“I am still surprised by the reactions I get when I tell people I live in Medellín, Colombia,” says Wendy Howarter. “A few years ago, my friends and family expressed fear, concern, and disbelief. Today I hear admiration, curiosity, even a little envy.”
Few cities have experienced as dramatic a transformation in such a short timespan as has Medellín. In a handful of decades, it has transformed from one of the most dangerous cities in the world to one of the most highly acclaimed and sought-after.
Wendy and her husband Darren moved here from Illinois in October 2014. Like most people who visit Medellín, it didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the city.
“After selling and giving away everything we could, we packed eight suitcases, boarded a plane, and landed in Colombia. The experience of living here has exceeded our expectations in so many ways.”
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Initially unsure about where they’d settle, Wendy and Darren were prudent about their move abroad. Medellín was going to be the place where they’d start their journey.
“We didn’t imagine committing to Medellín,” says Wendy. “We thought we’d travel around South America for several months each year, returning to Medellín between adventures. Once we settled in, we realized that Medellín offers so much, all year long, that we bought an apartment. Now we just take vacations instead.”
Medellín is lively, active, and vibrant, the culture capital of Colombia, rivaling many of the world’s greatest cities for its cosmopolitan offerings. There are museums all over town, opera in season, symphonies, theater, orchestra performances, and major concerts. There’s also great shopping, dance clubs, nightclubs, and fine dining.
“Every Sunday morning, we participate in Ciclovía, when the southbound lanes of Avenida El Poblado are closed to motor traffic. People walk, run, bicycle, skateboard, and rollerblade along the main avenue of the town. Then it’s off to the farmer’s market to stock up on all of the fresh fruits and veggies we need for the coming week. On Sunday nights, a small group of friends gathers to watch the sunset, order dinner for delivery, and toast another week in paradise with a bottle of wine.”
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Another reason expats fall in love with Medellín is its perfect weather. It’s known as the City of Eternal Spring for its comfortable temperatures of about 59 F to 86 F (15 to 30 C) that fluctuate little throughout the year. Because temperatures are so comfortable, you can save on your utility bills, as neither heating nor air conditioning are required.
Expats also love Medellín for its efficient, clean, inexpensive metro, the only metro system in Colombia.
“In Medellín, you don’t need a car,” says Wendy. “Plus, this is a great city to navigate on foot. Walking is my favorite way to get around. It is not only great exercise, but it also allows you to really see the city, find new shops and restaurants, and greet friends on the sidewalk.”
The infrastructure works well, and the health care is world-class. Colombia’s overall standard of medical care is the best in Latin America. The medical facilities are high-quality and feature state-of-the-art equipment. The cost of all is about one-third the cost in the States.
Yet another reason to love this city is its low cost of living in general. This applies to everyday expenses like groceries and entertainment, monthly expenses like utilities and bills, and major expenses like real estate.
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“We began watching for a spike in the value of the dollar versus the Colombian peso,” says Wendy. “When the exchange rate was near an all-time high, we transferred and converted our U.S. dollars into Colombian pesos for our property purchase. I credit my husband, Darren, for his savvy financial insight. He says it was luck, but I know it was paying attention and taking advantage of some good timing. We found our dream apartment with a pool, a gym, and a Turkish bath.”
Wendy and Darren’s apartment is in the El Poblado neighborhood of Medellín.
“We chose to live in Poblado because it most resembles our lifestyle in the States and because we hear and read more English here than in other areas,” says Wendy. “It’s considered the Manhattan of Medellín because it’s the most cosmopolitan and luxurious area in town. With tree-lined streets, al fresco dining of every imaginable type of cuisine, upscale boutique and large mall shopping, and grocery stores rivaling Whole Foods in North America, you won’t want for anything if you live in Poblado.”
Aside from El Poblado, Wendy pinpoints Laureles, Envigado, and Sabaneta as three other neighborhoods of Medellín popular with expats.
A property purchase can be more than just a good deal and a great place to live in Colombia. It can also provide residency, as it did for Wendy and Darren. Colombia has a special visa available to real estate investors. You must invest at least 350 times Colombia’s minimum monthly salary ($117,000 at the time of writing) to qualify. This gets you a three-year residency visa that’s renewable.
The country offers other residency visa options (including a retiree-specific visa, a passive-income visa, and an investor’s visa) if buying property is not part of your agenda.
Wendy says, “The real estate purchase process is straightforward in Colombia. Foreigners have the same property rights as Colombians, and there are few restrictions on property transactions.”
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After settling into their new apartment, Wendy and Darren began tackling the boring but necessary administrative processes of any move abroad—things like opening a bank account, setting up utilities, and arranging cell phone and Internet plans. As in most of Latin America, dealing with utilities, banking, and bills can be frustrating, time-consuming, and patience-testing.
“While these chores were not fun, we were guided by a wonderful network of attorneys and friends who helped us navigate the challenges,” Wendy says.
Now, Wendy and Darren enjoy relaxed but well-rounded, active lifestyles.
“Both Darren and I have virtual jobs, so our daily schedules are very flexible. We can head to the pool if we want a mid-afternoon break or maybe pop down to the gym to break a sweat. Most of our neighbors work during the day, so we usually have the pool and gym to ourselves.
“I can happily report that we are enjoying a comfortable pre-retirement life with perfect, year-round weather in a big city that feels like a small town.”
Until next time,
Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter
