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Apartment searching in medellin

Will be moving to medellin to study at U de A for a year and I was kind of wondering places to start looking. Basically I will want my own place (1b/1b) and have security (hey i have my security in miami too!). 22 years old, ive seen listings on here but I didn't know if there were any websites so I can start being able to price search better. What kind of prices are normal in La Mota and Poblado (in pesos or USD doesnt matter). My friends in medellín live with their parents so they arent too much help in this subject. Is it tough finding respectable places without the colombians try taking you to be a fool because you are foreign?

And to add to this question without making a new thread. I'd be going in August - December and then visiting back for christmas and returning Jan - May. Am I going to have to apply for a visa? Would there be any problems coming and going?

Thanks!

By miami55 on Nov 4, 2009, 02:48 in Buy, Sell & Rent.

rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 4, 2009, 03:45:

miami55, if your friends in Medallo are good friends (and decently well off), ask them now if their parents would be able to sign as your guarantors. Most apartment rental agencies will require that you have someone with credit, assets, a place of their own, etc. to vouch for you since you do not have any credit or assets in the country. You can offer to pay their parents a six months up front, or a large security deposit, etc.

Otherwise, if you can get down to Medallo, there are TONS of places for rent all over town. What you can do is walk from building to building in an area that you like and start calling people listed on the For Rent signs and also talk to security guards. They can put you in touch the owners who might be more flexible than the real estate agencies.

A few web sites to start with:
http://www.arrendamientoslavilla.com/
http://www.metrocuadrado.com/servlet/co.com.m2.servlet.MostrarHome
http://www.elcolombiano.com/clasificados/default.asp

As far as visa is concerned, you will usually get a 90 day stamp upon entry which you can renew at the local DAS office. You are allowed 180 days maximum within the country per calendar year unless you have a visa.

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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kenblanquito says on Nov 4, 2009, 07:25:

If you are studying at a uni, you will be able to get them to write a letter for you, vouching that you are attending a legitimate course and that you have paid for it. With this, obtaining a student visa from DAS should present no problems but be patient with the latter as the process can be a wind-up.
Loads of rentable accommodation in Medellin and it is possible that the uni could help with that. As for guarantors, the suggestion by rhydewithdis is good. Also, if you are American, get your Colombian friends to help with the search as they will protect you against being ripped off.

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kenziejones says on Nov 5, 2009, 07:55:

Miami,

I think a student visa is the way to go, although I don't have too much personal knowledge about it. But if you are enrolled in UdeA courses, it should be a no-brainer. Poblado is far from UdeA, so daily commuting might be a bummer.

I am living at a nice place near UdeA if you are interested...please send me your email address and i'll send the details...don't really want to post them here in a public forum.

Tasting the world one hot pepper at a time!

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kenziejones says on Nov 5, 2009, 07:57:

Kenblanquito,

Do you have knowledge about getting a student visa if one is enrolled as a student, say at UdeA? I've often thought about signing up for a course or two and then getting a student visa...any help here would be great! Please let us know your insights.

Tasting the world one hot pepper at a time!

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lenincar (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 5, 2009, 16:03:

Hello Miami55 i have rooms for rent in Cristo Rey

General Information:
Cristo Rey is very cheap and the location is perfect where you can share with the Colombian culture. Is very close to the Carrefour Supermarket, few minutes to Lleras Park and Eafit University (5 min by bus). In poblado you can find tons of Hostels but they are rather on the expensive side.

The apartment has 4 Bedrooms and Includes a bed, mattress, blankets, wireless internet, TV, closet and a desk.

Shared kitchen, washing machine, TV room, telephone (unlimited local calls) bathroom and big terrace.

Things to do:
There are numerous things to see and do in my place. In Medellin there are bars everywhere, but if you want to go to the best bars then Parque lleras is the place to be, and my place is very close from there.

For museums the best one Is located in El centro it is 3 story tall, and it cost 8,000 pesos to enter. From Cristo Rey to El Centro by bus take only 10 min.

Practical information:
You can pretty much find a Atm, a bank, and internet cafes on every block in medellin. The banks near to my home is Bancolombia, Bancopopular and Banco de Occidente and many internet cafes.

Getting around & transportation:
Transportation in Medellin is very easy. They have a metro which pretty much goes anywhere in Medellin. The Metro is located about 8 blocks away from Cristo Rey, but it is a easy walk. There are tons of taxis in Cristo rey, if you go outside you can find a taxi in less then a minute. They have busses in Cristo Rey, that go anywhere in the city and very cheap. The buses in the day time come every 2 minutes.

Temperature: 23°C
Elevation: 1600 meters.
Price: USD 160 per room, per month
Address: Calle 2Sur No.50G-13 Piso 3
Tel: ( 57-4) 2556168
Cel: ( 57) 310 3126036

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Haghj00 says on Nov 5, 2009, 17:52:

How did you contact the university? phone or what?
Never seem to get a hold of them.

There is no god, never was and never will be.

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oneforyourmillion says on Nov 7, 2009, 06:56:

Bad advice. Giving your money over to friends for them to sign for you? bad idea! What if you have a falling out with your friend? No you can not trust people here like that. Most likely all will be fine but you can not do it.

Besides it is not necessary there are agencies that will do this for you. They will look at your income and reason for being here, etc. Then they will asses your risk. It could be they require you to buy a CD for the entire amount of the year rent as security but then they will sign for you and return your deposit when you complete the rental contract. This is good as gold and can do it ahead of time and find the cheapest apartment in the area you want to stay in and have all your papers ready to go to rent it on the spot. The only way to get a good deal as good deals go fast. Renters like to see this because it is insurance for them, they will get paid if you don't. It is very common in Colombia to do this when you don't have property or a signer.

You are right though as a forigner there are many waiting to prey upon you. Don't let them.

I don't know Medellin to refer you to a particular agency but your friends should be able to help with this.

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mcheasley says on Nov 8, 2009, 05:36:

Get the Univ to sent you a letter with the dates you will be in school... Go see Monica at the Colomian Consolate in Miami and she will help you with the Student Visa.. This way you can come and go whenever you want from the States to Colombia... While I can not vouch for Zoltars place since I have never seen it, you want want to get in touch with him as far as a rental... Good Luck.....................................

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sebs29 says on Nov 19, 2009, 10:11:

I have a room to let in La Mota if u want more info get in touch it has security swimming pool steam room and sport complex and is next to la mota shopping mall let me know if u interested

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