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Real Estate Sales No negotiation: why there is almost no room to discuss the price of a home in a real estate transaction - Infobae

BuySellBA

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No negotiation: why there is almost no room to discuss the price of a home in a real estate transaction - Infobae
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December 12, 2024

The smaller difference between listing and closing prices reflects a more dynamic market, with declining supply, rising demand and greater precision in appraisals that drive more purchase and sale transactions.



By Jose Luis Cieri





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Buenos Aires continues to be a market of opportunity and the value for purchase and sale operations has been confirmed

The real estate market is experiencing a notable change: the gap between listing and closing prices of transactions has narrowed significantly . This adjustment reflects a context of greater dynamism, driven by an increase in the number of purchase and sale transactions, a lower supply of properties and greater precision in real estate appraisals.



At the same time, those with savings or access to mortgage loans find unique opportunities to acquire properties in a market that is still recovering in values in the city of Buenos Aires and in Greater Buenos Aires (GBA).

Aggressive price reductions are no longer accepted as they were two or three years ago. Previously, prices could be reduced by 10% to 20% depending on the case, for both buyers and sellers.



Santiago Magnin , from Deinmobiliarios and an expert in Real Estate, told Infobae that the decrease in the gap can be explained, in part, by a change in the relationship between supply and demand. “Two years ago, the city had 170,000 properties for sale, while the monthly average of transactions was around 3,000. Currently, the offer has been reduced to 100,000 units, while monthly sales have doubled that number, reaching 6,000 (according to the latest report on deeds from the College of Notaries of Buenos Aires),” explained the director. In turn, he stated that this “generates an increase in the absorption of properties: in four months, 24% of the total available is sold, compared to the 7% that was absorbed in the same period two years ago.”

This phenomenon is driving closing prices closer to the published prices. “The smaller difference between appraisals from different real estate agencies was also key to generating trust among property owners. Previously, list prices could be very far from closing prices, making it difficult for clients to trust the appraisals offered. Today, that difference has been reduced to 5%, in line with historical negotiation values prior to 2020,” said Magnin.



The segment reflects more sincere values in an economic context where the dollar is experiencing an unusual decline and inflation has also slowed significantly, key factors for the real estate sector.

Magnin also noted that “precision in appraisals is crucial in a market where supply is decreasing and demand is growing. Owners are looking for realistic appraisals that allow for sales, which improves market dynamics.”



This scenario, combined with the stability of property values in dollars, makes home buying an attractive option for both investors and families who want to buy their first home.


The availability of mortgage loans (in November, those from the Javier Milei era exceeded those of Mauricio Macri ) also contributes to boosting the market, although still to a limited extent.

The adjustment in the price gap and the recovery of real estate activity consolidate CABA as a market of opportunity for the purchase and sale of properties, with expectations of sustained growth in the coming months.

Values fell 40% between 2018 and the end of 2023. However, since the beginning of 2024 they began to recover, with an interannual appreciation of up to 12% in neighborhoods such as Colegiales, Núñez, Recoleta, Villa Urquiza, Belgrano and Palermo.





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Housing in the final stage of construction in Núñez, one of the neighborhoods that appreciated its value the most in 2024

According to Zonaprop, a used studio apartment has an average price of USD 100,000 , while a two-room apartment averages USD 122,898 and a three-room apartment reaches USD 169,057.

Less supply

According to the Real Estate Market Observatory of the Colegio Inmobiliario Porteño in CABA, there are currently 67,689 apartments published, the supply decreased by 4.08% in the last 30 days.

Taking October 2022 as a reference, the number of publications accumulated a reduction of 39.81%, which is equivalent to a decrease of 44,761 units between October 2022 and November 2024.

What's happening in GBA

In 2024, the stabilization of inflation, although high when measured year-on-year, allowed for greater agreement between buyers and sellers on the value of properties for sale.

"This context, combined with economic uncertainty, encouraged property owners to relax their expectations to ensure quick sales in the face of possible devaluations of the peso or increases in interest rates," said Fernando Belvedere , from EFEBE Properties, who operates between Avellaneda and surrounding areas.

The reduced disparity between property appraisals has reinforced the perception of stability in the market, generating greater confidence among buyers by reducing uncertainty due to differences in valuations.





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In Avellaneda, the price margin was also reduced when negotiating operations for the purchase and sale of apartments and houses

The closer approximation between list and closing prices simplified negotiations and drove an increase in transaction volume. Belvedere added: “Transparency in the values asked and offered facilitates agreements and reduces barriers to closing purchases and sales.”

Although there is a recovery in real estate values, this trend depends on factors such as economic policy, inflation control and interest rates. Economic stability is a key element to sustain this recovery.

Belvedere added: “In areas such as Avellaneda, the difference between the list price and the final negotiated price remains between 5% and 7%.”

In 2024, used apartments in Avellaneda have prices ranging from USD 1,500 to USD 1,700 per m2, depending on the location. Brand new properties reach prices of USD 1,900 to USD 2,100 per m2, driven by better amenities and more sought-after locations.


www.buysllba.com
 
This is true. I just bought my 2nd apartment in Palermo and it was a pozo and I waited 3 months and prices just kept going up each month. They are not motivated to lower prices at all. I looked at a PH in Palermo Hollywood and they would only come down 5% from the asking price of $340,000. I would have but they only wanted to declare 50% of the real price!
 
This is true. I just bought my 2nd apartment in Palermo and it was a pozo and I waited 3 months and prices just kept going up each month. They are not motivated to lower prices at all. I looked at a PH in Palermo Hollywood and they would only come down 5% from the asking price of $340,000. I would have but they only wanted to declare 50% of the real price!
I surprised how much property prices go up from last year. My sister finally buying a house now. She get loan from bank. And my cousin also buy with blanqueo. It look like many people buying now.
 
I surprised how much property prices go up from last year. My sister finally buying a house now. She get loan from bank. And my cousin also buy with blanqueo. It look like many people buying now.
Buenos Aires property is very cheap for a cosmopolitan city with 15M people. The pozo we purchased in Palermo Hollywood would have cost 5-8x that price in Manhattan on a per square foot basis. Even a third-tier US city would have cost 50-100% more.
 
Buenos Aires property is very cheap for a cosmopolitan city with 15M people. The pozo we purchased in Palermo Hollywood would have cost 5-8x that price in Manhattan on a per square foot basis. Even a third-tier US city would have cost 50-100% more.
So true @CraigM ! My sister lives in Manhattan and every time she visits me we walk around Palermo and she always says it reminds her of the Upper West side where she lives. Where I own in Recoleta she says it reminds her of he Upper East side. I bought a long time ago and my sister kept saying she was going to buy something here but never did. She is finally taking the plunge.

Seeing Argentina in the news so often with people speaking positively is great for Argentina. When people say Milei wasted tax dollars on all of these trips abroad they have to see how it is paying off. Now people like my sister are seeing Elon Musk or Donald Trump talk about Milei and what a great job he is doing. She finally is making the plunge do to all of this good news and press.

People have to think about the investment community all seeing all the good news on BA. My sister is buying a place sight unseen. She just had me go to it and see it and make photos and videos and made an offer on it.

Johnny is right. Owners don't want to discount much at all. All we could get lower was 3% and that was it. My realtor said they are seeing more activity now with mortgages and people yanking out their blanqueo $$$.
 
Buenos Aires property is very cheap for a cosmopolitan city with 15M people. The pozo we purchased in Palermo Hollywood would have cost 5-8x that price in Manhattan on a per square foot basis. Even a third-tier US city would have cost 50-100% more.
This is what I was blown away with. BA is easily the best city I have been to in Latin America. I have been to Lima, Rio, São Paulo, Montevideo, Mexico City, Medellin and Bogota, Santiago, and I don't think any of those cities are comparable to just how nice Buenos Aires is.

Even with a slumping economy things seem like quality of life is great and very safe. I can't imagine what property prices will do once the economy is strong!

@Betsy Ross what kind of property was it? New construction? New construction prices keep going way up. I am looking at a few properties that look good and well located but the interiors look really bad. I wonder how much work and hassle it is to renovate?
 
Buenos Aires property is very cheap for a cosmopolitan city with 15M people. The pozo we purchased in Palermo Hollywood would have cost 5-8x that price in Manhattan on a per square foot basis. Even a third-tier US city would have cost 50-100% more.
Yes! This is what got me interested @CraigM. I am just here on vacation but I saw some prices in a window on a realtors office and it is hard to believe prices are this low. Realize that people don't make as much here but I can't figure it out. All the restaurants are all full with locals. These are expensive places. Cafes are always full. Prices are much higher than I expected at restaurants. Coffee is the same price as back home.

I am staying in an Airbnb in Palermo Hollywood and can't get over how nice the city is. Did you get a price discount on your apartment Craig?
 
Yes! This is what got me interested @CraigM. I am just here on vacation but I saw some prices in a window on a realtors office and it is hard to believe prices are this low. Realize that people don't make as much here but I can't figure it out. All the restaurants are all full with locals. These are expensive places. Cafes are always full. Prices are much higher than I expected at restaurants. Coffee is the same price as back home.

I am staying in an Airbnb in Palermo Hollywood and can't get over how nice the city is. Did you get a price discount on your apartment Craig?
Petey,

You aren't alone. Many of my clients over the past 22 years decided to buy this way. They were just in Buenos Aires on vacation and fell in love with the city and then were surprised how affordable it is here for real estate in prime areas like Recoleta or Palermo. Prices are moving up but it's still affordable for a world capital city the calibre of Buenos Aires. Last year I was still buying studio apartments in Palermo for under $100,000.

There is a tremendous amount of wealth here. You can see it as you mentioned just seeing how full restaurants and cafes are. A tremendous amount of wealth was built up here over the past Century. Argentina's GDP at the turn of the Century was ahead of Germany and France.
 
Buenos Aires property is very cheap for a cosmopolitan city with 15M people. The pozo we purchased in Palermo Hollywood would have cost 5-8x that price in Manhattan on a per square foot basis. Even a third-tier US city would have cost 50-100% more.
@CraigM did you see the price jump from last month! 7.2% increase from December's prices to this month!

I also purchased an off-plan new construction in the same building that @CraigM bought in. They are just breaking ground now. I wish I bought when Craig did. He beat me by a few months but he paid less than me. But the prices keep going up. Buenos Aires won't be cheap forever. This is the second apartment I bought in Palermo.

I am glad I bought when I did!
 
@CraigM did you see the price jump from last month! 7.2% increase from December's prices to this month!

I also purchased an off-plan new construction in the same building that @CraigM bought in. They are just breaking ground now. I wish I bought when Craig did. He beat me by a few months but he paid less than me. But the prices keep going up. Buenos Aires won't be cheap forever. This is the second apartment I bought in Palermo.

I am glad I bought when I did!
Looking forward to being neighbors Johnny!

Petey if you're interested I would contact BuySellBA, the buying process is very different and they will guide you through it. If I was living there though I would have been looking for an existing unit to renovate in Recoleta or San Telmo, the bargains in those beautiful neighborhoods were crazy.
 
Looking forward to being neighbors Johnny!

Petey if you're interested I would contact BuySellBA, the buying process is very different and they will guide you through it. If I was living there though I would have been looking for an existing unit to renovate in Recoleta or San Telmo, the bargains in those beautiful neighborhoods were crazy.
Recoleta best area for me in the city. Very residential.
 
Looking forward to being neighbors Johnny!

Petey if you're interested I would contact BuySellBA, the buying process is very different and they will guide you through it. If I was living there though I would have been looking for an existing unit to renovate in Recoleta or San Telmo, the bargains in those beautiful neighborhoods were crazy.
Thank you @CraigM! Yes I just contacted them and I am meeting with them tomorrow morning. My wife thinks I am crazy because we just came for vacation but now we might buy something here. But she loves it too. I still can't get over how safe it is here. This reminds me of Europe. Thank you all for your information here. Great information.

@Johnny did you say the price jumped up 7% in one month???
 
Thank you @CraigM! Yes I just contacted them and I am meeting with them tomorrow morning. My wife thinks I am crazy because we just came for vacation but now we might buy something here. But she loves it too. I still can't get over how safe it is here. This reminds me of Europe. Thank you all for your information here. Great information.

@Johnny did you say the price jumped up 7% in one month???
Petey you will like Mike. He recommended his lawyer to me and she got my tax ID number for me and also banker. His company does a great job explaining the process and walking you through it. I have been looking at properties for the past year but kicking myself for waiting so long. All the prices are much higher than last year. No slowdown seems to be in sight now with mortgages.

I am anxious to get back to BA next month. @earlyretirement do you have any price point references at what PH's are going for right now? I saw prices all over. If you have any recent purchases that would help.
 
Looking forward to being neighbors Johnny!

Petey if you're interested I would contact BuySellBA, the buying process is very different and they will guide you through it. If I was living there though I would have been looking for an existing unit to renovate in Recoleta or San Telmo, the bargains in those beautiful neighborhoods were crazy.
Thanks Craig! I was supposed to come down with Mike this trip but I had to travel for work.

Petey I agree with Craig that BuySellBA is great! I have used them now two times in Buenos Aires, and twice in Mexico to purchase investment properties and in each market things turned out exactly as he forecasted to me. In Guadalajara I ended up tagging along on a building he bought for several other investors in an off plan development several years ago and the values went up. The rental yields are great. He bought another off plan in Cabo that will be done in September 2025. Then I was so happy with my first apartment in Palermo that I bought my 2nd place last month in the same building as Craig.

I am looking to add another property in either Recoleta or Palermo.

Thank you @CraigM! Yes I just contacted them and I am meeting with them tomorrow morning. My wife thinks I am crazy because we just came for vacation but now we might buy something here. But she loves it too. I still can't get over how safe it is here. This reminds me of Europe. Thank you all for your information here. Great information.

@Johnny did you say the price jumped up 7% in one month???
I loved BA! One of my favorite cities and I want to spend more time there. And will once I have my own places here. My wife didn't come down yet but I know she will love it. Glad you are going to speak to them Petey. They will completely take you through the process. Their lawyer is very good. She got tax ID number.

Petey you will like Mike. He recommended his lawyer to me and she got my tax ID number for me and also banker. His company does a great job explaining the process and walking you through it. I have been looking at properties for the past year but kicking myself for waiting so long. All the prices are much higher than last year. No slowdown seems to be in sight now with mortgages.

I am anxious to get back to BA next month. @earlyretirement do you have any price point references at what PH's are going for right now? I saw prices all over. If you have any recent purchases that would help.
@Uncle Wong I have been looking at PH units. To give you an idea, Mike sent me a few examples of recent sales. I thought it was a great deal but it was already purchased by another one of his clients. It looked beautiful in an up and coming area.

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Thanks Craig! I was supposed to come down with Mike this trip but I had to travel for work.

Petey I agree with Craig that BuySellBA is great! I have used them now two times in Buenos Aires, and twice in Mexico to purchase investment properties and in each market things turned out exactly as he forecasted to me. In Guadalajara I ended up tagging along on a building he bought for several other investors in an off plan development several years ago and the values went up. The rental yields are great. He bought another off plan in Cabo that will be done in September 2025. Then I was so happy with my first apartment in Palermo that I bought my 2nd place last month in the same building as Craig.

I am looking to add another property in either Recoleta or Palermo.


I loved BA! One of my favorite cities and I want to spend more time there. And will once I have my own places here. My wife didn't come down yet but I know she will love it. Glad you are going to speak to them Petey. They will completely take you through the process. Their lawyer is very good. She got tax ID number.


@Uncle Wong I have been looking at PH units. To give you an idea, Mike sent me a few examples of recent sales. I thought it was a great deal but it was already purchased by another one of his clients. It looked beautiful in an up and coming area.

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That looks incredible! So big. I can't afford anything like that but was looking for a smaller PH. I like the idea of no monthly expenses. That looks like a great price for something so big. It looks very close to Palermo Hollywood. Thanks for sharing that.
 
Buenos Aires property is very cheap for a cosmopolitan city with 15M people. The pozo we purchased in Palermo Hollywood would have cost 5-8x that price in Manhattan on a per square foot basis. Even a third-tier US city would have cost 50-100% more.
Very true. I bought my first apartment in 2005 which was a pozo in a very tall building in Palermo Soho (Palermo Uno) so it took a while to build it. I took delivery of it in 2009. But the price I paid was $50,000. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. I still own it. I wish I would have purchased more back then but it was the first time I bought and wasn't sure what to expect and worried too much.

Looking forward to being neighbors Johnny!

Petey if you're interested I would contact BuySellBA, the buying process is very different and they will guide you through it. If I was living there though I would have been looking for an existing unit to renovate in Recoleta or San Telmo, the bargains in those beautiful neighborhoods were crazy.
I can also highly recommend Mike and Buysellba. I bought my first apartment with him back in 2005. The company back then was Apartmentsba. But he has the same team. He sold the company to a Canadian company and then Airbnb purchased it. I have used his assistance on my second apartment in Palermo. Very ethical and hardworking guy. They have a good track record for 20 years in BA.

They also helped me renovate my PH which was a big gut job.
 
Very true. I bought my first apartment in 2005 which was a pozo in a very tall building in Palermo Soho (Palermo Uno) so it took a while to build it. I took delivery of it in 2009. But the price I paid was $50,000. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. I still own it. I wish I would have purchased more back then but it was the first time I bought and wasn't sure what to expect and worried too much.


I can also highly recommend Mike and Buysellba. I bought my first apartment with him back in 2005. The company back then was Apartmentsba. But he has the same team. He sold the company to a Canadian company and then Airbnb purchased it. I have used his assistance on my second apartment in Palermo. Very ethical and hardworking guy. They have a good track record for 20 years in BA.

They also helped me renovate my PH which was a big gut job.
Thanks @JonJLA, @Johnny, @CraigM, @Uncle Wong for the kind words about me and my company. It's been an honor and privilege to work with all of you gentlemen.

@JonJLA, I wish I kept some of mine! I purchased about 25% of Palermo Uno at pozo (ground breaking stage). Prices were unbelievably cheap back then. I am very close friends with the developers of that building and they joke that was the only project they didn't make any money and they blame me. LOL. I bought too many units so early when prices are low.

I purchased 4 personal units in that building but sold them all at the peak of the market in 2017/2018. I wish I kept one as the view is so great up there. With zoning laws it's going to be impossible in that area to duplicate those views. I laugh because I bought my first units in that building for about $47,000 USD. I sold mine for $200,000 USD @ at the peak.
 
Petey you will like Mike. He recommended his lawyer to me and she got my tax ID number for me and also banker. His company does a great job explaining the process and walking you through it. I have been looking at properties for the past year but kicking myself for waiting so long. All the prices are much higher than last year. No slowdown seems to be in sight now with mortgages.

I am anxious to get back to BA next month. @earlyretirement do you have any price point references at what PH's are going for right now? I saw prices all over. If you have any recent purchases that would help.
Hi @Uncle Wong,

I'm glad Angie could get you all set up with your CDI #. Prices depend on what area you are in. Obviously, Palermo is the most requested. Johnny posted one example of a recent sale. Another client just is in the process of buying this property. The owner only came down 4.6% on it. $325,000 for 80 sq. meters covered and 130 sq. meters total with a private rooftop terrace. But prices are moving up now.

We are seeing record demand from foreigners again buying up much of Palermo. We are doing the same type of numbers back after the corralito now. We made 5 offers on properties in the past week.

Screenshot 2025-01-15 at 10.30.53 AM.jpg
 
We are seeing record demand from foreigners again buying up much of Palermo. We are doing the same type of numbers back after the corralito now. We made 5 offers on properties in the past week.
What are the reasons for foreigners buying here? Is this to live in? Or is this a straight investment? I know after the corralito it was just investment but with the higher costs to live here now I am surprised there are so many foreigners buying here again.
 
What are the reasons for foreigners buying here? Is this to live in? Or is this a straight investment? I know after the corralito it was just investment but with the higher costs to live here now I am surprised there are so many foreigners buying here again.
The costs might be higher than last year Larry but you have to think of things from the cost of living perspective of people paying crazy high prices in the US. Some people just don't realize how expensive it is in the US. Rents keep going up in many areas. Or if you have a place of your own property taxes keep going up. Insurance, groceries. I keep hearing how Argentina is as much as the USA but I am just not seeing it. Even looking at recent posts of restaurants it is less than home.

Real estate is also a fraction of the cost of most metropolitan cities in the US. My biggest issue is worrying about making enough money in Argentina. I have a remote job now but I have to go into the office starting this month once a week and there is talk of increasing that. I just don't see many dependable paths to make much money abroad. Remote jobs are becoming more and more difficult to find.
 
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