You live in Chiang Mai. You have about 1.8m to invest in a small buy-to-let condo. What would be your choice of city in which to invest? You might also be considering Airbnb if you can’t find suitable long-term tenant. Would that affect your choice of location? 
You would need to bear in mind transport costs if not in Chiang Mai. 

A pal of mine did this.

Purchased 3 condos, hasn't managed to rent any of them once in 8 years.

6 minutes ago, WhiteHatPhil said:

You have about 1.8m to invest in a small buy-to-let condo.

Why would you do that?

17 minutes ago, WhiteHatPhil said:

You live in Chiang Mai. You have about 1.8m to invest

I had (industrial) rental property in Oz at one point--I think the golden rule should be---Buy near where you live.  Friends who had leased out property a considerable distance away from their residence were being change for silly things (even replacing light bulbs) over the top cleaning prices, and some bond given back when all of it shouldn't have been---

 

There are much better investments than leasing a condo out to Farang party goers IMO.

I think people who come to live here (and some Thai locals) Think the money is with the Frangs--- IMO-its not , its with the Thai's

 

Anyway good luck --with your investment, I haven't been up to C.M for about 4 years , must get back for a visit.

Check the market for A. what can you buy for that money, B. how many potential renters are looking for such property and how many of them available to rent and C. what the return on the investment after you have taken everything into account.. Have fun...

1.8 million bahts....

Not sure you'll get a place that anyone wants to rent for that budget. In any case, returns are too low for rentals in Thailand, IMHO, to make it worthwhile being given that most condos are actually losing their value over time.

There are much better investments than rental property in Thailand... 

None of them. We are here on 1 year visas maximum, and extensions can be rejected by Immigration at the whim of any officer at any time.

Plenty of women around to be invested in.

Put the money to work in solid, steady growth stocks and bonds you'll get a better return, and it'll be safer. 

The OP is better off buying a bridge. 

 

Bridges invariably have a greater ROI than property and have a better depreciation rate for tax deductibility purposes.

 

19 hours ago, BritManToo said:

A pal of mine did this.

Purchased 3 condos, hasn't managed to rent any of them once in 8 years.

    I'm curious where he bought these 3 condos.  Things are bad now but, pre-covid, it was very easy to rent condos in Pattaya.  My partner and I had no trouble renting seaview condos we owned at Centric Sea, The Base, Lumpini Park Beach, and View Talay 5C.  

Strongly advise against. Stock market a better bet or, on a lighter note, buy a nice car. You'd lose money but at least you'd get some use out of it.

3 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

There are much better investments than rental property in Thailand... 

Such as..?

All depends how old the OP is, and why to invest.  If 65, and expect to live till 80, just spend an extra 10k on what makes you smile every month.  And with no interest, the 1.8m will last you 15 yrs.

 

Or park it in a nice, safe 5-8-10% return, and play with that every month, after the 1st year.  Can't take it with you, spend it.

22 hours ago, WhiteHatPhil said:

considering Airbnb

You would be breaking the law 

6 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Put the money to work in solid, steady growth stocks and bonds you'll get a better return, and it'll be safer. 

And it's still liquid not like a condo aka money jail.

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

All depends how old the OP is, and why to invest.  If 65, and expect to live till 80, just spend an extra 10k on what makes you smile every month.  And with no interest, the 1.8m will last you 15 yrs.

 

Or park it in a nice, safe 5-8-10% return, and play with that every month, after the 1st year.  Can't take it with you, spend it.

Safe 5-8-10% return.

Could you please elaborate, I would be very curious in any safe 5-8-10% return, especially in the 8-10% range.

3 minutes ago, fabruer said:

Safe 5-8-10% return.

Could you please elaborate, I would be very curious in any safe 5-8-10% return, especially in the 8-10% range.

if you are a US resident, the US Treasury is offering 7.5% on a savings bond for individuals

Haven't peeked in 20 yrs, but surely there's places to put money that give 8-10% returns yearly, some even paying dividends.   Someones posted something a while ago "Dividend Aristocrats" funds paying dividends every year, in fact, increased every year.

 

It's not rocket science ... that took less than 5 minutes to find.

https://www.kiplinger.com/tfn/ticker.html?ticker=NEE

 

5 hours ago, WhiteHatPhil said:

Such as..?

This is pretty good advice from thingamabob.. if done properly... as to the investing - I would suggest investing gradually... and diversifying

5 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Strongly advise against. Stock market a better bet or, on a lighter note, buy a nice car. You'd lose money but at least you'd get some use out of it.

Not sure how old you are, but look up compounding... 

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

You would be breaking the law 

He wouldn't be breaking the law if he leased his airbnb for greater than 30 days minimum or if he purchased an apartment within and included in a licensed condotel buildings allotment of apartments. The law states that non licensed buildings cannot lease for less than 30 days.

At 1.8m he is looking at the budget end of the market so some of the older condotels might suit him.

 

 

3 hours ago, GrandPapillon said:

if you are a US resident, the US Treasury is offering 7.5% on a savings bond for individuals

Good example, also interesting. Unfortunately, it doesn't apply to me as non US citizen.

Also, I understand that there is limitations, eg. Series I bond can only be bought up to US$5,000?

 

 

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Haven't peeked in 20 yrs, but surely there's places to put money that give 8-10% returns yearly, some even paying dividends.   Someones posted something a while ago "Dividend Aristocrats" funds paying dividends every year, in fact, increased every year.

 

It's not rocket science ... that took less than 5 minutes to find.

https://www.kiplinger.com/tfn/ticker.html?ticker=NEE

 

Stocks are a lot of things, but I would not consider them a safe investment.

If you only make 10% on a hand-picked stock though, then better index the S&P.

7 hours ago, fabruer said:

Good example, also interesting. Unfortunately, it doesn't apply to me as non US citizen.

Also, I understand that there is limitations, eg. Series I bond can only be bought up to US$5,000?

 

 

some US Reits are paying 7% annually in dividends, sometimes 10%, and some Mortgage REITs can go as high as 25% but they are highly volatile, so not really safe

Buy 2 Bitcoins in the mid $40,000s and sell in the mid $50,000s. Rinse and repeat.

On 1/5/2022 at 4:19 AM, mrwebb8825 said:

Buy 2 Bitcoins in the mid $40,000s and sell in the mid $50,000s. Rinse and repeat.

Didn't age well, did it.

On 1/3/2022 at 1:49 PM, sanuk711 said:

I had (industrial) rental property in Oz at one point--I think the golden rule should be---Buy near where you live.  Friends who had leased out property a considerable distance away from their residence were being change for silly things (even replacing light bulbs) over the top cleaning prices, and some bond given back when all of it shouldn't have been---

 

There are much better investments than leasing a condo out to Farang party goers IMO.

I think people who come to live here (and some Thai locals) Think the money is with the Frangs--- IMO-its not , its with the Thai's

 

Anyway good luck --with your investment, I haven't been up to C.M for about 4 years , must get back for a visit.

Don't bother...lol

7 hours ago, fabruer said:

Didn't age well, did it.

Hide and watch young padawan. 

On 1/3/2022 at 11:26 PM, malathione said:

Not sure you'll get a place that anyone wants to rent for that budget. In any case, returns are too low for rentals in Thailand, IMHO, to make it worthwhile being given that most condos are actually losing their value over time.

Not in the Thai proce range.