buenos aires real estate - client/partner testimonials

Nicky Spaulding  

Michael Koh is by far the best real estate professional I have ever worked with, and I have worked with many. I own multiple high-end properties and have done so for many decades in the United States, and around the world (most recently in Belgium and Argentina). 

Not only is Michael exceptional in matters of buying, selling and management of properties, he is the most knowledgeable individual I know regarding Argentina and specifically Buenos Aires. 

Michael is not only knowledgeable and hardworking but is very well connected in Buenos Aires in a variety of aspects. Tax matters and individuals who understand AFIP and the accounting regarding investment properties and management thereof. 

Michael understands how important communication is, and is an excellent communicator, always seeking to make his clients comfortable, ensuring that they receive all the answers to questions they may have, regarding even the most mundane issues. For Michael, clients come first, and this is equaled only by his attention to detail. 

More than anything else and above all, Michael is an extremely ethical person. I cannot tell you how much this puts one at ease, especially when making million-dollar+ cash investments abroad as I was doing. 

His knowledge of the process and the various government agencies is key in doing anything in Buenos Aires. I trust Michael implicitly and would never buy or invest especially in Buenos Aires without Michael’s counsel and guidance. 

Michael is not a procrastinator or a time waster, as the saying goes… “No Grass Grows Under His Feet” when one engages Michael Koh in anything related to investments, management, purchase, or sale, he is engaged and active from the get-go. 

Michael Koh is the consummate professional. One can never go wrong in working with this highly ethical individual in any endeavor. Michael is a perfect gentleman. I cannot say enough about this highly qualified and engaging individual. I will jump eagerly at any future opportunity to work with Michael again.

Sonya Schick

Michael Koh helped me find, develop and rent out a property under rather difficult working conditions in Latin America. Despite external complications he managed to address all possible difficulties quickly and efficiently with very good results. 

Once Michael and his company had succeeded in securing the deal and develop the property to the highest standard he very successfully attracted rental clients and addressed any queries by clients or myself promptly, efficiently and with the highest integrity, often having to navigate culturally diverse situations which he did with professionalism at all times. No matter the problem or request Michael always found a successful solution. 

Just how professional and efficiently Michael ran his business became even clearer when I had to deal with another company claiming to provide the same service....no comparison to the level of professionalism and success I had come to expect when dealing with Michael. nor was his expert knowledge of the local culture and business methods matched by anyone else I've dealt with locally when eventually selling the property again. 

Also when selling my property again Michael successfully navigated hurdles and again proved his understanding of the local situation to enable me to sell at just the right time. Most impressively he managed this even though he had to on this occasion work "remotely" as he had by then located to the USA but still managed to overcome problems which local teams had not succeeded in addressing.

Throughout my dealings with Michael he has proven himself to be reliable, very swift to respond to communications, always keen to find the best possible solution, professional and extremely successful at what he had set out to achieve for his clients. I would certainly work with him again without hesitation should the opportunity arise!

John Kvasnic

I had a very positive experience working with Mike and his team at BuySellBA.  We successfully purchased a home in the Palermo Viejo neighborhood and the experience was smooth from start to finish - and we did 99% of this remotely from Canada.  

Mike and his team are excellent communicators, very responsive, trustworthy and experienced.  I would work with them again and would highly recommend to others.

John Oden

I wish to offer this letter of recommendation for Michael Koh.  I am an American citizen who was introduced to Michael by some very satisfied clients of his.  I subsequently hired Michael and his company to consult with me to purchase an apartment in Buenos Aires, oversee its renovation and decoration/design, and subsequently to rent it on an ongoing basis as a short-term rental.

Through this entire process, Michael stayed involved and insured things went as planned with my apartment purchase and renovation.  Yet, he gradually introduced me to others in his company who had specific responsibilities to follow through with the various tasks which had to be accomplished along the way. 

 He has instilled a “can-do” attitude throughout the company, and all who work there follow the same high standards of client service and follow-through which he insists upon at all levels in the company.  

Accordingly, I have found that his company is staffed by a very competent and conscientious staff, who I can deal with on an ongoing basis.  

Because of the invaluable assistance of Michael Koh, I was able to purchase an apartment quickly—for a price and location that I had specified.  We had two contractors submit bids for a complete renovation of the apartment.  Both were introduced to me by Michael and produced competitive bids, and I made the selection through an interview process conducted by Michael.  

The renovation, which was extensive, was accomplished on schedule and within budget.  The results were amazing, and the apartment is now one of the most attractive offered in Buenos Aires, and feedback of clients has been very positive.  

The experience of owning an apartment in Buenos Aires was much enhanced because of Michael Koh.  Most importantly, he did everything he said he would do, without having to be constantly reminded by me.  I highly recommend him for anyone wishing to purchase an apartment in Buenos Aires. 

Fernando Vargas

I came across Mr Koh’s name several times until I finally met him in person.  Not only did he know what he was talking about in terms of real estate investments, but what really impressed me was his integrity as a human being.  An opportunity came up to invest in a real estate project with Mike and the past several years I have been getting double digit annual profit margins in that property plus it has significantly gone up in value as Mike predicted it would.  

Mike purchased a unit in the same building and recommended for me to also invest in that new construction project.  I am not a risk taker in terms of my family’s future, that’s why I will have no problem investing again in any investment opportunity Mike puts in front of me and I can strongly recommend him to any investor.

Barry Plotkin

After vacationing in Buenos Aires in September 2005, I returned home with a strong interest in investing in this beautiful city.  Prior to my trip I had heard of the tourism boom that was taking place and wanted to see for myself what all the buzz was about.

Although I had a pretty strong conviction that there was a great opportunity here, I wasn't certain how I was going to be able to take advantage of this from living in the U.S.  It was in researching all of the legal issues involved as a non resident where my path crossed with Michael Koh.  I was amazed to see that every detail that I was looking for in order for me to purchase property was clearly explained in length all with no strings attached on his web site.  It was at this point that I emailed Mike and asked him numerous questions in which I was impressed with the prompt attention given to each and every question.  

In 2006, I had just completed the build out and furnishing of my second property that Michael also assisted me with.  Between this purchase and my prior purchase, I personally can express that Mike's professionalism, honesty, and attention to every detail are second to none.  

From negotiating the best price, finding the best apartment and location, walking me through the transfer necessary for closing, I was informed and comfortable every step of the way.  Before we had even closed on my first property, Michael had multiple architects giving estimates on the build out of the unit which saved us valuable time.  

After construction and furnishing were flawlessly completed and now having my property being managed by his team, I can say that my rate of return is well in line with all projections that we had anticipated.  It is with all of these qualities, along with an incredible team, that are solely the reasons for this testimonial.   There is no doubt in my mind that without Michael’s assistance and knowledge in Buenos Aires and property management that I would never be able to participate in a such an exciting market.  

O. Chiang

I have known Michael since 2006.  During that time I have engaged his service to help me purchase and renovate two apartments.  The second apartment was bought several months after I returned to Canada and the decision was based largely on Michael’s analysis of its investment potential, as the pictures he sent me didn’t look too impressive.  Michael negotiated an excellent deal on both apartments; the substantial savings surprised even the real estate agent.  Both transactions were closed flawlessly via email correspondences.

Michael and his team provided me with many renovation ideas and they were prompt in their email responses.  When I was not satisfied with the quote from one architect, Michael immediately asked for a second and more reasonable quote from another architect.  I was kept informed of the progress every step of the way.  Michael’s staff gave me advice and suggestions for furnishings, yet my decision was always respected.  I am very pleased with owing two beautifully renovated apartments and I couldn’t have done better without Michael’s assistance.  

The two properties are now being managed by the company he recommended; the units have been rented out and the service has been outstanding. 

Not only is Michael extremely knowledgeable in the real estate market and its regulations, he is also honest, trustworthy, reliable, committed and responsive to my needs.  In fact, everyone on his team has been most courteous, professional and attentive.  Many companies in Buenos Aires offer similar services to Michael’s but I doubt there is one that could surpass the value proposition of working with him. 

I have enjoyed doing business with Michael and would unhesitatingly recommend his services to others.

Francisco Fino

Mike is one of the best professionals that I have crossed in my professional life as a real estate investor. He is a very serious, hands on professional who run his company with an excellent relationship with his employees and ,above all his customers. I can only highly recommend Mike and his services.

He has helped me purchase several properties in  Buenos Aires.  I hired them to purchase, furnish and then when I was interested in selling them several years later, Michael and his team sold the properties and remitted the cash proceeds to me.

Eric Lee

In May 2010, we rented an apartment in Buenos Aires managed by Mike's company ApartmentsBA, and were pleased with the accommodations we received as well the level of service provided by Mike and his team. After we got back to the US, we decided we would like to buy an apartment in BA, and hired Mike to help us find and purchase an apartment there and have him manage it for us. 

Shortly after that, Luxury Retreats bought ApartmentsBA, but Mike continued to help us find an apartment with undiminished energy and enthusiasm. Over the course of the property search, Mike viewed a number of apartments for us, reported his findings to us, walked us through a failed negotiation to buy one apartment, and then finally negotiated and completed the purchase of a different apartment in December 2010. 

The apartment we bought had some legal issues having to do with the title deed which were reducing its marketability, but thanks to Mike's expertise in Buenos Aires real estate and connections to local real estate attorneys and tax experts, we were able to confidently complete the purchase, at a good price, without ever having seen the apartment in person or making a trip to BA prior to closing. 

Plus, he was able to structure the purchase such that we saved many thousands of dollars in currency exchange fees. The best part is that the apartment far exceeded our expectations (we finally visited last month), and the neighborhood is wonderful and right in the heart of the action (just like Mike said it was).

Simply put, due to the logistical problems of traveling to Argentina and the legal issues associated with the property, we wouldn't have been able to purchase this property without Mike's help, and he provided value far in excess of the fee he charged us. There aren't many people in business that have Mike's combination of energy, integrity, honesty and communication abilities. I hope we have the privilege of working with him again.

Michael T.

I have recently invested in Eastern Europe (Montenegro) and Central America (Belize). My previous investments were designed for capital appreciation. My interest in Buenos Aires was titled toward income yield with a view to longer term appreciation. 

I consulted on various neighborhoods/locations with business associates in Puerto Madero before settling on Recoleta. I then investigated property managers. This was the most crucial selection for my investment. Even the best property investments can lie idle and unkempt if they are not managed effectively. After considering a list of possible companies I found Michael's firm to be the clear winner on many fronts.

I would not dispute that the website makes bold claims of unrivaled service and market knowledge. Having a more conservative nature, I was somewhat skeptical at first. Several months later I am pleased to report that I have found every assertion made by Michael Koh’s website to be accurate & honest. Michael guided me through the apartment search with care and enthusiasm. 

He was extremely cautious in the properties we viewed; passing on a number of locations due to a number of mitigating factors – noise level, natural light, location, etc…I would adamantly dispute any claim that his clients are rushed into their purchases – in fact Michael actually cooled my enthusiasm on two properties, advising me to be patient for the right unit. 

His retainer pays for itself as he skillfully saved 6% on the asking price. Additionally his staff was very diligent in checking the condition of the apartment, water pressure, parking access, condo rules allowing for short-term rental among other factors. His team performs a thorough investigation of the condition of the property which produces a detailed report for consideration. Further checks are performed on the current owner’s title and any liens or current obligations outstanding at the time of the offer.

I should make a special point of mentioning how Michael responded to my emails at all hours of the day (despite the Europe time difference). He offered call-backs & email replies while he was out of town or on vacation. The man’s commitment to his job is relentless. 

I believe that Michael invests a great deal of pride in his work and is only truly rewarded by the appreciation of a satisfied client.

 Michael has gone beyond the call of duty for me on a number of occasions in the past four months of our association. I co-own and manage a firm with clients in over fifty countries. I recognize the importance of client relations along with constant pursuit of unrivaled customer service. Michael Koh is an impressive living embodiment of these virtues. He has earned my trust and confidence several fold.

Analia Eis

It gives me great pleasure to provide a most outstanding reference for Mike Koh. Mike and I worked together for the last 8 years during his tenure as Founder of Apartments BA.
 
Over the last 12 years, I have had the privilege to work with outstanding businesses and professionals but without a doubt, Mike was one of the best. I make this judgment because of the unique way that he blends three critical elements: 

1. Broad technical knowledge for Property Investments in Argentina for foreigners.  2. Outstanding people skills, and
3. An appreciation for the flexibility and innovation required in today's business world.
 

I'll expand on all three areas.
 
With regard to his technical skills, one of the attractions for me about Michael's company was the simple way to do business with Properties in Argentina`s market without having problems in which also he worked to support the Argentine staff so that he could focus on his core business. Amazing!. Between Mike and I always knew things would work well. His judgment about the handling of myriad clients issues was always right on, and I had explicit trust in his counsel. 

He is a very hard worker. He is on line no matter what day is it or what country he can be at. He`s always available.
 
The way I experienced him with every project was he could overwhelm you with his enthusiasm and make you crazy with his dogged pursuit of what he believes is right for the client. However, all his staff and I recognized and respected his commitment to doing the right thing in the right way to keep the project moving forward or to protect always the client with honesty. His strong values and genuine respect for people are all too rare.
 
Finally, what I can see on Mike is that he stands out as a great human being + an excellent professional of what it takes to run a successful business. He always made great contributions in order to solve whatever inconvenience came up with simple strategies and then had the creativity, flexibility, and energy to make sure that all of the issues were handled in a simple and honest way.

This set of skills made Mike a strong business partner for me. I love working with him.
 
It is rare to have the opportunity to provide such an outstanding recommendation for an individual. In Mike's case I do it without reservation. I would be happy to provide any additional information that someone can need. 

Michael Griffin

Mike is the foremost expert on real estate investments in Argentina. For years I’ve considered investing in a property in Argentina and Mike was recommended by virtually everyone I encountered.

I hired Mike to consult on the purchase of an investment property in Buenos Aires. With extreme patience Mike answered all of my questions and made me feel comfortable with the entire process. His attention to detail and responsiveness are unparalleled.

Most importantly, Mike is one of the most trustworthy, honest, and selfless people I’ve done business with. He readily gives advice and is genuinely helpful to anyone seeking help about making real estate investments in Argentina. This is evidenced by the hundreds of helpful posts he’s made online and the hundreds of transactions he’s facilitated. 

He was forthcoming with sharing the best contacts for design consulting, legal issues, carpentry etc. It takes years to find trusted partners with a high attention to detail and Mike is very willing to share and promote these contacts.

I spent dozens (maybe hundreds) of hours researching properties and the buying process in Argentina. I only wish I had contacted Mike much earlier because he cleared up all of the confusion and helped me through the entire process. Knowing how much research this process requires, I consider the consulting provided an incredible value. 

Duke Siotkis

My initial contact with Michael Koh was via email.  Despite the fact that Mike gets hundreds of email a day and must devote most of his energy to existing clients, he took the time to answer my questions.  He also allowed me to defer retaining him until after we met in person; all green flags.  I already had a good impression.  When we met in person, my assessment was overwhelmingly confirmed.  I have rarely met an individual who exudes so much honestly, enthusiasm and competence in his endeavors.

I was so confident that I purchased two apartments in Recoleta; one was an extensive renovation in an older building (with my best friend Jeff who had never even been to Argentina as a partner) and the other in a new construction building.  Mike coordinated the renovation and furnishing process.  Both apartments were a smashing success as luxury rentals.

I cannot imagine trying to have gone through this process alone.  Finding honest real estate people, attorneys, architects (contractors). Buying furniture and appliances are difficult in your own country and language.  It would have been a disaster without Mike and his team.  They have my complete confidence and appreciation for the work they did.

Many years later I retained Michael to sell my properties and he successfully sold both properties and closed on those transactions for me.  The buyers insisted on paying cash and Mike closed on the transactions and safely wired the cash to my account in the USA.

VJ Singh

I have known Michael Koh for 15 years and worked with him to find and manage and sell real estate in South America. He has worked with me in all aspects of those ventures including purchase, property management,  book keeping and finance and sales.

I also retained him to sell my multiple units that he purchased many years prior in Buenos Aires after they experienced significant capital appreciation.  He took proceeds of cash from the closings and wired to my bank abroad without me having to come to Argentina saving me thousands of dollars and countless days of travel and time off from work.

Mike is no doubt one of the most diligent, honest and enthusiastic individuals I have had the privilege to work with. He has my highest endorsement.

Terry Bennett

Purely by accident we found our own ¨small piece of paradise¨, here in Buenos Aires. Having found it, we had less than 48 hours to negotiate the notoriously difficult and potentially costly experience of purchasing the property. 

I had discovered and read Michael Koh´s very comprehensive description of the Buenos Aires investment property scene on his website which outlined both the opportunities and pitfalls as well as giving an invaluable guide to the steps involved in the process of purchasing here in Argentina. 

Between them - Mariana, a Director with the firm and Mariela, the Office Manager,  over a period of not much more than 24 hours activated surveyor, notary public and real estate agents to such an extent that permission to purchase, inspection report and power of attorney were all in place.   

After having first viewed our apartment at 5.30 PM on a Wednesday evening, we had a meeting at 2.30 on Friday afternoon where the purchase was effectively completed. 

During this short period of time- Michael Koh who was on a business trip to New York had spoken to me by telephone whilst I happened to be in his BA office and confirmed the attention his staff where paying to the matter and his interest in it.

Within hours of the Friday meeting we disappeared to Europe and during the five months which passed before our return to Buenos Aires, the completion took place including safe and cheap transfer of funds from London to Argentina.

On our return we decided that we had both the time and ability to both redecorate and furnish our new apartment. How wrong we were!!!

Time yes- ability no- definitely no!!

Although we are not exactly novices, having bought property around the world and furnished and remodeled them. We were not equipped to handle the charm and mendacity of certain Buenos Aires tradesmen and salesmen.

Our first inclination that things could go dramatically wrong was when we obtained quotes for completely repainting the apartment. We approached the previous owner of the apartment on the basis that he would have the local knowledge that we did not possess to ensure a reasonable quotation. Sensible we thought BUT although this painter had been doing a presumably cost-effective work for the family of the previous owner for years- his quote of US $12,000 Dollars seemed a little steep to us.

Urgent telephone call to Michael resulted in a quotation from a painter who had done a lot of work for them, tendering a quote of US$2,430 Dollars. The painting was perfectly completed on time and to a very high standard!!! Lesson learnt- we then used tradesmen known to Michael to complete the refurbishment. We cannot thank them enough for the quality of their work. Their patience and flexibility was amazing. 

The next problem- that of furnishing we thought would pose few problems-shop around bargain and get delivery, we were pretty good at that sort of thing. Until we started to order beds and major furniture then we found that delivery times far exceeded the time we had left in Buenos Aires and that some of the prices we had negotiated were not as good as we wished.

Sandra- the interior designer that worked with Michael came to the rescue!! When stared delivery times were way off our target she simply pointed us towards a superb craftsman carpenter- who copied and improved upon the beds and tables we wanted in less than half delivery time quoted by stores. 

Likewise we discovered several sofas that we wished to purchase but once again both delivery and price were problems. Sandra’s solution- simply to show the product to another store and get them to copy it- to at which we got the same standard at less than half the time and with substantial price saving. 

She also obtained substantial discounts on electrical appliances, bedding, and other necessary kitchen and dinning items. Did I mention that the carpenter also undertook to remove the original oak parquet floor of the apartment to a state that it had not achieved since it was first laid in 1903?

As by now you will have realized my wife and I have nothing but promise and praise for Michael Koh and his charming and efficient staff. I unhesitatingly recommend them for their professionalism, probity and friendliness at all times.

One final point-despite our initial naive approach, we did manage to do some quite reasonable “deals” with antique dealers we discovered ourselves but whose addresses and potential are now also known to Sandra!

Adrian Colesberry

Michael is the only reason that I even have a rental property in a corner of the world so infamous for being corrupt and non-transparent. His entire business model, as I absorbed it in our first meeting, was meant to bring integrity to the process of real estate in a place where this goal was in fact very difficult to accomplish. 

As I explain it to people, Michael took the "best of" American transparent business practices and applied it to the Argentine real estate market. His basic concept being that if you bring a better means of management, profit and reward will follow. 

I can report that over three years of association, Michael has made good on this promise. He is honest and open in his decision making. I always felt like my needs were being met and my interests looked after, and, by report, knew that he was also meeting the needs of renters (our mutual clients). I have been profitable and I'm sure that his company has done well. His employees, whom I have dealt with extensively, are competent and contented.

Michael is the kind of ethical CEO type that we need to re-import back into America from the provinces. I have told him that I'd be interested in whatever next project he gets involved in.

Adriana Vela

I worked with Michael Koh  in Buenos Aires for many years. I assisted Mike as a realtor on numerous property purchases for his international investors.

Michael Koh is the person to choose if you want to invest in real estate in Buenos Aires. He has been a real estate connoisseur for more than 15 years and has worked with hundreds of foreign and national investors. I have worked with him for many years as a realtor and have always been impressed by his dedication to work, honesty and efficiency.

Mike is the most hard working, knowledgeable, responsible, ethical person that I know.

I highly recommend Mike for any kind of business.

Laura Williams

I first met Michael many years ago when I hired him as a consultant to guide me through the process of buying a rental property in Buenos Aires. Being American and not speaking any Spanish, I didn't know anything about the legal process in Argentina and Michael went above and beyond to help me every step of the way and to find a great property. Once I bought it, I then hired his company again to oversee the renovations and decorations. 

They did a great job with everything and Michael really looked after every detail while I couldn't be there. I instantly made money from the property by just doing the renovations. During the time I owned this property I used his company  to rent out my property short term. I had a great return every year and Michael really looked after my property. 

If there were ever any problems, he sent in a crew to fix it for me the same day. Once he even had one of his lawyers write a letter to my condo board so that I wouldn't have to pay the cost to fix one of my walls. That is how he runs his company which is very rare to find. 

He is honest, hard working, and responsible. If you need anything he will take care of it within minutes and I always felt confident having him look after my investment. 

Years later when I decided to sell my property in Buenos Aries for a nice profit, I used Michael again as my broker and to handle the closing for me. Everything went smoothly as I expected and I can't recommend Michael high enough. 

I couldn't have done this investment without him.  I would definitely recommend his services to anyone.

Darryl Evans

Mike's organization has managed rental of our apartment in Buenos Aires since we purchased it in 2007. 

During this time the service provided has been of the highest quality and efficiency, a thing not easy to achieve in Argentina. Mike has always been available at the end of an email to provided a personal service to resolve any issues. His enthusiasm for the company was evident in the way he involved himself in everything with the objective of giving the client the best possible service. 

I would not hesitate to do business again with Mike or to recommend him to any person or business organization, he is a talented individual.

.

Andre Kuehnemund 

I have had the pleasure of working with Michael for several years now. Michael was a tremendous help when we first purchased our apartment in Buenos Aires. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to buying or selling real estate in Argentina and I doubt the process of buying our apartment would have been as smooth as it ended up being - with Michael helping us through the process. 

Michael and his firm have been managing our property ever since and we can't say enough good things about them. Very professional. Very courteous. Very detail oriented. They've always gone the extra mile to make us and our clients happy. It's been great knowing and working with Michael and I can only sincerely recommend him to others.

Alan Acosta 

Michael provided an invaluable service to me as I was a long distance property owner and required his service to help me sell my apartment in Buenos Aires. Michael navigated through the complicated Argentine legal issues for me and the apartment, in the trusted hands of Michael, was promptly sold. 

Michael regularly communicated with me on every step of the process to keep me informed and executed his service exactly as he had promised, including remitting to my bank account the cash proceeds from the sale that the buyer demanded to pay in physical bills. 

I highly recommend him for anyone requiring this type of service and I will definitely use him again for any future real estate transaction that I might do in Argentina. He delivers top quality service with the highest degree of integrity - which can be hard to find in Argentina.

Brian Anthony 

Michael did a truly amazing job representing us on the sale of our condominium in Buenos Aires.  We could not come to Argentina to close and we did not trust anyone else.

We had concerns about the process because we are based in the US, and everything had to be managed long distance. 

Throughout the entire process -- on issues large and small -- Michael consistently over-delivered. He ensured that the transaction was virtually effortless for us, and his results exceeded our expectations.

We gladly give our highest possible recommendation to working with Michael and his staff, and would be honored to do so in the future. 

Beatriz Katj 

Michael Koh is the most professional CEO I ever met. He Founded a company for apartment rentals in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in a short time became the best one in the whole country for professionalism, efficiency, highest quality, best service, that no one could compete with him. 

Most of the investors from foreign countries trusted just him to buy their properties and commercialize them as rental apartments. 

Everything what he does is impeccable, and I as a colleague, learned a lot from him. 

Also the employees he has are excellent, very well trained. His empathy made the people around him to be very devoted and committed.

 Jane Kang 

We hired Michael to purchase our properties in Buenos Aires. He and his staff have done an impeccable job managing and marketing our apartments--he was even able to get one of them featured in the New York Times. He's very detail oriented, very prompt and has a high level of integrity. I would recommend Michael to others with absolute no hesitation.

Sam Taliafero 

Michael and his company helped me purchase and managed my personal property in Buenos Aires for a number of years. 

He is always on top of things and  his staff trained to be the same. Even with a problem in our building (severe plumbing leak from neighbor above)  that caused a loss of revenue for his firm for an extended time, he worked through the problems to get things fixed and the property back on the market for rental. I have only met him once in person, and that was when I signed the contract for him to buy our property, yet he has handled things on a very personal basis even though this is just one of many properties he handles. 

I believe anything he sets out to do will be a success because of his drive and vision. Thanks Michael.

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Kevin Allen 

Michael has been a strong resource for understanding the whole real estate process in Buenos Aires, the market conditions, rental potential and a great "feet on the street" assessment of the real estate market there. He is very responsive to inquiries, is a "tell it like it is" executive, and makes himself available when I visit the area. 

The reliability of information is paramount to me, as being 6000 miles away, I can't be on top of all things Argentina. Michael and his capable team fills that void 100%. They surveyed, purchased and managed the renovation of my property and are overseeing its rental management with integrity and professionalism. I would not hesitate to recommend him and his services to anyone considering purchasing, property management and consultation. He is a tremendous asset.

Richard V. 

We first contacted Mike and his team whilst concluding the purchase of an apartment in Palermo with regard to managing a refurbishment and property management.

From the outset it was obvious you could trust Mike and he provided excellent advice on the quality of the refurbishment to aim for, clearly based on a thorough knowledge of the local market.  

With the professionalism displayed by his whole team we had no hesitation in paying the fees for project managing the refurbishment and furnishing of our new property.

Mike clearly has superb local contacts as the architect presented a thorough works and cost breakdown with various options on which Mike was again able to provide sound advice.  

During the actual refurbishment we received regular progress updates including photos and when a problem was discovered with the existing internal walls this was quickly communicated and resolved.  We were hugely impressed with both the quality of the refurbishment and furnishing and how easy the entire process had been for us.

I would not hesitate to recommend Mike  to anyone considering purchasing property in Buenos Aires.

F. Cyrus Sarmadi 

In the years that I've worked with Michael, I've found him to be a very dedicated and reliable professional. He performed the roles of a CEO while providing the level of attention one would get from a concerned customer service employee. 

I've seen him come with creative solutions for the benefit of his clients during what has been considered one of the most brutal periods in Argentina's property management and rental market. A pleasure to work with on a personal level as well.

Roberto Guichon 

Michael is a very correct and dynamic professional who serves in the Argentine Real Estate market remarkably. He manages very well especially with foreign clients buying in Buenos Aires and also offering very nice renewed properties for rent. He is a person of trust and always was a pleasure working together, I highly recommend him.

Pitts Wilson 

Michael Koh is one of the most professional, trustworthy and reliable people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Working with Michael is truly a refreshing experience. 

I hired him to purchase and renovate a property for me. It was a very successful rental for many years.  When I wanted to sell it, I again hired him and his firm to find a buyer.  He coordinated the closing and closed for me without me having to go to Argentina.

He consistently delivered high quality service and performance in every aspect. He displays a deep understanding of client relationships and I found him to be extremely trustworthy in a world where that seems to be a lost art sadly. 

A. Colesberry 

My wife and I visited Buenos for two weeks in January 2007. After a few days sightseeing, we fell in love with the city and, as we often do when we come across a beautiful place, we started daydreaming about having a place there. 

In most cases, our fantasy dissolves in the thousand questions about how it’s done and who you can trust and whether you’ll make any money and on and on. By chance, during our stay a friend sent us a New York Times travel article where the writer had rented an apartment from Michael Koh. With the idea that here might be a service to get in bed with, we logged on to Michael’s site and started reading. 

Impressed by his transparency and business philosophy, we set up a meeting with him for the day before our flight back to the US. 

We put down our consulting fee for the initial consultation and he asked what questions we had--we didn’t have many after reading his thorough website but he clarified a couple of things about the process and discussed neighborhoods with us. There was no selling at this meeting, just more of the straight talk that he put on his site.

When we got back to the States, we continued to correspond with Michael via email. He was very generous with his answers to our questions and our concerns about the process—and we hadn’t yet paid the balance of his consulting fee. Within a week, he sent us the first prospect that matched our criteria and at that point we quickly wired him the rest of the consulting fee plus an amount for the "reserva" (initial offer). 

Here’s where Michael’s true colors showed the brightest—when that prospect went away, he wrote back offering to return what we’d just wired him. 

Our first reaction to Michael’s consulting fee had been a worry that this guy we didn’t know might just be out to collect fees and wouldn’t come through, but if we had a shadow of a doubt left, his offer to return our money wiped that away. Michael wasn’t interested in our fee. He was in it for the long haul. 

He continued to send us prospects for another month, at which time, one came through that seemed absolutely perfect. Being totally transparent about his process, he sent an email to five consulting clients, ourselves included, announcing the apartment’s availability. He explained that he’d see the place on Friday, take more pictures and determine whether it was a good property for consideration. Once his inspection was complete, he would give his opinion to the group and the first person to email back would be the person he would represent for the property purchase.

By chance, we were up late that evening and, after an hour-long, intense conversation, we emailed that we wanted the place. We were first and later we were told 3 other clients all emailed the following day all wanting to purchase the same property.  We beat them by a few hours.

Over the next two weeks, we had some paperwork to deal with: 

1. Power of attorney for Michael to purchase the property on our behalf. We needed to have these notarized, have the notary certified and then have an international Hague Convention Apostile seal put on the signature pages. Then we had to FedEx the entire package to Argentina. All told, this cost just under $200.
   
2. Michael needed scans of our passports and financial data (mainly, as I understand, to satisfy US Homeland Security laws as well as Argentina anti-money laundering laws established).

Michael stayed in the loop, making sure that we were getting our questions answered and that things were moving forward.  He also handled the final negotiations with the seller.  He also handled getting our tax ID numbers for Argentina which is required to buy real estate.

It was very nerve-racking putting this much trust in someone in a foreign country.  My wife and I had a long talk. I re-read a lot of the information on his website. Finally, we came to the conclusion that either Michael was entirely trustworthy or he was running a scam on the level of Enron. We wired the money. 

Michael arranged to go straight to the closing since the property was ready to purchase.  We had expected to have a month to liquidate the rest of our funds. Thinking that two weeks might not be enough, we asked Michael to get us some extra time, which he did. We wired the money to our bank account that he helped us set up in Argentina and the entire purchase was finished two weeks later.  Michael handled the entire purchase process with us in the USA.

We went back and forth about whether to pay Michael’s furniture and remodeling fee. We had a designer friend in Buenos Aires who had offered to help, but realizing that there would be challenges, we decided at first to pay the fee. Then days later, after we’d already wired the money, we changed our minds and decided to use our friend instead. Michael wired our money back immediately. 

Our friend got started decorating and a month and a half later, we went down to Buenos Aires ourselves to do the final decorations ourselves. We had a great time and I wouldn’t have done it differently knowing what I know now, but let me say that we paid twice as much for our decorator as we would have for Michael’s furniture and remodeling fee that his designer charged.

Much of our labor budget went towards paying someone to wait at the apartment for the cable company to come, for instance. I cannot imagine that Michael makes a penny off his furniture coordination fee. 

The happy ending is that, a couple of weeks after Michael listed it, our apartment started renting. If it keeps up like this, we’ll be getting full payback within 10 years. 

I cannot recommend Michael and his company more enthusiastically.

J. Shields 

I have the utmost confidence and respect in Michael Koh and his colleagues based on my extensive dealings with them over the last few years.

I became aware of Michael Koh several years ago when I was exploring the possibility of renting an apartment rather than staying in a hotel during a planned leisure trip to Buenos Aires.  I ended up renting two different apartments from him, both of which were located in the Recoleta neighborhood, and both of which were every bit as good as had been advertised on the Company’s website. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of “living” in an apartment during my visit to Buenos Aires, rather than merely being a guest at one of the city’s hotels.

Although I had been to Buenos Aires several times prior, during that visit, I fell in love with the city and decided I wanted to explore the possibility of owning an apartment in the same Recoleta neighborhood in which I had previously rented.  

Michael Koh referred me to an english-speaking realtor with one of Buenos Aires’ best realty agencies, and then visited with me, and helped me evaluate for investment/ownership potential, the two apartments in which I had the most interest.  Michael also referred me to an excellent Argentine real estate attorney who drew the paperwork necessary to submit a proper offer to buy and get my Argentine tax ID #.  

Because of certain dishonest actions taken by the sellers’ representatives, I did not end up buying the apartment on which I made a bid.  Sadly, this type of experience is apparently not a rare occurrence in real estate transactions in Argentina, and only serves to underscore the importance of an “outsider” finding someone who can represent his or her interests in any proposed real estate or business transaction in Argentina who is honest, competent and “knows the ropes” regarding how business is transacted in Argentina.  

Michael Koh was that person for me, and he quickly obtained a return of my deposit monies on the first transaction despite the sellers’ realtors’ initial resistance. 

My experience with Michael Koh all those years ago caused me to have complete trust in his integrity, his ethics and his competence.  In fact, my trust in Michael was so great that the following year I relied almost exclusively on Michael’s personal inspection in purchasing an expensive apartment in the Recoleta neighborhood that I was unable to inspect myself, and had only “seen” in pictures posted on the realtors’ internet website.  Michael lined up the engineers/inspectors, the lawyers and the other professionals and advisers who helped me evaluate this property, and help me consummate the purchase transaction.  

After the transaction closed, Michael referred me to several excellent architects who I interviewed for the job of overseeing renovations to the apartment, which is in a lovely “French” building in a very nice part of the Recoleta.

I could go on and on in praise of Michael Koh and his colleagues.  Suffice it to say, however, that Michael is completely honest, highly competent and charges very reasonable fees for his services.  Michael is always completely professional and is a pleasure to work with.  He answers every email inquiry promptly, and is a storehouse of information and wise counsel on foreign investment in Argentina.  

I would not have been willing to pursue the idea of owning a second residence in Buenos Aires if I had not had full confidence in Michael Koh and his colleagues’ ability to represent my interests in Argentina in an honest and competent manner. 

 I have been completely satisfied with every aspect of my relationship with Michael Koh and his colleagues, and would strongly recommend that any acquaintance of mine who desires to pursue the idea of owning property in Buenos Aires retain the assistance of Michael Koh in doing so.

William Mungall 

Michael was very professional, accessible and had great advice on helping us buy a foreign property. Highly recommend! 

K. Johnston 

I could not be happier with the service and the investment made with Mike. Mike and his entire team are outstanding. I have worked with Mike and his team since July 2005 to purchase, then renovate and furnish a three bedroom apartment in central Recoleta. 

From start to finish, Mike and his team have been superb. Simply fantastic.  Moreover, the investment – as Mike predicted –is the best I have ever made. It meets and surpasses the projected return on investment that he forecasted. 

And, to top it, the property itself has increased enormously in value since I purchased it. Property prices have increased dramatically since I purchased it and that trend is set to continue. 

I am now seriously considering buying a second apartment in Buenos Aires – this time purely as an investment, because the apartment has put all my other investments to shame.

To recount: when I decided to buy an apartment in Buenos Aires, I quickly realized to do this at a distance, and as a foreigner would be difficult if not downright impossible. It was therefore fantastic to stumble across Michael's website in my internet research. 

Reading the enormous amount of information provided on it, I was struck by the quality of the advice provided and this prompted me to opt for the consultancy service. 

Things could not have gone smoother with the consultancy service. In my experience, it is truly the only way to go when purchasing in Buenos Aires! 

In my case, to choose the apartment I would buy, I decided to come down personally to Bs. As and spent some weeks here looking for a suitable property. I didn’t have to but as I intended to use the place myself (on occasion), I wanted to see the apartment before placing the offer. 

That said, had I not wanted to come down, Mike could have arranged the purchase for me.  

I rented an apartment with Michael for 3 weeks.  I also got to interact with his staff.  Friendly reliable staff. This also gave me an insight into how Michael run's his business and I was suitably impressed.

 In all, the purchase of the apartment, including all the dealings with the lawyer, the real estate agent and so forth were totally overseen by Michael and his team and in terms of buying property; it couldn’t have been easier or smoother. (I had been somewhat anxious before buying not to get ripped off but, certainly in my own experience, I saved far more than the consultancy fee). 

Mike viewed five properties – I had after seeing some 30 plus apartments, whittled the choice down to some five – and wanted to make the final choice based on his advice as to what might constitute the best investment in terms of rentals. Having viewed them he advised me which to select and made some very sound recommendations on refurbishments. He also recommended that I make an offer significantly below the asking price (based on his previous experience with apartment blocks/consortiums and purchasing property in the area). 

I then sent the money (both for the "boleto" (30% down payment) and final funds to close the deal through Michael Koh, to whom I had granted power of attorney. 

I am glad to say it went smoothly and although I was not in Buenos Aires at the time the deal closed, I was in constant contact with Mike and the Argentinean lawyer he recommended. Like Michael Koh, the lawyer was courteous, efficient and a pleasure to work with. 

In order to renovate and furnish the flat, I employed Michael again. In the course of doing so, we must have exchanged hundreds of e-mails (entirely due to the fact that I insisted on being consulted on each and every decision that was made). I am grateful for their diligence. When necessary, Mike called to consult me. Both Michael Koh and Sandra (interior designer) made sure I was consulted on each and every decision. They always took on my requests, even when on occasion this would entail considerably more work on their side. 

The final result is absolutely fabulous! I am delighted. I am also heavily indebted to both Mike and Sandra for their hard work and diligence in following through all of my demands. Each and every of my (literally hundreds of) e-mails was responded to so quickly that I have now been totally spoiled in terms of customer service. Mike’s average response time sets a record. 

On the occasion that we had to speak on the phone to discuss elements of the renovation, it was always a pleasure. I have benefited enormously from his experience in the real estate market and his ideas on the renovations. He has a keen sense of interior decoration and time and time again made sensible suggestions on the décor. I came to rely on it! 

Since finishing the apartment, it has been consistently (except for periods when I wanted to use it) rented out! It was rented out the first day it was on the market and the Return on Investment had been superb. This has got to be the best investment in the world at the current time!! So much so, that I am now seriously considering purchasing another flat. 

At the current time I am in Buenos Aires, making use of the apartment and have consistently found Michael Koh to be every bit as good as I would have expected.  In short, I could not recommend Michael  more highly for his consultancy, renovation and rental service.  It is my pleasure to work with him.

Benoit Cote, MBA

I've had the opportunity to work with Mike through the acquisition process of his Company. What impressed me the most was his level of involvement in all aspects of the business and ensured the highest level of service possible to both home owners and visiting guests.

It was a true pleasure working with him and I would not hesitate one second in recommending him as a trustworthy consultant for any type of business opportunity.

Craig Schwimmer MD, MPH

In 2006, My wife and I purchased an apartment in Recoleta. We substantially renovated the 

apartment, both to accommodate our use and to increase its value as a rental unit. The purchase, as well as the planning and execution of the renovation, was handled by Michael, Luciano, and their staff. All the while we were at home in the USA as we gave them a power of attorney to complete the purchase for us.

The purchase and renovation of the apartment required the wire transfer of substantial sums of money to a relative stranger (Michael Koh). Needless to say, we 

had some concerns, reservations, and even fears. Wire transferring 

several hundreds of thousands dollars to someone we barely knew, in a country whose laws and customs we were not intimately familiar with, took tremendous faith. 

Michael and his company have, to a degree which is truly remarkable, earned our trust, respect, and friendship.

Our intended use for the apartment was perhaps a little different than most of Michael's clients, in that we were interested in finding a "family retreat", as well as an economically viable rental unit. 

From finding a reputable realtor, to appraising the advantages  & disadvantages of numerous properties, to negotiating a fair purchase price and negotiating the contract, everyone at Michael's firm was patient, helpful, and personally interested in our satisfaction. 

Since we were back in the USA, Michael handled the purchase on our behalf - quite a big deal, since these transactions are carried out in cash - my cash!  But Michael handled things as if it were his money - and everything went off without a hitch. 

When it came to the renovation, Luciano in particular spent countless hours helping us with architectural plans, as well as the selection of materials, colors, furnishings, etc - no easy task, considering that we were in the USA, but very concerned about 

how the apartment would "feel", since we would use it quite often. 

With the considerable help of everyone at Michael's firm, our home in Argentina meets our needs perfectly.

Overall, I would rate our experience with Michael  as 

truly exceptional. He has been trustworthy, responsible, helpful, 

friendly, considerate, and personally interested in our satisfaction to a degree which is rarely seen.

Alfred Jones

From the time I had first thought about investing in Argentina everyone warned me about the business climate and what to expect as a foreigner. I was very apprehensive about doing business with anyone. Even if they where Americans, I had reservations. On my trip down when I met Mike and I went to his office and got a glimpse of the working environment of his staff while I waited. 

Everyone was very friendly and appeared happily employed. When I went in to meet Mike I found him to be very straight and transparent in what his business was all about. I had a very good conversation about the real estate market and the economy in Argentina and felt very comfortable securing his services.

Upon returning to the States Michael contacted me about a project being built that he had also bought several apartments in. When I learned this it was pretty much a go. If Mike is buying there then it must be good!!

During the course of the transaction the buyer tried to strong arm me for more money just as everyone had told me they would. Mike and his attorneys stepped in and resolved the matter very quickly. 

After purchasing the property I worked with Mike’s interior designer to fit the place out with built in's, high-end furnishings and appliances. Everything went well and the place looks fantastic.

The place is seeing better than expected bookings and I really enjoy owning it. I can’t wait to go down and use it!! Thanks to Mike and the courtesy and hard work of his staff this is turning out to be not only profitable but also one of the most enjoyable investments I have made to date.

William Wiggins 

Michael provided real estate advice and directed the selection, purchase and remodeling of my Buenos Aires apartment. 

Thereafter, he managed the property as a rental unit. The hallmark of his performance has been a high level of integrity which he demonstrates as an individual and requires it of his staff and contractors as well. 

I enjoyed 100% confidence that he would bring fresh ideas to my project and execute at the highest performance level, always a timely manner. His communication skills, both in person and by email, are the best I've seen!

Many years after owning it when I wanted to sell it, I also retained Michael to find a buyer.  He handled the sale of my property and remitted funds safely to me in the USA.

Charlie Abrahamson 

I regard Michael as being at the very top of his field, and do not hesitate to recommend him. His knowledge of what he does is exemplary, and his responsiveness is the best I have seen from any business partner, with emails answered at all times of the day, usually within minutes. 

He conducts his business with professionalism and integrity, and has been excellent to work with.

Francesca Fanucci 

Michael is highly professional, reliable and - rare quality in every profitable business sector - honest with his advice about what can be realistically achieved and what cannot. 

Last but not least, he's very likable and friendly. I have never regretted hiring him all these years.
 

David van Huyssteen 

Michael combines entrepreneurial vision with rare business acumen and an extremely strong work ethic. He also has the street smarts of someone who has made the hard yards on their own and in the world of Buenos Aires real estate, this personal experience is invaluable. Michael takes obvious pride in doing things the right way and it has always been a pleasure to work with him.

Annette Goodfriend 

Although he is the CEO, Michael is involved at all levels of his company, ensuring the highest level of customer service at all times. 

From negotiating the purchase of our apartment to maneuvering through issues that arose during its construction to its rental management, Michael has been solidly present at all times. The service he and his company have provided has been consistently thorough and professional.

Alan Kleer 

I first found Michael via the Internet, and subsequently hired him as a consultant to help me identify and buy a property and later to manage my apartment in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

I have found Michael to be very responsive, hard-working, professional, and always puts the client first.

I strongly recommend him and firmly believe that he provides clients a great value-added service.

Fred Royce 

Michael's integrity is beyond reproach. I have trusted Michael to buy and sell real estate, manage completely remodeling condos and manage my condos. Michael is a perfectionist. 

Off shore real estate investment is speculative and I would not have done it again, had it not been for Michael. I recommend him without question or hesitation.

Brian B. 

I am an American who has lived in Buenos Aires since 2001, so my situation is different than the majority of Michael's clients, but the hard work and dedication that Michael and  his staff put forth is exactly the same. 

I speak the language and know the city and its people, but I still wanted the help of real estate professionals who would be able to provide me with the inside information I needed to complete my property purchase here. 

Michael has quickly earned a stellar reputation amongst investors in Argentine real estate, and it's easy to understand why. 

During our entire negotiation and closing process, which dragged on for six long months because of an unscrupulous seller, Michael kept on top of things one hundred percent. They knew exactly when to hold and when to fold during the bargaining game, and in the end their patience and persistence paid off, as we were able to complete the purchase of an amazing apartment in Belgrano. 

Negotiating a property purchase is never an easy process, and doing so in Argentina is even more complicated, to say the least. Michael offers an invaluable service to foreigners, by helping them to navigate the stormy shores of the Argentine real estate business. 

I was so happy with Michael's efforts that I recommended him to a friend in New York, who just closed on an apartment in Palermo thanks to his help. 

Susie Naficy

My family and I have been working with Mike for 17+ years, and he has assisted us with every aspect of our two properties in Recoleta from acquisition, sale, property management, full remodels. 

Mike is knowledgeable, well-connected, extremely helpful, and always very responsive. He’s been such an asset - there’s no way we would’ve been able to navigate overseas property ownership without his help.

Fields Marshall 

Mike was a great guy to work with. Very professional and he helped me negotiate the rocky landscape of buying an apartment in Buenos AIres.  They found me an amazing property and I retained his firm to renovate it as well.  It turned out beautiful and was a great rental.

I highly recommend him and his team.

John Harkey 

Michael and his excellent staff led me through the intricacies of purchasing property in Buenos Aires. 

He managed my properties with the 5-star quality that characterizes him and his firm. 

Well-informed, meticulous, personally involved and, obviously, a great leader and manager within his firm.

John Kim

I highly recommend Mr. Koh for anyone looking for assistance selling their property in Argentina.   My partner and I purchased an off-plan new development  high-rise apartment in Puerto Madero many years ago.  

After COVID hit we decided we wanted to sell our property because we weren't using it much.  We leased it out on a long term contract for many years which was ending.   We didn't want to travel all the way to Argentina to close on it but we both had to be there as our names were on the title deed.

I researched online and found articles about Mr. Koh's company and I arranged an initial consultation with him.  He was very patient and he answered all my questions and he outlined the process to sell.   He explained to my surprise that he could take a Power of Attorney for both of us and close on our behalf.  

It was a relief to us because Argentina is far from South Korea.  For what we consider a modest fee, he arranged to close for us.  Our biggest worry was that more than half of the funds were going to be in cash as the buyer insisted on paying in cash.   This was a very large property and a significant amount of cash. It was mind boggling to think of all the cash at closing.  When we purchased it we wired in funds to the developer.

Mr. Koh arranged to close for us and I'm happy to report all of our funds were wired back without issue.   This was an essential service for us and one that we would not trust anyone with cash.  It put our minds at ease that there were many references for Mr. Koh with respected newspapers. We found him via a Wall Street Journal article online and he let us talk to one of his actual clients that was kind enough to chat with via phone.  His American client had gone this process with Mr. Koh two times and confirmed everything he told me about the process.

He is a very trustworthy person that can be trusted to close and transact on one's behalf.  I will forever be grateful for the hard work he did for us.

Peter I.

Michael is one of the hardest workers I have met.  The guy is always "on".  I don't know what his magic trick is because he answered my emails or text messages no matter what time it was.  I joked with colleagues that the guy had built some super-computer to always answer. It was incredible.  For Micheal's clients, they know what I'm talking about. For others, you will have to take my word on it.  The guy doesn't sleep.

On my first trip to Buenos Aires I used Michael's company to rent a large apartment for me and my family.  We fell in love with Buenos Aires after the first 2 days of being in Recoleta.  

I visited with Michael at his office in Recoleta because I inquired about buying real estate there.  Michael had set up with an  English-speaking realtor agent to show me around properties in Recoleta that same day.  I toured properties with Sue who was very pleasant.  

Before I left Argentina, I had retained Michael's firm, put an offer on an apartment in Recoleta, and met with architects to put in a plan to renovate it.  I signed a power of attorney document for Michael's staff at the office of the lawyer that he recommended.  A very proper and professional Irish-Argentinean lawyer that confirmed all the steps that Michael already went over with me.  

I wired in US dollars to an account that Michael's banker had set up for me.  And his firm closed on my behalf.  

I went on to hire Michael's company as well to renovate and furnish the property.  It turned out very nice and was a very good rental. 

Before buying I asked Michael what kind of returns I could expect.  True to form, Michael did not promise me anything and told me that he can't guarantee any specific return. He did tell me that no doubt real estate property values would go up. He was 100% sure about that.  He prepared a spreadsheet for me with worst case, normal case, better case and best case scenarios for net income after all taxes, management fees and bills.  The normal case scenario was a 13% return.   I joked with Michael that if I got a 13% ROI, I'd fly him to Australia on an all expenses paid trip.

Let's just say after 12 months of rentals, Michael came to visit me in Australia for a good trip and got to know Australia well.

Thanks Michael.  Anyone is in good hands with Michael.  He is a straight shooter and a hard working man.

Dmitry R.

I am more than happy to write this recommendation for Michael Koh, who was an integral part of my journey in purchasing a property in Buenos Aires. 

I had never traveled to Argentina before but it was a country I researched as having a good quality of life in retirement.  I had spent a lifetime of hard work and dedication to my profession and I could no longer live a peaceful life in my home country.

I arranged a consultation with Michael and he was very accommodating with the time we did the consultation. He was in the USA so there was a considerable time zone difference.  

The first thing he asked me was what was my main motivation for the purchase.  It was clear to me during the consultation that he takes a level-headed approach to real estate and his recommendations for areas were different, he explained for cash flow vs. everyday living.  

It was also clear that he has an 

in-depth understanding of the real estate market in Buenos Aires.  He showed me all the listing websites where I could search before my arrival.  He gave me suggestions how to best utilize them and he recommended different neighborhoods where he believed I would be happy based on the parameters of preferences I told him were important. 

His guidance throughout the entire process was invaluable. He recommended me to a wonderful realtor who reached out to the properties I was interested in.  The realtor set up the visits ahead of my arrival and I hit the ground running the day I arrived. I visited properties for a week straight.

What I appreciate the most is Michael asked me many common sense questions that I never even thought of and he used that information to help curate a list of properties that truly matched what was important to me.  The ability to identify properties that aligned with my requirements saved me a lot of time and effort.

What I thought set Michael apart is his total transparency and open communication. His attention to detail was remarkable.  He only charged me for the 90 minute consultation but he invited me to ask any questions if they came up even after the consultation.    I definitely sent several dozen emails and he responded in detail every single time.   He spoiled me with my interactions with him. 

I offered to pay Michael  additional consulting fees for his time but he refused.  He told me that if I needed detailed help, I could fully retain him later.  But it's important to note he actually talked me out of retaining him and paying him more money.  I had never in my professional life working with lawyers, consultants or advisers had someone turn me down to pay them additional fees.

It was a true first for me!

He advised me to first work with his trusted referral network of professionals.  He said he was happy to be fully retained if I needed it later.  

Michael explained that unless I needed him or his staff to sign the title deed closing via a power of attorney then he didn't feel it was necessary that I fully retain him.  In fact, he told me I would be in good hands with the realtor, lawyer, the financial institution and the accountants that he recommended.  He was right.

I found a beautiful home in Belgrano - a neighborhood that Michael suggested that would suit me after asking me questions.  I fell in love with the property and it was very frustrating dealing with the closing.  The seller at times didn't seem motivated to sell and then at other moments did.  It was a stressful process.  

I reached out to Michael again not wanting to bother him but he told me this was normal how the seller was behaving.  He gave me valuable insights on the mindset of sellers and the tough economic situation and how stressed sellers are too right now.  He offered to talk to the seller's listing agent and even the seller.  The seller actually took me up on my offer to speak with Michael.  We positioned Michael as an independent consultant that would help both parties reach a compromise.  I thought the deal would fall apart until Michael stepped in again to help.  At this point I insisted to pay Michael for his time.

Throughout the negotiations, Michael demonstrated amazing negotiation skills, always fighting for my best interests and working hard to secure the best possible deal for me.  He got the deal on track again.

Buying real estate in Argentina is a daunting exercise.  I can't imagine doing it without someone like Michael.  His market insights and knowledge was instrumental in helping me get the best possible deal.  I ended up purchasing for 7% under the listing price which had already gotten discounted prior to me visiting it. That was the price that Michael suggested.  The realtor insisted the asking price was already fair.  I wanted to offer much lower but Michael explained that offering too low will insult the seller and many times creates a situation where they don't even want to deal with you. He based his price of 7% on real estate comparables of properties he knew had actually closed in the area.

Michael introduced me to a financial institution that helped me legally bring in my funds to Argentina.  This company was less than half the cost of another company I researched out and spoke to before I found Michael. Needless to say, I used the company Michael recommended to me.

I'm happy to say I closed on my property a few months ago and all settled in to my new home.  It's every good as I imagined it would be and Buenos Aires is a wonderful place to live.  I can't imagine a better place to retire.  The cost of living here is very low.

Besides his professionalism, Michael is a warm and charismatic gentleman.  I had the good fortune to meet up with him in person (July 2023) in my new home for dinner.  Michael is one of those people you would swear you knew in another life and were friends with.  Michael told me from the beginning that part of his job was to make this a fun process.  He told me it would be stressful too.  He was correct on both counts.   Thanks Michael for everything.

Tift Pelius

Having a place in Buenos Aires was a long time goal. We now have a beautiful apartment in Recoleta. It would not have happened without Mike and his team. Mike knows so much about real estate, architecture, design and construction. 

He is also an expert on the very complicated rules, regulations and challenges with buying and selling properties in Argentina. It was a great experience working with Mike, I learned so much. As the other testimonials have said, there is no one more professional, reliable, honest and helpful than Mike. He is also a great guy you will enjoy working with in this process.

Ravi Kumar

I happily write this testimonial for Mike Koh.  He was instrumental in assisting my family purchase a property in Buenos Aires.  I may be in a different situation than his typical client.  I had never been to Buenos Aires before but my daughter was taking a gap year and in Buenos Aires on holiday.  Her 2-week trip turned into 3 months.  She was renting expensive rentals on Airbnb that someone (me) was paying the bills for.

My daughter who rarely goes to any one city for too long had fallen in love with Buenos Aires and wanted to stay there.  It was at that moment that I started seriously researching buying real estate as a non-resident foreigner in Argentina.  And all roads led to Mike and his company.  

Mike made it very easy and worked with both me over Skype videos while I was in India and my daughter on the ground in Buenos Aires.   All his team of professionals that he referred us to were totally professional and fluent in English which made it easy for me as I don't speak Spanish.

My family can only speak positive things about Mike and his partners.  I would have not purchased without his help.

T. V.

Michael is a trustworthy American that has accomplished many things in Argentina that many Argentines could not have done.

He is a brave man that came to Argentina at a time when no one believed in that country.  I had multiple transactions with Michael that he assisted me with.  Both in Argentina and Uruguay and each time I was very pleased with his work and his work ethic.

I can strongly recommend him for any transaction he is tasked with.

Leonardo Militello

It was a great experience to have worked with Michael Koh between 2006-2008, when Buenos Aires was full of foreign investors, due probably to a very good management done by Mr. Koh. 

We have done more than 40 renovations for him, 10 of them in ultra luxury apartments, with very good results and with very satisfactory feedbacks from our clients. 

I can certainly say that Michael Koh and all his office staff, have been a loyal reference for foreign investors in Buenos Aires during this last years.

Juliana Walter

I met Mike through my brother Luciano back in 2003. At the time, Luciano started working with Michael, who had a year earlier moved to Argentina. I was still finishing my degree at University and Mike offered me a position to work in his 2 year old start-up ApartmentsBA.

And it was at that instance (when I took the position) when my perspective of things drastically changed for me. Mike is one of the most intelligent and honest people I have met through the years. He is a great leader and an extremely hard worker. Everything he does he is successful at and all the people around him end up sharing in that success as he has ALWAYS been generous and fair.
 
He is the most experienced person in Buenos Aires dealing with real estate. He gives such special treatment and dedication to his clients that most of them soon become his friends not just clients.

He has earned the respect of so many people in Buenos Aires and around the world, always being intelligent, honest and fair.
I have learned countless lessons from him and not only with business but also things that I will take with me for the rest of my life. Everything I have achieved so far I owe to him so I highly recommend him in all aspects.

You can certainly contact me for if you need a personal reference on him.

Kevin Allen

Michael has been a strong resource for understanding the whole real estate process in Buenos Aires, the market conditions, rental potential and a great "feet on the street" assessment of the rental market there. 

He is very responsive to inquiries, is a "tell it like it is" executive, and makes himself available when I visit the area. The reliability of information is paramount to me, as being 6000 miles away, I can't be on top of all things Argentina. 

Michael and his capable team fills that void 100%. They surveyed, purchased and managed the renovation of my property and oversaw its rental management with integrity and professionalism. I would not hesitate to recommend him and his services to anyone considering purchasing, property management and consultation. He is a tremendous asset.

Leonardo Militello

It was a great experience to have worked with Michael Koh between 2006-2008, when Buenos Aires was full of foreign investors, due probably to a very good management done by Mr. Koh. 

We have done more than 40 renovations for him, 10 of them in ultra luxury apartments, with very good results and with very satisfactory feedbacks from our clients. 

I can certainly say that Michael Koh and all his office staff, have been a loyal reference for foreign investors in Buenos Aires during this last years.

Juliana Walter

I met Mike through my brother Luciano back in 2003. At the time, Luciano started working with Michael, who had a year earlier moved to Argentina. I was still finishing my degree at University and Mike offered me a position to work in his 2 year old start-up ApartmentsBA.

And it was at that instance (when I took the position) when my perspective of things drastically changed for me. Mike is one of the most intelligent and honest people I have met through the years. He is a great leader and an extremely hard worker. Everything he does he is successful at and all the people around him end up sharing in that success as he has ALWAYS been generous and fair.
 
He is the most experienced person in Buenos Aires dealing with real estate. He gives such special treatment and dedication to his clients that most of them soon become his friends not just clients.

He has earned the respect of so many people in Buenos Aires and around the world, always being intelligent, honest and fair.
I have learned countless lessons from him and not only with business but also things that I will take with me for the rest of my life. Everything I have achieved so far I owe to him so I highly recommend him in all aspects.

You can certainly contact me for if you need a personal reference on him.

Eric Stoddard, CMB

I am a recently retired forty years plus executive from the mortgage business and I am very well versed in all aspects of residential real estate, finance and the secondary market in the United States.  With all that being said, I hadn’t the foggiest on understanding the purchase process in Argentina which is utterly and completely different than anything I have witnessed stateside.  All I can say is that my wife and I (even though she is Argentinian) would never have attempted to purchase property in Argentina without Michael Koh and his extremely professional team to help us all along the way. 

With Michael and his team’s assistance, we recently purchased a newly constructed apartment in central Ramos Mejia, my wife’s home city, as a second home.  We can attest we couldn’t be happier with all of the support and encouragement from Michael and his team to drive this acquisition to a successful close.  

We were particularly appreciative of all of the informative content on Michael’s website to absorb before we took the plunge . . . but moreover we were wowed by the degree of expertise, patience, coaching, sense of urgency and communication ability Michael and his team provided in English and Spanish every step of the way. 

Without reservation, we wholeheartedly recommend Michael Koh and BuysellBA!

Muchas Gracias!

Mariano Mayer

Mike is a very brave entrepreneur, who started his business far away from home, and made it very successful. 

He works very very hard, being always in the details.
He is also a network builder. He  introduced me to several clients that I also assisted.
He is accustomed to sharing the value with other people.
And that's because he's in fact a Business Builder and not just a Business Owner.

I can certainly say that Michael Koh and all his office staff, have been a loyal reference for foreign investors in Buenos Aires during the past many years.

Lorena Barona

I had the experience of working with Michael Koh as an employee for Apartments BA for many years. It was a pleasure working for a person as professional and ethical as Michael.  He was always a fantastic leader and mentor, he taught me things that I will utilize for the rest of my career. I recommend Michael not only as a coworker or boss but also as a great friend and person of high value and morals.

Martin Sarsale

I met Michael years ago by chance and since then it has been a pleasure to work for him.

Michael builds long-term relationships, knows his business and is a calm person. Every time I recommend someone to help in his business, I just hear great things about him.