Acquiring Property in Phuket
By Jonathon A Smith

The options are endless when it comes to Phuket property because Phuket is an island that has a well-established ‘something for everybody’ property market. Investing in property in Phuket can be a rewarding as well as pleasurable experience. Picture perfect beaches and leisure activities to suit the young and old as well as the low cost of living all add to the islands desirability.

Phuket is Thailand’s wealthiest province and offers a high degree of protection and investment from the central government. Properties values in Phuket remained strong even after the Asian tsunami and the environmentally friendly planning laws and height restrictions will ensure Phuket property values will remain strong. Unlike other areas of Thailand Phuket benefits from a very high standard of build quality thanks to the international nature of the building industry. Many reputable companies thrive here under the management of overseas professionals and a reliable Thai work force.

Phuket is a well-established island; its potential was recognized back in the 80′s by wealthy Bangkok business men who saw the opportunities the island had to offer and invested in commercial, retail, resort and business enterprises. Today the focus is largely on residential investments for second homes and retirement homes.

Phuket is home to many part time residents who use the island as a base and commute to countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong to work, an easy trip thanks to some very attractive properties that are in easy reach of Phuket’s international airport.

Although entry level investment into acquiring property in Phuket is by no means cheap the availability of older style homes, in need of some renovation, offer an affordable option. There is a good choice of properties in both remote and residential areas and the Thai family values and respect for elders makes Phuket a wonderful place to bring up a family. Phuket offers fantastic opportunities for secluded developments as well as well-established condominium developments and increasingly desired villa style accommodation in fitting with the idea of tropical living.

Investment in Phuket is set to continue as Europeans and more recently Russians and investors from the Middle East recognize its investment value and lifestyle opportunities. Phuket’s well established infrastructure, year round climate and global location ensure that this island has a very solid and exciting future.

If you would like a home in the sun and a solid investment opportunity take your first step by visiting Phuket Property Store and see what great properties Phuket has to offer!

Jonathon A Smith is the lead content writer for Phuket Property Store and Ko Samui Property.

He has written extensively on the subjects of Phuket property and Ko Samui Property.

Article Source: Acquiring Property in Phuket

One of the reason I don’t live here all the time is my job description does not keep me here full time but sends me out of country for sometimes months at a time, but the time I am here I love to take full advantage of no matter what season Phuket is in.

You have to remember to live here you must have some way of making a living or have some sort of fixed retirement, which often times is really not enough to supplement a good life style here. You simply can’t live here without it.

I happen to fall in the fixed retirement category, being a retired US Military veteran with over twenty years but for me retirement for me means staying active, so the job I do often sends me away for weeks at a time, with the world economy the way it is I feel most fortunate.

To live in a place like Phuket Thailand means doing something to stay busy and making a steady income doing something you really enjoy doing. I have plenty of hobbies when I am here and one of them is filming all of the wonderful Phuket beaches then putting them all up on YouTube for all to see, I do this every year and it is one of the most rewarding hobbies that I have ever pursued.

Live here in Phuket Thailand? No, not full time but do spend quite a bit of time here and love every minute of this beautiful tropical paradise.

This market is very easy to find, it’s located on the corner entrance area just before you enter Nai Yang beach. I like this Phuket market because it is very simple and you can find some really good buys all around.

Markets in Phuket are one of the best places to really find some delicious Phuket fruits, meats, vegetables and great seafood. One advantage of the market is you can really buy a few days worth of food and take it back to your home or resort room.

Web Cam Owner Twin Palms Resort website: Twin Palms Resort

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Tips Of Caution

Here are some tips of caution for anyone considering retirement in Thailand, Thailand is a wonderful place to live out your retirement dreams, but these dreams can turn into a nightmare if you are not aware of its laws. To begin with I am not a lawyer and I don’t qualify to give any legal advice, I’m just some guy on the Internet, below are some guidelines you should adhere to while living in Thailand.

Drugs, remember you want to enjoy your retired life in paradise, so the last thing you want to do is use illegal drugs. The penalties for the possession of, use of, or the trafficking in illegal drugs in Thailand are very severe. If you are prosecuted, you will have to go through the Thai criminal system. Rights that you may take for granted in your country may not exist, or be accorded to you, here in Thailand. As a foreigner you will get no special rights or privileges. If convicted drug offenders can expect long sentences under harsh conditions and even a heavy fine. Thailand also has the death penalty for serious drug offenses and has executed convicted traffickers, my advice to you, as I strongly advise you against having anything to do with drugs.

Child pornography and sex with under-age children, Southeast Asia are popular destinations for child-sex predators. The Thai government recently has vigorously prosecuted offenders, punishment is very severe. Those individuals who lure children into prostitution in Thailand now face up to 15 years in jail. If you engage in sexual activities with children or possessing or disseminating child pornography in Thailand is a crime, convicted offenders will be deported at best; many Western countries prosecute their own for sex crimes abroad. Don’t even think about it.

Drinking alcohol is widely available in Thailand and is also part of the Thai culture. Every year, the deaths of several foreigners are reportedly have been attributed to alcohol related diseases or using some type of drugs. Try to find a healthy pastime to enjoy your retirement while in Thailand.

Prostitution is for sale around the clock and takes a number of forms; brothels, massage parlors, gentlemen club, and hostesses’ bars cater mostly to the Thai and Asian customers. For Western tourists and expats there are the go-go bars, beer bars, discos and the streets. In Thailand prostitution is illegal, but the laws are rarely enforced, so if you are caught being fined can hurt your wallet. It can also be very dangerous to your health with plenty of STD and AIDS cases which are very common among the Thai prostitution world.

Always do your research on Thai customs you need to comply with Thai regulations in what you can and cannot bring into the country.

Illegal stay, if you want to retire in Thailand as a legal citizen, I would highly recommend you do not overstay your visa and remain in the country illegally, be aware when your authorized stay expires. There are a number of type visas out there please review the visa that concerns you, in the future I will be adding this to my web site. If you are caught in Thailand during an illegal stay, expect to pay a hefty fine and be deported immediately.

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Learn Thailand cultural tips are a must for foreigners living in Thailand, here a few tips for you to know that well help you from experiencing an embarrassing situation.

If you want to live in the land of smiles, you must train yourself to smile. The Thai people smile for many reasons. They smile for amusement or to cover their own embarrassment and to thank you without using words. If you know when and how to smile gives you a big advantage in Thailand, smiling will also make it easier to make friends, the Thai people love a big smile from a foreigner.

Control you anger and frustrations in public, this may be acceptable in your own country, but not here in Thailand. Shouting and displaying anger in public will not help get you what you want, in fact it is the very opposite, Thais don’t like impolite people, always try to keep your cool this really goes a long way when it comes to getting respect.

The Thai people are very proud people don’t look down on things Thais do, the people, the culture and especially the monarchy.

Avoid personal criticism especially if you are in public, Thai people don’t take criticism very well whether it’s constructive or not.

Always show respect to the royal family.

Learn about Buddhism and what to do and what not to do, a majority of the Thais are Theravada Buddhists which has a tremendous influence on the Thai way of thinking, Monks are highly respected and you should be respectful to them just as everyone else’s is. No one is allowed to mistreat or show disrespect to the Buddha image. When visiting temples you should not wear shorts or skimpy outfits. If in doubt always ask whether it’s alright to do certain things, the Thai people really appreciate it when show that you care by asking first.

Always remember you must accept the fact that you are a foreigner and will always be regarded as a foreigner for the rest of your life in Thailand.

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Retirement Tips

Thailand retirement tips page will give you some good in-sight information to see if Thailand is the right place for you. Do as much research about Thailand as possible; this is very important in helping you make your decision. There is a ton of information on the Internet that you can find to help you in just about any retirement category. Do you know someone who is living in Thailand? You can get some valuable information from someone who is already living there; they already have a good knowledge of the country.

Always be prepared for various situations that you may encounter; health problems, financial worries, cost of living, I could go on and on, but it is important to note that if you are going to live in another country you must come up with some good plans to make your transition as easy as possible. Be sure that retiring in Thailand is really what you want to do and you will find happiness there before committing to any type of permanent residence.

General Tips

Always do an extended stay in Thailand first, Thailand is a wonderful place and it is easy to fall in love with it rapidly. Try to visit as many regions in Thailand as possible and put as much research and time in the areas that really interest you. My advice is don’t rush out and buy a home until you are completely satisfied with the area you really like, your best bet is to find a rental in that particular location, in other words always give the place a test drive before you commit.

Learn how to speak the Thai language, although you can get by speaking English in most of the tourist areas, this will make life whole lot easier for you and the Thais will really appreciate your efforts in learning there language, even though you aren’t that proficient. There are many schools in Thailand that will teach you the Thai language, also some very good software programs that will really help you along.

Make friends with Thai people, this really helps you integrate into the Thai society, if you just stick with other retirees this really reduces your chance of a complete life in Thailand, by mixing in with Thai folks and understanding their customs and traditions you will feel much more comfortable.

Stay healthy and keep busy there are some many wonderful activities in Thailand where you can participate in many things such as; reading clubs, cooking classes, gym workouts, language classes, volunteer work. Avoid hanging out in the bars and pubs.

Keep a good look at your finances, this is very important. Remember you want to be happy in the land of smiles without squandering all your money away. Living in Thailand is really a bargain but you can easily get carried away by indulging in activities you really can’t afford. Always live by your means.

Keep in good communication with your friends and family back home, if your family does not know Thailand that well they may become worried about you, now days it is very easy to communicate with e-mail, social web sites such as facebook, myspace,etc.

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Retirement Locations

Thailand has many wonderful retirement locations, the places that I list are the most popular places, but there are many different provinces in Thailand, if you are married to a Thai spouse she may want to live in one of these small provinces. My best advice to is to go check out for yourself if a particular location is best for you, you never know, you may actually like it more than some of the places that I have mentioned below.

If you really desire a certain location I advise you to do the following; schedule a long stay first, does this new way of life really suit you? Are you going to be happy? Keep some good notes of your stay, if you really want to make sure of it, schedule some more time.

Popular Thailand retirement locations include:

• Phuket
• Pattaya
• Bangkok
• Hua Hin
• Chang Mai

Phuket

Phuket is known as the Pearl of the South and is Thailand’s largest island. Phuket is one of the most sought after travel and wedding & honeymoon destination in all of Asia. Phuket Thailand has many beautiful beaches; Patong, Karon, Kata, Bang Tao and the picture postcard islands make Phuket a retiree’s paradise.

You’ll notice on this web site that I put a lot more emphasis on Phuket that’s because this is the location that I choose to retire in; below I have some advantages and disadvantages for retiring in Phuket.

Advantages

– Many beautiful beaches with all the corresponding activities that go along with them.

– Beautiful well-preserved secluded islands, beautiful undulating hills.

– Numerous scenic spots, national parks, limestone caves, beautiful offshore islands and waterfalls.

– Excellent location for diving and snorkeling

– Enjoy some of the best sailing, yachting and fishing in Southeast Asia

– Superb seafood at bargain prices.

Disadvantages

– Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations, more than a million tourists a month during the high-season.
– Booming property market means real estate prices are constantly on the rise.

– Expat residents often get mistaken for tourists because of the large number of Phuket travelers.

– Expect a two-tiered price system for locals and tourists for some goods and services.

Things to do in Phuket

– Schedule a day trips to the blue-water beaches at Rawai, Chalong, Nai Harn, Karon, Kata, Bang Tao and Nai Yang.
– Plenty of water sports to include scuba diving, jet-sking, surfing, kite boarding, sailing, yachting, snorkeling and deep sea fishing.

– Visit some of the best ocean views and coral reefs in Thailand.

– Island hopping and cruises to world famous Similan, Phi Phi Islands.

– Beautiful rainforest national parts located in Phang Nga

– Excellent seaside dining at restaurants, five-star resorts and many romantic settings to enjoy.

– Tons of clubs and societies to join and have fun.

– Plenty of nightlife locations.

Pattaya

Pattaya Thailand is located in the Chonburi province and is about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok; Pattaya is probably the most popular destination in Thailand for both retirees and tourists alike. This beautiful resort city boasts three beaches; Pattaya, Jomtien and Naklua. Pattaya has many five-star resorts, and an exciting nightlife with hundreds of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Pattaya has one of the largest expat communities, with American and Brits topping the list, there is also a large population of assorted Australians and Europeans as well. This resort city has two expat clubs that organize a host of activities for its expat community and there is tons of activities going on in Pattaya every day.

Advantages

– Easy access to Bangkok and all of its attractions

– Three beautiful beaches that offer numerous water sports for the active resident

– Entertainment capital of Thailand with hundreds of beer bars, go-go bars and nightclubs that are open around the clock.

– Excellent array of restaurants, great seafood and International cuisines and five-star resorts for great dining and entertainment.

– Enjoy some of the best sailing and yachting in the country, also one of the best locations for big-game fishing.

– Plenty of golf courses at least 20 in the Pattaya area

– Plenty of business centers to take care of your financial and real estate needs

Disadvantages

– Close to 1 million tourists during the November – March high season

– Beaches can be somewhat overcrowded

– Inflated prices for foreigners and Pattaya tourists

– Beaches are sometimes polluted due to the high tourist influx

– The crime rate is on the rise

– Pattaya is viewed as a city of sin and sex

Bangkok

Bangkok Thailand is the capital and largest city in the country and has over 10 million inhabitants and is bisected by the Chao Phraya River. Bangkok Thailand boasts a lively nightlife, excellent International cuisine, hundreds of clubs and organizations to belong to, and some of the best shopping in the world, with some of the most incredible markets and malls.

One thing about Bangkok if you can’t find what you are looking for, you are very unlikely to find it anywhere in the region. One of the best things you can do is pick up a map of the city and explore neighborhood by neighborhood to see which part of the city you really like for living and entertainment.

Advantages

– Bangkok never sleeps; it’s where all the action is

– Bangkok is the cultural Mecca of Thailand; some notable events include International Jazz Festival, International film festivals, and many big-name international performers book their shows and concerts here.

– Beautiful exotic Buddhist temples

– Beautiful green parks at Lumpini, Sanam Luang and Benjasiri.

– Numerous transportation options link Bangkok with almost every other city and town in Thailand.

– Plenty of exciting nightlife, Thai and International cuisine and unlimited nightlife options for just about every party goers.

– Unlimited accommodation options from the very cheap to unimaginably luxurious. Whatever budget living style you choose you’re sure to find it in Bangkok.

Disadvantages

– Bangkok is very congested you cannot really walk in a straight line anywhere with broken pavement, street vendors blocking the sidewalk become a real annoyance.

– The noise pollution is mind-boggling especially in the malls and the streets.

– Air pollution can get pretty bad along with the heat and humidity can really make the hot season unbearable.

– During rush-hour in some areas it’s sometimes very difficult to get a taxi.

– During the rainy season you often have flooding problems.

Hua Hin is roughly a four hour car or train south of Bangkok on the Gulf coast, Hua Hin boasts five kilometers of beaches. Hua Hin has a population of more than 125,000 with plenty of hotels, restaurants and high-rise condominiums.

Hua Hin attracts expats that prefer a more sedate life of leisure, sports, far away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and Pattaya. Because of its royal connection; the king visits from time to time, the town retains a more well-mannered atmosphere. There is no ritzy nightlife scene, but if you reaaly want to see the action, you’re only five hours by car or train from Bangkok.

The city boasts some of the best golf courses in Thailand and local expat group based in town enjoys year-round tournaments and golf trips around Thailand. British and Scandinavian make up the two biggest groups among the expat community that live here.

Advantages

– Reasonable travel time to Bangkok

– Beautiful stretches of beach within walking distant of town

– Royal connection means the security is very good and the crime rate is low

– Hua Hin retains some great old-world charm

– Excellent location for golfers

– Good selection of international hotels and restaurants to choose from

– Beautiful Ocean views from the hillside Wat Khao Lao temple

Disadvantages

– No international hospital for serious medical cases and the ambulance service is not that good

– Rising real estate prices

– Tough to get golf tee times during the high season

– Higher prices for food and public transportation

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the largest city in the North of Thailand and has a population somewhere around 300,000. The city sits in a beautiful tropical valley surrounded by mountains that have historically protected the city from outside distractions. The climate between July and March is very nice, when the air is cool and hills are green, the hot season lasts from April through June, the winter months November through February bring a brisk chill at night.

Chiang Mai has been rated among the top ten most livable cities in Asia because of its laid-back atmosphere, mild climate, and one of the most affordable places to live. One thing about Chiang Mai it has a well established network of services which is aimed specifically at foreigners and the already established expat community.

Advantages

– Much slower pace of life, but still offers most city services

– Ancient temples, old houses, local markets give the city a homey atmosphere

– Beautiful surrounding countryside

– Pleasant weather which means it’s generally cool year-round

– Very few beggars and homeless people

– Excellent communications infrastructure the phones and Internet are very good

– Friendly honest people compared to other places in Thailand

– Excellent Thai northern cuisine; tons of flavors and excellent vegetarian choices

– Not overwhelmed with tourists like Bangkok, makes Chiang Mai very livable

Disadvantages

– Visa runs to the border Mai Sai is a four hour ride which can be a ongoing inconvenience

– Noise pollution which is most noticeable in the shopping malls

– The Thai language can be difficult to learn for some, especially the northern dialect

– Rush hour traffic can be very frustrating espically during events like annual flower festival, Songkran and Loy Kratong.