Following Election – Interest in Moving/Investing in Ecuador Peaks

The following article has been re-posted with permission of Tom Saunders.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/following-election-interest-movinginvesting-ecuador-thomas-saunders

Thomas Saunders

CEO at Ecuador Beachfront Property

Nov 9, 2016

Change multiplies uncertainty. Now, as greater uncertainty comes into play, US Citizens and International Investors seek ways to hedge existing bets on the direction and volatility of the US and World economy.

The labyrinth of unknowns instantly created by the results of the latest election cycle have brought “thoughtful pause” to many of us looking for a safe, solid ROI and a high quality of life today and through our retirement years. After being blindsided by bubbles and bailouts, we seek presently-undervalued real assets that will maintain or increase their value despite, or as a result of, the ups and downs around us.

Ecuador has been described as Costa Rica with real estate prices 40 years behind the curve. Ecuador recently received a HUGE upgrade in terms of infrastructure (new roads, new hydro plants, new refinery, new airport) and international recognition as the world’s highest-value retirement destination by CNBC, Forbes, International Living Magazine and the New York Times. The official currency of Ecuador is the US Dollar and its two main cities are a short (4 hour), direct flight from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale (via Jetblue). Ecuador’s time zone coincides with either EST and CST depending on daylight savings time in the US, making it a viable base for the digitally mobile worker.

Despite all the recent attention and upgrades, Ecuador still has many undeveloped beachfront destinations. You can still have large undeveloped beachfront lots at prices ranging from $35-100K. Investors can still find 75 acre parcels with beachfront at very low prices such as this property we will soon be announcing near the surf town of Canoa:

This gorgeous property has a brand-new concrete road designed and built complete with a bike-lane by a national government focused on developing tourism along its coastline. Here is a look at the road and the property to the east and west:

For those looking to move down soon or buy now and rent until retirement, beachfront condos can provide exceptional value and appreciation. New condo projects are just beginning to become available for the forward thinking retirees and investors along the beaches just outside of the busy cities. One example is our Ensenada del Pacifico project located in San Clemente, Manabi that is now nearing completion. Demand for the first phase of the project was strong and only two units are available as resales at only $154,000. The majority of the project was sold prior to completion.

Click here for the listing

With the ups and downs of the US and World Economy, purchasing tangible assets in Ecuador in the form of land, investment, or an income-producing vacation property that is presently well undervalued in the global market might be just the right move for you.

If you are looking for more information about Ecuador for retirement, investment, or both – enter your email by following the link below so we can send you our “Know Before You Go” guide that reviews each town on the Central Coast and provides vital tips for the foreign traveler planning a visit:

“Know Before You Go” Guide

Also, please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to questions like, “Can foreigners own clear title to property in Ecuador?”:

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see

http://www.ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com/listings/index.php/browse-properties/all-for-sale/houses/cozy-garden-home-90

for the listing of our home.

Orange Sweet Potatoes or Yams

One day last week Gonzalo came by with a few orange sweet potatoes. I went pretty crazy as we seldom see orange sweets here. So I begged for him to find me more and yesterday he gave me a bag full of these orange beauties.  I love the purple ones, don’t get me wrong, they are delicious and super sweet.  But when making a sweet potato souffle where I add eggs and brown sugar the resulting color is really off-putting. The combination of the yellow egg yolks, brown sugar and purple potatoes turns almost black.  Again not very appetizing.

I can remember our first Thanksgiving here, we were living in Salinas and were invited to Will’s Coco Bar for a traditional US style Thanksgiving.  I decided to make my sweet potato souffle which is usually well received and finished off. It did not go over well.  Honestly it tasted very similar to the ones I had made in the states but the color, it was scary. I ended up bringing home half a dish full and chucking it in the trash.

Today I have enough to make sweet potato fries. We will see how Joe likes them.

Joe loved them and they vanished.

I guess making friends with your vegetable vendor, the meat guy and the rest of the folks who come by on the street does make a big difference. Thanks Gonzalo, you are the best for finding these for me.

 

Joe just Loves this Chocolate

Do you like unsweetened dark chocolate? Joe does. When we were staying in Manta Joe found this unsweetened chocolate in Super Maxi. I think in the states it’s just called cacao – no sugar OR milk solids/fats added.

He would buy several bags and each evening he would sit and have just one of the disks.  It is not for me, unsweetened chocolate – can you say WHAT? That is for making brownies or hot chocolate but eating it straight from the bag?  Not for me!!  But Joe may have something here. All the news you hear about superfoods, chocolate is supposed to lower blood pressure, lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease. Another reason that dark chocolate is especially heart-healthy it has inflammation fighting properties, which reduce cardiovascular risk.  We do not know if that is true or not but Joe loves it and it really helps him from having other snacks after dinner.

While in Manta last week at the SuperMaxi I found a shelf full, I think I picked up 10 packages.  Joe will just love it and of course he will think I am the greatest for picking it up for him.

12″ Banana Bread for $2

On our way home from Manta earlier this week, Leigh stopped to buy a banana bread from a man on the side of the road. Of course, I had to try one myself, how could I resist.  It was still warm from the oven and at $2. it was a bargain to me.

As soon as I got home I cut a few pieces added a nice pat of butter and we went to town.  I really think I need to cut it in half and put that in the freezer for another day.

Laughter is Great Medicine

Our friends Leigh and Rick took me into Manta with them yesterday.  We told stories, laughed having a great time. We had breakfast at a local restaurant with Angie and Raphael, the restaurant served Llapingachos – but not with potato – with yuca, they have a different name which I failed to catch. They also serve the traditional Ecuadorian breakfast meals from Chicken and Rice to Encebollado which is a soup of Albacore Tuna with onions as well as over-easy eggs.  My kind of place. I love encebollado but had to have the over-easy eggs with the llapingachos and a café con leche.

Of course we had to take a few of the llapingachos to go. They are now in the freezer waiting for the perfect day to bring them out for another feast.

We then went to the mall and SuperMaxi for some shopping while Rick took his truck in to get detailed -you cannot call it washed as it looked like a new truck when he came to pick us up.

We then went out to lunch, fish ceviche, excellent.

It was a laughter filled busy day, thanks Leigh and Rick for such a fun day.

Life is Short

Here is the YouTube link for our beach home:

A Whirlwind of Activity on our Home For Sale

It has been a very long several days since we made the announcement that we were leaving Ecuador and moving to Uruguay.  Between working on a write-up for the sale of our home as well as taking and reviewing the pictures so the place would show at its best, Joe and I are exhausted.  So many details to go over, where to advertise, which realtors to contact, so many questions to ask, what is a realtor looking for here, we know the process in the US but we have never sold a property outside of the US.

Now we are getting inquiries and questions from folks looking for a nice beach home and we are so excited about the response. That is great news, now to find just the right people to make this place their home… I know you are out there, looking for just the perfect place to call home.

If you have not seen the YouTube post please take a look:

or view my actual blog post at

www.goo.gl/U8TJV2

Thanks to all our friends that have re-posted our original blog post, you are the best!!!!!

We would love to hear what you think.

Beach Home for Sale, San Clemente, Manabi, Ecuador – Completely Furnished $85,000

This updated and comfortable single family home on one floor has a total of 1,076 sf (100 square meters) under roof, lot size of 2,260 sf (210 square meters). The property is completely walled, private and secure. It comes completely furnished.

The 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is light filled and airy. The well laid out kitchen has new custom cabinets and shelving with plenty of counter space. Included is a four (4) burner gas stove/oven with top broiler, a sizable refrigerator, blender, coffee maker etc.

Kitchen and Living Room:

The living area has a full wall built-in custom shelving unit at one end, couch, coffee table and Sony flat screen TV.  A spacious master bedroom measuring 10′ x 17′ has a sitting area and en suite bathroom. It comes with a queen sized bed, side tables, a large free-standing closet as well as a 12,000 BTU split unit air conditioner. The second bedroom includes a double bed and side table. The third bedroom can be used as an office or formal dining room. The second full bathroom is at this end of the house.

Master Bedroom and en suite Bathroom:

Second Bedroom:

Third Bedroom Currently being used as Office:

Guest Bathroom:

The 10′ x 27′ covered porch faces west to the garden. It has a storage / laundry room with American style heavy-duty washer with clothes drying rack. Electric and plumbing have been completely redone including main outside breakers, inside breaker box, 3 outlets in each room, water pump and pressure tank.  Ceiling fans with light fixture in all rooms and the porch plus extraction fans at the roof peaks. Tile flooring throughout. Many other extras.

Entrance is through a new large wood gate with an easy access door. This gate has security bolts and locks.  The newly repaved granito driveway sits between the covered porch and the garden. This can be used for parking your vehicle or for extra outdoor living space. There is an outdoor shower for the beach bum in all of us.

The garden has several producing fruit trees including lemon, fig, star fruit, pomegranate and a large guava tree that shades a tile and granito 11′ x 22′ patio.  There are two 5-year-old coconut palms on the property that have not started to produce fruit yet. Mature Bougainvillea hang over the front wall from the garden, providing a bright splash of color.

Lemon:Star Fruit in Flower:

Guava:Pomegranate: The home is located in the beautiful Punta Bikini area, also called Barrio Norte, of San Clemente in the province of Manabi, Ecuador. This quiet fishing village is within 45 minutes of Bahia de Caraquez and 1 hour from Portoviejo and Manta. It is a very peaceful stretch of flat beach great for swimming, sunbathing, walking, surfing and fishing.

End of the Street looking North towards the Bluffs:

End of the Street Looking South towards Downtown: Our comfortable, fully equipped home is in the less busy, northern part of San Clemente walkable to downtown with a variety of small stores, restaurants, drug stores and other basic shopping.  Vendors pass the house daily selling everything from raw fresh milk to fruits and vegetables to fresh eggs and butter and toilet paper. Live lobster is available across the street and jumbo shrimp, fresh off the boat, can be purchased 2 blocks away.

This is the third house from the beach, about 150 feet from the front gate to the sand, with refreshing ocean breezes. Our Ecuadorian neighbors are welcoming and helpful. It is a very safe and friendly neighborhood, mostly year round lifelong residents who will help you out if you need anything. Several Expats live nearby. There is a small grocery store at the ocean end of the block.

Internet and land line telephone are available through CNT and electric service from CNEL. Cable TV and Direct TV are available.

Property taxes last year: $21.00, Internet and Land line telephone: $35.63 per month, Electric: $30 to $40 per month, water $12 to $30 per month and gas for the stove/oven $2.50 a quarter.

We are moving due to “itchy feet”. We have loved our 7 years in Ecuador, as we did our almost 4 years in Panama before this.

All papers are in order and ready for the buyer.  Contact our realtor with any questions.

email: tom@ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com        telephone: 099 635 9373

Fully furnished at $85,000