Investment

Buying to rent in Venezuela while living abroad: how it works from a distance

Claudia Velazco · RE/MAX Eleva, Maracaibo, Zulia · Published: October 2026 · 6 min read

Yes, you can buy an apartment in Maracaibo, Zulia and rent it out while living abroad. What makes it work is choosing a property that lets easily, putting in writing who collects the rent, who looks after the tenant and who handles repairs, and doing the sums on net yield rather than gross. As a reference, a 50,000 dollar apartment let at 300 a month yields 7.2 percent gross and 4.5 to 5.5 percent net a year.

Weighing this for your own situation? Email me and I will reply personally within 24 hours.

Of everything Venezuelans abroad and international buyers ask me, this comes up most: "I want to buy something there that pays for itself." It is a sensible plan, and it makes more sense today than a few years ago, because rentals are the busiest part of the market. But whether it pays for itself depends on decisions made before you buy, not after.

The figure behind that: in the first quarter of 2026, 45 percent of property transactions in greater Caracas were rentals, according to the Venezuelan Real Estate Chamber as reported by El Diario. Since nearly everything here is bought in cash, many people rent while they save to buy, and that keeps demand steady.

Yearly let, furnished or short stays

Yearly let

Rented by families and couples who live in the city. Little work once you have a good tenant, and steady income, though lower than the other two options. From abroad it suits almost everyone, especially for a first purchase.

Furnished, for professionals

Wanted by professionals and companies in Maracaibo for a few months. It earns more than a yearly let if the location supports it, but the furniture and utilities need looking after and a new tenant comes every few months. Worth it if you have a good manager on the ground.

Short stays, Airbnb style

Used by visitors, families coming home for a few weeks and short work trips. It can earn the most, but it swings with the season and needs cleaning, key handovers, reviews and constant upkeep. From abroad it only works with an operator who handles everything.

On short stays, the numbers are worth a look. Maracaibo has around 47 active listings, with an average nightly rate of 57 dollars and 36 percent occupancy, which brings in about 3,900 dollars a year before costs, according to AirROI. That is close to what a yearly let at 300 dollars a month earns, with far more work. Margarita is a bigger market for this: 886 listings, 59 dollars a night and 35 percent occupancy, according to Airbtics.

For a first purchase from abroad I recommend the yearly let. It depends least on someone being on call every day, and it copes best with a bad month.

What lets quickly in Maracaibo

Tenants here ask the same four things, nearly always in this order: is there a generator, does the water arrive, is there air conditioning, and where do I park? An apartment with good answers to all four lets in weeks. One without them can sit empty for months, however nice it looks.

• Area. Bella Vista, Tierra Negra, La Lago and the northern districts have steady demand. The guide to Maracaibo neighbourhoods compares them.
• Utilities. A building generator, a water tank or well, and fibre internet. Water, generator and fibre explains how each one moves the rent.
• Layout. Two or three bedrooms with two bathrooms is what most tenants want. Very large units take longer to let.
• A parking space of its own, ideally two.

For a sense of real rents: in the deals we handle, a three-bedroom apartment in the west of the city has been quoted at up to 450 dollars a month, and a two-bedroom in a complex with a pool in Bella Vista is on offer today at 1,200 a month, part furnished. Area, building and utilities make the difference. Across listings published in Maracaibo in October 2026, two-bedroom apartments are offered at a median of 650 dollars a month and three-bedrooms at 600; those are asking rents, and the signed rent usually lands a little lower.

Who manages it while you are away

Someone has to collect the rent, deal with the tenant, call the technician when the air conditioning fails and check the apartment from time to time. It can be a professional manager or a relative you trust, but either way, put in writing what they do, how often they report and what they are paid. A relative doing it as a favour works for the first year; by the second, the favour starts to weigh.

What I do is help you let the property to a vetted tenant and coordinate whatever management you agree on. You get written reports, just as you did during the purchase.

The tenancy agreement

Venezuela published a new regime for residential leases on 7 August 2026. Baker McKenzie's analysis of the new residential lease law notes that new contracts have more freedom to set terms, which makes it even more important to draft each agreement for the specific let, with a lawyer, rather than relying on a template.

The sums to do before buying

The formula is simple: monthly rent × 12 ÷ purchase price. A 50,000 dollar apartment let at 300 a month brings in 3,600 a year, 7.2 percent gross. Then take off what nobody mentions on the first call: a month empty between tenants, building fees, maintenance, things that break and the management fee. What remains is 4.5 to 5.5 percent net. The full breakdown is in real rental yield in Maracaibo.

Step by step, from wherever you live

1. You tell me your budget and whether you want a yearly let, furnished or short stays.
2. I send you compared options, with the rent you can expect from each.
3. We view them on video.
4. The lawyer on my team checks the documents before you pay.
5. You sign an apostilled power of attorney where you live and someone you trust signs at the registry.
6. We get the apartment ready, let it, and the agreed management begins.

The full process, with the opportunities available today, is on the invest page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy an apartment in Venezuela to rent out if I live abroad?

Yes. The purchase is done by video viewing, a document check before you pay and an apostilled power of attorney. For the letting you need someone in Maracaibo to collect rent, look after the tenant and handle repairs, with their duties in writing.

What does a rental apartment earn in Maracaibo?

A 50,000 dollar apartment let at 300 a month yields about 7.2 percent gross a year. After vacancy, building fees, maintenance and management, it nets 4.5 to 5.5 percent.

Is short-term letting like Airbnb worth it in Maracaibo?

It can earn more than a yearly let, but it needs cleaning, key handovers, reviews and constant upkeep. From abroad it only works with a local operator who handles everything. For a first investment a yearly let is usually the calmer choice.

Who manages my apartment if I am not in Venezuela?

A professional manager or a trusted relative, with their duties, reporting and fee set out in writing. Claudia helps let the property and coordinates whatever management you agree on.