Possible to buy a house/apartment/flat in Ho Chi Minh ?

I don't think 20K (US?) will get you a house and land anywhere in HCMC except maybe way out in the 5 suburban districts which are technically part of the city but are really countryside.  I do know that the one bedroom apartment that we lived in sold for 17K, close to the A1 highway that rings the city a year ago.

There are plenty of websites that your wife can find on Google.vn.  My guess is that if a home is advertised in English that it is overpriced so better to let her do the searching.

This may give you an idea, under 500 trieu

http://batdongsan.com.vn/nha-dat-ban-tp-hcm/-1/1/-1/-1

colinoscapee wrote:

This may give you an idea, under 500 trieu

http://batdongsan.com.vn/nha-dat-ban-tp-hcm/-1/1/-1/-1

Hi,

This is really useful, i forward this link to my wife check and see. Thanks alot for information.

Cheers !!!

Marcus

Great link.  This search link almost precisely lines up with my assumptions.  All except one on the first page were in the Huyen districts and most were lots only.  They would be an awfully long commute to a job in town.  The Thu Duc Apartment looks to be nicely situated for either the airport or a downtown job with good access to both the improved Pham Van Dong and QL52 Hanoi Highway which can lead to either Binh Thanh or Q1 through the tunnel.

MarkusKS:  If you are in Malaysia, be sure to search for Vietnamese Google (google.vn) first before doing the actual search.

Why do so many object to a commute? When I'm in Saigon I travel everyday from Phuong Phuoc Long B, Quan 9 to Phuong 17, Phu Nhuan.  That's at least a 30 minute commute.

It's not like driving through a war zone. I just don't get it.

Moderators: No PII has been disclosed in this message.

As opposed to some 30km from Huyen Cu Chi to your destination and even farther to Q1.  That Q1 commute looks like over an hour at best and way more in "rush hour."  As you have presented your situation elsewhere, it seems likely that you are not traveling in peak traffic.  Living out there in Cu Chi or Hoc Mon looks like a retirement option.  I know that's how those lots are marketed to Saigon residents as I have been to some sales presentations.

I admit traffic is slow in Saigon compaired to cities much larger. It's a price you pay.  Look at people that live in Connecticut and work in Manhattan. It all depends on what you're willing to exchange.

I've driven 40 miles one way just to buy a hamburger.

Moderators: No PII has been disclosed in this message.

Don't believe in those agents' advt until you get all information including exact final price! They place advt of house in HCMC but actual location may be in end of Hoc Mon or Long An Also make sure it's not a shared pink book which you face hassles in future when you want to sell.

GaryFunk wrote:

Why do so many object to a commute? When I'm in Saigon I travel everyday from Phuong Phuoc Long B, Quan 9 to Phuong 17, Phu Nhuan.  That's at least a 30 minute commute.

It's not like driving through a war zone. I just don't get it.

Moderators: No PII has been disclosed in this message.

For a short time it may be fun and exciting, but I can assure you, doing it day in,day out for years will certainly change your thinking. One of the reasons I don't live in Saigon anymore was the traffic, 5 years of it was enough for me.

The only time I've ever lived with no traffic was growing up in Oklahoma. Now I'm a big city boy.  It's become part of my life and I've learned to live with it.

It's the Army moto, "Hurry up and wait!"

Moderators: No PII has been disclosed in this message.

Used to travel 15~20km one way trip to work which take about 30~45 minutes by motorcycle for the last 5 years or so. Yet, still feeling OK. Afterall, we are quests in Vietnam. Therefore, we shall adapt to the big environment and their culture. If you can't beat them, join them:)

I don't think that as expats we have to just be polite and suffer the traffic.  Every Vietnamese person I knew that worked downtown would complain about the traffic.  Of course there is little we can do about it except maybe timing strategies but it's human nature to feel better if we can complain to someone.

I'd like to know where I can buy a house for $20K. I'll take 5 as long as these houses are in decent shape.

District 1>District 5>District 6>District Binh Tan>District Binh Chanh>Long An country side (from east to west).
Property price for the similar units in term of size and standard will drop 10%~15% when crossing from 1 district to another district from east to west.

The cheapest low cost apartment so far I've came across which is located in Binh Chanh District which is 35km away from district 1 will already cost 380 millions VND (about 17K USD) for 46m2 2 bedrooms apartment with 49 years lease only (Vietnamese). My current purchase property at Binh Tan/District 6 for 64m2 2 bedrooms apartment is 1.25 billion VND with 99 years lease. New 40m2 single bedroom apartment next block of mine will cost 850 millions VND.

Do a bit of research before you stake your money on flats/apartments in HCM

Ho Chi Minh City reveals mortgaged housing projects

(quote)
It is recommended that buyers undertake careful research before placing their trust and money in housing projects, Lien said.
(unquote)

TUOI TRE NEWS, July 26, 2016;

senwl wrote:

Do a bit of research before you stake your money on flats/apartments in HCM

Ho Chi Minh City reveals mortgaged housing projects

"It is recommended that buyers undertake careful research before placing their trust and money in housing projects, Lien said."

TUOI TRE NEWS, July 26, 2016;

That's a poorly written article. Basically it's stating to you need to make sure there is a clean title to the property before you purchase. Coming from the US, and having owed several properties, that's just common sense.

Moderators: No sensitive PII has been disclosed in this message.

GaryFunk wrote:

senwl wrote:

Do a bit of research before you stake your money on flats/apartments in HCM

Ho Chi Minh City reveals mortgaged housing projects

"It is recommended that buyers undertake careful research before placing their trust and money in housing projects, Lien said."

TUOI TRE NEWS, July 26, 2016;

That's a poorly written article. Basically it's stating to you need to make sure there is a clean title to the property before you purchase. Coming from the US, and having owed several properties, that's just common sense.

Moderators: No sensitive PII has been disclosed in this message.

Unfortunately here in VN the system doesn't work like the USA or many other countries, its supposed to but doesn't. My ex-gf who does property loans for a large bank, told me of so many cases where government officals had been paid to create duplicate documents,so the owner can sell it to several buyers. Common sense doesn't come into play there,as the Lands Department is one of the most complained about government departments. Have money, can cheat.

Yes its possible
Check  muaban.net 
Search in districts  9 

Good luck

With this budget, I think you should buy house along the metro line to save your travel time in between downtown and your house for instance along national highway 22 to Cu Chi but it has rather slow development, otherwise along way to Suoi Tien which is much faster development.

It's possible to buy a house within that price range depending on what you're actually looking for (size, number of floors, off main roads or hidden in an alley,....)

Another thing to keep in mind is if you have to get a loan to pay the house off, as banks ask that you have at least 30% of what you are asking for (at least the banks I've talked to)