ANDREAS1954

Hi to everybody:

We have visited Thailand 4 times for the last 10 years about 15 days each time and we thought it a wonderful place and the people so nice.

We have lived in Athens,Greece over 15 years but are beginning to tire of the attitude the lifestyle and the high prices.

We wondered if Thailand was the place to be for when retired (this is about 10 years from now)

We think to buy a house in Phuket, to use it as an investment for now and then to use it us our retirement home.
We have been in Phuket once, only for 10 days, so any advice about how life is there for expats would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

John Speed

Really tricky question.How can anyone know what it will be like here in ten years?
All I can say is, we have lived in Thailand for five years ,Phuket for the last two, but there are two stories. One can be told,
it's a simple and pleasant life, property is rising steadily so start looking now, but you can still have a stunning condo for under 10,000,000 bht , or a small house for 4,000,000.You can live on 100,000 a month to be comfortable,but do your research well.
The other I will impart if you want to pm me

ANDREAS1954

Thanks for your answer,
I really would like to know the second storie. Is there a trap about life in Phuket?
Any advice about the different regions of Phuket. Which one is best for a foreigner to live?

lionheart

Please don't be coy...just a hint about the second story...is it about government corruption, perhaps?

Jockstar

Have a look at another site with more info regarding Thailand. thaivisa.com
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?act=idx

John Speed

I will answer a p.m.

John Speed

what dodgy security issues?

ANDREAS1954

What exactly do you mean by dodgy security issues?

John Speed

Working Nomad seems to have done a runner!

katongkaren

Suggest you take a few holidays in Phuket if you want to see what it's like and if you'll fit in. There are a lot of long term expats (a large percentage retirees) in the south of the island. You might want to take a look around that area but really depends what you want. As previous poster mentioned, you cannot really say how a place will be in 10 years. You also cannot guarantee that buying a property anywhere will be a good investment. Having said that, we are doing just that at the end of the year - retiring to Phuket.

Not sure what previous poster was referring to about second story, but every place in the world has its good and bad points - you just have to work out which place is the best for you. Good luck

johnh009

Hi, this is slightly off-topic, but having lived in Canada for a number of years, it is interesting to observe where North Americans retire to. Pamama is becoming one of the more popular places you may wish to consider. It has a large (mainly North American) expat community, a retirement program with no property taxes for 20 years, no tax on overseas income, and all the conveniences of a North American/European society. The country also seems quite stable.

Check it out on the net, just suggesting this as an alternative.

John Speed

It's so far off topic makes me wonder whether you work for the Panamanian Govt.?

katongkaren

Well I think it's kind of interesting though I've already committed to Phuket and think I'd rather learn Thai than Spanish.

Interesting to hear about taxes again though Don't think about it much in Asia. Savings in Singapore does not get taxed, certainly bringing money into Thailand does not get taxed, don't think there's a property tax in Thailand and certainly no estate duties. Tax - nasty word.

John Speed

You can only hope that "Tax" doesn't get "in" again

Jockstar

Doubt that!