Need Recommendation On Best Areas

[HarryLL76]

I know that the Sukhumvit region is one of Bangkok's most popular living areas. However, as I look at real estate websites I notice that furniture condo rentals in the range of 15000 to 28000 baht seem to be (for the most part) less than 65 square meters (small).

Are there other areas in the city where I could rent a larger apartment and still stay in the 15000 to 28000 baht? I would want to be near the BTS, MRT, a supermarket and fitness center. I am retired so commuting to work is not an issue.

Thanks in advance

Harry

[thedistillers]

Near the BTS or MRT means it's going to be expensive regardless of which station it is. And by "near" I really mean "near". I don't think your budget is realistic at all.

[HarryLL76]

Thanks for the quick reply. When I said near the BTS or MRT, I was thinking a two, three or even a four block walk.

Harry

Near the BTS or MRT means it's going to be expensive regardless of which station it is. And by "near" I really mean "near". I don't think your budget is realistic at all.

[jfchandler]

That's a bit of a challenge.... though it can be done...

Unfortunately, most of the farang oriented places listed on real estate web sites are going to be the much higher priced places offered by companies and such...

Most of the lower priced places on the Internet, especially on Thai real estate web sites, are going to be smaller sized places, certainly under 65 sq mt., aimed at Thais, often without a kitchen or other amenities you might expect.

I found and live in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment on a quiet soi with full kitchen and aircons totaling about 80 sq mt. in a good area in the center part of BKK and farang-land for 15,000-a-month + utilities...about 500 meters, or 5-10 min walk, from a BTS station.

But the multi-story building is a smaller one owned and lived in by a single family (various generations all living on different floors) and they had one floor/unit that they weren't using. No corporations or agents or brokers involved.

I only found the place after spending weeks looking all around BKK 3 years ago and being deluged with places that were either overpriced or the right price but sorely lacking in size and everything else.

In the end, it was thru a network of Thai friends who knew about one place (so-so), and then that owner introduced me to another place (so-so), and then that owner introduced me to a friend of hers...who is the family that I now rent from still... 3 years later...same price... happy as a clam.

Over time, I've been saving items here and there when I see a rental that looks promising, just in case I ever have to end up moving... So if you PM me what you're looking for, I might be able to pass along some of the places I've saved notes on...

[liveinlos]

35 to 40 minutes from Sukhumvit you could have a 3 bedroom stand alone house with a garden yard and fruit trees in a gated community for 12,000 thb per month

and no locals to try to rip you off every 10 meters

[jfchandler]

Livein, there's pluses and minuses about that approach... What area/outskirt of BKK are you talking about??

My wife wants to get a house somewhere on the outskirts, and her argument to me is we'll move there and then buy a car that we'd need in order to go anywhere, including her travel to and from work...assuming we were based in the boonies.

I looked at some of the places she had in mind.... miles and miles from the closest Skytrain or MRT Subway station.... no non-Thai eateries anywhere nearby (except for KFC and McD type places), no western supermarkets nearby... far from the farang (read expensive) hospitals, etc etc...

I spent my lifetime in L.A. driving a car everywhere, usually in traffic. And traffic getting in and out of BKK -- assuming you need to -- can be a killer sometimes... So I'm really not anxious to return to that kind of lifestyle. As things are right now, I/we don't need a car, she can easily take Skytrain to work, and I can walk and/or take Skytrain to almost anywhere I'd want to go...

But then, I do like city living...and have no ambitions to be a weekend homestyle gardner...

[mauiguy90]

In the Ekkamai area, you can still find a unit which ranges from 80-120 sq. meters for about 30K baht. Of course, most of these units are towards the far end of the soi, so you will have to take a cab, motorcycle or a bus to the BTS station.  If you know the area, you also know that traffic is really bad around 5 pm, so keep that in mind. It can take a really long time to get to the beginning of the soi during these high traffic times especially when it rains. That being said, I have a friend that rented a condo that was more than 100 sq meters furnished, with a swimming pool and tennis courts for 26K baht.  Look around Ekkamai and you may find something in your price range within a reasonable distance from the BTS. <br>