We all know the wise old sayings, such as ‘two heads are better than one’, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and ‘no man is an island’, which suggest that we as human beings are quite insufficient alone and we need others close to us to help us think, get over problems or just to be around so we don’t feel lonely.

However when you combine these expressions and compare them to ones such as ‘a man’s home is his castle’, ‘don’t invade my territory’ and ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ then we get quite a contrast in the personality and make-up of the average person.

So here is the conundrum, is it better to be alone or better to share your space with another?

Well of course this depends what context it is in, most people will eventually find a loyal and loveable partner of the opposite sex and form lasting relationship, which may not last a lifetime, but will often last long enough so that they move in with each other and perhaps get married. And of course there are others who will follow the same path with someone of the same sex.

However what happens when you are not in love, are not attracted to each other and have no intention of forming a lasting partnership, and yet however are ‘forced’ into living with each other in the same property?

This is a scenario that appears often in the Western world, where most of us farangs come from. In fact many of us have been placed in this situation at one time or another, whether at University, or our first job away from our home city, or our first apartment after leaving home, or when we leave our countries and start a new life in a big intimidating city like Bangkok. It is here when the scenario can become reality.

When you first move to a new city, it may be comforting to feel you can move in with someone you know, perhaps you were friends back at home or have met via the internet, but you feel it will be nice to have their company when you move to Thailand and experience the cultural shock, Thai food, and unusual nigh life like Pat Pong or Nana offers. Also of course it may be a cost saver, and a way for you to have your own private guide to help you learn about the city.

But beware, as the downsides can easily outweigh the plus sides, more about that later.

Let’s look at economics first:

It is usual that in the West when we live in cities like London, New York, Paris, Milan, Frankfurt, Madrid etc that we have to share when we first move to the city. Most of us are not fortunate to own our own homes in big cities like this, and especially when we have just moved there, or we are foreigners with a specific finite time ahead of us for living in that city. Perhaps we are on a 2 year contract, we are not sure we want to buy in this city as we do not understand the Real Estate market.

In the West the price of property and rental prices are so high in ratio compared to our income, that we are indeed ‘forced’ to share. Couple that with the lack a decent accommodation in a city like London, then really it makes sense to share to cut costs and live somewhere decent and close to your work.

However when westerners come to South East Asia, unless they are going to live in Singapore, then there really should not be the same issue with costs and locations, as many of South East Asia’s big cities like Bangkok have great relatively low cost condos or apartment to rent right in the heart of the city. With good quality international standard apartments starting at 10 000 Baht/ month to rent (that’s under US$300/month, even by today’s rates) it makes accommodation affordable. And more importantly it makes living in the city centre of Bangkok, in districts and area such Asoke, Petchburi, Sukhumvit, Silom, Sathorn & Ratchadaphisek easily accessible to those who want live alone.

So unlike London where a typical house-sharing scenario would set back a person US$1 200/ month, just for a bedroom and use of a shared bathroom, kitchen and living room, we can see that for one quarter of that price it is possible to get a self-contained Studio Apartment within about 5 minutes walk of the BTS or MRTA lines in Bangkok.

This makes the necessity to share much lower, and therefore the reason to share then is based on social and not economic choice. However I would caution the idea to choose a house-share, apartment-share or flat-share, or whatever terminology you use, as becoming a house-mate is not always a good way to go.

I know of several young men who have come over to Thailand, to teach English after doing a TEFL course and found that sharing has not worked out the way they wanted it to.

Often they choose big old properties in quite good locations, so that enough of them can have some room and of course so they can all be close to the bars, discos and nightlife Bangkok has to offer. However just like in my old student days in Exeter University, invariably things do not go according to plan. People run out of money, renege on promises they made, or lose their jobs and have to start borrowing. And that is the very crux of why property-sharing is such a bad idea, as you are then not only reliant on your own survival skills, but those of others, if they go down they bring you with them, in the form of losing deposits and getting evicted.

All this seems totally unnecessary when like I mentioned before a good well chosen property, all be it a Studio or a small One Bedroom condo or apartment, can let you relax and enjoy the time you spend in your home rather than worry about, whether the rent will be paid, the TV will be available to watch your show or the bathroom will be available for you to have a shower.

My suggestiom….’go it alone!’

Some Expats Prefer the Thai Condo over the Thai Apartment. Why?

There are are some differences worth noting between renting a Thai apartment and the Thailand Condo. Which one will best suit your needs?Click here to Search for Thai Apartments Condos Now, or keep reading this piece.

If like me your are from Europe or the UK then the difference between a Condominium or Apartment can be confusing. In the UK we tend to call such properties Flats, as they are generally on just one level, although you can get split-level, duplex or double-decker versions of course. Other parts of the world have similar colloquialisms for these types of properties, but universally they are known as Condos (condominiums) or Apartments.

Why does Thailand Distinguish between the two?

Thailand is a Developing Country and as such has decided to adopt many ideas from the Developed World in order to organize its growing economy and society, and also to help it expand towards its ultimate goal of being classed as ‘developed’.

Therefore, through all parts of life, culture and the economy, including political structure of the Thai Government and legal structure of Thai Law, Thailand has borrowed ideas and methods from the US, Europe, UK and Japan. You can easily witness this on a daily basis in all parts of Thailand and one quaint example is the use of red Post-Boxes with black bases, as is traditional of the UK Royal Mail.

The Concept of a Thai Apartment

When people first started moving to cities both in the Developed world and in the Developing world, they needed accommodation fast. So enterprising wealthy business people started to build mass housing. This was done in the forms of both Apartments and Town-Houses (we’ll get on to those later). So as it was in London and New York, it was the same in Bangkok. People moved to the big cities looking for work and a better life.

Of course, as many of these newly arrived residents had little or no money, but wanted to be near their employment, they demanded cheap accommodation. Bangkok city certainly has a job on its hands. At the same time, urbanization and congregation towards the city centers, factories and offices meant land prices increased and so would-be landlords decided that Thai Apartments were, and often still are, the best form of housing to build. Many people living in one big building segregated by internal walls and partitions.

Obviously the origin of the Thai Apartment has moved on in leaps and bounds in most cities, including Bangkok, since those early days. As the market has become more wealthy and sophisticated as have the Thai Apartments that people reside in. A lot of the Thailand accommodation we work with at EasyHomes are the Thai apartments projects. Many have wonderful facilities such as Swimming Pools, Fitness Studios, Security, Car Parking, Jacuzzis, Saunas, Steam Rooms, Golf Driving Ranges, Tennis Courts and Squash Courts.

Thai apartments are essentially owned by one landlord. He/she/or a corporation own the entire building and therefore ALL the units inside that building. These units are for Rent Only! You can not under any circumstances buy a single unit in a Thai Apartment block.

Landlords set their own rules which must be obeyed by all residents or else the landlord can terminate the contract and ask you to leave. The rules they can impose can stretch to the price of Electricity per unit, Water, Telephone or any other amenity or facility they offer. And often there is a premium placed on Utility bills.

So why are Thai apartments still popular? Well for a start most landlords are reasonably fair, they have to be, they have to go on market prices. Also many of these Thai apartments are well located close to people’s work, shops, malls, restaurants or the BTS or MRT lines in Greater Bangkok. Added to that, many Thai apartments are cheaper per square meter to Rent than Condos, which are covered below. 

Concept of the Thailand Condo (condominiums)

A typical Thai condominium is also part of a large (or very large) building. Like a Thai apartment it is one unit inside a building which will house many units, perhaps many hundreds of units. However the big difference is all these units are owned by individual landlords. The building was not built by a person wishing to rent out all the units, it was built by a developer wanting to Sell all the units to individuals. It us up to those individuals what they do with the Thai condominium they purchase.

Many Thai condo owners in Bangkok opt to live in their property as they can have access to great facilities such as Swimming Pools, Fitness Studios, Security, Car Parking, Jacuzzis, Saunas, Steam Rooms, Golf Driving Ranges, Tennis Courts and Squash Courts. Many of the condos Bangkok has to offer are often in superb locations such as Nusasiri Grand Condominium which is actually linked to the Sky Train at Ekkamai station.

However, fortunately for many foreigners who are looking to rent, not buy their thailand accommodation, there are a good number of Thai condo and Thai apartment rentals on the market to chose from.

The advantages associated with a Thai condominium over the Thai Aparttment, are mainly the cost of the utility bills. A condo landlord is not allowed to place a Premium on any bills, which means all the bills will be direct to the utility company and therefore the cheapest rate available. We often see that our clients who wish to rent for 12 months or more, find that the condos bangkok has to offer are far better value for money than the Thai apartments. 

The Bangkok Service Apartment (Serviced Apartments

Bangkok Service Apartment is a sort of cross between an Thai Apartment and a decent Hotel. They are often luxurious and will provide daily or weekly maid cleaning services, laundry services and dining services. They will also offer short-term leases as low as a Month, Week or even Day. These are the main differences between a Bangkok service apartment and an standard Apartment project. But what differentiates it from a Hotel is that the units are often much larger and they will have a choice of types of unit ranging from Studios to Penthouses depending upon the building and your budget. If you’re looking for Bangkok luxury apartments, then the serviced options are usually the ones to go for. 

The Thai Town House

Like the Thai Condos and Thai Apartments they are a practical solution to the City Center problems of overcrowding, expensive land and commuting. Like condos they are individually owned and the utility bills work the same way. However there is less choice in the market, and locations and facilities are generally inferior to those of condos or apartments. What you will get though is a lot more space for you money, but without the convenince of location.

The Thai Detached Houses

Finally Detached Houses, not to be left out. These are not often found in the City Centre and when they are can be a very costly Bangkok property to Rent or Buy. They are individually owned and all the utility bills are direct without any premiums. However there are indeed hidden costs when renting. When renting Bangkok condos, Thailand apartments, Bangkok Service Apartments, and even many Town Houses in Bangkok, you are also paying for the local facilities to be provided and maintained. This is rarely the case with Detached Houses where you will have to provide your own Gardener, Security Guard or Swimming Pool technician assuming you’re lucky enough to have one

For families looking to live in a central Bangkok Condo or apartment there are many great offers.

When expats stationed in Thailand’s capital first are looking for an attractive Bangkok Property, they will often look for a House in Bangkok or Town House, as this has been the type of property they have been living in the in the West. However Bangkok is quite different to cities such as London, New York or Paris, and an apartment in Bangkok or condo will offer so much more.

We often have many clients unfamiliar with Bangkok calling us from countries such as USA, UK, Australia, Japan and Germany looking for guidance about renting in Bangkok. They often want to live in an area close to their work, such as Silom or Sathorn close to Bangkok’s Central Business District. Or they want to live in Sukhumvit which is the most popular international zone in Bangkok, and is the area with the most choice of Bangkok apartments or condos in Bangkok.

Of course they all want convenience and access to Western culture or culture they are familiar with. Also getting access to comfort food such as Hamburgers, Steaks, Pasta or Pizzas, or in case of Japanese clients Sushi or Sashimi is important. So they need to know the property in Bangkok they are going to rent will offer easy access to these comforts.

But of course many expats are often in need to of facilities and services for their children and families as well. So that is why they are looking for a House in Bangkok or a good sized Town House in Bangkok to accommodate their children’s needs. If your families have been used to a large property to live in then understandable that one will not want this position to be compromised.

However what if moving into a Bangkok Apartment can in fact improve your families’ living standards? In Bangkok there are many great apartments offering families the ideal solution to living in a foreign country. They allow children to meet play-mates, wives and girlfriends to meet like minded people and for the whole family to live in a safe environment.

But how can an apartment in Bangkok offer all this? Well with host of facilities like Swimming Pools, Fitness Centers, Racquet Courts, and access to shops and cafes then these a Bangkok apartment such as the one below can tick so many boxes.

Baan Jamjuree offers expat families in Bangkok 5 Star facilities at great value costs. A 2 bedroom apartment in Baan Jamjuree can start at only THB 77 000/month, that is just a little over US$ 2 000/month.

http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/baan-jamjuree-420

With Tennis Courts, Basket Ball Courts, Large Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, Fitneess Studio and a fantastic Kids Play Room, this Bangkok Apartment block really does have it all.

And with great access to International Schools in the Sukhumvit area, as well as access to the BTS and MRT within a 10 minute walk, then it could not be easier.

However it is not convenient for everyone to live in Sukhumvit and some people want to live in the Sathorn area of Bangkok near the CBD. And if this is your preference then the Bangkok Garden Condo or Bangkok Garden Apartments, situates off Narathiwat Road are ideal.

With Tennis Courts, Basket Ball Courts, 2 large swimming pools, Five-a-side football pitches, large garden, gymnasiums, and access to International schools within a 5 minute this is the ideal solution for expat families in Bangkok.

Bangkok Garden Condo

http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/bangkok-garden-condo-42

Bangkok Garden Apartment

http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/bangkok-garden-apt-59

We have many other Bangkok apartments that are suitable for families, and these can all improve the quality of life for you and your family. With security issues disappearing, and the quality of facilities unsurpassed, as is value for money.

Whether your budget is THB 15 000/month (US$ 400) or you can afford 6 Star treatment for your family, here at EasyHomes we can accommodate your Bangkok Property needs.

And if it is a Bangkok condominium that interests you then again we can be of service. Whether you want to be in Sukhumvit, Sathorn, Silom or even in the Siam Square area of Bangkok as with the property below. We can offer you what you need.

http://www.easyhomes.tv/property/the-new-york-328

When I first arrived to live in Bangkok back in 2000, the landscape of the city was an awful lot different to how it is now. True the BTS Sky Train had just opened in December 1999 with it’s 24 Stations joined up by just two lines, the Silom Line and the longer Sukhumvit Line, both coloured in Green (please see the BTS/MRT Map for details).

The BTS lines, still the longest and most popular of the Mass Transit Systems in Bangkok barely covers the City Center area of Bangkok, in a city which boasts approximately 10 Million people (more than Greater London) is still totally inadequate to link the whole city together. When you compare the transit systems to those in large established cities like London, with an estimated 8-9 million people living in the UK Capital, and the city is serviced by over 240 Underground Train Stations! Bangkok’s BTS has just 10% of that amount!

In August 2005, the MRTA, often referred to as just the MRT, system opened in Bangkok and links up with the BTS in 3 separate areas, at the Mo Chit/ Chatuchak area of town in the North of Bangkok. In the Silom/ Saladaeng area near the CBD area of Bangkok, and in Sukuhumvit/ Asoke, right in the heart of the most international area of Bangkok where many Expats who work in Thailand live or have a base of sorts.

Again with its 18 stations (including the 3 that link with the BTS) the MRT has proved to be of great help to the traffic congestion in Bangkok, but is not yet adequate to service the 10 million inhabitants of Bangkok fully.

Of course and indeed fortunately the BMTA (Bangkok Metropolitan Traffic Authority) continue to try and expand the transit systems, but with a lack of Publi Money and the constant hindrance of corruption this has proved to be a slow and difficult task.

Despite this there has been two significant further expansions and a third well and truly in the pipeline.

On May 2009, the BTS finally opened its two stations at Krungthonburi and Wang Wien Yai, the first two stations to be situated over the Chap Phraya River in Thonburi, an urban suburb of Bangkok.

These stations had been ‘ready’ for almost 2 years, but due to political problems and corruption, they had remained idle whilst everyday 80 000 motorists in 50 000 cars foght each other to get to work in Sathorn and Silom via the Saphan Taksin bridge. The opening of these 2 new stations has greatly increased the number of passengers using the BTS and the MRT and has once again eased traffic congestion in vital areas of Bangkok.

The second significant extension is to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2006, and will allow travellers to reach the City centre from the airport within 40 minutes in comfort and safety. The Bangkok Airport Link will link up with the BTS at Phaythai/ Rachapaprop and once again with the MRT at Petchaburi/ Makkasan.

Finally in the pipeline are 5 new stations stretching from On Nut to Bearing in the Bang Na area of Bangkok, to the East of the Siam Square City Center area. These are scheduled to open for business in late 2011.

What has this meant for Bangkok Real Estate Development?

Well the most obvious and best result from all this transit development has been increase in speed commuters can get to and from work and to the areas they want to get to, such as shopping malls, cinemas, parks and markets. And this in turn has meant a rapid increase in trade and development for the Bangkok City Centre areas.

Shops, Restaurants, Cafes, Cinemas, Bowlng Alleys, Bars, Dicos, Arcades, Markets and a whole host of other enternatinment areas and ideas have sprung up in and around the areas where the BTS and MRT operate.

And in addition to this, thye have sprung up in response to the number of residents whom have decided to move closer to the Bangkok City Centrs into the new Condos and Apartments that have also taken advantage of the new transit systems.

Thais, Europeans, Americans, Japanese, Australians, Chinese and a whole host of other nationalities that live and enjoy the Bangkok atmosphere, have decided to sacrifice space and relative tranqulity for the speed and a convenience of living in the bustling and vibrant areas of Silom and Sukhumvit.

Also in due to the imagination and commitment of developers to produce the best condos at the lowest an most reasonable prices, in recent years, since 2007, there has been an increase in the launch of Condominium Projects in the Ratchadaphisek and Phahonyothin areas of town.

A few examples of this are The Ivy Condo in Ratchadaphisek situatued within 50m of the Sutthisan MRT station. This has also very recently been joined by The Life at Sutthisan, whichi is actually situated even closer the MRT station at only 20m!

These buildings are new, chic, and modern in design. They all feature great facilties such as Gymnasiums, Fitness Rooms, Swimming Pools, Car Parking and 24 Hour Security.

A further example of a high-end condominium in these new area is The Wind Ratchayothin, at the junction of Phahonyothin and Ratchadaphisek. This high-end Bangkok condominium is also a high-rise at over 30 storeys tall it features 3.0m ceilings! With infinti style swimming pools, gymnasiums and top-class finishings, this condo will be come the bench-mark residence in the Phahonyothin area of town.

MRT & BTS Transit Expansion – the way forward

So it can be seen, that like the patterns and experiences of older ans ore established cities like Tokyo, London and New York, large efficient and well planned out Mass Transit Systems can be of hugh benefit to Bangkok and ulitmately the Thai economy as whole.

By connecting people together with money, the transport system encourages more trade, more spending and a greate flow of money around the economy of Bangkok.

In additon the land and property closer to the transit systems become in demand more and therefore more valuable, pushing prices up and therefore an increase in Capital Growth for the owners of the properties.

In addition the new residents attracted by the convenience of the mass transit routes, in-turn attract many new business’, such as shops and cafes, which add to te convenience and quality of life for the City Centre inhabitants.

So Bangkok has started on the journey towards efficient Town Planning and Real Estate Investment Growth. With Bangkok Real Estate still massively undervalued compared with local neighbours such as Hong Kong and Singapore, now is still a great time to invest an live in Bangkok.

The Smart Choice for Renting in Bangkok

On the 15th of May 2009, the BTS Sky Train in Bangkok made a momentous advancement. For the first time in almost a decade and in fact for the first time since the first trains started to role in December 1999, the BTS opened two new stations, Krung Thonburi and Wong Wian Yai.

These two stations have helped benefit Bangkok is several ways in one massive stroke.
These include but are certainly not exclusive to:

1). Easing the congestion at the Saphan Taksin Bridge connecting Thonburi to the Sathorn district. A junction that handles over 80 000 vehicles a day, many of which are occupied by only one person.

2). Linking the tranquil and up and coming area of Thonburi to the main transport system of Bangkok City Centre.

3). Allowing an estimated 50 000 Bangkokians to get to work smoothly and on time, many who work in the CBD area of Sathorn and Silom.

4). At last linking a Metro system over the Chaophraya River, allowing those who live either side of the River of Kings to travel safely, cheaply and comfortably to work or home.

So why is Metro Park Sathorn particularly interesting and why is it the smart choice for those
looking for the best budget accommodation Bangkok has to offer?

Well unlike many of the other new developments that have sprung up around the two new BTS stations, Metro Park Sathorn has kept its prices low and highly competitive, whilst at the same time presenting the residents with a great quality, highly maintained and very attractive condominium development.

With a private shuttle bus operating from 6am to 12am (the same times at the Sky Train) and running regular services every 30 mins, to and from the nearest station Wong Wian Yai, Metro Park is at least as convenient if not more so than many of the condos and apartments in Sukhumvit and Silom which alos have shuttle services to and from the respective nearest BTS stations, but have to also deal with heavy traffic in many sub sois.

When the shuttle bus leaves the car park at Metro Park it has to travel under 4km to Wang Wian Yai BTS station. But unlike in the City Centre, the 4km distance does not take 30 minutes to travel, but actually the journey is only approximately 1km per minute and so the shuttle bus can complete the journey under 5 mins easily, and the residents can arrive in at the BTS in Air Conditioned comfort. Then it’s a quick trip on the train straight through to Siam Square in under 20 minutes.

In fact a Metro Park Resident can quite easily travel from their front door to Siam Square in under 25 minutes, something many residents on Sukhumvit can not claim even though they are paying 200-300% more for their accommodation than those at Metro Park.

And finally the best is left for last, by clicking on the following links it is possible to find what great value Metro Park Sathorn truly is, with the following properties priced from:

1). Studio Condo – 30sqm – THB 9 000/month

2). 1Br Condos – 42sqm – THB 11 000/month

3). 2Br Condo – 58sqm – THB 15 000/month