You seem smart and determined
[QUOTE=RiceRocket99;2533462]Thanks for the general advice. I'm not buying to invest, but to eventually live in Medellin. I don't think I'll need a lawyer since I do have some trustworthy paisa friends who live in Bello who can guide me on the ground when I return in a few months. I carry 2 passports (Panama & USA), so I can theoretically live all year in Colombia by maxing the 180 days on both passports. I would have to leave country 1-2 twice a year, which I plan to do anyways once I'm settled in Medellin full time. Those that asked why I'm buying if I'm not living there yet, why not! I have a network of good pros and non pros and I can look into renting it out. But I don't need the rental income, so I can keep the apt empty if I want to or maybe even let a non pro I've known for years stay on the free just to take care of it.
And I'm not even looking at gringo areas like Poblado or Laureles. Obrero / Niquia / Cabanas are the top 3 barrios on my list in Bello. Hot chicks just everywhere, even after all these years in MDE, girls in Bello just on a different level. Sabaneta in the south is also on my list. It's a nice and chill town and close to Envigado / Poblado as well. So it's either up north or down south for me.[/QUOTE]But clearly you do not know about the Colombian squatters law. You have never had any rental problems in Medellin? I would never allow anyone to stay in my property if I was not Colombian. Don't fool yourself about friends in Colombia! In 4 years I have 2 friends from this Board and my current girlfriend, other than that, everyone I have ever met in Colombia has had a motive. The greatest concern about buying a property in Bello came from my girlfriend and the owner of the home that I was going to buy in Bello. Even the owner made me aware that everyone in the neighborhood pays a "Vacuna" a protection tariff to the local / neighborhood bosses. My girl quickly made me aware that she was afraid and did not know how much the Vacuna would be, especially being in a relationship with a Gringo. So good luck on obtaining property in Colombia. My only advice is make sure you have your legal ducks in a row! Pollo Negro is out!!
I Still Think You Should Retain An Attorney
[QUOTE=RiceRocket99;2533462]Thanks for the general advice. I'm not buying to invest, but to eventually live in Medellin. I don't think I'll need a lawyer since I do have some trustworthy paisa friends who live in Bello who can guide me on the ground when I return in a few months. I carry 2 passports (Panama & USA), so I can theoretically live all year in Colombia by maxing the 180 days on both passports. I would have to leave country 1-2 twice a year, which I plan to do anyways once I'm settled in Medellin full time. Those that asked why I'm buying if I'm not living there yet, why not! I have a network of good pros and non pros and I can look into renting it out. But I don't need the rental income, so I can keep the apt empty if I want to or maybe even let a non pro I've known for years stay on the free just to take care of it.
And I'm not even looking at gringo areas like Poblado or Laureles. Obrero / Niquia / Cabanas are the top 3 barrios on my list in Bello. Hot chicks just everywhere, even after all these years in MDE, girls in Bello just on a different level. Sabaneta in the south is also on my list. It's a nice and chill town and close to Envigado / Poblado as well. So it's either up north or down south for me.[/QUOTE]Sounds like you are in an enviable position, and have disposable income as well. However as "trust worthy" as you think your Paisa friends might be, you really should have a Colombian lawyer who handles real estate transactions to guide you as it is not a straightforward process for a foreigner versus a citizen buying real estate, and you could be in for some very unpleasant surprises. As far as your motivation to live in Medellin full time, totally enviable as I mentioned and hat's off to you in preparing to do so.