Foreigner Renting Apartments in Colombia Alittle Help

gorgonabob says on Nov 10, 2006, 16:30:

this is pretty simple a foreigner cannot rent an apartment in colombia under a normal contract.. why not. because you have no financial history in this country....

you have only two options

find someone who is willing to rent an apartment without a contract, not easy.... or find a colombian with a good financial history to rent it for you.

thats it im afraid..

ive had friends with businesses in colombia, millions in the bank in home countrys etc etc and none have been able to rent a property without a colombian signing the lease

arthur brode says on Nov 10, 2006, 17:37:

these furnished studios in Cali which include maid service,a/c cable tv.start at 800,000 pesos per month.no co-signer or contract required.
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=11497200&uid=5831975&members=1

i also have nice,furnished 1br.apts.which include maid service,a/c,cable tv.that go for 1.6 million pesos per month.
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=13412468&uid=5831975&members=1

http://www.calirentals.net/

calipro says on Nov 10, 2006, 19:07:

First of all you can not live in Colombia for 6 months to a year on a tourist visa. You will need some other type of visa good for more than six months. Normally people get a student or business visa which are normally good for a year.

Once you enter the country on a visa that is good for over six month stay it is manditory for you to register with DAS and apply for a cedula extranjeria. When you have your cedula you can legally sign and contract including an apartment lease. But most will require two co-signers that own property in Colombia.

I believe you can get around that requirement by using certain leasing companies but there will be a price to be paid. So you can see why some people would prefer to use someone like arthur brode when renting.

The upside to getting a cedula and renting one yourself is you can get one hell of a nice place for 1.6 million pesos. Much nicer than the apartment he is offering.

tomtom33 says on Nov 11, 2006, 02:43:

Rights? If you want rights, try a different country.

The legal system here barely functions. You have the same rights as the last group of peasants who were lined up and shot to death for harvesting coca for the wrong side.

panthdave says on Nov 11, 2006, 08:29:

Bascially you pay all 6 months upfront Newcomer.. What I am hearing is you pay upfront the 6 months rent or 1 year rent upfront...Will you still need a cosigner...Also if I leave the country example fly to miami and come back a couple weeks later that will give my tourist visa another extension...I have been flying back and forth Miami- Medellin.. I work in Miami and will not stop that there is no work in Colombia and the reality is better to work in Miami..Its time for me to get an apartment so I can leave things there and also have my own apartment to relax and get alittle established in Medellin...Great feedback... As I said above will that work if I pay upfront full rent for 6 months or 1 year..I will not need a cosigner and can I still get a legal contract showing I paid upfront.. I just don't want to fly down and see the landlord taking advantage of me being a foreigner and throwing me out for no reason and keeping my money...




panthdave Miami

panthdave Miami

panthdave says on Nov 11, 2006, 08:44:

My rights DonGringo If I Pay all upfront.... DonGringo If I pay 6 months upfront example do I have rights for the funds I paid upfront..and be able to get a good price..instead of paying premium price???

Looking for an apartment in Medellin but not El Poblado.. Did find one on Avenue Las Vegas for 1,000,000 pesos per month not to bad.. Just came back from another great trip and always staying in my friends house near Oviedo Mall..I want my own place now and willing to pay upfront 6 months but alittle afraid that the landlord can kick me up for no reason and keep my money...



panthdave Miami

panthdave Miami

panthdave says on Nov 11, 2006, 13:58:

Thanks... Looking in Medellin... Really looking in Medellin after the holidays are over..Just came back from Medellin to Miami last week to work...

Will be in Medellin Thanksgiving weekend and December 22-January 2nd.

I also will be in Medellin last week of January to get an apartment which will definitely get some colombian friends to help me out with the contract... Feel better..no problem paying in advance and be able to get into a contract....

Even going back and forth from Miami..An Apartment to leave my things and maybe a friend to look out will be good.. I will feel I will have alittle established in Medellin..Taking my time so I do things right...

panthdave Miami

panthdave Miami

Lostgringo says on Nov 12, 2006, 12:57:

Know your Spanish I would say that if you are not fluent in Spanish you will have a difficult time doing as for example out of newspaper ads. And maybe you will get someone from a real estate place to help you with no co-sponsor. In both cases I believe you will have to spend alot of time finding the right person.

I just rented a place in an area I wanted in Medellin. I walked around the and just happened to find the place for rent. I had to go through a real estate agency. I was very fortunate to have a friend in Medellin sponsor me. He owns property there. In addition, my girlfriend has to rent it for me and sponsor me. She is from Bogota. In both cases, these sponsors have to own property. So, for the first 6 months the apartment will be in my girlfriend's name. Also, if you do not have a cedulla you may experience even more problems. I offered 6 months in advance and they would not take it. I absolutely wanted this place so I had to jump all these hoops.
I am not saying what DonGringo says is false. I am just saying that you "may" experience alot of pitfalls trying to do this in Colombia. These Colombians I have found are pretty skiddish lol.

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