FAQ

Common questions from our prospective clients: 

Why should I pay you to find properties for me - don't realtors do that for free?

• Realtors receive a commission from both the seller (3%) and the buyer (3%), so it's to their advantage to sell for as much as possible and not disclose negative information about a property. Because we receive no commissions, we are 100% aligned with your best interests.

• Most realtors show only the properties they have in their portfolios, so if you work with just one or two of them you see only a fraction of what's on the market. During a search, we deal with as many as 20 realtors at once.

• Realtors are not Agronomists. Despite what they claim, most are ignorant of the technical pros and cons of the rural properties they are selling and their suitability for crops such as high-end grapevines. Our licensed Agronomists always pre-inspect properties to save our clients time and money.

• Very few realtors in Argentina speak English well, and even fewer have the technical vocabulary to adequately answer your questions and clearly explain essential legal, tax and banking information. You won't encounter a culture or language barrier with English & Associates.

• Unlicensed "agents" in Argentina often try to sell properties to foreigners that have serious hidden problems such as unpaid taxes, liens, disputed water rights, inheritance lawsuits, high salinity or Nematodes. We maintain a black list of bad realtors so as to not waste time looking at junk properties.

• Opposite to many countries, in Argentina it is the buyer's responsibility to run financial projections on a potential investment (and when such data is supplied by the seller or broker it is often unreliable: see example). We provide unbiased estimates of future income and expenses for properties our clients are considering.

• When it comes to the purchase of a property, we can save you thousands of dollars by helping you understand fair market values and Argentine bargaining tactics. Commissioned realtors want to sell for as much as they can -- we just want to help you negotiate the lowest possible price.

• We obtain for our clients special rates on hotel rooms and rental cars as well as reduced fees on wire transfers and other transaction costs. These savings are not available through most realtors and more than offset the cost of our services (see example).

What makes English & Associates unique?

• Our Business Model - We are ideally suited to help you find the property you are looking for since we receive no commissions of any kind and represent only you, the buyer. 

• Market Knowledge - On a yearly basis we physically inspect hundreds of properties. This gives us a unique knowledge of the market and property values (a reliable database of sale prices like the MLS system in the United States does not exist in Argentina).

• Management Style - English & Associates is managed according to principles taught in the world's leading business schools, and adheres to globally recognized best practices.

• Detailed Information - All of our clients receive a formal Client Handbook in English that contains detailed legal, tax and banking information as well as costs for vineyard planting, winemaking, home construction and local labor. 

• Transparency - When managing our clients' properties we enter all income and expenses into Quickbooks Online so you can see at any time from anywhere in the world how your money is being spent and the status of your investment. 

• Management Services - We negotiate with suppliers, file monthly tax reports, pay employees, and otherwise handle the complicated details of managing an investment in a foreign country in order to ensure that our clients don't get taken advantage of by vendors, employees or customers.

• References - We have satisfied clients from around the world who are willing to tell qualified prospects about their positive experiences working with English & Associates. 

Do you cover all of Argentina or just Mendoza?

While our focus is the province of Mendoza, we do travel to other areas of Argentina to evaluate potential rural investments, including Salta, Neuquen, San Juan, La Rioja, Bariloche, San Martin de los Andes and Esquel.

What is the profile of your typical client?

• Most clients are individual investors who have budgets of $300,000 dollars or more with which to buy an agricultural property in Argentina.

• We manage properties that range in size from 10 hectares (25 acres) to 250 hectares (620 acres).

• We manage properties that range in value from $250,000 dollars to well over $3 million dollars.

• For smaller investors, we recommend projects such as Finca Los Amigos, Armani Estates, The Vines of Mendoza, and Santa Maria de los Andes.

Some important questions to ask before investing:

1. What is my overall objective (real estate investment, retirement home, hobby farm, making wine with grapes from my own vineyard, etc.)?

2. What is my total budget, including improvements after purchase?

3. Is my budget realistic considering my objectives and current market conditions?

4. How much time out of the year will I be spending in Argentina?

5. What are the financial projections and capital requirements over the long-term for the property I am considering?

6. Is it essential that my property turn a profit, or is this a lifestyle investment where my ROI includes intangibles?

7. Who will collect and analyze soil and water samples of the properties that interest me? Is the person offering me the service truly independent, or a friend of the seller or realtor?

8. What is the frost risk of the property? Is there official historical data?

9. Who can I trust to tell me the truth about the local market, including good and bad areas, fair property values, management and labor costs, government regulations, taxes, etc.?

10. What are Argentine negotiation tactics? How can I be sure I am getting the best possible price for a property?

11. Who will accompany or represent me at closing to ensure that everything goes smoothly and that no one takes advantage of my ignorance of Argentine laws and tax regulations?

12. How will I transfer money into Argentina to purchase my property and pay for ongoing expenses without 30% being retained for a year by the Central Bank? Who can I trust to receive my money and spend it appropriately?

13. Because it usually takes at least three weeks to close on a property after an agreement has been reached with the seller, will I be able to come back to Argentina to purchase?

14. If I can not return to Argentina for closing, who can I trust to act in my name under Power of Attorney, receive my wire transfer and sign the titlework?

15. What will I do when the seller wants to declare on the title much less than the real amount of the sale in order to minimize taxes? If I agree, how will I get the undeclared funds into the country with which to purchase?

16. After I've purchased, who can I rely on to look after my investment in an honest and transparent way? Who will receive and pay the water, electricity and tax bills?

17. Since most rural properties in Argentina must have someone living on them to avoid theft and squatters, how can I find a reliable property manager who will make sure my investment is cared for 365 days out of the year?

18. Because there is such a large black market in Argentina, how will I deal with employees and vendors who wish to be paid under the table and off the books? What are the associated legal and tax risks for me as a foreign investor?

I'm interested in your services - what's the next step?

Please contact us at info@english-associates.com to arrange a time for a conference call to discuss your questions and specific needs.