Everyday Thai (Everyday)

I feel that this market has been driven by paper gains rather than underlying fundamentals. I see this happen quite often, and it's one of the reasons I deal in properties 99% of people would rent.

The King is the real power in Thailand, he has been an active participant and a representative of the people, and is a stable force in a thriving country. (Tick)

So naturally l thought if I'm spending so much time here l might as well buy a property. Then naturally if I am prepared to buy and have done extensive research why wouldn't my investors also buy as well?

The bottom line is Thai banks don't trust farang (foreigners) so you might be made to jump through hoops just to get a 50% mortgage. And if you thought getting a mortgage was hard, try remortgaging. So that kind of leaves selling as the option which kind of goes against our entire philosophy.

The first is the local market. The properties are priced between 1 and 3 million Baht (70 Baht to 1) So 15,000 - 45,000. Sounds good right. Well maybe not. Unless you are a local it's unlikely you would buy at this level.

Pattaya has 3 distinct property markets.

You could only rent to locals and the investment returns I don't feel would be great enough. (Cross)

So the essential question is not often will I make money? but how will I get paid? or who will sell it for me?, who will buy it from me?, how much tax will l pay?, how much will I have leftover? Or if you don't want to sell it how will l make the equity work for me?.

In Thailand mortgages are very tight. The Asian economic crisis hit Thailand particularly hard, and in fact they've only just now started continuing a number of concrete highways which stood unfinished and vacant above the ground level. These massive highways stretch for miles with no entrance and no exits and are amazing to see.

Brett Wood is an author and property investor. He runs a successful property investment consultancy in the United Kingdom. His strategies have helped thousands of investors to get on the property ladder and build successful property portfolios.

Live with passion,

As an investor in Thailand the first thing you have to realise is that you cannot own land (Cross) so at present you have two choices: either buy in the name of a Thai company and have Thai nationals who own it (but you have a signed deed saying you can replace the Thai nationals at any time). It's a reasonably secure way of buying.

Rentals are great as a lot of major multinationals have offices in Bangkok and the expats are happy to commute up daily or it's cheap enough to rent a place in Bangkok during the week while spending the weekend home in Pattaya. (Tick)

The final level is the 5 to 9 million Baht. So 70,000 - 130,000. This is the retirees' and expats' market. You would be more than happy with these houses. 3-4 Bedrooms, large open spaces, ensuites, parking and best of all - air conditioning.

The other way and the way that is becoming more accepted is a freehold/leasehold similar to what we are use to in the UK. A lot of new builders are structuring ownership this way.

Most coups have been backed by the King. Thai people have an amazing allegiance to their king, wherever you go in Thailand you will see him, and as long as the King has backed the coup everything is alright. (Tick)

One of the biggest things overlooked when inexperienced investors seek out exotic new investment regions is how to get your money back. Oftentimes the capital growth is fantastic, so your 20,000 investment doubles and doubles again (so you now have 80,000). This is a paper profit until you actually sell it or remortgage it.

I do believe you can make money on these, but only by 'flipping' before completion but obviously there are no guarantees with prices already so high. Incidentally, this market has seen an incredible amount of growth so that waterfront apartments are as expensive as central London, Sydney or New York. (Cross)

Brett :-)

Altogether I have spent over 3 months in Thailand and I have so many fond memories, add to that the fact that it is halfway to Australia and QANTAS offers a stopover of only 45 minutes which gets you to Oz quicker. It's a great destination.

Pattaya is a seaside town (tick-These ticks and crosses are my due diligence) with a new highway which will mean it will only take around 45 minutes to get to and from the airport. (tick).

Often the answer is you won't. You won't remortgage it and you won't sell it, or if you do you'll need to accept considerably less than you want for it.

I usually spend a week stopover on the way back to the UK. It gives me a break after 2 gruelling weeks with the family and friends and the 2 hour massages for around 7. What more could you want? :)

These I feel would be ideal for investment and present your best opportunities. (Tick)

The country has had 18 coups since 1932, although the past 15 years have seen none until 2006. Whilst they have all been peaceful coups, they still create political instability. (Cross) On the other hand a coup to a Thai person is probably like on of our Labour politicians voting with the Lib-Dems so it's not that big a deal in reality.

The problem Thailand faces is that the King is getting old and may one day pass the throne onto his young son who is renowned for irresponsible antics. So no one really knows just how he will take to the position of King or whether the people will take to him. This could cause an instability in the investment market. (Cross)

PS. I love Thailand and if you get to go make sure you hire a bike and get out into the real Thailand rather than just around the cities and tourist places. The people are lovely and the food is soooo good.

The second and most interesting market is the 20 to 30 million Baht. 285,000 - 430,000. Incredible you say? Well thats what I thought too. In fact forget incredible l was downright shocked. But this is the market of the off plan speculators. In my books, another word for 'speculator' is 'gambler' and hopefully you know by now what I think of gamblers.

Having looked into Phuket property before the tsunami, I thought I would check out Pattaya (pronounced Pat-e-ya) which is only around 1 hour 20 minutes drive from the new international airport in Bangkok (the capital).

Originally from Australia where he was a successful mortgage broker he moved to the UK in 2002 and since then has build a massive portfolio of off plan and new build residential properties in the UK, Spain, Slovakia and Australia.

If you are interested in buying in Thailand, you can definitely make some money but as always 'Do your due diligence?' I am happy to give you the research that we undertook before I went if you are interested.

South East Asia has always had a special appeal for me. I first began spending time there about 5 years ago. I love the organised chaos of the roads in Bangkok, the food that is cooked right in front of you, and the haggling at the markets. Amazing.

Should You Buy a Property in Thailand?

All in all, I decided that it would be better to rent out a 5 star hotel or villa on the beach for 2 weeks a year than to own a property which has so many variables.

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Traditional Isaan life requires a lot of daily physical labor, labor that surpasses the exertion required for most American farms

Juxtaposed with Nueng, the ex was petite, ultra-feminine, and fragile. She came from a city in Laos and was not used to much manual labor. I can still remember her complaining about going up and down the stairs of my townhouse.

So, fed up with the way things were in the past, we both wanted a new, fresh beginning."

"She had just severed a longtime, abusive relationship; and to her dismay, felt like she was back to square one in her life."

Now, with Nueng, I hardly lift a finger at home. She even scolds me if I try to do something she feels is "HER RESPONSIBILITY." What a change! I'm not fatigued all the time anymore. Nueng does her thing while I'm at work, so we can enjoy good, quality time together when I come home. What a change, indeed!

For the same socio-economic reasons, a similar dichotomy of opinions exists about body type: Westerners prefer slim figures, while Asians prefer people with a little "meat on their bones." In other words, in Asia, being thin is associated with poverty, while a little fat means you have enough money to eat well.

- The Other Side of the Coin -

In fact, they are total opposites in almost all respects! It's like I'm finally experiencing "the Other Side of the Coin" - the Good Side.

Note: If you want to read more about overcoming heartbreak, unconditional love, exorcising past personal demons, and the Illusive Secret of Happiness, please read the following articles:

Looking back, I'd always hoped that she (the ex-girlfriend) would change. I mean, I didn't want a "maid," but an equal, fair sharing of the housework would have made my life so much easier. I guess I was asking the ex to do something she wasn't accustomed to (or even capable of).

Nueng has beautiful, brown skin - the kind of skin that most tourists look for in places like Hawaii, Guam, or Bali. Nueng is about 5' 5", where the ex was barely 5' 1" tall.

You see, in Asia, white skin is considered more beautiful than dark skin - the total opposite of most Western countries. The reason for this? My guess would be the implied Economic and Social status: In Asia, dark skin instantly conjures up visions of poor, uneducated, farm people toiling away in the hot sun; while their rich, whiter skinned countrymen have wealthy relatives, are college educated, and work indoors, away from all tanning rays.

In contrast, most Westerners seek out dark skin (both for themselves and their mates). They go to the beach and pay exorbitant fees at the Tanning Salon. In the United States especially, tanned skin implies that you are financially well off enough to spend a lot of time outside in the sun, playing volleyball, golf, or tennis, etc.

Living with Nueng, I naturally compare her to the ex.

I'm sitting here at my laptop, drinking my favorite (meaning: currently available) Thai beer, listening to my favorite old Rock songs, and watching Nueng prepare dinner. It always amazes me how she can prepare banquets fit for Thai Royalty every night on our tiny, one skillet, propane tank "stove." Today, as usual, she went to the market, shopped for fresh food, and is now cooking dinner for us.

First off is appearance. All my life I preferred dark-skinned women. The ex was the first fair-skinned woman I'd been with in a very long time. When I first met her, her pale, white skin didn't attract me at all - mainly because I'm a Falang (Thai: foreigner).

Anyone who has spent time in Asia (Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.) has noticed how the local people, especially children and women, scurry around trying to avoid the sun. Every form of skin whitening product (e.g., soap, shampoo, facial cream, body lotion, deodorants, anti-perspirants, etc.) is available - and wildly popular - in all Asian stores.

- Stark Contrasts -

New Beginnings, stark contrasts, relationships, infidelity, preferences, Isaan, white skin, brown skin, Falang, Asian, beauty.

(Continued in "Experiences from 'The Flow' (7) - Living Well: Friendship, Fidelity, Finances, and Family")

"Experiences from 'The Flow': From Heartbreak to Happiness"
"Experiences from 'The Flow' (2): Coincidence or Synchronicity: FROM RELAPSE TO MIRACLES..."
"Experiences from 'The Flow' (3): LOST AND FOUND - Kindred Spirits and Mistakes made in Haste."
"Experiences from 'The Flow' (4): LOST AND FOUND - Meant to Be?"
"Experiences from 'The Flow' (5): "The Stray"
"How Dare She! Out of Desperation I Learned How to Forgive"
"Remember Who You Are!"
"Need to Heal Your Broken Heart? Read on. Overcome Heartbreak and Learn the Illusive Secret of Happiness."

This tactic only worked for two or three days. Then it was back to the old routine of cleaning up after her and scrambling every morning for something appropriate to wear to work; finally ending up doing the laundry by myself - again.

Carl "J.C." Pantejo

Nueng comes from a large family: three "Pee Chai" (Thai: older brother/s), two "Nong Chai" (younger brother/s), and one "Nong Sao" (younger sister). With no "Pee Sao" (older sister) to help her and her mother in their big family's house chores, Nueng learned early how to cook, clean, wash clothes, and look after her younger siblings.

"Prosperity: The eternal flow of all that's good in life..."

Yes, living in "The Flow" is wonderful. My days are filled with laughter, smiles, love, and beauty.

- Domestics -

I had just ended a similar relationship, a relationship full of infidelity, lies, and heartbreak. And being a veteran of starting over (and over), I knew it was 'tabula rasa'(clean slate) time in my life - again.

I'm not a chauvinist. In fact, like most Falangs in Thailand, I habitually share in all domestic responsibilities. It's just that I was always so tired working long hours, THEN coming home to "work." And after a few months of "hinting," I realized that domestic work was not the ex's forte.

She also remembered to buy anything I needed for the rest of the day and for tomorrow's workday (i.e., beer, phone card, breath mints, etc.)

Nueng's athletic body is strong and sexy, reflecting her upbringing "up country" - the region northeast of Bangkok where the people are identified as "Isaan." Isaan Thai's are regarded as hard working and fun loving; satisfied with a simpler lifestyle than their sophisticated Bangkok counterparts. They are also darker skinned.

Needless to say, I've never lived so contently and cleanly since I've been in Thailand. Our townhouse is always spotless. My clothes are always fresh smelling and expertly pressed. And, as mentioned before, I enjoy home-cooked meals fit for a king almost every night (with the exception being when I take her out for dinner on the weekends).

"Until next time, find 'The Flow' and jump in!"

Comparison time again.

I thank the Original Substance (God) everyday that Nueng and I decided to end our old relationships and begin anew...

Working 50-60 hours a week AND doing all the housework, laundry, and bill paying left me chronically exhausted.

For example, Asia is predominantly populated by brown skin people, but white skin is almost always preferred over dark skin.

I guess it's true what they say about beauty and preferences: 1) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and 2) People usually prefer the opposite of what they see everyday.

What did the ex-girlfriend do all day while I was working? I'm not really sure, but I'd guess most of her day was spent sleeping, watching T.V., or cavorting with her friends; or, as I found out later, maybe even sneaking in a secret date with one of her other men.

Experiences from 'The Flow' (6) - New Beginnings, Old Endings

The ex-girlfriend was pretty lame at domestics. I was the one who routinely washed the clothes and did the dishes. I ALWAYS did the ironing. I cleaned the condominium we lived in when we met (and then cleaned the townhouse we moved into before breaking up).

She was industrious too. At age 7, Nueng would come home from elementary school and then clean the house of a neighbor until late into the evening. This was done for 60 baht per day (the equivalent of $1.70). As an adult, she was the breadwinner for her and her lazy, "no-job, no-money" boyfriend. She would wash and iron other people's clothes, cook at a local food stand, and serve drinks at a local pub - while keeping up with her own housework and cooking.

*Below is the sixth episode in a series of real life events experienced by the author. The only deviations from the truth may be the names of people and places.

By Carl "J.C." Pantejo, Copyright January 2008

Your Friend in this Intrepid Journey called Life,

The resentment slowly grew. Finally, I threw subtly out the window, semi-feigned anger, and basically told her to get off her lazy butt and help me.

Wow. And to think, three short months ago I was miserable! I was dealing with the lying, cheating, very expensive, and now, "ex-girlfriend."

He is a retired U.S. Military veteran. Believing that school was too boring, he dropped out of High School early; only to earn an A.A., B.S., and MBA in less than 4 years much later in life - while working full-time as a Navy/Marine Corps Medic. In spite of a fear of heights and deep water, he free-fall parachuted out of airplanes and performed diving ops in very deep, open ocean water. He went to Thailand 2 years ago for a week's vacation, fell into a teaching job, and has never left!