Renting a condo

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yes feebee, I agree the MM2H visa is much better being 10 years. My only personal reservation is the amount of capital locked in. At the moment I dont even trust western banks with my money!! And how quickly can you get it back if you need to pack up and leave in an emergency for whatever reason? If I read correctly somewhere, Government permission is required for leaving MM2H and before you can repatriate your money. How long would you be kept waiting?
 
With regard to language, I do seem to recall I didnt always have that much trouble with language or communication when visiting Thailand but most of the time I was in the tourist areas. Strangely, in Malaysia I come across many locals in shops that dont understand my English. I just get a blank stare and have to repeat myself or rephrase the question. I'm from London, my accent is standard 'Estuary' English. I think here they may be more used to an American (or Aussie?) accent. Maybe its due to the many US TV being shown.

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And how quickly can you get it back if you need to pack up and leave in an emergency for whatever reason?

As a potential mm2h applicant only, I'm not an expert on this, but doubtless someone will post.  But with regard to tying up capital, wherever you go you have to do that.  It's the price of the admission ticket.  In Thailand it is 800,000 baht.

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I come across many locals in shops that dont understand my English. I just get a blank stare and have to repeat myself or rephrase the question. I'm from London, my accent is standard 'Estuary' English. I think here they may be more used to an American (or Aussie?) accent. Maybe its due to the many US TV being shown.

I am also technically "Estuary" English - though "East End" would probably be a better description  .  Mr P and I used to travel a lot worldwide when we were working, and I noticed that just about everywhere (apart from London obviously) people used to have problems with my accent and I know that I throw in a rather liberal dose of colloquialisms which does not help matters.  Rephrasing, as you mentioned, seemed to be the way to go.  I suppose we must learn a few Malay phrases.

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hi,

yes feebee, I agree the MM2H visa is much better being 10 years. My only personal reservation is the amount of capital locked in. At the moment I dont even trust western banks with my money!! And how quickly can you get it back if you need to pack up and leave in an emergency for whatever reason? If I read correctly somewhere, Government permission is required for leaving MM2H and before you can repatriate your money. How long would you be kept waiting?

The Malaysian government has covered all deposits till the end of 2010. Then the PIDM comes back into place. Before the financial crisis the limit was RM60,000 which nicely coincided with the residual FD amount for mm2h. since then the residual amount has been increased.

It remains to be see if the PIDM amount will be increased.

When you leave the mm2h scheme you need to write to Motour so that you can get a letter to remove the bank lien on the FD amount. I don't know how long it takes to get the letter, maybe other members have the info?

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We will initially be renting for a while, probably about a year, in Penang.  We shall be bringing some furniture.  I'm struggling with the coordination of this since we don't know where we will be renting yet and, at this stage, don't know quite when.

I'm thinking that it's probably got to be move to a hotel for a few days, find rental place swiftly, get removals company to hang on to furniture for a week or so.  How does that sound?  Did you do it that way or another way?  Though will removal company/customs require a permanent address?

Any thoughts?

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Yes

As you are so close and cheap to fly you could start your search 3 months before over some long weekends

Sign up with a couple of Agents - visit a few places - then draw up a list of what you require based on what you have seen and then send the agents to do the work - Rent about 1 month before your move and you will have your address

any good?

Cheers

JJ

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Yes

As you are so close and cheap to fly you could start your search 3 months before over some long weekends

Sign up with a couple of Agents - visit a few places - then draw up a list of what you require based on what you have seen and then send the agents to do the work - Rent about 1 month before your move and you will have your address

any good?

Cheers

JJ

Yes that sounds spot on - thanks for your thoughts.  We've already looked at some condos (got 1 or 2 on the shortlist) but will have another look on the next trip.  Renting one month before sounds about right if we can do it.  I'm just hoping that Firefly keeps the Phuket-Penang route going.  The plane was quite empty in both directions last time.  But, on the other hand, we're very lucky that we're not that far away.  It's a bit different if you're in Europe or the Americas or Australasia - more tricky to organize.

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It's just an hour++ drive from Penang to the Malaysia-Thai border.