Chile Property Investment For Sale

"A thriving economy with a strong property market"

Chile is a land of astounding natural beauty and diversity.  As a long strip of land that runs down the whole of South America, it is blessed with a long coast and the splendour of the Andes mountain range.  Chile’s highly diverse geography moves from the mineral rich desert of the north through the central river valley which includes the famous red wine vineyards and historic capital Santiago to the forests, lakes and volcanoes of the south. Due to the considerable length of the country Chile’s climate is also one of extremes from the hot and arid north to the cold south close to the Antarctic.  Most of the country however has a cool and temperate climate.

One of South America’s strongest economies, Chile has one of the highest sustained growth rates of any country in the world and has numerous trade agreements with over 60 countries worldwide.  With a healthy export industry which includes large copper reserves, Chile is one of the world’s largest wine producing countries and one of the few countries which was only slightly affected by the global financial crisis, largely due to the government’s strong fiscal discipline which has resulted in a sustained budget surplus since 2000.  However Chile is not without some problems and due to its complicated labour laws has perennial high unemployment issues.

As Chile has shown continued growth in its economy so has it demonstrated a healthy and buoyant property market, particularly around the capital, Santiago.

Geography

Located in the south western part of South America, Chile is a long, thin strip of land that borders the Pacific Ocean to the west, Argentina to the east and Peru and Bolivia to the north and north east. Added to the main landmass in the Latin American continent Chile also owns Easter Island, a Polynesian island in the Pacific Ocean, and 1.25 million square kilometres of territory in Antarctica. The Atacama desert occupies the north of Chile whilst the middle consists of the relatively small Central valley with a Mediterranean climate which is the reason for the high percentage of population in the area and thriving agriculture. Southern Chile is more luscious with forests, lakes and some volcanoes, broken up by canals, inlets and islands.

Government

The government of Chile is a democratic republic, having successfully conducted a number of fair and non-corrupt presidential elections following the fall of the dictator, Pinochet. 

Language

Spanish is the official language, with Mapudung, German and English also spoken.

Standard of Living

Chile offers a high standard of living.  It has a first class infrastructure with good roads and extensive public transport systems and a top level health care system. Over a third of the country's population reside in the capital and due to the wealth of the nation it is not unusual for good properties in larger urban areas to have a swimming pool and maid's quarters. Modern daily life is similar to that in other developed countries, with modern conveniences just as available. 

During the late 1990s the Chilean economy was affected by the Asian Financial Crisis and a severe drought caused widespread damage to crop yields and a sharp decrease in hydro-electric power which weakened the economy for several years. By 2003 the country was recovering and since has gone from strengh to strengh with low levels of inflation and a strong and growing economy.  Chile is strongly committed to free trade and has a multitude of FTAs with several different countries and governing bodies including the EU. 

Key industries:

Chile has very high levels of foreign trade which has been typically dependent on the country's massive copper reserves which are expected to last for around another 200 years. The country has also become the fifth largest wine exporter in the world. China and the US are Chile's main import and export partners but the country has extensive global trade links. Other than wine and copper, Chile also exports fruit, fish products, paper and pulp and chemicals.

Santiago

The fifth largest city on the continent and the capital of Chile, Santiago is a major centre of industry and commerce as well being the lynch pin of the country due to its central location. The central region of Chile enjoys a Mediterranean climate that creates ideal growing conditions for a thriving agricultural industry and as a result the majority of the population are to be found living in and around the capital. Santiago has a large expat community and as such is usually the first choice of location for foreigners looking to move to Chile.

It is one of the most modern cities on the continent, boasting top-level transport infrastructure and an excellent health system, with beautiful architecture reminiscent of the city's colonial era juxtaposed against impressive modern high-rise developments, all against a stunning backdrop of the Andean Mountains. During the winter a layer of smog is created over the city that becomes an unpleasant health hazard, so potential buyers are advised to buy just outside of Santiago and look to locations that are in close proximity to the city but have the advantage of slightly more rural living. The greater region around Santiago is filled with undulating hills, often covered with vineyards as Chile is the world's fifth largest wine producer, which prove to be popular choices for those preferring temperate climes in a situation not too far removed from the comfortable amenities of modern life.

Patagonia

Thousands of square miles of rugged open land cover the south of Chile, creating the ideal location for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and involve themselves in natural pursuits. Fishing, horse-trekking, hiking, skiing: the list is endless and the purchase of resorts to cater for this growing business is becoming popular, especially when the prices for such property are a fraction of those found in urban locations. 

Northern Chile

Northern Chile, although home to the driest desert in the world, is worth considering from an investment perspective due to the thriving mining industry established there. It is estimated that Chile's mines have around two hundred years' supply of copper still to extract so it is worth keeping a watch on this growing industry, in locations such as Calama, as lucrative investment could be real potential.