Condos and Thai construction fraud

[Farang hunter]

there is no comparison between rent and buying, rent is like bad blood  (you keep paying in order to have your own place)  whereas buying is a guarantee future property.

[Asiantravel]

2 hours ago, Farang hunter said:

there is no comparison between rent and buying, rent is like bad blood  (you keep paying in order to have your own place)  whereas buying is a guarantee future property.

yes and there is no comparison between renting and buying when you hear the television next door all the time through the wall and it drives you crazy. When you rent you can simply move out somewhere else

[Scott]

An off-topic, bickering post and reply has been removed.  

 

Stay on topic, please.  

[balo]

4 hours ago, Farang hunter said:

there is no comparison between rent and buying, rent is like bad blood  (you keep paying in order to have your own place)  whereas buying is a guarantee future property.

I agree with this sentence if you live in a western country where the rent is very high and you are wasting your money . In my home country I saved money and with a bank loan could buy my own place. I sold it with a nice profit 10 years later and moved to Thailand.   

 

In Thailand I also bought a cheap place in a condo but it was a lot of noise and problems there so I sold it after 1 year under market price.   Renting is cheap here , especially if you live on a western pension or other income from outside of Thailand.  

 

I would pay minimum 50000 baht per month for a small place in my home country , and no pool , no gym.    Here I can rent a nice condo with pool, gym and  a sea view for 10-12k or less.  So I don't feel I am wasting my money at all.  We all have to pay our bills and eat and it's all about your budget in the end. 

 

At the same time I can enjoy my freedom and can move to another place anytime without thinking about selling first . 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2017 by balo

[Pdavies99]

On 27/04/2017 at 2:38 PM, Farang hunter said:

to be honest I don't want to sell because I have breath taking view from my condo, is there a way to install isolation on the wall between my condo and the neighboring condo.

Of course, buy some sound proofing insulation and build a further wall to sandwich it, I have done this with great results, don't forget though you will need to sound proof the ceiling cavity.  

(Cheaper than moving as well!)

[bamukloy]

19 hours ago, Farang hunter said:

there is no comparison between rent and buying, rent is like bad blood  (you keep paying in order to have your own place)  whereas buying is a guarantee future property.

I also cannot understand how people can think buying is a good idea.

One guy says "live there a year or so first", but any idiot can move in anytime  and make your life hell or endless issues about living here could arise at any time.

 

The cost/buying price of my condo represents approx 18 years

worth of rent.

Id be crazy to buy considering i would not want to stay in one place that long and probably wont live that long anyway.

Not to mention, trying to sell in what will always be a saturated market.

 

Cant imagine wanting the hassle of selling in my 90s anyway id probably just walk away or have to sell at a loss

 

[Asiantravel]

1 hour ago, bamukloy said:

I also cannot understand how people can think buying is a good idea.

One guy says "live there a year or so first", but any idiot can move in anytime  and make your life hell or endless issues about living here could arise at any time.

 

The cost/buying price of my condo represents approx 18 years

worth of rent.

Id be crazy to buy considering i would not want to stay in one place that long and probably wont live that long anyway.

Not to mention, trying to sell in what will always be a saturated market.

 

Cant imagine wanting the hassle of selling in my 90s anyway id probably just walk away or have to sell at a loss

 

 

" will always be a saturated market."

[JSixpack]

3 hours ago, bamukloy said:

One guy says "live there a year or so first", but any idiot can move in anytime  and make your life hell or endless issues about living here could arise at any time.

 

Maybe you're confusing good condo properties with short time hotel rooms. In a quality place you don't have idiots moving in. Have you heard of any idiots in Markland or Northshore? No. If you're buying in Flybird or Nirun, well, different story of course. :)

 

Issues arise everywhere all the time. Our renters are always complaining about this or that, often about the ripoff electric rates they pay.

 

Now when an issue arises, you probably imagine yourself losing the will to live and spending the rest of your life on the floor curled up in a fetal position. Hence you'd best continue paying rent, since all you can do is move anyway. Successful owners, on the other hand, can deal with issues and solve them. Hence the recommendations from owners to the OP on how to solve his problem.

 

Quote

Id be crazy to buy considering i would not want to stay in one place that long and probably wont live that long anyway.

 

Indeed. But your problem here is that you can't understand those who do want to stay in one place long and do plan to live long, or at least, be happy in the time they have left in their own place. Maybe it's something about "dying at home." I've rented all around Pattaya. Now I like being settled in one place, my place, fixed up to my likeing.

 

Quote

Not to mention, trying to sell in what will always be a saturated market.

 

We've always had plenty of condos for sale in Pattaya. But you, now, can't buy a car or motorbike either--saturated market. Of course, you could rent our your property, unless that's also too stressful for your delicate constitution. In Flybird or Nirun, no problem. It's true that a condo isn't a liquid asset. You'd need to remain disappointed it's just not like a bank account or a mattress you can stuff cash under.

 

Quote

Cant imagine wanting the hassle of selling in my 90s anyway id probably just walk away or have to sell at a loss

 

The thing is, even if you sold it your 90s and found a suit with large enough pockets to hold all the cash, it'd all just burn up with you in the crematorium anyway. Hence that saying about "your last suit ain't gon' need any pockets."

 

Nor would you need to walk away. Several owners I knew simply waited until they were carried out on a gurney to the Police Hospital for the autopsy. That worked out quite well, no stress on the ol' knee joints or anything.

 

Maybe it's not all about you. Last week I had lunch w/ a few old friends I hadn't seen in a while. One had paid a courtesy phone call to the wife of a mutual acquaintance in Pattaya who'd died in of cancer about a year ago. He'd suffered dementia as well. She'd taken good care of him until the end. But he died a pauper and her spousal benefit payments had run out. Meanwhile their daughter had been accepted at university. What did she have left? The car; and the little townhouse he'd had the foresight to buy for the family.

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2017 by JSixpack

[bkk6060]

6 minutes ago, JSixpack said:

 

Maybe you're confusing good condo properties with short time hotel rooms. In a quality place you don't have idiots moving in. Have you heard of any idiots in Markland or Northshore? No. If you're buying in Flybird or Nirun, well, different story of course. :)

 

Issues arise everywhere all the time. Our renters are always complaining about this or that, often about the ripoff electric rates they pay.

 

Now when an issue arises, you probably imagine yourself losing the will to live and spending the rest of your life on the floor curled up in a fetal position. Hence you'd best continue paying rent, since all you can do is move anyway. Successful owners, on the other hand, can deal with issues and solve them. Hence the recommendations from owners to the OP on how to solve his problem.

 

 

Indeed. But your problem here is that you can't understand those who do want to stay in one place long and do plan to live long, or at least, be happy in the time they have left in their own place. Maybe it's something about "dying at home." I've rented all around Pattaya. Now I like being settled in one place, my place, fixed up to my likeing.

 

 

We've always had plenty of condos for sale in Pattaya. But you, now, can't buy a car or motorbike either--saturated market. Of course, you could rent our your property, unless that's also too stressful for your delicate constitution. In Flybird or Nirun, no problem. It's true that a condo isn't a liquid asset. You'd need to remain disappointed it's just not like a bank account or a mattress you can stuff cash under.

 

 

The thing is, even if you sold it your 90s and found a suit with large enough pockets to hold all the cash, it'd all just burn up with you in the crematorium anyway. Hence that saying about "your last suit ain't gon' need any pockets."

 

Nor would you need to walk away. Several owners I knew simply waited until they were carried out on a gurney to the Police Hospital for the autopsy. That worked out quite well, no stress on the ol' knee joints or anything.

 

Maybe it's not all about you. Last week I had lunch w/ a few old friends I hadn't seen in a while. One had paid a courtesy phone call to the wife of a mutual acquaintance in Pattaya who'd died in of cancer about a year ago. He'd suffered dementia as well. She'd taken good care of him until the end. But he died a pauper and her spousal benefit payments had run out. Meanwhile their daughter had been accepted at university. What did she have left? The car; and the little townhouse he'd had the foresight to buy for the family.

 

 

 

Your reasoning continues to be so unreasonable.  Northshore seriously?  The average price there is about 10 million , some in the 20 to 30 million range.  That is out of reach for 98% of the people buying here.

But, lets use it.  I do know of a guy who bought a place for 17 million with a full view.  He hates it as all he hears all day is boat motor noise and cars, manaw manaw!! 

Maybe he should have taken your advice and rented for 1 or 2 years first.   

[JSixpack]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

Your reasoning continues to be so unreasonable.  Northshore seriously?  The average price there is about 10 million , some in the 20 to 30 million range.  That is out of reach for 98% of the people buying here.

 

One example is enough to prove the point and refute the Absolute Rule. You've ignored Markland. Nothing I've said is unreasonable.

 

Quote

But, lets use it.  I do know of a guy who bought a place for 17 million with a full view.  He hates it as all he hears all day is boat motor noise and cars, manaw manaw!! 

Maybe he should have taken your advice and rented for 1 or 2 years first.   

 

The point was about idiot neighbors. Note your exaggeration of ALL he hears ALL day, and the implication of utter helplessness--which suggest you may be just lying again, as you did previously about my posts. Yep, too bad he didn't take my advice. Sounds more like he took yours.

Edited May 2, 2017 by JSixpack

[Scott]

There have been reports on this thread.   Please stay on topic.  

[newnative]

8 hours ago, bamukloy said:

I also cannot understand how people can think buying is a good idea.

One guy says "live there a year or so first", but any idiot can move in anytime  and make your life hell or endless issues about living here could arise at any time.

 

The cost/buying price of my condo represents approx 18 years

worth of rent.

Id be crazy to buy considering i would not want to stay in one place that long and probably wont live that long anyway.

Not to mention, trying to sell in what will always be a saturated market.

 

Cant imagine wanting the hassle of selling in my 90s anyway id probably just walk away or have to sell at a loss

 

Actually, it's not a saturated market.  Look at the central Pattaya area--very few highrise condo projects.  It's certainly not a saturated market for quality highrise condos with seaviews in good locations.  There may or may not be too many of those 'theme park' low rise condos in less than desirable locations but they don't really have an impact on buyers looking for seaview condos in good locations. When you're shopping for an Accord or Camry you don't bother with car models that don't interest you.  Pattaya, itself is growing and attracting whole new types of tourists and residents--that's likely to continue in the future.  It doesn't hurt that we're nicely placed in the Eastern Economic Corridor--apparently the government is planning to spend something like 1.5 trillion Baht, by far the largest portion of its economic development money, on the EEC. 

[newnative]

13 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Your reasoning continues to be so unreasonable.  Northshore seriously?  The average price there is about 10 million , some in the 20 to 30 million range.  That is out of reach for 98% of the people buying here.

But, lets use it.  I do know of a guy who bought a place for 17 million with a full view.  He hates it as all he hears all day is boat motor noise and cars, manaw manaw!! 

Maybe he should have taken your advice and rented for 1 or 2 years first.   

Well, most of the speed boats have been moved and now pick up their passengers at Bali Hai so the sound of the speed boats revving their engines to pull away from the beach is gone. 

[MrJ]

Unixx South Pattaya could have what you are asking for - they have 1 br with 65sqm and high floors do have sea views......35% vacant

[Rimmer]

Some extreme off topic posts have been removed, the topic is about 'cheap construction methods and not paying the maintenance fees'

Quote:

is there a condition in title deed that demand yearly maintenance fees because it is all written in Thai language? 

[Farang hunter]

would I be able to find someone to do this job in Pattaya

 

[KittenKong]

3 hours ago, Farang hunter said:

would I be able to find someone to do this job in Pattaya

 

Doing the job is easy: any clown can do it. The problem will be finding the specialised materials. I attended an architectural exhibition in Bangkok earlier this week and was astounded to see that of all the hundreds of exhibitors present not one appeared to be selling sound-proofing materials.

 

I'm not aware of anyone in Thailand who sells resilient channel or resilient hangers. Green glue is available as is acoustic drywall, though there appears to be only one supplier for each.

[wpcoe]

12 hours ago, KittenKong said:

 

Doing the job is easy: any clown can do it. The problem will be finding the specialised materials. I attended an architectural exhibition in Bangkok earlier this week and was astounded to see that of all the hundreds of exhibitors present not one appeared to be selling sound-proofing materials.

 

I'm not aware of anyone in Thailand who sells resilient channel or resilient hangers. Green glue is available as is acoustic drywall, though there appears to be only one supplier for each.

 

Astounding for us foreigners, but not at all surprising for Thais, as they seem to thrive in noise.  I'm sure it's not a physiological difference in our bodies, rather being raised constantly surrounded by noise seems to acclimate locals to what we foreigners consider unacceptable amounts (and types) of noise.  I don't think locals can really grasp the concept of *wanting* soundproofing and that they would be nervous/uncomfortable in a perfectly quiet home.  The guy who realizes what we foreigners want -- i.e. a soundproofed living (or at least sleeping) space -- will probably make a pretty penny.

 

This was not intended as a Thai bashing post.  It's simply pointing out that we have different comfort levels regarding noise.

[thaibeachlovers]

24 minutes ago, wpcoe said:

 

Astounding for us foreigners, but not at all surprising for Thais, as they seem to thrive in noise.  I'm sure it's not a physiological difference in our bodies, rather being raised constantly surrounded by noise seems to acclimate locals to what we foreigners consider unacceptable amounts (and types) of noise.  I don't think locals can really grasp the concept of *wanting* soundproofing and that they would be nervous/uncomfortable in a perfectly quiet home.  The guy who realizes what we foreigners want -- i.e. a soundproofed living (or at least sleeping) space -- will probably make a pretty penny.

 

This was not intended as a Thai bashing post.  It's simply pointing out that we have different comfort levels regarding noise.

True. Last night the wall of my hotel room was being shaken by a sound system ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Many years ago I was walking across Sanam Luang and passed in front of a bank of speakers where many Thais were. My ears physically hurt, but the locals carried on without any apparent effect.

[JSixpack]

18 hours ago, Farang hunter said:

would I be able to find someone to do this job in Pattaya

 

See discussions below. You might want to post in the DIY forum to see if there's anything new to be said.

 

 

 

[KittenKong]

1 hour ago, wpcoe said:

 I don't think locals can really grasp the concept of *wanting* soundproofing and that they would be nervous/uncomfortable in a perfectly quiet home.

 

Many Thais have described quiet buildings to me as "spooky". I think they are bonkers, of course. The spookier the better as far as I'm concerned.
Many buyers/visitors at the architectural exhibition were farangs which was why I was so surprised by the lack of sound proofing materials. I agree that there is potentially a huge demand here for these products, and surely a much greater demand than for some other products that I saw there.

[JimCrane]

condos here are a joke.

 

im in a new condo now, new building in pattaya, and already stuff is coming apart, pool furniture broken, grout on counters peeling off like tape etc

 

they just build this stuff like they want to make noise or employ cheap labor as much as possible

 

seems like things are built for appearances and short term gratification and whats underneath and long term quality and upkeep does not matter. 

[JSixpack]

4 hours ago, JimCrane said:

condos here are a joke.

 

im in a new condo now, new building in pattaya, and already stuff is coming apart, pool furniture broken, grout on counters peeling off like tape etc

 

they just build this stuff like they want to make noise or employ cheap labor as much as possible

 

seems like things are built for appearances and short term gratification and whats underneath and long term quality and upkeep does not matter. 

 

And then you reflect on what you paid in comparison to what you'd have paid back home. You consider the vast difference in annual fees. You add in the property tax, school taxes, road tax, telly tax, possible capital gains tax, etc. etc. You picture your obese companion waddling in from shopping at Walmart and flopping heavily on the recliner in front of the TV.

 

With that, the dark little cloud passes. You let out a huge grin as you and your young lovely kick back on the balcony w/ cold drinks. lt'll all work out in time; or if not, oh well.

 

 

Edited May 6, 2017 by JSixpack

[newnative]

6 hours ago, JimCrane said:

condos here are a joke.

 

im in a new condo now, new building in pattaya, and already stuff is coming apart, pool furniture broken, grout on counters peeling off like tape etc

 

they just build this stuff like they want to make noise or employ cheap labor as much as possible

 

seems like things are built for appearances and short term gratification and whats underneath and long term quality and upkeep does not matter. 

If it's a new condo it should be under warranty for at least a year. Have one of the condo engineers come and take a look at what is wrong and the developer should fix it.  Report the broken pool furniture, as well.

[JimCrane]

3 hours ago, JSixpack said:

 

With that, the dark little cloud passes. You let out a huge grin as you and your young lovely kick back on the balcony w/ cold drinks. lt'll all work out in time; or if not, oh well.

 

 

are you getting quality there, or empty appearances?

 

where does that leave me when the novelty wears of and things start falling apart because there is no real quality underneath?

 

1 hour ago, newnative said:

If it's a new condo it should be under warranty for at least a year. Have one of the condo engineers come and take a look at what is wrong and the developer should fix it.  Report the broken pool furniture, as well.

easier to just move, its a rental.

 

problem is its going to be the same everywhere.

[Farang hunter]

8 hours ago, JimCrane said:

condos here are a joke.

 

im in a new condo now, new building in pattaya, and already stuff is coming apart, pool furniture broken, grout on counters peeling off like tape etc

 

they just build this stuff like they want to make noise or employ cheap labor as much as possible

 

seems like things are built for appearances and short term gratification and whats underneath and long term quality and upkeep does not matter. 

thanks to the farang engineers supervising condo building projects !!

[Asiantravel]

10 hours ago, JimCrane said:

condos here are a joke.

 

im in a new condo now, new building in pattaya, and already stuff is coming apart, pool furniture broken, grout on counters peeling off like tape etc

 

they just build this stuff like they want to make noise or employ cheap labor as much as possible

 

seems like things are built for appearances and short term gratification and whats underneath and long term quality and upkeep does not matter. 

" short term gratification and whats underneath and long term quality and upkeep does not matter.  "

 

Quote

 

The problems are primarily about the upkeep and the quality of the property and the unnecessarily high maintenance fees we are being charged," retired British expat Mark Robert Stephen said.

 

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

11 hours ago, JimCrane said:

condos here are a joke.

 

im in a new condo now, new building in pattaya, and already stuff is coming apart, pool furniture broken, grout on counters peeling off like tape etc

 

they just build this stuff like they want to make noise or employ cheap labor as much as possible

 

seems like things are built for appearances and short term gratification and whats underneath and long term quality and upkeep does not matter. 

Far as I can see, the only construction done to a high standard would that be done for very expensive major projects, and condos don't reach that level.

Going by the workmen that I employed for the house, they had no formal training or qualifications, and learned on the job from people that didn't know much.

The so called electricians were quite scary in their incompetence.

 

Just look at public infrastructure- pavements, roads etc to see what doing everything on the cheap with unqualified workmen does.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Farang hunter said:

thanks to the farang engineers supervising condo building projects !!

No matter how good, if the "farang" ( where's your proof that they are all farangs? ) engineer has to work with people that probably have no clue about construction, because the condo owners don't want to employ tradesmen, he would be unlikely to make a pig's ear into a silk purse.

[Farang hunter]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

No matter how good, if the "farang" ( where's your proof that they are all farangs? ) engineer has to work with people that probably have no clue about construction, because the condo owners don't want to employ tradesmen, he would be unlikely to make a pig's ear into a silk purse.

I'm not saying all but most as I drive by these condo projects and see them, I believe they set the construction standards so labor can do the job.