Canadians in Colombia
Live | Work | Grow Coffee
Living in Jardin Colombia
Jan 2020
- Tip #1 – Trust
- Tip #2 – Be generous
- Tip #3 – Verify + do your homework
- Tip #4 – Do we have to speak Spanish?
Building or Buying Real Estate in Colombia Tips and Insights
If you’ve visited Colombia and have a passion for the country or maybe you’ve researched the Top 5 Places to Retire in the world then you might be asking yourself – “how do we pull this off, how can we “safely” buy a property in Colombia and who has experience doing this?”
We’ve done it! So, let us share some of the tips and insights we’ve gathered in 3 years completing our dream home in Jardin, Colombia. As envisioned it is now more than covering it’s own costs and providing us with an amazing home away from home.
Tip #1 – Trust
The world over it’s no different. Relationships are built on trust and credibilty. Colombia is no different. Your success will depend on you networking and befriending locals, listening to their advice and getting to know them as people. This will take an investment of time. If you are buying in rural Colombia it will take even more time because things move more slowly in the mountains and the patience of campesionos (farmers) is fathomless. But it’s worth it. Once you’re trusted and you have reciprocated trust then the people will openly support you in everything do.
Tip#2 Be generous with resources and spirit
Trust also means pay your bills on time – especially with the building trades and suppliers. They can make your life easy or trecherous. Be generous. Give as much as you get or more. Be humble and genuinely respectful. And don’t for a minute think that these country “folks” aren’t sharp or savvy.
Raw land, undeveloped, our first peak at paradise!
Today, a beautiful Finca, surrounded by coffee, banana, avocado and fruits of all kinds!
Building in Jardin, Colombia
Tip #3 Verification + Do Your Homework
Again, like anywhere in the world, you need to build genuine trust and you need to track and verify. For instance, when building the house we transferred funds directly to the buiding supply company who provided us with price lists and receipts. We only paid for what we received and tracked labor costs by matching estimates with actual work completed before transferring money (daily photos and video). You can quickly transfer funds through banks and Western Union for smaller amounts.
Another BIG TIP that might save you years of regret. A Compra y venta (a “buy and sell contract”) is not a deed. Real estate in Colombia is no different than anywhere else – you need a deed for full ownership. There are many stories of foreigners notorizing a “buy and sell contract”, transferring funds, and thinking they now own the land. They don’t. YOU NEED A DEED!
So, soon as you target a house or land, ask about the presence of a deed. If they dodge the question or say a compra y vente is the same, walk away. This is where having a good lawyer on your team is crucial to finalize and verify all the details. There are many competent multi-lingual lawyers in Colombia. Do your research!
You can do this!
Tip #4 Can we pull it off if we don’t speak Spanish?
Is speaking Spanish absolutely necessary? No. But, lets not be naive. Things will take more time and you’ll have to find more allies as your proceed. Showing that you are learning Spanish as you get to know people will, of course, go a long way in building credibility. Whether you speak Spanish or not you’ll need to take your time putting infrastructure in place – banks and lawyers, etc.
This was lot of information compressed and summarized. Don’t hesitate to contact us at the website below.
For now, listen to our story in the Life with David youtube channel.
