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CopyRight Apartments Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires apartments -luxury- Internet; cellphones



(Recoleta)
Buenos Aires Argentina
(+54-11) 5254-0100 or 4800-1700
USA # (646)-827-8796 / Fax: (646) 304-1748
info@apartmentsba.com

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Argentina Real Estate Consulting & Property Management

 

CONSULTING SERVICES

Buying property in a foreign country can be a difficult and cumbersome process.  There are many pitfalls and extra expenses if you are not familiar with the process of buying a home or apartment here.  Apartmentsba.com is one of the largest buyers in the world of residential real estate in Buenos Aires. We have been researching the real estate market for the past several years and evaluating the best opportunities for ourselves and our many clients. 

Our company spent valuable time and considerable expense to seek out the best lawyers, real estate agents, money transfer firms and many other essential key personnel that are necessary to purchase property here  safely and correctly.  Our reputation is stellar throughout the real estate community in Buenos Aires as well as the investment community around the world.

It is essential to receive valuable input from an American or foreigner that has successfully purchased multiple properties here.  Find out what problems they might have had and what worked best for them.  This type of information is extremely valuable and will save time and money.

Apartmentsba.com offers consulting services to foreigners and locals purchasing property in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   We have gone through the process from start to finish on dozens of properties for ourselves and our consulting clients. We work with the most respected people in the real estate industry.   Our company is well respected by our clients, real estate companies and even competing agencies.  We are one of the only apartment rental or property management companies that owns several of the properties listed on their websites.

Our consulting services fee is nominal and will help you save valuable time and money.  We will walk you through the process of buying a property here, we will refer you to the best real estate agencies with English speaking agents, competent and highly respected attorneys and money transfer firms.  Our consulting fee includes setting up power of attorney so we can purchase your property for you on your behalf.  Many of our clients have purchased properties without having to fly to Buenos Aires to go through the property closing.

Our assistance doesn't stop with the purchase of your new property.  We will assist you after you take possession of your property with referrals to electricians, painters, and general contractors that are all very affordable and highly respected. 

 

"Mike at Apartmentsba.com has been of great help and a tremendous
resource to me during my last apartment purchase in BA.  His advice,
all along the process, and his great knowledge of the real estate market
have actually saved me a lot of money (u$s 2,400), which I would have
ended up paying as an unnecessary tax fee, if I had gone with my realtor's recommendation only. 

I
also met Mike in person and found him to be very intelligent and ethical, 
and I am extremely impressed with his insight and competence in this
business.  I highly recommend him as a real estate consultant in Buenos 
Aires to anybody without reservation".
                                                     - Mark G. - USA

- Mark is an American that put an offer on a 2 bedroom apartment in Recoleta. Mark used his own realtor and found a beautiful property. Once the offer was accepted, Mark's realtor and attorney told him that he must pay an additional tax when he signed the final contract for his new apartment.  I met with his realtor and was surprised when he told me that he has been charging his clients the additional tax.  Our company was adament in telling his realtor that he was making a mistake and costing his clients thousands of dollars.  Our company researched the laws before buying our properties and this is just one example where even local realtors and lawyers are giving out incorrect information and costing their clients thousands of dollars.  Mark's realtor later admitted he was wrong and admitted costing his clients thousands of dollars. If ABA didn't intercede, we believe Mark would have been charged $2,400 extra based on wrong advice.

 

Robert & Monica Day - New York, USA

 

When my brother and I decided to purchase an apartment in Buenos Aires we spent weeks searching for accurate information about the process. The internet seemed
littered with conflicting facts and incomplete information.  More worrisome still were the numerous posts from people who had been scammed in one way or another. Obtaining a verifiable, understandable and correct description of the purchase process seemed impossible.

Finally we found
Michael's website. He responded to our questions with complete and clear answers, usually within minutes, always by end of day.  Initially we hired him as a real estate consultant/adviser. In this role, he was absolutely essential to our success, introducing us to a trustworthy real estate agent, a lawyer, and a bank and bridging the gap for us between the reality of local business practices and our own expectations. 

Throughout the two weeks it took us to find our apartment, he was always available for last minute questions, addressing our concerns and coordinating our "team".  He gave us a tour of apartments he was renting and precise information on what sorts of properties were most desirable, what rents they were getting and how long they were booked.

At the end of the two weeks we made an offer on a lovely apartment.  As the negotiations and counter-offers grew complicated, and we became increasingly uncertain, he stepped right up, meeting with us to fully explain the details and discuss our options.  When we met with the seller to sign the finalized agreement, he was there.

As individual buyers purchasing a single property in a foreign country, with no local contacts or connections, we were taking on an enormous risk. By working with
Michael's company we felt like we became part of a larger concern, a known local entity with an ever increasing share of the real estate rental market. Because Michael is continually referring his clients to a select list of business contacts, they have a vested interest in maintaining an honest relationship with him. We became part of this relationship and were taken seriously and treated fairly. 

 

By the time we returned for the closing, we had decided to hire Michael as our property manager.  In this role, he advised us everything from where to buy furniture to what sort of amenities rental clients expect.  And, when the apartment is ready to be rented, he will be the ones handing over the keys.

Michael is one of the most capable, motivated and professional business people we have ever worked with. As well, he is a good and trustworthy person who cares deeply for the success of his clients.  We highly recommend him to anyone intending to purchase real estate in Argentina.

 

Richard Davella  - New York, NY  USA

In 1997, my dear friend Gloria after thirty years of working and living in Manhattan retired and moved to her country of origin Argentina. She came back to Manhattan once a year to visit and we would get together for dinner. She always talked about Buenos Aires and invited me to come to visit. I finally decided to take her up on her offer three years ago. From the very first time I visited her in Buenos Aires, I fell in love with the city.  The people are friendly, the food is wonderful and the architecture reminded me of Paris, and last but not least the prices were amazingly affordable.  I felt as if I were wealthy.  I did not have to check menu prices!  Even the most expensive restaurants such as the Alvear Palace Hotel were in my budget.  

 

For my second trip to Buenos Aires my partner and I decided to take a complete package tour which included a tourist grade hotel and air fare.  The price was right but the hotel room was a major disappointment.  During that trip, I met an American tourist who told me that they had a temporary apartment rental in the city.  I took down the information and booked with them on my third trip.  The apartment was a great alternative to a hotel.  I got the idea to buy an apartment and rent it out when I wasn’t using it.   I looked around a good bit and found a beautiful apartment with a lot of potential so I hired my friend Gloria’s lawyer and started the real estate buying procedure.   The biggest problem I had was that I don’t understand Spanish and the lawyer did not speak English.  It was getting very complicated quickly and I did not have a clue to what was going on.  I was becoming more anxious every day.

 

I heard about Mike with www.apartmentsba.com and decided to give him a call.  Michael took the time over the telephone to explain all of the different things that could go wrong if you did not have a good lawyer that you can fully communicate with (which I could not at all with the attorney that I started out with) so I decided to hire Mke as a real estate consultant for his obvious expertise with the real estate buying process in Buenos Aires.   Although I was using my friend's lawyer I thought it was a good idea to use Mike as a sort of insurance.  Thank God for that day!!  I did not know how close I was to a total disaster situation.   

 

Mike reviewed all the paperwork from the previous lawyer and he found many flaws from the beginning.  I switched to the lawyer that Michael recommended that spoke fluent English.  The new lawyer got involved but had more work than he bargained for.  As it turned out, the original lawyer made many mistakes while preparing the documents for the purchase/sale of the apartment I was buying.  He had overlooked the fact that there was a lien on the apartment and the apartment and the apartment # on the deed did not even match the actual apartment I was buying. For all I know, I could have been buying a storage room in the basement.  It was a huge mess!    I began to get discouraged and felt that this property was never going to be mine.  Mike told me to be patient and that his lawyer was the best real estate attorney in Argentina so if anyone could fix the problems, his attorney could.  In time, Mike proved to be exactly correct. 

 

I honestly don’t know what I would have done or how badly things could have gone if I didn’t get involved with Mike and Apartmentsba.com.  Mike is a very honest, professional and dedicated person.  He always answered emails immediately, even after midnight and when we was on vacation.   When it was time to close I wired the money for the closing to him and he held it for me for two weeks until I arrived in BA to close on the property.  There are not too many people that I would have done something like that and trusted.  

 

I was quite pleased with how things unfolded.  I hired Mike and his team to oversee renovations on my apartment while I am in New York.  Everything is going smoothly and on schedule.  When the work is complete and the apartment is finished, ApartmentsBA will be managing my property.  I will be very proud to be on the list of apartments managed by Mike’s company.  If you are contemplating buying real estate in Buenos Aires or even just interested in renting a luxury apartment for a vacation or business trip, I highly recommend Mike and his company.   You will be happy that you used their company.  I know I was.  Thanks Mike!

 

Umberto Ciccolella - USA

 

Mike & Luciano - We would like to thank you both so much for all that you have done and continue to do to help us with our move from Mexico to Buenos Aires.  Your consulting services have been so valuable to us.  Your entire staff is very knowledgeable as well as always very helpful and pleasant to work with.

 

Luciano was critical in negotiating the purchase of our apartment and obtaining the best price possible. In addition, all of the services, vendors and contractors you have recommended have been wonderful to work with as well as honest and reliable.

 

Again, thank you so much and we will highly recommend your company to anyone thinking of moving to Buenos Aires or investing here.

 

 

Fields Marshall  - USA

 

I found Michael through his webpage in June 2005. At the time, I was considering investing in property in Buenos Aires but I didn’t have any definite ideas on how to proceed.  Having never even bought a property in the US, I had many apprehensions about purchasing a house abroad. Needless to say, I was very glad to find Michael through his webpage. Not only did he seem to be just the person I was looking for but he had a solid business plan and a way for me to rent my apartment.

 

I love Argentina and Argentine people but Argentines have a different way of doing business and negotiating deals. I wanted to deal with someone with whom I could relate to and understand from my own background in the USA, someone who could give me correct and honest information about buying property in Buenos Aires. Most importantly, someone whom I could trust and that was looking out for my best interest.

 

Michael has been great in all these regards. Michael found a great property for me and negotiated the purchase while I was overseas in Italy. My property purchase has been rented without any photos and although my apartment is still in remodeling it looks like there will be no problem renting out my apartment thanks to this website and marketing efforts.

 

I would gladly recommend his services to anyone buying property here in Argentina. I have seen firsthand other property purchases without his services and can say that it is very worth your money to hire him to make sure you avoid the many, many pitfalls of buying property in Argentina.

 

Feel free to contact me with questions.

 

Dave Wiggins  - California,  USA

 

I am a new property owner in Buenos Aires and have used the services of Michael and Apartmentsba.com to obtain and remodel my property. I have worked with Michael since November 2004. I was always in love with Buenos Aires and am nearing retirement; thus I saw a need to find a suitable place in BA that I could occupy part time and lease the other times. Buenos Aires is a living/breathing city where people for the most part work where they live. It is so very different from the North American existence of driving between the house and a variety of parking lots to carry on with one’s day-to-day necessities. Plus, the city is very historical and is replete with beautiful architecture. The residents of Buenos Aires, the Porteños, live their lives with dignity and love of life.

 

So, I found Michael through his web pages and started a dialog with him about my hopes for owning an apartment in Buenos Aires. Michael was my full-service consultant through every stage of the project, including brainstorming the type of place that was suitable (matching it to my interests and life style), doing reality tests with me as the individual about what I wanted for myself versus what was available, placing offers on properties, obtaining legal representation, designing a renovation and securing a reputable architect, interfacing with the architect and crews during the construction phase, furnishing and outfitting the apartment with amenities, dealing with a recalcitrant neighbor, marketing the property on the internet and securing clients to rent the apartment, setting a fair price, and maintaining records. This was all done with me in the San Francisco Bay Area and Michael managing all processes for me and communicating daily on developments.

 

Without exception, Michael hires only the most reputable consultants (lawyers, architects, etc) that are available, and cultivates positive relationships with those consultants that he values. Everyone associated with the development of my project had the highest standards for integrity and customer focus thanks to the selection process that Michael consistently employed. Michael’s policy is to exclude from his projects, and insulate his clients from, any businesses and individuals who do not uphold his standards, and it has paid off in a real way in the case of my project. I think Michael is motivated by a desire to build relationships with only the more responsible clients/owners and service providers (real estate agents, lawyers, contractors, etc). He develops these long-term, relationships to keep his business running smoothly over the long haul, and does not sacrifice the interests of his clientele for short-term gain.

 

I can confidently recommend the services of Michael and Apartmentsba.com

 

Brad Goldman  California,  USA

 

 

 

This is the first testimonial that I have ever written for anyone.  One of the things I like the most about Mike at www.apartmentsba.com is that he is honest and he always returns my communications to him very promptly.

 

I never went to Argentina before, and one of the best things Mike did for me was inform me to where the best areas to purchase an apartment for rentals was.  The real estate agent I was using tried to convince me to purchase in a different area that was simply not desirable for rentals.  She had no clue on buying real estate as an investment and only wanted me to purchase a property that she would make a nice commission on.   If I did that, my apartment would not have been as valuable since just as in the USA, location is EVERYTHING.  Mike found me a beautiful apartment in Recoleta, which is one of the nicest neighborhoods in South America.

 

Mike was also able to negotiate a lower price on the apartment.  It was clear to see the various realtor companies involved knew who he was and that he clearly understood what a fair price in that area was.   The savings alone more than paid for the consulting fee I paid him to assist me.  He had an excellent English speaking attorney that closed the transaction and Mike was there to sign the title for me.  It was a very smooth process.

 

I also hired him to oversee the furnishing and renovation of my new apartment.  He essentially oversaw the complete renovation of the bathroom that was redone with a Jacuzzi tub, put in air conditioning throughout the apartment.  I’m very happy with the job that he did for me both as a real estate consultant and also as a project manager getting my apartment ready for rentals.  In fact, after only a few days since he added the apartment to his site I already have a booking and expect it to do well in the future.  Thanks Mike!

 

Grant W. -  California, USA

I was warned by colleagues and friends that purchasing real estate in Latin America was not an easy process.  I appreciated the advice and believed I was being careful.  I have toured much of South America and have visited Buenos Aires many times.  I have many local friends in Argentina.  Coupled with the fact that I am an attorney in the USA, I believed I could purchase on my own without having problems.  I asked my friends living in Buenos Aires for a referral to a good attorney that could assist me on my purchase.  I found a beautiful property and I hired an attorney that was highly recommended by a dear friend. 

 

For many reasons,  I felt uneasy 48 hours before I was to make an initial down payment with cash on the property that I was going to purchase.  I started searching the internet and I found Michael’s company.  I called him on a weekend and was surprised to find him in his office.  I asked him many questions and he asked me some basic questions which I did not have the answers to.  He asked me if I had seen a copy of the former title deed.  He asked me if I saw the report that showed the property was free of any liens or encumbrances.  He asked me if I spoke Spanish or if my attorney spoke English.  Suddenly I realized that I was putting too much faith into my lawyer who I didn’t know anything about and with whom I couldn’t communicate with.  Michael explained to me that my common sense shouldn’t change just because I was not in the USA.  I hired him that very same day over the phone.

 

Michael and his team called the real estate company and the lawyer handling my purchase.  He requested all the paperwork.  I was SHOCKED to learn from Michael that the lawyer never even ordered a basic title check to make sure the property was clear of any encumbrances.  There were many mistakes on the paperwork.  I fired my attorney and hired the one recommended by Michael.  My new lawyer was very good and he spoke English so I could now communicate with him.  He informed me that the property could not legally be sold by the person that was attempting to sell it.  I was very disappointed but I was relieved that I discovered this before handing over a significant portion of my savings. 

 

I realized that buying property in Argentina is something that should not be taken lightly.  Michael is searching for a new property for me now.  Since I hired him, I have taken his advice to be more careful.  I contacted his references that he gave me and every person that I contacted told me how wonderful he has been with them.  I am looking forward to purchasing property with him and very thankful that I came to my senses.

 

 

Fred Royce - USA

 

I cannot recommend to you in enough ways the services of ApartmentsBA.

Michael and his staff will work with you until you have found exactly what you want and then stay with you to the end of your vacation to be sure you are always satisfied. Other agencies might find you a nice place but no one will back up their placement like ApartmentsBA.

 

Take it from a compulsive lawyer who has used them 4 times and was completely satisfied each time.  In fact, based on their level of professionalism and customer service, with Michael’s recommendation, I purchased an apartment with a spectacular view to be rented by his company

 

In July 2003 I took my first adventure to BA looking for property. I was lost and confused by the labyrinth of laws, misinformation and self serving sharks until I discovered Michael. He cleared the way to evaluate property on my third trip. Michael is most accessible person I have ever met. He quickly responded to all my questions, toured me though both virtual tours of property and actual tours. He more than earned his consulting fee. After being misled by the first seller on a deal, Michael led me through a smooth offer, acceptance and closing. He has continued to advise on the remodel, facilitating with an architect and furnishings. Michael cares about people and doing things right. I have profound respect for him and his company. I recommend him to any interested in BA real estate.

 

If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly. 

 

 

Jane Kang - California,  USA

My business partner first met Michael in late 2004 after he had already gone through the PAINFUL process of buying and renovating an apartment in Buenos Aires on his own.  He was so impressed with Michael that he convinced me that we should partner with Michael, despite the fact that my partner had already built up some relationships and knowledge about the local real estate market.  We signed on as consulting clients in early 2005. 

 

Since then, Michael has been instrumental in helping us buy, renovate, and furnish two apartments in the Recoleta area of Buenos Aires in the Spring of 2005.  He has provided many value added services and we cannot imagine having gone through the process of buying and renovating without his assistance. 

·          We relied heavily on his insights and expertise in terms of helping us find attractive rental units, providing us with much peace of mind.

·          We leveraged his existing relationships with an extremely honest realtor and lawyer (which is extremely hard to find in one’s home country let alone a foreign country!), making the whole buying process easy and seamless.  In fact, my partner and I bought two units remotely and did not have to be in Buenos Aires at all…Michael took care of everything.

·          He helped us save money.  Michael also got us directly in touch with a woman who wanted to sell her unit.  We were able to close the sale on that unit and avoid the 3% realtor commission.

·          The renovation and furnishing of the apartments have been completely pain-free and were completed within 1 to 1 ½  months.  If anything, Michael and his team were the ones who had to deal with all of the headaches of working with the local contractors, furniture delivery folks, and more.  In addition, we were impressed that Michael’s team of contractors was able to work so quickly.  (To give you an idea, my partner’s apartment that he bought a year ago is still not completely finished to this day as he continues to haggle with the contractor that he hired.) Michael coordinated everything and we are extremely happy with how both apartments look.

 

In addition, we asked Michael to manage our apartments for several reasons.

·          His Apartmentsba.com business is VERY reputable and he gets a ton of word-of-mouth and referral business.  My partner knows this first-hand when he rented an apartment from Michael last year.  In addition, I highly believe that his recent inclusion into the Argentina/Buenos Aires Lonely Planets guidebook will further drive traffic to his website as people seek luxurious alternatives to cramped hotel rooms.  In fact, Michael was able to get us a two week booking immediately that started the DAY OUR UNIT WAS READY …even if that meant he and his team had to work late the night prior to get the apartment ready for our first guest. 

·          And in the last ten months since we first worked with Michael, we have come to trust him completely.  He is honest, fair, intelligent, attentive, and is completely passionate about the business he built from the ground up.  You know that he will always do what’s best for his business and for his clients to keep them happy.  We ping him with emails at all hours of the day and he replies back immediately to the point where he has spoiled us.  Now, when I work with other vendors, I get annoyed that I do not get the same level of customer service as I get from Michael.

 

Having said all of this, I highly recommend Michael for anyone who is looking to buy real estate in Buenos Aires and/or have an apartment that they would like to rent out.

 

 

 

Lawrence B. - Houston, Texas - USA

 

I was one of Mike’s very first consulting clients.  Buying property in a foreign country is a scary process and Mike helped make it an easy process. No matter where you are real-estate is a major purchase. It is not something I do every day. When I was buying my home in the USA I used realtors and lawyers that my friends used and recommended. It is a major event and something to be taken seriously.

 

I first met Mike in Buenos Aires in 2002.  I was surprised to hear that he was testing the waters of real-estate in Buenos Aires. At first I thought it was foolish but after a couple of years I realized he was on to something. For Mike, this was not a whim. He took his time learning about the business, made a solid business plan and followed through with it for a few years.  Although he was a senior level executive in the USA, he took the time to put together a business plan, research and build relationships for a few years before deciding to move down there permanently. When he told me he was moving down there and what he was going to do I was very surprised. He quit his job, sold his house and cars, and threw himself into the business. I know Mike loves Argentina and is a place he has wanted to call home for a long time. If I were not convinced about his commitment to staying there and the soundness of his business plan I would probably not have purchased property there.  

 

I felt comfortable dealing with Mike because we have known each other for several years. Also, I watched first hand what he was doing. He has purchased several properties himself and I saw what kind of results he was getting and was impressed.

 

When I first seriously started thinking about buying down there I wanted an apartment that I would like to live in. Mike’s advice was practical and focused. What do you want to do with the apartment? Do you want to live in it or do you want to make money renting it to other people? Simple practical advice that helps refocus on the purpose. Like everything else in business, you need a plan and a target audience. If I were moving to Buenos Aires I would get something bigger and more expensive. However, if I am going there for a short time I want something bright, modern, comfortable, close to the heart of things, with the comforts of home, and hotel. And that will provide a good return on investment.

 

I purchased an apartment in the same building where he owns an apartment.  Mike negotiated the purchase without a realtor saving me 3% of the purchase price.  He introduced me to an honest, English speaking attorney that was very easy to work with.  Mike handled the entire negotiation and purchase process including the down payment and money transfer process once the final title deed transfer took place. 

 

Mortgages are rare in Argentina even for Argentineans so for foreigners it is a cash deal. I don’t know why but the banks are funny in Argentina, If I wire money to a bank from the US, they charge me a % to get US$ out. It is not a small amount. It can be over 5%. I personally don’t feel comfortable losing that much in a transfer but I also don’t feel good about carrying 250K in my carry on luggage. Mike showed me the cheapest way to get money into Argentina. There are banks that specialize in getting cash from wire transfers, they charge about 1% - 1.5%. To do this you need an account with them. As I don’t have an account with them I sent it into Mike’s account. Mike has had at least u$s 250,000 of my money in his account as I purchased two apartments.  Who else do you know in South America that you could trust with that amount of money?  I knew I could trust him and I knew I could trust him to manage my property once it was ready.

 

Mike handled the entire furnishing of the apartment including meeting with architects to make special custom made furniture, getting it furnished with electronics and getting it painted.  Immediately upon the completion of the apartment he had it marketed and rented starting the first day after it was ready to rent.  My apartment has been booked solid since the first day he started managing it.  

 

I was so thrilled with my investment; I decided to purchase another apartment.  Mike selected another property that I decided to have completely remodeled.  Mike oversaw the renovation process and I was happy that this apartment was also rented immediately after the completion of the renovations. 

 

I am happy with my real estate purchases in Argentina. I couldn’t have done it without Mike’s help and guidance.  The people he referred me to from the real estate lawyer, to the money transfer firm to all the contractors including the electricians, architects and painters have been great to work with and fair with their pricing. 

 

The only real downside I have seen is that I have spent more money than I originally planned. The peso is stronger now than it was a year ago. Property values are going up though so my property is worth more. I also changed my mind on the level of quality I wanted to use. I use to stay in hotels when I visited down there.  Today Buenos Aires is getting expensive with lodging in hotels. I also wanted to see what the apartments were like. I have stayed in mid range and higher end apartments. I came to the conclusion that I like comfort and nice things and I am willing to spend a little more for them. I also think people who are like me are less likely to damage my apartment and furnishings. So I have spent more to make my apartments more luxurious to target people who are willing to spend more for quality.   

 

Mike is always available to answer any questions I have whether I call him or email him.  He always has responded the same day (usually within an hour).  He is one of the most trustworthy people I know.  I wouldn’t recommend purchasing real estate in Argentina without his guidance or someone else you know and trust doing the same thing down there.

 

 

David  V. - Montreal, Canada

It is my pleasure to recommend Michael as a consultant to anyone seriously considering the purchase of an apartment in Buenos Aires, and particularly to foreigners who are unfamiliar with the local market, language and customs.  There are many aspects to Michael's consulting service and indeed he can assist you with the entire purchase process from finding an apartment to signing the Escritura.  I met Michael personally during a recent house-hunting trip and used him extensively as a sounding board for my investment strategy. 

In our first meeting, he helped me identify winning (and losing) qualities with regard to neighborhood, square footage, style and price range.  He then showed me some of his own properties and I was reassured to see that his advice was grounded in experience and not speculation.  In the end I found a property through my realtor hours before my return flight and had to make a snap decision.  My first reaction was to call Mike for an appraisal - because while realtors can be helpful, they have a vested interest in selling property based on (highest) price and not investment potential.  In the end,
Michael confirmed the apartment's strengths and weaknesses; worked with my agent to structure a solid offer (and prevented me from overpaying); and provided advice that ultimately helped me outmaneuver an unscrupulous seller.

 

Since completing the purchase on my behalf, Michael has diligently administered the property.  He has also continued to be a great asset as a consultant.  In my recent trip he provided valuable input into my interior design plan (the apartment was purchased in a completely unfinished state), helped me scrutinize proposals from different architects, and suggested effective techniques for negotiating with locals.

 

Considering that I initially contracted Michael over the phone as 'insurance' against an unknown entity, I am happy to report he has exceeded expectation. Caveat Emptor.

 

 

 

Jason Hunt - Los Angeles, California USA



I rarely write testimonials because I don't know how the person I am vouching for will perform for the next person.  However, I can confidently recommend Mike at Apartmentsba.com  Ever since my first trip to BA,  I've always dreamed of having an apartment there.  It was only a dream but Mike helped make it a reality.  I gave up on my dream of purchasing an apartment when a few locals (including lawyers) told me of various taxes and fees that Americans had to pay.  I was referred to Mike by a friend that lives here that mentioned an American that specialized in consulting Americans on buying property here in Argentina

Mike returned my call immediately and he explained the entire purchase process - from start to finish - and I was relieved to hear that the information was false that I received earlier.  I became a consulting client on the spot.  The fee that he charges I felt was incredibly cheap for everything that he was assisting me with.  He helped me find my dream apartment.  His legal team was outstanding and he also helped me set up a bank account to transfer my money.  I received wrong information after wrong information from locals, lawyers, realtors and even friends until that day I came to his office.  I could NOT have purchased this apartment without his help and guidance.  He always answers my emails quickly and made this transaction very easy.  He held my hand through the entire process.

 

People buying property in South America should not try to buy without the help of someone that has gone through the process several times.  What I liked the most was that his company has gone through the process dozens of times.    I should mention that he found the apartment on his own without using a realtor (and saving me 3%).  Although he mentioned that he uses good realtors, how many times have you had a realtor tell you that the property was too expensive?  Exactly...never.   He exceeded my expectations and so did everyone he referred to me.

 

John & Ginger  Harkey - USA

We found Michael while trying to buy an apartment in Buenos Aires.  We had hit a roadblock, a killer tax, and we went to him for advice.  Since our first meeting, in

which he dispelled the tax as illusory, he has been a steadfast ally in our re-energized pursuit of an apartment.  It turns out the lawyer that we initially went to gave us false information about taxes and fees.  With an eye on eventually renting out our new apartment, we became a consulting client to ApartmentsBA.com. Michael is an energetic and personable businessperson in whom we would place any confidence. He seems always to be available to talk and eager for us to succeed – with referrals to his legal and financial associates, dependable workmen and even sources of home-goods. Michael has a vital stake in the Buenos Aires rental market and I’m sure that his enthusiasm and acumen will always be matched by success.

 

 

Jonathan Barnes - London, UK

I detest paying professional service fees whether they are to my lawyers, accountants or advisors.  I have to say though that I could not have found my apartment in Buenos Aires without the help of Mike at Apartmentsba.com. The consulting fee I paid was well worth it.  I always wanted to purchase property in South America but I never felt I could trust anyone there after seeing first hand how unethical some of the people are in the business community.  I heard about Mike and his company from a local friend who told me about this energetic American that was purchasing multiple properties for himself and his clients all over Recoleta. 

I met Mike at his office in Buenos Aires and I knew I would be using him. It was especially important that I found someone that I could trust because I was returning back to Europe.  Mike scoured the market in Recoleta over a period of 3 months and sent me detailed photos and information on various apartments that met my criteria.  It was quite amazing what he was able to do for me. He helped negotiate a lower sales price, referred me to a wonderful attorney, handled the transfer of money to put the down payment and he has been handling the renovation with his team of painters, plumbers, electricians and contractors.   He will also manage my property for me when I am not there to enjoy the apartment.

Anyone that is purchasing property in Buenos Aires ought to talk to Mike before they start the process.  I highly recommend his company.

 

 

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Apartmentsba.com offers a comprehensive property management program for those buying property here as an investment.  Our company is marketed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America.  We are American owned and operated and we have the reputation and experience to ensure that your property is marketed properly.

We will help you get your property ready for rentals and suggest ways to maximize your return on investment.  Your property will be prominently displayed in the beginning of the property listings section, but more importantly, we will actively work to rent your apartment before all our other clients. 

Apartmentsba.com spends a considerable annual budget marketing and advertising in newspapers, radio stations, vacation rental websites and we have plans to begin advertising on billboards in the near future.  Your property will have an immediate and direct benefit with our marketing campaigns and is provided at no additional cost.   We only charge a nominal monthly fee plus a set percentage on all bookings, so we are not making money unless you are making money. 

We will handle all aspects of the rental process including the check-in/check out of the guests, collection of deposit, paying your bills and making sure your property stays in mint condition.

 

"I have been working with Apartmentsba.com since 2002.  I own several apartments in Recoleta and ABA has referred several of their clients to me over the years.  They have proven to be very dependable and reliable.  The owner, Mike&nb