problem in renting an apartment

Philly says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:09:

Yes it is normal. This is one of the problems I have with Colombia. And they will not take just any home owner. It has to be Finca Raiez (spelled something like that)

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stocktrader says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:10:

marly - i had the same problem and i coulnd't find the co-signers. i ended up buying a place. there is a way of opening a CD in a bank held in escrow with 6 months rent. most rent insurance companies accept the CD. Ask a realtor about this. Not all realtors might know about it.

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marlydog1812 says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:21:

frigging insane. The other places where I could probably skirt it where for 500 and 600 and were nowhere as nice.
I may have to call in a favor to get this done. Worth it though as Valledupar is perfect and quite gringo free

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stocktrader says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:34:

the reason for them not taking the money upfront usually has to do with the realtor or the rent insurance company. if it's a by owner rent they usually will take it.

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span_colombia says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:36:

nope, doesn't make sense. but it's really not that hard if you have friends with real estate. it's called a co-fiador. I don't like dealing with inmobiliaria or any of the real estate companies. they jack up the prices and have lots of onerous paper work. better to work directly with the owner.

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emerson_wylde says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:36:

I believe the "fiador" issue has to do with how hard it is to get somebody out of the apartment if they stop paying rent. So even if somebody pays a year up front, if they continue to stay without paying after the year is up it could easily take 6 months to get them evicted. Not only is the apartment owner out that rent, they are also on the hook for unpaid servicios (utilities).

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span_colombia says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:42:

wow...bogota is expensive. total costs for a nice 1 bedroom apartment in chapinero alto are over 1 million pesos/month. 450.000/month for a furnished room is a good deal there.

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teeo9111 says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:44:

I had the same problem but if you focus on looking at apartment owners that are NOT using an agency eventually you will find someone to rent to you especially if you are willing to put up six to twelve months upfront,sucks but it is the only way you will be able to rent. Suramerica does the CD escrow thing but I wasn't cool with it. After a year my landlord allowed me to "only" be three months ahead on the rent.

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marlydog1812 says on Oct 9, 2009, 17:44:

Thats one thing I liked about when I lived in Honduras. You want a place, you give the money, sign a piece of paper, shake hands and drink a few beers. But then again Hondo is a *^&*^&*hole

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jman73 says on Oct 9, 2009, 18:11:

Emerson wylde is correct. Although it is now easier then in the past, it is still a royal pain in the ass to evict someone if they decide to stop paying and refuse to leave. A good friends family leased out an apartment they owned directly to an individual, and after 5 months he stopped paying. After 6 frustrating months of trying to get the dead beat renter thrown out with no success they eventually paid him to leave.

"Anyone who thinks that Colombia is a gastronomical paradise needs to have their head examined." jman73

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roflandr says on Oct 11, 2009, 10:37:

i had a problem lasttime, had a dream place for 1'500,00 million but couldnt get the cosigners in time, so now we pay like 3 million and they didnt ask cosigners? that doesnt make sense... :P and its my own damn country..

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