Thread: Building a house on in-laws property

Yes, I was thinking of bringing a few more then I'll need on converters before I come.

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

Seeing all of Thailand sounds nice, but my bucket list includes Europe and hunting Africa, things I'll do before I see God if he doesn't call me first

Fred did you ever meet a paramedic by the name of Onree, not to sure about the spelling? No cover left after this one as well.

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

I have mostly new appliances that will be useful there, all of my fishing and hunting equipment (I know, no hunting there, but I'll fly out and hunt somewhere)

freddy did ya forget you cant afford a used truck? Only a 2nd hand automatic scooter as your 36 year old village wife only knows how to drive that kind?

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

Thai law allows for a 50/50 split of all marital assets except the land.

... and that's the law you're basing your "house ownership" on?

You bang on about "respect" but all you've done here is shown that you DON'T respect or trust your wife, and by involving lawyers you must have made that pretty clear to her too. Under your circumstances it will be impossible for you to apply the law, so all you've done is tell her that you don't trust her. Rather pointless really.

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

Some of what I've heard about teaching english was from posts made here, and some are from Thai friends here in Texas, who have english friends that are teaching in Isaan.

The set up for government schools in Issan NOW is a salary of 100 baht a day plus free accommodation at the school and occasional meals for 'native' English language speakers who are nearly all students doing a gap year from Malawi or Nigeria. I see "maa-dam" regularly at my local noodle shop - nobody understands her and she hardly understands anyone else, but that's it. End of story. Fact. Bust. Things USED to be different, but that's what it is NOW.

The only other English teachers in Issan are those at private schools who need all the right ticks in the right boxes or missionaries who pay to teach. Teaching under the present system just isn't a possibility any more.

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

The ones that had their visas reported every 90 days, and when the visa was up to expire, made the run to the border to extend them.

You're confusing '90 day reporting' and getting '30 day extensions to a 60 day visa' on a multiple entry visa.

Either way, Marriage Visa or Tourist Visas, the rules are much stricter than they were a while ago.

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

I'm in a situation where I want to be there now, too young to retire, and don't have the assets I'd like now, but it's mostly about having enough in the bank to make it legal (400,000 baht) enough for the house I want (not sure yet), enough to ship what I want from Texas (getting prices now) and enough to live on until I do retire (working on that now).

Whatever you "want" and however much of a gem your wife is, which she may well be, you "don't have the assets" yet. It's that simple and there's no way round it.



Not much point repeating all this and going round in circles any more.

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

but weightlifting is my bag. I've raised 4 kids,

Sorry Fred that line made me laugh.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

hunting Africa.

The return of Rick "Danger" Thai?

I actually think his name is JR, especially if he is a bow hunter and I don't mean he is from Dallas either. I am sure you will figure it out Davis.

^I never read the construction forum, never have. Little did I know what I was missing. This and his scooter thread are comedy gold. Great trolls. I hope he keeps them going. Great stuff.

Why in the hell would anyone want to leave Texas?

Or Fred singing "All My Ex's Live In Issan".....in MY FUCKING HOUSE!

This is what the younger BIL just had built in Laos. Gf said about 50k usd. So it's a build thread then. We could all tell you to hold off a bit but we all want to see a new build thread anyway.

Some times I wonder what the hell I'm still doing here. Oh yes, I was saving for a bigger boat.

Funny this guy is all thumbs in both shots. I had to stand on my head to view the vid he sent the gf. He works in Thailand so hell if he can maybe you can too.

^

Don't look that flash.

For 50 K USD you would get a lot more in Thailand Heh.

That's 1.75 million baht.

^Fancy outside. Kinda like chroming the bumpers on a garbage truck....

Wow Davis that's kinda rough. I do think he has less into it than that like I said.He has a nice wall built around it as well. Inside it ain't to bad from what I saw. He is a young kid with a young wife and one small child so I think he is doing ok for himself as he owes nothing on the project.

We can't all be Millionaires. I think he did well as he does work for a living in a place where oppertunity does not knock twice.

^Apologies. It was a general comment, not meant to slander him. I just see quite a few houses like that around here, usually built by overseas workers. Super fancy outsides, but once you go inside, two small bedrooms, a bathroom and small kitchen. No offense meant.

Not too shabby.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^Apologies. It was a general comment, not meant to slander him. I just see quite a few houses like that around here, usually built by overseas workers. Super fancy outsides, but once you go inside, two small bedrooms, a bathroom and small kitchen. No offense meant.

Nonetheless, for that kind of money in Laos or Thailand, one could easily expect a three storied palace with all the valued amenities.....

Freddie, if you are for real, you need to take a reality pill, your in dreamland.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Freddie, if you are for real, you need to take a reality pill, your in dreamland.

I think he's been at the 'wine collection'.

John, actually I do trust my wife. That's why I chose to marry her and have a child with her. Funny, but it's posts from you and a few others that have tried to convince me,"If everything goes tits up, you'll need an out, don't put all your money into one thing, all Thai's lie, etc etc etc. But like some, I'm smart enough to know anything can happen in a marriage, so I've touched all my bases, including coming here for advice that I might use. And my house isn't worth 75k, not understanding wher you got that from. 75k is what I owe, and I should get around 150k for the sale of it, and maybe more, so that's the figure I came up with after paying off the mortgage, a budget of around 75k. 50k (or less which I see) for the house, 11k to stay legally in Thailand, and the rest for shipping and living expenses until I find and job and eventually, retire. Earl, why you even come here amazes me. You are either a teenager , or as ignorant an adult as I've ever seen. Prejudiced as well, at least to the Brits. Anyone who suggest giving up their child for adoption either has himself because he's too immature to raise them, or doesn't have any children of his own. When I have children, I choose to raise them, no matter the situation of the amount of money I have. There are untold thousands of rich lowlifes that pawn their children off on others to raise them because they can't be bothered, or are too busy making more money to have the time. Money doesn't make a parent, time spent with family does. Anyone who hasn't seen your statement and been disgusted by it doesn't have a conscience either. I'm leaving Texas because my wife and soon to be child live in Thailand. Do you actually understand this? Davis, a troll? I came here for advice, and if you aren't going to give any that might actually help, please refrain from making assumptions of someone you don't know.And you live in the Phillipines anyway, a different country altogether. Again, I thank all those that have given heartfelt advice. Some I will use and some I won't need to. I will be building a house there in the near future, for myself as well as my family. Some things I've read here have given me thought. Especially the price I would need for a house. The duties on shipping. The kind of scooter I should look for. Iceman

^I do live in the Philippines, Fred - twenty years now. But, I lived in Thailand for six years - three in Bangkok and three in a rural area - so that's a bit more than you.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^I do live in the Philippines, Fred - twenty years now. But, I lived in Thailand for six years - three in Bangkok and three in a rural area - so that's a bit more than you.

3 years in the sticks eh?, I should have thought that 6 months is quite enough to know the score

^Aranyaprathet. Had a nice little house there, my '58 Triumph, lots of work to keep me busy. Wasn't bad. Had a restaurant or two, one sorta bar, a video store although most of it was in Thai or Lao. If I wasn't working, I was working out or riding my bike. Long time ago. 1988.

Originally Posted by fredwiggy

until I find and job

I do admire your intentions. you seem dead set on doing your very best for your wife and child but as others have said why not wait until you have been living here for some time before you commit all you funds.
Finding 'a job' doesn't happen because you want it to.
I am of the opinion that most westerners living fulltime in Isaan do not work.
There just are not the opportunities for them even if they are prepared to work for 'Thai' wages.
Many westerners who have a home in Isaan work offshore and when back in town are 'on holiday'

For those seeking local employment there are really just 3 possibilities - Teaching, Bar/Restaurant/Guest House or Internet.

Teaching in Isaan will pay approx 30,000 baht per month probably less if you are not qualified and not qualified will also mean that the work will be 'illegal' as it will not be possible to obtain a work permit.
There are a number of bar/restaurants/guest houses in the region with western involvement. I say 'involvement' as it would be very difficult also to obtain a work permit for such activities. Most such businesses that I am aware of do not make an awful lot of money, with potentially long hours but can work.
Finally, digital nomads are a grey area as regards application of the labour regulations but it is not necessary for anyone to know what you are doing. However competition is strong. You will need an edge.

I believe I read that your home will be in a village. How far from a large town or city is it?
How good is your Thai? What other skills could you offer an employer that the employer could not have access to in the local market art a far cheaper rate with fewer associated issues.?

I live in one of the provincial capitals in the region. From my perspective outside of the government, there are very few employers for local Thais never mind foreigners. It is very rural in these parts.

You would have a better chance of employment if you have marketable skills - and do remember there are a number of industries in which non-Thais can not be employed - in the more 'tourist friendly' locations. Even with marketable skills it is far from easy for a westerner to find any worthwhile job without connections

Working elsewhere in Thailand would of course mean not living in your house in Isaan with the wife and kid.

Do not commit until you are actually based here and have lived in the area in which you want to stay for sufficient time to weigh up the possibilities and issues to be resolved.
Certainly I would recommend that you not make any hasty commitments during this upcoming 2 week 'holiday' but instead use it as an opportunity to test some of the advice that has been offered to you by the many posters on this thread