Real Estate Contracts, resources, and Index to Terms in Argentina

Continuing my post about finding an apartment or house in Buenos Aires, I am going to explain how the rental process here works in terms of rental length, relist several real estate resources plus some new ones, as well provide an index of common real estate abbreviations/terms.

Two Types of Rentals Contracts:

The first is the short-term or tourist rental for which the lease can be written for no longer than six-months. This type of rental is supposed to be rented furnished, and with a refridgerator, and other basic accessories. Basic accessories can vary though, so you may or may not get a toaster, microwave, etc. Now, there are some possibilities with some owners to write two six-month rental contracts, thus getting a one-year rental – this is how we rented our house. Also, with these types of rentals, you will be expected 99% of the time to pay your rent up-front as you move in, and will also require a security deposit. How do you find these types of rentals? There are numerous agencies renting in the short-term tourist market; there are also private owners who will rent to you; and, of course, there are real estate agencies.

The second type of rental is the long-term or two year rental contract. These are the ones that will most likely require a guarantia because they will 99% of the time be a standard rental with monthly payments, although of course, the possibility of pre-paying always exists but two years out is a long time to prepay. These are the rentals that many Argentines have traditionally worked with, and many landlords still prefer this type of rental. But, there are more and more people who are willing to consider short-term rentals as well. In the long-term rental, the house or apartment is usually unfurnished, although occasionally you can find one that is “amoblado” or furnished.

Rental Resources:

There are a lot of resources out there. For tourist rentals, check the internet and there will be more than you can count on both hands and feet. Check them all and compare prices and see how quickly they respond to your emails or calls – a great precursor to their service.

Some classifieds and general real estate listings.

Buenos Aires Herald - Buenos Aires English newspaper

Clarin – very cool and one of the most popular

Craigslist Buenos Aires free listings

La Nacion – more conservative paper, read by many in the upper-class but an excellent resource

Publicasas Clasificados Inmobiliarias

Segundamano - weekly free advertisement newsletter (free for people who post ads)

Sistema Dixon - real estate listings

Solodueños – or by owner without agent

Top Inmobiliario - real estate listings

In addition to these, if you have a neigborhood that you like, don’t hesistate to walk around, visit local real estate agents, and stop and talk to the doormen in the buildings, or sometimes even the local people. All of these are resources that can help you find something right in that neighborhood.

But I don’t understand what it says:

No matter where you are in the world, you need to learn the lingo. This little primer will help you get a general feel for words and abbreviations, and what it all means.

Here is a sample listing: 

MALABIA 2363 P. 27º/28º PENTHOUSE a pasos Jardín Botánico y metro de Scalabrini Ortiz y Av.Santa Fe .- vigil. 24 hs,cochera opcional y serv. de mucama.
................................................. .................................................
P.27º: 85 mts ;living-comedor y dos(2) dormitorios que salen a BALCON TERRAZA CON FABULOSO PANORAMA AL RÍO , PARQUES Y COSTA URUGUAYA .-Baño completo reciclado excelente cocina , muy bien equipada, gran heladera con freezer y laundry con lavarropas .- ...................................................................................................
P. 28º: 120 mt. DE TERRAZA VISTA DE 360º CON REPOSERAS , e ideal para poner parrilla . Calefaccion ; aire acondicionado frío / calor ; agua caliente individual ;todo pisos de parquet , se ofrece CON o SIN muebles , cablevision , internet. PRECIO u$s 850

So this ad would break down as follows:

MALABIA 2363 is the address – note that the street name is listed first
P. 27º/28º stands for piso and means floor – *note that piso bajo is actually the first floor, and primer piso is actually the second floor quite different than in the States.
a pasos Jardín Botánico y metro de Scalabrini Ortiz y Av.Santa Fe . just steps to the Botanical Garden and the Subte at Scalabrini Ortiz and Santa Fe (linea D)
vigil. 24 hs it has 24 hour security
cochera opcional parking space optional
serv. de mucama maid service
P.27º: 85 mts Floor 27 is 85 square meters
living-comedor with living room and dining room
dos(2) dormitorios que salen a BALCON TERRAZA CON FABULOSO PANORAMA AL RÍO , PARQUES Y COSTA URUGUAYA and 2 bedrooms that you can access the balcony/terrace with fabulous panoramic view of the river, parks and the Uruguayan coast.
Baño completo reciclado Bathroom completely refurbished
excelente cocina , muy bien equipada, gran heladera con freezer y laundry con lavarropas .-
excellent kitchen, very well equipped with large refridgerator and freezer and a laundry area with washing machine.
P. 28º: 120 mt Floor 28 is 120 square meters
DE TERRAZA Of terrace
VISTA DE 360º CON REPOSERAS 360 degree panoramic view with chaise loungers
e ideal para poner parrilla and ideal to put a parilla
Calefaccion heat
aire acondicionado frío / calor air conditioning cold/warm
todo pisos de parquet all floors are parquet (wood squares very common here)
se ofrece CON o SIN muebles Offered with or without furniture
cablevision cable is included
internet Internet is included *note always check what type of Internet as some may be slow as molasses
PRECIO u$s 850 Price US 850 *note most real estate listings are done in US dollars they will always be shown as u$s. If it is simply shown for instance as $850 then it is in pesos

Index to Real Estate Abbreviations and Terms

a estr - a estrenar - brand new
ac - aire acondicionado - air conditioning
alquiler - rent
alquiler temporario - short term rent
alquilado - rented
amb- ambiente – the OVERALL number of rooms ie. 1 amb = studio, 2 amb = 1 br
amobl - amoblado - furnished
ampl – amplio - ample
antig – antigüedad – age of building/apartment/house
apto/prof, apto profes, a/p - apto professional - can be used as an office
bc - balcon - balcony
bñ, bño – baño
baño e/suite – baño en suite – bathroom attached to bedroom
calef - calefaccion - heat
casa - house
cat, categ - de categoria - upscale luxury building/apt
cfrte, cfte - contrafrente – view doesn’t face street, often it’s quieter
coc - cocina - kitchen
coch – cochera – parking spot
com – comedor – dining room
cub – cubierto - covered
depart. - departamento – apartment
dorm – dormitorio - bedroom
dño - dueño - apartment is rented by the owner, not the real estate agency
esc – escritorio – office/desk room
exc - excelente - excellent
exp - expens - expensas - condo fee or town tax (landlords often pay for short term rentals, tenant usually pays with long term rentals)
fte - frente – view to front of building
+gtos - plus gastos – utilities (landlords often pay for short term rentals, tenant usually pays with long term rentals)
herm – hermoso/a – beautiful
jard – jardin - garden
lat - lateral - on the side of the building
lum,lumin,luz,t/sol, sol - sunny, very bright, lots of light
paq - paquete -sometimes means everything included or perhaps something extra
metros cuadrados – square meters
mucam - mucama - maid service
mue – muebles - furniture
par – parilla – bbq
plantas – total number of floors
pb – piso bajo – first floor
pisc – piscina - pool
PH – penthouse – can mean the top floor or can also mean a 1st and 2nd floor apartment
ptio - patio - back yard
pulmon - windows open into a narrow ground to rooftop wall
servicio – dep de servicio – maids quarters
superficie – amount of space
t/incl, tdo incluído - todo incluido - everything is included into the price
t/nvo - todo nuevo – totally new *this can also mean refurbished or recycled
ubic - ubicacion - good location
V/15-20hs - Ver - view the property from 3 to 7 horas *note remember that in Argentina they use military time so everything after 12:00 noon will be 13, 14, 15 etc. and listed as hs. horas
vig - vigilancia - secured building

 

Comments

[Dan]

two minor adjustments - "esc" might just mean a desk, not a whole separate room, especially common in the short-term rentals. the other, sometimes after the "int" for internet you'll see b/a (banda ancha - broadband), which could still be either dsl or cable (ask for cable 1 mega or better, dsl here, well, sucks).