Last week I reported to you that I had found a new home in Pocitos, in which I would be firmly ensconced by tomorrow. Boy was I wrong! This past Monday I found out that the only way I can put air conditioners in the new house is to install new electrical mains and completely rewire the house. That killed that deal!
My great-grandmother always said, one door never closes before another opens, and that proved to be right this time. My guardian angel has undoubtedly been working overtime. On Tuesday, we found a new house.
By Tuesday afternoon, the pre-contract was signed, and all the terms were agreed upon. This house is already air-conditioned throughout, and has been completely remodeled. The location is wonderful: it overlooks the Marina at Buceo. The best part about the view is that it is across a park, so no condo towers will spring up between me and the Rio de la Plata. It is one block in from the Rambla, just east of the Buceo Cemetery, and West of Aduana Oribe.
This house is big enough for offices, my residence, and for Sociedad Southron gatherings. The kitchen is very big and the patio, garden and parillero are all goodly sized.
We will have to have a housewarming, new book celebration, and Sociedad Southron organizational meeting all in one After the New Year.
So, unless you hear a very loud scream between now and Monday afternoon, you could assume that I will indeed be home for Christmas in Buceo.
Hey Southron:
So glad to hear you will be “home” for Christmas. I have been following your housing escapades since I discovered the Sociedad Southron. How did it come to pass that you found your new house all of a sudden when you were ready to move in to the Pocitos house?
The reason I’m so interested is; I’m seriously considering moving to UY, and want to know how to avoid the pitfalls associated with procuring housing in an unfamiliar country. It seems as though you’ve hit a home run with your housing experience and I would like to follow suit. Any and all suggestions will be warmly received
Continued good fortune, and Merry Christmas.
TEA
Left by muffterry on December 15th, 2006
Sounds wonderful! I’m only sorry that it’s further away from where I live. I hope this one works out!
Left by Shirley on December 15th, 2006
Oh David please don’t go away or I might be tempted rather than hear the truth listen to IL new advertisment in their magazine on land in Uruguay for less than $200 per acre. Can you verify that info? I search the internet and it seems like $1000 per acre at least. Or maybe IL knows of some swamp land for less than $200 per acre. I trust what you say because I don’t think you are trying to sell real estate. If you went away I don’t know what the people would do.
Left by suomiamerican on December 15th, 2006
I found buying a condo/home in Montevideo not much different than in the United States. One makes a written or mental list of things to be sure to check for including projections as to annual costs - e.g., taxes, fees, utilities, etc., - and then keep looking. Uruguay still functions in the older way in that the agent listing the home and your agent (and you) all visit the residence together. One has to do a little more homework on the neighborhood, but regular guide books, the US Embassy, and other sources will help one determine where to look and what to look for and to lookout for.
Also you have to have a sense of what you want in terms of space, rooms, nearness to a beach, restaurants, super markets, stores, public transportation, etc. - all the usual things one does. The agents I dealt with were all very professional and I never got the “feeling” that anyone was pulling anything on me. I am more than happy with my purchase. Dan
Left by dangog on December 15th, 2006