Part 4 of my series on hunting for a Condo in Jomtien, the nice area of Pattaya! Now becoming quite proficient at finding my way around and also at being able to make a quick exit when necessary, I was becoming overwhelmed at the vast and increasing choice. However it was getting to the point where a decision had to be made! This is the fourth of a series of posts detailing my search for a Condo in Jomtien continuing to make many viewings and sharing my views and experiences in the hope that they will assist other people in their quest to find a suitable home in the Pattaya area.
“How keeping an open mind, having a tenacious agent and being able to understand all the variants, helped me to find my new home in Jomtien.“
Another alternative was excitedly offered. This was in the vast monolithic tower of Jomtien Plaza Condotel. Superb location right at the start of Jomtien Beach Road, this institution has surely seen a lot over the years and has many stories to tell. It is cavernous but has an institutional feel, initial impressions were not good. The building must be over 30 years old and it’s not growing old gracefully. Whilst renovations are taking place, it has a long way to go. The studio that I viewed was a 52 sq meter studio with a spectacular sea view balcony on the 16th floor. If renovated it would be magnificent, however with a hotchpotch of furnishings including balcony fittings that look as though they have come from a GoGo Bar! Offered at THB.15,000 it was very overpriced for the poor condition that the building and the apartment were in. This was a quick exit
The day saw me verging towards this the View Talay 3B offer but the industrious Oil and her assistant had yet another offer, next door in View Talay 3A! Maybe love at first sight but I felt that I could live comfortably here. This is a beautifully furnished 48 sq meter studio on the 14th floor. It has a large balcony with clear views towards the sea with the Heritage Pattaya luxury hotel as a neighbour. This building has a large pool located next to the beach. I will have access to the beach so walks along the promenade to Jomtien will be my order of the day. It does appear to be a very quiet location and I am looking forward to this. The only slight drawback is the lack of transportation. However, it is possible to rent a Motorbike for just THB.2,500 per month. Search over, the owner has accepted my offer and I will be moving in in mid-March.
So what have I learnt from this challenge?
- Firstly remain open minded, don’t say no and keep looking!
- Find a good agent who is looking after your interests
- The more you see the more you will find! Remain focused
- There is leeway on the rental price. Always negotiate!
- If you are looking for a 1-year rental you will enjoy better prices but you are locked in to a 1-year contract
- Rely on your instincts and remember your initial thoughts as you first enter any complex
Once you find a property that you like and you decide that you want to proceed you are expected to make a non-refundable deposit. To lock an apartment, you will have to pay the equivalent of 1 month rent. Before moving in, you will generally be requested to pay an additional month’s rent as a security deposit in addition to the first months rent in advance. So bear in mind that you must hand over the equivalent of 3 month’s rent before you move in! I will write about the handover, how to handle the utilities and Internet etc in an article, once I have moved in!
It is quite a daunting task and one that I took on not only for myself, but also with the view of being able to help others also considering a move to Jomtien. If you need and assistance or advice on looking to rent or buy a Condominium in Jomtien, please don’t hesitate to write to me at kim@meanderingtales.com I would be pleased to assist and also to introduce you to my wonderful and tenacious agent, Oil.
Useful links:-
https://rent-buy-thailand.com/pattaya-property-for-rent/condos-in-jomtien
https://www.thailand-property.com/condos-for-rent/chonburi/pattaya/jomtien
Kim Waddoup
Founder
Kim Waddoup enjoyed a lifetime in the tourism business and is an active ‘Silver-Ager” living in Thailand. He writes for his age group with high varied articles covering subjects relevant to retirees living in, or visiting Thailand. Any questions or comments on this post? Please do feel free to contact me through our ‘Contact Form’ or directly kim@meanderingtales.com
