Jomtien Condo

[Storekeeper]

So what’s the word, rumor, gossip … whatever on condo vacancies in Jomtien? You guys living here got the scoop?

Deal is we’re moving to a 2 bed/2 bath 126 sqm condo on the 4th floor with pool view tomorrow. I had scouted this place before moving to Thailand and the long term monthly rate was 42K. Long story short a month or so ago they offered it to us for 40K … and then it somehow became 38K … and then about 2-3 days ago we somehow got the owner down to 35K.

Not moaning. Not a bad deal, moving from a 2 bed/2 bath I think 85ish sqm soi view on 5th floor that I was perfectly happy with for 30K to something even better for only an extra 5K.

Just curious … just seemed way to easy.

[Joe 90]

Buyers and renters market at the moment.

[Headworx]

Sounds like a pretty good deal Storekeeper. A friend in the real estate game here for a very long time recently said his office is the busiest it's been in the last 10 years. Even though people (and fucking traffic!) are rapidly returning I'd think owners who've had empty properties thru the Covid period would be very keen to see any sort of ROI again, there must be a shitload of people in that boat right now. 126sq is about the same size as my place which IMO is perfect for a couple, certainly not pokey but not big enough to take a lot of aircon to cool down wasted space either!

You'd probably know you're talking pool Villa in a gated estate sort of rent money at 35k but I think you said you're splitting time between Jomtien and the Sticks so condo dwelling is unbearable for that lock and leave lifestyle. We're off shortly for a break of unknown length and it's just so easy to make sure there's no perishables in the fridge, give spare keys to our friendly neighbours who'll do a walk-though occasionally to check everything's ok, and that's all there is to it.

[Storekeeper]

^^ … thanks for the input. Based on what I’ve read the past couple months it just surprised me how easy the owner dropped the rent several thousand baht. Plus the daily, weekly and monthly rates for the place we’re moving to had me thinking we would be lucky to get it for 40K for a year. Matter of fact the same unit we’re moving to is for sale by three different agencies and all asking different prices … 8,000,000 … 7,000,000 and 6,700,000. What does that tell me? Is the higher one trying to seriously gouge a potential buyer?

When I do rent/buy searches for condos I see several thousand availabilities in my 2 bed/2 bath search parameters and it sure seems like there are a lot that fit this criteria in the 25,000 baht a month range. Mostly in the 80-90 sqm range. Many in Pratumnak, but TBH I don’t think that’s where we want to be. The Jomtien side as far as Chaiyapruk seems to be a more comfortable range for us.

TBTH … we really like where we’re at. This first 5 months where we’re at just feels very comfortable. Super close to the beach but far enough away it’s quiet at night. And has multiple security guards roaming around. So, thought I’d do this thread to ask some questions. Get the advice of those I’ve been connected to the longest. Because I’m thinking about asking for a 2-3 year contract.

And yeah the pool villa seems nice but I’m a condo person. Years ago my ex-wife’s Aunt owned and lived in a beautiful place a couple floors above a 7/11 in Meguro, Japan. The entire floor. And I’ve been smitten by that style of living ever since.

[Seekingasylum]

The Ocean Marina down at Na Jomtien offers around 160 sm for 40,000 baht. Many want more, but some are desperate for any revenue. An acquaintance got ‘em down to 38,000. Fine if you like living out in the boonies.

[Headworx]

The Ocean Marina down at Na Jomtien offers around 160 sm for 40,000 baht.

Nice enough development but there's nothing there besides the Marina, you're not going to walk out of the foyer and have litteraly dozens of places to eat and drink within a few hundred yards. Speaking of which Storekeeper, in case you didn't know there's a music festival on in Jomtien this weekend so it'll be a log-jam of evening traffic and all the local restos will be packed. Plan accordingly.

[Mendip]

You can get a whole house with garden for less than 10,000 Baht a month up this way. There's not much to do once you've finished breakfast though.

[Storekeeper]

The Ocean Marina down at Na Jomtien offers around 160 sm for 40,000 baht. Many want more, but some are desperate for any revenue. An acquaintance got ‘em down to 38,000. Fine if you like living out in the boonies.

Yeah, that’s going beyond the range I want to be in. Baan Suan Lalana on Chaiyapruk is my line we’re not going past. They have both condos and houses there and I have a retired Shipmate buddy in a house in that community. But not now … maybe in the future. Also we’re low rise types nothing more than 8 floors is our preference. And the community management is a concern for us. One of the selling points for where we are is I have a high degree of faith/confidence in the owners/management of where we are now.

What are your thoughts about asking for a 2-3 year contract? Keep in mind most of my adult life was based on 3-4 year enlistment contracts. So I’m totally good with a longer term commitment.

[Headworx]

What are your thoughts about asking for a 2-3 year contract?

Personally I'd be wary of it unless you had a crystal ball that showed for the next 2-3 years what the rental market will be doing, who your neighbours will be, who the condo management and security team will be, if there's going to be any nearby construction, and quite a few other unforeseen variables that might make living there a nightmare.

[Norton]

You can get a whole house with garden for less than 10,000 Baht a month up this way. There's not much to do once you've finished breakfast though.

Not many care for up this way mate and would go nuts in a few weeks. Some of us prefer it though. To each his own.

[Storekeeper]

^^

Construction … yeah, good reminder. There are a couple of huge, vacant lots on both sides of this place.

Yep, my boonies limit is about 21 days then I have to beat feet. Long range we’ll probably end up being in the boonies 2-3 weeks out of every couple months.

What I feel comfortable with right now is renting in Jomtien and spending money to make the boonie crib nicer and nicer. Thinking about putting in a back wing with 2 bungalow style bedrooms and a storage room. And also considering a swimming pool.

So eventually getting a condo unit closer to 25K gives us more money to spend in the boonies hiring locals for odd projects and donations to the monk mafia …

But I’ll always have a condo here in Jomtien somewhere. Eventually I’ll have to learn how to use the TRICARE bennies so wanna always be ready for visits to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. Which is another reason I don’t want to spend several million baht on a house. Have to be ready to self insure up front … and then work on the claims.

[Headworx]

Not many care for up this way mate and would go nuts in a few weeks. Some of us prefer it though. To each his own.

Perfectly put and I couldn't agree more. I find it humorous when people here living a life I'd last about a week at before dying of boredom throw shade on anyone living somewhere like Jomtien, but to each his own.

[Mendip]

It's a strange thing.

I couldn't do apartment living full-time again and very much value having a house with some land to potter around in during the day. The dogs, chickens, pond etc take up my time and while I may moan about it occasionally, that's just because I'm a Brit and like to complain.

But in the evenings I'd love to live in an apartment close to some nightlife, but only for maybe one or two nights a week. I guess it's impossible to have both and all things considered I guess I'm happy enough where I am.

[Storekeeper]

Perfectly put and I couldn't agree more. I find it humorous when people here living a life I'd last about a week at before dying of boredom throw shade on anyone living somewhere like Jomtien, but to each his own.

The house in the boonies is basically ‘Plan B’ … if the day comes we’re only getting around 25 baht to the dollar I’d most likely advise the wife we were gonna cut bait and make a run for it to the village.

[Headworx]

^Smart move, everyone living in a country where they have no rights to Gov't assistance and are on their own if the shit ever hits the fan should have a rock-solid Plan B and C in place.

[Storekeeper]

^ Went with a 2 year contract. The voice in my head kept telling me 3 years but thanks to you and the others advice I played it a little cautious and compromised with 2.

When I was initially in the planning phase before moving back I had this dream of living the tourist lifestyle the first year. And doing it for 20K a month. I was even targeting a place called ‘The Pride’ on Soi Diana. It’s right behind the Areca Lodge. Even went over and drove the length of Soi Buakhao yesterday from Pattaya Klang to Pattaya Tai to get a feel. Had planned to go check out a place called ‘The Village” today. A retired Air Force buddy and his wife live there. Think it’s just off 3rd road. But, this morning was decision time and we decided to just stay put here in Jomtien. Think it was AO who told me before the move over here that 20K wasn’t going to give me the lifestyle I was “dreaming” about. Where we are now is pretty close to what I was hoping for all along.

[cisco999]

if the day comes we’re only getting around 25 baht to the dollar

Let's hope that day never comes.

[Stumpy]

I couldn't do apartment living full-time

For about 2 years the company paid for my condo in Jomtien area, in fact right at the marina. I personally enjoyed the area and the people. Nice mix of some westerners and Thai folk. Met the director of the marina and his wife on numerous occasions. My wife and I considered purchasing the condo I was staying at being it was for sale but then Covid hit and the place became a ghost town and all amenities were stopped. I packed up and headed back to our place in Lampang.

The house in the boonies is basically ‘Plan B’

I could never live in the "Boonies" here for a host of reasons. Not that its bad I prefer being close to things I like to do plus access to various things. So that is not a plan B. Our Plan B if something goes upside down here, is to move back to the states and purchase a nice houseboat on a lake with a ski boat and reeeeeeelaxxxxxx. I rented a houseboat with my wife and family on Shasta lake for 1.5 weeks and my wife oved it.

Went with a 2 year contract

Seems fair. I had a 2 year contract and when covid hit they wanted all of it even when they shut down all services. It is what it is and the company paid but had it been me, I would have walked and disappeared if they wouldn't have offered a fair discounted rate due to the situation.

In general, that is a very nice area and way away from the riff raff, traffic. I could drive to get what I needed easily, never saw the tourist crap and could go down and enjoy a beer on the beach anytime.

Good Luck SK..

[BLD]

Sounds like a pretty good deal Storekeeper. A friend in the real estate game here for a very long time recently said his office is the busiest it's been in the last 10 years. Even though people (and fucking traffic!) are rapidly returning I'd think owners who've had empty properties thru the Covid period would be very keen to see any sort of ROI again, there must be a shitload of people in that boat right now. 126sq is about the same size as my place which IMO is perfect for a couple, certainly not pokey but not big enough to take a lot of aircon to cool down wasted space either!

You'd probably know you're talking pool Villa in a gated estate sort of rent money at 35k but I think you said you're splitting time between Jomtien and the Sticks so condo dwelling is unbearable for that lock and leave lifestyle. We're off shortly for a break of unknown length and it's just so easy to make sure there's no perishables in the fridge, give spare keys to our friendly neighbours who'll do a walk-though occasionally to check everything's ok, and that's all there is to it.

I think it was 97. When I was working in the Philippines when a friend suggested we go to cambodia via ho chi Minh. We got to Phnom Penh and were spraying baby batter everywhere. Then someone said the baht shit itself so.we jumped on a plane to bangkok/ pattaya. The global financial crisis had hit the Thais hard and they were selling the toys and real estate. I regret not buying then but I'm a gringo so not easy. The last time I went to pattaya though. I took the family and got a great deal.air bnb in jomtien... on a different
Visit got on the piss with dillinger

[Reg Dingle]

^ and a very enjoyable night it was too big fella, ending on the Darkside, which was a great place to live i thought.

Think it was AO who told me before the move over here that 20K wasn’t going to give me the lifestyle I was “dreaming” about.

I had a 4 bedroom bungalow with big pool and jacuzzi by Mabprachan Lake for only 26k a month. I did get that place cheap but I'd imagine after Covid there'd be some bargains round there.
It was great around that Lake... away from Pattaya but close enough to venture in when I felt like it. Also right next to the highway to get to Bangkok and 2 airports. There were a load of bars round that lake too, although an Elephants graveyard for the older hookers.
Best of both worlds I thought, great eating and drinking around there, not cooped up in a condo and with your own garden and not in the arse end of nowhere, drinking on your own and gnawing away on chicken claws

[cyrille]

on a different Visit got on the piss with dillinger

Well that was a barnstorming review.

The reservoir was equidistant between home and work for us for three years, 98-01.

Barely ever went into town but the availability of western products, especially fresh baked bread, is something I miss once in a while.

And whacko's right about the restaurants. Great choice.

[armstrong]

You can get a whole house with garden for less than 10,000 Baht a month up this way. There's not much to do once you've finished breakfast though.

I had a two bedroom townhouse for 2k a month in Chumphon about 13 years ago.

I slept downstairs because it was too hot upstairs.

[Storekeeper]

One thing so far in the new crib that gives it a different vibe is 25 units to my left in a different complex (same owner) and 9 units to my right in same complex that I can directly see every time I go out on the balcony. The previous unit my direct view was a soi where I could watch the comings and goings, a couple of empty lots and a huge apartment complex several hundred yards further away.

Learned that apparently the last tenant was here for seven years. I guess he was married with a kid and they mostly lived somewhere up in Buriram except when school was out and then they were here. So the place is in pretty good shape for a 12-13 year old building.

Now that I’m in the unit and having a good morning wake up view some of my questions regarding the monthly cost become apparent. Some people would be turned off by the lack of privacy. Also once your eyes adjust and you look beyond the pool view … you’re staring at the back of some buildings and a huge tree that’s blocking what would be a distant ocean view.

Not complaining at all. It’ll take some getting used to. But overall it’s a much better place and only 5K more than the last one.

[DrWilly]

Happy days!

[Loy Toy]

I'm glad you have got everything sorted and are happy with the end result.