PBH / Colombia / Forums (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

Estate Agents and others, I am seeking a property in La Estrella, just outside Medellin

First of all, can any replies from estate agents regarding this matter PM me. I do not think it would be fair to litter this site with your adverts and links. Also, if you do not have anything specific on your books, please do not respond as I hate wasting time!
OK, I am looking for a HOUSE in a closed unit in La Estrella. The complex should either be under construction or, if the property is second hand, less than 2 years old and in prestine condition. The complex should be reasonably close to the "town centre" and transport links and have decent views of the countryside and without a project to be started in the vicinity in the forseeable future or ever hopefully!. Estrato 4 upwards. Details of service charges, valor catastral and impuesto predial are required and any facilities that the complex includes should be provided. If there is a children's area or swimming pool, the property should be as far away from those as possible.
In terms of the house-emphasis on house-I doubt very much whether an area of less than about 150 square meters would be of interest. A garage would be useful but not if the house sacrifices too much space as a result of having it. I am looking for good sized rooms rather than a lot of internal "little" boxes as there are only 2 of us. We will need at least 2 spare bedrooms which will be used as offices in addition to the main bedroom. Lounge area needs to be reasonably large, minimum 4 meters by 6. Decent facilities, with 3 banos (1 social downstairs) and a luxury kitchen or I will not feel like doing my share of the cooking. An open-plan feel is appropriate with loads of light. A back garden is essential and not one that is enclosed by walls 3 or more meters high; we saw one of those yesterday and it felt very claustrophobic. Good security essential. Any questions, please PM me. I am going to try to write this in Spanish later on but please do not rely on it appearing this week as translating this will be a nightmare!
By the way, as a guide, we are looking to spend about 300 million COP or perhaps a little more but it all depends on the sale of a property in the Laureles area of Medellin.

By kenblanquito on Mar 4, 2009, 09:56 in Friendly Talkzone.

kenblanquito says on Mar 4, 2009, 10:00:

PS We may even consider an exchange or part-exchange for anybody out there who would prefer to move closer to the centre of Medellin but not too close!

1 funny, 0 helpful.

whitewidow says on Mar 4, 2009, 13:56:

good luck on the luxury kitchen and the open plan. i think estrella is strata 4 and they have been building some closed projects out there. not sure about the above 300 mm price range though. i think you are a little on the high side with that price for estrella.

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Mar 4, 2009, 14:07:

whitewidow
You will be surprised what is going on there now. Wifey and I saw 3 new developments yesterday. For new properties in closed complexes and with a decent environment and view, lucky to get a meter squared of building for less than 2 million COP. Quite a shock because I understand that it was really cheap not so long ago. They are saying that perhaps people are getting sick of the noise and pollution of Medellin now and are looking to move out to somewhere with a more natural environment. And they had luxury kitchens and open plan modern feels to them, with small gardens too!
Cheers

0 funny, 0 helpful.

whitewidow says on Mar 4, 2009, 14:11:

hmmmmm. interesting. i guess it is some overflow from sabaneta. i remember alot of industrial and warehouse space going up back when. i believe the "suramerica" development was the big deal a few years back. good for estrella!

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

roquero says on Mar 4, 2009, 20:04:

my partner lives in La Estrella and says there are 2 stratas there. Also mentioned a lot of new developments going on there. And I think there are plans to extend the Metro that way.
One of my favorite spots in La Estrella is Parque Los Grillos.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Mar 4, 2009, 20:16:

Thanks for that roquero. The possible extension of the metro would have an enormous impact on the area agreed!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

whitewidow says on Mar 4, 2009, 23:56:

metro will extend through to sabaneta. i have heard nada about estrella, but that seems like the next logical phase.

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Mar 5, 2009, 06:32:

Yes, when we first decided to settle in the Medellin area 4 years ago, we looked at buying in Sabaneta. My wife put me off by telling me that there was no Metro service and the Mayor at the time objected to its installation. She thought that the lack of the Metro would mean that a non-Spanish speaker, who loves to roam the streets and explore, would not be able to get around to his liking and there was no way that I would have considered using a bus without being able to converse properly: I hate getting lost and my internal "compass" does not even work too well in my own country, never mind here!!
Now that we know that local government policy over many things can change like the wind, or more correctly with a different Mayor, I feel quite confident that La Estrella will be blessed with a Metro facility or at least a cable link to the Metro one day.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Mar 5, 2009, 09:03:

So far, I have heard by PM a total of 2 agents. No properties available which fit the description or a language barrier or lack of motivation? Come on you lot out there, I know more than 2 read this site and it is a serious inquiry! And I know that some of you can speak English, or at least write it well enough for me to understand the content. OK, before I get slagged off here, yes I know it is PBH Colombia and I also know that I need to try to write something in Spanglish! That will provide a good laugh for many I am sure but at least most of you do not really know who I am, so I will not feel too embarrassed!
Not looking forward to the amount of time that I will require to do it though!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

durito2 says on Mar 5, 2009, 10:53:

The metro is adding at least two stops, one near La Estrella and one or two passing Sabaneta. The stop though at the end though will be way down the hill from the actual town of la estrella. They've already added the stops to some of the metro maps.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Mar 5, 2009, 15:41:

Yes, I saw that today durito 2.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Mar 6, 2009, 12:55:

Incredible response so far, as in not! Now I can see why it takes so long to sell a property here.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

whitewidow says on Mar 6, 2009, 16:05:

ken - why not just source your own property and work your own deal?

I'm no doper! I just play one on TV.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kenblanquito says on Mar 6, 2009, 17:46:

whitewidow
We are going to try that, hopefully this weekend.
I am going to buy the newspaper super early on Sunday morning, seek properties and make some phone calls to see if there is anything worth viewing.
Then the fun will start! Most people will add 5-10 percent to the price when they see me, then I will need to make them aware that I know that they have inflated the price, then erode it a little more etc etc. I am sure my wife will give her all too because it is fairly obvious that she is from here. Hopefully we will get there in the end.
Still only heard from 2 agents so far but one of them responded the evening of my post, I replied immediately, he responded the following day, I responded to him immediately and I have had yet another reply in super fast time! Efficiency does exist here but it is harder to find than back home. Then again, this agent did spend time in the USA and may have learnt a lot about self-motivation if he was not that way inclined before!

0 funny, 0 helpful.