Brand New House for Less Than $50,000 - Chiang Mai

It is amazing the homes you can buy in Thailand and how much they cost. A masonry 2 Story 2 bedroom 2 Bathroom house can be bought for less than $50,000 Dollars and all you will need to do is add furniture and appliances. And we won’t even talk about how low taxes and insurance are. Many people now are opting in for selling their current homes even at a devalued price and purchasing a newly built home in Southeast Asia. For some people they are even buying a bigger home than they had before and pocketing the difference. Sometimes just the money left over from the sale of their home can last them for years living in places like Chiang Mai, Thailand. Check out the video and I think you will be amazed.

How to Trade Your Mortgage for a Free and Clear House

Are you, or somebody you know, caught in the real estate meltdown? Is the mortgage now more than the value of your home? Do you still have some equity but few options of how to right the sinking ship?

Imagine for a moment that the value of your house or property, if sold, could be converted into the purchase of a brand new home that was paid for free and clear. And the taxes and insurance were one tenth the cost of what you are paying now.

Is this a dream? No, this is what is possible with a little flexibility on your part. How could this be?

Early Retirement – When, How, and Where to Enjoy Your Early Retirement.

In my travels I ask the question to the fifty something age group; “If you could do anything you wanted to do everyday, what would you do?” The answers vary but they all are similar in nature. Wake up and go to the gym, meet my friends for breakfast and go golfing, tennis or something. Chill out in the afternoons with my favorite lady or guy. And learn something that they always wanted to learn. So why don’t they live this way now?

Chiang Mai -635 Sq. Ft Apt. Overlooking Mountains $275

I get a lot of requests for more accommodations so here is another one. This is a larger room which is more comfortable while staying in Thailand for a longer period of time. This apartment building overlooks the mountains of Chiang Mai. It is about ten minutes from the old city, not far from Chiang Mai University. The price of $275 if the room is prepaid for 12 months. Month by month it would be $315 a month. I asked the management to add it to http://MapsNMore.com and I will make sure it is on the map there. 

Thailand Travel Advisory – Anybody going to Thailand should be prepared.

I have lived in Thailand for over ten years now and have seen all the good and bad of traveling to Thailand. Many people had a great time and will return again. But many just aren’t prepared. Some Thailand travel safety tips and advice along wit a little preparation would have made their trip what it deserved to be. The video shows some examples. 

As an American Expat I Grieve For Tsunami Victims

When the tsunami came through Thailand I luckily hadn’t yet moved into the beach apartment in Phuket that I had put a deposit on. Thank goodness because it was totally destroyed and I would have been asleep when it rolled through. But having lived through this tragedy and witnessed the grief and heartache all expats living in Thailand know what lies ahead for these brave people. It is easy to say that all things in nature go through a cycle of breakdown and rebirth but this is exactly what needs to be focused on during times like these. Learn, move forward and rebuild. Rebuild the lives that have been touched by this disaster. All our prayers and love go out to those in need.

My Girlfriend's Not A Dog......

People are saying , "JC, you are a dog. Living the good life in one of the best places to retire. Good food, cheap rent, cheap travel and beautiful women." I am not sure I agree .... about being a dog!
Just recently got divorced and now my friends are saying my new girlfriend's a dog too. I woke up today sitting across the table from her thinking, maybe they're right. Come on. Tell me what you think. Are they right?

Thailand Visa Choices - Temporary Stay - Tourist Visa or Retirement Visa!

Keeping up on all the Thai visa regulations seems like a daunting task. Really it is easy if you understand and comply with the requirements. Because Thailand is one of the best places to retire, I try to simplify the information and tell you what choices of Thai visas are available and what documents you will need. I hope you find it helpful.

Basically there are three types you would come over on:

•   Visa on Arrival - This actually is just temporary stay in the kingdom for either 15 or 30 days depending on how you arrive. By air you get a 30 day stamp but by landing crossing at a border you will only get 15 days. This is really not a true Thai visa. It cannot be renewed or extended.

•   Tourist Visa - This is a 60 day visa that can be extended 30 days or changed to a Non Immigrant Visa.

•   Non - Immigrant Type O Retirement visa. This is great for retirees who desire to retire to Thailand. Living in Thailand for any extended period of time would require this and it is good for one year. The one year retirement visa only requires a few things and is fast. You must though either have monthly income coming in or money in a Thai bank.

Watch the video and see the details of the Thai Visa Regulations and options. It should answer most questions.

Thailand Invaded by Termites!

Termites, in Thai are called bploo-uk. Swarming occurs every year during the hot season (March to May). Come nightfall, the worker termites bore holes in the colony's outer walls and escape

During a swarm, termites fill the sky. They swarm around candles, motorcycle headlights, roadside lamps, ceiling fluorescents.

To  jinjos (small, cute lizards) and too-kays (big, ugly lizards), the swarming amounts to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

The termites don’t bite or sting and Thais find the swarms very nourishing: the second most eaten insect in the world, termites can be fried without oil over low heat with a dash of salt….Yummy!!

To catch termites, Thais simply turn off the lights except one. Under this, they place a tub of water. For some reason, the termites are drawn to the water and drown in it. How about you? Are you hungry?

Relax, Swim, Go Fishing and Eat - The Whole Day $3.00!

So Thailand is one of the best places to retire but who wants to stay inside all the time? Southeast Asia is so cheap to live that you can do a lot of recreational activities that are cheap and fun. Outside the cities there are lakes, springs, mountains and villages that are fun to explore and spend the day at. About 7 miles outside Chiang Mai there is a lake called Lake Huay Tung Tow. Here you can relax away the day with a good book or good friends and it doesn’t cost an arm and leg! Check it out.

Fly Fishing Thai Style!

Many expat retirees end up bored and sitting in a bar wasting time with their buddies. But there are so many hobbies to pursue in Southeast Asia. Golf, tennis and believe it or not, fly fishing. That's right. And this will keep you REALLY occupied. Up for a real challenge? Then try fly fishing Thai style!