massaddict when you first move over, use airbnb for two months in condos, as its cheaper than Hotels, for the length of your extended visa you got from the Thai consulate here in Australia, once your long term visa is processed in Thailand, than use this site to find your longterm property www.thailand-property.com most rental contracts are for like 12 months, so that's why airbnb are better to use at first,
for a retirement visa you will need 800kbaht in a Thai bank, so use your first two months wisely