The Next “Cuenca”?
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: May 12, 2012
Loja, Ecuador "I'm not going to be taking a shower this week," I thought yesterday as I arrived here in Cuenca. The feeling reminded me of last year when I first arrived to live and work in s...
Ecuador Banks to Forgive Mortgage Debt
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: May 10, 2012
Today the government announced that legislation has passed forcing banks to forgive outstanding mortgage debt for first-time home buyers up to $146k who have forfeited a home. The general pub...
The Shrimp Business EXPOSED in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: April 29, 2012
Ceviche, a common Ecuadorian dish that usually comes with Shrimp. "How could someone with so much damn money be so ignorant of Marketing?" I thought... ...as I watched a wealthy Ecuador...
Subdividing for Serious Loot in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: April 22, 2012
I laugh when foreigners get excited about a 10% annual return in Ecuador... heck, you can get that depositing your money in certain savings accounts here like we've covered in past newsletters. ...
Biess Now Holds 51% of Home Loans in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: April 19, 2012
The governmentally controlled social security department of Ecuador began mortgage lending in 2009, and now has 51% of the home loans currently on the market. $722 million was lent last year ...
The WRONG way to look for property in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: April 4, 2012
"I just didn't find any VALUE." My new friend said referring to his 2 week property search on the southern coast of Ecuador. "The properties that cost $40-60k needed a lot of work or simply...
What would I do with $50k in Quito?
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: April 1, 2012
"So, where's your favorite place - to live - in Ecuador?" My new friend asked. "Good question, Ecuador has such variety in such a small place, and I really like so many places... but if I h...
Projected 2012 Annual Income per Capita in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 27, 2012
As projected by the Ecuador Central Bank, or Banco Central and Ministerio de Finanzas the average per capita income in Ecuador for 2012 will be $4,905 USD per adult working age person. This a...
Ecuador February 2012 CPI Index
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 26, 2012
Ecuador February 2012 CPI Index As released by the Banco Central of Ecuador and Ministry of Finance, the CPI index in February of 2012 was $583.27 per month. While the average monthly income p...
Unemployment in Ecuador in 2012
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 25, 2012
The current unemployment rate in Ecuador according to the Central Bank was 5.1% since last calculated in December of 2011. If you liked this, you'd absolutely love my Weekly Ecuador Insider...
The 2012 Ecuador Minimum Wage
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 24, 2012
The current minimum wage in Ecuador is $292 per month for full time work. Now, that does not include extra benefits that are required to be paid by law like the social security and healthcare ben...
2012 Ecuador GDP Projected at 6.5%
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 24, 2012
According to the Banco Central of Ecuador, the projected Ecuador GDP for 2012 is 6.5%, although the projection is often a bit higher than it turns out to be. If you liked this, you'd absolu...
Ecuador Experiences Inflation entering 2012
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 23, 2012
According to the INEC of Ecuador, the annual inflation rate during February of 2012 was 5.53% compared to only 3.39% of February of 2011, and 4.31% during February of 2010. The annual inflation o...
Ecuadorian Migrants in Spain Return to Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 22, 2012
One unmistakable trend happening in Ecuador now is the wave of Ecuadorian immigrants living in Spain who due to the financial hardships being experienced there have decided to return home to Ecuad...
73% of Population in Quito uses Public Transport
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 20, 2012
According to a recent survey done by consultants from the Comunidad de Madrid 73% of the 2,370,884 inhabitants of Quito rely on public transportation on a daily basis. This is a good thing th...
2012 Internet Access in Ecuador
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 18, 2012
"I hate to say it, but I just can't live without the internet." A tenant of mine proclaimed this week. I know, I get it, I am of the same. Haven't watched TV in months but its hard to go e...
Where Locals Stash their Cash in Ecuador: Cooperas
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: March 17, 2012
Loja, Ecuador I know what you're going to say... "10%, 17% annual earnings on a savings account? Are you nuts?" Well, no, I'm not nuts, this really does exist in Ecuador. You see, you'...
Heavy Rains Cause Land Slides in Southern Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: February 20, 2012
Land slides on the via Machala-Loja carried three cars off the road, killed one, and injured a dozen people due to the heavy rains in the south of the country over the last few days. If you l...
7 Keys to a Vacation Rental Biz in Ecuador
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: February 18, 2012
Over the past few weeks, I've been busy opening up a property I have on the coast of Ecuador as a short-term vacation rental. As I write this, my place is rented... Today's post is about wha...
2012 Ecuador Bank Loan Rates
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: January 4, 2012
As we begin 2012, Ecuador banks are giving home loans starting around 8-11% APR and asking for at least 30% down. While the Social Security Department of Ecuador "BIESS" offers low interest loans...
Stuck with $100k in Ecuador
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: December 29, 2011
This week one reader asked... "Hey Dom, what would you do with $100k in Ecuador, right now?" [caption id="attachment_3265" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The Salinas Boardwalk"][/captio...
Will you get priced out of Ecuador?
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: December 5, 2011
This week I got an angry comment from a reader. "The bottom line in all of this is that if you do not buy now you will be priced out of the market. The Americans Have literally driven the prices u...
Cotacachi- the Cold Truth Revealed
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: December 2, 2011
I've got a confession to make. Even though I've been in and out of Ecuador for six years now, bought property, and been writing this weekly newsletter on Ecuador investing/living for a year now... ...
Ecuador 2012 Inflation Predictions
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: November 12, 2011
This week the Ecuador government released the inflation estimates they based they 2012 budget on... Budget estimate 3.68%... but the actual predicted inflation is expected to be closer to 5.14%. O...
Ecuador Unemployment at 5.5%
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: November 11, 2011
According to the INEC, the Ecuador Census Bureau, the September unemployment rate in the urban areas of Ecuador was at 5.5%. The lowest figure to date since June of 2007. But of those employed, 4...
Title insurance scam revealed in Ecuador
Category: Expat Lifestyle, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: November 1, 2011
"Is that legal?" My friend asked... ..."not sure, but I'm not surprised," I said. Referring to charging someone $5000 for something they could do on their own for $25... You see, Ecuador is t...
Nov 14-15, Latin American Real Estate Marketing Conference
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: October 28, 2011
Want to learn how to sell property to foreign investors... fast? Now you can if you take a moment to learn the secrets of experts from the US, Argentina and all over Latin America. In ...
The Only Place in Ecuador High-rollers Want to Be…
Category: Ecuador Q&A, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: October 12, 2011
This week I'm checking in from a land of snow-white beaches, turqouise water, and palm trees draped out over the ocean, its the ONLY place in Ecuador like it, and the ONLY place true high-rollers ...
Tourist Numbers Jump in Galapagos 2000-2010
Category: Ecuador for Investors, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: October 9, 2011
As reported recently, in 2010 173,296 tourists entered Galapagos, compared to a mere 68,856 that entered in 2000, an increase of more than double in less than a decade. In 2010, Galapagos gen...
Ecuador Cracks Down on Galapagos Illegal Immigration
Category: Ecuador for Investors, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: October 8, 2011
As mentioned this week in El Comercio, since August Ecuador authorities have deported 703 Ecuadorians back to the mainland, which proves that although Galapagos is part of Ecuador, many things, li...
Cuenca… buy or sell? Market update Oct ’11
Category: Ecuador for Investors, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: October 2, 2011
I know what everyone else is saying on the net… Cuenca? Now? Buy, buy, buy, buy, buy! Yeah, whatever… I’ll let the other guys hype the place up, they’re doing a great job, I’ll ...
Price and Demand of Used Cars Increase in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 30, 2011
Due to the recent hike in import tariffs on new cars of 5-18% used cars are now in greater demand, and have increased in price roughly 10% compared to the beginning of this year according to the local...
The Ecuador Economy the Last 5 Years
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 29, 2011
According to the Ecuadorian Monetary Fund, Ecuador is expected to grow by 5.24% in 2011 while the rest of Latin America is expected to grow by roughly 4%. In 2010 the Ecuador Economy grew by 3.6%...
Anti-Monopoly Law Passed in Ecuador
Category: Ecuador for Investors, Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 28, 2011
A new anti-monopoly law was passed this week in Ecuador which supposedly will try to regulate the illegal monopolies that control specific sectors and it hopes to better protect Ecuador consumers. ...
Slow Gains in Telephone Penetration in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 27, 2011
According to the National Census Board in Ecuador, in 2010 only 33.4% of households had access to a land-line telephone, while in 2001 the figure was 32.2%. Many have replaced their land-line in ...
2011: More Homes Have Electricity in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 26, 2011
According to stats released by the national Census Board of Ecuador, in 2010 93.2% of residences in Ecuador had access to electricity, while in 2001 only 89.7% had electricity. And to get notified ...
Ecuador Social Security Agency (Biess) Gives $318 Million in Mortgages
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 25, 2011
The Ecuador Social Security agency (BIESS) has reported that it has given $318 million in mortgages to Ecuadorians in its first six months of existence. In August alone 67 million dollars was loa...
Family-Size Changing in Ecuador, Effects on Housing Market
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 25, 2011
According to the National Census Board of Ecuador, the average family size in Ecuador hs decreased over the last decade from 1.8 children per home in 2001 to 1.6 in 2010. Additionally, the % of mar...
Anti-Monopoly Law Being Pushed Through Ecuador Assembly
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 22, 2011
According to a recent census, 90% of the sales in Ecuador are made by 1% of the businesses. This called the attention of Ecuador administrators which have begun the process of pushing through an anti-...
2011 Housing Deficit Announced in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 20, 2011
According to statistics announced by the local newspaper, El Universo, Ecuador has an annual housing deficit of 1 million residences, wheres construction this year only reaches a total of around 400,0...
Increase in Trash Pick-up Services in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 19, 2011
According to stats released by the National Census Board of Ecuador in 2010 77% of Ecuadorians had access to trash collection services, whereas in 2001 the mark was 62.7%. When buying in the coun...
More Ecuadorians Opt for Apartments over Houses
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 16, 2011
According to figures recently released by the National Census Board of Ecuador, more Ecuadorians are opting for apartments over houses, specifically, 70.6% live in houses versus 11.7% which live in ap...
36% of Ecuadorians Rent their Home
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 15, 2011
The National Institute of Census in Ecuador recently announced that 36% of people in Ecuador rent their residence, while 64% own. That figure is up from 2001 when 34% of Ecuadorians rented. And to...
New Expat Assistance House-B&B in Guayaquil
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 12, 2011
Looking for help adjusting to life in Ecuador? Extending your visa? Finding a rental? Learning Survival-Spanish? Shipping household goods? This large Andean-style house turned Hotel-Spa is for you...
How a $50 “tip” saved me thousands – The Buying Process in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 11, 2011
Thousands. That's what I saved last week on lawyer's fees when buying a property in Ecuador because I handled the paperwork myself. Now you can too. In Ecuador, the Title (Escritura) of a prop...
New Law Proposed to Help Protect Land Owners in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: September 2, 2011
This week President Correa mentioned that he'd like to propose a new bill that will help to strengthen the penalties against 'land invaders' -or people who invade and occupy someone elses land without...
‘Secret Service’ Bill Proposed in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: August 31, 2011
This week President Correa mentioned that he's going to propose a bill creating a "Secret Service" similar to that of the US which would be a special force dedicated to protecting government officials...
How 1 Expat Makes $8000 a Month in Ecuador
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: August 26, 2011
I hear it all the time... "I'd love to move to Ecuador, but how would I make money?" This week one expat, Maria Glazman, made the local paper for her small German-style bakery in the colonial hea...
State of Emergency Declared for Ecuador Banana Sector
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: August 25, 2011
The Ecuador government announced that for 5 weeks they will buy the un-exported banana produced by local farmers due to the decrease in international demand caused by the slowdown in the world economy...
2011 Internet Connectivity in Ecuador: Stats
Category: Investor News/Analysis | Listed: August 24, 2011
The government recently released a new plan that will attempt to make sure 75% of the population has access to the internet by 2017. Currently, only 23% of households and 11% of businesses in Ecu...

