24 minutes ago, newnative said:

Spouse and I do Option 3: Buy property and also invest in the US stock market. So far it is working well. We don't have all our financial eggs in one basket, which we like. We know we are in Thailand long-term, like to own our own space to do what we want with it, and have our own furnishings, art, appliances, electronics, etc. Life is short and we just don't want to live in someone else's space--ever. Owning works for us but for others renting could certainly be the better option. There's no one size fits all.

Buying real estate--here and in the US--has been both a place to live in and also an investment, as we have sold up in both places numerous times and made a profit every time. We get the advantage of living in our own space, the advantage of saving on rent, and the advantage of our property appreciating while we are enjoying it.

We buy even if it's short-term. For example, last July, after we sold the house we were living in, we bought a new 3-bedroom pool villa, in Thai name, to live in for a year while we were planning and building a larger new house on the Darkside of Pattaya. We got a good buy and negotiated the builder to make some house changes to the house, itself, plus adding a separate laundry room and a saltwater pool. We did all the furnishings, art, and decoration.

The new house is done and we put the 3-bedroom on the market for sale at the beginning of July, got lucky, and it sold on the 31st, to a Thai buyer. Being such a short period, we only netted a modest profit but we did save about the same amount, 500,000 baht or so, in rent for the year, had we rented a similar 3-bedroom/3 bath pool villa in that area. And, we had the enjoyment of living in our own space--important for us.

You flip properties here, therefore, you have a conflict of interests.

You do not represent the average retired expat weighing up buy v rent.

11 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

No guarantee of an appreciating market. There's that much oversupply here it's a depreciating market over 5 years, and I haven't touched on any future government policy surrounding visas and foreign ownership of property laws.

It may appreciate over the longer term, say 20 years, but TiT, and we don't know what will happen next year, let alone 20 years from now.

These can not be ignored. They are real, and ongoing. They should be factored in.

That's why I chose Option 2.

There are condo's in my block that are similar to the one I live in. I know how much they sold for. I ran the numbers and the purchase price cash, left back in my home country, at 5%, more than covers the rent, with no ongoing costs, and no risk, with my money at call. Why would I bother buying here?

That's the beauty of choices ... what ever works for you. As stated above, 'one size doesn't fit all'

On topic, buying house via nominiee company (if not real) ... well, you can't fix stupid.

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

You flip properties here, therefore, you have a conflict of interests.

You do not represent the average retired expat weighing up buy v rent.

Yea, he does, as 1st house here, TH, planned on living there, till divorce, then it turned into an investment. 2nd house, also planned on living there, till change my mind, and preferred different location.

3rd house, will die here, or the game planned.

1st house help finance 2nd house. 2nd house & extra lots, financed 3rd house, solar & EV. Along with living here, basically rent free for 25 yrs. Wife has 3rd house to live out in, or sell.

Whatever works for you.

Back in ol' USA, every purchase was an investment, as had no intention on living in any of those neighborhoods. So again, lived 17 yrs there, basically rent free. Tenants paid mortgages, if having.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by KhunLA

I don't think there's much risk. You buy the house you know you don't have the majority vote but the odds of you losing your house is infinitesimally small. But yes, anything can go wrong--while you own the house you're not paying rent so if, by some very rare chance, you lose the house you could have saved enough money where it doesn't hurt so bad.

Everybody's case is different. In my case I have double the amount of the house saved up plus a decent pension. In 5 years I will have saved approx 35% of what I paid for the house. But my case is the loner case your mileage may vary.

Maybe do a risk management assessment to see where you stand?

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Furioso

31 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You flip properties here, therefore, you have a conflict of interests.

You do not represent the average retired expat weighing up buy v rent.

There's absolutely no conflict of interest. Anyone--living anywhere--can also do Option 3. Or not. The poster I responded to presented 2 options: #1. Investing in a property to live in, saving rent. #2. Investing in things other than property, while renting. I merely pointed out that there is a third option.

Remember, Option 3 is simply investing in both property to live in and also other investments. It never has to be either or--you can do this or you can do that. No, you can do both. My spouse and I have chosen the US stock market for the majority of our other investments but we also have 2 mutual fund accounts, as well as cash.

The fact that we hold property we buy and live in for sometimes short periods is totally irrelevant. Whether we own and live in a property for 1 year or for 30 years, we still get the benefits I mentioned: an investment that is increasing in value while we live in it, monthly savings on rent, and, for us and many others, the joy of living in our own space, with all our own high quality things, and with the freedom to make minor or major changes to what we own.

Nobody, and certainly not me, is forcing anyone to do Option 3. My post was to simply say that there is this third option. Anyone uncomfortable using any of the investment options, not just real estate, should definitely find something else they are comfortable with.

2 minutes ago, newnative said:

There's absolutely no conflict of interest.

Rubbish.

You constantly talk up the property market here because you buy and sell properties here.

Go peddle your fantasy somewhere else.

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

No guarantee of an appreciating market. There's that much oversupply here it's a depreciating market over 5 years, and I haven't touched on any future government policy surrounding visas and foreign ownership of property laws.

It may appreciate over the longer term, say 20 years, but TiT, and we don't know what will happen next year, let alone 20 years from now.

These can not be ignored. They are real, and ongoing. They should be factored in.

That's why I chose Option 2.

There are condo's in my block that are similar to the one I live in. I know how much they sold for. I ran the numbers and the purchase price cash, left back in my home country, at 5%, more than covers the rent, with no ongoing costs, and no risk, with my money at call. Why would I bother buying here?

100%.....no brainer.....plus, if it truns out you have the neighbours from hell you have the option to move on.

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Every rent don't buy falang thinks they are George Soros 🤣🤣

8% pa is no biggy

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by MIke B Bad