jbone has left 21 comments

jbone comments on PADI Dive Centres

Try............. www.divecartagena.com You will enjoy Cartagena. regards, jim

jbone comments on Exact dates MISS COLOMBIA CARTAGENA 2007?

Hola CJ, Check out: http://www.cartagenainfo.net/calendarioturistico/english.html Where you will find a CARTAGENA EVENTS CALENDAR for the entire year. Enjoy historic and beautiful Cartagena on the Caribbean. regards, jim

jbone comments on Medellin: Travel Guide

My hats off to the authors of the approved Medellin Travel Guide A good over-all presentation of a great city-Medellin. I especially like the comments regarding the many places to eat, drink and party. My contribution to Medellin, with hundreds of photos, can be seen at:
www.medellininfo.com

regards,

j bone

jbone comments on Why Colombia remains a third world country

Avianca is owned by Sinergy of Brazil Sinergy, which also operates the Brazilian regional carrier OceanAir, is controlled by magnate German Efromovich.

What is your REASON # 2?

regards,

j bone

jbone comments on I need to find the cheapest way to send a box of gifts to colombia

Shipping Packages Following is a link to CartagenaInfo which has a time saving condensation of about 20 Poor But Happy posters who have experience in shipping packages to Colombia. Postings are as recent as March, 2006. Accuracy of the following can change on a frequent basis, so you may want to do your own due diligence?

Check out: http://www.medellininfo.com/transportation/index.html

Good luck,
Jim

jbone comments on moving to Cartegena

Regarded nationally and internationally as the safest city in Colombia.

Check out:

www.cartagenainfo.net for complete info on Cartagena

Have fun.

Jim

jbone comments on street vendors

Kat 1 ...yes estrato 6, BUT... my "hotel" cost was 5 mil a night paid one month in advance! AND, living alone, with no kitchen and little money to "waste", I usually bought my "food" from the street vendors.

Kat, I like the estrato system, but it is not always a reliable indicator of your personal standard of living. I'm not complaining one bit, as I really enjoyed my two years in El Centro.

Now, in my small apartment, right ON the beach in Laguito, the estrato 6 more closely replicates my current standard of living. A Poor But Happy Gringo with a Business Visa, earning Pesos, and slowly: "Moving on up"!

Regards,

JBone

jbone comments on street vendors

Take out insurance against the vendors bothering you! When I first lived in Cartagena my apartment was a half block from the most popular tourist area in El Centro.

At first, I was continually pestered by the vendors. But, as time went on many of them would ask me for a small loan, say 1,2,or 3 mil to "take some food back to their family for the night, etc." I felt they were sincere, gave each of them a LOAN, and made them promise they would pay me back as soon as they could.

Out of a couple dozen "loans" only one vendor paid me back. I returned it to him as a present for his honesty, and made him promise that he would not tell the others.

My other "debtor" friends would always say "Hola" and chat with me as an amigo, but they never again tried to hustle me!

My total cost for the Peace Insurance was no more than 30 mil! A small price to pay for tranquility as I could now walk around, and take in the "experience" of El Centro-the great and historic walled city!

Regards,

Jim

jbone comments on street vendors

If you give ANY indication of interest you are dead meat. The above advice of Gator is RIGHT ON.

The vendors regard your eye contact with them as an OPEN INVITATION to offer you their products or services, AND they can spot your eye contact a block away!

Why are they so aggressive? As ¨slick Willey¨used to say "it´s the economy stupid!" For most of them, it´s simple, they have to feed their family, and jobs are scarce in Colombia....especially without an education.

I have a number of friends that are street vendors and have asked many of them why they do some of the things they do? For example: There are two main reasons they do not post prices on their sales boards or wherever they are mentioning their product or service. One reason, of course, is that they feel they can wind up with more money at the end of the day if they target their prices to the type of client....trying to get the most money, for example, from Gringos and Canadians.

The second reason they do not post prices is that they do not want to PO their friends who also sell or offer the same product or service! If they post their prices, and because of this, make more money, their competition, and even the families of their competition, will ostracize the innovative vendor, AND the family of the vendor too!

Sometimes they may bother the hell out of us, but there is honor and pride among many of the vendors.

Regards,
Jim

jbone comments on new year in CARTAGENA

Cartagena Dive Shops with Home Pages can be found at:

http://www.cartagenainfo.net/negocios/?categoria=BUCEO&lang=ENG

Good Luck, and enjoy Cartagena and our islands diving.

regards,

jim

jbone comments on Cartagena: Is this apartment too expensive?

Buy or Rent in Manga? Your selection of finding new apartments for rent in Manga is much more limited than in the tourist areas where new unit construction, no matter which direction you look, is changing the skyline. Many buyers of tourist area apartments do so with the idea of renting their apartments when they are not in town. NOTE: often, but not always, they are disappointed in their rental returns which would seem to suggest that current rental prices are low, and more attractive than buying. Additionally there are rental agents in the tourist area that do not require the documentation and rental guarantees that you may have to provide when renting in Manga.

The bottom line answer to your question depends mostly on how YOU perceive the current real estate market, and YOUR estimate of future prices. In YOUR OPINION, are purchase prices going up, leveling or headed down? Betting on the prognostications of posters on PBH, or whatever the source, is at YOUR risk, not theirs! When your not sure, it seldom "costs" to take some time and do your own due diligence.

The purchase of a house or apartment is one of the most important decisions most people will make in their entire lifetime. It is generally considered good advice, that when you have doubts, rent first, in the area where you intend to buy. Learn first hand about the pros and cons of the: location, location, location, AND the local area comparable prices of properties that have recently sold which match your purchase requirements. When you have gathered and evaluated the current FACTS, the process of making a correct decision will be easy, natural, and even fun!

This may not be the quick answer your looking for, but it´s a SAFE answer and one that your not likely to regret.

Good luck.

jim

jbone comments on Sending a present to colombia

Sending packages to Colombia Hola Rob, A few months ago I went through the Google Search This Site postings appearing on PBH that related to the above subject. I condensed them into a single page which now appears in on our non profit website featuring Medellin. Hope it saves you some time. Check out the page at:

http://medellininfo.com/transportation/index.html

Good luck.

Jim

jbone comments on If Colombians find out you are a gringo will they treat you different?

Mike's being nice, I count as many as 5 different prices 1. Lowest price is for family.
2. Next lowest is for close friends and business associates.
3. Next best is for Colombians in general.
4. Next to the highest is for foreigners.
5. The skys the limit highest price is "reserved" exclusively for Gringos and folks from Canada.

I'm not complaining, because I usually have a good sense for value and I enjoy the give and take in bargaining.
If I were Colombian, I too would follow the five tier price plan. It's served them well for hundreds of years.

jbone comments on Cartagena: Is this apartment too expensive?

A long response to many REALTY related comments on PBH Peter, the owner/founder of PBH has a rule for all posters-no personal attacks. When offending posters choose to break this rule, the very least they can do is get the names right! To that end, let me help with a couple of names thrown about regarding this post. Paul Juan is the owner of www.cartagenarealty.com, and the Spanish version: www.cartagenainmuebles.com. Paul, a third generation Cartagenero, works exclusively in Cartagena. Juan Ventura, a friend of Paul, rents apartments in Cartagena, and also sells real estate. As mentioned, Juan Ventura is from Spain.

FULL DISCLOSURE: My name is James Bone, a Gringo. Currently, and for the past 25+ years, I have been a licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida (BK325238). I am a minor partner in Paul Juan´s realty business, and live, most of the year, in Cartagena, and Medellin. Paul and I are equal co-owners of the Portal, www.CartagenaInfo.com, plus a half dozen other related domains that promote Cartagena and business clients who have dual language Home Pages in the Portal. Among the many businesses we promote are other Cartagena real estate companies. Paul's Portal Home Pages, or links to his domain Home Pages, receive no special treatment or favoritism. In fact, Paul Juan Realty is at the very bottom of the alphabetic listings.

The majority of properties that Paul sells are new apartments where prices are SET by the developers. Paul has no influence over these prices-none. As the projects advance through different phases, from announcement to completion, the prices, in Cartagena's currently appreciating market, often increase. The increased prices are set by the developers-not by Paul. Paul´s websites are up dated on a daily basis. In a rising market they will continually reflect and display rising prices. Conversely, when the market softens and turns south, the projects will offer reduced prices or other incentives to buy. Just as in a market of rising prices, Paul will have no influence over lower prices-none. When Paul learns about a new property, all of the details, including photos, are usually on the websites within two working days. There are no hold backs on "good deals" for "special clients". What you see is what everybody gets at the same time-complete information, with no secrets!

Rosa, our webmaster/designer works a minimum of five hours a day-six days a week, creating and maintaining Paul's realty websites. Other Cartagena realty companies use Paul´s websites as a data source, and some even tell their prospects to check Paul´s site and then "get back to me for a good deal". For some, the websites have turned into a type of MLS, or more properly, a Listing Service, where even the street people, such as the taxi drivers use the up-to-date info. Paul has no problem with this, though we always encourage our professional competition to develop their own websites, or let Rosa help!

Paul understands and practices the Gringo concept that good and fair competition helps create a strong market where everybody wins. This Northern latitude, proven concept, is only accepted by a few of our competitors. Our Portal has consistently provided these progressive realty companies with positive results in the form of increased sales. The majority of Cartagena realty companies are culturally suspicious of our methods, success and motives. They do not understand what we are doing, and show no interest in finding out. If they did, Paul would be happy to tell them-everything! In time they will change, or gradually be forced out of business. To remain in his favorable position, Paul knows that he must also change with the times, or go out of business. In Hispanic culture, change happens slowly, and in business "change" is often viewed as a sign of non-decisiveness and weakness.

Some foreign Buyer´s of Colombia properties have experienced good profits in Buying and Selling realty in their native country, and mainly, because "prices are so cheap here", they feel comfortable in trying to do the same in Colombia. Occasionally Buyer´s will learn about a property from Paul´s websites, and then turn to Paul to handle the closing, after THEY have, on their own, "made the deal". Paul has no hard feelings, and is happy to do the closing work for 1% of the already completely agreed upon deal. Paul will only do the closing, WITH THE FULL UNDERSTANDING, that he will have nothing to do with "saving" a deal that´s gone sour, or re-negotiating in anyway, between the Buyer and Seller. Nor will Paul offer, or give, Buyer's opinions as to the terms, price, value, estimated rental return, etc., etc. of the deal which the Buyer and Seller, OR their Agents, have already agreed upon. When Buyers do not want to involve lawyers, for whatever reason, they often turn to Paul to complete the closing. If he has the time required to do a thorough job, Paul is happy to provide this Closing service. If Paul handles the sale, the Closing service is included within the 3% commission.

Paul has an I.T., four year degree from LSU in the states, and two years of Law at the university here in Cartagena, and is quick to point out that he is NOT a licensed lawyer. What Paul is doing legal under Colombia Law. Paul is holding himself out as a Professional, and therefore he can be held personally liable for a period of up to five years from the date of occurrence, of any court pronounced illegal event. In all honesty, it should be mentioned that the normal time for suits to be heard in Colombia courts is well in excess of five years.

I can also see where a PBH poster, who was not privy as to how real estate works in Colombia, or the details of the following example, could falsely accuse someone of "selling" over priced property. Currently Paul is closing a deal that the foreign Buyer located and negotiated completely on his own. The Buyer, and Seller´s realty agent, negotiated the deal. The Seller is paying the commission to his Agent, the realty salesman. It´s a done deal. Paul Juan had NOTHING to do with the deal, BUT his NAME as the closing agent, may easily cause those who are ignorant of the facts, to think
differently. Buyer's typically, and wrongly, refer to Agents paid by others, or Closing Agents as, "my man". In this true example, if the Buyer later learns that many locals opine that the building has major structural problems, and the price paid was above the market price, should Paul be blamed? NOPE! The Buyer represented himself throughout the entire location and negotiating process. Legally, ethically and morally, as the Buyer's CLOSING AGENT, Paul is doing exactly what the Buyer has hired him to do-complete the closing, and nothing more. If Paul (foolishly) were to offer a negative opinion about the deal, guess what most proud and cocky Buyer´s would accuse him of doing? I can think of a half dozen scenarios where good intentions would result in Paul being the "fall guy". I like U.S. realty law which holds that the Seller is legally responsible to reveal all known and existing physical problems with the property. This disclosure must be included in the Listing Contract. In Colombia, everybody has so called "listings", but formal, written Listing Contracts are not in use, which in my opinion is a mistake because Listing Contracts benefit Sellers, Buyers and the Agents of all parties. In Colombia there are no laws directed at the listing, promotion or negotiation of realty-it's the "wild west", where EVERYBODY ON THE STREET has the best deal in the world for gullible, uninformed Buyers-especially the rich foreigners!

When I bought my apartment in Laguito, Paul firmed up the price and conditions with the Seller, before I even looked at the apartment. Paul informed the Seller that the Buyer (me) was going to pay half of the 3% commission, and the Seller would pay the remaining 1.5%. Paul was acting as an Intermediary. He forwarded my offer, which was about 15% less than the Seller's asking price. The Seller accepted. Even though Paul and I are partners, I promptly paid Paul his full commission at the closing. I have bought and sold many properties in my 67 years, and I know that nearly 100% of the time, a non Colombian is at a FINANCIAL DISADVANTAGE when representing himself in a Colombian financial transaction.

When we first launched Paul's websites, my apartment, along with a half dozen photos, were featured on the front page: "Gringo pays $19,900 U.S. for waterfront 1 BR, 2 Bath, 2 Balconies, with parking, pool, furnished apartment". After six months we were forced to remove it from the website. Buyer prospects were demanding that Paul show them deals like my apartment. Of course, this was impossible because the transaction took place at the base of a rising market, a half year earlier. Some testy, and ignorant Emailers complained that every time they checked Paul´s website, prices were higher, and just as in this you can read in this PBH posting, Paul was raising the prices! Guess what...in a rising market, prices rise to meet demand. The market sets the prices, not Paul Juan. His websites were POSTING higher prices, but Paul had nothing to do with RAISING THE PRICES. If your a slow-at-the-switch Buyer in a Buyer's market, you snooze, you loose! If your a reluctant or over priced Seller in a Seller's market, you snooze you loose! At the time, the $19,900 was a fair market price for both the Seller and the Buyer. Since then prices have increased appreciably. I was lucky, but when Buyers who know current prices, visit my apartment, and then ask what I paid more than three years ago, many will comment, "you stole it". What a crock! I bought at the right TIME-period!

Paul has begun the long and expensive (by Colombia standards) process of becoming a licensed Florida real estate salesperson. The license will have no legal bearing in Colombia, but Paul feels it may offer our many offshore Buyer's additional confidence that he understands the fairness, full disclosure, and open sunshine regulations of the Florida Real Estate Commission. In Colombia all Contracts are in Spanish, the prices are quoted in Colombia Pesos and written laws which must be followed are in Spanish. Continued civility within the Federal Republic dictates that Colombia Law must prevail with respect from all.

Will prices decline? Yes! Will they increase again? Yes! Will they continue to repeat this vacillation? Yes! Everything on planet Earth (even the very earth itself) is elastic and moves in cycles which we individual mortals cannot control.

From my experience, people who bitch about rising prices are either ignorant of the facts, or simply are not able, for one reason or another, to make a decision or commitment to buy. As they continue in life, "kicking tires", they are forever complaining about money grabbing Sellers and Brokers who continuously raise prices. As loser's they find comfort in playing the blame game. Blame everybody, and everything, but themselves. Get a life!

For the good life, my best personal advice is Colombia, because you only get one try at the wonderful experience of living.

regards and good luck in all your realty ventures,

jim bone

jbone comments on Good Investment

Mr X is mostly right. There are exceptions, but the basic problem here is your inability to leverage your investments using OPM...Other Peoples Money. Buying realty in Colombia is a cash investment, and unless your getting some experienced advice that relates to a particular property, it´s common to make mistakes.

Another consideration is political risk. Currently, the situation is absolutely GREAT, but, it could change in a heartbeat...or the lack thereof.

Paul Juan´s website has a long list of Buyers Tips that apply to all of Colombia, as well as Cartagena, where he works.

Check out: www.cartagenarealty.com

Which has a LINK to the Spanish version.

The long answer to your question is YES, you can make some money investing in real estate, but only if you know what your doing!

If you have a little money, Colombia is a wonderful place to live! Start with "living" FIRST, as you gain local knowledge and reliable contacts. Your investment results will be improved.

Good Luck,

Jim

jbone comments on Help getting from Medellin to Pereira...Bus routes etc

Currently there are 3 bus lines going to Pereira For bus co. names and tel. numbers go to:

http://medellininfo.com/buses/index.html

This Medellin Portal has bus info. for Antioquia´s 125 cities.

Have a good trip.

jim

jbone comments on Best time of year to visit Cartagena

The Portal for Cartagena contains about three dozen hotel and lodging Home Pages complete with photos, location information, prices and contact info. where you can make your reservations with Email.

Check out: www.cartagenainfo.net

Have fun in Cartagena!

regards,

jim

jbone comments on Thinking of moving to Medellin, Colombia from New York

Medellin is a great city. Colombia´s most progressive I´m in the long term process of developing a Portal for Medellin. It´s a not for profit site, so don´t jump on me for trying to capitalize on my love for the city.

I have a small apartment in Laguito and am looking for a small apartment in Medellin.....two cities, the best of both worlds!

Currently the website is only in English with perhaps 300 pages (if printed) and nearly 800 fotos...ALL ABOUT MEDELLIN.

Please, if you will, offer me some constructive tips on how to improve the mix of info.

www.medellininfo.com

regards,

Jim Bone

jbone comments on Opinions about Investing in Exitos, for those handful here who do in fact seem savy about such things?

I was told that a major reason Sears failed was their strict following of the U.S.A. corporate policy: MONEY BACK GUARANTEE if not completely satisfied.

Seems the offer was taken literally by the local population. They "bought" everything and also RETURNED "everything". I was told that the local Cartagena store was a revolving door of "sales" and returns.

Was anybody around then, who can verify this?

regards,

Jim

jbone comments on Museo de la Caña (Cali)

Arthur, thanks for the high quality fotos very nice....
regards,

j bone

jbone comments on Financing options in Colombia

The short answer: FORGET ABOUT LOANS Loans to non Colombians are almost impossible to obtain. The interest rates, if you get the loan, are adjusted every 6 months, and the rates are much higher than in the states.

Transfer the money from your bank in your country, to your savings bank account here in Colombia.

Paul Juan, of Cartagena Realty, has more information plus a lot of
Real Estate Buyer's Tips on his website.

www.cartagenarealty.com

Good Luck,

jbone