wannabeexpat

Thanks

How do your figures compare with your costs in the PI?

True. I am not a fan of globalization, but to opt out is probably not a viable option nowadays. You could be left too far behind other neighbouring economies. I look at Bkk and think they are doing ok, but forget that in some places they are dirt poor. They need inward investment but wont get it until they become a safer an more investor friendly country. I hope they start with "early retirement" visas.

If they relaxed the land ownership laws, foreign investors would buy up most of the land and property leaving the Thais owning very little. I dont think that would be good for the Thai people. The uk has sold all its " family jewels" to foreign companies just to be one of the worlds leading economies. The uk people are at the mercy of foreign owned power companies etc , and normal working class people are being priced out of the housing market. At least the Thais own their own land.

Good luck mate. I will try you 1st if I am ever buying over there.

Rogercw Thanks for posting. Its good to have as much information as possible before moving out there. I have been figuring on 30,000 a month before sanuk. Good to have it confirmed. Did the miscellaneous include transport.

Those Sanya apts look good value. Pity they dont do a monthly rate. Or a 6 monthly rate.

I am not trying to piss on your parade , but, are you remembering you will be paying income tax and national insurance. I rent out properties in the uk. I have found that you are usually left with about half of the total rental amount after paying management , insurance, accountant and tax. I own them outright, so you would have to add banking charges if you owe on them. So half of £1700 is £850 less big repairs and voids. If you want your uk pension to keep going you will need to pay £30 a month national insurance. Voids and rent arrears are very common. Are you sure about the rents? £850 sounds a lot for a £120k house. On the bright side, I think you could still do it for £820 ( if my figures are correct)a month. Cut your food budget (7,000 is possible)and pay the g/f less and rent a cheap condo. Its still better than the uk, and you can be looking for export opportunities or whatever. I hope you prove my figures wrong, I am only trying to warn you of possible expenses.

Eneukman sounds like he has a good lifestyle and doesnt do without anything for 80,000bht. If you added rent alcohol and barfines to Soi 7s, it would be round about the 80,000 bht too. So as long as you can keep your income above the 80k, you should be ok. You could vary your lifestyle as or when you had rental voids.

What if you stay in Cambodia for a week each visa run, instead of just a few hours. Would that be classed as a back to back visa stamp?

U done the right thing. Id have headbutted him then been worried every time I left the hotel that Id get shot. All for 100 baht. For your own safety you should forget it. But if you want to stop this sort of thing happening to other farang, you could report it. The guy will try it again if he gets away with it.

I dont know why picoman follows your posts just to insult you. He doesnt have to read them, and its not up to him to chase people from the board.

I was thinking of not bothering with insurance and just investing the money instead. It would only take a few years of savings to cover most expenses as Thai medical bills sound pretty cheap anyway. You would be earning interest on the savings. I am 43 , so 30 or 40,000 a year until they either ramp up the payments or refuse to 65 would be apprximately 750,000 plus the interest earned if you never needed any treatment. Or you could pay cash for anything out of your savings. Or is this a stupid idea. I just hate insurances as they usually try to worm their way out of paying you if they can.

Thanks. Thats a lot dearer than I thought it would be. The airlines never miss an opportunity to hammer you.

I fly from Glasgow with emirates, stopover in Dubai. Usually approx £550 economy. Anyone know how much extra it is to get an open ended ticket and what the maximum time limit is? Thanks.