Even in a tough overseas housing market, wanderlust can still be accommodated for the adventurous, especially those willing to venture outside capital cities. Average prices for the 29 countries reviewed by Coldwell Banker came in under $488,000, with the high-priced destinations balanced out by deals in destinations such as Hanoi ($166,000); Maracaibo, Venezuela ($118,000); Gaziantep, Turkey ($173,000); and Tangerang, Indonesia ($146,000).
By far the best overseas deal going? Salinas, Ecuador at $69,375. The area, a former salt mine, boasts a 9.5-mile beach and is the starting point for the “Route of the Sun,” Ecuador’s own Riviera. Prices there have been rising after completion of another oil pipeline to sate the world’s fossil fuel thirst. But the online newsletter International Living, Read more

Amazon jungle, Andes Mountains, Pacific coastline. Ecuador has something for everyone. Without a doubt you will be able to find the perfect region to match your needs, and if it’s the mountains you prefer, well, the coast is only a short drive away!
Instant Friendships. The people of Ecuador are friendly, accepting and inviting. In many towns such as Quito and Cuenca there are already sizeable expat communities ready to welcome newcomers and help make adjusting a little easier.
The US Dollar. Ecuador uses the same currency as the United States, eliminating the complexity of figuring out exchange rates. As the dollar devalues in some parts of the world, it is still holding its value in Ecuador.
Prices. International

Read more

With the United States market looking the way it does, investors are frantic to find a market where their money is safe. Ecuador’s market is not only a safe place to invest your money, and get it out of the possibly unsafe US banks, it also has the potential to turn around some pretty nice gains.

Ecuador still has good deals on property. The housing market in the larger cities and gringo settlements is stable, but not overpriced. Large purchases, such as farm property and hotels have the possibility of even greater discounts. It’s a buyer’s market with healthy returns as the potential.
Although the political climate in Ecuador is viewed by many as unstable and keeps some investors

Read more

As the debate rages on as to which Latin American country is best to retire in, I’ve decided to take this opportunity to point out some of the pros and cons about settling in Ecuador. It seems that Panama is always the most talked about country, so I am going to compare the two, which will hopefully aid you in making your relocation decision.

To start off with, although the official language of both countries is Spanish, English is more widely spoken in Panama, whereas in Ecuador you mainly find English only in the tourist of business areas. Panama is more similar to the United States in that its construction standards are higher and its roads are superior. Read more