Category: Ecuador for Investors

Why you should start a tourism-related business in Ecuador now

2017 is the time to start a tourism-based business in a place like Ecuador where 80-90% of the foreign tourists are American (aka from the USA).

Why?

Because this is going to be a great year.

Being in the industry myself, I can’t help but notice the uptick in travelers so far this year.

Never before in the last 10-15 years has the dollar been so strong, the (DOW) markets at record levels and real estate strong all at once.

In other words, peoples 401Ks look great, their real assets on paper greater, and the dollar is stronger than its been in over a decade meaning you can buy more abroad. And people are realizing it.

Now, the strong dollar may have an adverse effect when drawing Europeans, Canadians and others outside the dollar zone, but who cares when your market is 80-90% Americans in a place like Ecuador?

So if you ever dreamed of opening a tourism-related biz in a place like Ecuador, now is the time to do it!

Hasta pronto, if you liked this you’d love my Insider’s newsletter on living and investing in Ecuador,

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How much should you pay a caretaker for your beach house in Ecuador?

Good question.

Not much.

I’ve owned several properties on the coast of Ecuador, and currently own one for sale.

All I can say is how much I pay. I pay a local guy $10 a week to go to the house once or twice a week at different times and check if everything is OK, dust and sweep up a bit, water the plants and just kind of spend a bit of time there.

That’s it.

He also shows the home to interested buyers upon request. So one important requirement is that he has and answers a cell phone.

Like anything in Ecuador, always try to pay the locals the going rate, or a little bit better, or they will probably label you a rich gringo, get greedy and want more and more and more.

Best to ask other locals how much they pay for similar services before paying yourself.

NEVER have the mindset of, “well, in the USA we pay this much for a similar service, so anything less would be a deal”.

Newsflash: this ain’t Kansas anymore, think like that and you will overpay for sure!
Hasta pronto, if you liked this you’d love my Insider’s newsletter on living and investing in Ecuador,

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The difference between Cuenca and the rest of Ecuador

Most foreigners who move to Ecuador, move straight to Cuenca.

It’s a nice place, but it’s actually quite similar to most of the other colonial mountain towns in Ecuador.

So what’s different about Cuenca to me as an occasional visitor?

The variety and quality of cuisine options from all around the world.

World-class chefs from all over with hole in the wall eateries abound.

Compared to the rest of Ecuador, even Quito, the (good) food options are usually limited to the beans, plantains and rice and your choice of dead animal.

I’m not complaining, I love Ecuador food. But if you get the itch, I’d say try Cuenca Ecuador Realty.

Hasta pronto, if you liked this you’d love my Insider’s newsletter on living and investing in Ecuador,

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Is this the best rental investment in Ecuador?

Many new expats in Ecuador gaggle over how cheap the rents are here. A property management company is also a great choice if you are letting property in the UK, there is a really good property management company in Hampshire that we have used and were really good so they are definitely worth a look if you’re in that area.Yet are unpleasantly surprised by how pricey the same properties are to purchase.

It’s true.  It often doesn’t add up.

But there are some opportunities here to make a nice rental return on a purchased property, you can find a property to rent in Spain here.

So far, I have one of the best returns I have seen in Ecuador renting in Guayaquil short-term.

I keep the place very booked (at least 90% occupancy).

It’s a 1 bedroom suite in a nice building with good location I paid $75,000 to purchase.

After I pay the $123 condo fee and $60 or so monthly electric bill there remains around $1000-1200 a month profit.

And I rent for just around $40-50 a night.

That’s about a 16-19% annual return.

Hasta pronto, if you liked this you’d love my Insider’s newsletter on living and investing in Ecuador,

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When is best to visit the coast of Ecuador?

Today, I’m checking in from Puerto Cayo, about an hour south of Manta where i have one house and a few lots for sale.  

And holy sh#t it’s hot as I type this the beads of sweat roll down my fingers.  

This time of year on the coast (from January to March) it rains almost everyday, then the sun comes out and is super hot and humid.  

Yet from about June on through to November-December it can get quite brisk (by Ecuador standards) and overcast everyday yet it doesn’t rain at all.  

But for me, the BEST time to visit is April-May.  You have the sun and the sapphire blue water without so much rain and humidity and heat.  

That’s when I’d plan on spending more time on the coast!  

Hasta pronto, if you liked this you’d love my Insider’s newsletter on living and investing in Ecuador,

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