Real estate and fear: Why investors are hesitant in Chile

This time, we interviewed Roberto Oyarce, real estate broker and real estate investor in Santiago de Chile, who will tell us about the fear of investing in real estate in Chile and how to overcome it to take the best decision.

HalloCasa: “Good afternoon Mr. Oyarce. First of all, let us thank you for your time! Could you please introduce yourself to our audience and briefly describe your real estate business in Chile? “

Roberto Oyarce: “Good afternoon, thank you very much for the invitation. I am positioned quite broadly, I am a real estate broker and I also work simultaneously as a real estate investor. Basically, I give all the clients the opportunities which investors have so that each one can start a career as an investor while increasing their assets and losing a little bit their fear towards investing, in general.”

HalloCasa: “First of all, for foreigners who do not know Santiago de Chile. Could you please present it briefly?”

Roberto Oyarce: “Santiago is a very versatile city. Towards the east we are always accompanied by the immortal Andean mountains, which can be seen from anywhere in our capital. The center of Santiago has mostly investment properties and residential apartments in contrast to its outskirts, in which the presence of residential areas is more populated by houses than buildings. The Santiago metro is one of the main organs and its proximity to one of the most powerful pillars of surplus in terms of value when it comes to investing in real estate.”

HalloCasa: “Well, now you as an expert, how would you describe the real estate market in Chile? How has it moved, what are its challenges and what are its opportunities?”

Roberto Oyarce: “The Chilean real estate market is in a great boom at this moment. The real estate reform has decreased the sales of new homes and has raised the costs and conditions scaring traditional buyers away, thus boosting the rental market. But seen from the other point, this has created a great opportunity for investors, since real estate, by not selling easily, provides bonuses and discounts for us brokers to facilitate the sale of their properties.

HalloCasa: “Thank you very much. Now, we would like you to tell us about your perception about the fear that many citizens (national and foreigners) feel when it comes to real estate investment and how you think, according to your wide trajectory, they can overcome it and take one of the best decisions of their lives as it is to invest.”

Roberto Oyarce: “The fear has the size which each person allows it to become. In my country, most people are afraid to invest because their mind is driven by the fear of not being successful. Therefore, they accommodate themselves to the traditional system that gives them “security” and tranquility. This happens only because they do not know the sector, and since the fear of the unknown always pushes them to follow their life in a boring and common way, people prefer the usual.

The remedy for people to try something more, take risks and want to know other possibilities is to tear down the walls of prejudice. If people were to give themselves the opportunity to fall or lose from time to time, understanding that it is completely normal that this happens, many more would be open to invest in any product. The only thing one has to do is to change that bad perception of this reality and being willing to change it and give it a chance to do it.”

HalloCasa: “Mr. Oyarce. What do you consider the most common fears people have when it comes to real estate investments?”

Roberto Oyarce: “The fear of losing the investment, the fear to make a mistake or to be ridiculed by a bad decision. The latter is a fear embedded in idiosyncrasy and education; it is very hard to overcome.”

HalloCasa: “If we wanted to give a hierarchy to those fears, what would be the most common and biggest and which is the less habitual and easier to overcome?”

Roberto Oyarce: “The fear of the ridicule is the most difficult to overcome since it requires working for a while to understand why it occurs and how little importance it has when identifying it. I do not see an easy fear to solve but I think that in a society inclined towards entrepreneurship, it is easier to dare to invest and try something new.”

HalloCasa: “Investing in property is a good business because the family’s assets are secured. What suggestions would you give to those who want to make a real estate investment different from their own home?”

HalloCasa: “Investing in property is a good business because the family’s assets are secured. What suggestions would you give to those who want to make a real estate investment different from their own home? “

Roberto Oyarce: “I suggest them to seek advice. It is very important to trust the professionals in the area. By advice, I mean comprehensive help, not just a salesperson, but someone who helps to find the best option for each client, visualizing projected investment, pros and cons.”

HalloCasa: “Currently, what are the best options to invest in real estate in Santiago de Chile?”

Roberto Oyarce: “If you are looking for financial compensation, the best option is to buy small apartments located in central areas, they are easy to rent, good price and there is a lot of variety.”

HalloCasa: “What would be the return on the annual investment that an investor could expect in these places?”

Roberto Oyarce: “The annual return is variable and is calculated according to the settlement time of the investment. For example: at the moment, I have 5 apartments including bonuses, for which with the correct mortgage loans the investment would be 5 Million Chilean pesos. The rent of these apartments and the payment of their dividends gives a profit which is 5% monthly return on the initial investment. A good business.”

HalloCasa: “What kind of legal challenges should expect a foreigner who invests in Chile in an apartment?”

Roberto Oyarce: “Basically, the problem with foreigners who want to invest in Chile is the access to a mortgage credit, for which he needs to fulfill the same requirements of a Chilean citizen and have the definitive visa in the country. In contrast, if the foreigner wants to invest with money in cash and not using any external financing, there is no greater problem.”

HalloCasa: “What would you advise to a foreigner who lives in Chile and wants to invest in real estate there? What would you say are the best cities to do it and why?

Roberto Oyarce: “I recommend San Miguel, Santiago Centro, Florida, Puente Alto and Macul, within the metropolitan region, and regions in La Serena, Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. All these localities are of high value and some very touristy.”

HalloCasa: “Mr. Oyarce, we would like to thank you for this informative and in-depth interview. Would it be possible for interested readers to contact you if they have any follow-up questions? Thank you very much for the interview.”

Roberto Oyarce: “Yes of course. Investors can contact me through HalloCasa or contact me directly on the cell phone number +569 66207343 or email plenumpro@gmail.com. Thank you.”

HalloCasa: “Thank you so much for being with us. Always welcome to HalloCasa.”

Roberto Oyarce: “Thank you very much. Cheers.”

About HalloCasa:

HalloCasa, the marketplace for international real estate properties. HalloCasa´s mission is to build trust for vendors and investors with respect to cross-border real estate transactions. In case you are interested in more interviews, you can find them here.