Considering the large expat community in Thailand, do some end up settling in smaller cities inland and away from the tourist areas like Bangkok and Phuket?
I've seen adverts for condos where expats can legally purchase a dwelling with ocean views, but they fetch a pretty heavy penny for the luxury. I don't necessarily need to live on the coast. I'd assume the facilities aren't great in the smaller cities. Gonna start looking at the map.
dab69 (March 6th, 2023)
Firstly you need to know you can't own a house on a block of land in your name. Secondly for condos etc foreigners can't own any more than 49% of that title. More to the point say there's 100 condos where you prefer to invest, if 49% are owned buy foreigners you can't buy a condo in your name. I've been through all this 20 years ago.Originally Posted by calcmandan
calcmandan (February 23rd, 2023)
I'm aware of all that but my question is there an expat community inland or is it mostly clustered around the major metros?
No it is not. And most certainly it is not at all near or in Phuket.
To make it clear: I myself am not expat, just come here in TH every yr when its winter @home (EUR) and also ´winter=cool season, not too hot, here in TH.
Out of interest and also as a kind of relic of former work I follow also other forums set up by such groups. Mostly of course those in own language.
1.it should be obviously clear that most are centered in their own country/language, and USA are by far not the most populous such groups. It would also help if you could state yours.
2.it should even be more blindingly clear that str8 relations far outnumber gay ones. The archetypical elder, fat, in pension farang maintaining a Thai wife, perhaps a former bargirl, perhaps a kind of also economic relation: a moreor less helpless men in things for doing the house and a Thai wife who is used to being caring, and cleaning/cooking/washing/etc. As such not really much different from how in former times marriages in the west also held form.
3.due to where most of these ladies come from and if the couple decides to stay in TH and not homeland of man, its Isan, Isan and Isan as #1,2,3 and then some other areas, North, BKK-city and far fewer in the south. And spread out all over in even the tiniest of small villages (like baan nok khee ma= village birdshit, as these are commonly known). The wife or her family owns the land-title, the man brings in the money (a few 10.000€ or $ or GBP is enough) to build a decent house on it.
In fact as I remember TH is among the 3 countries which has in % most of these spread-out mixed couples in the whole world.
Now IF they also cluster together or have other binds will differ enormously. There are no fixed and stated rules for that either. Nor even really any clusters of like : the Swedes live there, The Germans here, etc.
THat is how far my knowledge runs.
Great question:
Most of the large clusters of expats are of course centered around the most popular retirement destinations, e.g., Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, etc., although some prefer living more remote lifestyles and nest in some of the other cities/provinces such as Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai, Buriram, Surin, Hua Hin, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Kanchanaburi, etc. etc. etc.
One of the main decision making factors would be "choice of lifestyle". For those expats residing in some of the more remote areas life is very basic without a lot of the comforts and conveniences offered in the more popular areas - where entertainment is extremely limited and having a full-time partner would be as necessary as a toothbrush.
I know expats who live in some of these more remote areas and they claim to be able to live comfortably on 30,000 THB/month which also seems to be a key motivating factor (or necessity) for some. Their hobbies seem to always include things like gardening, writing, cooking, etc. with very little interest (or opportunities) to enjoy nightly entertainment and/or boy-hunting.
Personally, and after giving it a lot of thought, I decided to retire in the town of Bang Saray - primarily because it has cleaner water at the beach for swimming, cleaner air for breathing, a lot less traffic - with a more peaceful and tranquil environment as compared to living in the bowels of Pattaya - and it's just a short 25 minute motorbike zoom around the bay to Pattaya when I feel the urge. Best of both worlds!
A lot to consider....but being realistic about the type of "lifestyle" you'd be happiest with during your retirement is the real deal-breaker. Just close your eyes - envision what you'd like to see outside your window every morning - and take it from there.
Good luck
jvt22222 (February 24th, 2023), Ruthrieston (February 24th, 2023)
And that is more or less how I decided to retire in the Dongtan Beach section of Jomtien. Near enough to Pattaya - but far enough away.
Like Dodger wrote, I wish that the beach water at Jomtien was cleaner - but when I want clean water I take a boat over to Koh Larn where it is blue, transparent and clean.
I still have not yet visited Bang Saray - as what Dodger wrote to have clean beach water where you live is a BIG plus. My resistance is that I fear to drive in Thailand (due to the way that they drive here and road safety is not very apparent) - so Bang Saray would be too far away for me. Here at Dongtan Beach I can walk almost everywhere and when I need to go into Pattaya city there is the ever dependable bahtbus.
alexexal (March 7th, 2023), Dodger (February 24th, 2023), splinter1949 (March 2nd, 2023)
Absolutely perfect location!
After spending 24 years of holidays in Thailand this is exactly the spot I had pegged for retirement for the very reasons you mention.
The fact that you're within easy walking distance to the vibrant gay light life, massage parlors, restaurants, shopping, gay beach etc, make this an ideal place for retirement. If it weren't for the fact that I truly love riding my motorbike, especially the early-morning cruises along he coast from my dwelling in Bang Saray, I would be residing there as well.
Another area close to you that I like as well is along Pratamnak Road - which has a nice upscale village-type atmosphere that I really like.
One of the things on the top of the list when deciding where to retire - was that the place had to make me feel like I was on vacation...so being within walking distance of a beach was a must.
alexexal (March 7th, 2023)
Given that the minimum monthly income to be remitted into Thailand for a retirement visa has to be Bt. 65,000, is there much point living on 30,000? Either they want to accumulate a lot of savings or they take the fixed annual sum route which means having Bt. 800.000 untouched in a bank account for 5 months and then Bt. 400,000 untouched for the remaining 7.
I guess there would be a point of living on 30,000 if that's all they had was 30,000...LOL.
One would assume that people in this predicament use the services of an agent.
TIT
I was looking at this on google earth... no real info, just a short street you cannot go down. or is there more than I can find?
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