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Expat Matters: Long-term Locations

When deciding to pack up and embark on a new life and career in Bangkok, there are certainly things that you leave behind, and I'm not just talking about memories, family members and stray socks. For many expats in Thailand and indeed around the world, there is something of a double life lived with ties linking you to your home country as well as your new country of residence or employment.

In practical terms, these links can be more than family commitments and nostalgia, but concrete investments such as property. When moving abroad, is it best to sell or keep a hold of your assets in your home country?

Depending on the duration of the move, it's probably best to not cut all your links with your home country. What the future holds is never certain, and it's always convenient to have something to return to that isn't just New York hotels, a short-term rental property, hotels in San Francisco or crashing on a family member's couch while you get your affairs in order.

A key question to ask is whether or not you see yourself remaining in Bangkok for the long-term, and if so, when or in which circumstances would you see yourself returning to your home country? With the property market in Bangkok centred on rentals, the assets you have in the United States, the United Kingdom or Europe might just work out as a stable alternative, a "back-up plan", if you prefer to see it this way!

The expat life in Thailand is certainly a fascinating way of living, regardless of whether you've opted to integrate more into Thai culture or live amongst other expats. For business or pleasure, short-term stays or retirement, Thailand and its vibrant capital Bangkok certainly offers an attractive lifestyle for all ages and professional backgrounds. Whether you want to live with a split focus between countries or concentrate on establishing the one life in Thailand is certainly up to the individual.