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Huge traffic crunch in last-day race to enter Phuket under free rapid test
Huge traffic crunch in last-day race to enter Phuket under free rapid test
PHUKET: A huge traffic tailback saw long delays for people coming onto the island by road yesterday (May 15), the last day of free rapid antigen tests for Thais wanting to enter Phuket.
Phuket daily infections fall again, as total breaches 600
Phuket daily infections fall again, as total breaches 600
PHUKET: For the second time only in the past three weeks the number of daily new cases of people infected with COVID-19 fell to a single digit as the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) reported just four new cases for yesterday (May 15).
Blazing Saddles: Sane Sane, but different
Blazing Saddles: Sane Sane, but different
Much beloved by me and many other local cyclists is our bicycle’s ability to take us to relatively quiet, undiscovered corners of the Andaman which have remained fairly unblemished by the ravages of mass tourism and commercialisation. One such beloved corner of ‘forgotten Phuket’ is Ao Sane Cove, with its three little beaches overlooking the much larger and more commercial Nai Harn Beach in the island’s southwest corner.
[VIDEO] Phuket, Thailand: You Should Go There #3 - Kata Beach!
[VIDEO] Phuket, Thailand: You Should Go There #3 - Kata Beach!
Follow Jon Nutt as he tours Phuket, Thailand for the best deals & steals. From dinner plates to real-estate. There is always something going on in the Pearl. This episode takes us to KATA. Phuket Thailand, You Should Go There....
From Paris with love at L’Arôme by the sea
From Paris with love at L’Arôme by the sea
Fans of contemporary French cuisine are in for a treat with the recent opening of L’Arôme by the sea in Patong.
’Nihao Mars’: China’s Zhurong rover touches down on Red Planet
’Nihao Mars’: China’s Zhurong rover touches down on Red Planet
BEIJING: China’s probe to Mars touched down on the Red Planet Saturday to deploy its Zhurong rover, state media reported, a triumph for Beijing’s bold space ambitions and a history-making feat for a nation on its first-ever Martian mission.
Mammals can breathe through anus in emergencies: study
Mammals can breathe through anus in emergencies: study
JAPAN: A team of Japanese scientists has shown it is possible for mammals to absorb oxygen via the anus.
Portugal to open to most European tourists
Portugal to open to most European tourists
PORTUGAL: Portugal will open to tourists from nearly all European countries from Monday (May 17), the interior ministry said, following months of restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Thai worker injured in Gaza Strip
Thai worker injured in Gaza Strip
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Ministry of Labour to provide help to a Thai labourer in Israel who was injured in an explosion in the Gaza Strip.
Leicester beat Chelsea to claim first FA Cup
Leicester beat Chelsea to claim first FA Cup
FOOTBALL: Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers hailed the ’historical achievement’ of his side in beating Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday to lift the FA Cup for the first time in the club’s 137-year history.
Cabinet allows tax break on software-related expenses
Cabinet allows tax break on software-related expenses
BANGKOK: The Cabinet has approved a measure to allow small- and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to use their software or computer program-related expenses as a deductible against corporate income tax due, at the rate of two times the expense in some cases.
Thais, foreigners arrested for drinking at Patong Beach
Thais, foreigners arrested for drinking at Patong Beach
PHUKET: Patong Police have arrested a group of 12 people, including Thais and foreigners, for sitting and drinking together on the Patong beachfront on Friday night (May 14).
Narrow escape for motorbike rider as car hits power pole, brings down high-voltage lines
Narrow escape for motorbike rider as car hits power pole, brings down high-voltage lines
PHUKET: A 35-year-old man escaped serious injuries as the car he was driving slammed into a power pole north of Phuket Town this afternoon (May 15), as did a young man who leapt to safety as downed power lines came crashing down onto his motorbike while he was riding past.
Jab-booking app for foreigners coming soon
Jab-booking app for foreigners coming soon
BANGKOK: The government is developing a vaccination registration app especially for foreign residents, who will also be eligible for walk-in service as soon as it is available, a spokesman said on Saturday (May 15).
Electricity outage to hit Laguna area in Cherng Talay
Electricity outage to hit Laguna area in Cherng Talay
PHUKET: The Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced that the electricity supply will be temporarily shut off in parts of Cherng Talay on Tuesday (May 18) as work is carried out on installing new high-voltage cables.
Anutin, Phiphat arrive in Phuket, assure July 1 reopening
Anutin, Phiphat arrive in Phuket, assure July 1 reopening
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul and Tourism & Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn in Phuket today (May 15) delivered a message of support from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that Phuket will open to fully vaccinated international tourists from July 1.
Governor urges cooperation as COVID cases continue to climb
Governor urges cooperation as COVID cases continue to climb
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew has made a special appeal to the people of Phuket to do their best to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 across the island as the number of daily new infections remains in double-digits.
Tuchel eyes first Chelsea trophy as Leicester chase FA Cup history
Tuchel eyes first Chelsea trophy as Leicester chase FA Cup history
FOOTBALL: Thomas Tuchel plans to ruin Leicester’s bid to make history, as the Chelsea manager eyes the first trophy of his reign in today’s (May 15) FA Cup final at Wembley (kick-off 11:15pm Phuket time).
Govt readies to reopen skies
Govt readies to reopen skies
BANGKOK: The Transport Ministry is gearing up for the resumption of air travel in November.
Real Estate Market in Phuket: Pros & Cons
Real Estate Market in Phuket: Pros & Cons
Many people may consider spending some years or even the rest of their lives in another country with better weather and cheaper prices. Especially elderly people often choose to go to south east asia to enjoy their retirement but also young opportunistic people and even families may consider leaving the cold home behind and start a new life in a more tropical and inviting atmosphere, at least partly. Thailand is one of the most popular places to go to. Its liberal laws for foreigners, the beautiful climate and of course the breathtaking beaches are just a few reasons for people to move to the south east asian country. Thailand has many different cultural places and a variety of different landscapes reaching from the north part with its milder climate in Chiang Mai to the hotter and more touristic places in the south. One of the most popular places is Phuket. The peninsula in the south west of the country is known for its excellent weather, its marvelous beaches and its luxurious hotels. It is certainly no wonder that many people seriously consider to stay in this paradisiacal place and settle down. The property market of Phuket is definitely an interesting one for those looking to buy a home to live in or an investment property in Thailand. Also the architectural landscape is very modern. It is a good idea to hire an architect office which is directly located in Thailand instead of choosing an architect office in your home country. There are some particularities one must think of before realizing a project in Thailand. Working together with a local partner can entail a lot of advantages. Purchasing real estate in Thailand requires a big amount of careful consideration. There are many subjects to inspect and many questions to be answered before buying property in Phuket. It is advisable to search for a partner who is capable of evaluating the market situation and recommend you to buy certain real estate, property or land in Thailand. Furthermore there are several things to consider and mistakes to avoid while purchasing property in Phuket. Those will be covered in this article. What speaks for an investment in real estate in Phuket? There are many reasons that speak for an investment in real estate in Phuket. The first reason is that you have the right to 100% freehold. A non-Thai citizen can invest in a property in Thailand, but only a condominium can be legally owned freehold by a foreigner. You can invest in a house as long as you do it through a thai partner. This protects you automatically from going through complicated processes in a foreign land. Furthermore an investment into a house in Phuket can be also a wise move concerning the future as you can easily sell the condominium under foreign freehold to other Thais or foreign investors. As the government usually sells foreign freeholds at higher prices, you have good chances in profiting from selling a unit in the future. Many investors are eager to purchase real estate and the market is vivid, which makes a sell pretty easy. Here we come to the next point. The market in Phuket is thriving. Reports show that both locals and foreigners are increasing their interest in owning a condo in Phuket. This points strongly to a continuous growth of the real estate market on the island. Prices are expected to rise in the coming years as Phuket becomes more and more popular to tourists. Another point is that of course every investor has to consider the returns he makes on his property investment. Most of the developers in Phuket offer up to 7 % guaranteed return for the first three years. Hotel managed condos are even more attractive as you allow the hotel to manage your condo unit and benefit from guaranteed rental return. The biggest argument is of course that Phuket is simply a paradisiacal place with many cultural attractions, beautiful weather and good food - simply the perfect place to spend the summer or even the rest of your life. What are risks associated with the purchase of property in Phuket? Probably the most beneficial way to buy is the significant discount off the purchase price offered to anyone buying early. In Phuket this is a rather common practice and often a development sells out before even the first brick is laid. This practice though contains some risks for foreign investors. The biggest risk is of course that the development may never be completed which can happen due to a lack of funds or other reasons why the demand for units dries up. As many buyers are new to the island and lack longtime experience with the market, many of them still experience a huge disappointment of a bad investment despite popular horror stories.  Investors need to be aware that this is more common than they are led to believe, and it can lead to unexpected bankruptcies of development projects. Investors should make sure to have chosen developers of sound repute who are not exposing themselves to high risks. Another point investors should be aware of is that any development has to be approved by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before the beginning of construction. But that does not stop developers from marketing units already. Changes in legislation or unforeseen problems on the land can lead to changes, delays or even full construction freeze.  One more risk worth noting when buying off-plan, is that the final product is not what the brochures and marketing material portray. Despite increasing protection of buyers by the legislation many developers still disregard the rules and make it hard for buyers to know what the final product will look like, and the quality they can expect. In such cases, there is almost nothing the investor can do even though the developer is clearly, legally in the wrong. What are mistakes to avoid while purchasing property in Phuket? There are several basic mistakes to avoid while buying property in Phuket. The most important ones are the following. First of all it is extremely important to always make a title search on the property or land you want to purchase. This title search is a comprehensive examination and will lay out the history of the property. This is important as you want to be informed about any mortgages, leases, creditor right of ownership, or other charges against the property before even considering. Secondly it certainly is possible to purchase property in Thailand without the assistance of a lawyer but you must not do it. Thailand is a country with a completely different language, culture and legal system and thai contracts can differ a lot from western contracts. It is extremely important to work with a local lawyer who knows the rules to play by to avoid misunderstandings and deliberate rip-offs. Make sure the law company you pick has a good reputation. Furthermore you should not even look at a property without a local real estate agent. A good agent will make sure you get a fair price, can communicate with the owners and developers in their own language and may have knowledge about the geographical aspects of the area you are looking at. Conclusion All in all it is easy to understand what interesting and wonderful Phuket is for investors. Like with any investment in a foreign country it is extremely important to be careful and thoughtful rather than emotional and quick. If you take your time, do your research and work together with local people you have a great chance of finding your dream condo on the island.  An investment like this may be a good deal for further investments or it simply becomes the most beautiful private holiday place for the entire family. Elderly people may consider Phuket as the place to spend a relaxed and sunny retirement while eating good food and enjoying the incredible scenery of the island.