Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing retirement in Thailand specifically the fact Thailand is on a top 10 list that recently was published regarding retirement generally around the world; we are also going to discuss how condo policy factors into that. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from VN Express.net, that is e.vnexpress.net, the article is titled: Friendly Visa policy puts Thailand among world's top 10 retirement destinations. "Thailand was the only Southeast Asian country to break into top 10 retirement destinations in the world, according to a list compiled by Irish publisher International Living: ”Foreigners are able to buy condos very easily and there are bargains everywhere." International Living said. "It is possible to buy a two bedroom condo for under US$30,000 and rentals can be as cheap as $180 per month if you need something small and quaint."

I have seen places especially down in the EEC, Eastern Economic Corridor, down in Chonburi, Rayong, even Pattaya City still going for 5,000 baht a month which I think is about US$150 a month to go ahead and rent on a monthly basis. Now again it is probably a studio; it is not going to be the most spacious thing in the world but if you are a single person retiring here to Thailand on your own, it's good enough. I mean I didn't need much when I first came to Thailand. As the years have gone by and things have grown and I am in a different position, I didn't retire here, yes have I needed more space, but if I was retiring here, yeah I wouldn't need much space at all. I would want to go wander around; I don't want to sit in my house all the time. That said yeah another thing to bear in mind is notwithstanding the restrictions on foreign land ownership in Thailand, it is possible for a foreigner to own in freehold, or what we would call Fee Simple Absolute in the American Common Law tradition, it is possible for foreigners to own condos here in Thailand, to have their own title deed. They don't have to pay rent, they can own their place outright. As we have noted in other videos, there are formalities associated with that. It is probably a good idea to contact a legal professional to gain insight and guidance into how to buy a condo in Thailand, but it is certainly an option and it is something that was pointed out in this International Living which was quoted by the VN Express. Now that said, I would say $30,000 for a condo is probably on the lower end; not every condo in Thailand is going to go for $30,000 or roughly the equivalent of about a million Baht but they are around. It is not impossible to find something like that at all, definitely a possibility to find a million Baht condo here in Thailand.

So again, those who are thinking of retiring, not only is Thailand a good destination from a Visa standpoint but it is also possible to own your own retirement home here in the Kingdom of Thailand.