Hi guys, I have had many messages about real estate in Ecuador. Guide to Ecuador real estate Manabi
I can't comment on areas other than Manabi and Quito, Here is my latest
post land in Crucita,but recently I spoke to Domenick, who specialises in the real estate life for expats. He has devised a Guide to Ecuador Real Estate Manabi,covering most areas/provinces of Ecuador,
So before committing to anything, take a look at some valuable information that gives you a clear picture of what the area is like, what to expect when you get there and how to find your dream home at an astonishingly low price.
Here is an article he has allowed me to copy and paste, dating back from 2008, giving you an insight into how popular it was becoming then, and how more appealing it is now.
I hope you enjoy this little read and answers some of your questions.
How to find a $40,000 beach house in 2008
Guide to Ecuador Real Estate Manabi
SUMMARY: An introduction to the last great beachfront real estate bargain in Latin America: Ecuador.
Think the phrase "cheap beachfront property" is a thing of the past?
If you paid $40,000 for your beach house, how long ago did you buy it? In the US, it would have had to have been 30 years or so ago, in Puerto Rico, over 15 years ago, in Costa Rica, over ten years ago.
But we have another chance. Even now in 2008, there is a place a few hours by plane from Miami, with Hawaii-like weather, friendly locals, outstanding beaches, and where foreigners are not only welcome to buy, but encouraged.
The place is Ecuador. How it has slipped through the cracks this long is amazing.
So the first step towards your $40,000 beach house is to understand where you can find one. Not in the US (obviously), nor in Costa Rica or Panama, but in Ecuador.
The second step is to define exactly the type of property you would like (condo, plot of land, house) and your budget.
The third step is to go to kayak.com and book your flight to
Ecuador. From Miami, New York and LA roundtrip flights can be had
starting around $400.
The fourth step would be to do some preliminary research on the net.
Remember that any listings you may find in English are probably priced
for foreigners, sometimes at double or triple the price you could find
locally. There are great places online to find listings, but that is
covered more thoroughly in the report mentioned at the end of this
article.
The fifth step would be to go to Ecuador. Give yourself as much
time as possible in Ecuador. A few months are ideal. Make some local
friends, get acclimated to the culture and decide if Ecuador is right
for you. Easy ways to make local friends would be to go to the local
churches, take Spanish lessons, or join local clubs with a similar
interest to your own.
Then with a few local allies on your side, ask them to recommend a few trustworthy real estate agents and local lawyers.
The sixth step is to start your house hunt. Go to the
coast, decide
where you want to live and walk the streets yourself looking for phone
numbers spray painted on the sides of buildings indicating they are for
sale. Have a local friend help you make contact (so they don't hike
the prices up on you when they hear your accent.)
The seventh step would be to have your lawyer check out the papers
of the properties that interest you, making sure they are in order. If
the papers are in legal order, you make a bid similar to the US, but in
Ecuador you will probably be dealing directly with the owner. Locals
prefer to sell their houses themselves instead of through agents.
If the bid is accepted, you sign a sales contract similar to those
in the US, and the closing of the sale takes only a few weeks in
Ecuador. Closing costs and fees are only a fraction of those in the
States.
Beachfront land plots in the $20,000 dollar range are still
available. Castles on seafront cliffs are available for around $150,000
and attractive little seaside houses can sell for as little as $40,000,
but only until the place gets discovered.
For the need-to-know info before you go, like how to find the
hottest steals and avoid the common scams, check out the full report on
Ecuador Beachfront property at
EcuadorRealEstate.
By Domenick Buonamici
Insiders Guide to Beachfront Property in Ecuador
LEARN MORE HERE