Chile Forum

Going on seven years in conserge staffed dptos/condos and haven't yet been robbed or a victim of theft.

5 in Santiasco on the 19th floor.

Now close to 2 on the coast on a lower floor which I would not choose in Santiasco because of arañas jovenes malditas and their ilk.

I hope I did not just jinx myself.

I have left my dpto for times as long as 3 consecutive weeks w/o a problem.

YMMV. DYODD.

I think that location Is very important, there are neighborhoods much safer than others (and not necessarily the wealthiest, on the contrary, middle class are safer), so a prior research on location is a must

eeuunikkeiexpat wrote:Going on seven years in conserge staffed dptos/condos and haven't yet been robbed or a victim of theft.

5 in Santiasco on the 19th floor.

Now close to 2 on the coast on a lower floor which I would not choose in Santiasco because of arañas jovenes malditas and their ilk. . . .

There are arañas humanas in Chile? They're not uncommon in Buenos Aires, but very seldom (at least during my time there) above the third floor.

Tomás, I'd agree with you: the specific location matters; and, in most countries, a middle-middle- or upper-middle-income area likely will be safest. Do Carabineros keep (and make public) statistical analyses of neighborhoods for safety, various crimes, and fire and police calls? That would certainly help the newcomer in determining where to settle.

Maybe the most effective is, as El Puelche said, to go friendly to the nearest comisaria and chat with carabineros de guardia, they have more valuable info. Official statistics seldom show the reality, an unformal chat with carabineros is much more effective.

Good advice, Tomás; thanks.

NO DOUBT, you MUST
"papeles al dia" is just a motto. A carefully check of the titles is mandatory prior to buy a property in Chile

Hola Ventisquero, contestaré en mi ingles-de-tarzan por si le sirve a alguien mas:

You may do it by yourself if the property entitlement situation is clear. You have to go to the Conservador de Bienes Raices corresponding to the area where the property is located, and ask for a "Certificado de Prohibiciones y Dominio Vigente" you must check in this document that there are no prohibitions or limitations on the property (such as prendas, hipotecas, embargos, etc.) the other thing you have to verify is that the registered owner is exactly the same wich you are signing the contract and not another nam or a sucession or such. This certificate may cost around US$ 20.- not sure

Charles wife is lawyer and probably may know other things to consider, but this was the way I made when I acquired my home

If there are not prohibiciones nor hipotecas and the owner who appear in certificate is exactly the same with you will sign the contract (compra-venta) I think a lawyer would be not necessary, but in case of any doubtful situation a lawyer may save you lot of money. The surveyor may be needed if the lot is not delimited with walls or fences, anyway is good to check the delimitations and mark it very clear because you may have problems in future with neighbors, this is a very usual problem in campo.

On your original question you ask what may happen idf you left the lot abandoned for some time, well, I think is not a good idea, I left a property empty for some time years ago and some day I was advised that it was with a family living there. It was a big, big problem to take them off, after a long trial It was impossible to obtain an order for carabineros, so I made as I was advised for a judge friend of mine (I worked in courts those years) "brute force", I entered to my home with some friends and put those people in the street by force.

If you give permission to someone to live there as guards, you have to pay them a salary, otherwise you risk they alledge a sort of "comodato precario" wich gives them right to stay indefinitely in the property, is crazy but is so. Sometimes law say A but reality say B, judges hesitates a lot to order "desalojo" because is very unpopular. I would recommend you to "hacer soberania" by yourself or someone of your complete confidence.

Ventisquero wrote:So I understand the lawyer is not necessary. Is that right?
Do I need a surveyor if a I buy a standard parcela de agrado?

Penny wise, pound foolish. Spend the money for both lawyer and surveyor, and for title insurance, even if none be required by law in Chile. As is said within the bars in English-speaking lands, "the man who has himself for an attorney has a fool for a client."

Look, V., I work as a lawyer, here in the States. My Spanish may be better than yours. But I doubt that I would buy land anywhere without retaining local counsel. The choice is yours, however, and I wish you well.

I'm relieved that you may no longer be "penny-wise, pound-foolish", in the words of the old proverb, VQ. I remember meeting a practicing lawyer in Valpo who had a high reputation for skill and honesty; I'll try to find out his name and telephone number.