At the moment Argentina is probably not on the radar of most second home seekers, but from what I’ve seen in the last two years of selling property here, this is beginning to change. When you compare it to a country like Spain 40 yeas ago, when Spain really was a bargain, it really took a while for attitudes to change, that it really was a legitimate place to invest in. Argentina is in this situation now - slowly but surely being discovered by those seeking to buy second home, have a change of life style or simple as a serious country to invest in. Let’s start with probably the only negative. Argentina is a long way from Europe (indeed it’s a long way from most places) however for those of us here, that distance is a big positive. 

Move out to the countryside and its tradition all the way, with friendly people, clear fresh air and some of the biggest blues skies in the world. Argentina is cheap to buy land or holiday homes in and that is a major attraction for those of us who have already invested. With most of properties being valued in US$ and the fact that most major currencies are strong against the US$ (particularly the pound) your money goes a long way here.

For instance, I am buying a traditional Estancia (Estancias are the stately homes of Argentina) (visit: www.estancialamargarita.com) with a beautiful eight bed house built in 1870, two further small houses, swimming pool, outbuildings and spectacular park and 120 acres of very fertile land for $360 000USD, and the house comes fully furnished! With the tourism industry beginning to boom, this type of property in the right hands can make a fortune – or just use it to chill out in, and to sit on as a really solid investment.

Who’s buying and why?

When I came to Argentina in 2003 as a tourist, other tourists and those who were considering buying a home here were hard to find. The economic crisis had seen to that. Prior to the political turmoil at the end of 2001, and the financial collapse early 2002, it was just too expensive to come here to visit, let alone think about buying property. Immediately after the crisis the country was getting too much bad publicity with daily mass protests, and unemployment running at around 50% (now down to less than 15% and improving daily). What a difference just a little over 3 years. Stability has returned, the country’s financial affairs seem to be in order, and people are coming here to visit.

Take John Packett (an ex English banker) and good friend of mine who has just turned 60, as an example. Not only has he decided to live here he has converted a run down house in St Telmo (one of the traditional but now very trendy areas of BA) into a beautiful petit hotel, and he is enjoying every minute of it. In truth it’s a huge mix of ages and nationalities who are deciding that Argentina can offer them a new life style from hungry 25 year olds eager to open up a trendy bar to backpacking 70 year olds who see a new life and an immense, fascinating country to explore.

The reasons why they are coming vary. Some because they can’t resist a bargain and there is no doubt that land and property is cheap. Others who come here tell me it’s because it’s a country where family values and good manners still matter. In Argentina they find this in abundance. Others come because they love the vastness and diversity of Argentina and its wide-open space where they can ski, swim in the sea, watch whales and seal colonies, go big game fishing go to see top class theatre and opera and ballet

Where are they buying?

What’s great about Argentina is that it has something for everyone. Some are lured by the thrill of dancing the tango and living in the centre of one of the most spectacular cities in the world.