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Whats the ownership situation when buying land in Santa Marta, Taganga or Parque Tayrona for a european ?

Hola todos los miembros en PBH y especialmente la gente quien esta en la costa....

Myself and my business partner who are qualifed TEFL teachers and have travelled extensively in colombia and all spanish speaking countries in latin/central america plan to open a hostel/hotel/language school for 2010 and will be in colombia looking at premises and land in the above place in january 2009. We both speak fluent castellano and want some help with advice from people or expats who own business or premises over there.

Does anyone know what the situation is about ownership - is the land leased for a set number of years or owned outright and there are no issues with foreigners being on the deeds ?

Has anyone used the services of a local surveyor or solicitor with regard to property purchase in the coastal area and are there any you would recommend ?

What taxes locally have to paid on a property purchase and every month for business rates,etc

Any other advice from people who know that part of locombia very well like robbie or other members who have set up shop in locombia would be great too.

hasta luego parceros y sardinos

j

By Juanes on Aug 20, 2008, 04:45 in Friendly Talkzone.

guacharaca says on Aug 20, 2008, 07:23:

Parque Tayrona is a park and is not for sell. No problem for foreigners to buy private land. No need for leases (as done in Mexico). I see lots of "se vende" signs in SM. Real estate does not sell quickly there.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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ietk says on Aug 20, 2008, 08:35:

Juanes, if you decide to purchase land anywhere in Colombia be aware!! check real good if the land you want to buy is for sale, I have heard of a lot of people getting scammed thinking they purchased the land only to find out the real owner was not selling it.

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 20, 2008, 16:26:

Yes, ietk is right. There are a lot of scams, and a good and safe but potentially expensive way to make sure you are buying from the real owner is to have a solicitor do a "Estudio de Titulos", especially in SM that has a lot of deeds problems and corruption in the deeds registry office. Have a solicitor check your land purchase contract and check all documents accordingly.

If you own land you have to pay yearly property taxes called "Impuesto Predial" and it is a local tax. Sometimes they will charge a "Impuesto de Valorizacion" when they plan (note plan, so they charge it before doing it, not after, if they actually do it) to do infrastructure works that will "improve" your property. These are one time charges though.

Parque Tayrona is a national natural and land is therefore owned by the nation and not for sale.

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charlysito71 says on Aug 20, 2008, 18:18:

put on your walking shoes and prepare hacer la cola y espera siglos!!!! notories and banks are totally confused as to the correct approach. I own 3 properties in colombia and dread buying another with all the legal wrangling that it takes.

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ietk says on Aug 21, 2008, 05:28:

My grandmother had a finca in la sierra nevada it was real nice up there, when she died they had to sell it a precio de huevo because of the paras, either sell or sell you know what I mean, desgraciados!

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Juanes says on Aug 21, 2008, 08:07:

thanks you guys for pointing us in the right direction....

when i was up in paruqe tayrona last year i had locals offering to show me plots to build natural palapas there under which travllers could pitch hamacas y carpas, i appreciate it is a nacional park but there are 3 existing business already in that park around arecifes,etc. they must have opened up somehow or with licence from the govt ?

looks like its taganga o santa marta then....

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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Hostal Tamarindo says on Aug 23, 2008, 16:57:

Check out www.proexport.com.co for all tax info., bringing in money, taking out money, investing in Colombia and so forth...

Natalie Cobo - Hostal Tamarindo, Medellín

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