Should I buy or rent a home in Colombia?
If you have not spent a lot of time in Colombia, you should rent before even thinking about buying. We asked expats there about the buy vs. rent decision...
"We are currently renting, but when I get there permanently next year, we will be buying. We actually were able to sign up for a government plan through a local bank. We make monthly deposits & in a year, they'll offer us our mortgage," mentioned another expat when asked about moving to Cali, Colombia.
"We knew we had come to stay for several years or more. So we rented an unfurnished apartment. Some friends referred us to locals and the process was very easy. We bought a few things new like mattresses, TV and recliners, but all the rest of the furniture was used and we got some bargains. We had to buy lots of accessories, and those cost more than we counted on, but we have them now and they aren't going anywhere. In 3+ years, we have had 5 different homes. We could not have had all our adventures if we had purchased a home," commented one expat who made the move to Medellin, Colombia.
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Other Questions:
- What do I need to know before retiring in Colombia?
- How do I meet people in Colombia?
- What is life like in Colombia?
- Is there a lot of crime in Colombia?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Colombia accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in Colombia like?
- Is the cost of living in Colombia high?
- What advice do you have for expats having a baby in Colombia?
- What are healthcare services like in Colombia?
- Is the cost of living in Colombia high?
- What type of recreational facilities are in Colombia?
- What is the weather like in Colombia?
- Are there good restaurants in Colombia?
- Where will I buy groceries and do other shopping in Colombia?
- What are the visa & residency requirements in Colombia?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Colombia?
- What do I need to know when buying property in Colombia?
- Are foreigners allowed to own property in Colombia?
- What appliances are typically included in a rental?
Should I buy or rent a home in Colombia?
If you live in Colombia, newcomers to Colombia would love to hear your answer to this question.
About the Author
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.
Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.