@Henry ********

You didn’t get the best rate.

@Mary *******

Thank you Mary, We have 2 condos renovated into one already, three bedroom three bath, one large bedroom could be for a live in help.



This post has been most informative, I have read most replies. We are planning our move to Pattaya hopefully by the end of the year. My son has two condo in Patumnak Pattaya. Last year we visited him for 6 weeks. He lives in Atlanta GA but visits 2-3 times a year with his Thai wife of 10 years. Downsizing to a 1500 sq foot condominium is something I’m looking forward to although we have never lived in an apartment or condo before during our 54 years of marriage. We are waiting for the condo to be fully renovated and furnished so our move will be a seamless as possible. We are planning to live the best and last years of our lives there. No vehicle needed.

Just the savings on insurance, tags, maintenance on four vehicles, property tax, healthcare saving makes this move a no brainer.

We will have a 30 year lease, my son is also on the lease from our daughter in law which is the owner of the condo. We qualify for a wealth visa, and we may buy an elite visa, not sure which one to choose. My son wants to retire in Thailand at age 50 so us living there makes perfect sense.

My most important concern is if ever we need assistance in living and health care we could continue to stay in our condo and not be forced into a care facility. We plan on a having a maid part time to help us, even though we are still able to do most daily things for ourselves. Our monthly income well exceeds any requirement, and we could afford mostly anything we would need in our second retirement in Thailand. I have been retired for over 20 years. I love Thai food and the Thai people. The climate is cooler than Las Vegas in the summer time June to Aug. Coming from Seattle I don’t mind the rain although much heavier in nature.

We are looking to more of a social life than we have here in this guarded and gated community. Our friends are drying faster than the Russian soldiers on the

Ukrainian front.

Anyone else in this situation, would love to hear from you.

Private message us if you like. Any feedback is appreciated.

@Jack *****

We are planning on a move to Pattaya end of this year. I’m also 80 and my wife is 77. Planning to self insure.

@Michael ********

Wow, great!

@Val ******

Wise shows you the fee they charge for any transaction and you get the international rate exchange. Visa told me that they do not charge for money transfers, but they do not give you the proper international exchange rate. This could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars on larger transactions.

I don’t know about Swift accounts. I’m sure it’s used in the commercial world.

@Robert **********

That’s correct, declare any amount and make sure you can show where it came from. I’m going to take over $100, 000 with me upon my enter. Plan on an Elite Visa for my wife and I. They will help set up a bank account for us. Wise limits you at $50,000 from the US.

We have a high monthly pension. But not the 350,000 baht a month. We can easily put 800,000 into more than 60 different Thai Banks.

There is something wrong with this guy.

@Jeffery ******

My wife also a NZ’er has a friend which wanted to go to Australia. She mentioned it. It’s certainly not fair but I guess they want to keep people in New Zealand. A British government will pay their pension, but they are frozen at the time they leave so there won’t be any increases over the years.

I’m planning on moving to Pattaya in the fall.

I hope you understand the if you are a person on a pension from NZ which is what I assume, you will lose your pension after 3 months