Housing Projects

My experience living in Udon Thani housing projects (x2) is that residents end up buying water from a roving truck because demand always seemed to exceed supply. And the water invariably goes out just after you've soaped-up in the shower.

I'll sacrifice the (imagined) security of neighbors for the serenity of living without them any day.

In one year never saw a water truck in our project. Plenty of water in Srichumchen Road when heavy rains, about 40cm deep, though our project streets do not flood.

We did suffer a shock at 04h30 this morning as I sipped my first coffee. A stampede of five white cows quickly clopping past my house, turned left, dead end so u-turn, then another dead end, back past my house and out the gates, with our diligent secuirty guard giving chase on a bicycle. Comforting to know he is on the job protecting us.

Just visited the Isaan in November and a week in December and decided to not purchase anything in any of the "projects". Far too confined and cluttered for us. We looked a bit in Udon Thani, though not in any of those projects listed here. Did look close to Ban Non Sung, South of Udon on Khon Kaen highway, and in Sawang Daen Din to the East in Sakhon Nakhon province.

We decided to remodel the house we have. Wife cannot navigate stairs very well anymore due to illness, so we are enclosing the downstairs of the traditional, stilted Isaan house. All told, materials have thus far run us about 65,000-baht. Work will be completed by family that has two brick-layers/masons, two carpenters, and numerous laborers. We hope to see a viable abode upon our return. I must say, prices have increased in the past few years.....red-brick, with design, 4-baht each, purchased 3,500 of them. Window-frames, pre-made, ran 700-baht each, purchased five of them. Shutters with glass-panes ran 800-baht each, purchased ten of them. Pre-made door-frame was 1,000-baht and ornately carved door was 2,500-baht. Ceramic-tile for the floor in 15" size ran 160-baht per box of six, purchased 40 boxes. Hope not too many other hidden expenses appear. Does this sound within reason for costs?????

Oh, by the way, we are located in Ban Noi Nongbua, South of Sawang Daen Din off the road to Song Dao.

luangtom wrote:Does this sound within reason for costs?????

Oh, by the way, we are located in Ban Noi Nongbua, South of Sawang Daen Din off the road to Song Dao.

Hey, Neighbor! You are literally down the road from our village house. I also remodeled our house with family labor a few years back and those are honest prices. I recall 4 baht for cinder blocks, not sure about red brick prices. There is a cinder block maker not far down the road going to Song Dao from Sawang on the right.

Glad to hear that these seem to be fair prices. It has been a few years since our last visit, as the wife is now able to travel again.
Just where is your home located? Wife's family has some members living in Ban Puay, right on the road to Song Dao. The rest live in Ban Noi Nongbua by us. Actually, it is right on the outskirts, on the family-farm. Parents have since passed on and split the property amongst the kids. We built on a part of my wife's piece. City-water comes out to the farm, but we drove a well for more.
We will return in a year. Wife has more tests and meds to adjust before we return to stay longer. Her disease is an Asian one...moyamoya disease. It is a shrinking of the cranial-arteries. It causes strokes and has risk of a rupture and a bleed-out. She was given a craniotomy with a bypass, just like they do for the heart. She was off her feet for three months and now is able to walk again. So, she wants to spend as much time with family and "on the farm" as possible.
Thanks for the response. Happy to hear from you.

I never really thought to remember the exact address or village name for that matter, but I think I know it when I hear it (lol). The wife keeps track of address info for me - I can get to wherever I need to go easily enough, though. We never really stayed there much after marriage and the not-exactly-completed renovation (Mae passed before completion and Pa moved his girlfriend in before the pyre cinders had a chance to cool ), but we visit @2-3 times a year for a few days each time. Since we will be building nearer Udon in 2010 (as soon as I can find a good builder to start/finish it in 2010), we may visit more frequently in the future. If Pa ever drinks himself to death, I'll finish the renovations and the village house will go to little brother and his darling wife as a gift - if he still wants it - then we'll visit frequently.

I'll PM the info to you soon. Cheers!

Thanks and do let us know who you contract in Udon Thani for construction. Have a good one.

NEW PROJECT NEXT TO BB RESORT
Hot news, ten rai next to BB resort in Nongsamrong will have a new housing project said to be comprised of 30 units that cost around 4 MB each. A nice area not too far from Nong Prajak Park going into town. Anyone looking in this budget should consider. No other information yet however.

rct wrote:NEW PROJECT NEXT TO BB RESORT
Hot news, ten rai next to BB resort in Nongsamrong will have a new housing project said to be comprised of 30 units that cost around 4 MB each. A nice area not too far from Nong Prajak Park going into town. Anyone looking in this budget should consider. No other information yet however.

Is there any more info available about this project now?

The last I heard it was stalled due to financial challenges of the developer! Ask at BB Resort if truly interested.

SIRIN RESIDENCE, ON 40+ RAI INSIDE RING ROAD
Sirin Residence located just inside the ring road from junction near Global House going towawrd Don Bosco school and Adulyadet Road, on more than 40 rai, houses from 3-6 MB, I only looked at the largest house plan Type A having about 288 m2 useable area, on say 93 wah for 5.4 MB, more or less depends on size of land plot. Lots of little red dots on the master plan show they have plenty of bookings already. This is seriously under way with the road works going full steam.

LE CELLINI UPDATE
10 of 12 original big houses now sold, 11th sale on the verge, so that leaves just one Type A unit available, proving there is a market for this level. First five smaller type B units underway with concrete work nearly done on one. The entire project only 26 plots.

No idea of sales progress at other new developments, though seem to be a few to choose from for budgets say 2-5 MB.

Lovedablues house nearly done, very attractive, would like to see his update on the experience, result, and keeping within budget etc.

rct - house is finished......finally!

Came out nice. Very pleased with the results. The 'lucky day' to move in (it's a Thai thing) is June 15.

Never really had a strict budget; just did some rough figures in the beginning and came out a little shy of 5M baht. The finished price is 5.125M baht. The wife wants stainless steel security bars in the near future; don't have an estimate on that yet.

The worst experience we had was with Home Mart. They screwed me and then later screwed my builder. That cost me 28,000 baht. No one in my family allowed to step foot in their store ever again. Had great experiences with both Global and Home Pro. I'm sure my builder won't deal with them again; and he builds a lot of houses......their loss.

Glad to see things going well at Le Cellini. The smaller developments (# of homes) seem to stay nicer over time.

LDB

LoveDaBlues when you get those SS security grates please post some pictures and prices.

They do seem to be a lot nicer than painted iron.

Am curious for updates on Sittarom and ParkView projects, any news? Are sales progressing? Happy buyers? Any other projects?

Le Cellini sold 11 of 12 type A, leaving only the 2nd fully furnished showhouse on the market asking 15 MB. Phase two model, type B, getting windows installed and interior work underway, and building additional modified type B with higher ceilings which gives even more space and value to the 8.4 MB house. Still the corner units are best, I bet once the model done and buyers "can see what they get" then these corners will go fast.