Country Life In Argentina: What's It Really Like?

[steveinbsas]

If anyone is looking for a mini-estancia (horse property) for $220K USD (not including the horses) that isn't very far from the city, here is one to consider:

http://www.remax.com.ar/Barns-for-conversion-For-Sale-OPEN-DOOR-Lujan_420051064-217

 

[polostar88]

Does anyone have any clues on RENTING a modest place in Salta or Cafayate or that region? I know in rural Peru you can rent a place for as little as $100/month or maybe $150. Does anything comparable exist in the Argentinian countryside?

 

[steveinbsas]

Does anyone have any clues on RENTING a modest place in Salta or Cafayate or that region? I know in rural Peru you can rent a place for as little as $100/month or maybe $150. Does anything comparable exist in the Argentinian countryside?

I had lunch with several Argentine friends yesterday and mentioned this. The immediate response was that because Cafayate is a tourist destination there wouldn't be any cheap rentals. Another response was that any "long term" rental would require a guarantee. That was added by someone who recently rented a nice "house" in a nearby town for $2500 pesos per month. He was able to provide a guarantee using a lot he owns in Pehuen Co.

I first became aware of Cafayate when I began searching for a "country home" in early 2010 and (using google) found the link to this article in the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.c...wanted=all&_r=0

It was in this article that I first read about La Estancia Cafayate, a high end development comprised of 360 home sites (from 1,500 square meters to 17,000 square meters) catering to wealthy foreigners (as well as a few Argentines). Apparently (based on what I've read on other websites) all of the smaller lots were sold at an average price of about $100 USD per square meter. It's worth noting that (in spite of the economic conditions in Argentina during the past four years) the developers fulfilled all of their promises to build the golf course, polo fields, tennis courts, clubhouse with a restaurant, and the Grace Hotel is up and running. The target of 50 homes by the end of 2014 has been surpassed by at least ten (based on the number of homes I could see in photos from google earth).

One of the challenges faced by those who are building homes at La Estancia Cafayate is finding any place to rent in Cafayate during the construction of their homes. Obviously, those who can pay $150K USD for a building site (as well as about $350 per month for "maintenance" fees ta LAC) are going to be prime candidates for long term rentals (even modest ones), and of course they have the property with which to provide a guarantee.

Here's a link to the La Estancia Cafayate web site: http://www.lec.com.ar/

Here is some interesting information about Donald Hess, who is perhaps the wealthiest "foreigner" living (about six months per year) in Salta:

http://donaldhess.cr.../donaldhess.php

PS: It is not at all necessary to be wealthy to be an art collector who enjoys "country life" in Argentina.

And here's a scathing (as well as entertaining) blog post about La Estancia Cafayate that was written by an Argentine who now lives in Ireland:

http://ferfal.blogsp...a-cafayate.html

(I couldn't load it in IE but was able to in mozilla/firefox.)

La Estancia Cafayate was conceived by author Doug Casey who has referred to the project as "a bit of a gulch" as well as "the best development in the world at any price." The latter claim may be arguable, and while ferfal makes some interesting points in his blog post, the bottom line is that the developers delivered what they promised.

 

[steveinbsas]

Here are two of the "cheaper" properties that I found in my latest monthly search of "affordable quintas/residential farms/country homes" for sale in Argentina:

This fixer-upper in Villa Carlos Paz in Cordoba is listed for $320.000 ARS:

http://www.remax.com...ba_420201024-97

This one (also a fixer upper) in Santa Fe has more than twice as much (nicely wooded) land and is listed at $450.000 ARS:

http://www.remax.com...al_420121058-64

This one is in Gran Buenos Aries. Perhaps it's closer to the kind of property you are looking for, Hybrid-san:

http://www.remax.com...ez_420091101-23

With a purchase price $90,000 USD it could probably turned into a real gem without coming close to your maximum budget of $150K.

It is not as big as you have previously specified (only 1735 m2 vs 2500-5000 m2), but it is already divided into three lots and one of them has a guest house. Your garden would be smaller than you prefer, but I'll bet you'll still be able to grow much more than you can consume.


PS: It's possible to download the pdf's for future reference/comparison (after the listing expires).

 

[lucha54]

Steveinbsas, you are awesome!!!!

 

[franko]

It depends where. Argentina is a big country. You're better off in a place that attracts tourists - but not too many - because that's what could attract you as well. You might try the Traslasierra Valley in Córdoba province. Villa de las Rosas even has a Waldorf School.

 

[Hybrid Ambassador]

OK, steveinbsas many thanks to you, definetely a must for me to visit your woods when visiting Bs As soon to come.
How is the IT infrascture IE, internet connectivity, Sat T.V. reception etc.? Sooner I can do is around December 2014
before X-Mas time, ambient temp arounds 35 C? ..Can not take too much heat and humidity, unless I'm in the steam/sauna room!

 

[French jurist]

4 hectares in Mendoza with a house in poor state, planted... 32.000 USD. (OBO)
Usucapion/derechos de posesion?

http://inmueble.merc...inava-bowen-_JM

 

[steveinbsas]

4 hectares in Mendoza with a house in poor state, planted... 32.000 USD. (OBO)
Usucapion/derechos de posesion?

http://inmueble.merc...inava-bowen-_JM

I've seen "derechos de posesion" used to describe a property which the seller did not have title in their name but had occupied the land for a period of many years and would transfer the "rights of posession" they had to the buyer. I did not see this phrase in the ML link you provided. The ML listing includes: "La finca se encuentra con todos los papeles al día, disponible para escrituración inmediata." That means the seller has clear (unencumbered ) title in their name(s) and the property can be sold with "up to date papers."

The father of one of my Argentine friends bought a vacant lot with "derechos de pocesion" next to his house over ten years ago. He used the land to store materials for his shop (he's an iron worker and has a shop on the adjacent property). Recently, the seller came to him and told him he had to move the materials off the property as he had sold it to someone else. My friend's father was not aware of the law that stipulates that if he did not build on the land that he bought with "derechos de posesion" within ten years that the previous "owner" could reclaim it and sell it to someone else.

At least that's the story as I understand it (as told to me in castellano by my friend).

 

[steveinbsas]

ATTENTION HYBRID-SAN!!!!! THIS ONE'S FOR YOU!!!!!

http://inmueble.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-509746921-espectacular-quinta-de-1-hectarea-zona-sierra-de-los-padres-_JM

9000 m2 property near Mar Del Plata, 200 m2 house, $145k USD, lots of trees, tennis court, fountain, swimming pool...ASIAN ACCENTS (and ready for more)!!!!




















I instantly fell in love with this property. Given your tastes and budget, I seriously doubt you will ever find anything that will beat it for value and location!!!!

The price may be negotiable, but it is also a possibility that this property would have been priced 25-30% higher (in dollars) four or five years ago.