Thailand vs Malaysia for Retirement

TizMe, on 11 June 2009 - 08:39 AM, said:

Unless it has been recently changed - a foreigner can buy any condo in their own name so long as not more than 49% of the total development are owned by foreigners (there's a complicated way they measure that I think - something to do with floor space) - so if buying off plan, be bloody sure that your lawyer has checked properly how many foreign owned units there already are...

TizMe, on 11 June 2009 - 09:39 AM, said:

Yes, anywhere in Thailand, however condominium buildings in Nakhon-Nowhere often do not exist.

Thai people prefer to buy their own house or prefer a housing village unit.

The condominium building has to meet a certain standard to be considered as a condominium building by Thai condominium law - just a simple house, 2 floors with 20 little rooms is NOT a condominium building by Thai law.

There are some regulations - a certain minimum landsize - and I think, at least 100 units, and 49 can be sold to a foreigner, who pays in foreign currency.

yohan, on 11 June 2009 - 12:54 PM, said:

Unless he has Permanent Residence status.

camerata, on 12 June 2009 - 02:46 PM, said:

I will never have permanent residence status in Thailand, if you are 50+ I think, retirement visa and the deposit of baht 800.000,- is not a bad option.

Let me add, that my permanent residence status in Japan did not cost me anything, but some stamp fees (about baht 2.500,-), I have also the right here in Japan to buy land/house, get the full health insurance.

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This thread is about Malaysia however, and so far, all what I see in this thread, it is really 50/50.
Malaysia has very clear rules about retirement permit, and you get 5 +10 years = 15 years.

But otherwise for living there, you must be a golf-freak and you MUST drive your own car. Generally living costs are higher in Malaysia than in Thailand, and my impression is about it is getting very boring soon. I also recommend to bring your family with you, as Malaysia is not a place to look around for friendship/marriage.

Do not expect a great welcome by Indians, Malay, Chinese and Arabs and others in that country. I do not know even a single person personally who decided to settle down in Malaysia. There should be a reason for that.