Ask here about the pleasures and pitfalls of buying, selling or renting property and real estate in Hua Hin. Building, design and construction topics welcome. Commercial or promotional posts for real estate companies or private properties are forbidden.
buksida wrote:Many Asian nations have agreements with others such as Thailand with India, no work permit/visa hassles there despite the fact that Indian's are taking jobs from Thais. Westerners will always be seen as walking cash machines until the country becomes more educated and drops its prejudicial blinkers, Singapore and Hong Kong are good examples where working westerners are able to get similar rights as nationals. Thailand has a very long way to go ...
With regard to Sing and HK, I would say they differ in that they are city-states without a large unskilled rural population.
They are major-league international financial centres where up-to-date western skills are more in demand than LoS. Their gov'ts understand that welcoming well-paid outsiders benefits them through taxes and spending on local goods and services.
And their history has made them much more outward looking as international trade and commerce are their raisons d'etre. Thailand is certainly myopic in that regard.
I think Thailand feels it can get along without falangs but will happily take falang dosh while not offering much in the way of residency benefits. I don't expect much change other than more cooperation among the other SEA nations re: visas, working, trading etc.
The Nation reported last week that the Thai government has decided to increase the registerable lease period from 30 years to 90 years and to allow 100% foreign ownership of the units in condo buildings.
This is very good news, of course, but let's first see how long this government lasts
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke).
It was also 'apparently' reported in a Thai language newspaper.
The 49% condo quota can extend to 100% but the extra/over 49% units have to be of a certain value, 8M+ I think.
It also mentioned extending leases to 90 years as Craig has said.
It said it has to go through the 90 day legislature procedure or something, think that's where it get voted on 3 times and all 3 have to be approved.
Haven't read anything concrete on it so please take this with the usual pinch of sea salt.
johnnyk wrote:Wake me when its proclaimed in the Royal Gazette, until then its nowt.
Agree, until then it's 'wishful thinking', 'pie in the sky', 'in your dreams', 'when hell freezes over', 'how much have you drunk?', 'I'll eat my shorts if', 'you're having a laugh', 'What planet are you on?', 'I'm the king of China" etc etc etc etc.
Much hearsay is often passed around in unsubstantuated gossip. As said, details of ground moving news would be nice, then it has a chance of being believed.
Same BS different day then really, I've scoured the Nation's back articles and nothing came up, I'm sure if this were real the board would be buzzing with it.
So I guess we can keep dreaming!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
It was the Nation Nov. 4, an article about tax breaks to stimulate industry and markets and 100% foreign ownership of condos and extension of leases from 30 to 90 years to boost foreign investments in property. My maid takes my old newspapers away, and I've searched the Nation online but can't find it there. The article said "has decided", but I'm sure SJ's right, it has to get thru' parliament too.
At least it's a good sign.
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke).
There needs to be something in place that's allows foreigners to buy property and it shouldn't be tied to being married to a national or if your worthy... Foreigners with enough money should be able to buy anything freehold within certain developments. That would be a good start and it doesn't have to be complicated.
faq2mfh wrote:There needs to be something in place that's allows foreigners to buy property and it shouldn't be tied to being married to a national or if your worthy... Foreigners with enough money should be able to buy anything freehold
I disagree, this is exactly what they shouldn't do else you'd have affluent power mongers, businesses and all kinds of mafioso buying up everything here. This is why Thailand doesn't allow foreigners to own anything, and rightly so.
What they should do (in my humblest of opinions) is allow those foreigners that have proven themselves worthy either through business, family support, work/tax paying, or bringing income to the Kingdom over a consecutive number of years to own a small livable plot (eg 1 rai) for private use freehold.
Again, I'm dreaming here as it wont happen until they learn to tell the difference between us aliens ... as it stands right now we're all the same and from the same "star" (kon dtang dao).
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Can't quite get my head around all this fuss over freeholds, what does it matter.
I bought my house because it allowed me to live where I wanted in a building that I liked and I can within reason do what I like with it.
If I was to sell it the chances are that I would look to buy something else for similar money but in a different location or with a different floor plan.
I did not buy it for an investment, my investment is in a business.
Surely homes are for living in and business is for making money.
In the UK before I left, house prices were increasing by 20/30%, the average house was over 100,000gbp so the increase was 20/30K, the average annual salary was 20K, it was obvious it would end in tears and so be it!
When they run me round the wat three times in my final chariot I won't be in the least bit interested, I will have enjoyed my life, lived where I wanted in moderate comfort, worn out my sex drive and drunk to excess!
You are only here once, it is not a practice so why get hooked up on having loads of money, looked what has happened to Thaksin!!!!!
Buksi's point about qualifiers earning the right to a small plot is a fair proposal but ofcourse the Government are never going to do it imo.
All I think we need is a decent length of lease 60 years+.
But even people on 30(+30+30) leases will be given the opportunity to stay in their houses for all their lifetime, it just won't be because of any 30 year extensions. They will be allowed to purchase new 30 year leases periodically at very cheap rates.
SJ
Last edited by Super Joe on Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
