About Andy

I'm from Ohio. I've lived in Medellín full-time since [YEAR], and I run a group of small websites about living, visiting, and getting medical care in Colombia. This one exists because the people who write to me most often are over 55, want to spend a winter here, and can't find a straight answer anywhere.

What I actually do

I answer the phone. That sounds small until you've tried to get a human on the line at a rental company here. I'll talk through your dates, tell you which neighborhoods make sense for your knees and your budget, check a building before you send a deposit to a stranger, and introduce you to the driver, the property manager, the dentist, and the clinic that visitors your age actually use.

I'm an introducer. I am not a real estate agent, a travel agent, a lawyer, or an accountant, and Colombia doesn't license real estate agents anyway, which is exactly why you want someone to vet the people you're about to trust. The businesses I refer you to are Colombian, registered, and doing this every day.

How I get paid

Some of the companies I refer people to pay me a referral fee when you book. Your price is the same either way; the fee comes out of their side. I say so on every page where it applies. If you'd rather pay me directly for a few hours of help instead, that's fine too, and I'll quote it before we start.

What I won't do

• Tell you Medellín is perfectly safe. It isn't, and neither is anywhere. I'll tell you what the real risks are and how people your age avoid them.
• Recommend a building I haven't seen or a person I haven't met.
• Give legal, tax, or medical advice. I'll point you to the people who can.
• Push you toward buying property. Most people should rent for several winters first. If you decide to buy, I'll walk you through it honestly on my sister site.