Privacy Policy for Medellín Colombia Real Estate (M.C.R.E. medellincolombiarealestate.com)
Effective Date: April 9, 2025
1. Introduction
Welcome to medellincolombiarealestate.com (the “Website”), operated by M.C.R.E. by Arco Andino SAS (“we,” “us,” or “our”). We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal data of our users (“you”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Website, use our services, or interact with us in relation to real estate in Medellín, Colombia.
We comply with Colombian data protection regulations, primarily Law 1581 of 2012 and its complementary decrees, regarding the processing of personal data.
2. Information We Collect
We may collect personal information that can identify you directly or indirectly (“Personal Data”). The types of Personal Data we may collect include:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number (including WhatsApp number if provided), physical address (if provided).
- Property Preferences: Information about the type of property you are looking for (e.g., apartment, house, location preferences like El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado, Sabaneta, price range, size, number of bedrooms/bathrooms).
- Communication Data: Records of your communications with us, including emails, messages via contact forms, or chat logs.
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform, and other technology on the devices you use to access this Website.
- Usage Data: Information about how you use our Website, pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, and navigation paths.
- Information You Voluntarily Provide: Any other information you choose to provide to us, for example, when filling out forms, requesting viewings, subscribing to newsletters, or providing feedback.
3. How We Collect Your Information
We collect information in the following ways:
- Directly from You: When you fill out contact forms, subscribe to our newsletter, request information, schedule a viewing, communicate with us or our partners via email or phone, or otherwise provide it to us directly.
- Automatically: As you navigate through the site, information may be collected automatically using technologies like cookies, server logs, and similar tracking technologies. This helps us understand user behavior and improve our Website. (See Section 8 on Cookies).
- From Third Parties: Occasionally, we might receive information about you from third-party sources, such as real estate portals where you have expressed interest in properties we manage, or publicly available sources, always in compliance with applicable laws.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the Personal Data we collect for the following purposes:
- To Provide Services: To respond to your inquiries, provide information about properties, schedule and coordinate viewings, and facilitate real estate transactions.
- To Communicate with You: To send you information you have requested, updates about properties matching your criteria, newsletters (if you opt-in), and administrative information.
- To Improve Our Website: To analyze usage trends, administer the site, track user movements, gather demographic information, and improve the user experience.
- For Marketing: With your explicit consent (authorization), to send you promotional materials about our services or properties we think may interest you. You can opt-out at any time.
- For Legal and Compliance: To comply with applicable Colombian laws and regulations, respond to legal requests, and protect our rights and the rights of others.
5. Legal Basis for Processing (Authorization)
In accordance with Colombian Law 1581 of 2012, our processing of your Personal Data is primarily based on your authorization (consent), which we typically obtain when you provide your information through our website forms or direct communications. We may also process data when necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are party (e.g., a brokerage agreement) or to comply with legal obligations.
6. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your Personal Data. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
- With Service Providers: We may share data with third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf, such as website hosting, email delivery, CRM systems, and analytics providers. These providers are obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.
- With Real Estate Partners (With Consent): If necessary to facilitate a transaction (e.g., co-brokering with another agent or agency), we will share your information (limited to what you have shared with us willingly) with our partners.
- For Legal Reasons: If required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request (including requests from the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce – SIC).
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your Personal Data may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to confidentiality agreements.
7. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your Personal Data from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. However, please note that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our Website uses cookies (small text files placed on your device) and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. You can control the use of cookies at the individual browser level. If you reject cookies, you may still use our site, but your ability to use some features may be limited. [Optional: Consider adding a link to a separate Cookie Policy if you use many cookies or want more detail].
9. Data Retention
We will retain your Personal Data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements, or as long as your authorization remains valid. To determine the appropriate retention period, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure, the purposes for processing, and applicable legal requirements.
10. Your Rights (Habeas Data)
Under Colombian Law 1581 of 2012, you have the following rights regarding your Personal Data:
- Access: To know what Personal Data we hold about you and how it is being processed.
- Update and Rectify: To request the correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Proof of Authorization: To request proof of the consent you granted for processing your data (unless consent is legally excepted).
- Information on Use: To be informed, upon request, about the use that has been given to your Personal Data.
- Lodge Complaints: To file complaints regarding infringements of data protection law before the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC).
- Revoke Authorization: To revoke your consent for data processing at any time (unless there is a legal or contractual duty preventing revocation).
- Deletion (Suppression): To request the deletion of your Personal Data when it is no longer necessary for the purposes collected, when consent is revoked, or when processed unlawfully (subject to legal retention obligations).
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in Section 13. We will respond to your request in accordance with the timelines established by Colombian law.
11. International Data Transfers
If we use service providers located outside of Colombia (e.g., cloud hosting), your Personal Data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Colombia. We will ensure that such transfers comply with Colombian law, typically by ensuring the recipient country provides an adequate level of data protection or by implementing appropriate safeguards.
12. Children’s Privacy
Our Website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect Personal Data from children under 18. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected Personal Data from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Effective Date” at the top. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your Habeas Data rights, please contact us:
- By Email: [email protected]
- By Mail: Transversal 5a #45-91
- By Phone: +57 305 281 9492
15. Governing Law
This Privacy Policy and any disputes related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Colombia.