top of page
.png)
Where To Buy Real Estate in Chile
If you’re considering purchasing property in Chile, then you obviously need to think about exactly where. Chile is incredibly diverse in terms of landscapes and climate so careful thought needs to go into where might be suitable for you as an international investor.
There are two main types of investor that come our way: Firstly, the “pure” investor who is simply looking for somewhere to park their money and earn a return on investment. This type of client isn’t wedded to a specific place, more to a specific type of investment.
Our main experience with investors of this type is for farmland in the Central Valley, from San Fernando down to around Chillan (and both east and west of the Ruta 5, the main highway in Chile). This is Chile’s agricultural heartland and farms for sale in this part of the country have seen massive capital growth over the past 10 to 15 years. There are still areas that offer exceptional value if you know where to look (we do!).
So if you’re looking for a farm for sale in Chile, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help.
The other, most common, type of client is someone looking for both a good investment and as lifestyle change. This could be anything from an apartment in Santiago, a winery in the Colchagua Valley or a conservation property in Chile’s wonderful Patagonia.
Here’s a breakdown of our picks for places to buy real estate in Chile. Please note that this is based on our own, personal experiences and preferences. There are many other wonderful places in Chile to buy property and we can help you do so!
Santiago
If you’re looking to buy real estate in Santiago, Chile then there are several neighbourhoods that we recommend, depending on your requirements.
-
Providencia: By far our favourite barrio in Santiago and where we have our own apartment, Providencia has it all! Centrally located with a wonderful blend of residential and commercial areas, Providencia has long been the middle-class aspirational neighbourhood. Starting downtown close to the historic city centre, Providencia stretches up and east and is full of incredible bars, restaurants, shopping and lifestyle opportunities.
Barrio Italia on the edge of Providencia next to Nuñoa is the current hotspot, with design shops, amazing restaurants and bars and lively nightlife. And if you like large shopping malls, Costanera Centre is also in Providencia. A lot of Providencia is now high-rise apartments but there are still some lovely traditional neighbourhoods where you can find older houses that are becoming increasingly valuable when renovated.
-
Santiago Centro: We love the centre of Santiago (and used to live there so know it very well), but it’s not for everyone! If you’re looking for a more bohemian vibe, with older architecture, excellent nightlife, bars, restaurants and museums, this is the area for you. The most desirable part of the Centro is around the tri-zone area of Parque Forestal, Lastarria and Bellas Artes, next to the lovely park and Cerro Santa Lucia. Here you’ll find a vibrant, rapidly gentrifying barrio, full of restaurants, bars and boutique hotels. It’s not as easy to find bargains there as it was 10-15 years ago, but they do exist if you’re willing to take a slight risk.
Other areas in the Centro include Barrio Brasil and Barrio Yungay, once the wealthiest part of the city with old palaces and mansions. It has made a comeback of sorts but still has a way to go. It is a higher-risk investment, but if things go the right way, it could pay off handsomely!
-
Vitacura: This is Santiago’s most central upmarket neighbourhood and has some of the city’s best restaurants and excellent road access to get in and out of the city. Vitacura has some lovely areas, great lifestyle opportunities, high-end malls and is generally very safe. All this is reflected in the prices! Vitacura is a mix of high-rise apartments with individual homes a little further out.
-
Las Condes: Las Condes is more upmarket residential with little to offer in terms of nightlife and lifestyle, although there are some good restaurants and high-end malls. It is a generally very safe and well-connected barrio, with a mix of high-rise apartments and houses. If you’re looking for family-friendly and safe, Las Condes could be a great option for you.
-
La Dehesa/Lo Barnechea: Far from the centre and pretty much an independent town within the greater Santiago area, La Dehesa/Lo Barnechea is popular with upper-class families and, often, overseas workers with kids due to its excellent schools and safety. We find it a little sterile and boring, but it has its advantages for sure, with some excellent restaurants and a large high-end mall for shopping.
If you’re looking for real estate for sale anywhere in Santiago, then just let us know. We don’t list (m)any properties in Santiago, but we have a fantastic network of contacts in the city and can help find the ideal property for you.
Colchagua Valley
We may be a little biased as this is where we live, but we genuinely believe that the Colchagua is the best option in Chile for anyone looking for lifestyle, hobby-farm, proximity to Santiago and proximity to the coast.
The main town, Santa Cruz, is just 2 hours from Santiago and has excellent restaurants, beautiful hotels and, of course, world-class wine and wineries. This is Napa 30 years ago! We’re just 50 minutes from Pichilemu, with world-class surfing. Colchagua has it all!
We have some incredible real estate for sale in the Colchagua Valley, including farms, vineyards and hotels, so please just get in touch.
Patagonia
Ay, Patagonia…what can we say about Chile’s stunning Patagonia? Words simply cannot do it justice. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the world, one of the last, great wilderness areas, with glacial lakes, incredible rivers, mountain peaks, temperate rainforest, fjords and just stunning, natural beauty.
Patagonia offers incredible lifestyle opportunities for those looking for adventure and outdoor pursuits. It also offers a wonderful possibility for anyone looking to help with conservation efforts. Chile’s Patagonian forests are as important as the Amazon in sequestering carbon dioxide and need to be protected. This is already happening, with private individuals, such as North Face founder Doug Tompkins and former Chilean president Sebastian Piñera purchasing huge tracts of land for conservation purposes and converting it into national parks.
Our favourite area of Patagonia is just south of Puerto Montt and east of Chiloe, from Hornopiren down to Palena. This area encompasses Chaiten, La Junta and Futaleufu (and is where Parque Pumalin, Doug Tompkin’s first land purchase is located). It is remote but fairly easily accessible and has just amazing natural beauty.
We have some incredible real estate for sale in Patagonia, Chile. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please just let us know.
As mentioned, these are our own, personal favourite areas of Chile to buy real estate. There are many others that offer amazing lifestyle and investment opportunities, such as the Lakes Region, the coast with its world-class surf and kite-surf beaches and
bottom of page