Paradise or buying real estate in Thailand.

Posted under Investment Property

Before I describe for you all the known pros and cons of living in Thailand, let me say that my viewpoint does not pretend to complete objectivity, as a point of view of a man in love with this country (despite all the disadvantages, which are also available).
Climate. Undeniable plus for me personally – always warm. Tropical climate with temperatures averaging 28 C prevails almost throughout the country except the North. In December, the temperature in Pattaya and Bangkok can be lowered to 17 C. Really miss the snow and frost during the New Year holidays. Still, there is no kind of atmosphere that we have at home, when we celebrate Christmas and New Year, and the street trees covered with snow.
Sea. In my opinion, if you get up in the morning and you see from the window of the sea and palm trees, you can say to ourselves: “Yes, life is good!”. Even while living in Bangkok, this gigantic metropolis of glass and concrete, had just 2 hours drive you can enjoy the sea to the horizon, sand and palm trees.
People. About the Thais have already talked a lot of good, I want to just add that the mentality they have a very special and I realized this only after 2 years of residence here. Key concepts for the Thais – “May bpen Paradise” (do not worry, no problem) and Saba Saba (rest, relaxation). It is with these slogans, they go through life. Alien to them, our endless race for material goods. Although if you fall out the possibility improve their situation, the possibility that taets, like any normal person will use. However, to rack their brains over this and worry, hardly anyone would be. As far as I understand it correctly is not so long ago. After 30, I suddenly realized that life is short and does not worth spending it on useless things. While we were sitting in the office, this life passes by. Kaif need to get out of life now and right here.

Thailand – a life on the tropical resort!

Part 2. The visa regime.

Citizens of Russia, as we know, may be in Thailand, 30 days without a visa. More precisely, it does not need to receive on arrival, just a stamp on the border. Those 30 days, in fact you will have similar tourist visa, which gives no right to do business. After this period, a tourist visa can be renewed for another 30 days, just went abroad for a period of 1 day and at least one year or exchange it for business, student or retirement visa. Make it simple enough. Thailand, a country with one of the most simple visa regime for Russians.

islands taylandeChast 3. Prices, standard of living and taxes.
Prices in Thailand are growing, especially in the housing (more on this in part on real estate and investments). Even so, the cost of living in Thailand, is many times less than in Europe or Russia, and Ukraine. Taxes quite humane. But taxes on land and property just ridiculously small.

In this section I will rely mostly on their experience and level of expenditure. Dining. I eat twice a day (for breakfast or nothing or a cup of coffee). During business hours it is normal Thai cafe nearby. In this cafe, on average you can invest in the 35-55 baht (1,05 – 1,6 $) for a meal consisting of traditional Thai dishes and drinks. In the evening I eat, as a rule, or vegetable salad or muesli. In addition, buy a lot of juice and yogurt. All this (juices, yogurt, vegetables, milk, muesli, and sometimes fish or meat) costs about 600-1000 baht ($ 18-30) per week. Total food takes away about $ 75-120 per month. Dinner with alcohol in a good restaurant in the average cost of 1000 baht ($ 30). Dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants in Bangkok which is located on the roof of the hotel “Le Bois” (incidentally, I would recommend this place – just a fantastic view of Bangkok by night from the roof of the skyscraper) can cost up to $ 6000 baht ($ 167).

Transportation. Taxis in Bangkok – up to 250 baht ($ 6.75) per one-way trip through almost the entire city. Gasoline costs about 32 Bath (0,96 $) per liter, 95-th. However, quite a lot of money goes to service the car, because I quite rare in Thailand car – Audi A4. Above-ground station (BTS) which you can comfortably reach the same almost anywhere in the city, is 10 to 55 Batov for one-way trip. Pattaya is a different story, as there for the tourist in fact there are only two available modes of transport – Tuk-Tuk (pickup truck with seats and a roof) and a taxi-bike, here the cost of travel at least 100 baht ($ 2.7) with a very short distance, so use by motorcyclists. This is less comfortable and more dangerous, but three times cheaper. Approximately the same situation with transport in other resort areas like Phuket and Samui.

Entertainment and Sports. The annual subscription to the fitness center costs about 400 dollars per year in Pattaya, but can reach up to 1 500 dollars for the prestigious fitness centers in hotels in Bangkok. Typically, this value is addition to the gym just use the swimming pool and steam room.

Cons. What do you think? Its disadvantages are also there, but for me personally, they have not yet outweigh the undoubted benefits of those who have.
People. Very difficult question – the ratio of Thai to foreigners. Thailand has always been an independent country and it is cultivated in the Thais not only pride for their country, but nationalism. Manifestations of nationalism seldom seen on an everyday level, especially with regard to the tourists. But … There are a number of laws restricting foreigners. For example, the Act prohibits foreigners from a foreign business, some types of professional activities and business of the Condominium Act also introduces its own restrictions on the ownership of real estate in Thailand for foreigners. For the Thais you forever stay an outsider, even if you have business or family relationship. The only option when you can recognize our own – to become a Buddhist monk. After this, for you will open the doors of any Thai home.
Foods. First, a little tricky to get used to the fire-breathing Thai food, but then it starts to like. Less here is that no many products, so familiar to us: cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk, salt fish, herring, black bread and some others. So my wife learned to cook herself cheese and yoghurt.

Part 4. Real estate and investments.

Thailand and Pattaya in particular, have always been interested in the investment plan. Contribute to this successful arrangement of the resort, the authorities’ policy of Thailand and the stability of the economy of Thailand. Some examples:

- Average price per square meter in a condominium rose to 1929 U.S. dollars in 2005 to 3264 U.S. dollars in 2008.

- Percent of capital gains has increased from 25% -46% in 2006, up to 99% -151% in 2008.

- In the period from 2004 to 2007, was launched 31 projects in 5177 apartments (and it does not take into consideration the type of projects the village in East Pattaya).

- There were projects “tenement houses”, which offer studio apartments for the price of one million baht (30,300 dollars) for the flat area 33-36kv.m. And, judging by sales, this segment has a huge demand.

- Many builders offer buyers a guaranteed income from their homes in surrender his lease in the amount of 8-12%.

- Most developers offer installment payments for a period of 6 to 24 months.

In short, whether you are looking for a second home for vacation on a tropical resort or a profitable investment in real estate in a dynamic and growing market here in Pattaya, you will find everything you need and you’ll be able to realize his dream.