Land Office - Mae Sai 04/05/2010

I could not get to sleep until early morning around 2:00 AM. I keep thinking about the shop house.

Daeng's telephone rang at 7:00 AM and woke us. It was Wirat saying he would like to meet at the District Land Office at 8:00 AM before they got really busy. He said he would do the transfer of title to Daeng and they we could go to the bank and give him the money.

We met them both at 8:00 AM with copies of Daeng's National Identification Card and my Passport. Everyone seem to know him and things went pretty smooth. He showed us a copy of the land title and it was the best type of title you can get in Thailand.

The government official questioned me to be sure I know that the title was going into Daeng's name as only Thai people and Thai Corporations can own land here. I said that I understood that. What we will do is record a 20 or 30 year lease to me after the land is transferred.

All the papers were put into a file and Wirat said he had to go over to the bank and he would be right back. We waited for him. He was back in about 15 minute and said that he thought he could clear the 200,000 THB mortgage with Bangkok Bank at this office but the papers had to go to Chaing Mai and be returned. That would take about four days.

He said that he would give us the keys to the place and a contract today. He said to do that he would like a deposit. We told him we could do that but we would have to go to the bank. I ask him how much and he said he would like to have 100,000 THB ($3,125 USD).

Daeng and I went up to the Bangkok Bank branch, withdrew the money and drove to their home. He had a contract all ready; stating the price, the amount of deposit and as Daeng had asked, the due date at the end of the month. We have a fix account coming due on the 20th so we won't lose and interest.

He went through the dozen or more "House Books" that he had in his file and showed us the book for this shop house. A "House Book" is every Thai girls dream. Daeng lite up like a Christmas Tree.

He gave us the keys and said: "It's your home, congratulations!" Things happen fast here.

Just about that time our friends, Peter and Nok, called telling us that they wanted to see our new home. We met them and went to see it. I got the keys to work opening all the security gates and that felt good.

They liked the place and felt we got a good price. They own several pieces of land here in Thailand.

We went over to Tesco/lotus and had lunch, talked and picked up some cleaning supplies. It was almost 5:00 PM and I was beat probably because I did not get much sleep last night. We went home and called it a day.

The shop house is pretty clean but tomorrow we'll start getting it ready for Daeng and I to move in, camping out as things come together. Maybe we'll check out of the guest house and sleep on a floor mat, in the new house, this Friday.

Camping out is fun!

Was this a typical day, I think not!