Need help and advice

[Guest]

Hey there guys, I am now really seriously contemplating spending some of my hard earned cash on a Condo in Thai...... Pattaya seems the best bet but am opening a thread up and looking for any comments and advice from those that have bought or even considered doing so

PLEASE HELP.....

Cheers

[stogie bear]

You can get some pretty cheap and nasty condos in Pattaya for under 2 million.

Just out of interest - why Pattaya and what is your budget?

Mardhi will probably be able to give you some good advice...

[stogie bear]

I'm probably gonna buy a villa in Hua Hin either this year or next, but Hua Hin would probably be too boring for you!  

[thaibound]

(stogie bear @ Feb. 03 2007,14:56) I'm probably gonna buy a villa in Hua Hin either this year or next, but Hua Hin would probably be too boring for you!  

hey stogie,

if you don't mind my asking, how much you expect that purchase to set you back and how much house you expect to get for it? square footage, pool, #br's and baths, etc. and, how do you think that'd compare to what scooby could get for the same baht in pattaya?

and no longer worried about foreign ownership?

i'd just about decided to rent forever instead of buying....when i move there in three years...

thanks.

[donnnnnny]

(thaibound @ Feb. 04 2007,07:53)

(stogie bear @ Feb. 03 2007,14:56) I'm probably gonna buy a villa in Hua Hin either this year or next, but Hua Hin would probably be too boring for you!  

hey stogie,

if you don't mind my asking, how much you expect that purchase to set you back and how much house you expect to get for it? square footage, pool, #br's and baths, etc. and, how do you think that'd compare to what scooby could get for the same baht in pattaya?

and no longer worried about foreign ownership?

i'd just about decided to rent forever instead of buying....when i move there in three years...

thanks.

this is a wise dessision mr thaibound

[Guest]

(stogie bear @ Feb. 04 2007,04:56) I'm probably gonna buy a villa in Hua Hin either this year or next, but Hua Hin would probably be too boring for you!  

I am thinking about buying in Thailand, orginally wanted a house or bungalow, but I am now worried about changes in the 'nominee voting' rules for falang company ownership, so I was thinking I would be safer to buy a condo with full farang ownership rights.

Do you still think it is safe for a farang to buy a house or land in a company name?

Thanks Jon

[mirimark]

Your Fucking Kidding Right ?

  Think about it !
If you have that kind of cash,  then why not just invest and be a Tourist.
 Why make a mortage commitment.   You will committed to an agreement of payment.  

Wouldn't it be nicer to bounce around when ever you want with NO Commitment ?

[Guest]

SB - Dunno how much to put into the place maybe 2-3M Picked Pattaya as it seems to be the popular place with increasing prices.... s'pose i need to tour more b4 i make the plunge.... So u r buying then?..... Thought you were saving 4 that place in the IOW ? lol

Kep trying to read all the advice on buying but the laws seem so confused....and not wanna tie money into something that may become Thai ownership.....cannot afford to loose it...... Seems the alternative is to invest in UK and rent in Thai....... then travel to Thai on Tourist visa numerous times per year

[TTChang]

(Scooby @ Feb. 04 2007,04:40) Hey there guys, I am now really seriously contemplating spending some of my hard earned cash on a Condo in Thai...... Pattaya seems the best bet but am opening a thread up and looking for any comments and advice from those that have bought or even considered doing so

Hi Scooby - this fellow Brit came out to LOS with similar plan a few weeks ago.  But on my reading of the market conditions, and getting Mardhi's advice too (while enjoying the Guess Bar scenery!), I'm now in no rush to buy.  Definitely not prepared to invest more in Thailand than 'risk money', in any event.

All types of rental, giving flexibility of location & standard, seem attractive options for the next year at least.  I doubt Thailand will see any upsurge of capital values, given the many 'neutral' or 'downside' political and economic factors here at present.

[stogie bear]

(mirimark @ Feb. 04 2007,08:02) Why make a mortage commitment.   You will committed to an agreement of payment.  Wouldn't it be nicer to bounce around when ever you want  with NO Commitment ?

Who said anything about a mortgage? People buy outright here or in 3 or 4 paymenst while a property is being built. usually less than a year.

Scooby - if you have 3 million then consider a villa with a pool in a nice location.

If you are seriously thinking of moving to Pattaya then rent an apartment for 3 months first.

That should be long enough to convince you that Pattaya is NOT a place where you want to live!

Sky high crime, filthy water and horrible people... and what the fuck would you do there?

[mirimark]

Must be Nice.
After all the Jacks are put in their boxes and all the Clowns have gone to bed.
And the wind, it crys, MARRY.
The Traffic Lights they turn BLue tommaro.

I often forget how much cash is floating around out there.
Don't think to much about it myself. Not too horny for it.

[Guest]

I looked at seriously buying a condo last year, however after talking to several expats living in Thailand they convinced me to wait and firstly spend more time in thailand before committing to a major purcahse. Issues to consider were how much time will you spend in Thailand and who will look after it when your abroad.
Do you know the people in the ajoining apartment, villa or condo you are buying and do they fit the profile of people who wish to live with. Will the building be well maintained and will the Thais pay the levies for maintenance ie. lifts, gardens etc..........(some don't)

The advantages as I see them is by renting first you get to see the building in its true light , then you would be able to make a sound decision based on your experience. I would seek a lot of advice and talk to locals about the area you want to purchase or rent in. e.g in Hua Hin there are areas which flood really badly and I learnt this from a forum site on Hua Hin. www. huahinafterdark.com

Currently I would see the Thai real estate market as being in favour of the renter as there are so many new building going up and the demand is not there to meet the amount being build. However this may change but I cannot see strong capital gains in the near future.

Take time and do your research. Best of luck.

[Guest]

Not to be redundant, but most of the advice I've heard is to rent for awhile. This gives you a chance to check the area out before plunking down that hard earned cash.

[Guest]

well great input, will be back in LOS in April for a couple of weeks (Babysittin a buddy that has his first trip there), it could be a longer visit if I get made redundant! I will look to rent a Condo this time if I get there for 4 weeks plus...... Did consider a Villa SB but still really unsure of the red tape around a Falang ownig such....maybe I will have to buy u a few beers next trip in exchange for more detail

Thanks for all the above advice and keep it flowing....

[surropan]

(stogie bear @ Feb. 04 2007,04:56) I'm probably gonna buy a villa in Hua Hin either this year or next, but Hua Hin would probably be too boring for you!

Man, Hua Hin owns Pattaya... it's such a wonderful place, whereas Pattaya is like the Miami Beach of Thailand... dirty, loud, crowded... Of course Pattaya does have more to offer in the lb scene... but not worth it in my opinion. Word has it that sometime in the near future there will be a boat directly from HH to Pattaya, so you could always hop on board when the lb mood strikes you.