Comments on: Ten Reasons Why Ecuador Is Our Best Beachfront Buy For 2010

By: robert oldaker

robert oldaker — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 03:07:04 +0000

hi. i am very interested in your land in equador. i will be there next week and would like to take a look. how far is this from panama?
now, what kind of lot does $100,000 buy you? is it nice sandy beach? tropical foilage? are building permits hard to get? is the area designated RESIDENTIAL and guarenteed? can u call me at 1 917 651 6597.
thank u.
robert

By: John Knox

John Knox — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:01:20 +0000

OK people – here’s the deal. Take it from me, as I have lived for six years overseas in the Fiji Islands as a legal resident, property owner, businessman, farmer, and above all, realist. If you are even slightly interested, get your curious selves down there and have a look for yourself. So many people fantasize about moving and living overseas, getting all worked up over the fantasy, and when they finally get down to have a look, they tend to ignore the warning signs. Or, conversely, are so hung up on perfection that they wouldn’t be satisfied with anything. There is no paradise, no perfect place. Go see for yourself. I may hate it, but you may love it, or visa versa, how would you know from pictures or from a website.
John Knox

By: Dean LaCoursiere

Dean LaCoursiere — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:05:16 +0000

This article is false when it comes to galking about the beaches. “Truely some of the most stunning beaches in the world” is a complete lie! Try and find photos of the beaches on the internet it is almost imposible. Salinas has a nice one but it is small and surrounded by high-rises and on weekends and holidays it is overrun by loud partying Ecuadorians. I was astonished when I went to Salinas it is on a almost barren pennisula only the tiny bay is appealing. There are two good beaches for surfing in Ecuador and the other persons comment about the water being brown. I am sure the whole motivation for writting this article is to sell real estate or advertisement of the same!

By: Mike Sager

Mike Sager — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:37:35 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me at the take of the world on Ecuador. Penny must have been in areas of the beach that I missed. The water here is not near as cold as the water off the coast of Southern California (where I grew up). It is pleasant and the beaches are exactly like Southern California beaches with “that awful” brown sand….oh how disgusting! Give me a break…so if someone offered you a home on Malibu Beach you would turn it down because of that “nasty” brown sand? And what would your taxes be on that home?? I paid $50k for a home on the beach in Olon, Ecuador and my taxes are less than $100 a year. If my home was on the beach in Malibu it would have cost me a million and I wouldn’t be able to afford to pay the taxes.

Ecuador is not for everyone, but don’t be frightened away from the exploring of it because of ONE person’s dislike or poor experience. I knew a little girl that would never go back to Disneyland because Mickey scared her. Luckily for Walt (rest his soul) that little girl is a rare exception…just like Penny.
Penny I do sincerely hope you have found another paradise that is to your liking…I mean that truly.
Oh, and Dr. Pozo….so I take it that robberies, rapes, murders, stabbings, street muggings and the like have stopped in Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and even Oxnard. I don’t hear about throngs of people exiting those cities because of the crime that is much more serious in nature than what happens in Ecuador.
Come on folks do some thinking and put all that happens anywhere in the world into the mix and you can find something wrong wth anyplace. You know…maybe you are right though….don’t come to Ecuador and tell your friends the same….the problem is every country seems to want to mimic the USA….so where do these problems really come from….???? Think People!!!!

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:07:33 +0000

thanks Penny, your info is very needed & should be well heeded. A lot of publications & now pushing this country but the fact of the beaches & government direction is enough to convince me to stay away.

By: Al Pozos

Al Pozos — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:41:48 +0000

Mr. Manville I have completed some follow up research on Ecuador. Specifically I refer your readers to the US State’s Department report on that country. This is a wide discrepancy between what you portray and what our [somewhat more disinterested] foreign service describes. Specifically [and there is much more] the extremely high rate of crime [theft, rape, home invasions, etc.] that occurs through out the country: on the beaches, in taxi cabs, on popular tourist hikes. The fact that armed robberies and rapes have occurred even when there are groups of 7 or 8 people is of concern. So is the armed robbery of many of the “finest” restaurants in many of the larger cities along with the robbery of the patrons. Your portrayal of the government as a stable and non communistic one is somewhat optimistic and may not correspond to the historical and current reality of the country. In addition to Ms. Ripple’s comments, I would urgently suggest that your readers consult other reliable sources to obtain, a different and perhaps more realistic appraisal of the country with an accurate description of it attractions and the significant other factors that may negatively impact those moving to the country. Sincerely and With Every Best Wish
Dr. Alfred Pozos, Ph.D.

By: Jay Hein

Jay Hein — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:36:05 +0000

I live in Florida and can tell you that developers pay the local government entities impact taxes that pay for roads, sewers etc providing services to their “subdivisions” etc. Thus, I see nothing irregular about the government in Ecuador charging similar fees. Secondly, I see no need for you to start agitating against a freely elected President (who, by the way has a PhD in economics from the U. of Illinois) who has brought stability and hope to the majority of people in Ecuador. You seem to be repeating the exaggerated fears of the upper crust there, who accuse Mr. Correa of being a marxist, etc simply because he has put a stop to government by the rich for the rich. The new Constitution was written by an assembly, the members of which were freely elected. Mr. Correa did not write it. Furthermore, the “socialism for the 21st Century” which he openly spouses, is, in fact, not too dissimilar in objectives from policies of most of the governments in Europe.( I suspect you also accuse President Obama of being a closet socialist or marxist because of his efforts to help out those who are struggling in the current economic climate.) As far as abandoning the US Dollar at some future point for a SouthAmerica wide currency, that is not imminent as a great deal of work must take place before such an integration of economies is feasible. You are correct in stating that currently there are some rolling “brownouts” being experienced due to low water levels in the river that provides the principal hydroelectric plant. New plants are under construction and in the meantime, arrangements have been made to purchase electricity from Peru and Colombia. The one problem that you failed to mention is that there has been a significant rise in property crime in Ecuador, particularly in Guayaquil. The government has responded by putting Army troops into affected areas to assist the local authorities. This increased incidence is linked, as it is in most developing countries, to the worldwide economic recession caused by the lack of proper bank regulation in the United States under the Bush administration.

By: Mick Jacobson

Mick Jacobson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:50:49 +0000

I am interested in finding out how us Americans can 1) purchase propery in Ecuador, 2) must we first be some sort of resident or have some status with Government ?, and 3) Need someone attending to property year-round due to any type of “squatter’s” law, if this exists here?

This and the other pertaining questions that follow what I am inquiring about are what I am after and in search of. if anyone from the USA has already went through this process, please send me an email to themick4u at yahoo dot com (replace the word ‘at’ and ‘dot’ with the ‘@’ and ‘.’ symbols, please, to avoid spammers).

I would hate overpaying some high-priced local attorney and fees that are unecessary to purchase a nice retirement plot of beach-front land there… PS: How does, if any, Insurane work as well?

By: Penny Ripple

Penny Ripple — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:10:07 +0000

I am an American who retired to Panama and after 4 years bought property in Ecuador. There is another side to this picture. There is no mention that there is now a 1% (soon to double to 2%) tax by the government on any money that is taken out of the country…meaning, if you sell this and want to send the money to the US or elsewhere, it will cost dearly. Also, the government posts a huge capital gains tax, not based on the increase in the price, but rather on any roads or infrastructure they build…and not just during your ownership, but before. For example, I sold a condo for exactly what I paid for it, and was charged a $5,000 capital gains tax for “roads and other improvements”….there were NO roads or other improvements anywhere in or around my condo during my ownership. Also, the beaches of Ecuador are NOT like the Caribbean or Florida or Mexico. … they are brown sand and brown water that is cold (Pacific water is cold), and the beaches are dirty…littered. I have lived all my life in Florida, California and Hawaii and I know my beaches!! Also, they are VERY noisy….locals use the beaches for loud parties that go on all night….living on one is not relaxing. And, at this time, here are rolling blackouts all over Ecuador which are expected to continue for months to come…..the hydroelectric capacities in the country are very limited and cannot handle current needs, let alone growth that will come with advertisements about Ecuador as a paradise. Finally, the polltical situation is not as comforting as one might think…the Constitution is easily changed by the president in office…..and the current president just wrote a whole new one…that doesn’t favor those of comfortable living circumstances. He is heading toward President for Life, following in the footsteps of his friends Castro and Chavez. Also, there has been talk of him abandoning the US dollar in favor of a new South American standard currency (like the Euro) called the Sucre….when this happens, serious changes will occur in the economy. Even though he is European and US educated, he is strictly a socialist, and not friendly to the US. These are the facts as told by a resident of Ecuador and should be welcomed here. It will be interesting to see if this passes moderation.

By: Mike Dicks

Mike Dicks — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:21:33 +0000

Richard, I am an agricultural economist at Oklahoma State University that has over 30 years experience in internaitonal devlepment in the agriculutral sector begining as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya. There are lots of ways of going about the task of starting an Ag business overseas. I would be happy to talk with you and help you identify farmers. Please give me a call at 405-612-3007 or email me at michael.dicks@okstate.edu

By: RICHARD ANDRESKI

RICHARD ANDRESKI — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:57:46 +0000

ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP ME FIND FARMERS TO START A NEW FRESH SWEET CORN PRODUCE BUSINESS IN ECUADOR? HOW CAN I CONTACT FARMERS DIRECTLY OR HOW CAN I CONTACT COOPERATIVES OF FARMERS? THANK YOU. RICHARD ANDRESKI, PRESIDENT; ROSEHAVEN ASSOCIATES, INC.; POB 1344; MILLERSVILLE, MARYLAND 21108. 001-410-551-5253. THANK YOU.