Investment Logic Of Foreigners In Thailand

[bendix]

In the past (last two decades) Thailand was a fairly nice place to live....not too many big headaches. Expats came here to live because it was "easy." There really were no good alternatives to Thailand.

Now.....things have changed......the visa/business rules have become completely insane/xenophobic and good alternatives to Thailand have surfaced.....even lowly Cambodia has a far better economic growth rate than Thailand has (and far better visa/business rules).

So, I guess my answer is that we really did not have good alternatives to LOS back then, so we made decisions based on that (also it was easier to live here back in the good old days). Now all of that has changed. I think more and more expats/investors will choose to live/invest elsewhere......many are already doing so.

Are you STILL here? Jeez, you've been banging this 'Thailand is dead, let's all go to Cambo' drum for the past six months, with little else to say, yet you seem to be dragging your heels about going.

If you're short of the funds to get over there, I'm sure TV could arrange a collection.

[Arunsak]

I know a guy that has rented houses in Thailand for 17 years, he could have bought one for 300,000 baht at the time when he went to Thailand in 89, but he refused cos his wife would have owned it.

I wonder how much rent he has paid over the years, I bet it's a whole lot more than 300,000 baht, and he's still with the same women. But if he died tomorrow, she would have nothing but the rent to pay at the end of the month.

If you can't afford to buy a house then there is nothing you can do about it, if you can afford to buy a house and do, then fair play.

I have a good house, and it cost little more than my car did.

You make a good case there that's hard to disagree with. I think my experience is focused in Bangkok. My mother-in-law owns a home outright there and it cost about Bht 3,000,000 after it was furnished, etc. She does not pay rent there and yes, that is peace of mind. As for me I purchased a home in my country about 10 years ago, worked hard to pay it off, and sold it for a profit of around US$150,000 6 years later. Now my new home I have been in about 3 years, and the value has gone up far more than that. This is the kind of investment that you can not match very easily in Thailand, and here it's all by the book no shady companies or special lawyers to put it in one name and not the other.

So I wonder why the rush for farang to put big money in Thai real estate. If I had a choice I would buy here, rent it out, and rent in Thailand. I also have issues with the fact that I am unwelcome in Thailand even though married for 12 years, raising a family and have a legal marriage to a Thai who got instant permanent residence in my country plus a social security number, right of employment, etc. I get nothing of the sort from her country, just a critical eye and 90 day visa. I feel not so good about Thailand really, but as I had lived there for so long, speak the language and am tied to there, what can I do. I will just rent if I live there.

But you make a good point, I have no disagreement with you either.

[UnknownPoster]

Perhaps? That's funny. I suggest you spend a few more years here and get to know some locals.

One thing you are right about, there probably a hundred or so leading perfectly ordinary lives, loving and trusting their wives, never losing anything.

Cheating the Farang is a national pastime.

You really are an unhappy, bitter man, aren't you? Would you like to tell us your story?

Just another starry eyed newbie offering "sage" advice.

Why all the arrogant opinions when you really don't know what you are talking about?

Get back to me when you have a couple more decades experience, OK?

[bendix]

So, by implication, you've been here a couple of decades longer than me, and you're still miserable? You really need to look at your life, pal.

Or, perhaps, like so many people, you've burnt your bridges back home? That's a shame. It's usually those who have no choices in life that are most bitter :-)

[Etrigan]

Here's another cliche for the thread -

Bendix - You got style by the mile my friend.

[pnustedt]

Why concern yourself with what other people do with their money?

The great thing about money is that it gives you the freedom to do what you want - especially in Thailand. My wife and I do with our money what makes us happy - and that includes buying a home and business to give us security and to benefit our family in Thailand. I know some people prefer to womanise, gamble, buy expensive cars, boats, etc. It's up to them - I hope that it gives them as much happiness as our money gives us.

[bendix]

pnustedt. Stop it please. It's a universal TV right for the miserable clique on the forum to berate those who are living their lives happily and comfortably. If you don't let them, you throw the whole kismet of the forum out of balance.

[Maigo6]

Why concern yourself with what other people do with their money?

Cos they ain't got any money of their own to concern themselves with, that's the usual case.

[Heng]

Why the hel_l so many Falangs with no legal rights to property (except the company route) come over here, buy land and house, a car or even a small business, and all this in the name of their darlings with the premises that one day all that investment may never pay off, be lost or even disappear.

A relative minority of Chinese and Indian immigrants have done the same over the past 50-200 years here and now between these two groups, they own most of the country. Maybe there are some falangs who are planning for the long term? Just because some falangs lose their shirts to gogo poll polishers (note to Bendix: please read the forum rules and have some respect. No references to BGs. GGPPs sounds better), doesn't mean all falangs are in that group.

[Naam]

Why concern yourself with what other people do with their money?

those who are overly concerned what other people do with their money don't have enough own money to be concerned about. as simple as that.

it's of course a different story when a TV-member asks for some advice in this respect and expects answers.

[cmsally]

If you have children it would make sense to invest something here for their future. In my view you would be stupid to rent here if you have a family that could benefit from you making a small investment now. Having said that ,as a foreigner you should also be keeping a foothold in your country of birth so your family have choices open to them in the future. There are very good deals to be had here especially if you think of what it could be worth to your children in the future.

[meemiathai]

The price of a piece of land is like the price of the gold chain I gave my father in law as a gift.(He decided to sell it and bought a piece of land for us to build a house)

So what the heck is all this fuss about?

You guys must spend a lot of time arguing with wives who is going to make coffee in the morning!

What are you going to lose by losing a house and a car in thailand? I lose more than that in a macau's casino one day!

[jumnien]

Just the simple math - I've lived for 6 years in this condo that cost me 3.5M and if I'd rented I'd have paid about 2M in rent by now. The condo is worth maybe 7M now. Renting is not always the safer and least costly alternative.

[JR Texas]

In the past (last two decades) Thailand was a fairly nice place to live....not too many big headaches. Expats came here to live because it was "easy." There really were no good alternatives to Thailand.

Now.....things have changed......the visa/business rules have become completely insane/xenophobic and good alternatives to Thailand have surfaced.....even lowly Cambodia has a far better economic growth rate than Thailand has (and far better visa/business rules).

So, I guess my answer is that we really did not have good alternatives to LOS back then, so we made decisions based on that (also it was easier to live here back in the good old days). Now all of that has changed. I think more and more expats/investors will choose to live/invest elsewhere......many are already doing so.

Are you STILL here? Jeez, you've been banging this 'Thailand is dead, let's all go to Cambo' drum for the past six months, with little else to say, yet you seem to be dragging your heels about going.

If you're short of the funds to get over there, I'm sure TV could arrange a collection.

Ahh....Bendix.....good to see you again. Please take a seat on the couch. Now, why don't you tell us why you have so much anger against poor people and Cambodians? Perhaps it has to do with your early childhood. Were you poor? Does poverty bring back some bad memories?

And why the assumption that rich people are good people? Did your mother tell you this? Don't worry......maybe in time you will be able to move beyond your anger and delusions.

Sorry.....times up. See you again next week. Smile......you are living in LOS :D :D

[duratanium]

Maybe it is to do with perspectives?

People often have failed marriages behind them which have left them disilusioned with life and women / men. They looked at spending their lives with a loved one, buying a house over 25 years that drained their pockets year on year with little or no realitic hope of owning any land. Commuting day after day to work. Same lifestyle month after month.

When looking at starting over again after a failed marriage and losing on average 50% of all they had worked for, they see the house prices and the prospect of maybe a 35 year mortgage now.

People come to LOS from Farang Land with a few £ / $ in their pockets and almost immediately succumb to the surroundings. Land is cheap. Houses are cheap. Food is cheap. There are so many beautiul women fawning over them. Suddenly it seems they are in paradise.

'A wonderful place to invest.' They think?

Money at 67/68 baht £ giving them 67,000 baht to a £1,000. People FEEL rich. Maybe richer than they have ever been before and want to spread some of that wealth around. The feel like millionaires and all of a sudden get the urge to act like one.

So normal reservations go out of the window and the craziness take over. They forget to think!!

Just a thought

[mellow1]

We moved here 5 yrs. ago.Sold our house in the US.Re-invested the money here in a house.I feel this is the best investment for my family.Should I die they will still have a very nice house,or they can sell it and buy a smaller house and have extra cash.I find when having cash at hand it always seems to disappear,kind of like holding water in your hand.I've been married 12 yrs. and in that time have come to know and trust my wife.That doesn't mean we don't have our ups and downs.Should we separate, I'm sure she would be reasonable,as would I.People who have their money just taken away, in such a scenario,are people who don't want to fight for themselves.There are many remedies.Either way I would still be able to live well,unlike my wife a few years down the road, and her money gone.I believe she realizes this quite well and such a situation is unlikely.Neither one of us is what you would call young,and we are comfortable with each other, and our way of life.We are happy and content.

Every man and woman have to find their own partner in life,many will make mistakes in doing that.It is not something which can happen in Thailand alone, or only with a Thai woman.Personally,I wouldn't want to have a different wife.I feel that I have been extremely lucky in having found my wife.Not to mention the joy of having a son,which this marriage produced.

Sometimes you have to take a chance in life.

[dog412]

My wife owns the house. It's not an investment, it's a house. It's mortgaged of course, because neither of us have the cash sitting in a bank somewhere. We do both make enough money to pay off the mortgage.

Why the "hel_l" is any of that strange?

probably because a house is the single most expensive INVESTMENT a individual or family will make in their life.

[lannarebirth]

If you have children it would make sense to invest something here for their future. In my view you would be stupid to rent here if you have a family that could benefit from you making a small investment now. Having said that ,as a foreigner you should also be keeping a foothold in your country of birth so your family have choices open to them in the future. There are very good deals to be had here especially if you think of what it could be worth to your children in the future.

These are my thoughts too Sally. If you have chidren, particularly with dual nationalities, it is important to offer them as many choices as their abilities allow them to take advantage of. If ever one conducts business in Asia it is imperative that you own or control cheaply the land from which you operate. I have never seen a single business plan in Thailand that pencils out to my satisfaction when land cost is a consideration. You simply just have to have it already.

[chinthee]

I agree with the logic of taking care of wife and children and there is nothing wrong with buying a house in your wife's name with that idea in mind, even if the children are merely twinkles in your and the misses eyes at this point.

However, don't delude yourself that this is an investment. It is a gifting. Plain and simple. Nothing wrong with that. But, it is what it is. Don't call it an investment until you've later sold it and personally realized a profit, unless you are on the title somehow.

And, yes, in the event of divorce in Thailand, if you are the main breadwinner, you will have your dog day anyway. And, divorce laws are kinder to husbands of this category than any in your farangland country anyway, probably. So, yeah, put it all in your sweety's name and sleep soundly. At least you won't have to worry about getting slipped a fatal rohypnol dose while you're sleeping.

[UnknownPoster]

So, by implication, you've been here a couple of decades longer than me, and you're still miserable? You really need to look at your life, pal.

Or, perhaps, like so many people, you've burnt your bridges back home? That's a shame. It's usually those who have no choices in life that are most bitter :-)

Mr. Humility,

You're coming across like some insulting, loudmouth rich kid who is new in the neighborhood.

[Maigo6]

So, by implication, you've been here a couple of decades longer than me, and you're still miserable? You really need to look at your life, pal.

Or, perhaps, like so many people, you've burnt your bridges back home? That's a shame. It's usually those who have no choices in life that are most bitter :-)

Mr. Humility,

You're coming across like some insulting, loudmouth rich kid who is new in the neighborhood.

He's right though, if the better off are not happy with something they have the choice to change their situation or location, the less well off don't have that luxury and get all bitter and twisted.

Edited August 8, 2007 by Maigo6

[bendix]

[

Mr. Humility,

You're coming across like some insulting, loudmouth rich kid who is new in the neighborhood.

You're funny. I like you. I like you so much I'll lend you a thousand or so, if you're short.

[qwertz]

Hey bendix, I'm up for some of that.

I'm a little bitter today, need a ticket to LOS.

[bendix]

No qwertz, I'm not helping you. You have choices, and you're being selfish.

I will reserve my assistance for ONLY those people who satisfy the following criteria:

1) They have been living in Thailand so long, every breath they take is rancorous and full of venom.

2) They can't go home because they've burnt their bridges, and they feel stuck in a place that once they felt like kings in, until the cash ran out

3) They have next to nothing to live on here, so angrily resent anyone else having a life

4) They post on Thaivisa.

I shall call it the Bendix International Tycoon Temporary Economic Relief fund. Work out the acronym for yourself.

[Maigo6]

I shall call it the Bendix International Tycoon Temporary Economic Relief fund. Work out the acronym for yourself.

Nice one Bendix.

[qwertz]

Stingy git!

[A_Traveller]

Just to be serious for a moment, if one looks at commercial investment, the new Business Act may go through today and be offered for Royal Assent. Now those who have company held properties will have to meet the 49/51% share and voting rights provisions.

Regards

PS Bendix, I'm working on my venom now What about membership cards for BITTER? Logo anyone?

[dog412]

[

Mr. Humility,

You're coming across like some insulting, loudmouth rich kid who is new in the neighborhood.

You're funny. I like you. I like you so much I'll lend you a thousand or so, if you're short.

don't lend it to him, he probably wouldn't accept it. better you invest it here in your new found "Shangri-La!

[bendix]

ShangriLa?

No, Thailand is no Shangri La. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.

But it's a ###### sight less not perfect than many other places. Unless, you're BITTER, of course.

[cmsally]

No qwertz, I'm not helping you. You have choices, and you're being selfish.

I will reserve my assistance for ONLY those people who satisfy the following criteria:

1) They have been living in Thailand so long, every breath they take is rancorous and full of venom.

2) They can't go home because they've burnt their bridges, and they feel stuck in a place that once they felt like kings in, until the cash ran out

3) They have next to nothing to live on here, so angrily resent anyone else having a life

4) They post on Thaivisa.

I shall call it the Bendix International Tycoon Temporary Economic Relief fund. Work out the acronym for yourself.

Can I apply to be treasurer? Some of these charities and relief funds can be nice little earners so I have heard