Housing & Real Estate — The Passport

🏠 Housing & Real Estate

Ozzy G. · May 14, 2026 Pinned

Before You Rent in Colombia

A good rental in Colombia is not only about nice photos.Before signing or sending money, try to verify:The exact address and neighborhoodNoise at different times of dayWater pressure and hot water situationInternet provider and actual speedBuilding rules: visitors, pets,...

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Ozzy G. · May 14, 2026 Pinned

Buying Property in Colombia — Due Diligence Comes First

Foreigners can buy property in Colombia, but the safe way to approach it is with professional help and proper document review.One of the most important documents is the Certificado de Tradición y Libertad, issued through Colombia’s Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro. It...

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Sarah Kowalski · May 16, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

El Poblado vs Laureles vs Envigado — my 4-week neighborhood hunt

I've been in El Poblado 3 months and I'm planning my move. Spent the last 4 weeks walking around Laureles and Envigado and here's my real take:El Poblado: amenities are amazing, English everywhere, you'll never feel "in Colombia" exactly — feels like an expat island. Pricey....

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Jennifer Lawson · May 14, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

Got asked for codeudor (cosigner) — what worked for me as a foreigner

Landlords here often ask for a Colombian codeudor (cosigner). As a foreigner, you usually don't have one. What worked for me in Chapinero: paying 4 months upfront in exchange for waiving codeudor. Some landlords also accept a póliza de arrendamiento (rental insurance, costs...

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Marcus Williamson · May 14, 2026

Furnished doesn’t always mean move-in ready

One of the biggest surprises when renting abroad is how flexible the word “furnished” can be.Sometimes it means: bed, couch, table, washing machine, kitchen basics.Other times it means: technically there is furniture… but no sheets, towels, pillows, coffee maker, decent pans,...

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Greg Sullivan · May 14, 2026

Rent first, buy later?

A lot of people dream about buying property abroad, but I keep hearing the same advice from experienced expats: rent first, learn the city, then decide.It makes sense. A neighborhood can feel very different after living there for a few months. Traffic, noise, weather, safety,...

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Megan Lopez · May 14, 2026

Before you sign: what did you wish you checked first?

Apartment photos can make a place look perfect… until you actually live there.One thing I’m learning is that the “boring” details matter more than the pretty furniture: water pressure, street noise, building rules, internet reliability, elevator wait times, humidity,...

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J James Patterson · May 13, 2026

Apartment hunting red flags I've learned the hard way

Drop yours in the comments — voting up the ones that match your experience.

"Available immediately" usually means available 3 weeks ago and still empty for a reason

Landlord won't let you visit "until you commit" — full stop, walk away

Furniture in every photo at the same angle = same blogger's stock photos = it's a scam

"All utilities included" without an exact number — get the number, in writing, in writing again

Photos with no view from the window — assume the view is a wall

Chris Davidson · May 12, 2026 🇨🇴 Medellín, Colombia

Furnished rental: what's actually included (and what isn't)

Just signed for a furnished apartment in El Poblado. "Furnished" included: bed, couch, dining table, kitchen basics, washing machine.Did NOT include: sheets, pillows, towels, kitchen utensils, dishes, anything you'd actually use to make coffee. First week was rough.Ask...

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Brian Fisher · May 11, 2026 🇨🇴 Bogotá, Colombia

Buying property as a foreigner in Colombia — early-stage questions

One year in Bogotá and I'm starting to look at buying. The basics I've learned so far: foreigners can own freely (no special restrictions), you need RUT registration and a Colombian bank account for the transaction, and the seller's title history matters way more than I...

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