Us & Them

MaeJoMTB · June 6, 2015

C. The bank manager does not make any profit when you, or any one else, makes a cash deposit.

I think you will find they get a bonus for the customer cash they hold each year.

lostoday · June 6, 2015

A foreigner "can" legally own land here...........but you need to find out for yourself "HOW"
A hint.........do you honestly think the Hiltons take risks?

No -- Hilton manages the property and lets someone else own it.

I used Hilton as an example

There "Is" a way........but you will have to find it for yourself

Don't bother challenging me on it .........take a Course in Thai Law

I will now "Sign out" for a few months.......as I did the last time this subject "reared its head"

Maybe you should pick another example instead of saying I used Hilton as an example. What does that mean? Examples are supposed to be the prime reason your point is correct.

All of the folks I know that bought women houses here don't live here and are getting scammed for more than just a house. They keep doing it because they are ill informed.

No one least of all me is saying it's impossible just not logical as the potential for getting scre*** is too great.

EnglishJohn · June 6, 2015

I think the thais have got it right, looking after their own, shame we don't do it in England instead of looking after everyone else first!

I have to agree with this. The discrimination against foreigners is very annoying sometimes - but I can't help feeling that if the UK had done more of this, every single thing which is important would not be owned by other countries now.

In my home country, I just feel like a tax-cow whose only purpose is to be milked !.

That does not justify why foreigners need to loose their invesments one way or the other..

Their laws rules needs to protect everybody...now they do not!

Yes of course : the rules should be clearly defined then enforced through law.

This is the fundamental root of why Thailand is considered a bit of a joke by the rest of the world and nobody take the place seriously. I do everything strictly by the book when it comes to investments here (ie my house) - but I still worry that someone could bribe some court officials or cook up some other scam and steal it.

The net result is that I will always keep one foot in and one foot out of the country and never bring in more than I need to for my day-to-day living. The country is so inward looking, they need farang to bring in experience in industry and technology to give it a jump-start and begin the process of their own people getting relevant experience to develop a capability. People like myself are not prepared to do that when I don't trust anyone I don't know.

wowfactor10 · June 6, 2015

Lostoday

Yes perhaps however Thailand should protect more its foreign citizens now it comes across as if they do not care each time we get scammed.

It take little effort for governments to make Thailand a safer place for foreigners to invest in...

Thailand will be much better off with positive foreign citizens..

How positive can you be if you lost your house of 3,2 M BHT and lost 800,000 in legal fees with zero results?

Thailand does not want you. You stayed here and don't know that? It took me about two weeks to figure that out.

What u talking about dude?

If they wanted you they would make it easy for you to stay, allow you to buy land and try and speak your language. Do you live in Thailand any more? No? Do you feel wanted in Thailand? No?

I pretty sure they do not want u either...That why Thailand designed laws rules for THEM and for us..

Fab5BKK · June 6, 2015

Could you please tell us at which Thai University you studied Law?

I used Hilton as an example

There "Is" a way........but you will have to find it for yourself

Don't bother challenging me on it .........take a Course in Thai Law

I will now "Sign out" for a few months.......as I did the last time this subject "reared its head"

NanLaew · June 6, 2015

Us and them,to me the real us and them is the posters who live in Bangkok,or Pattaya,or Phuket,who constantly try to belittle posters who live in the provinces. constantly they seem to think they have better lives,and are better than us,well i wake up to a view of trees,rice feilds and the mountains in the distance,a little better than a traffic clogged soi,in a smog laden city.

Yes, those city slickers on this forum that lord it over the yokels. That's a huge issue for some.

lostoday · June 6, 2015

Yes of course : the rules should be clearly defined then enforced through law.

This is the fundamental root of why Thailand is considered a bit of a joke by the rest of the world and nobody take the place seriously. I do everything strictly by the book when it comes to investments here (ie my house) - but I still worry that someone could bribe some court officials or cook up some other scam and steal it.

The net result is that I will always keep one foot in and one foot out of the country and never bring in more than I need to for my day-to-day living. The country is so inward looking, they need farang to bring in experience in industry and technology to give it a jump-start and begin the process of their own people getting relevant experience to develop a capability. People like myself are not prepared to do that when I don't trust anyone I don't know.

Thailand is easy to live in and the rules clearly defined and enforced by experience. Don't make any major purchases that you are not willing to walk away from. That is rule #1 for Farang.

Edited June 6, 2015 by lostoday

NeverSure · June 6, 2015

What absolute nonsense! The US savings rate is currently between 0.15 and 0.6 percent the latter being a 72 month deposit certificate.

Wells Fargo's current CD rates are even lower: 1 year deposit (frozen) minimum $25,000, 0.15%

https://www.wellsfargo.com/savings-cds/certificate-of-deposit/apply/

How many times do we have to tell you to keep the money offshore. The system is rigged against you here in every way. Like in a casino the longer you play you will see the odds in house favor over time.

Some people just dont get it or are too stubborn to learn from the mistakes of others!

Yes, and if you'd had your money in baht in a Thai bank for the past couple of years it would have lost a ton of its value. Even at zero interest in USD you'd have a whopping gain in exchange rate.

I could go on...

Asheron · June 6, 2015

A. 800K baht is not a substantial amount of money. Presumably it is less money than what is needed to survive for one year in your own country (otherwise you would not be in Thailand).

B. The 800K deposit does not need to remain in the bank, untouched. You can withdraw from the account as necessary, only having to top it off again at 800K when you (re)apply for an extension of stay. The 800K must be in your account for 3 months prior to reapplying for an extension of stay.

C. The bank manager does not make any profit when you, or any one else, makes a cash deposit.

D. Think about what I wrote in item A above; the money you are talking about is not that much, thus it does not make you a special person who deserves preferential treatment. You are just another person/customer. Get over your ego.

Don't know which planet you live on but 800k baht is quite a lot of money for almost all the humans on the planet (Tellus) i live on. That's about the money a normal worker could perhaps save in Sweden working a normal "shitty" job in about 3 years and only if the person didn't have huge loans because of car/house/apartment and never ever did anything special after work nor weekends.

rayongchelsea · June 6, 2015

Thais cheat Thais as well. Foreigners just make it easier..my conclusion on this is that they come here ignore past experiences of other foreigners and think they know better.

Btw, my experience of the Thai laws and courts is that it's not prejudiced against foreigners but against Thais also who do not have connections , wealth etc..or a good lawyer.

NeverSure · June 6, 2015

In a nutshell this one of the classic house/land scams...Happens in most Thai villages always to farangs..In my former village 4 farang owners have lost their home to Thais in this way...

BTW u not only loose you home but you also loose additional millions of BHT on your useless court case and lawyers fees.

Thais will get some copy of your home documents ,example your thai wife ,your thai maid or your fake thai tenant.Then they fake your signature and go to the land office..they stop your lease or kick u off as the director from ur company that controls the home..then they go to a mafia connected thai loan shark who is in on the scam..he will give a loan to the first scammer..The loan gets not repaid,so now the loan shark owns the house...The farang now gets kicked out by the loan shark from his own house...u then go to court 2-3 times 2-3 years and u loose always in court...

Land offices can protect foreigners by making it mandatory for all persons involved in any transaction at land the office to appear in person,to avoid fake documents and signatures..But they not care i guess..

Judge will take side with the loan shark,land office saying no body was aware that thai home owners faked every document...

When a bunch of Thais come to "your" house and tell you to leave, you'll leave. It happens and they don't care about courts.

EnglishJohn · June 6, 2015

Yes of course : the rules should be clearly defined then enforced through law.

This is the fundamental root of why Thailand is considered a bit of a joke by the rest of the world and nobody take the place seriously. I do everything strictly by the book when it comes to investments here (ie my house) - but I still worry that someone could bribe some court officials or cook up some other scam and steal it.

The net result is that I will always keep one foot in and one foot out of the country and never bring in more than I need to for my day-to-day living. The country is so inward looking, they need farang to bring in experience in industry and technology to give it a jump-start and begin the process of their own people getting relevant experience to develop a capability. People like myself are not prepared to do that when I don't trust anyone I don't know.

Thailand is easy to live in and the rules clearly defined and enforced by experience. Don't make any major purchases that you are not willing to walk away from. That is rule #1 for Farang.

I agree, but after watching the last lot in government, it showed just how easily new laws can be made which are not based on fairness or logic. The way they used their majority to force absurd legislation through just because one man decided that was what he wanted made me realise just how fragile things can be. I have little confidence that we won't go through the whole pantomime of uncertainty again.

I would say that at a local level where I live, the rules are pretty much well defined and applied fairly and the police only indulge in petty corruption - but I can never discount some crooked magistrate and his cohorts from deciding to interpret the law with that bizarre Thai logic which conveniently sides in his accomplices favour.

Like you say, rule#1 = make sure you can afford to lose whatever you bring here.

duanebigsby · June 6, 2015

Some years ago I went to look at a house for sale near Pattaya, it was a 1970s free standing property on a 0.75 Rai plot.

The published price was 1.7 million, but when the owner turned and met me the price jumped to 2.4 million.

I told him in no uncertain terms what he could do with his property, I was never going to be robbed by a greedy Thai.

The property was at the bottom of Narklua Soi 16, had I bought it I would now be sitting on an asset worth nearer Bht20 million.

I like to remind myself that I was not robbed by a Thai.

Usually the robbing starts after the sale...

Btw with a 30 years lease That Thai owner would have gotten back his land plot already from u.

Your amazing story its over the 30 years.

Btw i only hear stories of persons loosing stuff i never hear stories of foreigners in Thailand making 1000% profits.

Probably because personally, I don't like to brag.

LOL, you are bragging.

But I agree, any foreigner making tons of profit {and they are here} will keep under the radar. rich people don't sound their own horn, so of course you only hear about losers.

People tend to hear what they want and interpret it into what they want to believe. I know there are scams out there but wowfactor, you will take everything you see or hear in Thailand and put a negative connotation to it. You don't like the place or its people and will only see it in that light.

wowfactor10 · June 6, 2015

Some years ago I went to look at a house for sale near Pattaya, it was a 1970s free standing property on a 0.75 Rai plot.

The published price was 1.7 million, but when the owner turned and met me the price jumped to 2.4 million.

I told him in no uncertain terms what he could do with his property, I was never going to be robbed by a greedy Thai.

The property was at the bottom of Narklua Soi 16, had I bought it I would now be sitting on an asset worth nearer Bht20 million.

I like to remind myself that I was not robbed by a Thai.

Usually the robbing starts after the sale...

Btw with a 30 years lease That Thai owner would have gotten back his land plot already from u.

Your amazing story its over the 30 years.

Btw i only hear stories of persons loosing stuff i never hear stories of foreigners in Thailand making 1000% profits.

Probably because personally, I don't like to brag.

LOL, you are bragging.

But I agree, any foreigner making tons of profit {and they are here} will keep under the radar. rich people don't sound their own horn, so of course you only hear about losers.

People tend to hear what they want and interpret it into what they want to believe. I know there are scams out there but wowfactor, you will take everything you see or hear in Thailand and put a negative connotation to it. You don't like the place or its people and will only see it in that light.

Well i like Thai food,and Thai people most of them are friendly and curious.

95% of foreigners bringing money only to Thailand hardly anyone is making it here..(ok except some real expats large enterprises)

yes i have seen lots of farangs loosing cars land houses and going back homeland totally broke...We all have friends like this right?

You saying its their own fault cause they should have read more websites stickmans ? i am saying Thailand need offer better protection and revise some laws that set us back legally..

Start with land office make it more scam prove..its so easy..Why not care then? Why an Irishman needs loose an 65,000,000 Phuket estate?

Something else i thinking the owners of this website are they USA people? seems The u better go home brigade are mostly USA people too right?

lostoday · June 7, 2015

What absolute nonsense! The US savings rate is currently between 0.15 and 0.6 percent the latter being a 72 month deposit certificate.

Wells Fargo's current CD rates are even lower: 1 year deposit (frozen) minimum $25,000, 0.15%

https://www.wellsfargo.com/savings-cds/certificate-of-deposit/apply/

How many times do we have to tell you to keep the money offshore. The system is rigged against you here in every way. Like in a casino the longer you play you will see the odds in house favor over time.

Some people just dont get it or are too stubborn to learn from the mistakes of others!

Yes, and if you'd had your money in baht in a Thai bank for the past couple of years it would have lost a ton of its value. Even at zero interest in USD you'd have a whopping gain in exchange rate.

I could go on...

Ya Dec 2013 33.0 June 2015 33.5 that's a ton of value and a whopping gain.

The smart money came in at 40 or 50 and now it's 33 so?

lostoday · June 7, 2015

Well i like Thai food,and Thai people most of them are friendly and curious.

95% of foreigners bringing money only to Thailand hardly anyone is making it here..(ok except some real expats large enterprises)

yes i have seen lots of farangs loosing cars land houses and going back homeland totally broke...We all have friends like this right?

You saying its their own fault cause they should have read more websites stickmans ? i am saying Thailand need offer better protection and revise some laws that set us back legally..

Start with land office make it more scam prove..its so easy..Why not care then? Why an Irishman needs loose an 65,000,000 Phuket estate?

Something else i thinking the owners of this website are they USA people? seems The u better go home brigade are mostly USA people too right?

Caveat Emptor is Latin. Very old. Let the buyer beware. If you don't investigate what you are buying you will get robbed. Thailand is not a nanny state that does this for you.

It is cheap here because you have to do it yourself. Thailand does not need or want your money. If it did Thailand would let you buy land. Thailand has told you in law and as many ways possible - you cannot buy land here. Visit and spend money and then go home. If we wanted you permanently we would let you buy land.

CaptHaddock · June 7, 2015

I think it's foolish to come here and expect to buy a home and a car and carry on just like back in the old country. By doing so you expose yourself to risks that are peculiar to Thailand, including the corrupt police. More realistic to rent a place to live and install Uber on your phone. If ownership is important to you, Thailand is not the right country.

duanebigsby · June 7, 2015

"You can't legally own land in Thailand, but ..."

A foreigner "can" legally own land here...........but you need to find out for yourself "HOW"

A hint.........do you honestly think the Hiltons take risks?

No -- Hilton manages the property and lets someone else own it.

I used Hilton as an example

There "Is" a way........but you will have to find it for yourself

Don't bother challenging me on it .........take a Course in Thai Law

I will now "Sign out" for a few months.......as I did the last time this subject "reared its head"

Well, why don't you just tell people instead of being a pompous a$$

rayongchelsea · June 7, 2015

I think it's foolish to come here and expect to buy a home and a car and carry on just like back in the old country. By doing so you expose yourself to risks that are peculiar to Thailand, including the corrupt police. More realistic to rent a place to live and install Uber on your phone. If ownership is important to you, Thailand is not the right country.

Some of us have families and children and a good lawyer.

You over estimate the risk.

Condo in my name. House in child's name. Car in my name..bought at 45 to the dollar..

It is the right country if you know the rules etc..

I was here 15 years before I bought...I have met people who fall in love in 15mins and are talking of buying...

The real risk in ownership is buying too soon, in a country you don't know, in a village, listen to the bs some of these gf/ wives come out with do Not have lawyer ( who you can trust), and finally ignore advice.

A lot of bs is written on this forum but some tell their experiences and offer advice which seem sometimes to irritate those looking to justify buying, not buying, my girlfriend is different etc..

I simply do not accept that it is wrong to buy given certain circumstances.

rayongchelsea · June 7, 2015

"You can't legally own land in Thailand, but ..."

A foreigner "can" legally own land here...........but you need to find out for yourself "HOW"

A hint.........do you honestly think the Hiltons take risks?

No -- Hilton manages the property and lets someone else own it.

I used Hilton as an example

There "Is" a way........but you will have to find it for yourself

Don't bother challenging me on it .........take a Course in Thai Law

I will now "Sign out" for a few months.......as I did the last time this subject "reared its head"

Well, why don't you just tell people instead of being a pompous <deleted>

The real way is not for the average buyer of property.

impulse · June 7, 2015

I think it's foolish to come here and expect to buy a home and a car and carry on just like back in the old country. By doing so you expose yourself to risks that are peculiar to Thailand, including the corrupt police. More realistic to rent a place to live and install Uber on your phone. If ownership is important to you, Thailand is not the right country.

Some of us have families and children and a good lawyer.

You over estimate the risk.

Condo in my name. House in child's name. Car in my name..bought at 45 to the dollar..

It is the right country if you know the rules etc..

I was here 15 years before I bought...I have met people who fall in love in 15mins and are talking of buying...

The real risk in ownership is buying too soon, in a country you don't know, in a village, listen to the bs some of these gf/ wives come out with do Not have lawyer ( who you can trust), and finally ignore advice.

A lot of bs is written on this forum but some tell their experiences and offer advice which seem sometimes to irritate those looking to justify buying, not buying, my girlfriend is different etc..

I simply do not accept that it is wrong to buy given certain circumstances.

Why in the world would you want to throw reason and experience into the conversation? It'll just muck things up for some of the ranters.

Edited June 7, 2015 by impulse

MaeJoMTB · June 7, 2015

i am saying Thailand need offer better protection and revise some laws that set us back legally..

Start with land office make it more scam prove..its so easy..Why not care then? Why an Irishman needs loose an 65,000,000 Phuket estate?

Can't see how you can give better protection to foreigners than not allowing foreigners to buy or own land here.

If you can't do it, you can't be cheated.

JLCrab · June 7, 2015

wowfactor10 · June 7, 2015

i am saying Thailand need offer better protection and revise some laws that set us back legally..

Start with land office make it more scam prove..its so easy..Why not care then? Why an Irishman needs loose an 65,000,000 Phuket estate?

Can't see how you can give better protection to foreigners than not allowing foreigners to buy or own land here.

If you can't do it, you can't be cheated.

Some years ago and even today the Thai developers Thai Lawyers and Thai real estate agents are promoting us openly a company structure to control your house and land,how this can be promoted by them all while its illegal? How can lawyers and developers and even land offices then promote and cooperate with illegal constructions?Why Thai lawyers offer us 90 year LAND LEASES even on documents? But in fact its a poor 30 years lease only ?

How you think a Russian buyer will feel for example who takes his advice form his Thai lawyer and land office and then afterwards finds out he has purchased something in a complete illegal way?Or that is lease is 30 years only and not 90 years as stated in his documents?

I do not call this good government protection...I guess no one wanted to tell the truth upfront to the buyer cause it would kill the sale!

farang000999 · June 7, 2015

If Thailand was first world it would be at first world prices like Singapore. Thailand is cheap because it has warts.

Poor example. Singapore real estate prices are sky high because it is an island.

Real estate prices in Thailand are not that much lower than a "first world country".

.

pigeonjake · June 7, 2015

i am saying Thailand need offer better protection and revise some laws that set us back legally..

Start with land office make it more scam prove..its so easy..Why not care then? Why an Irishman needs loose an 65,000,000 Phuket estate?

Can't see how you can give better protection to foreigners than not allowing foreigners to buy or own land here.

If you can't do it, you can't be cheated.

Some years ago and even today the Thai developers Thai Lawyers and Thai real estate agents are promoting us openly a company structure to control your house and land,how this can be promoted by them all while its illegal? How can lawyers and developers and even land offices then promote and cooperate with illegal constructions?Why Thai lawyers offer us 90 year LAND LEASES even on documents? But in fact its a poor 30 years lease only ?

How you think a Russian buyer will feel for example who takes his advice form his Thai lawyer and land office and then afterwards finds out he has purchased something in a complete illegal way?Or that is lease is 30 years only and not 90 years as stated in his documents?

I do not call this good government protection...I guess no one wanted to tell the truth upfront to the buyer cause it would kill the sale!

Edited June 7, 2015 by pigeonjake

lostoday · June 7, 2015

If Thailand was first world it would be at first world prices like Singapore. Thailand is cheap because it has warts.

Poor example. Singapore real estate prices are sky high because it is an island.

Real estate prices in Thailand are not that much lower than a "first world country".

.

New house on an acre of land where I can see the ocean Thailand $100,000. Florida $3,000,000. You are so wrong I can't even discuss it.

lostoday · June 7, 2015

Some years ago and even today the Thai developers Thai Lawyers and Thai real estate agents are promoting us openly a company structure to control your house and land,how this can be promoted by them all while its illegal? How can lawyers and developers and even land offices then promote and cooperate with illegal constructions?Why Thai lawyers offer us 90 year LAND LEASES even on documents? But in fact its a poor 30 years lease only ?

How you think a Russian buyer will feel for example who takes his advice form his Thai lawyer and land office and then afterwards finds out he has purchased something in a complete illegal way?Or that is lease is 30 years only and not 90 years as stated in his documents?

I do not call this good government protection...I guess no one wanted to tell the truth upfront to the buyer cause it would kill the sale!

You are trying so hard to say, "I'm really smart. It wasn't my fault. Someone else is responsible for my loss."

10 people on this forum would have given you sound advice 10 years ago if you had but asked. - Don't buy in Thailand. You are not big enough and you don't know enough about it.

Real estate people are crooks whatever the country. Sorry Wow. You messed up. You might as well admit it. It ain't nobody's business but your own.

samuibeachcomber · June 7, 2015

2.4% interest is an average rate,you can get a fixed term where you pay no tax,but immigration dont recognise the account if using for retirement extension cos you cannot draw on it.

Probably 8ollox but I'll give you a chance....

- Which fixed term deposit gives tax free interest?

I have always had tax deducted and then claimed it back in January the following year.

- Which fixed term deposit is not recognised for retirement extension?

Ever since I had the retirement option my 800,000 has been in a term deposit, which is moved around on maturity to get the best rate. Immigration have never batted an eyelid in seven years.

There is such a thing as a fixed interest deposit that yields a higher return but you cannot touch it for the duration of the term.Immigration do not recognise this because you cannot access the money.the 800,000 baht can be in an account that bears a higher interest rate than a normal savings account but you have to be able to access it if and when needed during the life of the extension,just so long as it is topped up 3 months prior to ext. renewal and of course the 800,000 has to remain as 800,000 or more for those 3 months....ps.this higher interest bearing account is not subject to any tax on interest earned.

duanebigsby · June 7, 2015