Buenos Aires: the world's best place to live?
Saundra Satterlee's tips on buying property in Buenos Aires, the Paris of Latin America.
Argentina is the second biggest country in Latin America and eighth largest in the world. Its name conjures up images of gauchos, polo, succulent beef, Mendosa wine and, of course, the tango. Its landscape ranges from glaciers, through the pampas, to mountains and subtropical forests.
Despite the 2001-02 devaluation crises, and a few subsequent economic hiccups, it retains a high standard of living.
The capital, Buenos Aires, is referred to as the Paris of Latin America, and is renowned for sophisticated architecture, art and culture. It is a beautiful city, the individual and distinctive neighbourhoods are pepperd with parks, museums, squares, cafés, restaurants and tango salons. The historic opera house has recently been painstakingly refurbished. There are good private and government schools. If you can find a way to make a living there, it’s a fantastic place to live.
The city’s property prices range from the more affordable to top dollar. What you pay for an upmarket central apartment will buy, for example, a 19-hectare estate in the agricultural heart of the country.
SAN TELMO
A traditional barrio relatively untouched by high-rise developments, San Telmo is a bohemian quarter packed with markets, antique shops, tango venues and Sunday street performances. A recently renovated apartment on two floors, with a large patio and fully furnished, is about US$330,000 (£218,000) from www.apartmentsba.com.
PUERTO MADERO
An old docklands area turned into one of the most modern parts of the city, noted for upmarket restaurants and luxury high-rise apartments overlooking the river and a nature reserve with cycle paths and walkways. Not ideal for young families, but a haven for young professionals. You can get a 30th-floor, two-bedroom, fully furnished apartment with breathtaking views priced at $480,000 (www.apartmentsba.com.)
PALERMO
This wonderfully sprawling neighbourhood, with lots of sub-districts, was once home to the writer Jorge Luis Borges. It features a zoo, botanical gardens, a well-known polo ground and race course, and museums. An imposing Thirties house, close to trendy shops and restaurants, with a marble staircase, four bedrooms and a small pool is $545,000, from Sotheby's.
RECOLETA
A bustling and exclusive area noted for its Parisian architecture, cafés and restaurants (along with Eva Peron’s mausoleum). On the 17th, 18th and 19th floors of a 40-year-old building is a massive apartment with a swimming pool for $1.5million, from Argentina Homes.
SAN ISIDRO
Just over half an hour from town by train, this exclusive suburb with riverside sailing clubs is close to the Tigre delta, with all its waterways and islands. Among the many ambassadorial residences is a six-bedroom property set in grounds of 5,100 square metres. For sale at $3.5million, Sotheby's.
This piece was originally published in the Telegraph Weekly World Edition
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FUENTE
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