Condo or freestanding house?

[migrant]

Reading the recent thread on condos got me wondering.

I'm a freestanding house person myself, I like a garden and don't like sharing a pool. The upkeep is higher, and if you were only in town part time I can see why a condo is appealing, but I wondered fellow bird members, which you prefer and why?

[Big Boy]

Freestandig every time. I would never want to live in a block of flats in my home country, and I'm not going to start now.

[johnnyk]

Pros and cons for both.
Freestanding means you have control, and the expenses of the dwelling plus company costs. You are more vulnerable to break-ins or vandalism, too.
Condo can be owned in your own name but you have to share bricks and mortar with others who may not be your kind of people (noisy drunks, renters and deadbeats who don't pay their fees and are quite willing to ruin your value along with their own).
Preserve your capital and your flexibility by renting.

[Ginjaninja]

Condo for me

Parking, pool, gym, 24hr security, hot blondes by the pool

Size is the only major con for me; for a reasonable sized condo say 100sq/mtr.. you gotta cough up the BHT.

GN.

[Nereus]

This question has been asked previously, albeit some time ago. I will try and find the thread.

I have both, and it is a much more complex question than just the legal side of it, which is pretty much staight forward.

[hhfarang]

As Johnnyk said there are pros and cons for both... but a con he stated for condos:

...others who may not be your kind of people (noisy drunks, renters and deadbeats who don't pay their fees and are quite willing to ruin your value along with their own).
Preserve your capital and your flexibility by renting.

This doesn't only happen with a condo. I know several people here who are trying desperately to sell their free standing home because of the neighbors. In developments houses are built so close that it is much like sharing a wall. The only way to be (mostly) safe from bad neighbors is to buy about a 2 rai plot that is square and build you house directly in the middle. The other problem with free standing is that if you do buy land outside a development that has empty plots next to it, you can end up with a karaoke bar or chicken ranch next door as there are no zoning laws here.

I also know people in a moo bahn of free standing homes where some homeowner's refuse to pay their fees and therefore the roads and common areas are in very bad condition (same as condo owners not paying their fees). It is difficult to enforce fee payment here without months or years in court with high costs.

In other words, a free standing house in a development or in any area where the houses are packed close together can have many of the same problems you potentially have with a condo.

I have an American friend who bought a condo in one of the older high rise buildings directly on the beach (building of which has not been allowed for years now) and he says that except for weekends and holidays he feels like he owns the entire building as it is empty. He goes to the gym or pool and they are both empty, parking is empty except for his car. In those older buildings most of the units are owned by Bangkok Thais and used for a holiday getaway only so you could end up with more quiet and privacy than in a free standing house. His other advantages are on the beach location, incredible views from his 8th floor balcony, and hardly ever a need for air/con because of constant sea breezes and being high enough to not have to worry about insects while enjoying those views with open doors and windows night and day.

Buying either here is a gamble. I'm happy to rent at the moment and live a life free from stress and worry (except about the weather... ).

[Nereus]

Reading the recent thread on condos got me wondering.
I'm a freestanding house person myself, I like a garden and don't like sharing a pool. The upkeep is higher, and if you were only in town part time I can see why a condo is appealing, but I wondered fellow bird members, which you prefer and why?

Don`t know about birds, but here are some links to previous posts:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19309&hilit=condo

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18632&hilit=condo

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18128&p=216391&hilit=condo#p216391

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18165&hilit=condo (your own post)

Cannot find the post I had in mind and most of these are more about Condo`s.

[migrant]

Reading the recent thread on condos got me wondering.
I'm a freestanding house person myself, I like a garden and don't like sharing a pool. The upkeep is higher, and if you were only in town part time I can see why a condo is appealing, but I wondered fellow bird members, which you prefer and why?

Don`t know about birds, but here are some links to previous posts:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19309&hilit=condo

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18632&hilit=condo

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18128&p=216391&hilit=condo#p216391

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=18165&hilit=condo (your own post)

Cannot find the post I had in mind and most of these are more about Condo`s.

Thanks for the search!

[theprice01]

Small condo for me....im on my own & not fussed about swimming

[Takiap]

As a child I grew up in a rented condo since my family couldn't afford to buy a house. Back then in South Africa, condos/flats were average middle class people while houses were for the wealthy. I guess this has always sort of stuck in my mind. I grew up dreaming of the day I could live in a house, and fortunately I have managed to live in houses almost my entire working life. For me there is nothing to think about - a free standing home wins hands down every time.


Like HHF has pointed out though, in Thailand you could end up with a disaster next door, such as a scrap dealers and etc.

I guess it all just boils down to personal choice.

[Coldmike]

Condo for me

Parking, pool, gym, 24hr security, hot blondes by the pool

Size is the only major con for me; for a reasonable sized condo say 100sq/mtr.. you gotta cough up the BHT.

GN.

Hot Blondes by the pool in Thailand? Oh yeah baby! .....Where?

[Ginjaninja]

Condo for me

Parking, pool, gym, 24hr security, hot blondes by the pool

Size is the only major con for me; for a reasonable sized condo say 100sq/mtr.. you gotta cough up the BHT.

GN.

Hot Blondes by the pool in Thailand? Oh yeah baby! .....Where?

I have just vacated Mykonos beside Market Village and there was quite often hot falang by the pool during highseason. Was great because I was able to test my DSLR telezoom lens...
GN.