Venture on the Open Road: Apartment Hunting in Santiago, Chile

Thinking about renting an apartment in Santiago, Chile?

With almost 5 million people in the city of Santiago you would think there would be 5 million places to live. Right?

No way. In 1 week of being in Santiago, here is what I have learned about renting an apartment in the capital of Chile.

There are only 20 apartments that fit my criteria on the most-used apartment search website.

www.portalinmobiliario.com

2. Most people that you contact about the apartment are not the owners or the landlords, they are a middle-man service. And they get paid to talk to you on the phone and maybe, show you the apartment. Almost 10% commission from the rent gets paid to them, for answering a phone!

3. Phone conversations about an apartment last 45 seconds. Email is extremely informal and the communication between me and whoever is behind the apartment is short, usually not even a complete sentence. At first, I thought it was rude and cold. Now, I realize it is cultural.

4. Refer to #3: have a Chilean cell phone so that you can call. Email is unreliable. Cell phones are the best way to set up a time to visit the apartment and check out where you can sleep off your terremotos y chichas. Oh, cell phone numbers here are 8 digits. Cool, right?

5. Being frustrated is normal. I felt down in the dumps yesterday because an apartment I really liked: perfect location, furnished, new paint and 2 huge terraces with lots of natural light is not mine. The property management wants a list of numbers, banks, bank accounts, proof of jobs, and more. Since I am gringa, renting means paying 6 months up front. WHAT. This isn't a rap video with money being thrown around me.

6. Living alone in Santiago, in the areas where I want to live, means paying around $600 - $700 per month. Plus building fees and if you want Internet, add another $50US to that. Now, I am thinking of sharing an apartment with Chileans or expats that are here, if I can find a way to do that. Craigslist doesn't seem too popular, unless Chileans are living with non-Chileans.

Did I mention that I moved here at the start of the BIGGEST Chilean holiday? This Friday starts the celebration of Chile's Independence from Spain in 1810, when the first meeting of the Chilean government took place. Imagine a city of almost 5 million feeling empty. I can't either but it is about to happen. People take off for beach houses, farms, houses in the south. They leave the city for almost a whole week.

Finding an apartment won't happen for another week. I am at peace with my new life as a vagabond. For today. Living without a home can truly be a vulnerable place to be. Yesterday, it got to me. It's all I think about now: find an apartment. Fortunately, I have friends that are taking me in and giving me a place to crash. <3 div="div">

Get this, my new friend Pablo is taking me tonight until I find a place and he was ROBBED 2 days ago. They only thing that they took? His couch! My future bed! Just in case you are wondering.. he went and bought another couch already. So, I can still crash in his gorgeous apartment that has the best views of Santiago.

Moral of the story? Since I don't have an apartment yet, I must continue to search.

Be ready to be frustrated and shocked by the process & the prices. Yesterday, I even found myself thinking that I might have to jump on a plane back to the States soon. Or, just cave in and sleep in the streets. Can you believe that?

A friend asked me last night, "Why are you here?"