Bangkok Condo Price Trends

[london]

Bingobongo,

please tell us: why do you bother?

All your posts are negative...even some of your most recent: "Investors avoiding Thailand", or "Thailand: Parties' Economic Policies Risky, say Experts", or "Former Thai Army Chief Refuses to rule out another coup" etc.....

The fact is, you don't ever commit yourself to a firm position, just in generalisations.

I have asked you months ago on another post to put up or shut up.

Make a firm prediction.

You're so sure that the Thai property market is about to collapse, well, tell us when?

Give those amongst us who are, in comparison to yourself, totally uninformed, even ignorant, of the Thai economy, Thai property, Thai politics...your definitive opinion. Commit yourself to a specific figure and date....ABOUT ANYTHING that you have been negative/pessimistic about !!!! (that basically means anything to do with Thailand...so its a pretty open field.)

Hey, what about a definitive position say in 6 months on Bangkok's condo prices ? Say mid-range ? Or whatever you choose.

Until you do, for this (obviously) uninformed member, your continual negativity in regard to Thailand as a whole, wears thin.

[ray08]

When buying property ,usually 2 reasons , longterm to live in , this can be a bit more emotional , or buying for investment which

is better to use a calculator and not emotions

I noticed some people in forum quoting how new property asking price is increasing in Bangkok , which i agree with , that market is healthy and market going up ,

As most people here are talking investment it is very important to point out not to look too much at the asking price of a new unit ,but the selling and VERY IMPORTANT CLEARANCE RATE of the second hand market which in effect is what you have ,as soon as you have paid for a new unit off the plan , down the line when you want to realise your return on investment you are selling a second hand unit ,

from what i heard Thai locals are not keen on buying secondhand property , so number of potential buyers reduces greatly , but even if i am wrong on this ,one thing for sure is the very low clearance rate , in Sydney when the market was booming clearance rates were in the 70% plus every weekend ,in fact people were paying above reserve before auctions , means in a normal 5-6 week listing period property has a 70% chance of selling , now market is very slow in Sydney and rate is around 50% clearance ,

Can someone tell me the clearance rate of property in Bangkok ,without the new of the plan sales ,because unless you are the developer no money for us there , i want to see the second hand market realised sales and how long on the market to gauge if it is a good investment, I would be very suprised if clearance rate is more than single digit.

Edited November 17, 2007 by ray08

[donx]

now now children, let us not get caustic........reality is what it is.......now if the housing economy is supposedly robust, (which it is not), then why dear reader are a majority of the increasing bankrupticies in housing related businesses? and as for the new business creation, these are not for condo/home developers........could it be oversupply? could it be poor lending practices? could it be overpriced domiciles? or perhaps all 3?

Bankruptcies rose 6.5% in October

Most of the companies are in the construction, property development and electrical appliance distribution industries.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/11/15...ss_30056209.php

Bingobongo why post half-truths? The first few sentences of the article read as follows:

"The Commerce Ministry showed on Thursday that a total of 1,516 companies shut down their business in October, an increase of 6.54 per cent from the same period last year. Most of the companies are in the construction, property development and electrical appliance distribution industries. In the same month, 3,695 companies were registered, up 4.92 per cent year on year of 152 companies. Most of the newly-registered companies are in construction, property development and services sectors."

Doesn't this represent a net increase in the number of companies in the construction and property development industries? Am I missing something?

[bingobongo]

why anyone would want to invest in a third world junta beats me, but i guess the midlife/identity crisis makes people irrational with the dough anyway.............

and dear old Mr. Walker is just like a consummate salesman "things suck now, but they will get better next quarter"......lol

Thailand `loosing investor appeal`

http://www.thailand-property-guide.com/?p=news/article&NewsID=636

Edited November 27, 2007 by bingobongo

[quiksilva]

Here we go again, the consummate arm chair expert is now guffawing at the stated opinions of a Partner of one of the largest accounting and business consultancy practices in the world.

But nevermind, whether you get it or not is irrelevant, these big firms have lots of smart people who have determined that investing in Thailand is good for them. If you need to know the ins and outs of it ask someone at Ford and Mazda for the rationale as to why they invested 500 million US$, or better still here you go:

Ford-Mazda to Invest More Than $500 Million to Produce Small Cars in Thailand

By admin - Posted on October 10th, 2007

Tagged: ASEAN Region • Australia • Automotive Manufacturing • Ford Corporate • Mazda Corporate • New Zealand • South Africa • Thailand

* World-class, flexible manufacturing facility will serve as small car production hub for ASEAN region, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand

* New production expected to create up to 8,000 direct and indirect jobs

BANGKOK, Thailand, October 9, 2007 – Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation today announced plans to invest more than US$500 million in a new, highly-flexible small passenger car plant at AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) – the successful joint-venture of the two global automotive leaders. Senior executives from Ford and Mazda made the announcement at a press conference in Bangkok.

The new, flexible small car plant will utilize the same automated systems and processes, and state-of-the-art auto manufacturing technologies as the Changan Ford Mazda plant that was launched last month in Nanjing, China.

AAT will begin manufacturing Ford and Mazda's respective small cars in 2009, which will compete in what the auto industry refers to as the 'B-car' category. AAT will also be able to accommodate a more diversified range of products in the future, with simultaneous production of different passenger cars that extend up through the mid-size segment.

Plans for the small car production plant call for a new stamping line and body shop, new trim & final process area. A completely refurbished paint shop will utilize the environmentally friendly three-wet technology paint process, which dramatically reduces VOC and CO2 emissions and waste and improves paint quality. Additionally, warehouse storage will be expanded to handle the increased production volume, and a new employee cafeteria will be built.

Ford and Mazda have already jointly invested more than US$1 billion in the vast AAT facility. This new investment underscores the strategic role that AAT will continue to play as a regional production hub for both Ford and Mazda, as well as their confidence in the facility's ongoing success. AAT celebrated the production milestone of 1 million units earlier this year, reaching it nearly two years ahead of schedule.

"This investment reaffirms our commitment to the Thai market. It will not only allow us to continue participating in the growth of the ASEAN region, but to help drive it," said John Parker, Ford's executive vice president, Asia Pacific and Africa. "Ford and Mazda have one of the most successful partnerships in the automotive industry, and clearly AAT has, and will continue to be, a key strategic production hub for both organizations."

The total investment value will be split evenly between Ford and Mazda, and increase AAT's potential production capacity to 275,000 units from its current annual 175,000, including both complete built up (CBU) units and complete knock down (CKD) units. In addition to domestic sale, Ford and Mazda plan to export their respective small cars manufactured at AAT to markets in the ASEAN region, as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

"This new small passenger car will be a strategic complement to our product offering, both in this region and around the world. It offers a highly competitive balance between fuel efficiency and marketing viability in the global market," added Parker.

The world-class AAT plant is already one of the largest and most modern automotive manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia, exporting Ford and Mazda pickup trucks to more than 130 markets around the world. Leveraging the collective practices of the Ford-Mazda partnership, AAT has helped set standards for auto manufacturing in the ASEAN region, through its ongoing commitment to world-class quality, standards and procedures.

"AAT has been one of our most visible global success stories, and it continues to illustrate the synergies and strengths of the Ford-Mazda partnership," said Robert Graziano, executive vice president, Mazda Motor Corporation. “This investment allows for the expansion of our ASEAN production hub, and the opportunity to leverage the expertise and strategic footprint that we've established here in Thailand with AAT."

“Beyond the increased production of Ford and Mazda vehicles, this additional significant investment in AAT will impact positively on Thailand, as new jobs are created and increased sourcing of locally-produced components generates both direct and indirect returns to the local economy,” asserted Graziano.

Local economic benefits

AAT currently purchases approximately Bt.60 billion (US$1.72 billion) worth of components annually from 177 different suppliers – 90 percent of which are local, representing one of Thailand's largest domestic supply networks.

The facility currently employs about 3,600 staff, including engineers, technicians and skilled assembly workers. AAT says it will hire an additional 2,000 employees by the time the new production commences in 2009, which in turn, will result in up to 6,000 indirect jobs being created.

Initial Investment Strategy

In 1995, Ford and Mazda jointly identified Thailand as a strategic part of their investment and expansion plans in the Asia Pacific region, and laid the groundwork for AAT to establish Thailand as a global manufacturing hub to serve growing demands in both the domestic and export markets.

Following its promotional privileges grant by the Board of Investment (BOI) the same year, AAT invested more than US$500 million to build Thailand's first state-of-the-art, integrated vehicle manufacturing plant. The AAT facility currently includes stamping; body construction; paint, engine, trim & final assembly; and CKD packing facilities; covering more than 529 rai of land in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong province.

In addition to its production successes, AAT and its staff continue to be actively involved in the development of surrounding communities, participating in programs that range from donations for education supplies and equipment, to volunteering for disaster relief assistance and environmental preservation initiatives.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.

About Mazda Motor Corporation

Established in 1920, Mazda Motor Corporation is headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan. Mazda is a truly global company supported by a following of admiring customers in more than 140 countries. Mazda’s international success is also founded on a global manufacturing network comprising two main domestic and 14 overseas production sites. For more information about Mazda, please visit www.mazda.com.

About AutoAlliance Thailand

AutoAlliance Thailand Co., Ltd. (AAT) was established in November 1995 as a joint venture between Ford Motor Company (FMC) and Mazda Motor Corporation to produce pickup trucks for both domestic and international export markets Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation are equal equity partners in this jointly managed facility.

[pkrv]

I am still in Bangkok at this time and one of the things I have noticed is the sheer luxury that has become available/or I did not take in during my last pure holiday visit 2 1/2 years ago.

Looking at my new local food shop at Central - Chidlom branch - The food hall rivals Harrods (I kid not!) and is just 4 minutes walk away. Prices are lower/much lower and the only product I could not locate was Ribena! Everything else was available in quantity and quality. It certainly is not a supermarket it is way beyond that!

However the most notable addition was The Siam Paragon. In looking to furnish The Park I obviously looked around at all the shopping centres - My god there was no shortage of choice! - To demo the wealth here are a few products I noticed.

Sofa 7,500 GBP (imported)

Coffee Table 3,000 GBP (imported)

Porsche 3 times the cost in the UK

Low, mid range and high range products are all available the place is staggering.

Check out the Siam Cinema complex and buy a Nokia ultra ticket. See the latest films in English be escorted to the plush 'executive lounge' for waitress service, enjoy your complementary soft/fruit drink and snack or ask to be served from the bar. Be escorted to your electrically operated fully reclining seat surrounded by illuminated side tables and coffee table - just 40 seats per cinema! (They are the same size as the ones in the UK!) Use the personal blanket to keep warm and when you use the 'facilities' I assure you, you will be gob smacked. All this for just 9 GBP! My god you can just about buy a ticket to a flea pit in the UK for that!

These are the things that attract wealth drive prices etc - And by the way the airport express is coming along great guns - huge stretches have been built and stations are under construction.

Bangkok has leapt forward in just a few years and I don't think has even got started yet.....

Edited November 28, 2007 by pkrv

[cmsally]

I am still in Bangkok at this time and one of the things I have noticed is the sheer luxury that has become available/or I did not take in during my last pure holiday visit 2 1/2 years ago.

Looking at my new local food shop at Central - Chidlom branch - The food hall rivals Harrods (I kid not!) and is just 4 minutes walk away. Prices are lower/much lower and the only product I could not locate was Ribena! Everything else was available in quantity and quality. It certainly is not a supermarket it is way beyond that!

However the most notable addition was The Siam Paragon. In looking to furnish The Park I obviously looked around at all the shopping centres - My god there was no shortage of choice! - To demo the wealth here are a few products I noticed.

Sofa 7,500 GBP (imported)

Coffee Table 3,000 GBP (imported)

Porsche 3 times the cost in the UK

Low, mid range and high range products are all available the place is staggering.

Check out the Siam Cinema complex and buy a Nokia ultra ticket. See the latest films in English be escorted to the plush 'executive lounge' for waitress service, enjoy your complementary soft/fruit drink and snack or ask to be served from the bar. Be escorted to your electrically operated fully reclining seat surrounded by illuminated side tables and coffee table - just 40 seats per cinema! (They are the same size as the ones in the UK!) Use the personal blanket to keep warm and when you use the 'facilities' I assure you, you will be gob smacked. All this for just 9 GBP! My god you can just about buy a ticket to a flea pit in the UK for that!

These are the things that attract wealth drive prices etc - And by the way the airport express is coming along great guns - huge stretches have been built and stations are under construction.

Bangkok has leapt forward in just a few years and I don't think has even got started yet.....

Looks like someone is enjoying himself!

Yes I agree with your assessment, there is a lot of luxury to be found in that area and land is limited, which is why I bought there.

With all factors taken into consideration I think what I purchased was very reasonable and will not go down in value.

By the way does anyone know what the building being constructed at the Siam Square intersection is. I have been told an arts centre; does anyone know more specific details?

[trajan]

that's the giant new "B-MOCA" Bangkok Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art

I read that there is a soft-opening promotional activity this Nov 30th

over 23,000 square metres for an art gallery, art library, changing exhibitions and cultural activities (and also about 30% set aside for commercial activities to support the Museum, such as a museum shop, cafe etc.) The project was first approved by former Bangkok governor Bhichit with continuing support by current Bangkok governor Apirak.

[trajan]

B-MOCA

[pkrv]

that's the giant new "B-MOCA" Bangkok Metropolitan Museum of Contemporary Art

I read that there is a soft-opening promotional activity this Nov 30th

over 23,000 square metres for an art gallery, art library, changing exhibitions and cultural activities (and also about 30% set aside for commercial activities to support the Museum, such as a museum shop, cafe etc.) The project was first approved by former Bangkok governor Bhichit with continuing support by current Bangkok governor Apirak.

Trajan - can you get me a couple of tickets ? We fly back late on the 30th (Friday night). This is the kind of stuff needed! I also noted the new giant aquarium in the Siam Paragon - very good (but not enough jelly fish in the tanks at the time we went).

[bingobongo]

before you get excited about the title.........please realize the devil is in the DETAILS........supply up yet value down, oversupply truly is a wonderous thing.....so yes sales may be up, but it is on lower pricing

Apartment sales booming in Bangkok

Overall, construction of new homes is down 8 percent over last year, and down 22 percent in terms of value , the agency's managing director Sopon Pornchokchai said.

'Meanwhile, the property market overall has declined over the last two years, due to slumping confidence in politics and the economy,' he said.

Siam City Securities said the kingdom's housing demand plunged to a five-year low in September.

http://www.thomsonfxhub.com/fxhub/news-det...65&pageId=0

Edited December 3, 2007 by bingobongo

[pkrv]

Errrrr Bingo - That article says condominiums are the bright spot and people are queuing up to buy off the plan.

Agreed it says houses, an area that I know little about and do not intrude into, are suffering.

But Bingo condominiums and houses are two totally different markets/subjects. IMO it was very poor reporting to group such diverse issues.

[Casuarina]

People are being quite silly when they say "who knows why the Thais are buying these units and leaving them vacant. Maybe their child is starting university. Maybe its to be used as a guest house. Maybe they will use it to house their stamp collection". If the fundamentals aren't there, then the markets are acting irrationally and they will correct themselves.

FYI:

In Soi Aree, which is actually quite an established wealthy neighbourhood. Feel free to drive around to discover those hidden mansions in the Soi. Some are the residence of elite families.

Most new Condos (Noble, Centric and etc) are snapped up by these super rich and political linked families. There are really limited supply in this neighbourhood. This area is so hot that even Construction Company (Noble) put up advertisements to buy land.

To tell you the truth, even a 10 years old Condo in Soi Aree looks empty. But, there is never a notice for rental. Even during odd occasion when you see a unit for sale, it will be gone within a month.

In this scenario, we hope you could at least open up your mind. You just can't apply fundamental to everything. There are always exceptions.

[Livinginexile]

Errrrr Bingo - That article says condominiums are the bright spot and people are queuing up to buy off the plan.

Agreed it says houses, an area that I know little about and do not intrude into, are suffering.

But Bingo condominiums and houses are two totally different markets/subjects. IMO it was very poor reporting to group such diverse issues.

Yes, he allways refers to low end housing maket stats. Clearly the high end condo segment is booming.

[think_too_mut]

Errrrr Bingo - That article says condominiums are the bright spot and people are queuing up to buy off the plan.

Agreed it says houses, an area that I know little about and do not intrude into, are suffering.

But Bingo condominiums and houses are two totally different markets/subjects. IMO it was very poor reporting to group such diverse issues.

Yes, he allways refers to low end housing maket stats. Clearly the high end condo segment is booming.

Is it?

In 15-20 years most of the farangs in Thailand now will be dead. They could be buying now, what happens after that?

Hordes of bar girls, left with high levies and unwanted properties, will be selling those "high end" places for a song.

I am not waiting on that, just think of your offspring having to deal with something "papa did in his crazy years".

[bingobongo]

lets see.....

inflation running rampant - check

oversupply -check

sham election in disarray - check

economy hitting the skids - check

ROI for LOS near the bottom -check

In Thailand, political problems have led to weak economic growth and falling property prices.

ANNUAL HOUSE PRICE CHANGE 2007* (%), ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION[/size]

INFLATION- ADJUSTED NOMINAL

Singapore 24.29 27.59

China (Shanghai) 20.04 27.85

Bulgaria 15.42 3 0.59

Estonia (Tallinn) 15.08 23.38

Norway 11.93 11.56

Lithuania 11.43 13.64

Philippines 9.88 13.04

Hong Kong 9.44 11.25

Australia 8.6 10.63

Sweden 7.86 9.86

Japan (6 cities) 7.86 7.75

UK 7.49 9.68

France (Paris) 7.01 8.27

South Korea 6.53 9.01

Colombia 6.41 2.82

Poland 5.81 8.38

New Zealand 4.59 6.67

SouthAfrica 3.77 12.52

Canada 3.66 6.13

Finland 3.29 5.88

Spain 2.88 5.31

Netherlands 2.44 3.77

Denmark 2.29 3.95

Italy 2.08 5.6

Switzerland 1.91 2.56

Malaysia 1.73 3.2

Greece 1.54 4.18

Germany -0.4 2.04

Latvia -1.02 10.22

Indonesia -1.18 5.24

Japan -1.38 -1.48

Portugal -1.68 0.49

Israel -1.86 -0.51

Thailand -2.81 -0.78

Ireland -9.08 -4.68

US (NAR) -8.46 -5.07

US (FHFB) -6.79 -3.49

US (OFHEO) -0.56 1.79

* latest available

Edited January 6, 2008 by bingobongo

[quiksilva]

Interesting, what's your source?

[thaigene2]

People are being quite silly when they say "who knows why the Thais are buying these units and leaving them vacant. Maybe their child is starting university. Maybe its to be used as a guest house. Maybe they will use it to house their stamp collection". If the fundamentals aren't there, then the markets are acting irrationally and they will correct themselves.

FYI:

In Soi Aree, which is actually quite an established wealthy neighbourhood. Feel free to drive around to discover those hidden mansions in the Soi. Some are the residence of elite families.

Most new Condos (Noble, Centric and etc) are snapped up by these super rich and political linked families. There are really limited supply in this neighbourhood. This area is so hot that even Construction Company (Noble) put up advertisements to buy land.

To tell you the truth, even a 10 years old Condo in Soi Aree looks empty. But, there is never a notice for rental. Even during odd occasion when you see a unit for sale, it will be gone within a month.

In this scenario, we hope you could at least open up your mind. You just can't apply fundamental to everything. There are always exceptions.

I think there is some truth to this as I live in the area. But I think it's a combination of both - the super rich (and probably corrupt - but hey that's another thread) Thai Military and Thai-Chinese Biz elite who live here buying up the units (and yes they have so much $$ they don't care if it sits empty) and speculators waiting to flip.

I see their kids walking around here every day. Not that smart - but 'cool'. How does that saying go? The clever parent or grandparent earn it, the stupid kid/grandkids lose it?

Edited January 6, 2008 by thaigene2

[pkrv]

Interesting, what's your source?

I think Bingo's data is from this link? None the less the article is an interesting read.

http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/investm...ecasts-for-2008

These comments from the article were interesting:

The resolution of Thailand’s political crisis in 2008 could open opportunities, after two dismal years. Gross rental yields are good at 7%-8%, income taxes are relatively high but acceptable (compared to the Philippines), the market is pro-landlord. Under better management Thailand could do very well.

Edited January 7, 2008 by pkrv

[quiksilva]

Thanks pkrv, interesting.

Again note that this is only for housing, not condominiums. Their data is sourced from BOT stats for new housing, which also shows land values appreciating.

Here is a quote from the same article:

The resolution of Thailand’s political crisis in 2008 could open opportunities, after two dismal years. Gross rental yields are good at 7%-8%, income taxes are relatively high but acceptable (compared to the Philippines), the market is pro-landlord. Under better management Thailand could do very well.

Sounds all rosy, but of course its that last statement the country will have a problem with. But still they give it a 4 star rating for the buy-to-let market, see below:

http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/investment-rating

Edited January 7, 2008 by quiksilva

[pkrv]

Ahh... I too noted that after a second read - Through what is also really interesting are the sub links. They are quite detailed regarding Bangkok and other major centers.

The links (especially the gross rental yiels link) are active in my previous (now edited) post.

More from an investor perspective but actually things seem quite good or am I mistaken? The purchase price of Condos is split out, so I class this as a good bit of reporting.

[quiksilva]

The only thing I would caution readers on, with respect to their data, is to point out that they base their yields on prices of 70-75,000 per square meter.

Good luck finding a new project at those levels. Their rental figures are quite accurate though...

...

[samran]

People are being quite silly when they say "who knows why the Thais are buying these units and leaving them vacant. Maybe their child is starting university. Maybe its to be used as a guest house. Maybe they will use it to house their stamp collection". If the fundamentals aren't there, then the markets are acting irrationally and they will correct themselves.

FYI:

In Soi Aree, which is actually quite an established wealthy neighbourhood. Feel free to drive around to discover those hidden mansions in the Soi. Some are the residence of elite families.

Most new Condos (Noble, Centric and etc) are snapped up by these super rich and political linked families. There are really limited supply in this neighbourhood. This area is so hot that even Construction Company (Noble) put up advertisements to buy land.

To tell you the truth, even a 10 years old Condo in Soi Aree looks empty. But, there is never a notice for rental. Even during odd occasion when you see a unit for sale, it will be gone within a month.

In this scenario, we hope you could at least open up your mind. You just can't apply fundamental to everything. There are always exceptions.

Ahh,

Soi Aree.

Love the area and used to live there. Wife and I drive around the place every two months or so to see what there is to see property wise. We'd love to buy 'something' there, but as you say, supply is extremely limited. Lovely, lovely area.

[pkrv]

Errrrr Bingo - That article says condominiums are the bright spot and people are queuing up to buy off the plan.

Agreed it says houses, an area that I know little about and do not intrude into, are suffering.

But Bingo condominiums and houses are two totally different markets/subjects. IMO it was very poor reporting to group such diverse issues.

Yes, he allways refers to low end housing maket stats. Clearly the high end condo segment is booming.

Is it?

In 15-20 years most of the farangs in Thailand now will be dead. They could be buying now, what happens after that?

Hordes of bar girls, left with high levies and unwanted properties, will be selling those "high end" places for a song.

I am not waiting on that, just think of your offspring having to deal with something "papa did in his crazy years".

The baby boom generation has yet to get started - the English have a great expression for this it’s called eccentric. You are mad if you have no money, eccentric if you have….

[backflip]

"In 15-20 years most of the farangs in Thailand now will be dead."

Where did you ever get that nugget of misinformation.

"They could be buying now, what happens after that? Hordes of bar girls, left with high levies and unwanted properties, will be selling those 'high end' places for a song."

"They could be", but they aren't. Regardless, what you're telling us is that the BKK condo market will collapse in 15-20 years. That's as funny as the guy who predicted "the US dollar will get stronger within the next decade."

[thaigene2]

"In 15-20 years most of the farangs in Thailand now will be dead."

Where did you ever get that nugget of misinformation.

Whilst I hate to agree with anything from the poison pen of Backflip, I have to agree that a suggestion that most farang here now will be 'dead' 20 years from now is -- unreliable, at least. Do you have the breakdown in ages of Farangs living here at present, their visa status, etc (and why just farangs by the way - what of Jap's, Chin'se, etc)

Edited January 9, 2008 by thaigene2

[think_too_mut]

I have to agree that a suggestion that most farang here now will be 'dead' 20 years from now is -- unreliable, at least. Do you have the breakdown in ages of Farangs living here at present, their visa status, etc (and why just farangs by the way - what of Jap's, Chin'se, etc)

Unreliable? There is nothing more certain than that (+ taxes).

Look how Bumrungrad, BKK Pattaya Hospital and others are building new wings to accommodate for health care demand of oldish people.

Would those 60+ year olds in BKK and Pattaya get any younger in 15-20 years?

[quiksilva]

No but what about us 30 and 20 somethings who are here legally?

[backflip]

"No but what about us 30 and 20 somethings who are here legally?"

Well, according to the previous brilliant analysis, you'll be able to pick up a condo for a song...when you're 55!

[think_too_mut]

No but what about us 30 and 20 somethings who are here legally?

If you are around, you will see tens of thousand more unsellable condos, in addition to tens of thousands that are roting today.

It would be funny to see those that still have their advantage described as "Near the highway to Don Muang, Bangkok International Airport" still sitting "for sale" in 20 years.