"Retirement is something to worry about when you are old." "Buying land is for people with a lot of money." "A lot is pointless if you are never going to sell it." You hear these a lot when someone starts thinking about how they want to live after they stop working. Each has a piece of truth, but none tells the whole story. They are worth a closer look, without hurry and without easy promises.
Myth 1: a tangible asset replaces your pension
It does not, and anyone who says otherwise is selling you something. A lot is not a substitute for a pension fund or a well organized savings plan, and this is not financial advice. What it can do is sit alongside them. Many people in Colombia prefer not to depend on a single thing: some in the pension system, some in savings, and something you can see, visit and use. An asset like that does not come with a guaranteed figure. It gives you control, and a different relationship with your retirement plan.
Myth 2: you need all the money at once
That depends on who is selling. With direct developer financing and no banks in the middle, the effort is spread over time. At Altos de Yariguíes, for example, you can reserve a lot starting at $20,000,000 COP. In Stage 1 financing is available up to 7 months, and in Stage 2 up to 40% of the lot's value over 22 months, depending on the lot chosen. Lots range from $395,000,000 to $550,000,000 COP depending on location, view and topography, and start at 1,250 m². That is not a small payment, and I would not pretend otherwise. It simply does not have to be a single blow.
Myth 3: land is just idle ground you never enjoy
This is the idea I would most like to retire. A lot with infrastructure already built is a different thing. At Altos de Yariguíes the paved roads, the solar public street lighting, the underground wiring and the drinking water supply point with its own treatment plant already exist, they are not a promise. There is a panoramic pool with a view of the reservoir, a social bar, ecological trails through native forest and a dog park. Each lot is delivered with its own independent title deed, and you can build with Proyecto Girasoles or another construction company as long as the owner's manual is respected. There is also a model home, already built and open for tours.
Thinking about retirement with something tangible is not about predicting the future. It is about deciding what you want around you when it arrives. If any of this made you wonder what that could look like, the most useful next step is to go, look, and run your own numbers calmly.