Deciding where to live - Wat Ket, Tha Salaa, San Sai or Hang Dong

[LannaGuy]

really love San Sai, quiet and close to town central Festival etc. so much nicer than Hang Dong in my opinion

minuses are lack of restaurants, bars etc. but it's a trade-off I would be happy to make

[Paul Catton]

Today I will be taking a drive around and will report back any thoughts

Must be an awfully long drive, awaiting the thoughts in your report.

[slipperylobster]

^^^^

I thought we were discussing 5,000bht rentals?

This is not an advertisement and we are not selling or renting. Just showing an opportunity/example of how one finds a 5000 baht (perhaps more on 1 Jan). Secret is to pay in advance for six months and deal direct with the owner. No need for down payments...thats broker stuff, owners will deal.

Ok..our house is now available for anyone that is interested. Yes...it is huge and its a good deal 5000 a month 4 bedroom 4 bathroom..some minor problems...but easily fixed. The owner may now increase the rent. We are gone on 18 Nov. Anyone interested should pm me today or tomorrow. I will be gone on friday, but my wife will fly back manage the moving truck on 18 nov..

We found a home just outside Udon for 1500. The deals are out there...you have to let the wife be the boss and deal directly with the owners. The higher rents are sometimes demanded from brokers for farangs. Our owners are mountain tribe people, and they live in Prayao. They are very nice, but never, ever come by to the house. It cannot be sold...(long shady history), but it is a very good rental. History is a court case many years ago...lets just say "golden triangle stuff". Owner is litigating...and the case will not be settled for years..if ever.

we always luck out...just takes time and alot of asking around. rent a small room month to month, and start networking. My wife's cousin owns a farm and a few houses...one of which is empty. She is very close to my wife and just wants us in one of her unoccupied homes (10 minutes outside udon). Lots of friends and family...home town of my wife.

Edited November 10, 2015 by slipperylobster

[SooKee]

Interested in this as I'm coming to CM for a look later this month. I've seen lots of places on a few Facebook rental sites and can't believe the value IF the places exist. I can only guess they might be a way out of town. 17k pm for a 3 bed villa with pool.

Friend of my girlfriend recommended Doi Saket. Never been before so I don't know if it's good or not, or how far out. Guess we'll take a look at Mae Hai too.

We have transport but don't want to be so far out that it's a 20 minute drive for a half decent bunch of restaurants. Nor too central that you're living on top on neighbours with noise and yapping Soi dogs 24/7.

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[slipperylobster]

Interested in this as I'm coming to CM for a look later this month. I've seen lots of places on a few Facebook rental sites and can't believe the value IF the places exist. I can only guess they might be a way out of town. 17k pm for a 3 bed villa with pool.

Friend of my girlfriend recommended Doi Saket. Never been before so I don't know if it's good or not, or how far out. Guess we'll take a look at Mae Hai too.

We have transport but don't want to be so far out that it's a 20 minute drive for a half decent bunch of restaurants. Nor too central that you're living on top on neighbours with noise and yapping Soi dogs 24/7.

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siriporn gardens..halfway to doi saket on 118 (left side)...has a very nice, clean subdivision. Also a pool and a playground. Nice homes 9000 a month and up. 10 minutes from central festival (well, at least to the light, and then another 5 minute wait at the light).

having a car negates any need to walk to a restaurant.... many places to eat with 15 minutes.

We don't eat out every single day anyways....and there are times when i don't want to be in a congested city/traffic situation. We had a friend show off their new condo and I could not understand the attraction. It was by Chiang Mai University, and 30 minutes in traffic away from the moat. Horrible traffic. Also, the condo was more like a prison. Brand new, but cheap decor. Turned out to be not even a studio. Just a room with a closet and a tiny kitchen (2 meters wide) ... 15 thousand lol

just get a villa.

[SooKee]

Thanks for that, noted down, we'll sure go take a look.

I'm not that in to town living as I'm not a bar/club person too often, maybe 1-2 times per month. In which case I'll take a taxi there / back rather than pay more for less just so I'm in walking distance. Prefer a bit of peace and tranquility when it comes to living.

I'm in Phuket at the moment was considering moving out to BangTao. Very nice condo, 35k pm. But I'm thinking it's STILL a condo, nice enough for sure. But in CM that will get so much more and better weather too!!

90% of the time I use the bike to get around, just so easy.

[stament]

Today I will be taking a drive around and will report back any thoughts

Must be an awfully long drive, awaiting the thoughts in your report.

Fair point, I did have a look around but sadly the only thing to report back was sunburnt arms!

[stament]

Today I will be taking a drive around and will report back any thoughts

Must be an awfully long drive, awaiting the thoughts in your report.

Fair point, I did have a look around but sadly the only thing to report back was sunburnt arms!

In true Arnie style though, I'll be back - in 10 days if anyone fancies meeting up or passing on some advice!

Got a few people I promised to catchup with

[Paul Catton]

Today I will be taking a drive around and will report back any thoughts

Must be an awfully long drive, awaiting the thoughts in your report.

Fair point, I did have a look around but sadly the only thing to report back was sunburnt arms!

In true Arnie style though, I'll be back - in 10 days if anyone fancies meeting up or passing on some advice!

Got a few people I promised to catchup with

Our itinerary from New Zealand doesn't have us in Chiang Mai until 30 December and then on to Phuket 8 January

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Interested in this as I'm coming to CM for a look later this month. I've seen lots of places on a few Facebook rental sites and can't believe the value IF the places exist. I can only guess they might be a way out of town. 17k pm for a 3 bed villa with pool.

Friend of my girlfriend recommended Doi Saket. Never been before so I don't know if it's good or not, or how far out. Guess we'll take a look at Mae Hai too.

We have transport but don't want to be so far out that it's a 20 minute drive for a half decent bunch of restaurants. Nor too central that you're living on top on neighbours with noise and yapping Soi dogs 24/7.

Ha, that's the thing. Many commercial developments that are a considerable distance out of town ALSO have houses built on top of the neighbouring house, the goal sometimes seems to be to have the roofs damned near touch each other. And they can be noisy AND there may be yapping dogs, Soi or otherwise.

Mae Hia is a good area though, especially towards the Canal Road. Choice of two roads into town, and a lot of restaurants, shops and markets nearby too. About 15 minutes to downtown.

[PBR STREETGANG]

Mae Hia is great for us-Lanna style, 2 bedrooms, solid owners, near the Mae Hia market, and a pretty easy ride to the city. Owner may have another rental coming up soon. PM me for more details.

[LivinLOS]

Just moved to mae hea.. first impressions are its a damn sight busier than the edges of san kampeang.. Lots more eateries but this feels much more suburbia..

For me chiang mai is an odd place when looking for western quality homes with pools.. Theres masses of old stock.. Dusty old places on decaying moobaans.. Theres masses of new build, sat so close together you can open your kitchen window and borrow some sugar from next door.. Theres a fair bit of 'grand homes' in the 40 - 60k (and up) range.. But little 'retirement type' pool homes, decent kitchens, some nice private outdoor space to barbecue and chill with mates without being overlooked ?? Very very little.

[fang37]

My understanding is that Wat Ket & Hang Dong are flood prone - particularly Wat Ket.

[fang37]

Wat Ket & Hang Dong - flood prone?

[MaeJoMTB]

Friend of my girlfriend recommended Doi Saket. Never been before so I don't know if it's good or not, or how far out. Guess we'll take a look at Mae Hai too.

Doi Saket is way too far out.

Not much there either.

The drive into town get old really quickly.

Found this place near MaeJo a couple of weeks back, massive, no idea what they want.

Next to a fishing lake, about 500m from the 1001.

18.875777, 99.003790

Edited November 13, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[chiang mai]

Wat kate yes, it is flood prone, historically.

[sappersrest]

This map gives some indication of areas prone to floods

chiang mai flood map.pdf

[stament]

Ma Jo is way too far out for where I was asking, looks an ok place that albeit only outside photos.

[chiang mai]

It takes me 35 minutes to get from Mae Rim to Airport Plaza, outside of rush hours that is and now that the underpass is open, about twenty minutes to get to Maya - Mae Jo is closer than Mae Rim..

[MaeJoMTB]

Ma Jo is way too far out for where I was asking, looks an ok place that albeit only outside photos.

I've lived at Doi Saket, Hang Dong, Mae Rim and MaeJo.

MaeJo/San Sai is about 2/3 to half the distance from the moat than the other 3 places.

The house I posted in the picture is about 10Km from the moat, I can cycle from there to the moat in 20 minutes..

I live in MaeJo itself, 12Km from the moat, or 30 minutes on my bicycle.

Mae Rim, Doi Saket & Hang Dong are all about 20Km or further from the moat, just too far to cycle.

Edited November 14, 2015 by MaeJoMTB

[fang37]

Where there is ANY doubt re susceptibility to flooding, I would stay away.

As I said previously, I lived at Riverside Condo. Flooding entered the public office area. Some cars were in a terrible mess.

[stament]

It takes me 35 minutes to get from Mae Rim to Airport Plaza, outside of rush hours that is and now that the underpass is open, about twenty minutes to get to Maya - Mae Jo is closer than Mae Rim..

Still too far away for me

[stament]

Ma Jo is way too far out for where I was asking, looks an ok place that albeit only outside photos.

I've lived at Doi Saket, Hang Dong, Mae Rim and MaeJo.

MaeJo/San Sai is about 2/3 to half the distance from the moat than the other 3 places.

The house I posted in the picture is about 10Km from the moat, I can cycle from there to the moat in 20 minutes..

I live in MaeJo itself, 12Km from the moat, or 30 minutes on my bicycle.

Mae Rim, Doi Saket & Hang Dong are all about 20Km or further from the moat, just too far to cycle.

That maybe the case but my concern isn't getting to the moat and as the OP I wanted to know about those areas, although hang dong less so, would have had to have been extremely close to the airport part of Hang Dong, which I have since ruled out

[Chiengmaijoe]

Wat kate yes, it is flood prone, historically.

I've lived in Wat Gaet, near the Gymkhana for 25 years and although around me has been flooded I've never had it in the house. It floods about once every 5 years, or to put it another way - 2 or 3 days out of 1800!

[chiang mai]

Wat kate yes, it is flood prone, historically.

I've lived in Wat Gaet, near the Gymkhana for 25 years and although around me has been flooded I've never had it in the house. It floods about once every 5 years, or to put it another way - 2 or 3 days out of 1800!

Here's a couple of shots from my condo at Floral:

[stament]

So need to invest in a kayak if planning on living there then ;-)

Although joking apart I always read the barriers have been i proved since flooding years ago so unlikely to have a reoccurrence ;-)

Where exactly is this flooding?

[chiang mai]

So need to invest in a kayak if planning on living there then ;-)

Although joking apart I always read the barriers have been i proved since flooding years ago so unlikely to have a reoccurrence ;-)

Where exactly is this flooding?

That's at the entrance to Floral Condominiums, next to Hinlay Curry House and just down from Pillars, one block over is Riverside and Good View restaurants.

In all fairness that was September 2005 so any subsequent flood prevention works may have been effective, we moved down to Phuket shortly afterwards and didn't return until 2010 so I don't know.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Wat kate yes, it is flood prone, historically.

I've lived in Wat Gaet, near the Gymkhana for 25 years and although around me has been flooded I've never had it in the house. It floods about once every 5 years, or to put it another way - 2 or 3 days out of 1800!

Here's a couple of shots from my condo at Floral:

P1010016.JPGP1010009.JPG

^ Only happens every 5-7 years or so. And now possibly less, with a lot of work having been done on the river banks, new water gates, etc. We'll know for sure when the next year hits with high water levels.

And even when it happens it's just a couple days. It may well be worth it if it means being able to live in town / much closer to town.

For example, if I could stay at Floral and have a bit of a mess in the surrounding streets every 5 years, versus living on Nimmanhaemin and be stuck in insane traffic every day of my life then I know what I'd pick.

Edited November 15, 2015 by WinnieTheKhwai

[fang37]

One flood is one too many for me.

[chiang mai]

One flood is one too many for me.

That's what Noah said!