... in response to Re: Life in Ecuador, posted by Cali vet on Dec 1, 2003Yes - I can see that the temperature thing will be an issue but you know what? IMO it would be crazy to let that control your decision. I've met dozens of latinos, Africans and Carribean people in the UK (my country) and Holland. They all moan a bit about the cold but eventually they adjust after a year or so. Maybe Vilcabamba for 6 months and commuting to Loja and then move to Loja?
Lada Nivas are assembled in Ecuador. I don't know if that makes them better or worse than those in Russia. They are cheap here and i've heard a couple of bad comments in the general sense about them - people disparaging the quality of cars assembled here and in LA as compared to real imports. On the other hand I looked up a forum of comments of used car owners in the UK - without exception all praised the mighty Lada Niva :-)
If the dollar is dropped here in favor of the New Sucre all prices will crash - people will get scorched and be hurting like swatted flies - there would be a firesale of property and consumer goods as people strove to cling on financially. Others say it can't happen but I don't underestimate the negligence which LA presidents can manifest in their handling of all matters economic.
You might want to consider living on the coast for a while - same climate as Cali. Near to Manta (mid-sized city) are several beautiful little fishing towns, few tourists but still some. And close enough to Manta for all you need from a city - university, movies, malls etc. Crucita, San Clemente and San Jacinto are the names of the towns, Crucita being the biggest.
One of the International Living associates called Gary Scott is running a course here in mid February - you might be interested in what he has to say about property in Ecuador. Its a bit ra-ra but good info....
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Dear International Living Reader,
My wife Merri's and my mantra for the past 36 years has
been, "the sun is always shining somewhere." There are
always places where you can make a fortune, live better for
half the price, and enjoy cool but sunny weather almost
every day... places like Ecuador.
And guess what? This nation is so tiny and has been so poor
for so long that some amazing facts and opportunities have
been missed by the local and national press.
Let me share a few of these things about Ecuador here and
show you why there is special opportunity right now.
Though the majority of Ecuador's population is poor, this
poverty combined with a national abundance of natural
resources offers an exotic lifestyle with personal services
(maids, gardeners, cooks, etc.) that we in North America
and Europe have forgotten exist. Even those with $1,000 to
$2,000 a month income can live like a king.
There are two special ways to reap very rich rewards in
Ecuador I call "taking advantage of the ups and downs and
the pockets".
For example: a couple of years ago we discovered a pocket
of cozy, beachfront properties that were selling for $5,000
each. Then the economy dropped and the owner wanted to sell
them in a hurry at $2,500. We took a group of readers and
16 of them bought on the spot. These lots now sell for over
$20,000!
Another "pocket" on the coast developed when the government
put in a new road that ran right along the coastline and
replaced an inland highway. Landowners did not realize
right away what this new accessible Pacific-view real
estate was worth. One 25-acre plot we stumbled across was
for sale at $12,000. As you can imagine, this didn't last
long.
Just outside Quito we discovered a pocket of subsidized,
brand-new houses for $800 each that really were nice. We
rushed a group there.
Those who have joined us on these and previous trips have
already made fortunes and enjoyed enormous opportunities.
Now there is another special "pocket" developing that I
believe will be a huge opportunity. Let me explain why.
When we first took friends to Ecuador in 1996 there were
five short-term problems: an energy shortage, an upcoming
Presidential election, the failure of several Ecuadorian
banks, a stock market crash, and worst of all, an armed
conflict over border disputes between Ecuador and Peru.
We felt then that each of these problems, if resolved,
could cause the real estate market in Ecuador to take off
like a skyrocket. With this in mind we took hundreds of
readers to Ecuador.
Timing could not have been better. The groups were
overwhelmed on the trip and we were flooded with letters
and calls telling us that this was the best trip we have
ever conducted. They loved the hotels, the low, low prices
and most of all, many made more money than they ever
imagined.
Some of those who originally journeyed there with us
doubled their investments there in less than 18 months.
Then Ecuador crashed again.
Three terribly corrupt politicians became President in a
row. These men were so bad that everything seemed to fall
apart at once. Two huge volcanoes erupted, El Nino poured
torrential rains wiping out bridges, and roads, ruining
crops, all the banks shut down, there was a banana war
(Ecuador is the largest banana exporter in the world), the
shrimp industry was devastated by a disease called White
Spot (Ecuador is the second largest shrimp producer in the
world), the stock market nearly dissolved, the country even
ran out of gas (even though it is the second largest
producer of oil in South America). Things seemed in ruins
until the last of these three bad Presidents was ousted in
a bloodless coup.
This created plenty of bad press about Ecuador.
But the secret is that we found these disasters created
even greater bargains. The crash made the exotic lifestyles
even less expensive for anyone with a little cash. Real
estate prices dropped so low that many of the readers we
brought to Ecuador bought condos and land on the spot.
Several returned to buy huge tracts of land, lakefront
estates for $60 an acre, oceanfront lots for as low as
$2,500, and hotel sites on the beach at under $10,000 an
acre. Merri and I personally felt like kids in a candy shop
and bought a hacienda with 860 acres of land.
Then the country dollarized. When the U.S. dollar became
the official currency in Ecuador, there was a period of
euphoria. Prices rose and I haven't been taking tours there
for the last two years.
The new "pocket" I am excited about has formed because the
new President (who appears to be a good man) is in office
and he has really been working to turn just one area, Old
Quito, into a special place.
Prices are really low. For example, our friend who has been
researching Quito property down there for us found a house
on one acre with an incredible view of the entire city for
$2,500. Here is what he wrote: "Found a place today that is
about an acre with a view of the Old City to kill for, and
they want $2,500. You have to walk up 122 steps to get to
it, but that is cheap."
If you prefer not to walk, we have unearthed an entire
block of renovated condos for $17,000.
There are properties for even less as our friend pointed
out when he wrote, "Gary & Merri! Hello from the land of
MANY opportunities! I saw at least a dozen houses
yesterday, so many I lost count. I took many photos. We
will go back Tuesday to see more houses. There was a new
listing in today's newspaper for $8K house. There are loads
of places to buy in the $6,000 to $45,000 range."
If you want to move upscale, there is even a castle for
sale, the Castle of St. John... It is the DEAL... Best
property for the dollars there.
There are many 400-year-old houses that were magnificent
and can be again, because the President in Ecuador has set
up a special council that will make ten-year interest free
loans so you can renovate these houses.
Yet the press has not caught on. No one except
International Living and me are writing about the
opportunities in Ecuador. We have been working hand in hand
because the dollarization has brought inflation down. Roads
are being improved, tax collections are up. National
industries are being privatized and a new oil pipeline has
been built. Plus an important U.S. military base has been
added to the country bringing a flow of money into Ecuador.
Perhaps most important: Ecuador and Peru signed a peace
treaty ending decades of military tension, and a new
airport is being constructed for the capital city of
Quito.
Things everywhere in Ecuador are looking up! Opportunity is
even greater in this exotic adventure that is less than
four hours from the U.S.A. This is a fun, inexpensive,
wonderful country to visit and even to live in during the
winter or full time. In the mountains the temperature
ranges from 45 degrees Fahrenheit at night to 75 degrees
Fahrenheit during most of the year.
I have been amazed at how many of the delegates who visited
Ecuador with us have said they never felt better. Many
return again and again or move here to stay.
So I invite you to join Merri and me for our next journey
into Ecuador, February 13-15, when we will learn how to
live and do business in Ecuador plus inspect Old Quito
property for sale.
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did anyone read down to here? :-)
I've met Gary Scott and went on his course last year. Anyone who wants more info can drop me a line at Steve@latin-women-gold.com
Steve
www.latin-women-gold.com