Rex7777

So, lease the land for 30 years, then build the house. Or, just lease an existing house. I don't know about you guys, but I'll probably be dead in 30 years. Or, better still, rent. Rex

Some retirement plans have pretty good health benefits that are good worldwide. In any event, medical care is cheap in Thailand, right? And if you're so sick you need really expensive care, then you're probably too sick to have much fun anyway. Rex

I'm not so sure I'd assume any kind of price appreciation on any Thai condo. More like the other way around. Up until recently, I thought I'd want to buy a condo. But then I had second thoughts when I heard a rumor about a change in the retirement visa requirements. Why invest money when they can change the rules of the game at a whim? I think I'll keep my money in the USA, spending only what I need in Thailand. Rent is cheap, and when I want to leave, I'll do just that. Rex

Look on the bright side. They'll probably allow for some combination of a bank deposit and a monthly income stream. If you ask me, though, 1.5 million is a lot to have sitting around in a Thai bank for no good reason. I've also read that the money only has to stay in the Thai bank long enought for the bank to certify that you do indeed have such a deposit, which means you could borrow the money if need be. Rex.

I wonder if an increase to 1.5 million baht would mean an equivalent increase in the monthly income amount as well? 65,000 baht a month is one thing, 120,000 baht a month is something else again. I think at 120,000 baht, they'd find themselves with a few less retirees. Why would they want that? Rex

One of the ways you can get the money out without penalty prior to 59 1/2 is by way of what is called "substantially equal periodic payments." That is, over your anticipated lifetime based on some table that the IRS has worked up which makes certain assumptions about inerest rates. The other is if the payments extend over a period of more than 10 years. I sort of figured I'd maybe do it that way. There's no sense dying with a bunch of money. Rex

So, if I have money in a 401K and retire, it's best to just roll that over into a Roth, bit by bit, and pay the marginal tax rate each year on the conversion and then I'm never again taxed on anything I withdraw from the Roth? What if I'm only 55? Is there a penalty for withdrawals prior to age 55? Rex

But for a few special situations, I'm out of the market entirely. There's too many reasons why the market shouldn't be going up, including a housing bubble that's beginning to deflate. Let's see, we have an out of control money supply, rising oil prices, and a bunch of homeowners about to be bankrupt. And whoever thinks inflation is tame hasn't made many purchases lately. Rex

Surely, you can do that in the off season. I've tried it in Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. Just show up and get a room for a day or two. Once you're there, you can always move to another hotel if you want. Rex

I think so. I once talked to some guy in Phuket that had flown there from Europe for the week while he was having his kitchen remodeled. Phuket has an international airport and its own customs, so there's no reason why you couldn't fly directly there. Just check with a travel agent. There must be weekly charters during high season. Rex

Just for the heck of it, I checked the rates for the baht today. The baht seems to be rising vs. just about every currency. Of course, I only care about the dollar, but it's not just a dollar thing. Maybe it's just a final spurt before it (the baht) reverses direction? Rex

But for the heat, you could probably walk all around Pattaya if you had a little time on your hands. Considering the heat, though, it's not much fun. Better to hop on a baht bus if you want to go somewhere. Rex

Some guy on one of the stock message boards the other day was insisting that shorting the Thai Baht would be a good trade. If you ask me, it may be at the top of its trading range against the dollar, but then again, the dollar is supposedly headed south. I'd be happy of things stay the way they are. Rex

If I were you I'd just plan on spending a day or so in Bangkok, and THEN go to Pattaya. For example, hop a cab to the lower Sukhumvit for a couple hundred baht. Have a room reserved in one of the hotels near Nana Plaza. You'll be there in time to still have a little fun. Rex

The thing about Thailand is that a person can always go the Cheap Charlie route. Take the guy that "only" has 1300 baht a day to eat and have fun. Well, that's enough to hae fun if you know what's what. And suppose he were to lay low three days a week and not go out. He could have pretty much of a blast the other four days. Rex

Trust Deeds? So, what happens when the real estate market in Las Vegas crashes and you're second trust deed becomes worthless because even the first trust deed is more than the property is now worth, and the borrower just walks away? I'd be hard pressed to imagine a worse investment than a 2nd trust deed on some bubble real estate. Rex

I'm looking forward to being able to travel around Asia. Assuming I can find cheap flights and have ssome sort of multiple entry visa, then I'll be good to go. Rex

In my mind, the question is not "why retire in Thailand?" The question is, "why not?" I figure I've got to be somewhere, and can rule out most of planet earth for one reason or another. Rex

From the website it looks like a nice cozy place. I'd be interested in knowing also. Rex

Ben, I've never tried to get a "monthly" rate at a Pattaya hotel, but I imagine you could save a little bit. Still, there are plenty of decent hotels in the 1000 baht range. You could probably negotiate a monthly rate of 25,000 or less, depending on the time of the year. Rex

Have you thought about a hotel? For that kind of money you can probably stay in a nice place right in the middle of it all. Rex

I found out today that Florida law allows a person to file a "Declaration of Domicile" with the clerk of the court. Yet another piece of evidence. Rex

KDC, No, it'll just be a pension, investment income, etc. I I'll first move to Florida for five or six months before moving to Thailand. Register my car, get a drivers license, register to vote, etc. Then, if I want to take a very long long vacation to Thailand, I won't owe any state income taxes. I think FLA has an intangibles tax, though. I'll have to look int that. Rex

I've been using the Etickets for a few years, but I don't recall anyone ever asking to see my credit card once I've paid for the tickets. Usually, they just want to see some ID, like a driver's license, when you first check in with your bags. Rex

On my first trip to Thailand I had two credit cards frozen by the bank because they thought the charges were fraudulent (I hadn't told the card companies I'd be traveling). I did tell the banks before I left, so no trouble with the ATM cards. Rex