I am also living and teaching in Thailand. I like the way you put things in perspective when it comes to the income and lifestyle. It is on point it is a lifestyle choice, money is not the beginning and end of everything.
Buy a condo with a lot of units. Buy a condo that middle-class Thais would buy. Avoid east Bangkok flood zones. Don't buy anything as soon as you arrive. Just because it's a luxury condo, don't expect it to be well managed. GREAT ADVICE!!! That'd have been worth $5 on Patreon (hint, hint). My plan is to move there next year, and rent for 3 months or so, while checking out the central Bangkok area, and looking for a local Thai builder outside of the flood zone. Thankfully, one of my Thai classmates recently moved back to Bangkok, and another will move back as soon as she graduates, so I oughtta have trustworthy local friends who can advise me, and possibly help me negotiate more honest prices. Even without their help, this video has been invaluable. I really appreciate you making it!
Any advice for how to rent short term in a condo that seems to only offer min 1-year rental contracts? How much more am I expected to pay if I only wanna rent short term (few weeks to few months)? Is it even negotiable?
Another point: buy a condo already built and established. There are too many building projects that go bust. Next, even though they may not be up to US standards, consider hiring a lawyer to over see the purchase. It's very cheap. You can learn the names of attorneys from expat clubs. An attorney can review documents and over see the the "closing". He/she can also draft a will and other documents for the transfer of the unit upon your death.
Good point. I didn't know any but it couldn't hurt if you knew trustworthy ones. Id definitely hire one if you're going with a builder you're not familiar with.
Still til this day, this is my favorite video of your. I actually rewatched this video many times. Massive huge big ups ethan. The subjects you touch on this videos is deep and educational.
Your videos are generally high quality, and you're a positive guy that everyone will probably sympathize with. I see no reason why you cannot be successful on youtube, however note that the Travel niche, is not very well paid and there are not as many advertisers paying a lot of money for travel bloggers. But, if you're passionate enough, the number of subscribers and patreons will add up. Good luck!
haha yeah... I do travel cause I am passionate about it but I am realizing that it's a super niche genre with alot of competition. I am eventually planning to branch out into food, products, interviews, and life in general with all the places I get to visit and the people I meet depending on what my viewers seem interested in so hopefully I can be successful! Thank you for the feedback :)
@@livetravelasia well I've been planning to move for about 5 years now...came across your channel...I haven't caught onto where you bought for 2 mil ..how far are you from lets say terminal 21 by bts. Missing thailand miserably!! :( and its only been 3 months since we've back..
Rekha Mukhia I bought for 1.7 actually but now the prices have gone up and even gone up since I made this video. I am about 15 mins from terminal 21 enquatgier and thonglor in rca
This video of yours couldn't have come at a better time. I'm very interested in moving over to Thailand to stay and I have to say your video cover ton of points I was researching on. Do post more of such contents and I look forward to more of what you will share. Cheers!
I am really happy to hear that... I've been hesitant as I don't know everything on these topics but hopefully you could learn from some of my experiences, good and bad. I'll definitely try to do more informative videos although I am not sure if people will enjoy me rambling on for over an hr... hahahaha
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA I can't say for the others but I definitely enjoyed it. It's always good knowing both sides of the coin rather than just projected fantasy we see based on other videos.
I am really glad you see it that way. I totally agree. Everyone has different opinions so I don’t expect everyone to agree with mine but I hope you got some gems off this video and together with all the other great resources you have out there, you make an even more informed decision than I did back when I first moved out the Thailand
If you have additional information to share please do so. I am not making any claims that my lifestyle is for everyone but simply sharing my experience. Thank you for the comment tom
This is one of the most informative videos I've seen on this topic. Your channel is also fantastic! I live in Khon Kaen and am looking at moving to Korat. (Not too far from BKK, but close enough.) Definitely subscribing and going to watch all your vids!
Totally agree about the HOA and how the building is maintained. In the luxury condo market, buy from a company like AP who has a record of maintaining all their properties. Been living in Bangkok off and on for 10 years and it is an amazing place to live and a happy daily life.
Yeah AP seems good but there are a few that seem to have a decent track record so there's lots of choices. AP also has a budget line that felt identical to the Lumpinis at a good value.... I think they are the life line of condos? Lumpini is also getting into the luxury line as well and those looked really nice. So ultimately builders that have a good record, and you can find your budget within their line of buildings I think
After Looking around Bangkok I agree about the HOA. Its the one thing I fear the most. Imagine buying a nice condo but in a few years it looks like a ghetto due to no maintenance.
New subscriber here. I honestly love that you have a finance and real estate background. Most of these travel UA-camrs don't have that, so we never get to see nor understand what it's really like to live in another country. Your perspective is refreshing and extremely educational. In all honesty, I love this type of content on your channel the most. Based on viewership count, it also seems to appeal to a lot of people too. Although to appeal to a larger audience, I think it may be helpful to keep the videos to about 20 min or under. Would love to see a video of a South Korea version of the cost of living analysis you did for life in Thailand.
We have a lot in common. Im moving there in a couple months and will take a TEFL course. I sold real estate in the US and can live off those funds for many years. I just need the visa mainly. Im originally from California but have lived all over the US
this is great information from who i believe is a trustworthy guy. You dont come off arrogant and overconfident as many of the other thailand vloggers. Glad I came across this channel. I hope one day I can pull the trigger and get over my fear of flying and just go visit thailand.
Awww thank you for your kind comment. Hope to see you out here too. It took me years to pull the trigger myself so I totally get you. Hope you at least come out for a visit one day however :)
Thank you so much for the comment. Yes I do have more condo buying vlogs planned which I’ll get to editing after I wrap up some of the travel vlogs in my pipeline
My Friend I must say this is one of the best videos I have seen about Thai property. You come across very open and honest. You have a very friendly aura. Thank you so much for being you.
Thank you so much for this comment. It really means a lot to me. Hope to see you comment on my other discussion topics in the future cause it's a fine balance between respectful and being too cautious to express one's opinion. Still trying to find the right balance
Very useful and informative content. I've been going to BKK for a few years now and doing what you advise about exploring different areas before buying a condo. Last year I did a 3 month rental at a Ideo Mobi condo in Bang Na. The condo was inexpensive to rent, very close to the BTS, super clean, with nice huge pool and small gym. Great place but too far from city center for me. I noticed many Ideo Mobi condo's around BKK. Winter 2019/2020 I booked a condo in Ekkamai, close to the bus terminal and BTS. Thank you for sharing your wisdom on purchasing a condo in Thailand. What you do is really helpful to me, and I'm sure many others.
Ideo mobis are definitely popular. I’ve heard from my ex she read they aren’t built well so I’d think twice about buying them but renting them are great cause they all try to place them in convenient locations but take that w a grain of salt. She didn’t have much nice things to say about any builder except the sansiri which is expensive loo
Thanks so much for sharing, amazing video - good advice. What is the condo loans available for snow birds maybe planning to live abroad for 1/2 or 1/4 the year. Or is everything cash based which is probably most likely.
Good work. I like how positive you are. Will be moving to Bangkok from NYC. Married to a Thai lady so we decided that we're moving there since it's cheaper than the states. Looking forward to see what else can I learn from Thailand before moving there for good.
I did a lot of research on property (real estate) in Bangkok. The thing that really surprised me is that the maintenance charge generally doubles every 5 years due to inflation (wage inflation). Thais generally want new. I believe it is easier to get a bank loan on a new condo because of an agreement with the developer. I also see that the advertised sale price on second hand condos are generally never achieved. One is lucky to get 90% of advertised price. I also have seen recently that people that were flipping off plan are lucky to get their money back now. I would only buy a property in Thailand if one intends to live in it for more than 10 years (as you basically say).
Yeah and I also would add that you should come live here for at least a year to know if you really want to live here for 10 years as Thailand isn't for everyone. As for maintenance charge I've been here almost 3 years and it hasn't gone even 10 percent. The inflation was bigger a before as Thailand was on the up for the past 10 years but that's not something you should take into consideration. If you are than one should take into consideration the huge inflation in home prices as well. My aunt purchased the same model as mine back in about 2012 and sold it in 2015 for double the price but I didn't expect that kind of return cause everything is so dynamic. At the end of the day, I'd just buy it with the intent to at least break even on rental payment and anything else above that is cherry on top
Thank u so much for this awesome video, as a person who's gonna live and work in Bangkok for a long time, there are so much information i need to absorb to be quickly adapt to this new environment. And i got recommend for u bro! we all know that Bangkok is a growing hub for innovation and other soft power , there are more and more freelancers and businessman coming to Thailand , a brief introduction of the counties or district of Thailand will be very useful for other ppl , like which area is famous for the financial environment, which is famous for something , u dont need to focus on food or fun places, we can focus on industry the concept is like the area is crowded with the ultra-wealth thai which u just mentioned in this vlog. just a minor recommend, thank u very much
@@livetravelasia actually, i think there are a lot of topics which are useful , informative and view-attractive . such as living in Bangkok u should be careful of which types of scams , and also the working permit &visa section or even medical emergency intro. but i understand your core value of the channel is for all Asia. BTW ,you can also go inside Hubba to meet some new friends, share any expat's experience who lives in bangkok and their stories ,working experience as well. I guess the viewers are gonna like it. It depends on if you want to change your vlog style .(long version to short version) So grateful that you read and reply my recommend man ! fully support!
28:24 Well the land level map applies for the flash floods from rains above those area which is common during monsoon season when sewage system cannot cope with the amount of rains. However you need to considered the flood barrier in case of flood crisis back in 2012. In 2012 flood crisis, most of the flood came from the dam in the northern part of Thailand. So when those water arrives the greater Bangkok they was blocked by the certain ring roads that has been constructed and elevated for both commuting and flood prevention (indicates as red line with dot in your map). Those area outside the ring road, tho those land may be in the higher ground than most of the Bangkok, they will be heavily flooded coz the water from the north cannot move any further south. And the water level will rise until it exceed the barricade road. Back in 2012 the water did cross the barrier road which means the land outside the barrier has been submerged under 1+ meters of water. BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) then built up layer over layer of water barricade to divert water to West/East side and hope that the water will remains in only northern part of BKK in order to avoid the downtown flood which is on way lower ground. So it's ended up that BMA allowed flood water to reach only around Central Plaza Lat Phrao which seems to has higher ground, while lower ground downtown was well protected. My houses in Banchak, Onnut and Banga which situated very close to the river and in a very low ground level, were dry. At that time we thought that our house will definitely submerged, however, it does seems that BMA and government will not allow central Bangkok to get flood (apart from flash flood). Meanwhile another house that my family bought near Bang Khean which my parents bought in feared of flood in Sukhumvit area and Bang Khean is on higher ground, it was flooded for weeks. So my point is, there are kinds of flood here. The flash flood from rain downpour and the flood water from the northern dam which associated different risks so please keep that in mind as well. If you are living upper outside the barrier or upper north of Bangkok, you have to accept the risk that if there is flood crisis in Bangkok. Your house will be the very first to submerge. It is very unlikely for such a crisis to occur, but i if it did, it will takes weeks or month to dry.
This particular map I looked at was how much the place was flooded during the 2012 and yes I heard something along the lines of what you are saying but thank you for explaining in such detail. I hear BMA will sacrifice other areas to protect the center of the city if that kinda flood happened again.... I haven't experienced any flash floods but in the last 4 years I guess I am lucky cause my area tends to not get submerged like when I see the news reports of areas in Ladprao and Bangna get flooded in the main roads. Other than that I think it's just the luck of the draw
Yes I figured as much but you are a bright dude so you can do some research on it. I suggest you look into it anyhow just because it is something you might want to consider. Honestly brother, you look like a dead ringer for a coder lol. Look into web development or if you are more ambitious Full stack development. You can make good money and its portable (meaning you can live anywhere with an internet connection and be able to work.
I like your informative video. I'm Thai who lived in the US for more than 30 yrs. Now, I'm back in Thailand but not living in Bangkok like I used to anymore.Your vids show and tell me a lot about the city that I used to know and love.Thank you so much!
Thank you. I am always flattered when a native Thai compliments my channel as it's hard to balance being fair and informative and respectful as well. I genuinely love this city with all it's crazy highs and lows and I hope it shows in my videos :)
Thank you for taking the time to comment and encourage me. I hope you will also like my future discussion videos and don't be a stranger on the comments section :)
I just started watching your channel. Your so sympathic and you are such an honest and kind person. :) you have a good soul buddy. Btw really good video! Its cute how you think about kids too who cant afford the 3$.
Enjoy your video. I am from Thailand myself and been living here in Los Angels since 1997.I also plan to move back sometime in 10-15 years.My plan is buy stocks and sell covered call option for passive incomes and hopefully achieve financial freedom soon. Hope my plan going well and see you there sometime in the future.
Enjoying the videos! Informative binge watching. Would you care to share how much $ you had or a range when you pulled the trigger and moved to Thailand? I have a great job, but have a plan to quit and move in 2-3 years. Was in banking as well, but now in Energy. Been to Thailand backpacking twice and seek that tranquil lifestyle.
Hmmmm well I'll tell you I had 100K but at the same time I would be hard pressed to assess if that's enough to help me move or if the time wasted building that much is worst... As you get older life is harder in Asia. I see these 20 something year old kids out here in Asia with nothing but with many more opportunities than me and I wish I came sooner... You'll probably just never do what you want to do thinking you don't have enough like I did. Having a near death experience made me realize I could die any day which gave me the courage to pull the trigger and live my life now. That's the only certain thing and I don't regret it so far
Dude, you hit the nail on the head on so many topics. With the property tax, It's same way here in Canada, you pay property tax and technically the queen owns everything. Property prices are inflated by foreign money coming in, mainly China, like in Cali, no regulation at all. Regular guy can no longer afford a place in Toronto/Vancouver. I recently visited Thailand, loved it, if I can manage remote work I'll definitely give living there a chance.
I have lived on and off in Thailand for the last five years, and I was told a long time ago foreigners can’t own property, so I didn’t check any further, until last week, and I now know I could fully own a condo, I’m annoyed with myself to be honest as I could have paid for one by now, live and learn ... thanks for the video, and good luck.
Yeah I don’t blame you cause most locals are surprised I own my own condo and say that’s not legal. Only way I knew about it to be honest is because my aunt had purchased one herself and told me about the befits of owning one if I wanted to stay long term. I am so sorry to hear that you were mislead. I wish you the best with your future endeavors in thailand or elsewhere and thank you for the comments :)
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA Thanks man, it must be cool not having to worry too many bills at the end of the month, at least now I know, so maybe I’ll take the plunge next year, it’s good to see other people who think similar to me, I fell in love with the place, the expenses are so much less here than in the US or pretty much anywhere, and there’s hardly any downsides, apart from maybe the smokey traffic :)
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Recently found your Channel and find your videos very informative and entertaining. This one I'll have to watch in two or three sessions :) Working and saving money in Northern Cal in the hopes of making the move to Thailand one day. Subscribed and hope you make more videos to add to your helpful information playlist :)
Glad you found it helpful. And yes I’ll definitely be making more videos about traveling and living out here. It’ll mainly be about travel for the next couple months but I’ll revisit some of these living issues as I encounter them in my life :)
It’s definitely been increasing but I don’t plan on selling it. It’ll be my forever vacation home. Since I am living in Asia I need a place to park all my stuff
Great job on your video and perspective! Harald on the top of the list does give good advice on buying property abroad. He receives a lot of negative feedback, but he gives out excellent information.
Hope it was helpful. No advice is perfect as we all have unique experiences that help us simply form our opinions but hopefully my perspective helps you in forming yours :)
Thanks Ethan, I love your video and the information you've provided. As a Thai person living in US for 20 years, I do appreciate (and agree with) your opinion and honestly about living in Thailand as a foreigner. My (American) partner has always been thinking about moving to Thailand at some point of our lives, and your video is filling a lot of information gabs that we have. Thanks and keep this up!
Question: about your condo, How is the NOISE level in your condo? You described everything except how much noise do you get in your condo from: neighbors on the other side of your condo walls, hallway noise, outside noise through your windows?
I don't have any noise issue but I don't mention it in a video for the general audience cause it'll all depend on where you live. Some places are louder than others
Great video man, I've heavily contemplated moving out to Bangkok over the last year. Trying to prepare for it but still wont be for a while. Looking forward to more of your videos!
Thank you. I'll try to be as informative as possible but Bangkok is so diverse you'll have to just come out here and figure things out for yourself but hopefully I can give you a head start :)
Awesome vid! I'm from Pennsylvania, been living outside the US for 4 years now in Saudi Arabia and am looking to move to Asia to start a business. Thanks for the info!
A lot of people like it cause it’s not as noisy as the center. I personally think sukhumvit sucks although it’s convenient next to the roads. But most ppl complain about the traffic and air here and that’s because they live near sukhumvit. Surrounded by tall sky scrapers and there’s literally a roof over the busiest street cause the bts runs over it so all the noise, air is trapped below it and even when it rains it doesn’t do a good job of clearing out the air but instead just makes the streets dirty and the rats to come out. Quite frankly I avoid sukhumvit. Rama 3 is great for all the reasons sukhumvit isn’t. Next to river, better air, slower neighborhood. But it’s also has a central mall like the one you see in my video. Worst thing about Rama 3 however is that no bts, but if you’re retired and not going into the city every day you’ll find most things you need to live your daily life next to you. And it’ll be much more affordable than sukhumvit. Rama 9 where I live in more modern but still away from sukhumvit. In between Rama 3 and sukhumvit area. It’s a bit more pricier as well. Anyways you’ll have to find out for yourself what I mean. Cause I can only speak definitely about the relation of places between each other but I can’t relate it to where you live or your expectations
Awesome content And I love the Dead Pool figures. Thank you. BTW I pay 10K per in property taxes year here in Silicon Valley. I am selling this summer :(
If you can get the finances to work out where you're making positive cashflow it may be worth it but honestly it's a pain in the ass to property manage in the states... All the talk of a bubble also makes me nervous as well as the upcoming earthquakes. Hope it works out for ya buddy :)
thanks a lot for this video. You seem like a really honest guy. I'm currently working in Beijing, but I have spent a lot of time living in Thailand on and off for the past 4 years. For now, I'm saving up cash and when the housing markets around the world finally deflate a little, I'll be looking to buy. I agree with you that now is a bad time to buy as it seems like every market I look at is overpriced. Do you need to pay for these condos IN CASH (in Thailand) or are mortgages available? My guess is cash. Thanks again for the video!
I’ve heard you can get financing up to 50 percent but most lenders require income verification. Prices are even higher... in hindsight I would have told u to buy for sure back when I made this video but now I am even more concerned about giving any kind of advice to buy as it’s even more inflated... at the same time external factors such as a huge influx of more foreign investors etc could happen and prices could keep inflating...
@@livetravelasia I didn't have any money last year so it wouldn't make any difference until just recently. I still only have like 36K saved up, which wouldn't even pay for a shit house in Bangkok. But with the job I have now I could have 75K by Christmas and then I'll be looking to invest next year.
I like the video you made but now I have to ask. Do the Thai people use escrow and do they perform a Title Search before pruchasing a Condo? The reason I ask is because I have seen Thailand property with 8 or more people all owning a single property. I have met a guy who owns a house built on land that does not belong to him. It's OK - he ownes the house and not the land under the house. When he sells the house - he is only selling the house. So is a Title Search performed to make sure ALL the owners of the property are selling the property and do the Thai's use escrow when selling proprty? Thanks for helping me.
It’s not a common practice and thus all the issues. That’s why I recommend if you are gonna buy something, stick w big reputable builders on condos. As a foreigner it’s hard to navigate the pitfalls otherwise
Glad to hear this! Let me know if there are other topics of interest you don't see discussed. I don't like to do these long format discussions anymore but I'll do it on one of my long street walks if it's relevant to the area
Also to further help your point about the condo. Buying something for $30k even if Bangkok sinks in 10 - 15 years! Think of rent in your area in the US or Canada. Where I am a 1BR is between 1000 to 1500 for a nice place. At $1000 in 2&1/2 years you just spent $30k. Much smarter decision to buy if you plan a long term stay in Thailand and then you can get it back on sale.
Yeah it was a no brainer for me cause 10-15 years break even. And I think the sinking thing is a overblown fear. The city in Louisiana is under sea level and they just built a levy to cover for it. We also don't have hurricanes here either
I really enjoy and learn so much from watching you. Thanks for all the videos you make. Weird question, I just notice that at the end of the video, you changed shots.......you have a sewing machine? I know, weird question....just curious.
Thank you so much for this video. Although I’m still working in the US and looking to become an expat for the same reasons you did. Great video quality and most of all you are fun. Definitely a subscriber and fan. 😊
Thank you, in these kinds of discussion videos I try to be as informative as possible but no matter how hard I try I am still one of the guys who likes living out here in thailand so just be aware ultimately you’ll have to find out for yourself. Feel free to let me know if there are other questions you want covered as well as I am planning to do more videos like this :)
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA - that’s what I appreciate. I’m Black American and my first trip to Asia was Thailand on the advice of a Japanese friend of mine here in Northern California. I was so well received that I’ve been back about 4 times. Now another good friend of mine who is originally from Malaysia is convincing me to buy a condo in BKK for retirement. That surprised me because I couldn’t believe he would choose there over Malaysia. Then a Thai friend of mine got divorced, sold his San Francisco home for a small fortune and bought a condo in BKK. So long story short... although retirement is several decades away, a vacation condo to be used later in retirement doesn’t have to be that far off 😊. So your videos are VERY helpful!
Yeah actually I have a Malaysian friend as well who bought a house in Malaysia for his family but chooses to not live there cause he like Bangkok so much... I’ve never been but it’s always ranked as one of the top places to retire and I’ve gotten comments from some people who will swear Malaysia is better. But to each his own :)
@51:30: that's what worries me. Conversely, I want to escape the 9 to 5.:) And YESsssss, your videos are worthy. You are so organized and a cool dude. So many things you said resonate with my train of thoughts. I'm glad you finally have a patreon.
Thanks buddy! And thank you for your support! Every little bit will seriously help w my expenses and eventually I hope it’ll get me on my feet to do it full time so I can get more interesting content and grow so that eventually my channel can support me. I can’t express my gratitude in words
New to your channel sir and I myself am researching into retiring to the south east Asian region and found this episode very informative and in depth of what one should consider...well done
Thank you for this video! It's really helpful. I want to move to Thailand but I'm just trying to figure out a way to have a stable income so I can live there.
Great video, finally got round to watching it all :) I noticed on your screen that you subscribe to Scott Mallon, I like his videos too and I met with him once in Bangkok, he's a cool guy.
Yeah it’s definitely not for everyone. I’d only buy it if you plan on living here for more than 10 years or plan on visiting frequently for that period of time. Thanks for the comment!
Great informative video! You should do a video that explains where you keep your investments. I suppose you keep them invested in a portfolio of ETF/Stocks/Bonds, but where? Do you keep them in a bank account in US, in Korea, in Singapore, or in a local bank in Thailand?
I am probably over vested in thailand. I think you should keep the majority of you funds in the country you would consider the fall back option and in my case it would be America cause I am a citizen there. It’s also not an unsafe place relatively but that depends on your own opinion. I’d never make a video on that as I am not a financial advisor anymore, nor do I feel qualified to advise such a general audience but that’s what I have my money in. American index funds and Thai real estate. I actually recently pulled from even the index fund as I feel there’s the markets to volatile currently. At least until China and the us settled this trade disputes
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA I didn't explain myself well. I was not asking in which funds/ETF/markets you are invested in, but what brokers/banks you are using to buy and keep your financial assets portfolio. The reason I'm asking is because in Italy many people are thinking to move their money away from the country due to political instability, heavily indebteness of the country and Eurexit, that would end up with all bank accounts being frozen. Basically I was asking if you think it's safe to keep savings and financial investments in Thailand by using a Thai bank/broker. For instance, I suppose you would never keep your savings and financial investments in Argentina by using one of their local banks/brokers.
Ah ok. This makes more sense. Yes. I'd not keep a fortune or any large sums of money in the Thai Market not because it doesn't have short term potential or it isn't a good buy currently relative to other locations but I hate micromanaging and I hate to deal with individual stocks. It sucks a lot of your time and energy. That's not to say I don't know friends who do and make literally a living from it as they are great opportunities here. You're just going to have to find out for yourself. It's quite sad that you can't trust your own country's financial stability but if I was in your situation I'd split my portfolio between US, English, German, and French Index funds if I was to put it in the market but I personally have mine in the US only as I am a US citizen so I need hedge myself against inflation in the US. If shit hits the fan, so does the rest of the US but that doesn't seem like it'll happen relative to other markets although I think the current stock market is over valued in general so I am keeping a lot in deposit accounts in banks. Americans banks offer 100K FDIC insurance and I don't have more than that so it doesn't really matter where. Although I have it between 5 banks not because I have money but because I have special accounts as I was in the military and I want to keep the relationship with them. Ultimately you should keep your money in the country you forsee living in. You're not a Thai citizen and you don't know what'll happen to this country in the future so why keep a large amount here? My condo gives me use and I calculated a 10 year break even on the rental so that's relatively not that long. If you're bringing all your money that means you're betting your entire life into this country which I myself wouldn't personally do not because this isn't a great country or that this country doesn't have upward potential but when shit hits the fan, it's not my country of citizenship. Not sure if this makes sense... basically I put my money in the US not because I think it offers value or its more stable than anywhere else, but because I need to go back there if something happens but I don't want to expose myself to everything inflating over there and my money being worth crap and it's okay if everything does bad over there as I'd be in the same shoe as everyone else. I also think the US has a relatively good long term outlook compared to the rest of the world so it makes my decision easier than yours. China which is the other alternative is also possible but the same reason I didn't buy anything in Vietnam is it's communist, you don't own anything there anyways, that's why the Chinese also buy property mainly in Japan and US so that didn't factor into my consideration
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA yeah it's very sad to live in a country I can not trust. We almost defaulted in 2011, let's see this time, if shit hits the fan it's going to be a really heavy load transport full of shit.
Fantastic info. I may be disabled soon due to lumbar spinal fusion. in the USA, and eventually, I may like to rent a condo in Thailand to live a calmer life and lessor living expenses. I've thought about the Philippines also. Thailand looks like a better lifestyle.
I have personally not lived in Philippines. It seems great with its own benefits, ie most people speak English fluently etc but thailand is definitely a more modern option w great internet which is actually essential to my own lifestyle haha
Hey there! thanks for the awesome tips. Definitely helped me! I am going to be taking the plunge soon. I was wondering what you do for health insurance. A few tips would be appreciated. TIA
Hmm this is a pretty difficult subject as we americans would never imagine having coverage that's less than like a million dollars lifetime payout as our costs out there are ridiculous. You'll have to really come out here and check what kind of care you'd like. I can tell you the higher end hospitals are like hotels and the lower end government hospitals which have good doctors are more inconvenient. The health insurance out here is varied to reflect the costs associated with those two types of choices. If you're young and just want to protect yourself from a car accident or something you probably don't need that much coverage. You'll be rushed to whatever hospital is near you anyways unless you're always in bangkok etc... but yeah lots of options available for you from companies you know of like AIA Allianz etc but I'd chose it after you settle on what kind of situations you want to cover and the care you expect but even when you pay out of pocket you'll find the costs are usually lower than even just your deductable back home for good care
Appreciate it... I did do an update video about a year ago. But right now w covid and the political situation in Thailand I’d hold off any thoughts until things settle down. First get over there and try to live for year in the city you wanna buy in cause buying solely for investment in Thailand is a bad idea and it’s hard to resell it
Dude. This is no-frills authentic advice and analysis. I work in finance (doing credit research for one of the big 3 agencies) and was considering applying for finance jobs out here. ( I traveled Thailand last year for a month, loving the people, weather, food). You did mention that if a Thai person could do a job, they’d get it over you. Do you think this applies as well to corporate jobs? And curious if you could elaborate on language gaps when it comes to careers in Thailand.
Dude you have so many travel vids in Thailand. I'm so gonna subscribe to you now. Looks like you know the city better than me even though I grew up there.
Pairode Jaroensri haha thanks for the subscription and idk man... I still feel like a newbie here even though I’ve been making an effort every week to do something new. There’s so much to this city. It’s weird cause in LA I felt like I knew the place and felt there wasn’t much to do but Bangkok is technically smaller but it’s just so full of stuff... I feel like it’ll take me a lifetime to learn the city haha
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA That's exactly what I felt about the LA when I visited as well. I guess Bangkok is smaller, so everything is closer together and a bit more overwhelming? The Bay Area kinda has that feel to it as well. but hey, the important part is enjoying yourself while you're there, right? Glad you like my home town! and here's a fun fact for you: Both sides of the river used to be two different cities, and both of them used to be the capital at some point before they merge. No wonder there are things to do everywhere, right? btw where do you get all the information to navigate Thailand? Must've been tough when you don't speak Thai?
Not really... thailand is set up for english travelers. The country of tourists really. I also have mayu haha. But interesting fact on the two sides of the river!
Thanks for the video. This is exactly why I subbed to your channel. I have been interested in Thailand for early retirement for a while. The only thing that concerns me is the air pollution. Have you had any respiratory problems? Lastly, where do you see rents to be in 7 years? I look forward to more of just your honest opinion on navigating common experiences an expat would have to encounter from your perspective.
I haven’t had any respiratory issues... this is such a common concern I should do a vlog on it... air has gotten worst but it’s still nowhere as bad as korea and certainly anywheee in China cause Korea gets the dust and pollution blown over from there. I am quite sensitive cause my nose starts bleeding after a week or so in Seoul but not here. As for rental prices I am not sure... it’ll be higher but so many variables at play right now it’s anyone’s guess. The city is small, everyone wants to live here, it’s already built up and around so space is limited, I don’t see prices going down unless something catastrophic happens
Hey man, Great Video...really! It was very informative and I think you probably live a better lifestyle than any of the other "backpacker/ traveler "videos I usually see here on you tube. I'm on my way there (Chang Mai) arriving next month, near the end of August. I am working on my TEFL Cert. now. I have a B.Sci. in Anthropology and Applied Cultural Studies with Honors and have been chipping away at a Masters in Education with a focus on International Education. I have applied at a few places in Thailand already and have had relatively good reception. I am wondering...did you have to do a Thai FBI background Investigation to teach there? And if so how long did it take? Thanks so much for the advice and good info.
If u have a b in sci you shouldn’t have too many issues. I didn’t have to get a background check but I think you need to now. I am sure it’s not going to be a big deal. Govt is not the most efficient but far more efficient than the states in my experience
First 3min in, "dont buy a condo". Damnit , just bought one and about to move in a few weekends. But this is just for when i travel to thailand. Just found your channel and great job on videos. Im also from So Cali and travel to thailand every summer.
Haha good deal man. If you come here every year to use it and you're on So Cal salary, you can't go too wrong. I can think of worst ways to blow my money in Cali than a cheap condo in Bangkok
I am also living and teaching in Thailand. I like the way you put things in perspective when it comes to the income and lifestyle. It is on point it is a lifestyle choice, money is not the beginning and end of everything.
absolutely right!
Buy a condo with a lot of units. Buy a condo that middle-class Thais would buy. Avoid east Bangkok flood zones. Don't buy anything as soon as you arrive. Just because it's a luxury condo, don't expect it to be well managed. GREAT ADVICE!!! That'd have been worth $5 on Patreon (hint, hint).
My plan is to move there next year, and rent for 3 months or so, while checking out the central Bangkok area, and looking for a local Thai builder outside of the flood zone.
Thankfully, one of my Thai classmates recently moved back to Bangkok, and another will move back as soon as she graduates, so I oughtta have trustworthy local friends who can advise me, and possibly help me negotiate more honest prices. Even without their help, this video has been invaluable. I really appreciate you making it!
Thanks buddy! I’ll see you on the streams! I plan to cover this topic in more detail in the future as well :)
Any advice for how to rent short term in a condo that seems to only offer min 1-year rental contracts? How much more am I expected to pay if I only wanna rent short term (few weeks to few months)? Is it even negotiable?
Another point: buy a condo already built and established. There are too many building projects that go bust. Next, even though they may not be up to US standards, consider hiring a lawyer to over see the purchase. It's very cheap. You can learn the names of attorneys from expat clubs. An attorney can review documents and over see the the "closing". He/she can also draft a will and other documents for the transfer of the unit upon your death.
Good point. I didn't know any but it couldn't hurt if you knew trustworthy ones. Id definitely hire one if you're going with a builder you're not familiar with.
Still til this day, this is my favorite video of your. I actually rewatched this video many times. Massive huge big ups ethan. The subjects you touch on this videos is deep and educational.
Wow interesting... maybe I should do an update video on my thoughts haha
@@livetravelasia please do ethan. I like videos where you just sit down and talk
Your videos are generally high quality, and you're a positive guy that everyone will probably sympathize with. I see no reason why you cannot be successful on youtube, however note that the Travel niche, is not very well paid and there are not as many advertisers paying a lot of money for travel bloggers. But, if you're passionate enough, the number of subscribers and patreons will add up. Good luck!
haha yeah... I do travel cause I am passionate about it but I am realizing that it's a super niche genre with alot of competition. I am eventually planning to branch out into food, products, interviews, and life in general with all the places I get to visit and the people I meet depending on what my viewers seem interested in so hopefully I can be successful! Thank you for the feedback :)
This is the kind of stuff you put in a digital course and sell to people.
I want to teach physics math astronomy there
Bro, I can honestly say that your videos inspire me to make the move that I've been wanting to do for so long. Really good content, keep it up!
That’s the greatest compliment I could ever receive. Thank you kind sir and see you on the other side!
@@livetravelasia well I've been planning to move for about 5 years now...came across your channel...I haven't caught onto where you bought for 2 mil ..how far are you from lets say terminal 21 by bts. Missing thailand miserably!! :( and its only been 3 months since we've back..
Rekha Mukhia I bought for 1.7 actually but now the prices have gone up and even gone up since I made this video. I am about 15 mins from terminal 21 enquatgier and thonglor in rca
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA thanks for replying
This video of yours couldn't have come at a better time. I'm very interested in moving over to Thailand to stay and I have to say your video cover ton of points I was researching on. Do post more of such contents and I look forward to more of what you will share. Cheers!
I am really happy to hear that... I've been hesitant as I don't know everything on these topics but hopefully you could learn from some of my experiences, good and bad. I'll definitely try to do more informative videos although I am not sure if people will enjoy me rambling on for over an hr... hahahaha
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA I can't say for the others but I definitely enjoyed it. It's always good knowing both sides of the coin rather than just projected fantasy we see based on other videos.
I am really glad you see it that way. I totally agree. Everyone has different opinions so I don’t expect everyone to agree with mine but I hope you got some gems off this video and together with all the other great resources you have out there, you make an even more informed decision than I did back when I first moved out the Thailand
If you have additional information to share please do so. I am not making any claims that my lifestyle is for everyone but simply sharing my experience. Thank you for the comment tom
Thank you for your very informative, practical videos. This is the first video that has inspired me to subscribe to a channel.
Oh wow thank you so much for the comment! I'll try to do some more informative videos :)
This is one of the most informative videos I've seen on this topic. Your channel is also fantastic! I live in Khon Kaen and am looking at moving to Korat. (Not too far from BKK, but close enough.) Definitely subscribing and going to watch all your vids!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this video!
Totally agree about the HOA and how the building is maintained. In the luxury condo market, buy from a company like AP who has a record of maintaining all their properties. Been living in Bangkok off and on for 10 years and it is an amazing place to live and a happy daily life.
Yeah AP seems good but there are a few that seem to have a decent track record so there's lots of choices. AP also has a budget line that felt identical to the Lumpinis at a good value.... I think they are the life line of condos? Lumpini is also getting into the luxury line as well and those looked really nice. So ultimately builders that have a good record, and you can find your budget within their line of buildings I think
After Looking around Bangkok I agree about the HOA. Its the one thing I fear the most. Imagine buying a nice condo but in a few years it looks like a ghetto due to no maintenance.
New subscriber here. I honestly love that you have a finance and real estate background. Most of these travel UA-camrs don't have that, so we never get to see nor understand what it's really like to live in another country. Your perspective is refreshing and extremely educational. In all honesty, I love this type of content on your channel the most. Based on viewership count, it also seems to appeal to a lot of people too. Although to appeal to a larger audience, I think it may be helpful to keep the videos to about 20 min or under. Would love to see a video of a South Korea version of the cost of living analysis you did for life in Thailand.
Thank you. I'll try to do more nitty gritty videos when I can :)
We have a lot in common. Im moving there in a couple months and will take a TEFL course. I sold real estate in the US and can live off those funds for many years. I just need the visa mainly. Im originally from California but have lived all over the US
Nice
this is great information from who i believe is a trustworthy guy. You dont come off arrogant and overconfident as many of the other thailand vloggers. Glad I came across this channel. I hope one day I can pull the trigger and get over my fear of flying and just go visit thailand.
Awww thank you for your kind comment. Hope to see you out here too. It took me years to pull the trigger myself so I totally get you. Hope you at least come out for a visit one day however :)
This has been an incredible video. Super informative. Please keep making more. You are doing a great job.
Thank you so much for the comment. Yes I do have more condo buying vlogs planned which I’ll get to editing after I wrap up some of the travel vlogs in my pipeline
My Friend I must say this is one of the best videos I have seen about Thai property. You come across very open and honest. You have a very friendly aura. Thank you so much for being you.
Thank you Dave. Hope it helps you on your journey to becoming a property owner :)
you're transparent, respectful and informative, really really good video,you just got a new follower and one of my new favorite channel
Thank you so much for this comment. It really means a lot to me. Hope to see you comment on my other discussion topics in the future cause it's a fine balance between respectful and being too cautious to express one's opinion. Still trying to find the right balance
I was born and raised in Bangkok now living in Europe, I miss home watching this ❤️
Aww you can always come back
Thank you for this video, I’m super grateful for this content. Very enlightening, and I will be joining your patreon! Much success to you, my friend!
Thank you so much! See you on the livestreams!
Very useful and informative content. I've been going to BKK for a few years now and doing what you advise about exploring different areas before buying a condo. Last year I did a 3 month rental at a Ideo Mobi condo in Bang Na. The condo was inexpensive to rent, very close to the BTS, super clean, with nice huge pool and small gym. Great place but too far from city center for me. I noticed many Ideo Mobi condo's around BKK. Winter 2019/2020 I booked a condo in Ekkamai, close to the bus terminal and BTS. Thank you for sharing your wisdom on purchasing a condo in Thailand. What you do is really helpful to me, and I'm sure many others.
Ideo mobis are definitely popular. I’ve heard from my ex she read they aren’t built well so I’d think twice about buying them but renting them are great cause they all try to place them in convenient locations but take that w a grain of salt. She didn’t have much nice things to say about any builder except the sansiri which is expensive loo
Really good vid! Informative and filled with facts and more objective analysis!!
Glad you found it helpful :)
Thanks so much for sharing, amazing video - good advice. What is the condo loans available for snow birds maybe planning to live abroad for 1/2 or 1/4 the year. Or is everything cash based which is probably most likely.
There are but conditions vary greatly and most of them still require at least 50 percent down
Good work. I like how positive you are. Will be moving to Bangkok from NYC. Married to a Thai lady so we decided that we're moving there since it's cheaper than the states. Looking forward to see what else can I learn from Thailand before moving there for good.
I think you'll definitely enjoy it out here :)
I did a lot of research on property (real estate) in Bangkok. The thing that really surprised me is that the maintenance charge generally doubles every 5 years due to inflation (wage inflation).
Thais generally want new. I believe it is easier to get a bank loan on a new condo because of an agreement with the developer.
I also see that the advertised sale price on second hand condos are generally never achieved. One is lucky to get 90% of advertised price. I also have seen recently that people that were flipping off plan are lucky to get their money back now.
I would only buy a property in Thailand if one intends to live in it for more than 10 years (as you basically say).
Yeah and I also would add that you should come live here for at least a year to know if you really want to live here for 10 years as Thailand isn't for everyone. As for maintenance charge I've been here almost 3 years and it hasn't gone even 10 percent. The inflation was bigger a before as Thailand was on the up for the past 10 years but that's not something you should take into consideration. If you are than one should take into consideration the huge inflation in home prices as well. My aunt purchased the same model as mine back in about 2012 and sold it in 2015 for double the price but I didn't expect that kind of return cause everything is so dynamic. At the end of the day, I'd just buy it with the intent to at least break even on rental payment and anything else above that is cherry on top
Thanks so much for your time and expertise. It's people like you who make life easier for people like me.
감사합니다
Whatever way I can help!
I can hardly wait until travel opens again and countries open up again! Great video. Thanks.
Yes me too! Thank you!
Just binged watched all of your videos, thank you for the perspective! Keep doing your thing fam
Wow! Thank you so much!!
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA
Sir i have few question , can you tell me your contact/whatsapp no.
Thank you for a honest and professional video where you share so much invaluable information. Awesome work
You’re welcome! Thank you for commenting :)
Thank u so much for this awesome video,
as a person who's gonna live and work in Bangkok for a long time, there are so much information i need to absorb to be quickly adapt to this new environment.
And i got recommend for u bro!
we all know that Bangkok is a growing hub for innovation and other soft power , there are more and more freelancers and businessman coming to Thailand ,
a brief introduction of the counties or district of Thailand will be very useful for other ppl ,
like which area is famous for the financial environment,
which is famous for something , u dont need to focus on food or fun places, we can focus on industry
the concept is like the area is crowded with the ultra-wealth thai which u just mentioned in this vlog.
just a minor recommend,
thank u very much
Good feedback. So maybe an introduction to different areas and the crowd and businesses you'll find there. Any other topics you'd like me to include?
@@livetravelasia actually, i think there are a lot of topics which are useful , informative and view-attractive .
such as living in Bangkok u should be careful of which types of scams , and also the working permit &visa section or even medical emergency intro. but i understand your core value of the channel is for all Asia.
BTW ,you can also go inside Hubba to meet some new friends, share any expat's experience who lives in bangkok and their stories ,working experience as well. I guess the viewers are gonna like it.
It depends on if you want to change your vlog style .(long version to short version)
So grateful that you read and reply my recommend man ! fully support!
You make some great videos dude , keep up the great work , all the best to you and your girlfriend
Thank you so much!
Great video Ethan and very extensive information on buying a house and how to make a living there. Thanks for sharing mate.
Bernard Bredhauer thanks for checking it out Bernard!
28:24 Well the land level map applies for the flash floods from rains above those area which is common during monsoon season when sewage system cannot cope with the amount of rains.
However you need to considered the flood barrier in case of flood crisis back in 2012. In 2012 flood crisis, most of the flood came from the dam in the northern part of Thailand. So when those water arrives the greater Bangkok they was blocked by the certain ring roads that has been constructed and elevated for both commuting and flood prevention (indicates as red line with dot in your map). Those area outside the ring road, tho those land may be in the higher ground than most of the Bangkok, they will be heavily flooded coz the water from the north cannot move any further south. And the water level will rise until it exceed the barricade road.
Back in 2012 the water did cross the barrier road which means the land outside the barrier has been submerged under 1+ meters of water. BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) then built up layer over layer of water barricade to divert water to West/East side and hope that the water will remains in only northern part of BKK in order to avoid the downtown flood which is on way lower ground. So it's ended up that BMA allowed flood water to reach only around Central Plaza Lat Phrao which seems to has higher ground, while lower ground downtown was well protected. My houses in Banchak, Onnut and Banga which situated very close to the river and in a very low ground level, were dry. At that time we thought that our house will definitely submerged, however, it does seems that BMA and government will not allow central Bangkok to get flood (apart from flash flood). Meanwhile another house that my family bought near Bang Khean which my parents bought in feared of flood in Sukhumvit area and Bang Khean is on higher ground, it was flooded for weeks.
So my point is, there are kinds of flood here. The flash flood from rain downpour and the flood water from the northern dam which associated different risks so please keep that in mind as well. If you are living upper outside the barrier or upper north of Bangkok, you have to accept the risk that if there is flood crisis in Bangkok. Your house will be the very first to submerge. It is very unlikely for such a crisis to occur, but i if it did, it will takes weeks or month to dry.
This particular map I looked at was how much the place was flooded during the 2012 and yes I heard something along the lines of what you are saying but thank you for explaining in such detail. I hear BMA will sacrifice other areas to protect the center of the city if that kinda flood happened again.... I haven't experienced any flash floods but in the last 4 years I guess I am lucky cause my area tends to not get submerged like when I see the news reports of areas in Ladprao and Bangna get flooded in the main roads. Other than that I think it's just the luck of the draw
I know your real when you responded so quickly, keep up the good work!!
Absolutely!
Really learned something. Thank you. You also might want to include a bit more info on being a "digital nomad" and doing work such as web development.
I really would but have no experience in that field haha
Yes I figured as much but you are a bright dude so you can do some research on it. I suggest you look into it anyhow just because it is something you might want to consider. Honestly brother, you look like a dead ringer for a coder lol. Look into web development or if you are more ambitious Full stack development. You can make good money and its portable (meaning you can live anywhere with an internet connection and be able to work.
Thank u for all information! ( : so glad to find your channel randomly ( :
I am so glad you came across mine as well! Hope you really enjoy the future videos to come!
Just like attending a great seminar! Full of usefull informations! Many thanks
Glad you found it helpful!
I like your informative video. I'm Thai who lived in the US for more than 30 yrs. Now, I'm back in Thailand but not living in Bangkok like I used to anymore.Your vids show and tell me a lot about the city that I used to know and love.Thank you so much!
Thank you. I am always flattered when a native Thai compliments my channel as it's hard to balance being fair and informative and respectful as well. I genuinely love this city with all it's crazy highs and lows and I hope it shows in my videos :)
Thanks for your video! I appreciated your frank and honest advice and opinions. They were very well thought out and logical.
Thank you for taking the time to comment and encourage me. I hope you will also like my future discussion videos and don't be a stranger on the comments section :)
I just started watching your channel. Your so sympathic and you are such an honest and kind person. :) you have a good soul buddy. Btw really good video! Its cute how you think about kids too who cant afford the 3$.
Haha yeah I try to accommodate for everyone. Thank you so much for this comment. Definitely keeps me motivated
Enjoy your video. I am from Thailand myself and been living here in Los Angels since 1997.I also plan to move back sometime in 10-15 years.My plan is buy stocks and sell covered call option for passive incomes and hopefully achieve financial freedom soon. Hope my plan going well and see you there sometime in the future.
Enjoying the videos! Informative binge watching. Would you care to share how much $ you had or a range when you pulled the trigger and moved to Thailand? I have a great job, but have a plan to quit and move in 2-3 years. Was in banking as well, but now in Energy. Been to Thailand backpacking twice and seek that tranquil lifestyle.
Hmmmm well I'll tell you I had 100K but at the same time I would be hard pressed to assess if that's enough to help me move or if the time wasted building that much is worst... As you get older life is harder in Asia. I see these 20 something year old kids out here in Asia with nothing but with many more opportunities than me and I wish I came sooner... You'll probably just never do what you want to do thinking you don't have enough like I did. Having a near death experience made me realize I could die any day which gave me the courage to pull the trigger and live my life now. That's the only certain thing and I don't regret it so far
I stumbled on your video. I love your honest contents and knowledge. You got a new subscriber!
Thank you!
Dude, you hit the nail on the head on so many topics. With the property tax, It's same way here in Canada, you pay property tax and technically the queen owns everything. Property prices are inflated by foreign money coming in, mainly China, like in Cali, no regulation at all. Regular guy can no longer afford a place in Toronto/Vancouver. I recently visited Thailand, loved it, if I can manage remote work I'll definitely give living there a chance.
Yeah it’s hardest for working middle class people in North America...
I have lived on and off in Thailand for the last five years, and I was told a long time ago foreigners can’t own property, so I didn’t check any further, until last week, and I now know I could fully own a condo, I’m annoyed with myself to be honest as I could have paid for one by now, live and learn ... thanks for the video, and good luck.
Yeah I don’t blame you cause most locals are surprised I own my own condo and say that’s not legal. Only way I knew about it to be honest is because my aunt had purchased one herself and told me about the befits of owning one if I wanted to stay long term. I am so sorry to hear that you were mislead. I wish you the best with your future endeavors in thailand or elsewhere and thank you for the comments :)
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA Thanks man, it must be cool not having to worry too many bills at the end of the month, at least now I know, so maybe I’ll take the plunge next year, it’s good to see other people who think similar to me, I fell in love with the place, the expenses are so much less here than in the US or pretty much anywhere, and there’s hardly any downsides, apart from maybe the smokey traffic :)
absolutely love your vlogs! thanks so much for all the info!!!!!!!!!! very thorough!
Thanks buddy! I am so glad you found some of this info useful!
Thank you for the hipflat recommendation. Really appreciate your advice on this topic.
Glad it helped! I am planning on doing something more in depth with the whole pre purchase process
Super insightful video, thank you so much for sharing!!
You’re welcome!
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Recently found your Channel and find your videos very informative and entertaining. This one I'll have to watch in two or three sessions :) Working and saving money in Northern Cal in the hopes of making the move to Thailand one day. Subscribed and hope you make more videos to add to your helpful information playlist :)
Glad you found it helpful. And yes I’ll definitely be making more videos about traveling and living out here. It’ll mainly be about travel for the next couple months but I’ll revisit some of these living issues as I encounter them in my life :)
Informative video. How do you feel the resell value will be like when you sell the property ? Are you seeing much value increase annually?
It’s definitely been increasing but I don’t plan on selling it. It’ll be my forever vacation home. Since I am living in Asia I need a place to park all my stuff
@@livetravelasia we talked before on instagram. so you will have a place in south Korea and thailand.
Great video! Very informative and much appreciated!
Glad I could help :)
You're such a bright guy.Thank you so much for sharing!
I am simply glad you found it helpful or entertaining :) thank you for leaving a comment :)))
Great job on your video and perspective! Harald on the top of the list does give good advice on buying property abroad. He receives a lot of negative feedback, but he gives out excellent information.
Hope it was helpful. No advice is perfect as we all have unique experiences that help us simply form our opinions but hopefully my perspective helps you in forming yours :)
Great Great information, I watched this like 5 times
Wow thank you!
Really informative. Great video! Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Thanks Ethan, I love your video and the information you've provided. As a Thai person living in US for 20 years, I do appreciate (and agree with) your opinion and honestly about living in Thailand as a foreigner. My (American) partner has always been thinking about moving to Thailand at some point of our lives, and your video is filling a lot of information gabs that we have. Thanks and keep this up!
Man this really inspires me to make even more videos. I am glad I could be of help. Thank you so much for taking your time to leave a comment :)
Question: about your condo, How is the NOISE level in your condo? You described everything except how much noise do you get in your condo from: neighbors on the other side of your condo walls, hallway noise, outside noise through your windows?
I don't have any noise issue but I don't mention it in a video for the general audience cause it'll all depend on where you live. Some places are louder than others
Amazing detail and honest, well informed opinion. Thank you
Awww thank you! You're very welcome!
Great video man, I've heavily contemplated moving out to Bangkok over the last year. Trying to prepare for it but still wont be for a while. Looking forward to more of your videos!
Thank you. I'll try to be as informative as possible but Bangkok is so diverse you'll have to just come out here and figure things out for yourself but hopefully I can give you a head start :)
Awesome vid! I'm from Pennsylvania, been living outside the US for 4 years now in Saudi Arabia and am looking to move to Asia to start a business. Thanks for the info!
You're welcome! Wish you the best!
thanks for taking the time to make this.....very informative....much appreciated.
Hey Ethan, could you expound on how Rama 3 is a nice place to consider???
A lot of people like it cause it’s not as noisy as the center. I personally think sukhumvit sucks although it’s convenient next to the roads. But most ppl complain about the traffic and air here and that’s because they live near sukhumvit. Surrounded by tall sky scrapers and there’s literally a roof over the busiest street cause the bts runs over it so all the noise, air is trapped below it and even when it rains it doesn’t do a good job of clearing out the air but instead just makes the streets dirty and the rats to come out. Quite frankly I avoid sukhumvit. Rama 3 is great for all the reasons sukhumvit isn’t. Next to river, better air, slower neighborhood. But it’s also has a central mall like the one you see in my video. Worst thing about Rama 3 however is that no bts, but if you’re retired and not going into the city every day you’ll find most things you need to live your daily life next to you. And it’ll be much more affordable than sukhumvit. Rama 9 where I live in more modern but still away from sukhumvit. In between Rama 3 and sukhumvit area. It’s a bit more pricier as well. Anyways you’ll have to find out for yourself what I mean. Cause I can only speak definitely about the relation of places between each other but I can’t relate it to where you live or your expectations
Awesome content And I love the Dead Pool figures. Thank you. BTW I pay 10K per in property taxes year here in Silicon Valley. I am selling this summer :(
If you can get the finances to work out where you're making positive cashflow it may be worth it but honestly it's a pain in the ass to property manage in the states... All the talk of a bubble also makes me nervous as well as the upcoming earthquakes. Hope it works out for ya buddy :)
So informative
Im subscribed
Such a nice dude
Thank you!
keep up the good work pal, you know what pays is WORK hard or not choice is ours, looking forward to move there next year if all goes well here.
Thank you! And hope you have a great time out here!
thanks a lot for this video. You seem like a really honest guy. I'm currently working in Beijing, but I have spent a lot of time living in Thailand on and off for the past 4 years. For now, I'm saving up cash and when the housing markets around the world finally deflate a little, I'll be looking to buy. I agree with you that now is a bad time to buy as it seems like every market I look at is overpriced. Do you need to pay for these condos IN CASH (in Thailand) or are mortgages available? My guess is cash. Thanks again for the video!
I’ve heard you can get financing up to 50 percent but most lenders require income verification. Prices are even higher... in hindsight I would have told u to buy for sure back when I made this video but now I am even more concerned about giving any kind of advice to buy as it’s even more inflated... at the same time external factors such as a huge influx of more foreign investors etc could happen and prices could keep inflating...
@@livetravelasia I didn't have any money last year so it wouldn't make any difference until just recently. I still only have like 36K saved up, which wouldn't even pay for a shit house in Bangkok. But with the job I have now I could have 75K by Christmas and then I'll be looking to invest next year.
I like the video you made but now I have to ask. Do the Thai people use escrow and do they perform a Title Search before pruchasing a Condo? The reason I ask is because I have seen Thailand property with 8 or more people all owning a single property. I have met a guy who owns a house built on land that does not belong to him. It's OK - he ownes the house and not the land under the house. When he sells the house - he is only selling the house. So is a Title Search performed to make sure ALL the owners of the property are selling the property and do the Thai's use escrow when selling proprty? Thanks for helping me.
It’s not a common practice and thus all the issues. That’s why I recommend if you are gonna buy something, stick w big reputable builders on condos. As a foreigner it’s hard to navigate the pitfalls otherwise
Your videos are outstanding. Thank you. Coming from SoCal I can totally relate.
Glad you can relate!
Informative video...I like it...a lot of good topics
Glad to hear this! Let me know if there are other topics of interest you don't see discussed. I don't like to do these long format discussions anymore but I'll do it on one of my long street walks if it's relevant to the area
Hi I like your exposition 👍.. you smart man . Greetings from Uruguay 🇺🇾
Thank you! Love South America!
Also to further help your point about the condo. Buying something for $30k even if Bangkok sinks in 10 - 15 years! Think of rent in your area in the US or Canada. Where I am a 1BR is between 1000 to 1500 for a nice place. At $1000 in 2&1/2 years you just spent $30k. Much smarter decision to buy if you plan a long term stay in Thailand and then you can get it back on sale.
Yeah it was a no brainer for me cause 10-15 years break even. And I think the sinking thing is a overblown fear. The city in Louisiana is under sea level and they just built a levy to cover for it. We also don't have hurricanes here either
I really enjoy and learn so much from watching you. Thanks for all the videos you make. Weird question, I just notice that at the end of the video, you changed shots.......you have a sewing machine? I know, weird question....just curious.
Haha Yeah the girlfriend has one
Thank you so much for this video. Although I’m still working in the US and looking to become an expat for the same reasons you did. Great video quality and most of all you are fun. Definitely a subscriber and fan. 😊
THank you!
Your Videos are very helpful. You're living the dream. Keep it up!!
Glad to be of help! Thank you so much for the comment :)
Great video! I love the straight talk and transparency
Thank you, in these kinds of discussion videos I try to be as informative as possible but no matter how hard I try I am still one of the guys who likes living out here in thailand so just be aware ultimately you’ll have to find out for yourself. Feel free to let me know if there are other questions you want covered as well as I am planning to do more videos like this :)
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA - that’s what I appreciate. I’m Black American and my first trip to Asia was Thailand on the advice of a Japanese friend of mine here in Northern California. I was so well received that I’ve been back about 4 times.
Now another good friend of mine who is originally from Malaysia is convincing me to buy a condo in BKK for retirement. That surprised me because I couldn’t believe he would choose there over Malaysia. Then a Thai friend of mine got divorced, sold his San Francisco home for a small fortune and bought a condo in BKK. So long story short... although retirement is several decades away, a vacation condo to be used later in retirement doesn’t have to be that far off 😊. So your videos are VERY helpful!
Yeah actually I have a Malaysian friend as well who bought a house in Malaysia for his family but chooses to not live there cause he like Bangkok so much... I’ve never been but it’s always ranked as one of the top places to retire and I’ve gotten comments from some people who will swear Malaysia is better. But to each his own :)
@51:30: that's what worries me. Conversely, I want to escape the 9 to 5.:) And YESsssss, your videos are worthy. You are so organized and a cool dude. So many things you said resonate with my train of thoughts. I'm glad you finally have a patreon.
Thanks buddy! And thank you for your support! Every little bit will seriously help w my expenses and eventually I hope it’ll get me on my feet to do it full time so I can get more interesting content and grow so that eventually my channel can support me. I can’t express my gratitude in words
Great vid, thanks for the detailed deep dive ... had to watch this over 2 sessions (days) ... very helpful
Glad you found it helpful!
New to your channel sir and I myself am researching into retiring to the south east Asian region and found this episode very informative and in depth of what one should consider...well done
Glad you enjoyed it. I'll look into making more videos like this in the future as I've had a better than positive reception of my video :)
Thank you for this video! It's really helpful. I want to move to Thailand but I'm just trying to figure out a way to have a stable income so I can live there.
Yeah that's really going to be your main concern if you want to live out here on a decent income cause all the jobs here sort of pay low
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA - Ok. Thanks!
Wish you the best buddy and see you on the other side soon :)
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA - Yep, for sure!
Good video. Like the way you explained things.
You are doing a great Job! Positive ENERGY FOR YOU! Keep it up!
Thank you!
Your videos are great and personal opinions even better
Thank you!
Great video, finally got round to watching it all :) I noticed on your screen that you subscribe to Scott Mallon, I like his videos too and I met with him once in Bangkok, he's a cool guy.
Haha yeah I subscribe to anyone who vlogs about Thailand as everyone gives valuable insight into their lives. Helps me think more outside the box :)
Hey mate you have a similar back ground to me. I probably wouldn't buy a condo but good on you for making this video very different and interesting.
Yeah it’s definitely not for everyone. I’d only buy it if you plan on living here for more than 10 years or plan on visiting frequently for that period of time. Thanks for the comment!
I'm planning on moving to Bangkok by February next year and this video helps a lot!
Wow! Glad to have helped! Wish you the best :)
Great informative video!
You should do a video that explains where you keep your investments. I suppose you keep them invested in a portfolio of ETF/Stocks/Bonds, but where? Do you keep them in a bank account in US, in Korea, in Singapore, or in a local bank in Thailand?
I am probably over vested in thailand. I think you should keep the majority of you funds in the country you would consider the fall back option and in my case it would be America cause I am a citizen there. It’s also not an unsafe place relatively but that depends on your own opinion. I’d never make a video on that as I am not a financial advisor anymore, nor do I feel qualified to advise such a general audience but that’s what I have my money in. American index funds and Thai real estate. I actually recently pulled from even the index fund as I feel there’s the markets to volatile currently. At least until China and the us settled this trade disputes
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA I didn't explain myself well. I was not asking in which funds/ETF/markets you are invested in, but what brokers/banks you are using to buy and keep your financial assets portfolio. The reason I'm asking is because in Italy many people are thinking to move their money away from the country due to political instability, heavily indebteness of the country and Eurexit, that would end up with all bank accounts being frozen.
Basically I was asking if you think it's safe to keep savings and financial investments in Thailand by using a Thai bank/broker.
For instance, I suppose you would never keep your savings and financial investments in Argentina by using one of their local banks/brokers.
Ah ok. This makes more sense. Yes. I'd not keep a fortune or any large sums of money in the Thai Market not because it doesn't have short term potential or it isn't a good buy currently relative to other locations but I hate micromanaging and I hate to deal with individual stocks. It sucks a lot of your time and energy. That's not to say I don't know friends who do and make literally a living from it as they are great opportunities here. You're just going to have to find out for yourself. It's quite sad that you can't trust your own country's financial stability but if I was in your situation I'd split my portfolio between US, English, German, and French Index funds if I was to put it in the market but I personally have mine in the US only as I am a US citizen so I need hedge myself against inflation in the US. If shit hits the fan, so does the rest of the US but that doesn't seem like it'll happen relative to other markets although I think the current stock market is over valued in general so I am keeping a lot in deposit accounts in banks. Americans banks offer 100K FDIC insurance and I don't have more than that so it doesn't really matter where. Although I have it between 5 banks not because I have money but because I have special accounts as I was in the military and I want to keep the relationship with them. Ultimately you should keep your money in the country you forsee living in. You're not a Thai citizen and you don't know what'll happen to this country in the future so why keep a large amount here? My condo gives me use and I calculated a 10 year break even on the rental so that's relatively not that long. If you're bringing all your money that means you're betting your entire life into this country which I myself wouldn't personally do not because this isn't a great country or that this country doesn't have upward potential but when shit hits the fan, it's not my country of citizenship. Not sure if this makes sense... basically I put my money in the US not because I think it offers value or its more stable than anywhere else, but because I need to go back there if something happens but I don't want to expose myself to everything inflating over there and my money being worth crap and it's okay if everything does bad over there as I'd be in the same shoe as everyone else. I also think the US has a relatively good long term outlook compared to the rest of the world so it makes my decision easier than yours. China which is the other alternative is also possible but the same reason I didn't buy anything in Vietnam is it's communist, you don't own anything there anyways, that's why the Chinese also buy property mainly in Japan and US so that didn't factor into my consideration
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA yeah it's very sad to live in a country I can not trust. We almost defaulted in 2011, let's see this time, if shit hits the fan it's going to be a really heavy load transport full of shit.
Fantastic info. I may be disabled soon due to lumbar spinal fusion. in the USA, and eventually, I may like to rent a condo in Thailand to live a calmer life and lessor living expenses. I've thought about the Philippines also. Thailand looks like a better lifestyle.
I have personally not lived in Philippines. It seems great with its own benefits, ie most people speak English fluently etc but thailand is definitely a more modern option w great internet which is actually essential to my own lifestyle haha
I connect so much with your ideology about life. You are speaking my mind. Teacher from Bangladesh here.
Thank you so much for your comment
Great analysis bro! Keep the good work up!
Thank you kind sir!
Hey there! thanks for the awesome tips. Definitely helped me! I am going to be taking the plunge soon. I was wondering what you do for health insurance. A few tips would be appreciated. TIA
Hmm this is a pretty difficult subject as we americans would never imagine having coverage that's less than like a million dollars lifetime payout as our costs out there are ridiculous. You'll have to really come out here and check what kind of care you'd like. I can tell you the higher end hospitals are like hotels and the lower end government hospitals which have good doctors are more inconvenient. The health insurance out here is varied to reflect the costs associated with those two types of choices. If you're young and just want to protect yourself from a car accident or something you probably don't need that much coverage. You'll be rushed to whatever hospital is near you anyways unless you're always in bangkok etc... but yeah lots of options available for you from companies you know of like AIA Allianz etc but I'd chose it after you settle on what kind of situations you want to cover and the care you expect but even when you pay out of pocket you'll find the costs are usually lower than even just your deductable back home for good care
this is so much value! thank you for your work!
You're welcome! thank you for dropping by to comment :)
Bro do you i tend to do update video on property ? I am intrested in getting a farm house outside of bangkok city... love your video
Appreciate it... I did do an update video about a year ago. But right now w covid and the political situation in Thailand I’d hold off any thoughts until things settle down. First get over there and try to live for year in the city you wanna buy in cause buying solely for investment in Thailand is a bad idea and it’s hard to resell it
Dude. This is no-frills authentic advice and analysis. I work in finance (doing credit research for one of the big 3 agencies) and was considering applying for finance jobs out here. ( I traveled Thailand last year for a month, loving the people, weather, food). You did mention that if a Thai person could do a job, they’d get it over you. Do you think this applies as well to corporate jobs? And curious if you could elaborate on language gaps when it comes to careers in Thailand.
Dude you have so many travel vids in Thailand. I'm so gonna subscribe to you now. Looks like you know the city better than me even though I grew up there.
Pairode Jaroensri haha thanks for the subscription and idk man... I still feel like a newbie here even though I’ve been making an effort every week to do something new. There’s so much to this city. It’s weird cause in LA I felt like I knew the place and felt there wasn’t much to do but Bangkok is technically smaller but it’s just so full of stuff... I feel like it’ll take me a lifetime to learn the city haha
LIVE TRAVEL ASIA That's exactly what I felt about the LA when I visited as well. I guess Bangkok is smaller, so everything is closer together and a bit more overwhelming? The Bay Area kinda has that feel to it as well. but hey, the important part is enjoying yourself while you're there, right? Glad you like my home town! and here's a fun fact for you: Both sides of the river used to be two different cities, and both of them used to be the capital at some point before they merge. No wonder there are things to do everywhere, right? btw where do you get all the information to navigate Thailand? Must've been tough when you don't speak Thai?
Not really... thailand is set up for english travelers. The country of tourists really. I also have mayu haha. But interesting fact on the two sides of the river!
Thanks for the video. This is exactly why I subbed to your channel. I have been interested in Thailand for early retirement for a while. The only thing that concerns me is the air pollution. Have you had any respiratory problems? Lastly, where do you see rents to be in 7 years? I look forward to more of just your honest opinion on navigating common experiences an expat would have to encounter from your perspective.
I haven’t had any respiratory issues... this is such a common concern I should do a vlog on it... air has gotten worst but it’s still nowhere as bad as korea and certainly anywheee in China cause Korea gets the dust and pollution blown over from there. I am quite sensitive cause my nose starts bleeding after a week or so in Seoul but not here. As for rental prices I am not sure... it’ll be higher but so many variables at play right now it’s anyone’s guess. The city is small, everyone wants to live here, it’s already built up and around so space is limited, I don’t see prices going down unless something catastrophic happens
I loved Thailand when I was there for a month. I'm curious what you are thinking about it now
I love Thailand still for what it is. A warm vacation getaway with happy hospitable people :)
Your Videos are awesome mate, you definitly deserve to do it full time . Just take the risk and jump and then trust on the universe to do it's part.
Thank you so much for the encouragement!!!! I will work harder!
good stuff! thanx for taking the time to do tis!
You're more than welcome and thank you for taking the time to comment!
Hey man, Great Video...really! It was very informative and I think you probably live a better lifestyle than any of the other "backpacker/ traveler "videos I usually see here on you tube. I'm on my way there (Chang Mai) arriving next month, near the end of August. I am working on my TEFL Cert. now. I have a B.Sci. in Anthropology and Applied Cultural Studies with Honors and have been chipping away at a Masters in Education with a focus on International Education. I have applied at a few places in Thailand already and have had relatively good reception. I am wondering...did you have to do a Thai FBI background Investigation to teach there? And if so how long did it take? Thanks so much for the advice and good info.
If u have a b in sci you shouldn’t have too many issues. I didn’t have to get a background check but I think you need to now. I am sure it’s not going to be a big deal. Govt is not the most efficient but far more efficient than the states in my experience
I'm going to listen to this while i'm at work.. this should be interesting :) thanks for uploading
No problem! Anything for my subs!
First 3min in, "dont buy a condo". Damnit , just bought one and about to move in a few weekends. But this is just for when i travel to thailand. Just found your channel and great job on videos. Im also from So Cali and travel to thailand every summer.
Haha good deal man. If you come here every year to use it and you're on So Cal salary, you can't go too wrong. I can think of worst ways to blow my money in Cali than a cheap condo in Bangkok
I like your information, thank you for sharing your experience.
Great video!!! very useful info.
Glad to help!!!