This week on the Insider’s Newsletter I’ll cover some important insider tips to making money from investing in rental properties in Ecuador. To be sure to receive the report this coming Sunday when released sign up for my newsletter below (you can unsubscribe at any time)…
The Ultimate Ecuador Surf Guide
If you’re used to surfing in the US, Ecuador is going to be paradise for you. Ecuador is what Costa Rica was 20 years ago. Rugged. Beautiful. Raw. Almost devoid of surfers.
The waves and beaches are similar in style to southern California. Here is a rundown of all the surf highlights of Ecuador:
Atacames
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Dec-Mar
Notes: Fun beach town just south of Esmeraldas best when Quito has 3 day weekends.
Mompiche
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left
Best months: Dec-Mar
Notes: Virgin, green area with empty waves, cheap accommodations, during Oct-Nov quite a few mosquitos though.
Pedernales
Swell: SW/ N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Jan-Mar
Notes: Interesting little beach town with an almost Brazilian feel. Few tourists, even fewer surfers, but I like Mompiche and nearby Canoa waves better.
Canoa
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: ALL YEAR
Notes: One of the top surf spots in Ecuador, and with MUCH fewer surfers on the waves than more popular Montanita.
Manta – El Murcielago
Swell: N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Jan-Apr
Notes: Fun city with good nightlife, dry landscape, decent waves but often windblown…decent but better surf can be had further south in Ayampe or Montanita.
Puerto Cayo
Swell: NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: Dec-Mar
Notes: One of my favorite breaks in Ecuador…almost always nearly empty of surfers or tourists. Undiscovered.
Ayampe
Swell: S / SW / N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: ALL YEAR
Notes: Undiscovered little pueblo. A couple good accommodation options. Some days have unbelievable surf, other days can get quite wind blown.
Montanita
Swell: S / SW / N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: left and right
Best months: ALL YEAR
Notes: The party, backpacker hippie town of Ecuador. Just recently prices starting to rise due to demand but great place to surf for a couple weeks by day, drink by night. Waves always decent. Bigger in Jan-Feb. Only place in Ecuador where there are substantial line ups and waits for waves.
Mar Bravo Beach: Salinas
Swell: S / SW / N / NW
Category: Beach break
Wave: right
Best months: Dec-May
Notes: Undiscovered. Empty waves, decent rights, can get big during season. Within short taxi ride from Salinas.
El Faro: Playas
Swell: S / SW
Category: Point break
Wave: right
Best months: Jan-Feb
Notes: Undiscovered. Surrounded by lots of other good breaks in the Playas area, watch out for the rocks on the paddle out though.
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Super Bowl Party a Success
Thanks to everyone who showed up at the super bowl party in Quito this year… forgot to mention it before, if you’d like ot stay “in the know” about future expat events in Ecuador, sign up for my weekly newsletter below…
Common Used Car Mileage Scam in Ecuador Revealed
Before you buy a car in Ecuador, read this and proceed with caution.
Buying a car in a foreign country is an adventure in and of itself, but doable if you keep a few things in mind.
First off, know that prices for cars tend to be higher than those in the US, and to find the best deals, you must go directly to the dealers who provide buy here pay here that import the make of the vehicle you wish.
Everyone knows that when you need to find new or used cars for sale, you go to a dealership, and this is usually your best option to find a wide assortment of vehicles in one place. But maybe you visited your local dealer and didn’t see anything you liked, or maybe you just want to familiarize yourself with the prices of used cars in your area before you head to the dealership. The Superior subaru dealership of houston offer an excellent selection of used cars, trucks, and SUVs. From low-cost models from brands like Toyota and Chevy to low-mileage certified vehicles from Subaru itself, we’ve options for everybody . Scroll through our online listings to ascertain what’s available for used car shoppers. Here are five other options you can try!
1. Online
This is probably the most obvious option for where to look, but the internet is a great resource for finding used cars for sale. For one thing, it opens up a market far beyond just your local area. You may have to pay to have the vehicle transported, but this is a great option if you’re looking for something specific. You probably know to check Craigslist, but if you’re looking for antique cars, try eBay!
2. Newspapers/Auto Magazines
Even though print media isn’t as popular as it used to be, classified ads are still alive and well. Find out if your local newspaper has an expanded classified section on Sundays! Be sure to also check free classified publications such as the Penny Pincher. Automobile trade magazines, often distributed outside of businesses, are also a good source of leads.
3. Automobile Auction
This one might require a little help because most auctions require the purchaser to have a dealer’s license. However, if you can find someone with a dealer’s license, auto auctions are an excellent place to find used cars for sale! These are often vehicles that have been repossessed or acquired as part of a lot, so they can usually be sold very cheap. As with any purchase of a used vehicle, make sure to bring someone with you who has mechanical knowledge so you can be sure you’re getting a reliable ride!
4. Drive Around
Many consumers these days rely on the internet or retail sites to find used cars for sale, but sometimes it’s better to go back to an earlier time when people often found cars for sale by spotting them while they were driving! People often put their personal vehicles for sale on the side of the road or in public parking areas with signs in the windows. Try driving in less populated areas to find options that have perhaps gotten less attention. The owner will be more likely to negotiate with you on a good price!
5. Ask Friends and Family
Sometimes we overlook the simplest answer, which is looking to our friends and family for help. If you ask the people you know, whether it’s coworkers, friends, or parents, they may have a lead for you. Turn to your circle and ask if they know anyone who is selling or if they’re thinking about selling their vehicle. Having a connection may help you secure a better price!
No matter which method you use, whether you end up going with a traditional dealership or one of the options above, be sure to do your research and shop around and you’ll be sure to end up driving something you love.
Another very important thing to keep in mind is that in Ecuador, many, many people adjust the kilometer (mileage) meter on the car so it appears the car has much less mileage on it than it really has.
Yes, this is illegal, like in the States, but not enforced, and very common.
In fact, many locals don’t even see this as ethically wrong. So that car you just bought with 10,000 km actually has 60,000.
For this reason alone, I would not buy a used car in Ecuador, unless it was of a friend, period.
The best way to find the hottest deals on new cars is currently on the internet. The two most popular sites for shopping for cars in Ecuador, to see prices and the like, are patiotuerca.com and patiodeautos.com.
Most locals find the car they desire on these sites, get the phone number of the dealer offering the car and reach out to them in person or via telephone to further the purchase. It is obviously not advisable to purchase a car you have not checked out in person.
As always, welcome to Ecuador.
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Properties under $50,000 in Ecuador
There they were,” I thought as I spotted them walk out the Guayaquil Airport gates.
I threw out my cigarette and walked over to greet them, a Canadian couple who had asked me to help them find a home deal on the coast of Ecuador. As we caught a cab they began to mention what they were looking for… “A livable, turn-key house with few needs for improvements…not a condo… right on the water- oceanfront, not even one row back… maximum budget $50k”.
Jeeze, I thought to myself, these guys have been reading too much Ecuador hype on the net. Yes, the kind of deal they’re looking for can be found with some down-and-dirty local-style house-hunting like how I explain in my Ecuador Property Guide, but I knew it would be difficult to find something they liked in the week they had in Ecuador.
We started in Salinas and started to work our way up the coast. We found houses a row back from the ocean for under $50k, but the homes on the water, beachfront, that were livable needing little work were a bit over budget, all starting around $70k…
We looked and looked, until finally we DID find a beautiful white-washed Mediterranean-style 3 bedroom home with big glass windows facing the ocean they loved, with a porch seemingly jetting out right over the water- listed at $45k, but it was out in the middle of absolutely no where…and they didn’t like that. Finally, they gave in; disappointed that they spent thousands on flights and couldn’t find what they were hoping for. Their demands simply were too rigid for the short time they allowed to house hunt.
A few things we can learn from this experience. Understand realistically what $50k will get you in Ecuador in 2011 before you come… Talk to someone locally or ask me… But basically, $50k or less can get you a 1 or 2 bedroom condo in decent areas of Quito, Cuenca, Manta or Guayaquil (but you might have to search a bit). Also, it could get you a livable house in need of a little TLC and some improvements starting a block back from the ocean on the coast. On the water it will be a bit more expensive.
As for vacant land, you could get a large 1 hectare lot out in the countryside which may sell for around $5 a square meter (total $50k). Or a smaller 250 sq. meter vacant lot closer to the ocean in a town on the coast ($60-90 sq meter). But prices in Ecuador vary greatly so the more time you give yourself to look, the better…
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