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Buying property in Chile makes sense. It is currently very cheap compared to Europe or the USA and standards are very high. You can buy the most amazing property for the price of a London doorbell.

Many foreigners are buying land and property in the South of the country but the Central Region offers far better lifestyle opportunities. The Quinta and Sexta Regiones (Fifth and Sixth Regions) offer excellent investment opportunities and living conditions.

You're never more than a couple of hours' drive or bus ride from Santiago, the country's pulsing capital city. Santiago also offers good investment and lifestyle opportunities. The country's main international airport is located just outside of Santiago.

The area is home to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar (120km from Santiago), the culturally stimulating and stunningly beautiful capital of the region.

A little way up the coast and you´ll find incredible beaches (unfortunately the water is too chilly for some people) and see where the country's elite spend their summers.

A short drive towards the Argentine border will lead you to Portillo, Chile's premier ski resort where the Austrian and American teams, amongst others, come to train.

There are good surf spots, hiking trails and all manner of other outdoor activities just around the corner.

Due to the area's close proximity to Santiago, there are many opportunities for investment. Second homes are extremely popular along the coast and many Santiaguiños are moving permanently to the region as the internet makes it easier to work from home.

We firmly believe that the Quinta Region is one of the best areas of Chile to both move to and in which to invest. It has great tourism potential (local and international) and offers an excellent lifestyle for everyone from students to retirees. The weather is perfect; long, dry summers with a short damp and chilly winter and the countryside is stunning. All this is why we moved here from Chile.

As a foreigner owning property, you have exactly the same rights as a Chilean. There is no history of expropriation of foreign owned property and property rights are well defined and strongly protected by law. The only restriction on foreigners buying property is in border areas but it is unlikely that you would want to buy in those areas anyway.

The process of buying property is fairly straightforward. The cost of buying is in the region of 5-8% depending on agents' and lawyers' fees. Unless you are fluent in Spanish or have a Chilean friend you trust implicitly it is a good idea to contract a third party consultant to help you through your purchase. It is not necessary but a consultant will almost certainly save you time, stress and money and they are likely to know the intricacies of property purchasing, where the best areas are and also the local tricks. Real estate agents in Chile have the same reputation as in the rest of the world, if not worse.

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About The Author

Matt Ridgway is an Englishman who has lived in South America for over three years. He worked as a private property consultant in Buenos Aires before recently moving to Chile with his Chilean girlfriend. They both continue to offer real estate and investment advice but now focus on the Central Region of Chile.

For more information about moving to and investing in Chile please read www.pacificfive.co.uk