Hey folks

My family & i are moving from Australia to CM in the new year, a little family adventure. Hubby flies back for work every 5 weeks (home for 5wks) we have 2 young children 3yrs & 5yrs (-who will be attending LIST)

This site seems to pop up on a lot of my research so i thought id join. so many of you seem to be well versed about being an expat in Chiangmai & any advice or personal experience would be much appreciated.

Step 1 when we get there, & probably the most important... find a house, can anyone offer an advice here? To use an agent not to use an agent? Is it hard to find/negotiate with a owner directly?

Looking for something nice at least 4bed in moobaan in the hangdong area close-ish to school.

What can you expect to pay? Such mixed feedback I'm not sure where to set a budget to stick to. All the real-estate sites seem to be priced much higher than what I'm reading in these forums. Our plan is to check into short term accommodation & then go explore.

Moobaan, the good the bad? Do you have any experience or heard anything about particular ones?

We don't mind a bit of socialising happening around us, it doesnt have to be still & quite by 7pm. Safe for the kids is obviously important.

Thanks in advance!

J

J.............Check your messages...........JR

Best wishes with your Thai adventure-I think you will love it here. Before buying suggest you think about traffic, especially back and forth to school.

For agents I use and happily recommend Simon Bradshaw at Perfect Homes-see website. He has been here 12 years and is very active and honest. Speaks Thai and has a thai wife and 5 year old daughter. Used to teach here so I guess knows about schools too.

Check your P M box

Nice, 4 bed house in Moo Baan near Hang Dong - 15-25k Baht, at 25k maybe get a pool too, 20k should have a pool in the Moo Baan. These are nice, for 10k can get something liveable with 4 bedrooms.

First house, new to Thailand, use an agent. No harm in looking yourself in ThaiVisa classifieds and Rimping Supermarket ad boards.

Moo Baan vs Not, Moo Baan safer, kids play in the street no problem.