Cali2005 has left 308 comments

Cali2005 comments on Medellin Rentals just added new Apartments, Houses and Fincas

hey guys we got 30 new medellin apartments for rent. check out the new listings at http://www.paradiserealtymedellin.com/rentals-list.asp

Cali2005 comments on A few items for sale

colombians resell higher than americans on used items....the used items market in colombia seems to hold prices higher...at least with cars, and computers. TV prices have gone down a bit, but you know it depends on the exact model. good luck

Cali2005 comments on A few items for sale

wait you got married haaaaaaaa, i just read the note. cool congratualtions!

Cali2005 comments on A few items for sale

hey mark you taking off to ireland? come back to medellin jeje

Cali2005 comments on Medellin Real Estate

I was went in with a developer to talk with the folks at the vivienda en interes social one day, and the people that can prove they have STABLE JOBS, and show they can budget money well, can qualify for 3 seperate subsidies for a low income house. 1 from the city, 1 from the state, and 1 from the national government. Then after this they can usually get a loan for the remaining 30% or so. The average home in the VIS projects run between 30 and 50 million pesos from what i remember. Subsidies are also being paid out to the middle class as well for new home purchases. The VIS subsidies are tied into the construction of the new VIS housing, so money never is paid out to the people directly, and its an interesting way to keep construction projects moving quickly. With 5 Million displaced people in Colombia the public subsidies are long over due, but are actually helping the economy quite a bit. Ill have to look at my notes and i can get you all some more info on the subsidies here in Medellin.

Cali2005 comments on Medellin Real Estate

WOW Maritime take some time to read the report. You will notice that Medellin along with the Colombian government is in an aggressive program to deliver 15,000 new homes, which they have pushed halfway through. The shift of buying has moved quite a bit to the lower and middle income classes. If it wasnt for government subsidies there is no doubt that the numbers would be lower. The Colombian Government has really good timing with these government subsidies. Of course your not going to see these subsidies as much in richer neighborhoods, but the big push to deliver 15,000 new homes in a 2 year period is definately helping the economy and people in Medellin that are less fortunate. Many new middle income homes have been built in Belen, while the VIS homes have been built up in the Robledo neighborhood. The largest housing developments in Medellin. There is no doubt that sales are lower this year in certain areas, but other nieghborhoods are booming, like Belin and Robledo. I would like to get some numbers on new housing starts, or building permits as whitewidow mentioned. These numbers come straight from the Lonja association in Medellin, which governs real estate business in Medellin. I just pass on information as i find it. Most people enjoy it because it takes time to find it and translate it. If we were in the states i wouldnt be doing this because all the information would already be posted. Cheers!

Cali2005 comments on "Tourism in Medellin grew 32 percent in the first six months of this year compared to 2008."

Tourism is up but get ready for a big suprise in January. The Colombian government passed a new law prohibiting renting out furnished apartments less than 30 days in buildings that are not zoned for commercial use. It think the hostels and the cheap hotels outside of poblado will get an influx of biz. This has been pushed through by the international hotel chains in several countries including panama as well. its not in the interest of colombia as a whole, it hurts owners, and families that want to travel. the new law goes into effect january 9th 2010. minimum contracts on apartment rentals need to be for 1 month and 1 day. Time to buddy up with friends if you want to get the best deals on vacations here now. Contact me for more info on how you can save on your future trips to medellin. cheers, james

Cali2005 comments on Is 1,500,000 CP enough to live decent life in Medellin?

if you dont give money to hookers and interesadas and you find a good girl then you are ahead of the average joe gringo in medellin. some just cant make the switch from vacation mode to living here as a normal person. i can spend just as much as i did in the states, and its easy too. you have to avoid parque lleras, dont get me wrong i head up there about 1 time a week but man it gets expensive going out in medellin too. depends on your rent, when i have a roomate im cutting my costs down, but i have a 3 bedroom apartment 1,300 sqr feet that runs me 1,600,000 per month plus utilities, internet, phone (300,000)in poblado. so thats 2 million and i havent touched food and other living expenses. i had a place for 900,000 with 3 bedrooms but it turned out there was a mold problem and it was making me extremely sick. couldnt see the mold, it was just in roof, walls etc. you can get older apartments cheaper in laureles or belen, but depends on what you really are looking for. studio and 1 bedrooms are much cheaper. suerte, james

Cali2005 comments on Accommodation in Medellin?

http://www.paradiserealtymedellin.com/rent.asp we have over 100 apartments in medellin to choose from. cheers, james

Cali2005 comments on Medellin - Furnished Room Rental in El Poblado

thanks for the polite comments. there are cheap places and then unfortunately Medellin has expensive apartments going up now. It would be nice if prices dropped in Medellin like in Miami after the economic downturn but so far the real estate seems to be holding fairly stable. I could live cheaper with my family in Wyoming but its hardly a metropolis, and frequently dips below negative 20 degrees farenheight. Cowboys tell me that it gets pretty lonely up there. Im thinking paisas are much better company than sheep. jeje I choose Medellin, unfortunately el poblado is pricey.

Cali2005 comments on Medellin - Furnished Room Rental in El Poblado

rent on the apartment runs 1,000 US dollars per month with utilities so its not a rip off. Its also a furnished room. This is a CHEAP ROOM. 22 bucks a night is CHEAP! SO FOR PEOPLE NOT FAMILIAR WITH RENT PRICES IN NEW APARTMENTS IN POBLADO THEN ITS ALOT. If your in an old apartment with grannies furniture sure you can get a better deal. Most apartments this size without furniture start at 2 million pesos per month. Depends on what your looking for. If you like sleeping in a new queen bed in BRAND NEW APARTMENT with no mold like some of these older places then your going to pay more. Then on the other hand if you want to stay in a moldy old apartment buidling with grannies furniture, old beds, then go right ahead its a free world. For the neighborhood the price is cheap. A brand new building in El poblado is not going to get any cheaper. Cheers. James

Cali2005 comments on El Retiro - Medellin Finca for Sale - Cheap - 123,000 US Dollars

its up from retiro

Cali2005 comments on El Retiro - Medellin Finca for Sale - Cheap - 123,000 US Dollars

Here is the Youtube video of the Finca for sale in El Retirio: This finca (El Retiro farm house) is located 15 minutes down the road from the center of El Retiro. As you can see on the video its listed at 260 Million but the owner will take 240 Million, and that is just 123,000 US dollars. He just wants to put money into a new restaurant he is opening up.

Cali2005 comments on El Retiro - Medellin Finca for Sale - Cheap - 123,000 US Dollars

HAS UTILITIES - CABLES UNDER GROUND: This property has electricity, and water in all 3 cabins. Owner selling because he is building a restaurant, and spends most time in the city.

Cali2005 comments on El Retiro - Medellin Finca for Sale - Cheap - 123,000 US Dollars

animals optional. This finca / farm house is located in El Retiro at a higher altitude than Medellin, so the fireplace comes in handy at night time or when its raining. :)

Cali2005 comments on Advice from EXPATs in Colombia

yeah depends on your girlfriend/wife and spending habbits. you can spend quickly just like in the USA but you can save alot here if your life style lets you. 5 girlfriends and you will be spending money like crazy. live a normal life and you can get by on very little and enjoy life well. health insurance is cheaper thats for sure

Cali2005 comments on The Medellin that CNN doesn't want you to see!

Great pictures. Thank you! Red brick is cheaper and its made in Colombia.The new skyscrapers are half brick under that modern finish. Of course the main supports are not brick but the rest of the walls are. Brick is cheap look at the popular neighborhoods.

Cali2005 comments on medellin on cnn international last night...

actually the going rate for hiring someone in the barrios is much cheaper. 150,000 pesos to 200,000 so thats 75 bucks to 100 bucks, but im sure thats for a normal joe. The big thing here that is a problem is that people think this is all over medellin. Its the poor neighboorhoods, and Poblado for example remains practically untouched. This is where people stay when they come and visit from other countries. Gang violence is just as deadly in the USA if your driving around the round wrong neighborhoods. In Medellin this violence is concentrated on those who run in the drug trade, or caught in the power struggle fighting to be the next luitenant, boss of the block, or taking out the competition in the neighborhood. I have several employees from these nieghborhoods, and although it is a bad problem they seem to brush it off and say its just guys that are in the gangs that get affected. Occasionally innocent people get caught in the crossfire, but just as in the USA street gangs do rob, and innocent bystanders get killed with bullets. Medellin is very large with many suburbs just like Miami, Oakland, LA, or NewYork here we have a neighborhood after neighborhood, and each poor section has its own street gangs. Hopefully when the economy picks up in a couple years things will turn around.

Cali2005 comments on Requirements for the civil marriage of a Colombianita with a foreign man (or vice versa, of course)

Lots of paperwork for me; fedex sure made alot. The papers didnt costs much but by the time you use overnight mail several times to send stuff to colombia you will be licking your wounds. I had to wait 5 days to get my marraige done after i had all the papers ready. then it took several days before the actual final marriage document (escritura) was ready , which i needed to take to MRE in Bogota. I think i went to the Notary 17. They kept insisting on a soltero certification from the states, but i had been living here for 4 years non stop and had been married here before so they let me slide on that with help of my attorney. The certificate of soltero is a bit stupid as its just a state wide check, and doesnt apply to the whole country. Just like the police record checks they run which Colombia requires. These are background checks that are run at the city level, so you could be wanted for murder in another city but it wont show anything 30 miles away, because your not wanted in the other city. lots of rules, paper work, laws, which really have a good intentions but really just make things more complicated and dont stop the real bad people.

Cali2005 comments on Big Help for Those Wanting to Change Visas

Yes i have to say Gator has been giving out good advice on visas and living in Colombia for the almost 4.5 years i have been a member of this board! Cheers for the Gator!

Cali2005 comments on RAAAY

Medellin is always an interesting place! Got married to adriana! yes thats right! hehe

Cali2005 comments on Colombian Rental Association | Asociación Colombiana de Vivienda Turistica | Signup Today

You PBH guys are cracking me up! Mostly Maritime 04. LORE, REGARDING TAXES, I have been paying 16% taxes on all my commisions, which is what you have to pay for real estate commisions. Many people are saying to me its about time they taxed you guys like the hotels. Actually the government is reclassifying my short term rentals as tourism income si i will be paying 12.5% taxes so THE TAXES ARE GOING DOWN. My taxes on short term rentals are going from 16% to 12.5%. Long term rentals will still be classified under the 16% commision tax for furnished rentals. The big changes are going to be the difficulties that apartments have to go through to get approved and registered as short term rentals. MARITIME 04 (you are pretty funny) Rating out people involves telling someone something they dont know. Unfortunately companies which are a part of ACOVITUR will have all the short term rentals registered. Not only that we are meeting with DAS and DIAN to insure all properties are up to par. Now for people that are not conducting business above the line, this is the time to get your papers in order. ACOVITUR will be holding meetings and discussing with members what the new law requires as far as ministry of tourism, DAS and DIAN, the local camera de comercio, and any other agencies that may get invovled by January 9th. But i love the positive comments from Maritime. This is the kind of stuff that makes posting on PBH so much fun! The people that are not apart of the organization will get picked on harder, as they will miss out on details and meetings with DAS, DIAN, etc which the organization will conduct prior to January to clear up any surpise fines, etc. Once again thank you fellow PBHers!

Cali2005 comments on www.calirentals.net

join up with the Colombian Rental Association http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/colombian-rental-association--asociacin-colombiana-de-vivienda-turistica--signup-today/ cheers, James Paradise Realty

Cali2005 comments on Furnished Apartments(Cali)

Please see my post so you can get the lead on someone looking for a property in Cali. Also if your involved in short term rentals in Colombia you should join up with our Colombia Rental Association just to be active regarding new rental laws which will go into effect in january. http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/colombian-rental-association--asociacin-colombiana-de-vivienda-turistica--signup-today/ cheers, James Paradise Realty

Cali2005 comments on New Law Muscled through by Hotels to kill Furnised Apartment Rentals

I just happened to bump into MES the other day in Lleras Park, and we agreed that PBH sparing is good clean fun. He is a hotel owner so i understand his conflict of interest. jeje Although ill have to read some Byron Kostner posts to see if i can figure out who he is. jeje

Cali2005 comments on FYI- Resident visa requirements are changing soon

So Gator, then do people with an entry stamp need to leave the country to get their first residential visa if its a business or workers visa? thanks

Cali2005 comments on New Law Muscled through by Hotels to kill Furnised Apartment Rentals

All us realtors are just going to have to open a couple hotels next door to Medellin Executive Suites so you have some good competition. We dont want you to get all of our old clients! I mean you do have a nice empty lot next to your hotel! On a serious note realtors, property owners, and tourism agencies should sign up with ACOVITUR, Asociación Colombiana de Vivienda Turistica. They are the local association which represents interest of professionals involved in renting properties short term, under 30 days. For more information please see our sign up page: http://www.paradiserealtymedellin.com/medellinvacationrentals.asp Cheers, James

Cali2005 comments on

hey MES, i wont hold your comments against you because you have a conflict in interest with your hotel. you will probably get more business when they crack down on short term rentals. ill just have to open up a hotel like you! hehe cheers, james

Cali2005 comments on "Ley seca" in Medellín this weekend. No alcohol for Saturday night and Sunday

yeah ley seca, dont worry theres as much coke and hard drugs as any one could ever want. just no soft stuff like beer. ironic, well they want everyone to have a clear head so they go out and vote. or they want the people to get up early ....

Cali2005 comments on New Law Muscled through by Hotels to kill Furnised Apartment Rentals

UPDATE ON HOW THE TAXES WORK: PARADISE REALTY WILL BE PAYING LESS TAXES... By the way mariime we dont do illegal business, but thanks for the comment. I find it very intertaining. We pay taxes, and quite a bit, actually I WILL BE PAYING LESS TAXES under a tourism license, it comes out to 12.5% where we currently pay 16% as for real estate commisions. What will change the way businesses is done and of course greedy public officials and administrators will use this to muscle bribes out of everyone from apartment owners, to administrators. Thats the way its done in Colombia. NEW LAWS IN COLOMBIA FATTEN THE POCKETS OF THE POLITICIANS, GOV OFFICIALS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. Like an earlier post said short term rentals will move from licensed companies into the black market. You wont see small licensed companies taking part in short term rentals. SORRY TO LET YOU GUYS DOWN THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE SMALL UNLICENSED OPERATORS WITH THIS LAW. I PREDICT MORE UNLICENSED STREET OPERATORS HUSTLING THIS BUSINESS THAN EVER BEFORE. BACKFIRE ON THAT THOUGHT...HUSTLERS ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE DAILY APARTMENT RENTAL BUSINESS IN JANUARY. Small businesses are not going to touch daily rentals in residential buildings. Here comes more anonymos RIF RAF, MORE crazy parties, when its black market anything goes. Nice ideas though....

Cali2005 comments on gyms in Medellin

Until the end of september there is a 2 for 1 deal for the month at the Gimnasio Santillana http://www.gimnasiosantillana.com/ 160,000 for a month, take your girlfriend, well if your wanting to kiss butt for a month

Cali2005 comments on gyms in Medellin

ON A YEARLY PLAN PAYING EVERYTHING UP FRONT FOR IS 1,340,000 PESOS ...ROUGHLY 670 US WHEN THE DOLLAR WAS AT 2,000, so now we are talking over 700.. this is for the 2 premium sites in medellin LAS VEGAS AND VIZCAYA ouch! IF YOU DO A PLAN then its 249,000 sign up fee and 130,000 each month....ughh again. it has country club prices for the elite of medellin

Cali2005 comments on South American Games 2010 - Medellin, Colombia

Just like the flower festival parades, especially the silleteros parade, man i have never run into so many pick pockets. i was standing about 15 feet from a cop and in 1/2 hour 5 different people came up complaining about their pockets getting pick pocketed. The most complained about theives were the pregnant lady and her male companion. She used her pregnant belly as a tool to distract people. she bumped you with the belly and using that as a distraction they emptied the pockets of many people. In 2006 i caught 5 people sticking their hands in my backpack that was hanging off the front of me. Its not worth it. ANYONE GOT A DATE ON THE GAMES?

Cali2005 comments on Preview of the 2009 Christmas lights

I HAVE TO SAY I SAW THIS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AS THEY WERE TESTING AND IT LOOKED PRETTY COOL BECAUSE THEY ARE USING WATER WITH THE LIGHTS, AND THEY HAVE THESE BIG PLASTIC PLASTIC DRAINS CATCHING THE WATER AND RECYCLING IT.. LOOKED COOL.... The lights are fun just dont take anything valuable.

Cali2005 comments on Is Colombia Being Affected by Global Warming?

WHO CARES ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING! BOTTOM LINE WE NEED TO STOP POLLUTING THE HELL OUT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT. THINK ABOUT THAT! the way the icecaps are melting, and the pollution i have witnessed in some undeveloped countries, its just common sense that the environment is getting fucked up, and we are paying the price. why argue about global warming. i see people getting sick more in contaminated cities, i feel my eyes, and i have witnessed people get dizzy and nausuos sick to their stomachs in colombian cities. the goverments need to change the laws, rivers are raw sewage and chemical baths. mortality rates from dirty air is sky rocketing in colombia. thats enough for me.

Cali2005 comments on Gyms in Poblado

you can also ask body tech and other gyms for off peak hour deals....after 10am and before 4pm you can get a big savings. up until the beginning of september i felt like i was in miami there were so many gringos in parque lleras. actually more gringos here than in some parts of miami! hehe

Cali2005 comments on New Law Muscled through by Hotels to kill Furnised Apartment Rentals

Apartment administrators already have the power to kick out short term rentals causing a ruckus. Nothing is changing as far as giving the adminstrators more power. They will have the same power they have now.The department of tourism will have more power, the building adminstrators will have to deal with unruley tenants the same way they always have.

Cali2005 comments on US chains in Medellin

Hooters has strikenly similar rules to strip joints in florida. Look but dont touch. Girls Not allowed to give out phone numbers, although you can give them yours. They still have those stupid orange shorts that went out of style in the early 90s. Well i guess hooters is a family restuarant! right !! Those shorts are wacked. Move in to the next century. Sorry this is supposed to be fashion capital so those out of style shorts need to take a hike. WITH AMERICAN FAST FOOD CHAINS COMES HIGH COLESTEROL AND LARGER PORTIONS AND HIGHER RATES OF CORONARY DISEASE. im not saying that empanadas dont have enough fat in them. ejejejeje

Cali2005 comments on FYI- Resident visa requirements are changing soon

OK thanks for clearing that up!

Cali2005 comments on Health Insurance in Colombia/Medellin - Suramericana vs. Coomeva

suramericana has newer clinic. im 41 and i pay 140,000 pesos aprx. general doctors hours are up until 8pm in the week, and ER copay is about 15 to 20 mil pesos so you can just go any time you need it. after 41 the prices do shoot up pretty quick. the difference in the policies are the one where you get 10-12 visits free to the doctors, and the other you have a higher copay. The copay with suramerica is about 40,000 pesos after the 10-12 first visits. suerte!

Cali2005 comments on Beatiful Furnished Apartment 1513 - El Poblado, Medellin

no marraige agency just apartments http://www.ParadiseRealtyMedellin.com we dont charge by person, just apartment capacity. ie 3 bedrooms, 6 people (no extra charges) also when you visit you might want to download our free medellin clubs guide. Thats medellin discotecas on the following link: http://www.medellinapartments.info/tours/discotecas/Medellin Night Clubs.doc cheers

Cali2005 comments on Medellin Apartments

I can personally vouch for my apartments as well! ☺ http://www.medellinapartments.info/medellin-apartments.html If your looking for economic medellin apartments, or medellin fincas drop us a line. Renting Medellin Fincas or Country houses is a great way to throw special event parties for your colombian families. http://www.paradiserealtymedellin.com/Medellin-fincas-farms.asp BBQ FOR THE FAMILY AND INVITE 25 PEOPLE FOR A GREAT PARTY. Cheers

Cali2005 comments on Big Help for Those Wanting to Change Visas

Tipical government response. There are similarities with the USA in this respect :)

Cali2005 comments on FYI- Resident visa requirements are changing soon

Does a tourist visa fall into the category of temporary visa? Will people be allowed to apply for business visas in Colombia now? Thats a big change if so.

Cali2005 comments on RAAAY

ray when you coming back? hows the bike doing?

Cali2005 comments on New Law Muscled through by Hotels to kill Furnised Apartment Rentals

If you read the laws on tourism reform you will see that In the same ammedments to tourism laws they are pumping millions into promoting tourism, and creating special programs, then in another part they are cutting tourism off at the knees....go figure. always a pleasure posting on PBH. please spread the word to your friends that own apartments, and are involved with tourism in Colombia. Gracias, James

Cali2005 comments on Big Help for Those Wanting to Change Visas

I was trying to help a couple friends with the companero permanente visa but because of the new law it appears that this process is more complicated. They wont go for a companero certificate from the notary, apperently now a visa guy in bogota is telling me that people have to do the common law marriage, which requires the certificate that your not married or soltero, and the birth certificate. Probably due to this new law being passed we were unable to get through on the phones for a week. A couple months ago we could get through to the Ministerior of Exteriores (MRE) just fine. Im hoping that the lines will start working again, and that the law changes were causing the phone problems. Its hard to get answers from Bogota if you dont live there. Cheers

Cali2005 comments on New Law Muscled through by Hotels to kill Furnised Apartment Rentals

Well for those of you who might be apartment owners or involved in tourism i have scanned and uploaded a copy of the new law as distributed by the Colombian Ministerio de Comercio. Download New Law Here: http://www.paradiserealtymedellin.com/2009-07-09-Ley-300-y-1101-Apartamentos-Amoblados.pdf The law is a bit vague and it leaves alot open to interpretation or in the hands of the MInisterio of Turismo who will regulate most of the companies involved with this business. Don't forget DAS rules regarding hotels guest registration will also apply to the short term rentals. That means everyone checking in and out of apartments must have their ID and name submitted to DAS daily. LETS NOT FORGET THAT MOST OF THE BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN FURNISHED APARTMENTS ARE NOT OWNED BY GRINGOS. Most bussinesses involved with short term rentals are colombians. Gringos actually manage a small percentage of these properties Cheers!

Cali2005 comments on Recommended clubs/discos in Medellin?

i put together a somewhat useful medellin night club, medellin clubs, discos, or what ever you want to call them guilde. check it out, its in word format: http://www.medellinapartments.info/tours/discotecas/Medellin%20Night%20Clubs.doc Please let me know if you want to add anything and ill put it in there. Alot of guys like to hit las palmas thursday night, and then the barrio colombia next to el poblado is pretty cool. enjoy! cheers

Cali2005 comments on New Law Muscled through by Hotels to kill Furnised Apartment Rentals

More than 30 days, or specifically 31 days or more no license is necissary. No big deal there except you loose out on 50% of your investment as an owner. One thing that has been proposed is that when you have several renters that they rent under 1 company name. Im sure that people will have more creative solutions, but its better if we can just submit modifications to the law by November 5,2009. Thats what we are working on now. :)