gcrtexas4
5/27/2014 09:03 EST
I have checked out Enquentra24 and what other web sites I could find showing Nica rentals and found their listings limited and not always that cheap and are oft times outdated or temps. Especially anything near the beach. I know there are several realtors down there but is that the best way to find a house. In the US, I have sometimes found houses by just driving around. Is this a viable method down there? I plan on checking out some of these options on my exploratory trip this summer but will have limited time and funds to explore the country. I am flexible about location but am looking for mostly country and reasonable driving proximity to the ocean. Although I may or may not be able to afford a vehicle. I am not going to have as much moving $ as I thought I would. Cost of get some cash out on my retirement would be rediculously expensive with the govt. taking 20% of the top, if you can believe that!
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iguanalover
5/27/2014 09:30 EST
You can usually find what you want if you are willing to look. Timing is important, look in the off season. We came down in September and stayed in a hostel until we found a place, very inexpensive so we didn't have to rush.
The hostel was practically empty, had a kitchen and was well located. We found a house on craigslist.org.
You can usually find places just by walking around and talking to people. It also depends on how fancy a place you want, furnished or unfurnished. We live outside a tourist area. We rent thru a rental agent who has been a big help to us, don't overlook them.
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wagsa
5/27/2014 09:54 EST
I also preside over my own real estate company Century_Siglo21Realty, whenever you are ready to find something for sale or rent just write and I will have one of my agents call you. They all speak English
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majicjack
5/27/2014 10:08 EST
If you go through a realitor here it is going to cost you plenty. Example, A real estate agent was asking $250 per day on beach property in Las Penitas and talking directly to the owner the property was leased for $400 per month. There are plenty of properties for rent here in Nicaragua. We had talked to a real estate agent 6 months before moving here and everything was set to go. We drove from Texas and when we got here the real estate agent was no place to be found and we were staying in a hotel. We started asking around and in two days was moving into a very nice house.
Most of the houses in this area has a for sale or rent or lease sign on it with a phone number. Never take the first price regardless of how much they ask. Rent as with anything else here is wide open for negotiation. Most of the people are pretty easy to deal with. There are beach properties for lease in Las Penita-Poneloya that go for $300 +. Depending on what you want. Don't get caught in the trap of trying to compare these houses to what you have in the USA.
I can believe the part about the Government also. I sold a ranch and business and had to put it in a trust for my grandkids to keep the government from taking .80 %. I have never borrowed on dime from the US Government.
Best of luck in your search and not to worry. You can find a place here and if it is not your dream home it is a place to stay while you keep on looking. It is easy to rent by the week or month and when you do find THE PLACE, get a lease on it.
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pato23
From: El Salvador
5/27/2014 23:30 EST
Follow the advice on majicjack's very informative post, when I lived for awhile in Nicaragua in the 1990s had local contacts and I stayed in a hotel for a week, friends owned the hotel, went around with my local friend in his pick up and found a nice small apt in a private home $100 month, stay away from Gringo Realtors when you first arrive and still in culture shock and vulnerable, find an Ex Pat mentor not involved in Real Estate and make friends with locals and don't make your 'deals' online or in Gringo watering holes, anyway rent for the first 6 months at least and try to rent directly from owner. This applies worldwide and not just Nicaragua, overseas information and connections are as valuable as money. Buena suerte.
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gcrtexas4
5/28/2014 08:46 EST
Gracias! When the time comes, I plan to fly down spend 1 - 2 weeks finding a place. I was going to go with a 3 - 6 month rental at first to be I liked the local or if the house is not exactly what I want. I am not sure about rooms or small apts while looking. My "family" which consists of 2 large dogs and 2 cats is also coming.Again thanks for the info., it helps.
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iguanalover
5/28/2014 15:55 EST
Our rental agent is not a realtor, she just manages rentals for one landlord. She has been a great help. She speaks great Spanish, knows everyone in town (including a nice guy who comes right over to fix our internet, we don't have to call Claro) and has been our mentor. She also takes care of problems quickly, which is very important as we had visitors coming over the back wall for our garden hose. It took three tries, but we finally stopped him. Make sure when you rent that you understand how problems will be managed and get a written agreement.
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wagsa
5/28/2014 22:53 EST
When you get done with all of the bs, you can always give me a call. You don´t go to a witch doctor, if you want medical treatment, you don´t go to your priest of rabi to give you gambling tips, or perhaps you could. All and all it is good to have different options. There are houses with swimming pool, three car garage in gated communities for $1000.00 per month and you can also find a shack in Granada for $100.00. It is all a matter of taste and budget.
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majicjack
5/29/2014 12:37 EST
It is sad to say that when you are seeking information on here and people that actually live here in different areas try to explain to you what the have learned and have someone else call it bulls--t. This person is: a lawyer, real estate broker, fishing expert, editor of post on this site, land developer, multi millionaire, financial wizard and if you come up with something no one else has ever heard of, he will be that also.
You do not need real estate people to find you a house and pay the 10 to 20% above what you can rent directly from the owner. The price when you deal with a real estate agent whether it be a property manager or what ever you wish to call it is usually firm. When you deal direct with the owner, the price is negotiable. If you find a place you wish to stay in for awhile, sign a lease. The owner pays the lawyer. Most of the leases are of the general type. If you want special provisions placed in the lease do this before signing. Have someone that can read Spanish with you to explain before you sign. Most of the owners will work with you because they need to rent or lease the property. Many instances when the property is vacant the owner has to pay someone to watch the property.
You can find some extremely good deals. We have a 4860 square ft. home that sits on the Beach on the Pacific Ocean fully furnished and a very nice home for a whopping $ 700 per month. With this comes a large vacant lot that we use for raising game cocks.
Just take a little time, don't go into panic mode and look around. In reality, that is what most of us do anyway when we first get here. What you see on a website is much different than what it really is up close and personal. I have personally been all over Nicaragua many times. There are many great places to live. It is depending on what you are looking for. Being from a rural environment in Texas I could care less about living in a city. Many are just the opposite and want the city. There are plenty of places for both.
P.S. You do need to check on the security measures on the property. Unfortunately some people will steal you blind here if you do not have good security. A high wall is a good start, bars on windows and doors with several locks. Many places already have this.
The best of luck in your travels and good hunting
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iguanalover
5/31/2014 14:04 EST
Yesterday, a single lady friend of mine rented a two bedroom house, with AC, nicely and fully furnished including all utlilites but electric for $400 a month, from a rental agent. Also includes twice a week maid service and brand new appliances.
She was renting directly from a private owner, $350 a month for a one bedroom, paying all utilites. No fans or AC. He also refused to complete repairs they had agreed upon before she moved in. Old appliances that took mucho electric and almost no furniture.
I don't think that she got taken advantage of by the rental agent, I think she got a good deal.
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greencoast
6/18/2014 09:51 EST
If you have time it is much cheaper to talk to people and find a rental much cheaper the through a real estate agent. If you do not have time pay the extra and be in a place in days.
Time in Nicaragua is different then time in many places. Weeks, months, manana ?
Housing is different in Nicaragua, People will show you a place and it will have a view of a wall, barking dogs, next to 20 children. This is normal nica life. They might act like their children will die if you do not rent it ?
You might get an old lady show you an awesome clean quiet home for a fraction of the real estate agent, literally a fraction. Never know.
Most average Nicaraguans do not use craigslist so much of the rental market is word of mouth.
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senormike
6/22/2014 08:30 EST
to iguanalover. hi, who is the lady that you have had great luck with rentals and where do I find her or the rental property. I'm coming to sjds in nov and that info would be great, thanks
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