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. Particularly if you are looking to get away from some of the holiday ghetto lands of Spain, Cyprus and the like. You won’t find any “Belly Busters” restaurants selling “full English breakfast” here just the odd, vaguely-Irish Pub in the centre of BA.

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. While the winds are howling and the rain falling in Europe, it’s summer here in Argentina - and summer means summer in Argentina.

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. And many of those are deciding to buy a holiday home here, and even deciding to live here permanently. 

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 and eat in top restaurants at prices that haven’t existed in Europe for decades.  Argentina is a country with room to breathe in. Argentina is the size of India, but with a population of only 38 million people. Others come because here they can live their dream. The can afford to own a beautiful property and live a lifestyle that they could never do in their home country. For instance I have a maid who comes every day. She washes, irons and cleans for a weekly salary of £18. In the UK I could only dream of that - here it’s a reality.
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An idea of prices	£	$
14 stop underground (subway) ride	0.15	0.28
20 kilometre bus ride (inner city)	0.15	0.28
Good bottle of wine	2.00	3.80
Steak meal for two with wine	11.00	21.00
Maid - per hour	1.50	2.85
Top latest CD	4.00	7.60
Trip to the Cinema	2.00	3.80
4 km taxi ride	2.00	3.80

The list goes on – one thing is clear – it’s cheap

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. Here they can buy a lovely two bedroom apartment in the Knightsbridge of BA for around $150 000 USD - real estate here is about a tenth the price of London and Paris. Others are more interested in the wine growing area of Mendoza with its proximity to the major ski areas of the Andes. Here you can find an up and running finca, for around $100 000 USD, and make a living selling grapes to the local wineries. Some are attracted to the wide open spaces of the Pampa, which wraps around BA and stretches for 300-400 kilometres in all directions. It is an area of peace and tranquillity, where you will find the grain belts and cattle ranches that produce enough food to sustain the country 10 times over. Here you find the beautiful houses with land to buy where you can create your own world. One example of a fantastic Estancia for sale in La Pampa is La Bamba (www.labamba.com.ar). Situated just 140 kilometres from BA it is one of the most famous Estancias in Argentina (almost as famous as Evita!) and the very first to be opened to the public some 25 years ago. It is for sale for 1.3 million dollars.  Buy it and be happy ever after – it’s fabulous and is already earning an excellent income. Of course we can’t forget Patagonia –the lands to the south of BA with their mountains, lakes, glaciers and forests. It is probably the last place on earth where you can buy your dream, if this is the type of landscape you love. Here prices are rising as more people decide to move to the beautiful “end of the world”.

What’s the future for those who invest?

With a strong economy (currently growing at 8-9% per annum) and a strong president the future looks bright for Argentina. Many foreign investors are now active in the property market here and the number is expected to grow. I remember going to Shanghai in the late 90s – there were cranes everywhere – people told me to buy – I didn’t but I should have done – I am told that prices have tripled. In the right areas I can see no reason why the same can’t happen in BA. It in fact it has already started – prices rose in some areas 40% last year alone. Further growth looks like a forgone conclusion. 

Getting here?

Most major airlines fly here so accessibility is no problem. I have used most of the airlines and they are all pretty good. Prices vary depending on the season. If you decide to live in Mendoza the wine region, providing you plan a bit you can get a connection from BA to Mendoza easily and the one hour flight is a breeze.