Renting / Leasing an apartment in Medellin

tomtom33 says on Dec 26, 2007, 17:08:

Trying to do anything in Colombia is very, very difficult. Even if you pay 12 months of rent up front, you may not be able to rent without co-signers who own property in Colombia. And that is not easy because those co-signers will be fully responsible for anything you may or may not do.

You might think about an apart/hotel for awhile.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

yummyj says on Dec 26, 2007, 18:06:

Here in New York? Well, that is there in New York and and NOWHERE else in the entire world. Might as well forget New York and life there if you plan on venturing out of it.

Not saying that the one year thing is right or reasonable. But there is no sense in giving an eample of one place when you are dealing with another place. Trust me, it'll make life easier.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rob77 says on Dec 26, 2007, 18:32:

Requiring many months worth of rent as a security deposit in a CD, and co-signers with property is very normal here, even more so if you have no credit history in this country. Maybe if you rent a room for a while to see if you like it first.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

nbenjamin says on Dec 26, 2007, 19:02:

Yummyi - what crawled up that guys ass. S/he provides an example and states how Colombia differs. I have never lived in Colombia but I have live in Europe South America and North America and I have never paid 12 months up front. I know of an apartment hotel that is about 50 dollars a night and it includes breakfast. It has a kitchen, living room etc. If you are interested let me know and I will get the name for you. It is in Poblado, right next to the Body Tech gym. I would show up and look for a place. While paying 12 months up front may be normal, there will be plenty of people in Poblado and other nice neigborhoods who would be happy with first and last. But you may have to go there to find it ...

Good luck..

0 funny, 0 helpful.

nbenjamin says on Dec 26, 2007, 19:03:

FYI - the apart hotel does offer large discounts for one month stays. So I would imagine for the month it would be $ 1000 or so. This is pretty expensive for Medellin - but after a month you will find a great deal.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Rob77 says on Dec 26, 2007, 19:04:

First and last might be found for a room. But it would be rare to find for an apt. At least in the nicer areas.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Dec 26, 2007, 19:12:

And the apartment you find will most likely not be furnished. That means no stove, no fridge, and probably no water heater.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rocinante says on Dec 27, 2007, 06:54:

Go to Poblado - there are private people looking to rent to foreigners all the time without making them jump through hoops. The apts are fully furnished and cost almost as much as a hotel but are just under that. But honestly you are getting totally hosed on the rent. BUT if you compare it to a hotel you are doing better - all depends on your perspective.

Those fully furnished with internet, cable etc... apartments in Poblado are sometimes more than triple what the rent really is. People make a great living "renting" a small apartment in Poblado for 800.000/mo and renting it out to foreigners for 625.000/week.or 100.000/day If it sits vacant for a month who cares? Multiply this by 4 or 5 apartments and you are doing well being a "Hotelier".

I know three different guys here that own nothing but jack up the rent on a handful of apartments each. They own nothing. Also remember that these apartments get a ton of sex tourists so make sure the sheets are washed and be careful where you step.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

0 funny, 0 helpful.

elmodefoque says on Dec 27, 2007, 06:58:

roci, you in colombia or nyc?

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one.Curramba, el mejor vividero del mundo!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rocinante says on Dec 27, 2007, 07:03:

OK Julisa - going by your original comment, the year bond is actually a good thing as getting a real apartment at the going rate is almost impossible.

Scenario: A foreigner, with no job, no references, no income, no credit, no bank account, no collateral - who is going to rent to this person in NYC?

This is what you are in Colombia. Me entiendes? I paid NO security on my apartment - ningun centavo. But the apartment is in someone else's name, a local who has a letter from her employer that she makes 4X the monthly rent has been working there for 3 years and has an indefinite contract of employment. This gets verified in writing, and by the employer.

Next comes a co signer who owns property, also a local or someone with a cedula, their job is un important but they need to own substantial property - not some shack in Popular.

Both co signers need to get things notorized and do paperwork etc...

If I move out on month 3, these two people are on the hook for the whole remaining lease's money the rent/utilities/cable etc (7 more months).

Do you know someone here who will do this and take this risk for you?

If I could have paid my year's rent all in one shot and not had to worry about getting people to jump through hoops for me I would have. Most agencies won't do the year bond. Why I don't know.

And yes, Tom Tom is correct that getting a normal apartment means no Fridge or Water Heater. You'll be lucky to get curtain rods!

PM me if you have any questions.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rocinante says on Dec 27, 2007, 07:06:

Elmo I'm in medallo. You coming down? You can call me on my 917 number as I'm Vonaged.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

0 funny, 0 helpful.

morphus says on Dec 27, 2007, 07:07:

Check under the mattress too. Sometimes they flip the mattress when a little menstruation blood gets on it...LOL

0 funny, 0 helpful.

peteyw says on Dec 27, 2007, 07:32:

Julisa,

The problem could be that you're still in NYC. Before I arrived in Colombia, I emailed a couple of realtors and one asked for local references and the other wouldn't even respond.

Once I arrived in Colombia and the realtors met me face to face it was a totally different story. I found my furnished apartment on the beach in Cartagena for under $500 USD with no security deposit, no references, no co-signers, no nothing. I just paid the first 3 months rent, notorized the lease and moved in. It took about 4 days to find the place. After the first three months were up, I paid another three months rent and after that time I have been paying monthly ever since.

The realtor was the same one who wouldn't respond to my email when I was in the States. She explained that they get many inquires from foreigners who never show up, so they just either ignore the emails or quote hard-line requirements.

Maybe I got lucky, but I have many friends here who are ex-pats and they haven't had too many problems renting in Cartagena. Maybe Medellin is more stringent.

Peteyw

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Dec 27, 2007, 10:30:

Cartagena is a resort town with a lot of short-term apartments to rent. Medellin is not. Most Paisas prefer hotels to apartments for shorter stays.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Dec 28, 2007, 05:11:

I regularly rent in Laureles on my extended vacations in Medellin. I pay a little more I suppose but is is hassle free. A three bedroom furnished apartment cost $500.00 including maid service daily.

t

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

juli says on Dec 28, 2007, 09:56:

I would recommend Laureles over Poblado if you´d like to save money and still be in a safe area. You most likely will be taking taxis everywhere anyway. Good luck.

CEO Fajardo´s Fan Club, Medellín, Colombia

0 funny, 0 helpful.

morphus says on Dec 28, 2007, 10:26:

They're too scared to stay in Laureles.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tomtom33 says on Dec 28, 2007, 12:49:

And let's keep it that way, Morph. I live in Laureles. But I may be moving to San Javier.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

robi666 says on Dec 29, 2007, 19:35:

Per quanto tempo hai bisogno di un appartamento? Se vuoi ti posso dare un telefono di una agenzia affidabile che affitta per brevi periodi appartamenti ammobiliati nel Poblado.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

0 funny, 0 helpful.

FARM says on Dec 30, 2007, 07:49:

If you want name and website of company that provides furnished apartments at 1/2 price of comprable hotels with first and last month deposit for annual lease, contact me and I will give info.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Dec 30, 2007, 08:37:

My wife and I never have a problem. She just looks in the phone book and makes a few calls after we arrive. So we stay at a reasonable priced hotel for a day or two. Of course that is with a paisa dealing with a paisa.

And the gringo is not mentioned and stays out of sight until the deal is sealed.

t

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.