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Title: Living in Cali? Post by: tommi on May 19, 2001, 04:00:00 AM Anyone here on the board ever moved to Colombia after visiting? If so did you make the move before or after finding your special lady? Also would like to know if anyone has any info on real estate in Cali or where I can find some info on this subject.
Title: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Craig on May 30, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Living in Cali?, posted by tommi on May 19, 2001
Maybe because I was a Police Officer in New York City, I don't scare as easy as most. My Pct. in Brooklyn was only a square mile and we had 68 homicides in a year. Frankly Cali doesn't scare me. Yes, it has problems but what deal's. I know the critic's say, kidnapping, bombs, et., but life is a gamble period. I'm not going to stop experiencing different aspects in life, unless it turns into an all out war in the streets and in Cali, it's not like that. I just saw a beautiful 5 bedroom home in the "El Ingenio" area for 600,000 peso's a month around $300 US, with a Stained glass front window...beautiful......so I'm glad many of you would never consider living in Cali, otherwise I'd have to pay more........ Craig Title: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: jim c on May 20, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Living in Cali?, posted by tommi on May 19, 2001
If you are interested in real estate call my ex novia Amanda at 326 2775. She has sold properties to americans and found apartments for them. She speaks english but if you just want to look, offer to pay her for her time. Other american men have wasted her time in the past and she is gun shy about being a free tour guide. I am sure el diablo will reccommend her as well. jim c Title: Re: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: El Diablo on May 21, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Living in Cali?, posted by jim c on May 20, 2001
Absolutely, Amanda is very nice person and was very helpful to both myself and another friend in finding apartments. Title: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Paiute on May 20, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Living in Cali?, posted by tommi on May 19, 2001
I visited Colombia to marry Graciela in Dec '74. We moved to Medellin, Col in June '79. We lived in Colombia 5 years & 5 months. My wife tried to sell her house but no one was interested. My brother-in-law living in USA bought a house in Cali. Previously owned homes in most of the "barrios" (suburbs) except for the very classy ones, have no demand. Home owners in Colombia do not frequently move as we do in USA. I believe that most homes are lived in by generations of the same family. New homes, new apartments & homes in the few wealthy "barrios" sell well. The prices seemed reasonable to me. You probably know that Colombia is second only to Venezuela in having the most beautiful women in the world. Colombians say that the city with the most beautiful women in their country is Cali. Title: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Dennis in CA on May 19, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Living in Cali?, posted by tommi on May 19, 2001
Tommi: I have to agree 100% with Pete on this. People with money are instant targets for the bad guys down there. I can't remember who said it on this board a while back, but it was "everyone there is a thief". I wouldn't go that far but many of the people resort to stealing as way of survival. And who better (and easier) to steal from than a Gringo. Funny that this subject came up because a friend of mine is in Cali right now & getting married next week. I got an email from him this morning & he has decided to "not take his novia/esposa out of the little paradise that the rest of the world thinks is too dangerous, and will make a go of it there." Don't get me wrong, he's my friend, but I think he's not thinking properly right now. And, no, this isn't his first time there; I believe this is his 3rd trip. Personally, I believe that he's in for a whole lot more than he can imagine. As Pete said, utilities are extremely costly there & they frequently stop working (ie phone service). Just remember, other than a few exceptions, visiting & vacationing somewhere is always much different than living there, especially in a war-torn country like Colombia. That's why many well to do Colombians are not living there right now. Just my .02 D Title: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Pete Eiguren on May 19, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Living in Cali?, posted by tommi on May 19, 2001
Tommi, Being in real estate here I am always interested in what it costs elsewhere,so I ask alot of people. My wifes family lives in a 3 bedroom 2 bath "house".Actually it is like a duplex with one unit up and one unit down,plus adjacent houses on both sides.It is probably 1000 sq.ft. or so.It is in an OK but not great area.They pay 240,000 pesos a month in rent,about $110 a month.They tell me it would sell for $15,000,which I think is high. In Ciudad Jardine in the south of Cali there are very nice houses on large lots,probably the best neighborhood in the city.I am told that some of them can be bought for $50,000 or so.The Crystal Palace,home of Latin Love is in this area. It is 18,000 Sq.ft.They rent it for $2700 a month I am told.Locals have guessed its value for me at $400,000,maybe less. Some americans I know have rented very nice high rise apartments,3 bedrooms,2 baths for $500 a month.I think locals can find something close for $200 a month or so. Now the problems.Utilities are very high and you can pay 40-60% of the rent for them.But the real problem is safety.I think if you lived there full time and appeared to have money the bad guys would figure you out.This would be more of a problem I think for a house than a high rise,security gated apartment.Even then I would find it very confining to have to limit my activities,where I could go,how I could appear.I have some independent income and could live very well in Cali If I wanted.I asked my wife this.Where would you rather live,here or in Cali?She said here.It is much cleaner and safer,there are abundant jobs and opportunity,and then she rattled off a list of all her favorite places here,many of which were stores.Real estate is in a real slump in Cali and I would be really tempted to buy one of those $50,000 Ciudad Jardine houses for a winter retreat if it wasn't for the safety issues.Maybe they will become $20,000 houses before things improve.Alot of rich Colombians are living in Florida right now because of safety and fear of kidnapping. Pete Title: Re: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Hamlet on May 19, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Living in Cali?, posted by Pete Eiguren on May 19, 2001
Pete, Do you know how I can find some realtors in Colombia who speak English? Title: Re: Re: Re: Call Diego Post by: Pete Eiguren on May 20, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Living in Cali?, posted by Hamlet on May 19, 2001
I would call Diego,who runs the Il Cortile Italian restaurant in Ciudad Jardine.He speaks english and has been a resource for me in other matters.If he doesn't know an english speaking realtor he will translate for you.He is very knowlegable about everything in Cali.Also he was renting his mother in laws home on a short term basis. I can't find his E-mail but his phone number is 011-572-339-1938.He isn't always there and early evening is probably the best time to catch him at the restaurant. I would proceed very cautiously if you intend to buy.Everything will look like a bargain to us.In renting the locals are probably on top of any deals.One Colombian I know had a nice 3 bedroom apartment in Ciudad Jardine for $200 a month.I think you tend to pay a gringo price for most things. Pete Title: Re: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Larry in Dallas on May 19, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Living in Cali?, posted by Pete Eiguren on May 19, 2001
Dear Pete: How high are the utilities there? They usually don't have hot water, right? Nidyan doesnt have any air conditioner either so it would basically be electricity for lights and water. Larry in Big "D" Title: Re: Re: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Pete Eiguren on May 20, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Living in Cali?, posted by Larry in Dallas on May 19, 2001
Larry, Most locals don't have hot water,so that helps for them,but if you rent an upscale place you would have this cost. The phone bills are high.There is no "free local calls",all are billed by the miniute,including computer internet time.I bought my wifes family a computer and they recently had a 200,000 peso phone bill,which my brother in law is getting blamed for.Thats a huge amount of money for them.My wife paid it for them. Pete Title: Re: Re: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: El Diablo on May 20, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Living in Cali?, posted by Larry in Dallas on May 19, 2001
The rate you pay for utilities depends on what strata your barrio is. For example in Cali there are six stratas and the higher the strata the higher the rate. As an example a strata six would be the very best barrios like Ciudad Jardin. My apartment which is located in Versalles is a strata five. The rate in six is greater than the rate in a five and so forth. I haven't done the calculation for electricity this year but from my bills, I don't believe rates have increased too much. Anyway, last year I was paying more or less 8.5 cents per KWH. This is cheaper than what I pay in California believe me, MUCH CHEAPER. In relative terms however, based on purchasing power of a Colombian versus the purchasing power of a person living in the States it is obviously more expensive. Most people who live in five and six stratas probably have hot water tanks where as the people living in the lower stratas would not. Title: Estrado Post by: Michael B on May 20, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Living in Cali?, posted by El Diablo on May 20, 2001
Yeah, I just found that out this afternoon, as a matter of fact. I was trying to look up some internet ISP rates in Colombia and every place had different rates based on the 'Estrado'. I was confused since they already had different rates depending on how many minutes per month and/or unlimited internet time you wanted. (yet from company to company, within a given city, the prices were the same for the same "Estrado" and the web sites all had a notice saying that the government regulated the rates) Y. explained it to me almost word for word like you did, except I didn't think to ask if she has hot water, just always assumed that she does (she lives in a "4"). Prices down there look pretty good (to us) until you realize that she only makes +/- $300.00 a month and she has a pretty good job, the same job would make about $2500.00 or more a month up here. Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: Living in Cali? Post by: Dennis in CA on May 20, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Re: Re: Living in Cali?, posted by El Diablo on May 20, 2001
El Diablo: Como estás? Are you still there or are you back now? How's the search progressing? Hope all is well with you. Drop me a note if have a minute. D Title: Don't get me wrong... Post by: tommi on May 19, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Re: Living in Cali?, posted by Pete Eiguren on May 19, 2001
Thanks for the info guys. I'm not thinking about moving there but wherever I go, I am always interested in what real estate markets have to offer. I'm also interested in knowing more about the issue of safety. Obviously crime is a fact of life everywhere we venture. I've been spending more time searching info on Cali on other boards and through independent postings on the web. There seems to be much in the way of crime directed at non-residents (gringos) that is not talked about on this site. Again thank you for your input. Title: Re: Don't get me wrong... Post by: david on May 19, 2001, 04:00:00 AM ... in response to Don't get me wrong..., posted by tommi on May 19, 2001
I lived there for 3 years. I would recommend renting rather than buying. And yes the utilities are much higher than here. Also, I was never robbed while I have lived there or visited Colombia. But it can happen. Sometimes obtaing a lease for an apartment can be difficult for an American, you may need a co-sighner. One last thing, apartments and homes come with nothing. No Fridge, no stove, nothing. Good luck David |