Buying/Selling Real Estate

Any comment on Sooner Real Estate (http://www.soonerrealestate.com.ni/) ’s service is appreciated. Thank you.

I personally would love to see a ban on all 3rd party (extranjero) real estate rip-off artists (not "Realtors" because that only exists in the US) in Nicaragua who apparently have a history of taking advantage of the indigenous people. Greedy, greedy, greedy. And I mean you! You deserve what's coming.

More controversial subject matter from the Nicaragua News Service:

Ortega denies government backing for property takeovers

Here is a summary of the results of the Nicaragua Housing Survey that was run in January through February 2008. My brief analysis is below. You can also view the actual survey and the result table.

*** LAST DAY *** The housing survey that I threatened to do in an earlier post is now up and running. If you have plans to move to Nicaragua (part or full-time) in the future, it is worth filling out. You can access it here.

There seems to be a lot of different opinions as to what someone might want in Nicaragua as far as a place to live. No surprise there. But, what we have is a lot of opinion plus a bit of "based on what is available, this is what sells". I would like to take this up a notch.

We have been looking at some land and found one where its size is defined in caballerias. Say what? Well, sizes.com comes to the rescue. And it also explains what a solar is--something I have wondered for ages--and even a peonia which I had never heard of. From that page:

The NZ Hearald a rather inaccurate story about Little Eden Cay. I leave it up to NL members to fill in the facts.

A Wellington family are selling their Caribbean island after an idyllic but at times nightmarish experience living there for two years.

This discussion comes from http://new.nicaliving.com/node/9886 where nicareal said they are now offering escrow services.

Every few weeks I hear another Real Estate purchase story that, well, went wrong.

15 or so months ago when I had just started hanging around Nicaragua there were video rental stores in every barrio.

As a precaution have the seller know what it is exactly that you expect from him/her [your contract] before you sign anything. Most indigents respect the fact that all they have is their word. Help them help you.

I was in Nicaragua in October of last year and signed a contract to buy an acre of land. It was with an American developer who has a large project there. I wired him the money in 6 weeks or so and I still have not received the deed. He related that there are serious changes that have occurred in the rules with regard to deeds, etc. Several months ago I emailed a Nicaraguan attorney I have dealt with in Grenada and he confirmed that indeed he is also experiencing difficulties with deed. Two months ago I received an email from the developer that the end was imminent. Still there were delays (i was told that the judge took a vacation). Needless to say, I am very concerned. Any advise?

I have said real estate prices for a house in the city in Estelí start at about $15,000 with "regular" houses being in the $25-40,000 range. Well, just got a bit of new data today.

My maid wants to sell her house. It is in a pretty dumpy neighborhood but it is in the city and she says is a lot bigger than other houses nearby. (I haven't seen it but that probably means 25 square meters when the others nearby are less than 20 but, whatever.) The lot is something like 8 by 20 varas.

I've been following this board for a couple of years now and am getting more serious about going down to Nica. I am 43 and with a family. I was wondering what the best way is to invest in Nicaraguan real estate.