Post: #76

(01-17-2018 12:00 PM)Elster Wrote:  ¡Que locura, no sabía que Palermo se convirtió en una ciudad propia!

(De paso ¿Me podes explicar que CARAJO es "Palermo sensible"?????)

-------

"How crazy, I didn't know Palermo turned into it's own city!"
"By the way, Can you explain to me what the fuck is "Palermo Sensible"?"

Another real state broker bullshit, like calling a part of Villa Crespo as "Palermo Queens".

Quote:Se le dice Palermo Sensible porque un grupo de vecinos quiso poner una nota verde y ecológica al barrio, plantando, por propia iniciativa los primeros árboles, flores y arbustos de lo que hoy es el boulevard Charcas.–

Its called Palermo Sensible because a group of locals tried to put a "green touch" in the neighborhood, planting, by their own initiative, the first trees, flowers and shrubs in what is today Charcas boulevard.

Post: #77

2017 was a turnaround year for Argentina -- to go by law, politics, the currency and markets.

For example, for recent weeks I've been tracking repositioning ships from BA to Spain and Italy (for Feb and Mar). Unlike most others, there are no falls in price from list.

This implies that the older from the country have money to spend and aren't reluctant to spend it on luxury.

This means a healthy recovery, as well as confidence in the future (ie, savings coming out from under the beds, wall safes, etc).

Post: #78

Hey brother!

I love the argentinian beauty i've been able to check out from friends on social media and in general, from all sources. I'm truly attracted to the argentinian average girl's phenotype.

Now my doubt is that I've heard colombianos kill it with argentinians. Is it true?, any insights on argentinian game would be highly appreciated. Cheers!

Post: #79

(01-20-2018 08:11 PM)lonewolf1992 Wrote:  Hey brother!

I love the argentinian beauty i've been able to check out from friends on social media and in general, from all sources. I'm truly attracted to the argentinian average girl's phenotype.

Now my doubt is that I've heard colombianos kill it with argentinians. Is it true?, any insights on argentinian game would be highly appreciated. Cheers!

Can not honestly say if you will "kill" with the locals by only beign colombian. Lately the city is full of colombians and venezuelans. Mid-level girls are always interested in "exotic" accents, but if those nationalities became more common, they tend to devaluate.

Post: #80

Well, apparently Argentina have the best english language level in the region. While i would agree that it "could" be truth for Buenos Aires, i personally call it bullshit for the rest of the country. And even that, in Bs As, unless you are talking with someone who need it for work or study (or have a higher education level), you will face with Highschool lvel at best.

http://www.hexacta.com/2015/03/16/argent...he-region/

Post: #81

This is a great time to visit Argentina if you hold U.S. dollars. Argentina is on sale! You can now buy 50% more goods and services than you could just a year ago with the same amount of USD.

   

http://www.mauldineconomics.com/the-10th...f-blows-up

Post: #82

It doesn’t really work that way

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation

Post: #83

Prices are beign ajusted to the dollar cost increasement. In fact, the current administration is having serious talking with the local industrialist (mostly the food industry) about it to contain the price raising.

Post: #84

(05-24-2018 11:12 AM)getdownonit Wrote:  It doesn’t really work that way

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation

Unless something else is going on, it works exactly that way. I discussed the rising strength of the dollar versus the Argentine Peso -- not inflation. If the cost of goods remained roughly the same in Argentina over the past year, then you can buy 50% more with your USD.

Inflation is an entirely different variable. So, you are discussing apples versus oranges. If we do factor in inflation, inflation would need to rise to 50% over the past year to cancel the gains made by the USD over that same time period. Inflation has gone up by about half that amount over the past year.

Post: #85

(05-24-2018 11:57 AM)Mekorig Wrote:  In fact, the current administration is having serious talking with the local industrialist (mostly the food industry) about it to contain the price raising.

If you mean price controls, that is a huge mistake that always ends badly (see Venezuela). Only creating a free market economy will fix the problems. Higher taxes and higher spending is a surefire way to chase away investors and prolong economic malaise. Why would President Macri appease his opponents? They caused these problems.

Quote:Political decisions within Argentina exacerbated the external shock. Foreign investors became keener still to sell Argentine bonds and buy dollars when the government brought in a new capital-gains tax in order to appease its opponents. Political tensions within Cambiemos, the governing coalition, over how quickly to reduce subsidies for energy and utility bills cast doubt on the government’s commitment to cut spending.

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-ec...ntine-peso

Post: #86

Tail Gunner when you are implying inflation in Argentina was only 25%, are you talking about "official" (i.e. probably bullshit) numbers? What about the real inflation figure?

Mekorig, whats the situation really like in Argentina? Do foreigners (with U.S. dollars) genuinely have more purchasing power than a year or two ago? If so by how much?

Post: #87

(05-24-2018 12:21 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  

(05-24-2018 11:12 AM)getdownonit Wrote:  It doesn’t really work that way

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation

Unless something else is going on, it works exactly that way. I discussed the rising strength of the dollar versus the Argentine Peso -- not inflation. If the cost of goods remained roughly the same in Argentina over the past year, then you can buy 50% more with your USD.

Inflation is an entirely different variable. So, you are discussing apples versus oranges. If we do factor in inflation, inflation would need to rise to 50% over the past year to cancel the gains made by the USD over that same time period. Inflation has gone up by about half that amount over the past year.

That is exactly the variable:

Inflation: a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

A year ago, $1 USD = 16 Pesos. Today it's around $1 = 24 Pesos.

50% increase. Great.

I wish this were one of these as much as the next guy

Exchange $1 Billion USD to Pesos
????
Profit!

Not quite.

Plus, anything imported is already priced in dollars - bananas, pork, gas...

Post: #88

(05-24-2018 02:48 PM)Australia Sucks Wrote:  Tail Gunner when you are implying inflation in Argentina was only 25%, are you talking about "official" (i.e. probably bullshit) numbers? What about the real inflation figure?

Well, feel free to investigate the real inflation rate and to report back.

Even such "real inflation figures" are misleading, because the calculation of inflation consists of a basket of goods and services, which may have no relation to your targeted investment class. For example, while the overall rate of inflation has remained low in the U.S. over the past decade (because of the low cost of energy, technology, etc.), the cost of food, housing, education, and health care has risen far more than the the overall rate of inflation. This ever-escalating cost of food, housing, and health care impacts everyone, so people develop a deep skepticism of the overall inflation rate -- as they rightly should.

Now as to Argentina, as getdownonit implies, overall inflation could wipe out any gain of the USD against the Peso (although I have not yet seen any evidence of such a cancellation). But the other factor to consider is that while the cost of such essential items such as food, rents, and energy may show a very high inflation rate, foreign investment fleeing the country could (over time) create a very weak real estate market that creates opportunities for those investors willing to accept the risk. If conditions worsen, locals may also give steep discounts on real estate in exchange for USD. Declining property prices would be a form of deflation in the midst of high inflation. So any inflation/deflation analysis is not black and white. Those are the exact types of investment opportunities to investigate when placing boots on the ground in a country when exercising your due diligence.

Post: #89

(05-24-2018 12:21 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  If the cost of goods remained roughly the same in Argentina over the past year

Post: #90

(05-24-2018 06:13 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  foreign investment fleeing the country could (over time) create a very weak real estate market that creates opportunities for those investors willing to accept the risk. If conditions worsen, locals may also give steep discounts on real estate in exchange for USD. Declining property prices would be a form of deflation in the midst of high inflation. So any inflation/deflation analysis is not black and white. Those are the exact types of investment opportunities to investigate when placing boots on the ground in a country when exercising your due diligence.

Well, you make sense from a logical and I guess macro-economics point of view. But thing is, the property owners in Buenos Aires are not creatures driven by logic. Unless they are on the verge of starving to death, Argentinians will NOT lower their prices (always quoted, in any case, in USD). They should but they won't, cause the Argentine owners are stubborn and extremely cunning and determined.

So, don't think that great opportunities will arise for us foreigners just because of a minor or mid-level peso crisis. I am and have been watching the BsAs market for many years, and well, if and when I make my move, it'd be after a big corralito - and I doubt that will ever happen again, as el ingeniero Macri has intelligently secured FMI help (plus probably some help or guidance from his former, extremely successful business partner, President Trump).

Post: #91

(05-24-2018 06:13 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  locals may also give steep discounts on real estate in exchange for USD. Declining property prices would be a form of deflation in the midst of high inflation. So any inflation/deflation analysis is not black and white. Those are the exact types of investment opportunities to investigate when placing boots on the ground in a country when exercising your due diligence.

Declining property prices would be a form of deflation in the midst of high inflation:
Except in Buenos Aires, there is no "Declining of property prices", instead there is a flat market (say, "planchado"), with almost no transactions, no new escrituras. Argentine owners, if needed, would survive on cheap salame and potatoes, before ever considering lowering their prices.

Post: #92

Whats funny is that in Bs As and some other cities the real state markey improved thanks to a new mortgage program fostered by the Central Bank. But i agree with Going Strong, you need a big fucking crisis like the 2001 corralito de decrease the real state price here. And what happened last month was a hiccup for argentine standards.

Post: #93

(05-28-2018 04:45 PM)Going strong Wrote:  Argentine owners, if needed, would survive on cheap salame and potatoes, before ever considering lowering their prices.

Haha. That reminds me of a book that a friend read about the economic collapse in Argentina. I think that this is it. The author was a good marketer, publishing it in the U.S. at the height of the U.S. financial crisis.

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Survival-M...c+Collapse

Post: #94

A good article, from a capitalist perspective, of the economic conditions in Argentina by someone who lives there:

https://www.caseyresearch.com/doug-casey...argentina/

Post: #95

Living in this country really makes you cardiac arrest-resistant, or kills you. First the half-aproval in the COngress for the abortion law, and meanwhile you have the dollar going up more and more. It stabilized in 28,4 pesos today, and it appears that they are working to create a 30$ pesos roof for it. So, if you plan to came down here on visit in the next weeks, plan on a 28 to 30$/Dollar exchange. Also room/BnB, food and taxis/Uber prices rise accordingly.

Post: #96

I have not been to Argentina yet but the Argentinian guys I have met abroad have generally been good looking, well dressed, outgoing and appeared to have solid game. Also they obviously speak better Spanish than me and can dance better than me. The only advantage I have over the average Argentinian guy is that I have more money than them. I feel that if I visited Argentina it would definitely be a hard slog to compete with Argentinian guys.

When I went to Colombia for 6 weeks I saw endless amounts of hot girls walking around with busted dudes who were broke (and cheapskates to boot), had bad style, were skinny/scrawny and had mediocre game (still not as beta as western guys though).

Post: #97

Ok guys, a brief PSA regarding Uber and Cabify here in Argentina:

When you do not have your own transportation and do not want to use public transportation, you have tipically, 2 options: Taxi, or Remis. One is the tipical and (hated/loved) service, and the other are agencies were you book your trip beforehand. And them came Uber (and Cabify).

Now, Uber came like it did in the rest of the world: by force and shitting in all national regulations. Cabify tried to adapt and its basically a remis agency. Both services are booming, as its service its (usually) cheaper and better than the taxis, be the regular ones or the radio taxis.

This have created a very strong reaction from both the State and the taxi drivers union. While Cabify is semi-regulated, Uber is in the grey area, with an ongoing process and the credit card payments suspended.

The taxi driver union reaction was stronger. They got a list of the uber car´s licence numbers, and a group of them began to harras both the drivers and passengers. And now things are getting worse, with some taxi drivers shooting airsoft guns to shatter car windows, both drivers and passenger beaten and at least one car set on fire (it was parked on the street, empty).

Now, when you are in Buenos Aires, this does not mean that if you use both services you will get attacked, but take in count that there is a (very small) chance of something happening.

My stance: Fuck the taxi drivers! They are a mafia and a cancer to everyone on the street. They defend themself saying that they are honest workers, but ask anyone and you will get a tale of how a taxi driver tried to scam them, or ho awfull some taxis are. Laissez faire!

Post: #98

Hi Mekorig.

What about good properties in BA?
Are prices getting lower or is there a bubble?

Post: #99

(07-16-2018 01:26 PM)Zoso Wrote:  Hi Mekorig.

What about good properties in BA?
Are prices getting lower or is there a bubble?

I just read this recently regarding real estate prices in Argentina. Perhaps Mekorig can verify whether it is true.

Quote:“Lief, you have been reporting on the depreciation of the Colombian peso. Others I read are suggesting that the real value of depreciated real estate is in Argentina, where the U.S. dollar has appreciated 64%. Am I missing something?

“Can you verify or suggest other relative value rankings for us eager value hunters?”

L.H.

Answer: Real estate in Argentina is priced in U.S. dollars, so a depreciating Argentine peso doesn't affect property prices for the most part.

The best currency discounts for property buyers with U.S. dollars right now are to be found in Colombia... and Brazil.

http://letters.offshorelivingletter.com/...dium=email

Post: #100

(07-16-2018 01:26 PM)Zoso Wrote:  Hi Mekorig.

What about good properties in BA?
Are prices getting lower or is there a bubble?

(07-16-2018 01:30 PM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  I just read this recently regarding real estate prices in Argentina. Perhaps Mekorig can verify whether it is true.

Quote:“Lief, you have been reporting on the depreciation of the Colombian peso. Others I read are suggesting that the real value of depreciated real estate is in Argentina, where the U.S. dollar has appreciated 64%. Am I missing something?

“Can you verify or suggest other relative value rankings for us eager value hunters?”

L.H.

Answer: Real estate in Argentina is priced in U.S. dollars, so a depreciating Argentine peso doesn't affect property prices for the most part.

The best currency discounts for property buyers with U.S. dollars right now are to be found in Colombia... and Brazil.

http://letters.offshorelivingletter.com/...dium=email

Sorry for the lateness. Is what the article says: Properties here and valued in US Dollar, so the pice is not affected by the peso depreciation.