Santiago transactions: ask about pricing, timing and professional roles

R

romy.east

Tenant planning to buy
The questions that sound simplest—whether a price is justified or how quickly an offer can close—often reveal the biggest gaps between the people involved. I work around Santiago property transactions and thought it would be useful to discuss the practical side: pricing evidence, negotiation room, fees, financing timing, document flow and who is acting for whom.

When posting, please mention the jurisdiction, property type and whether a lender is involved. It also helps to say whether anything has been signed or paid. I can discuss market practice and coordination, including potential conflicts that should be disclosed, but legal, lending and tax decisions may need advice from the relevant local professional. Examples from other places are welcome where the comparison is clear.
 
Santiago, apartment, with financing. If the seller’s agent says the price already leaves almost no room to negotiate, what evidence would you ask for before deciding whether that is credible? I’m also unclear whether the same agent can simply coordinate both sides or whether I should treat everything they say as being on the seller’s behalf.
 
One extra detail: no money has been paid and nothing has been signed. I’m trying to establish the order of operations before making an offer. Should financing timing be discussed with the lender first, or is it reasonable to make the offer conditional on a timeline that is confirmed later?
 
I would speak to the lender first. You may not get a final commitment without a specific property, but you can at least learn which steps control the timing and what information is still missing.

For price, ask the agent to explain the basis rather than merely repeat that it is firm. Look at how any comparison differs in location, condition and relevant dates. Also ask in writing whom the agent represents and request a breakdown of expected transaction costs.
 
A caveat on comparisons: even good pricing evidence does not reveal the seller’s actual negotiating limit. It helps you form your own offer; it does not prove what the seller will accept.

Before agreeing to a deadline, identify the next document, who prepares it, who keeps originals or copies, and what happens if financing takes longer. The legal effect of any condition needs checking with an independent professional familiar with Chilean transactions.
 
I’d go further than grace.schneider: I would not rely on the seller’s agent to decide whether the apartment is fairly priced, even if the explanation sounds detailed. Their information can still be useful, but the buyer needs an independent view of condition, affordability and alternatives.

KenjiVanDijk, when you say coordination between professionals, which tasks can an agent practically coordinate without crossing into legal or lending advice?
 
For Rafael Kumar, a short written list may prevent several conversations from getting blurred together:

• evidence supporting the price; • who represents whom and any potential conflict; • proposed offer conditions and deadlines; • lender steps still outstanding; • every expected fee and who charges it; • who drafts, receives and retains each document.

A verbal assurance on one of those points should not be treated as an answer to all the others.
 
The conflict point deserves emphasis. “Coordinating both sides” can mean arranging calls and exchanging information, or it can sound like both parties are receiving independent representation when they are not. Ask for the role to be described plainly and in writing, then direct legal, tax and financing questions to the relevant independent adviser. That also creates a cleaner record if instructions later differ.
 
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