Flood plains and pitfalls

[charlesh]

Hello, I am looking at moving to the Hua Hin/Pranburi/Cha-am area in July from Oz and noted that some house sale guff on the web refers to flood plains. Barring a Tsunami where are they? Also any helpful tips on quiet areas, bereft of thieves and the like would be useful as would any general comment on who to go for legal assistance and good agents (hope that is not an oxy moron) for real estate. Any developments I should stay away from? Any builders you would not use again?
from the land down under

[Big Boy]

charlesh,

Welcome to the forum.

To get you started, use the search facility at the top of the page and do a search on Soi 102 - that will give a bit about flooding in Hua Hin. From memory, the discussion goes beyond that soi.

I'm sure the other members will give you plenty of advice. I'll send you a PM with a bit more advice.

[davo666]

Charlesh,
Depending on what sort of housing you are looking for.... a good friend of mine (also sometime Aussie) runs a real estate business in HH, but focused on the higher end of the market. Golf-side, waterside resorts, etc. I'm not sure if I will get chastised of mentioning the name of a non-sponsor of HHAD but go and see Peter or Duangjai at "EDIT:a newer looking agent, with a german name, decked out in white and a splash of red. Just north of the night market road, on the beach side of the main drag" and tell them Glenn sent you.

Best of luck !

EDIT: Oops.. just read the pinned anouncement. must not mention others by name.

[johnnyk]

My advice would be to pay a visit first and look around, talk to people etc.
Or move in July and rent for a while.
Chok dee

[Terry]

Charlesh

I would agree with the 'rent and look around' approach. July is also not a bad time to see the effects of flash flooding etc.

Hua Hin sufferes from the usual Thai problem of poor drainage, although it has improved somewhat down town over the last few years. Do not underestimate the power of floodwater run off. It is capable of demolishing skimpy built walls and poorly designed drainage systems.

Instead of Government investing in good drainage infrastructure, it is left to the individual land owner or developer to sort their own problems out.

Usually this means that when some land is a aquired, the level is artificially raised by tons of soil, thus passing the problem on to the next door neighbour and also leaving dozens of holes in the countryside left from legal and illegal excavation. It is a National problem that nobody seems to be dealing with.

There are many good developments in and around Hua Hin where these factors have been considered well - unfortunately there are a few that are not so clearly thought out.

Look long and hard before deciding where to locate and good luck in your searches.

[Nereus]

Hello, I am looking at moving to the Hua Hin/Pranburi/Cha-am area in July from Oz and noted that some house sale guff on the web refers to flood plains. Barring a Tsunami where are they? Also any helpful tips on quiet areas, bereft of thieves and the like would be useful as would any general comment on who to go for legal assistance and good agents (hope that is not an oxy moron) for real estate. Any developments I should stay away from? Any builders you would not use again?
from the land down under

You also have to have a budget in mind. There is a vast array of price ranges, and you do not always get what you pay for. Also consider the ongoing running costs of any property, it can get out of hand if you are on a retirement income. I am also from OZ, send me a pm if you would like some more info.