Investing in Real Estate on the Central Coast of Ecuador
- Andrew Sweeny
- Jan 15, 2022
- 4 min read
The question often comes up about investing in Ecuador…is it a good decision, what about the timing, is it too late? Before we dive into that let's look at some of the background and fundamentals. Ecuador has been a top destination for retirees for many years - I would say at least two decades. Some of those early investors were considered mavericks and “risk takers” and that may have been true back then but definitely not now. Ecuador has grown from a fringe destination to a major destination for retirees, remote workers, and entrepreneurial North Americans and Europeans looking for a different way of life. Investing not only in real estate but perhaps a business in this growing South American country has a lot of appeal for a variety of reasons.
There are a lot of positive factors to investing in Ecuador in general, which have contributed to its growth as a destination for foreign investors and expats. It has one of the easiest visa policies making it possible to get residency in 3 months, as long as you arrive with the correct paperwork (it is generally not a long or complicated list of documents needed). It is possible to own land or a business directly and easily. The low cost of living is very attractive, allowing your investments and pensions to go further. It is very straightforward to start and run a business here compared to anywhere in North America. Start-up costs like rent and labour are very low while regulations and red tape are minimal making it simple to get a new small enterprise off the ground quickly. Couple that with a growing middle class and demand for goods and services that may not even exist here and you have endless possibilities. All this growth and investment has led to steadily rising real estate prices in all coastal areas as well as key urban centers.
