Chiang Mai′s rich history goes back hundreds of years. Because of its prime location and fertile land, the valley that extends from the base of Suthep Mountain to the Ping River was settled in early times by several different ethnic groups, including the hilltribe group know as the Lua tribe.

Later, King Mengrai unified the different towns and villages into what came to be known as the Lanna Kingdom. In 1296, he fortified the fertile valley area with a rectangular shaped brick wall measuring 1.6 Kilometers (1 mile) wide, and 2.0 kilometers (1.25 miles) long.

Parts of the wall are still intact today, and the area within it is often called the "old city". King Mengrai went on to expand his kingdom to both sides of the Ping River and beyond, naming it "Nop Buri Sri Nakorn Ping Chiang Mai". This city became the center of the Lanna Kingdom that later expanded and overed much of Northern Thailand.

After that there was sporadic warfare for several generations, and Chiang Mai fell several times to both the Burmese and to a powerful kingdom to the south that was centered around the Choa Phaya Basin. In the end, Chiang Mai was taken by Krung Thon Buri, the capital of Thailand during that time, and under the fifth Rama, became a part of Thailand. Since the time of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai has been a city for a total of 700 years

Today, Chiang Mai presents itself as a modern and prospering city. Although it has experienced a very fast development, it has preserved its nice identity. People in and around Chiang Mai have a special kind of composure, kindness and cheerfulness, which is outstanding even for Thailand.

Numerous modern roads and highways around Chiang Mai help to avoid traffic jams outside Chiang Mai and tourists can easily reach all the places of tourist interest. During the last years, Chiang Mai got more and more prepared to the benefit of tourists and foreign residents. Many shops are not only offering an enormous variety of products, but also offer many specialities from all over the world. So you do not even have to miss your beloved bread from home, or sausage, ham and many more dishes and things. Although Thai kitchen is known for its famous dishes, there are many very good restaurants with all kind of European food. So you will easily find your personal "favourite".

If you are sportive, you will definitely be able to enjoy your sport. Tennis, cricket, bodybuilding, swimming, ....., everything is possible in and around Chiang Mai. Especially golfers will find a golf-paradise. In and around the city you can reach ten golf-courses within 45 minutes by car. The golf-resorts are beautiful featured, many of them in a breathtaking landscape. They are perfectly cared and you will find all kinds of degrees of difficulty. All places have trained caddies, which will help you to play an easy round of golf. And – be sure - forget European green fees and memberships!

All this makes Chiang Mai a place, where more and more tourists decide to enjoy pleasant and eventful holidays. If you visit Chiang Mai more than once, you will feel like home after a short time. So, many "Farangs" - "long nose", as Thai people call foreigners - decide to live in Chiang Mai for good and find some nice place as their residence.

Once you find out, that you decided to do so, many questions have to be answered.

• Is it better to buy, to build or to rent?
• How to get an overview of the market, to make sure to find my property at a fair price
• How can you be sure about the quality of your new home?
• Who can make the supervision while the house is under construction?
• What standards are important and how to observe them?
• What has to be considered and observed with regard to the property?
• Are there any plannings for the surrounding area, which are of interest?
• What about the legal validity of contracts and how to obtain it?

This is only a short extract of the problems which have to be solved, if you think about building your own home in Chiang Mai.
Without professional help from a resident firm carrying all activities in this line in and around Chiang Mai, this is a hazardous undertaking. Only long term experience, multifarious connections and reliable partners can make sure, that your dream ends with moving into your new house instead of a never ending nightmare.

The best help you can obtain, is from the former customers of your business partner. So, ask for references, visit them and ask, if the whole project was settled to their satisfaction, if all contracts have been fulfilled without any problems. This, by the way, might help you to find new friends in Chiang Mai as well in an easy and pleasant way and you will learn more about the opportunities, Chiang Mai offers its residents.
Start to overview the offered properties, building plans, and your personal alterations.