Wanted: Furnished Apartment In Medellin

brunito says on Nov 8, 2004, 12:33:

Send me an email bforcier at videotron.ca I might be able to help you. I have a friend who has a condo in Sabaneta (suburbs of Medellin, not far from subway station). He currently lives in Florida and his condo might be available.

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bjorn says on Nov 8, 2004, 12:52:

Stay away from Poblado No, it's nothing wrong with Poblado, It's just that prices there is far to high. Also, people living in Poblado seem to think that all other places in Medellin is just to dangerous to live in. Not true. I lived a year in the Santa Lucia area (Near Floresta-Estadio) Nice safe area where everything is far cheaper than in Poblado. There's also lots of nice place to live between Santa Lucia and Estadio west of the city center. Laureles is also nice. There's also a lot of nice places in Robledo to, even though it's a strata 3 area (working class or lower middle class) (Poblado is strata 5)

And the prices you quote in your posting is just absurd. Don't let they rip you off. You should easily be able to get a nice place in Medellin for about the same you paid in Quito, Ecuador or Bueno Aires. Look in the local newspaper. There's loads of apartment to rent. The only problem is that to get a good deal you have to rent for a minimum of 6 months.

Bjorn

Bjorn

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Gator says on Nov 8, 2004, 12:59:

That's Like Complaining... about the prices in midtown-Manhattan, Look somewhere else besides Polbado or LasPalmas I would take a look at the offer re the Sabaneta area.

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

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viewpoint says on Nov 8, 2004, 13:03:

Medellin Apartment Rent Antonia,

I guess the rental rates will be determined by your needs and requirements. Sounds like the Poblado area might be too expensive for you. Rents can be as low as CP$200.000 (US$80.00) per month plus utilities and furniture. But to live in a secure area like Poblado you will need to pay more. I get US$1,800 per month rent for a unfurnished home in Poblado and the tenant pays all costs including utilities and administration.

"Hunter" a regular poster can provide you with some direction to better prices for apartment rentals in Medellin. There are many apartments for rent in Medellin so don't worry about availability.

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Antonio says on Nov 8, 2004, 13:23:

Thank you everyone for the quick replies! "Gator" I wasn´t complaining, I was simply trying to understand how in a third world country, in a city that doesn´t have the best reputation going for it can possibly be commanding rents comparable to places like Boston. Boston is one of the most sought after places in the world to live and you can find a furnished one bedroom there for $1,800 in a safe neighborhood. I am very excited to see this Poblado for myself...it must be extremely plush!

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adrimm says on Nov 8, 2004, 14:00:

Extremes One thing you will see plenty of in Colombia is extremes.

The very wealthy live unbelievably oppulent lives ((by typical north american standards) and the very poor live in unbelievably tragic poverty.

I haven't been to Poblado but I've seen the rich life in other colombian cities. My guess is that the folks that live in Poblado are probably the sort that can afford to send their kids to private university in the US (for context).

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Hunter says on Nov 8, 2004, 14:42:

El Poblado is not third world, I am from London and I would class El Poblado as better than 90% of London.

But saying that you should be able to get a one bedroom apt for a few hundred dollars a month there. Because you won't have all the Colombian paperwork it makes it harder, but cash is king and there are plenty of empty apts in EL Poblado, so you should have little problem offering 3 months rent up front, just make sure you take the normal precautions with your money, by making sure the deal is OK.

The problem is that you are trying to do it from afar, you will have to wait until you get to Medellin.

As other people said there are plenty of good neighbourhoods to live in that are cheaper but have good apts.

The best bet is to make a list of the neighbourhoods that people are recommending and visit them and look for apts in your first week in Medellin.

When I first came to Medellin, I stayed in a 1 bedroom aparta/suite at the Hotel Plaza Rosa, I told them I would be there for a few months, I didn't want the hassle of going to look for an apt in a strange City, so I did a deal with them of 55,000 pesos a day. This is more than you would pay for an apt, but no where near the $58 you are being quoted. I would class the hotel as a 3 star.

brunito, idea of Sabaneta is a good one, it is a very nice area, also you will be living with the real Colombians, you won't see many on the streets of El Poblado apart from certain night life areas. In fact I live in Sabaneta at the moment, for 8 months now.

Hunter

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sandramoreno80 says on Nov 8, 2004, 15:48:

EL POBLADO IS OVERRATED Not that I want to slam anyone living in El Poblado, but it is in my opinion overrated. It is high up, over Medellin, situated on lomas (hills- the views are nice though, quite windy and cool. So everyone has to have a car as there are barely any pavements, as the roads are winding and narrow. Yeah, there are shopping centres- El Tesoro and Vizcaya but a taxi from the centre of Medeliin to those places would only be $6-7000. My cousin lives in Belen Los Alpes on calle 30th and the ride costs that much one way and takes 10-15 minutes.

Laureles, Castellana, Nogal, Conquistadores, Simon Bolivar are good barrios situated around La Ochenta and La 30/33.

And as said before, the key to Colombia is haggling (negoziar) There is a slow rental market, with Colombians finding it difficult to get garantors and owners are not prepared to rent their properties without them, as the garantors must have second properties, there is a law protecting "vivienda familiar", becoz when Colombians starting going bust, their garantors had to respond for their debt, many loosing their family homes.

Over here in England a deposit must be given, usually in the form of one-one and a half months rent, as well as the first month being paid up front, but this isn't so in Colombia. I'm sure you could sweeten the deal by flashing the cash a bit.

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jaguarbcn says on Nov 8, 2004, 16:15:

Would you consider Bogota? Hi Antonio:
Your notice caught my eye. Would you consider a furnished apt. in Bogota or do you have to be in Medellin? I have a two-bedroom apt. in Chico Reservado, one of the nicest parts of this spectacular city, and will be out of the country for a few months. Apartment (totally furnished) is in quiet, secure building, extremely nice neighborhood. I´m flexible on dates and would consider negotiating a reasonable sublet arrangement. If you might be interested, feel free to contact me directly at lydiadesanctis at hotmail.com. To others in the Talkzone, un gran saludo de esta gringa con corazon colombiano. Chau!

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Chuck says on Nov 8, 2004, 19:07:

Try www.coninsaramonh.com Contact Mr Mejia, he is the head of the Laureles Office and speaks perfect english. "Ramon Hache" is one of the largest realtors in Medellin and have a huge inventory off all unfurnished and furnished apartments available.

mmejia at coninsaramonh.com

...and I'm sorry but Colombia isn't really that cheap to live in compared to Argentina where the economic crisis left the country bankrupt. With the colombian peso reevaluation (the exchage rate droped from 2800 for a dollar to 2100 for a dollar) things are somewhat more expensive for the foreigner... but still cheap compared to Mexico!

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gorgonabob says on Nov 8, 2004, 20:32:

poblado i am not sure about the last poster.. the official currency rate is about 2550 to the dollar, unless youre silly enough to change your money in casas de cambio. the peso is still cheap, only 15% off its all time low against the US dollar. Hardly a huge rise. The colombian peso is NOT RISING, its the american dollar that has fallen off a cliff. Just look at the rises of the NZ$, South African Rand and the Euro against the dollar and you can get the idea that the peso aint going up.

I also cant agree with the colombia is expensive idea. thats rubbish. ive been here for a couple of years, its still a bargain.

we rent a very nice apartment, fully furnished, three bedrooms, four bathrooms for US$600 a month in poblado five minutes walk from EAFIT, the big uni here.

vic

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Peter (Moderator) says on Nov 8, 2004, 21:17:

Poblado overrated Poblado is indeed overrated. A very nice area to live is around la 70, just have a walk around there. I rented an appartment in Prado Centro for 2 years and I think we paid 300.000 pesos, about 150$ a month back then. (1998) It ws unfurnished. Have a walk in Prado centro, some fantastic houses there for rent, and it's a lovely area, although if you get higher on the hills some areas are less nice, so ask a local.

Poor but snappy

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Peter (Moderator) says on Nov 8, 2004, 21:19:

I always felt living in Poblado was like living in New Jersey if NJ was a city. But maybe that's just me :)

Poor but snappy

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elmodefoque says on Nov 9, 2004, 05:22:

"Not that I want to slam anyone living in El Poblado, but it is in my opinion overrated. It is high up, over Medellin, situated on lomas (hills- the views are nice though, quite windy and cool. So everyone has to have a car as there are barely any pavements, as the roads are winding and narrow" sandramoreno

sandramoreno, I agree with you a 100%, I stayed in “el pobaldo” for 3 days and that was more than enough. “Get me the hell outta here and please put me on the next plane to Barranquilla, thanks!” I kept repeating for three days. I’m not into living in mountain cliffs with no sidewalks, and nobody around. I need to walk out and see people, stores, excitement or else I’m bored. Now, watch as all those cachacos from Medellin try to tear me a new asshole.
As far as comparing prices with Argentina, Ecuador Costa Rica etc. those are also third world counties, but in worst situations than Colombia.

ASK NOT WHAT THE PUSSY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THAT PUSSY!!!!!!!!!! CAT LOVER

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CasaSol says on Nov 9, 2004, 10:00:

An alternative to your situation My wife and I live in a huge terrace apartment in Suramericana neighborhood, which is a couple of blocks from the metro station, close to shopping, cafes, museums and very safe, quiet and comfortable. We have a small room available with a private bath and will rent it to you at a very reasonable rate. I am from the States, she is from Medellín so you can get both perspectives on the city and Colombia. Write if you are interested: ricolombia at mail.com

And yes, Poblado is way over-rated!

Ricolombia.com | The Guide to Colombian Culture, Crafts & Travel

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ColombiaBoard says on Nov 9, 2004, 10:06:

Where to live in Medellin I agree with most people here, you see, people assume that as a foreigner you would only feel "ok" living in El Poblado but there are other very good areas with lower prices, and I mean not only the rental costs, in Colombia the electricity, water, gas and telephone rates vary according to the "class" level of your neighborhood, in El Poblado you´d be paying the highest rate (Level 6).
The following is a list of areas where you can find excellent apartments for rent at lower prices:
- Laureles
- Conquistadores
- Estadio
- La Castellana
- Envigado (close to El Poblado)

And the quality of living is comparable to El Poblado, and a little advantage, IMHO, all the above mentioned areas are in the flat part of the valley whereas El Poblado is on the mountain feet, that means you can actually "walk" in any of these neighborhoods whereas in El Poblado some areas don´t even have sidewalks.

I know a guy who teaches at a bilingual school, he moved from El Poblado to a studio in the downtown area, he was paying about US$450 a month, now he pays about US$150.



Check www.saexplorers.org with tons of Info about South America. If you´re interested specifically in Colombia you can send your tourism related questions to colombia at saexplorers.org

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Hunter says on Nov 9, 2004, 10:40:

Strata 6 Only some of El Poblado is Strata 6, most is strata 5 and a very small area is strata 4.

Hunter

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walter says on Nov 27, 2004, 20:21:

I was just there renting a nice apartment in medellin. If you want my help I can hook you up with a nice furnished apartment with security...everything paid...for $1,200,000 pesos per month..which about $40 per day..or less..I know the manager and he speaks a little english...You will live in the best part of medellin which is Poblado and it is safe...I lived there for 4 months studying spanish at the university of eafit...the best university there...email Nickels4470 at hotmail.com for more info..

Take care. Donald

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