Well it seems my own saga continues to twist and turn. So, the good thing about Peru is that people can more easily be homeowners. There are people who rent, but most try to buy. There is no such thing as a 30 year loan. Maximum 10 years. The interest rates are much higher but people also build as they have money, not all at once in a few months (expect those that are rich). Maybe over years or 1 floor at a time. So the good thing is after a few years people own their homes and so have something for later years when they aren't working and at least have a place to live.
Anyway, for the past few years Richard has been saving what he could to buy land/house. Not really sure why, he never thought he'd be married! Anyway, he would rather not pay rent. So we have been looking for land to build or something to buy. I didn't really realize as well that it isn't like the housing market in the US. People don't move that much. They buy their house and they stay there or they keep it. So there aren't a lot on the market. There are also not real estate agents. You just have to find a place on your own. Usually there is a number painted on a wall that you can see as you're going by or a flyer put up somewhere, or possibly word of mouth.
We are currently living downtown. It's a few blocks from Richard's work so it saves him time and money and it's close to everything. We can walk to church, to the plaza, along the boardwalk, walk to the market etc. It's very convenient. However, almost impossible to find a place anywhere near here. So of course, you have to look where the new growth is to find something. This however is on the bluff. It's further away and a bit more crime (so I hear) and on the further outskirts poverty. However, you can still find large lots of land (by peru standards) for decent prices, 200meter squared.
So when Richard would see something available he'd tell me about it or call for info, but by the time we went to see it...it would be sold. Good land goes fast here. This has happened 5-6 times. Well, there there is still one undeveloped area in a perfect location in Ilo. It is on the boardwalk, a few minutes walk to the market etc. It is planned for about 150 homes. Homes here are also like rowhouses. The house is the size of the lot and people build up not out. So the subdivision is slated for 150 homes. Each lot is 22 feet wide by 57.5 feet deep. It's about the size of my house in Boise. So it's a lot smaller than the lot we found on the bluff, but you can't beat the location. It is amazing. So, we are going to take the plunge. Almost all the lots are purchased and there won't be more and the lot we found is going to be directly across from a park. At least this is what the plans show. Anyway, we have been trying to figure out how to make it work. We went and spoke to the man and made a verbal agreement to purchase it. We asked for a week to gather the funds. Since it isn't a developed area (there are 2 houses built and 2 in construction) the paperwork isn't exactly in order. The man does own the title, but it isn't registered and he has to pay back taxes.
So, we are going to meet him tonight and see where things stand and we'll know in a couple of days, what is going to happen. I'm excited, nervous all sorts of things. It's hard to take in exactly. So we could be building a house in Peru over the next few years. It will take all our savings to buy the land and we'll have to save up bit by bit to build. Anyway, that's the update folks. Just never know what you'll find.
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