Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

April 6, 2010

I’m been having a couple of down days. I’m sure it’s partly influenced by the weather. I’m also sure that it’s influenced by the fact that I was go, go, go for the past three months and all of a sudden I have spare time and don’t know what to do with myself. I purposely kept April semi-free because I was worried that we’d burn out with four months in a row completely full, but now I wish I hadn’t done that!

And living with my in-laws is getting to me. They’re wonderful people. It’s not like they do anything that particularly bothers me or makes me really mad. I just need my privacy. Living in Estacion Central is getting to me too. We have to drive or take metro/micro across the city to get anywhere. I went to a friend’s house the other day and it took me almost two hours to arrive. Just going to meet with clients takes me all day because it’s usually over an hour to get there and then over another hour to get back, no matter where we meet up.

I really didn’t think this would be such a long term thing when we moved back in. After we traveled, we came back to their house thinking, “We’ll be here for two months, three months, at the longest.” I knew that getting a mortgage approved would take forever, but I severely underestimated the time that it would take to even find a place.

And now we’re about to be denied by the bank again because I don’t have residency (my permanent residency is “en tramite,” or being processed). I’m so frustrated, because I know that they give out credit randomly to people all the time who can’t afford it. How do I know this? Because back in the day when we were making 700,000 pesos a month combined, we were going to buy a new apartment and got approved for a credito of 200,000 pesos a month. That absolutely should not have happened. We would’ve defaulted on that loan. But because we were employed by companies with contracts, they were willing to give us the mortgage. Now that we make enough that we could actually pay a mortgage, no one will give it to us because we are self-employed and on top of that, all the boletas (receipts showing that we pay taxes and are a legit business) that we’ve done are in my name — and I’m foreign. We find out tomorrow if they’re going to deny us again, but it’s looking probable.

Pause.

Lays head down on the desk and cries for a few minutes. I’m back.

Living with the in-laws again is starting to feel eternal. I realize that we could wait a few months and apply again when I have permanent residency, and then we’ll also have another couple of months of boletas to show them that our average income remains very steady and has done nothing but go up ever since I started the business. But, waiting a few months would be in exchange for my sanity. Not a fair price to pay.

Big sigh. Another big sigh.

Then let’s not even talk about the other apartment we’re trying to buy for another business that we’re starting. We have no problems with financing for that one, however, and I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I cannot get over it — the owner died. THE OWNER DIED. Why does the country of Chile hate me, I ask you. Why? So now we are waiting for the deed to be transferred to her brother, since he inherited the property and he wants to go through with the sale. Right now though, nobody can do anything, because nobody officially owns the apartment. It’s just off floating in no man’s land.

Pulls hair out.

25 Comments

Subscribe to comment feed

Facebook comments:

2 Trackbacks

23 Comments

Consejo acerca del segundo departamento: mejor olvÃdalo. Te lo digo por experiencia propia. Estuve en la misma situaciÃ³n, esperando por meses y, cuando al final los herederos regularizaron los papeles, decidieron cancelar nuestra oferta porque en todo ese tiempo habÃan encontrado a un comprador que les ofreciÃ³ mÃ¡s. (Y eso que lo estÃ¡bamos haciendo a travÃ©s de una corredora, habÃa cheques de garantÃa y todo lo demÃ¡s). Otro ejemplo es cuando vas a comprar un lugar donde estÃ¡ viviendo “por ahora” alguien mÃ¡s de la familia (y despuÃ©s no puedes echarlo). O donde sÃ³lo falta hacer unos “arreglitos” finales (que nunca se hacen). Por esas y otras experiencias, creo que es mejor descartar de inmediato los lugares que no estÃ¡n 100% “saneados”, con todos los papeles en regla y listos para venderse.

Comment by M — April 6, 2010 @ 11:55 pm

Reply
Ugh. I know how you feel. I always thought living with the in laws was a very very temporary thing, but… here we still are. I also always thought that one day Chile would surprise me and my visa so I could at least get out of the house to work would get to me in the 30 days it says it takes…. still waiting. Sigh. I hope everything works out for you and I hope it hurries up!!!

Comment by Shannon — April 7, 2010 @ 12:59 am

Reply
IÂ´m not sure if this could help you, but in my line of work IÂ´ve seen other people with similar problems. Many of them, ask a friend or relative, to hire them as workers. This way, they show their income, similar as their boletas, but with a contract, and they pay this friend or relative the taxes for healthcare and AFP.
I know this looks a little unorthodox, but you would be surprised to know how many people use this trick to get health coverage, AFP savings, and, among other things, mortgages. This is just an idea, maybe Sebastian has seen this bizarre solution before too. In Chile is rather common.

Comment by I_Marmo_I — April 7, 2010 @ 2:38 am

Reply
Uggh! How frustrating! M has good advice though. I know of another case of a couple buying a house, turning over all the money, and then the owner announcing that she needed at least 3 more months. In the end it took forever (6 months? 10?) before they finally got her out–and all the while they were paying rent on an apartment AND on storage for their things and there was nothing at all they could legally do to get her to leave… The law sides with the tenants, even if they are the former owners who already have your money and are paying you no rent… so when someone tells you to make sure that everything is absolutely in order… listen to them!
Sorry if this is discouraging… that's not my intention… but rather to help prevent MORE frustration in the future!
Good luck… your moment will come and you'll get the best place you ever imagined!

Comment by Margaret — April 7, 2010 @ 4:24 am

Reply
I think we'd have the same problem with Oscar trying to buy a house, here. He's had to be totally off our mortgage application here in the states b/c of lack of credit (doesn't have the student loans and credit history) that I have established here, and his credit history from Chile doesn't count.

Could Seba's parents try to buy the apartment for you with their real estate mogul status and then you guys work out a rent-to-own deal with them until you get your loan all worked out? Just an idea. A little messy, paperwork wise, but we're doing a similar thing here in order to buy our house.

Comment by asuhey — April 7, 2010 @ 10:15 am

Reply
Oh no… please don't pull your hair out. You have such cute hair!
(
It's like forces in Chile are aligning against you. But let me tell you something, when that happens, it just means they're leaving space open for all of it to work WITH YOU and FOR YOU.
It's like life can't be all good … work can be amazing, love can be amazing, and then – BAM! – something crappy has to creep on in!!

Please keep your head up, muffin. I know how down and out this country can be for us at times. And the weather is NOT helping…but at least you can find solace that I think Est Central has a bad rep for no good reason and that Provi is scarier at times.

Comment by Andrea Gonzalez — April 7, 2010 @ 12:14 pm

Reply
Also, who wrote the 1st comment on this blog? Please don't think that his/her experience automatically means it's going to be YOUR experience. The apt is in an elevator-less building for Pete's sake!! Who is going to offer more than you guys??? No no, I refuse to believe that the luck of the 1st commentator will pass on to you.
Shine on, you bright star!!!

Comment by Andrea Gonzalez — April 7, 2010 @ 12:15 pm

Reply
Chin up. Don't let this setback beat down your spirit. I have faith that things will work out. I can't add much more advice than the good stuff that's already been posted above, but just know that we are all cheering you on and sending positive thoughts and virtual hugs your way.

Comment by capturinglife — April 7, 2010 @ 1:18 pm

Reply
“Whatever the struggle, continue the climb. It may be only one step to the summit.â€
-Diane Westlake

I'm sorry to hear about your bad luck and frustrations with the apartment hunting! I can see that Chile is really trying to push your limits. I wish you the patience, strength, and sanity to fight to the bitter end and get that apartment you've always wanted! I know you'll get it eventually!

Comment by gringagonesouth — April 7, 2010 @ 1:38 pm

Reply
Pucha Kyle, me da una pena y rabia enormes saber que te encuentras asÃ de triste, y lamentablemente en estos aspectos uno no puede hacer nada mÃ¡s que esperar, ser paciente, mantener la calma… que suena fÃ¡cil de decir y es tremendamente difÃcil de llevar a cabo.
No quiero que te desanimes, sÃ³lo mencionarte que mis padres no tienen casa propia y lo han intentado muchÃsimas veces y es, tambiÃ©n, por el hecho de que son sus “propios jefes” y no tienen contrato con ninguna empresa que asegure que segiurÃ¡n teniendo empleo, es difÃcil consegiur cosas cuando no tienes un jefe aquÃ en Chile, algo que deberÃa ser premiado, cuesta mÃ¡s de lo necesario y la gente se termina rindiendo.
Solo ten en cuenta que no te sucede solo a ti, que hay un millÃ³n de personas que no pueden cambiar su situaciÃ³n y teniendo los medios para pagar su casa propia, el estado no deja que lo hagan o los bancos no les dan crÃ©dito proque tienen que tener el triple de lo que tienen para asegurarles el pago.
ANIMO! tu aun tienes las posibilidades de obtener la residencia y esperar algunos meses y demostrar lo que ganas, ese cambio puede ayudarte.
Un gran GRAN ABRAZO! y alegrÃa alegrÃa! que las buenas vibras llaman a los buenos resultados.

Comment by Loquenoves — April 7, 2010 @ 5:10 pm

Reply
Oh kyle, I am so sorry. I am so familiar with how stressful visas, living situations and all that can be! I really hope that you DO get approved for a loan…even if you ARE foreign!

Comment by Decoybetty — April 7, 2010 @ 8:30 pm

Reply
Puuuuuucha!!!! Chile's stupid bureaucratic rules are so damn frustrating. But you're a rock star, and you'll pull through!

Comment by Abby Hall — April 8, 2010 @ 3:53 am

Reply
Si lo tenemos claro que el segundo no es una cosa segura y seguimos buscando otro depto por mientras. Pero todavia no encontramos nada que tiene lo que queremos asi que por ahora, asi es lo cosa no mas!

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:25 am

Reply
Good luck, I hope you get your visa ASAP. It should come soon, they don't take too long, although I'm sure it feels like an eternity.

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:26 am

Reply
We've thought about it before, but I think we've found another solution to the problem. Hopefully. Fingers crossed and if it comes through I'll blog about it, of course Thanks for your help, Marmo!

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:27 am

Reply
Nah don't worry Margaret. Pretty sure I'm married to the absolute most paranoid Chilean in the country so every possible negative outcome has already crossed his mind. His parents are also landlords of several properties so unfortunately we've seen alllllll the bad things that can happen in a court room against tenants. It's a no-win situation.

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:28 am

Reply
Seba's parents are ooooooold. They fart dust. So no bank will give them a mortgage even though they're the Donald Trumps of Estacion Central, hahaha! But I think we have a different solution, so if it works I'll post about it. I'm feeling good!

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:28 am

Reply
I have a four leaf clover tattoo because I've always been so ridiculously lucky. Hell, I just won a free cruise in the Amazon! So I'm with you, I have faith that things will work for the best, and the way they're supposed to work out. If the 2nd apartment doesn't come through I guarantee we'll find something just as good or better.

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:30 am

Reply
I really appreciate the positive vibes…and I think they're working. I should have an update soon, but things seem to taking a turn for the better!

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:30 am

Reply
If Chile weren't a challenge, I probably wouldn't want to keep living her so I'm glad that sometimes this country tests my limits

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:31 am

Reply
Ahhh, en serio?!? Que malo lo de tus papas. Realmente ser un pequeno negocio es BUENO para la economia de este pais — y ademas a mi como extranjera es uno de las cosas que me atrae para seguir viviendo aca. La facilidad de empezar un negocio y lo abierto que esta el mercado para muchas cosas. Pero si es demasiado dificl conseguir un credito hipotecario. Ya renunciamos con ese camino. Llamamos para el banco para decirles que mi residencia ya llego y que ademas habiamos entregado los papeles hace dos meses y si quisieran incluir las boletas de esos dos meses que faltaban que igual subiria bastante el sueldo promedio. Ademas muestra que desde que empece a boletear para los matrimonios y la fotografia ha ido subiendo mi sueldo todos los meses. Y aun asi nos dijeron que no importa, que no nos iban a dar el credito.

Pero gracias, como te dije encontramos otro camino asi que las buenas vibras ayudaron caleta!

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:35 am

Reply
Negative. Not going to happen. But we'll get our apartment. And your little dog too.

Haha, I hope you've seen the Wizard of Oz or you'll just think I'm crazy.

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:35 am

Reply
Yep, pretty frustrating, but what can you do. It's the Chileans' world, we just live in it!

Comment by kylehepp — April 15, 2010 @ 3:36 am

Reply