REQUEST FOR ADVICE ON BUYING A HOUSE IN SANTA MARTA

Mike from Chicago says on Jun 11, 2006, 12:58:

I would be careful in Santa Marta. I have been all over the country and been near many dangerous people, so I an not intimidated by much, but I have heard stories about the area. Is Zuana safe for a stay, sure, I have been there and it is beautiful. But would I stay in Santa Marta and try to blend in as a local like I do in other cities, probably not.

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b bruce says on Jun 11, 2006, 21:51:

I am looking at property in Santa Marta as well! I have been looking at some property in Santa Marta also. The gentleman I rented a condo from at the Santa Maria del Mar at Rodadero is a Colombian who lives in New Jersey. He owns three condos in Rodadero and one in Cartagena. He may be a good place to start. His e-mail is as follows mycasa973 at aol.com. His name is Roger Mesa and he is very good people. I do know that depending where in Santa Marta you live the utlilities differ in price. I forget what the word is? But apparently the poor neighborhoods pay less than the nice neighborhoods or business districts. It is some sort of subsidized tier system graded 1 thru 6. Six being the higher priced utilites. Also have your friends in Santa Marta point you toward a good attorney. Always helps. Let me know what you find out. If you speak to Roger, please tell him Bruce from Key West says hello! Chao,
Viva Colombia!

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aztec says on Jun 12, 2006, 09:45:

I have been in Santa Maria. Spent a few weeks there. It is one of the few places that I have felt insecure and unsafe. There were at least two armed soldiers on each corner in town. My wife and I even even moved out of a free place to stay because of this concern.

This was a few years ago and the situation may have improved considerably. Believe the guerrillas were active in the area then.

It is a beautiful area and I liked it very much. However, if you are a Gringo think twice before buying there in any unsecured area.

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tigredelnorte says on Jun 12, 2006, 11:24:

Hey Capt Before you buy, you might think about renting for a while. This is what I do. I have had a place in Santa Marta for over a year. I'm in no hurry at this time to buy, although the possibility extists that I will do so. Rents are low. Not only that, the dollar is gaining strength againts the Colombian Peso. This means that you will effectivly pay less if you wait. Renting will allow you to study the situation, without investing a lot of money.

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jpplunkett says on Jun 12, 2006, 13:37:

Santa Marta I have been to santa marta and it seems very safe, I get a better feeling there then I get when I am in Cali, Bogota or Cartegena. There r lots of police and solders there because on the tourist business and it is a major port for Colombia. There is also a military base there as well. I wish people would not say things about safety unless they r founded.

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robi666 (Trustee board) says on Jun 14, 2006, 01:59:

For Bruce...
I am interested in buying in Santa Marta, too. Could you email me at pollofracco at yahoo.com to share your experience with me? Thanks.

"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."

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Gator says on Jun 14, 2006, 06:29:

Gentlemen When you speak of Santa Marta do you mean the city proper or the resort area called El Rododaro? It does make a difference-both in value and desirability.

"SIC FRIATUR CRUSTUM DULCE. OBESA CANTAVIT."

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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vicshere says on Jun 14, 2006, 07:01:

Agree with Gator Santa Marta is a dirty little sweat hole i wouldn't live there if they paid me....on the other hand El Rododaro reminds me of a small mexican resort town about 30 years ago.....although the beach is not as nice as it should be "water wise" i mean


listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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vicshere says on Jun 14, 2006, 07:03:

Agree with Gator Santa Marta is a dirty little sweat hole i wouldn't live there if they paid me....on the other hand El Rododaro reminds me of a small mexican resort town about 30 years ago.....although the beach is not as nice as it should be "water wise" i mean


listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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rjstuff says on Jun 14, 2006, 10:19:

Seems like a good idea, Having stayed in a nice hotel in Santa Marta (on the beach - just before hitting town) and having visited El Rodadero and in 2 weeks we are again renting an apt. in Rodadero on the beach ($75 per night for a 2 bedroom apt.) I believe there may be potential for owning real estate there. They seem to have many hotels and apts for rent at pretty good (money making worthy) prices. I personally didn't care for the town - its old, crowded, dirty and has narrow streets but the beaches are pretty and worth considering especially if you would like to retire there eventually. Seems like renting and talking to local real estate people first hand and seeing the movement of property and occupation levels of apts and hotels will give you a better idea. Good Luck

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aztec says on Jun 14, 2006, 17:07:

Gator You are so right. We moved out of town to the beach resort area because the town was too scary. Big difference. Even then the hotel management warned us against wandering beyond the beach in front of the resorts. Some people have been attacked when they went exploring.

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Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 14, 2006, 17:12:

A story about Santa Marta http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/node/18964

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clausj says on Jun 15, 2006, 08:54:

Santa Marta safe o unsafe Everyone here can tell stories of safety, Santa Marta is just as safe if not safer then Bogota, Cartagena and especially Cali, I have seen where Americas have been druged and killed in Cali at nightclubs, and in Bogota the Farc throwing bombs into bars at night and killing and hurting lots of customers, we have been in Cartagena in the market area and been threated with our lives at knife point, so why is Santa Marta so unsafe compared to these other cities who have a lot higher homicide rate. I do not get it, or is it just to pin a bad rap on Santa Marta. If it is so give us some hard facts because there seems to be a lot of tourists going to Santa Marta and I am sure they would appreciate the truth and not hear say stories. Also the people in my opinion are so much nicer then the other cities I have lived in or visited.

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Gator says on Jun 15, 2006, 09:15:

Please don't confuse Santa Marta with El Rodadero. Two different animals.
An I do agree with your premise that it is no different then the other cities you mentioned. Most of the tourist trade is in ElRodadero with trips to Santa Marta, about 8/9 km over the hill, as needed.

"SIC FRIATUR CRUSTUM DULCE. OBESA CANTAVIT."

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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clausj says on Jun 15, 2006, 09:38:

El Rodadero and City of Santa Marta Yes El Rodadero is much nicer and safer then the city, but there are bad sections of the city and good sections, like every other city. In Santa Marta stay away from 10 & 11 Avenue at night this is the high crime area, prostitutes, drugs, and crimes like asssault Y etc. But other places seem safe to me and of course never go down streets where there are no others in sight. Maybe instead of scaring people we should come up with a safety manual by city of the do's and dont's when living or visiting cities in Colombia.

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