buh bye.

[ChipButty]

I personally know 3 guys left Phuket for Vietnam last month, Over the last couple of years I've known quite a few not return and friends I used to have come at least twice a year are not coming this year and they dont mind spending a few quid when here,

There goes my supply of cigars for this year 

Edited June 29, 2019 by ChipButty

[Brer]

I can’t see the Thai government releasing figures on the declining amount of expats leaving the country. Crims and illegal yes.

We have to put up with a bit of chit here but thems the rules.

Its 800000k take it or leave it. 

No good whinging about it.

If England is cheaper go back and enjoy your central heating, the last time I went there it was nearly 10 pound for a sandwich in pub and a beer was almost 5 pound too.

I have no idea what the pound is worth to the baht but if someone did a spreadsheet comparison I am extremely positive Thailand would come out far cheaper then England and Australia even.

 

 

[ChipButty]

Im grounded Im going nowhere stay here with my lovely wife 

[CGW]

On 6/28/2019 at 1:44 PM, scotinsiam said:

I can give you my personal circumstance and that of my many friends who visit. I am a single guy from the UK now 55 who has been living here since 2005 as non resident in the UK for tax.

When I came visas were no problem, Immigration was easy currency rate was very good etc. I worked 5 weeks in Saudi and 5 weeks off in Thailand with travel to neighboring countries during my time off.

All was good ???? I started getting retirement extensions when I became 50 (800k method) I have never overstayed or had any run ins with the authorities.

I have owned vehicles and several condos in my own name - I have no money issues. 

My circumstances are very similar, except I have been here quite a bit longer, move forward to today - no change, visa method identical apart from having to leave money in the bank, never took it out anyway, actual time to process a visa now is a lot quicker, did my one year extension in less than 30 minutes a couple of days ago, guess it depends where you live and who you socialize with.

[CNXexpat]

49 minutes ago, jimn said:

I am now in the UK and can confirm that the UK is cheaper for almost everything.

Really? When I was in London 2 years ago it was super expensive. 10 Pounds for a really bad fish & chips, 25 Pounds entrance fee for Saint Paul´s Cathedral and so on. And as others wrote, compare to rent a house by example in Chiang Mai with renting a house in a 1 million people city in England. 

[Toany]

My circumstances are very similar, except I have been here quite a bit longer, move forward to today - no change, visa method identical apart from having to leave money in the bank, never took it out anyway, actual time to process a visa now is a lot quicker, did my one year extension in less than 30 minutes a couple of days ago, guess it depends where you live and who you socialize with.

It all depends on the immigration officer you see. They obviously don't apply all the rules to you.

You are lucky

In Thailand goal posts have wheels