Here are just a few of the dozens of clients we have assisted in purchasing property here.
When my brother and I decided to purchase an apartment in Buenos Aires we spent weeks searching for accurate information about the process. The internet seemedlittered with conflicting facts and incomplete information. More worrisome still were the numerous posts from people who had been scammed in one way or another. Obtaining a verifiable, understandable and correct description of the purchase process seemed impossible.
Finally we found Michael's website. He responded to our questions with complete and clear answers, usually within minutes, always by end of day. Initially we hired him as a real estate consultant/adviser. In this role, he was absolutely essential to our success, introducing us to a trustworthy real estate agent, a lawyer, and a bank and bridging the gap for us between the reality of local business practices and our own expectations.
Throughout the two weeks it took us to find our apartment, he was always available for last minute questions, addressing our concerns and coordinating our "team". He gave us a tour of apartments he was renting and precise information on what sorts of properties were most desirable, what rents they were getting and how long they were booked.
At the end of the two weeks we made an offer on a lovely apartment. As the negotiations and counter-offers grew complicated, and we became increasingly uncertain, he stepped right up, meeting with us to fully explain the details and discuss our options. When we met with the seller to sign the finalized agreement, he was there.
As individual buyers purchasing a single property in a foreign country, with no local contacts or connections, we were taking on an enormous risk. By working with Michael's company we felt like we became part of a larger concern, a known local entity with an ever increasing share of the real estate rental market. Because Michael is continually referring his clients to a select list of business contacts, they have a vested interest in maintaining an honest relationship with him. We became part of this relationship and were taken seriously and treated fairly.
By the time we returned for the closing, we had decided to hire Michael as our property manager. In this role, he advised us everything from where to buy furniture to what sort of amenities rental clients expect. And, when the apartment is ready to be rented, he will be the ones handing over the keys.
Michael is one of the most capable, motivated and professional business people we have ever worked with. As well, he is a good and trustworthy person who cares deeply for the success of his clients. We highly recommend him to anyone intending to purchase real estate in Argentina.
Robert & Monica Day - USA
_____________________
My business partner first met Michael in late 2004 after he had already gone through the PAINFUL process of buying and renovating an apartment in Buenos Aires on his own. He was so impressed with Michael that he convinced me that we should partner with Michael, despite the fact that my partner had already built up some relationships and knowledge about the local real estate market. We signed on as consulting clients in early 2005.
Since then, Michael has been instrumental in helping us buy, renovate, and furnish two apartments in the Recoleta area of Buenos Aires in the Spring of 2005. He has provided many value added services and we cannot imagine having gone through the process of buying and renovating without his assistance.
· We relied heavily on his insights and expertise in terms of helping us find attractive rental units, providing us with much peace of mind.
· We leveraged his existing relationships with an extremely honest realtor and lawyer (which is extremely hard to find in one’s home country let alone a foreign country!), making the whole buying process easy and seamless. In fact, my partner and I bought two units remotely and did not have to be in Buenos Aires at all…Michael took care of everything.
· He helped us save money. Michael also got us directly in touch with a woman who wanted to sell her unit. We were able to close the sale on that unit and avoid the 3% realtor commission.
· The renovation and furnishing of the apartments have been completely pain-free and were completed within 1 to 1 ½ months. If anything, Michael and his team were the ones who had to deal with all of the headaches of working with the local contractors, furniture delivery folks, and more. In addition, we were impressed that Michael’s team of contractors was able to work so quickly. (To give you an idea, my partner’s apartment that he bought a year ago is still not completely finished to this day as he continues to haggle with the contractor that he hired.) Michael coordinated everything and we are extremely happy with how both apartments look.
In addition, we asked Michael to manage our apartments for several reasons.
· His Apartmentsba.com business is VERY reputable and he gets a ton of word-of-mouth and referral business. My partner knows this first-hand when he rented an apartment from Michael last year. In addition, I highly believe that his recent inclusion into the Argentina/Buenos Aires Lonely Planets guidebook will further drive traffic to his website as people seek luxurious alternatives to cramped hotel rooms. In fact, Michael was able to get us a two week booking immediately that started the DAY OUR UNIT WAS READY …even if that meant he and his team had to work late the night prior to get the apartment ready for our first guest.
· And in the last six months since we first worked with Michael, we have come to trust him completely. He is honest, fair, intelligent, attentive, and is completely passionate about the business he built from the ground up. You know that he will always do what’s best for his business and for his clients to keep them happy. We ping him with emails at all hours of the day and he replies back immediately to the point where he has spoiled us. Now, when I work with other vendors, I get annoyed that I do not get the same level of customer service as I get from Michael.
Having said all of this, I highly recommend Michael for anyone who is looking to buy real estate in Buenos Aires and/or have an apartment that they would like to rent out.Jane Kang - USA
_________________________________
It is my pleasure to recommend Michael as a consultant to anyone seriously considering the purchase of an apartment in Buenos Aires, and particularly to foreigners who are unfamiliar with the local market, language and customs. There are many aspects to Michael's consulting service and indeed he can assist you with the entire purchase process from finding an apartment to signing the Escritura. I met Michael personally during a recent house-hunting trip and used him extensively as a sounding board for my investment strategy. In our first meeting, he helped me identify winning (and losing) qualities with regard to neighborhood, square footage, style and price range. He then showed me some of his own properties and I was reassured to see that his advice was grounded in experience and not speculation. In the end I found a property through my realtor hours before my return flight and had to make a snap decision. My first reaction was to call Mike for an appraisal - because while realtors can be helpful, they have a vested interest in selling property based on (highest) price and not investment potential. In the end, Michael confirmed the apartment's strengths and weaknesses; worked with my agent to structure a solid offer (and prevented me from overpaying); and provided advice that ultimately helped me outmaneuver an unscrupulous seller. Considering that I initially contracted Michael over the phone as 'insurance' against an unknown entity, I am happy to report he has lived up to expectation. Caveat Emptor.
David V. - Montreal, Canada
__________________________
I rarely write testimonials because I don't know how the person I am vouching for will perform for the next person. However, I can confidently recommend Mike at Apartmentsba.com Ever since my first trip to BA, I've always dreamed of having an apartment here. It was only a dream but Mike helped make it a reality. I gave up on my dream of purchasing an apartment when a few locals (including lawyers) told me of various taxes and fees that Americans had to pay. I was referred to Mike by a friend that lives here that mentioned an American that specialized in consulting Americans on buying property here in Argentina. Mike returned my call immediately and he explained the entire purchase process - from start to finish - and I was relieved to hear that the information was false that I received earlier. I became a consulting client on the spot. The fee that he charges I felt was incredibly cheap for everything that he was assisting me with. He helped me find my dream apartment. His legal team was outstanding and he also helped me set up a bank account to transfer my money. I received wrong information after wrong information from locals, lawyers, realtors and even friends until that day I came to his office. I could NOT have purchased this apartment without his help and guidance. He always answers my emails quickly and made this transaction very easy. He held my hand through the entire process.
People buying property in South America should not try to buy without the help of someone that has gone through the process several times. What I liked the most was that his company has gone through the process dozens of times. I should mention that he found the apartment on his own without using a realtor (and saving me 3%). Although he mentioned that he uses good realtors, how many times have you had a realtor tell you that the property was too expensive? Exactly...never. He exceeded my expectations and so did everyone he referred to me.
Jason Hunt - Los Angeles, California - USA
__________________________
I was one of Mike’s very first consulting clients. Buying property in a foreign country is a scary process and Mike helped make it an easy process. No matter where you are real-estate is a major purchase. It is not something I do every day. When I was buying my home in the USA I used realtors and lawyers that my friends used and recommended. It is a major event and something to be taken seriously.
I first met Mike in Buenos Aires in 2002. I was surprised to hear that he was testing the waters of real-estate in Buenos Aires. At first I thought it was foolish but after a couple of years I realized he was on to something. For Mike, this was not a whim. He took his time learning about the business, made a solid business plan and followed through with it for a few years. Although he was a senior level executive in the USA, he took the time to put together a business plan, research and build relationships for a few years before deciding to move down there permanently. When he told me he was moving down there and what he was going to do I was very surprised. He left his job, sold everything, and threw himself into the business. I know Mike loves Argentina and is a place he has wanted to call home for a long time. If I were not convinced about his commitment to staying there and the soundness of his business plan I would probably not have purchased property there.
I felt comfortable dealing with Mike because we have known each other for several years. Also, I watched first hand what he was doing. He has purchased several properties himself and I saw what kind of results he was getting and was impressed.
When I first seriously started thinking about buying down there I wanted an apartment that I would like to live in. Mike’s advice was practical and focused. What do you want to do with the apartment? Do you want to live in it or do you want to make money renting it to other people? Simple practical advice that helps refocus on the purpose. Like everything else in business, you need a plan and a target audience. If I were moving to Buenos Aires I would get something bigger and more expensive. However, if I am going there for a short time I want something bright, modern, comfortable, close to the heart of things, with the comforts of home, and hotel. And that will provide a good return on investment.
I purchased an apartment in the same building where he owns an apartment. Mike negotiated the purchase without a realtor saving me 3% of the purchase price. He introduced me to an honest, English speaking attorney that was very easy to work with. Mike handled the entire negotiation and purchase process including the down payment and money transfer process once the final title deed transfer took place.
Mortgages are rare in Argentina even for Argentineans so for foreigners it is a cash deal. I don’t know why but the banks are funny in Argentina, If I wire money to a bank in US$ they charge me a % to get US$ out. It is not a small amount. It can be over 5%. I personally don’t feel comfortable loosing that much in a transfer but I also don’t feel good about carrying 250K in my carry on luggage. Mike showed me the cheapest way to get money into Argentina. There are banks that specialize in getting cash from wire transfers, they charge about 1%. To do this you need an account with them. As I don’t have an account with them I sent it into Mike’s account. Mike has had at least u$s 250,000 of my money in his account. Who else do you know in South America that you could trust with that amount of money? I knew I could trust him and I knew I could trust him to manage my property once it was ready.
Mike handled the entire furnishing of the apartment including meeting with architects to make special custom made furniture, getting it furnished with electronics and getting it painted. Immediately upon the completion of the apartment he had it marketed and rented starting the first day after it was ready to rent. My apartment has been booked solid since the first day he started managing it.
I was so thrilled with my investment; I decided to purchase another apartment. Mike selected another property that I decided to have completely remodeled. Mike oversaw the renovation process and I was happy that this apartment was also rented immediately after the completion of the renovations.
I am happy with my real estate purchases in Argentina. I couldn’t have done it without Mike’s help and guidance. The people he referred me to from the real estate lawyer, to the money transfer firm to all the contractors including the electricians, architects and painters have been great to work with and fair with their pricing.
Mike is always available to answer any questions I have whether I call him or email him. He always has responded the same day (usually within an hour). He is one of the most trustworthy people I know. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing real estate in Argentina without his guidance or someone else you know and trust doing the same thing down there.
The only real downside I have seen is that I have spent more money than I originally planned. The peso is stronger now than it was a year ago. Property values are going up. I also changed my mind on the level of quality I wanted to use. I use to stay in hotels when I visited down there, today Buenos Aires that is getting very expensive. I also wanted to see what the apartments were like. I have stayed in mid range and higher end apartments. I came to the conclusion that I like comfort and nice things and I am willing to spend a little more for them. I also think people who are like me are less likely to damage my apartment and furnishings. So I have spent more to make my apartments more luxurious to target people who are willing to spend more for quality.
Lawrence B. - USA
_____________________
Mike at Apartmentsba.com has been of great help and a tremendous resource to me during my last apartment purchase in BA. His advice, all along the process, and his great knowledge of the real estate market have actually saved me a lot of money (u$s 2,400), which I would have ended up paying as an unnecessary tax fee, if I had gone with my realtor's recommendation only.
I also met Mike in person and found him to be very intelligent and ethical, and I am extremely impressed with his insight and competence in this business. I highly recommend him as a real estate consultant in Buenos Aires to anybody without reservation.
Dr. Mark Gabr - USA
____________________
We found Michael while trying to buy an apartment in Buenos Aires. We had hit a roadblock, a killer tax, and we went to him for advice. Since our first meeting, in
which he dispelled the tax as illusory, he has been a steadfast ally in our re-energized pursuit of an apartment. With an eye on eventually renting out our
new apartment, we became a consulting client to ApartmentsBA.com. Michael is an energetic and personable businessperson in whom we would place any confidence. He seems always to be available to talk and eager for us to succeed – with referrals to his legal and financial associates, dependable workmen and even sources of home-goods. Michael has a vital stake in the Buenos Aires rental market and I’m sure that his enthusiasm and acumen will always be matched by success.
John & Ginger Harkey - USA
_____________________________
I cannot recommend to you in enough ways the services of ApartmentsBA.
Michael and his staff will work with you until you have found exactly what you want and then stay with you to the end of your vacation to be sure you are always satisfied. Other agencies might find you a nice place but no one will back up their placement like ApartmentsBA.
Take it from a compulsive lawyer who has used them 4 times and was completely satisfied each time. In fact, based on their level of professionalism and customer service, with Michael’s recommendation, I purchased an apartment with a spectacular view to be rented by his company
In July 2003 I took my first adventure to BA looking for property. I was lost and confused by the labyrinth of laws, misinformation and self serving sharks until I discovered Michael. He cleared the way to evaluate property on my third trip. Michael is most accessible person I have ever met. He quickly responded to all my questions, toured me though both virtual tours of property and actual tours. He more than earned his consulting fee. After being misled by the first seller on a deal, Michael led me through a smooth offer, acceptance and closing. He has continued to advise on the remodel, facilitating with an architect and furnishings. Michael cares about people and doing things right. I have profound respect for him and his company.
I recommend him to any interested in BA real estate.
If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly.
Fred Royce - Eagle@feroyce.com
____________________________________
K. J. - United Kingdom
I could not be happier with the service and the investment made with ApartmentsBA. Mike and the company´s entire team are outstanding. I have worked with Mike and the ApartmentsBA team since July 2005 to purchase, then renovate and furnish a three bedroom apartment in central Recoleta on Ayacucho street between Las Heras and Pacheco de Melo. I am now also using ApartmentsBA to administer the property and oversee short-term rentals. From start to finish, Mike and his team have been superb. Simply fantastic. Moreover, the investment – as Mike predicted –is the best I have ever made. It meets and surpasses the projected return on investment. And, to top it, the property itself has increased enormously in value since last November. Property prices have increased dramatically in the last year and that trend is set to continue. I am now seriously considering buying a second apartment in Buenos Aires – this time purely as an investment, because the apartment has put all my other investments to shame.
To recount: when I decided to buy an apartment in Buenos Aires, I quickly realized to do this at a distance, and as a foreigner would be difficult if not downright impossible. It was therefore fantastic to stumble across the ApartmentsBA website in my internet research. Reading the enormous amount of information provided on it, I was struck by the quality of the advice provided and this prompted me to opt for the consultancy service.
Things could not have gone smoother with the ApartmentsBA consultancy service. In my experience, it is truly the only way to go when purchasing in Buenos Aires! In my case, to choose the apartment I would buy, I decided to come down personally to Bs. As and spent some weeks here looking for a suitable property. I didn’t have to but as I intended to use the place myself (on occasion), I wanted to see the apartment before placing the offer. That said, had I not wanted to come down, Mike could have arranged the purchase for me. During these first three weeks when I was still buying the apartment, Mike set me up with a small studio apartment for me to stay during this period and cut me a special rate. It was a great place. Friendly reliable staff and well equipped. This also gave me an insight into how ApartmentsBA run their business and I was suitably impressed. In all, the purchase of the apartment, including all the dealings with the lawyer, the real estate agent and so forth were totally overseen by ApartmentsBA and in terms of buying property; it couldn’t have been easier or smoother. (I had been somewhat anxious before buying not to get ripped off but, certainly in my own experience, I saved far more than the consultancy fee). Mike viewed five properties – I had after seeing some 30 plus apartments, whittled the choice down to some five – and wanted to make the final choice based on his advice as to what might constitute the best investment in terms of rentals. Having viewed them he advised me which to select and made some very sound recommendations on refurbishments. He also recommended that I make an offer significantly below the asking price (based on his previous experience with apartment blocks/consortiums and purchasing property in the area). I then sent the money (both for the "boleto" and to close the deal) through Michael Koh to whom I had granted power of attorney. I am glad to say it went smoothly and although I was not in Buenos Aires at the time the deal closed, I was in constant contact with Mike and the Irish-Argentinean lawyer he recommended. Like Michael Koh, the lawyer was courteous, efficient and a pleasure to work with.
In order to renovate and furnish the flat, I employed ApartmentsBA again. In the course of doing so, we must have exchanged hundreds of e-mails (entirely due to the fact that I insisted on being consulted on each and every decision that was made). I am grateful for their diligence. When necessary, Mike called to consult me. Both Michael Koh and Sandra Ader made sure I was consulted on each and every decision. They always took on my requests, even when on occasion this would entail considerably more work on their side. The final result is absolutely fabulous! I am delighted. I am also heavily indebted to both Mike and Sandra for their hard work and diligence in following through all of my demands. Each and every of my (literally hundreds of) e-mails was responded to so quickly that I have now been totally spoiled in terms of customer service. Mike’s average response time sets a record. On the occasion that we had to speak on the phone to discuss elements of the renovation, it was always a pleasure. I have benefited enormously from his experience in the real estate market and his ideas on the renovations. He has a keen sense of interior decoration and time and time again made sensible suggestions on the décor. I came to rely on it!
Since finishing the apartment, it has been consistently (except for periods when I wanted to use it) rented out! It was rented out the first day it was on the market and the Return on Investment had been superb. This has got to be the best investment in the world at the current time!! So much so, that I am now seriously considering purchasing another flat.
At the current time I am in Buenos Aires, making use of the apartment and have consistently found ApartmentsBA to be every bit as good as I would have expected. Whilst here I have made extensive use of the concierge service which is offered and found this very useful and at every occasion have found the staff to be courteous and helpful. In short, I could not recommend ApartmentsBA more highly for their consultancy, renovation and rental service. It is my pleasure to work with them!
Terry Bennett - London, UK
Purely by accident we found our own ¨small piece of paradise¨ here in Buenos Aires. Having found it, we had less than 48 hours to negotiate the notoriously difficult and potentially costly experience of purchasing the property. I had discovered ApartmentsBA.com on the web and read Michael Koh´s very comprehensive description of the Buenos Aires investment property scene which outlined both the opportunities and pitfalls as well as giving an invaluable guide to the steps involved in the process of purchasing here in Argentina.
Between them Mariana, a Director with the firm and Mariela, the Office Manager, over a period of not much more than 24 hours activated surveyor, notary public and real estate agents to such an extent that permission to purchase, inspection report and power of attorney were all in place. After having first viewed our apartment at 5.30 PM on a Wednesday evening, we had a meeting at 2.30 on Friday afternoon where the purchase was effectively completed. During this short period of time- Michael Koh who was on a business trip to New York had spoken to me by telephone whilst I happened to be in his BA office and confirmed the attention his staff where paying to the matter and his interest in it.
Within hours of the Friday meeting we disappeared to Europe and during the five months which passed before our return to Buenos Aires, the completion took place including safe and cheap transfer of funds from London.
On our return we decided that we had both the time and ability to both redecorate and furnish our new apartment. How wrong we were!!!!!
Time yes- ability no- definitely no!!
Although we are not exactly novices, having bought property around the world and furnished and remodelled it. We were not equipped to handle the charm and mendacity of certain Buenos Aires tradesmen and salesmen.
Our first inclination that things could go dramatically wrong was when we obtained quotes for completely repainting the apartment. We approached the previous owner of the apartment on the basis that he would have the local knowledge that we did not possess to ensure a reasonable quotation. Sensible we thought BUT although this painter had been doing a presumably cost-effective work for the family of the previous owner for years- his quote of $ 36,000 (us$12,000) seemed a little steep to us.
Urgent telephone call to Apartments BA resulted in a quotation from a painter who had done a lot of work for them, tendering a quote of 7300 pesos (us$2,430). The painting was perfectly completed on time and to a very high standard!!! Lesson learnt- we then used tradesmen known to Apartments BA to complete the refurbishment. We cannot thank them enough for the quality of their work. Their patience and flexibility was amazing. The next problem- that of furnishing we thought would pose few problems-shop around bargain and get delivery, we were pretty good at that sort of thing. Until we started to order beds and major furniture then we found that delivery times far exceeded the time we had left in Buenos Aires and that some of the prices we had negotiated were not as good as we wished.
Sandra- the refurnishing expert of Apartments BA to the rescue!! When stared delivery times were way off our target she simply pointed us towards a superb craftsman carpenter- who copied and improved upon the beds and tables we wanted in less than half delivery time quoted by stores. Likewise we discovered several sofas that we wished to purchase but once again both delivery and price were problems. Sandra’s solution- simply to show the product to another store and get them to copy it- to at which we got the same standard at less than half the time and with substantial price saving. She also obtained substantial discounts on electrical appliances, bedding, and other necessary kitchen and dinning items. Did I mention that the carpenter also undertook to remove the original oak parquet floor of the apartment to a state that it had not achieved since it was first laid in 1903?
As by now you will have realised my wife and I have nothing but promise for Michael Koh and his charming and efficient staff. I unhesitatingly recommend them for their professionalism, probity and friendliness at all times.
One final point-despite our initial naive approach, we did manage to do some quite reasonable “deals” with antique dealers we discovered ourselves but whose addresses and potential are now also known to Sandra!!!!
Brian B.- Buenos Aires
I am an American who has lived in Buenos Aires since 2001, so my situation is different than the majority of ApartmentsBA's clients, but the hard work and dedication that Michael, Luciano and staff put forth is exactly the same.
I speak the language and know the city and its people, but I still wanted the help of real estate professionals who would be able to provide me with the inside information I needed to complete my property purchase here.
ApartmentsBA has quickly earned a stellar reputation amongst investors in Argentine real estate, and it's easy to understand why.
During our entire negotiation and closing process, which dragged on for six long months because of an unscrupulous seller, the ApartmentsBA team kept on top of things one hundred percent. They knew exactly when to hold and when to fold during the bargaining game, and in the end their patience and persistence paid off, as we were able to complete the purchase of an amazing apartment in Belgrano.
Negotiating a property purchase is never an easy process, and doing so in Argentina is even more complicated, to say the least. ApartmentsBA offers an invaluable service to foreigners, by helping them to navigate the stormy shores of the Argentine real estate business.
I was so happy with ApartmentsBA's efforts that I recommended them to a friend in New York, who just closed on an apartment in Palermo thanks to their help.
I pass on my strongest recommendation to ApartmentsBA.
Mark Mills - Australia
In October 2005 I was determined to purchase property in Argentina and discovered ApartmentsBA.com while searching the internet for information about the buying process. Mike's website was enlightening and I was convinced that his company was by far the best in real estate investments. After speaking to him on the phone I immediately decided to hire him as a real estate consultant.
I was planning to make the long trip out to Buenos Aires to look for an apartment but just two weeks after hiring Mike he informed me about a great opportunity on a two bedroom loft he had just found in Recoleta. He explained that he thought it was an incredible deal and a very unique property. I was hesitant about buying an apartment from just photos, but I trusted Mike’s judgment and put in an offer. The owner accepted, and the boleto needed to be signed a few days later. I live in the heart of the paddy fields in Taiwan, so it was impossible for me to make it out to Argentina with such short notice. Mike told me that he could sign the boleto and that everything would go smoothly. It was extremely nerve racking sending thousands of dollars across the South Pacific to a man I’d never actually met, but sure enough the money arrived and Mike signed the boleto without a hitch!
A couple of months later I flew out to Buenos Aires to close on the property and met Mike for the first time. After the close he took me to see the apartment and it was an amazing place, just like he had described three months earlier.
I then hired Mike to come up with the design for renovating and decorating the entire apartment. His company spent many months working on the property and I was constantly updated with emails and photos of the progress that was being made. Before I bought the apartment, Mike assured me that he could turn it into something special and he certainly didn’t disappoint me! When it was finished it looked spectacular and within two days of posting the photos I got the first booking. Then another one followed the very next day!
I had a very limited budget and Mike always did his best to save me every dollar he possibly could. His fee is an absolute bargain for what he does. On most occasions he replies to my emails within minutes, even after midnight on weekends, Buenos Aires time! You can rest assure of a professional, honest and efficient service with ApartmentsBA!
Pitts Wilson - Atlanta, Georgia USA
In late Fall of 2005, I was planning a trip to southern Patagonia when I
stumbled across Michael's web site apartmentsba.com. I would be traveling
back through Buenos Aires on the way home and wanted to spend a couple of
days there. I have been a huge fan of both Buenos Aires and Argentina since
my fist visit in 1986. Subsequent hunting trips only enhanced my admiration
for the Country and its people.
After looking for and booking a hotel at what I thought were exorbitant rates I found Michael's site and quickly discovered I could get a five star accommodation for about half the price of a good quality hotel. Then the dreaded thoughts, how does this work? Who are these folks? What kind of service will I really get? Well, I decided it was worth the effort to explore further. At about 10:30 on a weekend
night, I sent an email to apartmentsba.com to see if they could answer any
of my questions on the units and how I could go about securing one. Since
it was a weekend night, I fully expected to hear back from them in a couple
of days. Not so, within minutes I received a detailed response to my
questions, needless to say, I was very impressed with the incredibly quick
response and the professionalism of the responder. As you may or may not
know, Argentina was two hours ahead of Eastern standard time (in November)
so, it was about 12:30 am in Buenos Aires on a Saturday night. Who was this
person giving me all these details. Well, it was Michael, the owner of the company, and we continued to trade emails until about 2:00 am in the morning his time.
Again, I was impressed. By now, I had many questions not only about the apartments but his business as well. It was very obvious that he had a great company going and was dedicated to being very professional and making sure his
clients were satisfied. Of course, I rented an apartment and told Michael I
wanted to meet him while I was in Buenos Aires to see if this guy and his
company were legitimate. Upon arriving at my apartment and being totally
impressed with the unit and then meeting Michael at his office, it took me
about two minutes to discover that he really did have a unique niche in the
real estate world in Buenos Aires. Michael was everything I hoped he would
be. You could tell he was an energetic hard working American who knew what
he was doing and where he was going with this business venture.
I decided then and there I wanted a to own real estate in Buenos Aires and get Michael to handle the entire transaction. About two weeks after my return to the States, I hired Michael's firm to assist me in locating a unit. Again,
within just a few days digital photos of potential units began coming across
my computer to review. Even though the first few units were either not to
my liking or a little out of my budget, Michael continued to look for
something that was a good fit. Within a month we had found the perfect unit
for my purposes and decided to secure it.
Michael handled all the negotiations, power of attorney and inspections without a problem. In April of 2006, I flew down to finalize the purchase of my unit. Thanks to Michael and his staff, I cannot believe how easy the entire buying process was for
me. Without his vast knowledge and expertise in the Buenos Aires market, I
would never have thought I could own real estate in that wonderful city. I
look forward to the return on investment from renting my unit through
apartmentsba.com and enjoying my apartment when I am visiting the country.
Of course, if you are traveling to Buenos Aires and want to stay in a five
star apartment, rent from apartmentsba.com. If you are considering buying
property in Buenos Aires, don't hesitate in contacting Michael and using
his consulting services. I highly recommend his company. Should anyone want
to know more about my buying experience, feel free to contact me in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Laura Williams - New York City - USA
I hired ApartmentsBA to consult me on buying an investment rental
property in Buenos Aires and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I
didn't know anything about the property market in Buenos Aires and Michael helped me find and negotiate a great deal on an apartment (saving me thousands of dollars) and he took a lot of time to explain everything to me. He always answered my emails on the same day (almost every time within an hour) and stayed on top of all the details such as sending an architect to check the structure of the
property and the building, making sure the rules in the building allowed for rentals, getting insurance for the apartment after it was purchased, and handling all of the wire transfer details of getting my money into Argentina to purchase my property. I
gave Michael the power of attorney and he signed for me at the closing which
meant that I was able to close on the place without having to take time off
my job and without having to fly down to BA again.
I was so impressed with the professionalism of Michael and his staff at
Apartments BA that I also hired them to renovate and decorate my apartment
for me after I purchased it. Michael helped me with ideas and made
suggestions that completely made sense. He kept me updated with photos of
the renovations while they were happening. He didn't make any decisions
without asking me first. Now that the apartment is finished it looks
beautiful and I am very proud of it. They furnished it using all top quality
furniture and the renovations are exactly what I wanted. I have had it
listed as a rental with Apartments BA for less than a week and already I
have had people wanting to rent it.
I would recommend Apartments BA without hesitation. The money I spent was
nothing compared to the money that I saved and my peace of mind. There is no
way I could have done this whole process myself. I don't even speak Spanish.
I am very lucky to have found someone honest, reliable, and extremely
knowledgeable on the real estate market in Buenos Aires that I can trust like
Michael and the staff at Apartments BA.
Should anyone want to contact me and know more about my experience please
feel free to call or email me in New York City.
Javier M. - Connecticut, USA
I’m Argentinean but I have been living away from my country for six years already. Around December of 2005 seeing how my native country economy was recovering I started to research the possibility of buying a property there. I’m still regretting not doing it sooner than that.
First I was looking for an apartment with the idea of renting it out to the local market; this original idea changed when I found ApartmentsBA.com and started reading about the Luxury Apartments rental services. I found the business model quite interesting considering that tourism in Buenos Aires was booming.
The first thing I did was to send an email to ApartmentsBA asking about their services and commissions. In less than 24 hours I got a reply from Mike with detailed information about their services, commissions, testimonials, etc. I was surprised with the quick response. We exchange couple more emails where Mike answered all my questions and we agreed to meet the next time I will be in Buenos Aires. At that moment I was still suspicious (not for any particular reason, just because…) and I was not going to give a dime away until seeing their offices and talking to Michael Koh himself; in other words I wanted to triple check if these people were real. I know I may sound a little bit paranoid, but keep in mind I lived almost all my life in Argentina and since I have memory (I was born in 1975) I’ve witnessed how in two opportunities (1989 and 2001) the Argentinean banks and the government confiscated people deposits forcing them to accept 20 year bonds. So you can imagine that if I can’t trust the local banks and the government how can I trust an internet web site.
Four months later I finally got to visit ApartmentsBA offices and met Mike and his Argentinean partner Luciano. They took the necessary time to explain me in detail how they operate, the expected investment returns, etc. and of course answer all my questions. At the end of the meeting one of the members of his staff showed me two of their rental apartments near by in the Recoleta area. So far I was satisfied with what I’ve seen; one thing I liked in particular about them is that they were not only investment advisors but investors themselves. Now I had the necessary confidence in Mike’s company to make business with them from my home in the USA.
Weeks later with the help of Mike I bought an off-plan apartment in Recoleta. New construction in this area of the city is rare, that’s exactly why it was an attractive investment. There were two apartments left on the top floor (the most desirable floor) and Mike also wanted to get one, he let me choose first and then he took the remaining one. Because we bought two units Mike was able to negotiate a discount with the developer, but we had move fast to secure the properties so after he got my okay he even paid the reservation for my unit from his own pocket, which I reimbursed him couple of days later. The property is not yet finished and its price has already increased at least a 20%.
Months later after my first good experience investing in Buenos Aires, I went back to Mike to look for a second apartment. This time he found an already renovated two bedroom apartment on the top floor of a classical 40 years old Recoleta building close to Santa Fe Avenue. He immediately sent me an email with the apartment’s photos and information about the building. Then I asked Mike to arrange a visit so my mother could take a look to it. Later that night I spoke with her but she wasn’t complete convinced about it, she didn’t dislike it but she wasn’t totally sure either. I was not sure what to do, but finally because I liked what I saw on the photos and because I trusted Mike’s judgment I decided to go for it. Mike negotiated the price with the seller and I end up getting the apartment for a couple of thousand dollars less than the asking price.
Closing went smoothly, ApartmentsBA staff organized everything keeping me informed by email and promptly answering all my questions. During the notary meeting my mother had just to sign the Notary documents on my behalf.
On my next trip to Buenos Aires I visited the apartment while it was being furnished (I also retained ApartmentsBA services to do so). The apartment was great, plenty of light, excellent layout, luxury design furniture, and as Mike told me the renovations were tastefully done, it looked brand new (see AP27). In six weeks the apartment was ready for business, it even got a booking before the photos were published on ApartmentsBA.com.
Only three months after the apartment started to be rented out the occupancy is half the ApartmentsBA average, this is good for a new property considering that tourist usually make their reservations months in advance. I am confident occupancy will increase reaching the average by the end of the year.
In summary these people know the market, they know the rules of engagement down there, they have “the right contacts” and most important of all they know how to take care of their customers (renters and investors).
Craig Schwimmer, MD, MPH - USA
In 2006, My wife and I purchased an apartment in Recoleta, which is
currently managed by ApartmentsBA. We substantially renovated the
apartment, both to accommodate our use and to increase it's value as a
rental unit. The purchase, as well as the planning and execution of the
renovation, was handled by Michael, Luciano, and the staff of
ApartmentsBA, while we were at home in the US as we gave them a power of attorney to complete the purchase for us.
The purchase and renovation of the apartment required the wire transfer of substantial sums of money to a relative stranger (Michael Koh). Needless to say, we
had some concerns, reservations, and even fears. Wire transferring
several hundred thousand dollars to someone we barely knew, in a
country whose laws and customs we were not intimately familiar with,
took tremendous faith. Michael and his company have, to a degree which
is truly remarkable, earned our trust, respect, and friendship.
Our intended use for the apartment was perhaps a little different than
most of Michael's clients, in that we were interested in finding a
"family retreat", as well as an economically viable rental unit. From
finding a reputable realtor, to appraising the advantages/disadvantages
of numerous properties, to negotiating a fair purchase price and
negotiating the contract, everyone at ApartmentsBA was patient,
helpful, and personally interested in our satisfaction. Since we were
back in the USA, Michael handled the purchase on our behalf - quite a
big deal, since these transactions are carried out in cash - my cash!
But Michael handled things as if it were his money - and everything
went off without a hitch. When it came to the renovation, Luciano in
particular spent countless hours helping us with architectural plans,
as well as the selection of materials, colors, furnishings, etc - no
easy task, considering that we were in the USA, but very concerned about
how the apartment would "feel", since we would use it quite often. With
the considerable help of everyone at ApartmentsBA, our home in
Argentina meets our needs perfectly.
Overall, I would rate our experience with Michael and ApartmentsBA as
truly exceptional. They have been trustworthy, responsible, helpful,
friendly, considerate, and personally interested in our satisfaction to
a degree which is rarely seen.
Duke Siotkas - Florida, USA
My initial contact with Michael Koh was via email. Despite the fact that Mike gets hundreds of email a day and must devote most of his energy to existing clients, he took the time to answer my questions. He also allowed me to defer retaining him until after we met in person; all green flags. I already had a good impression. When we met in person, my assessment was overwhelmingly confirmed. I have rarely met an individual who exudes so much honestly, enthusiasm and competence in his endeavors.
I was so confident that I purchased two apartments in Recoleta; one was an extensive renovation in an older building (with my best friend Jeff who had never even been to Argentina as a partner) and the other in a new construction building. ApartmentsBA coordinated the renovation and furnishing process. The apartment on French is now completed and a smashing success as an ApartmentsBA rental. The apartment on Aguero will be ready soon and I expect the same success.
I cannot imagine trying to have gone through this process alone. Finding honest real estate people, attorneys, architects (contractors), buying furniture and appliances are difficult in your own country and language. It would have been a disaster without Mike and ApartmentsBA. They have my complete confidence and appreciation for the work accomplished on my behalf.
Michael Teryazos - London, UK
I have recently invested in Eastern Europe (Montenegro) and Central America (Belize). My previous investments were designed for capital appreciation. My interest in Buenos Aires was titled toward income yield with a view to longer term appreciation. I consulted on various neighborhoods/locations with business associates in Puerto Madero before settling on Recoleta. I then investigated property managers. This was the most crucial selection for my investment. Even the best property investments can lie idle and unkempt if they are not managed effectively. After considering a list of possible companies I found Apartments BA to be the clear winner on many fronts.
I would not dispute that the website makes bold claims of unrivalled service and market knowledge. Having a more conservative nature, I was somewhat skeptical at first. Several months later I am pleased to report that I have found every assertion made by Michael Koh’s website to be accurate & honest. Michael guided me through the apartment search with care and enthusiasm. He was extremely cautious in the properties we viewed; passing on a number of locations due to a number of mitigating factors – noise level, natural light, location, etc…I would adamantly dispute any claim that his clients are rushed into their purchases – in fact Michael actually cooled my enthusiasm on two properties, advising me to be patient for the right unit. His retainer pays for itself as he skillfully saved 6% on the asking price. Additionally his staff was very diligent in checking the condition of the apartment, water pressure, parking access, condo rules allowing for short-term rental among other factors. His team performs a thorough investigation of the condition of the property which produces a detailed report for consideration. Further checks are performed on the current owner’s title and any liens or current obligations outstanding at the time of the offer.
I should make a special point of mentioning how Michael responded to my emails at all hours of the day (despite the Europe time difference). He offered call-backs & email replies while he was out of town or on vacation. The man’s commitment to his job is relentless. I believe that Michael invests a great deal of pride in his work and is only truly rewarded by the appreciation of a satisfied client. Michael has gone beyond the call of duty for me on a number of occasions in the past four months of our association. I co-own and manage a firm with clients in over fifty countries. I recognize the importance of client relations along with constant pursuit of unrivaled customer service. Michael Koh is an impressive living embodiment of these virtues. He has earned my trust and confidence several fold.
Barry Plotkin - West Palm Beach, Florida USA
After vacationing in Buenos Aires in September ‘05 I returned home with a strong interest in investing in this beautiful city. Prior to my trip I had heard of the tourism boom that was taking place and wanted to see for myself what all the buzz was about. Although I had a pretty strong conviction that there was a great opportunity here, I wasn't certain how I was going to be able to take advantage of this from living in the U.S. It was in researching all of the legal issues involved as a non resident where my path crossed with Michael Koh and ApartmentsBA. I was amazed to see that every detail that I was looking for in order for me to purchase property was clearly explained in length all with no strings attached on his web site. It was at this point that I emailed Mike and asked him numerous questions in which I was impressed with the prompt attention given to each and every question.
It is now September ‘06 and I have just completed the build out and furnishing of my second property (PS2). Between this purchase and my prior purchase (AP7), I personally can express that Mike's professionalism, honesty, and attention to every detail are second to none. From negotiating the best price, finding the best apartment and location, walking me through the transfer necessary for closing, I was informed and comfortable every step of the way. Before we had even closed on my first property, Michael had multiple architects giving estimates on the build out of the unit which saved us valuable time.
After construction and furnishing were flawlessly completed and now having my property being managed by his team, I can say that my rate of return is well in line with all projections that we had anticipated. It is with all of these qualities, along with an incredible team at ApartmentsBA, that are solely the reasons for this testimonial. There is no doubt in my mind that without Michael’s assistance and knowledge in Buenos Aires and property management that I would never be able to participate in a such an exciting market.
K. Johnston - United Kingdom
I could not be happier with the service and the investment made with ApartmentsBA. Mike and the company´s entire team are outstanding. I have worked with Mike and the ApartmentsBA team since July 2005 to purchase, then renovate and furnish a three bedroom apartment in central Recoleta on Ayacucho street between Las Heras and Pacheco de Melo. I am now also using ApartmentsBA to administer the property and oversee short-term rentals. From start to finish, Mike and his team have been superb. Simply fantastic. Moreover, the investment – as Mike predicted –is the best I have ever made. It meets and surpasses the projected return on investment. And, to top it, the property itself has increased enormously in value since last November. Property prices have increased dramatically in the last year and that trend is set to continue. I am now seriously considering buying a second apartment in Buenos Aires – this time purely as an investment, because the apartment has put all my other investments to shame.
To recount: when I decided to buy an apartment in Buenos Aires, I quickly realized to do this at a distance, and as a foreigner would be difficult if not downright impossible. It was therefore fantastic to stumble across the ApartmentsBA website in my internet research. Reading the enormous amount of information provided on it, I was struck by the quality of the advice provided and this prompted me to opt for the consultancy service.
Things could not have gone smoother with the ApartmentsBA consultancy service. In my experience, it is truly the only way to go when purchasing in Buenos Aires! In my case, to choose the apartment I would buy, I decided to come down personally to Bs. As and spent some weeks here looking for a suitable property. I didn’t have to but as I intended to use the place myself (on occasion), I wanted to see the apartment before placing the offer. That said, had I not wanted to come down, Mike could have arranged the purchase for me. During these first three weeks when I was still buying the apartment, Mike set me up with a small studio apartment for me to stay during this period and cut me a special rate. It was a great place. Friendly reliable staff and well equipped. This also gave me an insight into how ApartmentsBA run their business and I was suitably impressed. In all, the purchase of the apartment, including all the dealings with the lawyer, the real estate agent and so forth were totally overseen by ApartmentsBA and in terms of buying property; it couldn’t have been easier or smoother. (I had been somewhat anxious before buying not to get ripped off but, certainly in my own experience, I saved far more than the consultancy fee). Mike viewed five properties – I had after seeing some 30 plus apartments, whittled the choice down to some five – and wanted to make the final choice based on his advice as to what might constitute the best investment in terms of rentals. Having viewed them he advised me which to select and made some very sound recommendations on refurbishments. He also recommended that I make an offer significantly below the asking price (based on his previous experience with apartment blocks/consortiums and purchasing property in the area). I then sent the money (both for the "boleto" and to close the deal) through Michael Koh to whom I had granted power of attorney. I am glad to say it went smoothly and although I was not in Buenos Aires at the time the deal closed, I was in constant contact with Mike and the Irish-Argentinean lawyer he recommended. Like Michael Koh, the lawyer was courteous, efficient and a pleasure to work with.
In order to renovate and furnish the flat, I employed ApartmentsBA again. In the course of doing so, we must have exchanged hundreds of e-mails (entirely due to the fact that I insisted on being consulted on each and every decision that was made). I am grateful for their diligence. When necessary, Mike called to consult me. Both Michael Koh and Sandra Ader made sure I was consulted on each and every decision. They always took on my requests, even when on occasion this would entail considerably more work on their side. The final result is absolutely fabulous! I am delighted. I am also heavily indebted to both Mike and Sandra for their hard work and diligence in following through all of my demands. Each and every of my (literally hundreds of) e-mails was responded to so quickly that I have now been totally spoiled in terms of customer service. Mike’s average response time sets a record. On the occasion that we had to speak on the phone to discuss elements of the renovation, it was always a pleasure. I have benefited enormously from his experience in the real estate market and his ideas on the renovations. He has a keen sense of interior decoration and time and time again made sensible suggestions on the décor. I came to rely on it!
Since finishing the apartment, it has been consistently (except for periods when I wanted to use it) rented out! It was rented out the first day it was on the market and the Return on Investment had been superb. This has got to be the best investment in the world at the current time!! So much so, that I am now seriously considering purchasing another flat.
At the current time I am in Buenos Aires, making use of the apartment and have consistently found ApartmentsBA to be every bit as good as I would have expected. Whilst here I have made extensive use of the concierge service which is offered and found this very useful and at every occasion have found the staff to be courteous and helpful. In short, I could not recommend ApartmentsBA more highly for their consultancy, renovation and rental service. It is my pleasure to work with them!
You can read more testimonials on our website :
http://mikesapartmentsba.com/testimonials-59/
