TL;DR: Always check the elevation of the street before choosing where to live.
Since last year, Paraguay has become a rising hotspot for digital nomads and foreigners, largely driven by global shifts and tax considerations. Walking around the new commercial districts near major shopping malls, the influx of foreigners is palpable. Every day, the change becomes more distinct.
I am a foreigner myself, though I’ve been living here for quite a while. Nowadays, even my Uber drivers are often newly arrived foreigners. Perhaps it’s my unmistakably foreign appearance that makes my long-term residency surprise people, inevitably leading me to briefly share my "Paraguay Chronicles."
Information about settling in Paraguay is overflowing online right now. With the recent influx of newcomers and locals actively promoting businesses on social media, you can find basic real estate and neighborhood info with a few quick searches.
I have no interest in repeating the same generic facts. Instead, as someone who has quietly anchored in this city for a long time, I want to share a subtle, highly specific "detail" that will directly dictate your comfort on rainy days.
Ever since the severe hailstorm two weeks ago, Asunción has seen nothing but cloudy skies and rain. The sun peeked out briefly, but judging by the fact that neither my neighbors nor I have managed to finish our roof repairs, clear days are rare. Thanks to El Niño, we’ll likely be dealing with this unpredictable weather for quite a while.
Why You Should Go House-Hunting on a Rainy Day
When choosing your first neighborhood in Asunción, most people recommend the "New City" line: from Trinidad to the areas around Shopping del Sol, Paseo La Galería, and Shopping Mariscal. Given safety and convenience, these are obvious and correct answers.
But within those recommended zones, there is a critical, often overlooked detail you must check. Is the elevation of the street high enough?
(I don't mean you need to find a steep hill. I'm talking about the subtle, barely perceptible slopes and inclines you feel when walking around the neighborhood.)
Checking the building's structural integrity, ceiling leaks, plumbing, and general neighborhood safety are basic prerequisites. What I'm talking about goes beyond the house itself. In Asunción, depending on the road's elevation, entire streets routinely turn into rushing rivers during heavy downpours.
Because of this, I developed a habit: I always go house-hunting on "moderately rainy days." (Living here long enough, you naturally memorize which areas turn into rivers when the heavy rains hit.)
In fact, over the years, all my moves have been restricted to a tight 4-to-5-block radius. The reason I haven't left this specific micro-neighborhood is simple.
The street I live on sits on slightly higher ground than the rest of the area.
Hail might break the roof, but at least I will never have to fend off waves flooding in from the street.
