I can’t decide whether to be angry or depressed!
Perhaps if I work at it I can generate legitimate “righteous indignation” which King Solomon suggested when he wrote “be angry but sin not”. You decide…
As you know, we have been talking with various realtors in order to vet them for you. During the course of these conversations I have been told some stories that really, really bother me. PEOPLE ARE BEING SENT TO MONTEVIDEO FROM INTERNATIONAL LIVING’S “URUGUAY EXPERTS” (in BA of course) AND ARE EXPECTING TO FIND APARTMENTS ON THE RAMBLA FOR U$S20,000!
This is scandalous! It wastes the time of everyone involved AND then the poor realtors are accused of trying to “rip off” the prospective investors by charging them “gringo prices”.
I remember when International Living was a respected source of information. Sadly, it seems to have degenerated into nothing more than a highly profitable propaganda machine within Agora Publishing’s US$200 million per year media empire.
Uruguay is not an unique case! They are doing the exact same thing in their barrage of stories about Montenegro–I place I love and where I have lived for two years. Twice I have warned them that they are leading their readers down the primrose path to disaster, and they have never given me even the courtesy of a response, much less modified their sales pitches. Judge for yourselves:
On November 15, 2005 and twice subsequently, I have sent the following email to International Living after fruitlessly trying to get a human being to answer the phone at their editorial offices.
I am a subscriber of several years standing. I have been trying to ring your editorial offices in Ireland for more than two weeks. I have contacted neither a human being nor even a voicemail. Hence this email to multiple persons.
You have recently had a series of articles about Montenegro.
I lived in Montenegro for two years. I love Montenegro; but it is a dangerous and lawless place because the government it utterly corrupt!
I bought a bank in Montenegro. We had a contract with the government and a guarantee in LAW of our charter and privileges until 2011.
Instead, in 2003, the law was changed, all foreign bank charters were revoked and everything was seized. I refused to leave the country and sued.
On June 1st, 2003, 15 armed men broke into my house in Podgorica and forced me to leave the country with my suitcase, my laptop and my dog. The stole everything I had, cars, household goods, money, collectibles.
The US consulate refused to intervene to help me. When my brother called our congressman, who in turn called the Embassy, they finally interceded, but by that time, the police couldn’t find anything. Amazing.
As long as the former communists still rule in Montenegro, no one is safe! For you to promote anything there without that warning is extremely reckless and fall below your usual high standards.
I would love to speak with someone in detail about this, if there is a live person somewhere willing to speak to me.
International Living is entitled to publish whatever they wish, but then they must bear the burden of knowingly publishing bad information and deliberately misleading their readers.
What do you think?
Great artical it confirms my recent feelings about International Living!This is the same pattern they used in Panama and Nicaragua.My local expat in Panama told me it’s funny to see all there seminar people running around and driving up prices! which they get a cut of! I always visit a country at least 4 times and talk to as many locals as I can. This doesn’t guarantee anything but at least you have a good feeling about living there! Besides Uruguay I have been researching Argentina. I have found a great web site at www.apartmentsba.com look under argentina real estate consulting & property management, go through there drop down menue. It has a wealth of info about the process and costs something you wont find with IL even when you pay for ther expert advise??
Left by Robert Vogt on September 27th, 2006
I totally agree with you. Possibly the way to teach these thugs a lesson (I think they – and people like them- must be halted) is to expose them and thus seriously hurt them in their wallet. I am sure that amongst the people you communicate with, we could collectively indicate to them that their arrogance is not accepted or tolerated. There is only so much that ‘LAW” can deal with, I think it is time that we start to self regulate – morality and ethics is necessary in our new world that is starting to take place. Cheers Rui
Left by Rui Martins on September 27th, 2006
No need to despair, you’re doing the right thing and fighting the good fight. I came upon your website early in my research about Montevideo. It has been a great resource for information, but anyone using the internet for information and reasearch on a topic should look at all of the information available, not just one site. If people trust International Living, and act on the information, well I guess they will learn a lesson, and hopefully will not suffer to much in the bargain. Keep posting, sites such as yours are obviously the more balanced and well reasoned. There will always be a sucker out there who will fall prey to some commercial site. But, sites such as yours, as they grow and develop, will help to marginalize their effect.
Left by ken mandel on September 28th, 2006
These people are totally scandalous !! They offer no real useful/factual information and drive real estate prices out of the stratosphere for the locals and expats looking for a home. Lets bombard them with emails and log onto other websites to discuss them.Debbie
Left by Debbie on September 28th, 2006
We get the point…you hate International Living. Why not focus more of your efforts on positive things rather than why IL sucks.If your readers believe that true real estate investing for the purpose of turning a profit is as easy as buying a Live and Invest manual that is 12 months old, with 12 months old real estate prices and developments, then I have a great apartment for sale in Iraq. Thank International Living for providing great information about teriffic countries around the world that we would otherwise never hear about.
Left by Scott on September 28th, 2006
No, you obviously don’t get the point at all. Why is it OK for me to expose a lousy internet provider here to save people grief, but not expose huge lies about people hyping real estate?I don’t mind that you disagree with me, but I do mind your rotten attitude and your personal attacks. I especially resent your comment ” Why not focus more of your efforts on positive things “. If you have read this blog at all, you will find that it is almost entirely positve–a hell of a lot more positive than your snotty comment.Lastly, many of my readers agree with me that the quality of IL has gone down as they have sacrificed intergrity for sales. Why should we “Thank International Living for providing great information…” when they are in fact lying about real estate opportunities here and in MANY OTHER PLACES, and outright ignoring the dangers of confiscation in Montengro is inexcusable.What are you, a shill for Agora Publishing? If one wants good information about countries without IL’s self-serving slant, I strongly urge people to read EscapeArtist.com. They present a variety of points of view and don’t lie as a matter of practice.
Left by The Southron on September 28th, 2006
I AGREE WITH YOU ON IL. R ALL OVER THE WORLD.JUST ASK WHAT A COUNTRY’S PER CAP. INCOME,AND YOU CAN COME UP WITH AN IDEA WHAT ANYTHING COSTS. I’M FROM PULASKI TN LOOKING SOUTH AND WILL BE THERE IN OCT. IS THE BANKING SOUND AND PRIVATE OR ARE FOREIGN BANKS IN URUGUAY.
Left by william shwab on September 28th, 2006
I believe I have read every word on this site. Whenever anything has been stated that pertained to a vendor or service provider, be it positive or negative, it has always been backed up with facts. Almost every contributor to this site has researched more than one resource or has had personal experience in Uy. There have been no personal attacks or insults that I can recall. Why, Scott, have you decided that you must defend IL and be insulting to Southron and those of us who have gotten vast knowledge and assistance from these postings? Do you think we are so dumb as to require your (non fact backed) input? Likely IL does not need your defense and this site will not be damaged in any way by YOUR NEGATIVITY. If you are interested in an upbeat experience read more of this blog. If you aren’t please allow this community to enjoy one another and benefit from shared knowledge and experience.
Left by Clara on September 29th, 2006
The banking remains sound with good banking secrecy laws in place and enforced. Theer are foreign, and even US banks here, but also local ones as well. It is interesting to note that Bank of America has sold it’s interest in Uruguay’s BankBoston to Brazil’s Bank Itaú.
Left by The Southron on September 29th, 2006
HelloRegarding the post: ::::exhale:::: they’re everywhere…not as much as here though. I’ve been reading your site since you started (got it from Gabo-http://fromuruguay.blogspot.com, another site that I was searching)I have to say…it has been (and still is…) a pleasure to read your comments, and stories, and everything in between. I’ve been thinking about uruguay since I left at age 13…after 30 years and then some…I’ve never forgot uruguay. I’ve gone back in the 90’s a few times, and it became my long term goal. Thank you for the information and all…It’s incredibly useful in convincing my girlfriend that Urugauy is like a step back in the right direction of human evolution…people seem distant from all the stuff being fed daily through the boob tube here in the states. The politics of arrogance and incompetence are at the front of everything that’s so wrong in america today, that I figured having another place to raise a family would be a good idea. Uruguay seems like the best place - and thanks to you, it makes my mind at ease…Again…thanks.And if you ever need any graphics for your site, ask me..I would love to help you make some cool images of uruguay for you.
Left by Tito on September 29th, 2006
Hi, we’re going to be visiting Montevedio in December for 1 month. Any ideas where we can find a good deal on a house to rent? We would like a 3-4 bedroom with Pool and use of a car possibly. We need it relatively close to Yacht Club UruguayoThanks for any help.
Left by Pearson on October 3rd, 2006
anything pertaining to real estate would be a huge help
Left by craig on October 21st, 2006
Re; property prices. This from a friend of mine who lives in Montevideo “Yesterday was a rainy day, so I stayed here and went to visit my friend Graciela, in his new apartment: good investment. I´d liked you had could see it! It is situated 2 blocks away from Radisson, on a 5th level in a 45 years old flat. The view is fantastic: to the port, and you can see the upper part of churches, and old buildings. Very well sunlighted, with a small balcony, two bedrooms furnished with a big cupboard each.I have to admit that there´s some things to repair, but even in its state, could you guess the price?? …..U$S 26.000 : a very bargain. That was a very good business. I ´m not telling you that it is a nice place to live ( for me) because I need place for my practice, it is a very desserted neighborhood, and the vast majority of people that you can see in the street, is the one you saw for the first time in Montevideo, and you became desappointed about. Remember? What do you think…good investment for tomorrow? Our Dutch friend has bought for renovation in Parque Rodo. 280 meters square for U$S70.000 Build in 1910.”
Left by PT on October 22nd, 2006