Chiang Mai Condo Rental Situation

[heybruce]

I just finished looking for a new place in Chiang Mai and thought I would provide a brief summary of my observations. People who live here will find nothing new, but it may be useful to people thinking of moving the Chiang Mai.

I was in the market for a studio. There are currently lots of studio condos for rent with minimal kitchens in the 8,000 to 12,000 baht range. Most are along the river, which tends to flood during the rainy season, along Huay Kaew Road, Nimmanhemin Road, and Canal Road near CMU. Condos in or near the old city are very hard to find. These condos are usually 40 to 50 square meters, furnished and with a "kitchen", actually just a sink, refrigerator and cheap microwave in one corner. If you are willing to spend twice as much, around 18,000 to 20,000, you get a very nice corner unit with lots of windows and light, much nicer furniture, over 100 square meters, etc. In other words, twice the price gets you three times the condo. Apartments and smaller condos without kitchens are much cheaper, starting as low as 2000 baht a month for very basic rooms, but most farang will prefer those in the 5,000 baht range.

The best deals are managed by people who don't like to pay for agents or advertising and are diffiult to find. If you are new to Chiang Mai I suggest renting through an agent for the first six months, until you know your way around. A search on "condo chiang mai" will find a number of agents, not all of whom keep their sites up to date.

Not a lot of info here, but if I had known the above when I first arrived in Chiang Mai it would have saved me the time and trouble looking for the wrong things in the wrong places.

[Tyke]

I just finished looking for a new place in Chiang Mai and thought I would provide a brief summary of my observations. People who live here will find nothing new, but it may be useful to people thinking of moving the Chiang Mai.

I was in the market for a studio. There are currently lots of studio condos for rent with minimal kitchens in the 8,000 to 12,000 baht range. Most are along the river, which tends to flood during the rainy season, along Huay Kaew Road, Nimmanhemin Road, and Canal Road near CMU. Condos in or near the old city are very hard to find. These condos are usually 40 to 50 square meters, furnished and with a "kitchen", actually just a sink, refrigerator and cheap microwave in one corner. If you are willing to spend twice as much, around 18,000 to 20,000, you get a very nice corner unit with lots of windows and light, much nicer furniture, over 100 square meters, etc. In other words, twice the price gets you three times the condo. Apartments and smaller condos without kitchens are much cheaper, starting as low as 2000 baht a month for very basic rooms, but most farang will prefer those in the 5,000 baht range.

The best deals are managed by people who don't like to pay for agents or advertising and are diffiult to find. If you are new to Chiang Mai I suggest renting through an agent for the first six months, until you know your way around. A search on "condo chiang mai" will find a number of agents, not all of whom keep their sites up to date.

Not a lot of info here, but if I had known the above when I first arrived in Chiang Mai it would have saved me the time and trouble looking for the wrong things in the wrong places.

[Tyke]

Hi,

A really good place to stay is Huay Kaew Road - very convenient for the mountain and Doi Suthep temple, Chiang Mai old town, University, Central Dept. store, Super Highway and NimmanHemin Rd. Hillside 4 is very quiet and well managed. Mrroomfinder is a good start - See http://www.mrroomfinder.com