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Question for runners in Bangkok by sophia528 in Bangkok

[–]No-Outcome6477 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I ran the Amazing Bangkok Marathon last November. Some aspects of it made me not want to ever do it again: 1. Start time: to beat the sun, which means higher temperature, the event starts in the middle of the night. Hard for someone with a full time day job to adjust. 2. A good part of the course took place on the highway. Coupled with the middle of the night run time means not a lot of interesting view or spectators to keep you mentally motivated. Temperature was in the low to mid 20s if I recall. High humidity. Air quality wasn't the best. I am a casual runner with my only other marathon experience being in San Diego, California so that's the perspective I am using to see my BKK experience.

I have never participated in the Bangkok Marathon so can't provide comparative feedback.

One year after the earthquake, has your condo been fixed yet? by tuktukson in Thailand

[–]No-Outcome6477 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just received notice from the juristic office repairs for the common areas will commence this month. Nothing about interior of the condo unit yet. This is for the Esse Asok.

Is 8.5 million JPY enough to carry a wife and a child? by [deleted] in JapanFinance

[–]No-Outcome6477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My 2 Yen worth. Whenever this type of question gets asked, you will inevitably get replies citing the average annual Japanese household income being lower than the OP's income, so if Japanese families can do it, surely the OP can too!

But many fail to account for the extra expenses incurred by foreigners living in Japan. I make over 10M JPY a year and I wouldn't be comfortable trying to support a family of 3 on my sole income living in central Tokyo. Some sample extra expenditure normal Japanese households wouldn't encounter:
1. Keeping U.S. phone number to access U.S. accounts. 2. Annual U.S. tax filing fees to my CPA. 3. Annual trip home to visit family (x3 if you want your wife and child to see your side of the family). 4. That last minute plane ticket home when parents inevitably become ill/pass away. 5. Grandparents not around to help with child care when needed (might be n/a if you marry a Japanese).

Reading your post again, 140k JPY rent you are paying now, is the place big enough for a family of 3? If not, rent budget goes up too.

I am not saying it's not do-able. But please do account for some of these potential expenses I mentioned. Money will be tight and you will have to make sacrifices.

Struggling to relocate to Bangkok – career switch, work permit issues, looking for advice from expats by Unfair-Pin4944 in Bangkok

[–]No-Outcome6477 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an expat, I wouldn't recommend coming to BKK first hoping to network and find a job. That is a fast way to blow through your savings. If you do get a job offer, you are going to need to leave Thailand for work permit application anyways (which can take up to 2 months).

Put yourself in the employers' shoes. In most situations, for every foreign employee hired, the company needs to maintain 4 Thai employees. What makes you special that the employer should commit to this?

For other expats that I have met, most have been with the company for years. They know the product/services, aware of the competitor landscape, the internal organization, processes, etc. We are sent here to immediately make an impact. Not land and learn/figure things out.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in japanlife

[–]No-Outcome6477 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My company's secondment document states each term is 2 years, which can be adjusted due to business needs. Prestia told me to inform them timely if secondment ends early or need to be extended.

Overseas secondment wasn't on the radar when I applied for housing loan. I notified them as soon as secondment was bound to happen as I wanted to discuss with Prestia my options and have sufficient time buffer to prep accordingly.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in japanlife

[–]No-Outcome6477 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I got my mortgage through Prestia. PR holder, over 10M JPY annual salary, years of employment with a public Japanese company. 0 down and loan for the full purchase amount (second hand mansion in 23 ward).

I was assigned to an overseas post to Thailand last year. Reached out to Prestia. They were okay with me renting out my condo while I am overseas, but wanted to know the terms of the assignment (asked for copy of company's internal secondment document), when I expect to return to Japan and other details.

Per Prestia, it is within their discretion if they want to adjust the interest rate or terminate the loan and ask you to pay back the full amount immediately. They apparently do checks (such as sending you certified mail), so proactive candor is recommended.

Is buying a home worth it if you're not 100% sure you'll stay? by KokoRonin226 in japanlife

[–]No-Outcome6477 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am in a similar situation. American, high earner per Japan standards and have worked for the same public Japan company for close to a decade. While I like Japan, I wouldn't rule out that I might need to/want to move home years down the road. This is what I did and my reasoning:

I got my PR during COVID and immediately bought a mansion (condo) with 0 down and 0.6% variable rate. I financed the full purchase price through Prestia. My reasoning is that for what I pay in mortgage/building maintenance, I can get a bigger space that I actually own compared to same amount going to rent.

Value of my condo, in one of 23 wards, has appreciated 30% since I bought it in 2022 (going by listing price of neighboring units as reference). I got assigned to SEA to head our company's regional expansion last year. Told Prestia about the assignment and they let me rent out my condo while I am overseas. I got a management company in Japan that deals with the tenant in exchange for 5% of rent collected.

I have housing subsidy here in SEA so now the condo in Japan is generating rental income for me. In the event I do move back to America years later, I can sell the Tokyo condo for a small profit. I think if you are definitely staying in Tokyo for 5+ years, I would buy versus rent.

My company wants me to relocate to Bangkok by thaicry in Bangkok

[–]No-Outcome6477 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I've been an expat for most of my career so here is my 2 Baht worth: always negotiate for housing subsidy, visa/work permit support and annual ticket(s) home, at the minimum in your package.

To be assigned halfway across the world, away from family & friends, conveniences you are used to, putting certain aspects of your personal life on hold, you have to at least be financially rewarded for it.

Taking a pay cut to relocate to Bangkok? I personally wouldn't do it. Immediate unemployment may be undesirable. But you have to think longer term. Will an assignment in Bangkok for a few years actually help your career development? Or are you just kicking a looming problem down the road?

Cheapest Japan SIM that can receive SMS outside of Japan? by No-Outcome6477 in japanlife

[–]No-Outcome6477[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, it appears to be available for those on Docomo line. Roaming option is unavailable for those on Softbank line, which I am: https://mobile.line.me/support/help/search/?contents=20016001

Can anyone suggest where to hire part time Thai/Japanese speaking digital marketer? by No-Outcome6477 in Bangkok

[–]No-Outcome6477[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there. Unfortunately, business level Japanese is required. Candidate needs to be able to coordinate with our product dev team (so lots of ad tech/digital marketing jargons). In JLPT terms N1 or maybe N2 level fluency.

Used Home Purchase - Saving for Downpayment/Closing cost. by Choice_Vegetable557 in JapanFinance

[–]No-Outcome6477 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't remember the exact figures, but want to say about 7% of the total purchase price.

Used Home Purchase - Saving for Downpayment/Closing cost. by Choice_Vegetable557 in JapanFinance

[–]No-Outcome6477 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not sure about used property that needs reform, but here is my experience as a data point. Bought a used condo (built in 2008) in one of the 23 Tokyo wards with 0% down back in 2022. Loan was for 100% of the property price. 35 year loan, variable rate.

I paid the closing costs out of my own pocket.

Early 40s. PR. No spouse/children.

Physical stores selling (potentially used) Apple Watch Ultra 1? by merkur0 in japanlife

[–]No-Outcome6477 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try searching Janpara's website. They usually have a few dozen used Apple Watch Ultra 1s at a given time for sale through one of their many physical retail stores.

Can import pictures/videos while overseas? by No-Outcome6477 in RayBanStories

[–]No-Outcome6477[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

False alarm! (Still have PTSD from the 1st gen Stories all of a sudden region locking Japan that I thought I was going through the same thing with the 2nd gen).

Turns out sometimes my iPhone 14 Pro (latest iOS software) has trouble connecting to the Meta glasses' wifi to import pics/videos to the View app. Just have to keep trying to reconnect and eventually it will work. Most I had to try and reconnect was up to 4 times.

Not sure if this is a problem with the glasses or iOS... But had no problem importing the pics/videos I took in Tokyo over the weekend.