Websites with apt rentals geared for "Locals"

Dear Johnny,

The apartments that locals rent are

generally not advertised on the Web.

When you arrive in your destination city,

walk around desirable neighborhoods

looking for signs saying arriendo

or arrendar. Ask doormen and

so-called vigilantes in or around

lobbies -- they often know what

apartments are for rent. You may want

to offer a modest propina

if they contact you about an apartment

and you are successful renting it.

If there are Internet cafés around,

check the papers posted on their

bulletin boards.

Let us know how it goes for you.

FYI, the correct spelling is Colombia.

cccmedia

@cccmedia  As it read on the first page of my thermodynamics book in college; To err is human, to check is engineering :-).

Also, thanks for the tip.

@Johnny Earl

Check out influencer William "Bill" Hutchinsons of Armenia's channel for a link to a website that serves locals.  Bill periodically reviews apartments and neighborhoods of Armenia in his videos. While he hasn't been able to provide a full link to the properties due to YouTube restrictions, he at least provides the domain name of the website as well as the listing number for the properties he talks about.

By the way, Bill periodically has said in some of his videos that he "will never ask you for money in my videos" which is a direct shot at the live streamer in Armenia. Of course, Bill does offer paid services like walking tours of Armenia, he means he won't ask you for handouts/contributions.  I find him much more authentic than the live streamer.

Finally, Bill likes to close his videos saying, "I live in Paradise; so can you!"

@Mr. Barley Thank you

You should also look at Locanto, which is like Craigslist - ads are placed free, many by owners but also by agencies.  Each major city in Colombia will have its own Locanto webpages.

Here, for instance, for Bogotá, Medellín and Cali:

https://bogota.locanto.com.co/

https://medellin.locanto.com.co/

https://cali.locanto.com.co/

Look under INMOBILIARIA and then for rentals, click on Apartamentos en arriendo for apartments, Habitaciones en arriendo for rooms, and Casas en arriendo for houses.  Furnished units will generally include the description, "amoblado".

@OsageArcher  Thanks, muy amable

@Johnny Earl, Finca Raiz is a good option for rentals.  Many if not most of the Colombian apartments and houses are rented by a sign in the window, but the website  also has many options. 

Don't fall in love with the property without confirming that it is still.  Some of the listings are old to get you to call.  Especially if it's with a property management company, but in my opinio, most are accurate.

@Johnny Earl

There are several apps that you can use.  My favorite is Finca Raiz.  . This site is for locals.  Keep in mind that manybif not most properties in the non-tourist areas of Colombia are still rented by a sign in the window.  However any are online as well. 

When you find a property, contact the listed name to confirm that the property is still available.  Then you will need to schedule n appointment to see the property.  It's not like the US where they all have a keypad to access.  Some may be old listings, but I then use that to create a value for the neighborhood.  Once you narrow down your neighborhood you can always drive around and find several signs for rent.

@Johnny Earl

         It is Colombia , no offense meant not Columbia

sometimes I type without checking, my bad

@Johnny Earl

You are best with AirnB

Except for maybe Bucaramanga, most of these online websites are run through realtors , and they require  you have at least one Fiador , i.e a cosigner with property in Colombia.

Even for people who have been here 10 please years this is nearly imposible.

What you have to do , if your Spanish and knowledge of the local lay of the land is good, is go from apartment to apartment and talk to the vigilantes to see if there are any owners willing to rent directly, or talk to Colombian friends who may have contacts .

BTW youu didnt say what city in COLOMBIA you are interested in.

I got a place to rent, the solution the owner offered me - he wanted to go through an aseguradora and because I could not show a fiador, they requested a few months deposit to be placed in a fiducuenta, that is then frozen - I cannot touch - until I leave the place and the owner confirms all is paid.

@ccebhei first people have to contact the owner

@nico peligro right, thats true. I went the classical way through metrocuadrado and fincaraiz.. the local websites to find flats. About 2/3rs did not reply but I hear that often the ads are maybe old. Still, a few replied and I actually got 3 possible offers, and all would have gone with this deposit solution. I did have to go through the insurance and send them my papers though, so its a bit more time consuming than if you  just know people and ask around...  guess that would be the best...