Buying A House

[ChiangMaiThai]

Thinking of buying a house in a Moo Bahn in Hang Dong area. Has anyone put together a list of those that are high quality and can be trusted? Seems like there is the real opportunity to rip people off with finishing and construction that look good for the first few years and then fall apart. Any ideas? What companies have the best reputation?

[noise]

Here is what has worked out for us in our moo baan just south of Mae Jo; your mileage may vary.

1. Development has been here 15+ years

2. moo baan is not built out; developer continues to build

3. because it wants to sell as they build, common grounds maintenance crews at work daily

4. because it wants to sell as they build, warranty service/post warranty service office is on site (and does a good job)

5. they collect homeowners' fees!

6. the developer has many developments around Thailand (in the top 2 or 3 in Thailand); has a reputation to protect.

So pick a moo baan where the developer has to maintain a good reputation for future sales and/or has other developments in work which drive it to maintain it reputation. If it is a one time, get in, make a profit, get out, then you might be in trouble.

[jackr]

Yep, and L&H also have wide roads, lots of space, and nice trees... just a shame about the crap shops (albeit being relocated), the awful gym, and the older shop-houses at the top end.

There is also a Land & Houses close to town on the Canal Road, op; although is a bit tighter, more expensive, and more polluted, regards both the air and noise from planes.

Edited April 20, 2010 by jackr

[Greenside]

... just a shame about the crap shops ....

Shops in these big developments find it impossibly hard to make a living beyond the most basic convenience supplies. Once people have hopped in the car to go a couple of kilometres to the store by the main gate/club house whatever, they are tempted to drive for another few minutes to the nearest Tesco, Big C or Carrefour. The developers just never seem to see them as an amenity.

[Leffe]

I've just brought some land in Lanna Thara moo baan Ratchapruk Rd on the way to night safari. There are around 6 new houses there for sale and some blocks of land still for sale. Construction seems ok and you can design your own home.

[Leffe]

I've just brought some land in Lanna Thara moo baan Ratchapruk Rd on the way to night safari. There are around 6 new houses there for sale and some blocks of land still for sale. Construction seems ok and you can design your own home.

Would you mind sharing with us how exactly you "bought" the land. It's always of interest

I paid cash thats all you need to know.

[Leffe]

Forgot to mention there is a nice little development off Canal road called Doikham Hillside that the OP may want to check out.

[Maejo Man]

I paid cash thats all you need to know.

Thanks for the smart reply It was a polite question to find out how you circumvented the Thai law on land ownership.

[ChiangMaiThai]

Maybe I should rephrase the question- A Thai friend will be buying a house in Moo Bahn in Chiang Mai. Which companies can be trusted and which companies should be avoided? I'm concerned that these companies throw together a pretty house that starts to fall apart a few years later. Thanks!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

LOL, good effort CMT. But too late now.

Anyway, some of the more reputable development companies include:

Koolpunt Ville

Ban Nai Fun

Land & Houses

But... it very much depends on the individual development. Koolpunt has some better developments, and then some so-so ones. (Like 5-6-7 and 9)

So the development on the Royal Flora road mentioned earlier is also well worth looking into, also because that road itself looks magnificent. (though some community housing blocks are up in that area as well; still, I think it looks nice, and the development itself also looks nice.)

Edited April 20, 2010 by WinnieTheKhwai

[OOB]

Home In Park (established) and The Masterpiece (new) are the top end of the market around there. However it must be said, if you listen to people on here, all houses prices and rents are exactly the same irrespective of location, moo ban, build quality and facilities, so you should probably just look for the cheapest

[jackr]

... just a shame about the crap shops ....

Shops in these big developments find it impossibly hard to make a living beyond the most basic convenience supplies. Once people have hopped in the car to go a couple of kilometres to the store by the main gate/club house whatever, they are tempted to drive for another few minutes to the nearest Tesco, Big C or Carrefour. The developers just never seem to see them as an amenity.

Mate, with regards to L&H Mae Jo, the shop is understaffed, dirty (with dogs running milling about), boiling hot, and there's bog all in the way of choice. She's an old battleaxe with zero manners... barking and grunting at all n sundry, no pleasantries. The only reason she's there is because of the obligatory cop brother. She really drags the place down but she could make a killing if she smartened up her act. You're talking about a 1,000-plus houses (3 to 25 mil), with the nearest small Tesco 5kms away in MJ involving busy U-turns. There's a new 7-11 just opened up down the road, but before that it was a bit of a trek. I'm all for bunging the old dear out and getting a 7 in - open all hours, pleasantries all round, and a decent stash of gear. In fact, it'd be nice if she were a 'Red' and absconded to the big smoke for good.

[PeaceBlondie]

Let's keep this civil, please.

[tigerbeer]

can we get back to the topic please. which moobans?

if a person chooses to buy in his wife's name, let it be. up to him. if a person chooses to do the 30 year lease, thats his business. and if someone chooses to rent, thats his business as well. do we really need more discussions on that?

not hangdong, but towards San Kampheng is Sivalai 3 on Rd 1317. build quality is very good and prices reasonable, 15 minutes drive from the old city area. Also Urbana by Palm Springs on the superhighway near and across Big-C is also a good mooban to look at. A bit pricey and smaller house units but probably good potential on capital appreciatian.

[doppa]

... just a shame about the crap shops ....

Shops in these big developments find it impossibly hard to make a living beyond the most basic convenience supplies. Once people have hopped in the car to go a couple of kilometres to the store by the main gate/club house whatever, they are tempted to drive for another few minutes to the nearest Tesco, Big C or Carrefour. The developers just never seem to see them as an amenity.

Mate, with regards to L&H Mae Jo, the shop is understaffed, dirty (with dogs running milling about), boiling hot, and there's bog all in the way of choice. She's an old battleaxe with zero manners... barking and grunting at all n sundry, no pleasantries. The only reason she's there is because of the obligatory cop brother. She really drags the place down but she could make a killing if she smartened up her act. You're talking about a 1,000-plus houses (3 to 25 mil), with the nearest small Tesco 5kms away in MJ involving busy U-turns. There's a new 7-11 just opened up down the road, but before that it was a bit of a trek. I'm all for bunging the old dear out and getting a 7 in - open all hours, pleasantries all round, and a decent stash of gear. In fact, it'd be nice if she were a 'Red' and absconded to the big smoke for good.

totally agree with you there, miserable sod, but since they knocked those shops down, and are building the 'new' structures , do you think she'll be back?

definitely needed a 7-11, good business, as a matter of interest are they franchised, anyone know?

[Toolz]

Mate, with regards to L&H Mae Jo, the shop is understaffed, dirty (with dogs running milling about), boiling hot, and there's bog all in the way of choice. She's an old battleaxe with zero manners... barking and grunting at all n sundry, no pleasantries. The only reason she's there is because of the obligatory cop brother. She really drags the place down but she could make a killing if she smartened up her act. You're talking about a 1,000-plus houses (3 to 25 mil), with the nearest small Tesco 5kms away in MJ involving busy U-turns. There's a new 7-11 just opened up down the road, but before that it was a bit of a trek. I'm all for bunging the old dear out and getting a 7 in - open all hours, pleasantries all round, and a decent stash of gear. In fact, it'd be nice if she were a 'Red' and absconded to the big smoke for good.

Okay so I'm try to picture ... she's a lot worse than the woman that ran the Bake n Bite near Thapae Gate yes. The latter would sometimes smile and the former sounds a lot more uncouth. Just figuring where she goes on the scale. Trying to think of any more battleaxes and you know the amazing thing is it's hard! Only Pirates Cove comes to mind.

[PeaceBlondie]

can we get back to the topic please. which moobans?

if a person chooses to buy in his wife's name, let it be. up to him. if a person chooses to do the 30 year lease, thats his business. and if someone chooses to rent, thats his business as well. do we really need more discussions on that?

not hangdong, but towards San Kampheng is Sivalai 3 on Rd 1317. build quality is very good and prices reasonable, 15 minutes drive from the old city area. Also Urbana by Palm Springs on the superhighway near and across Big-C is also a good mooban to look at. A bit pricey and smaller house units but probably good potential on capital appreciatian.

Excellent post, tigerbeer.

[PeaceBlondie]

Could we please discuss farang home ownership elsewhere?

Here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/farang-buy-h...nd-t358103.html

Off topic will be deleted.

[scorecard]

can we get back to the topic please. which moobans?

if a person chooses to buy in his wife's name, let it be. up to him. if a person chooses to do the 30 year lease, thats his business. and if someone chooses to rent, thats his business as well. do we really need more discussions on that?

not hangdong, but towards San Kampheng is Sivalai 3 on Rd 1317. build quality is very good and prices reasonable, 15 minutes drive from the old city area. Also Urbana by Palm Springs on the superhighway near and across Big-C is also a good mooban to look at. A bit pricey and smaller house units but probably good potential on capital appreciatian.

Just a small point, but Urbana will allow customers to buy two plots of land with only one house or extend the house. In fact they are very flexible all round with adjusting the interior design of the rooms etc.

If customer buys two plots and only one house they charge a 200,000Baht lost opportunity fee.