The South Pacific Hits Back | Pathfinder International

Saturday, December 10, 2011

affordable Salinas real estate
Ecuador's South Pacific coast gives you much more choice

Dear Reader,

Ronan wrote yesterday about Ecuador's North Pacific coast and why it makes so much sense for investment. But today I'm going to tell you why you should take a look at Ecuador's South Pacific coast, around the city of Salinas.

A developer on Ecuador's North Pacific coast once told me that his development wouldn't suit everyone. There's a certain kind of person, he pointed out, who can't cope with living more than a two-hour drive from a shopping mall or movie theater or restaurant. He made it sound like a major character flaw. It shocked him when I told him that I am that kind of person. And that a two-hour drive to a mall or movie theater or restaurant was way, way too long. I'd only settle for thirty minutes tops.

That's one reason why I love Ecuador's South Pacific coast. On my last trip to Salinas, I watched a fashion show in my hotel, with hot guys and girls parading past in designer swimwear. On the boardwalk, expensive sports cars cruised along, engines growling. Down on the beach, kids splashed in the surf, built sandcastles, and shared a picnic lunch with their parents.

I could take my pick of supermarkets, shopping malls, farmers' markets, restaurants, cafes, ice-cream parlors and nightclubs. Yet despite all these amenities, property prices in Salinas are still remarkably low compared to other coastal locations in Latin America. Here are five reasons why Salinas makes sense for second home buyers:

#1. It's already easy to get to. Salinas isn't waiting on a new road or bridge or coastal highway. It's a smooth 90-minute drive from Guayaquil's international airport on a nicely paved road. It's also a 3.5 hour drive from the domestic airport in Manta.

#2. It's got more amenities. Salinas isn't a tiny fishing village that's waiting to boom. It's a thriving city of 45,000 residents (200,000 if you include the neighboring towns of La Libertad and Santa Elena). It made news headlines back in the 1940s and 1950s when Ernest Hemingway, Harry Truman and Pablo Picasso visited for a spot of sport fishing.

Middle-class Ecuadorian families have vacationed in Salinas for generations. And it's now attracting North American buyers looking for a low-cost second home destination. The city caters to both residents and tourists. It's got plenty of shopping, with malls, supermarkets, a farmers' market, and smaller stores. Water sport enthusiasts will appreciate the city's two yacht clubs. The nightlife scene is fun, with a movie theater, restaurants, cafes, live music and clubs. Ecuador's north Pacific coast doesn't have these amenities-it's much less developed.

#3. The climate is drier. Ecuador's North Pacific is richly, lustrously green. But it takes rain to keep it that way. The country's South Pacific won't win a lush jungle award any time soon. But its lower level of rainfall (4-5 inches a year) means nice beach weather year-round, without the sticky sweat factor that comes with higher humidity.

#4. You get more choice. Salinas gives you more than a great selection of restaurants, cafes and entertainment. It offers you a wide choice when it comes to property, too. You can choose from condos or houses, new or re-sale properties, fixer-uppers or brand new luxury pads. You'll find your dream home, whether it's a swish boardwalk condo with superb ocean views, or a cozy home in one of the many beach communities a short drive from the boardwalk in Salinas. You won't get this choice on Ecuador's North Pacific coast.

#5. It's still got low property prices. Despite all its advantages, property prices in Salinas remain affordable. Some samples from a local real estate agent include:

A centrally-located condo with ocean views priced at $47,500
A 2000 square-foot house with a swimming pool in an upscale beach community, part-furnished, listed at $107,500
A poolside condo a few blocks from the beach, fully furnished, carries a price tag of $70,000
A two-bed two-bath condo, close to a wide stretch of beautiful sandy beach, will set you back $105,000 - if you pay full asking price.

I'll admit that Salinas won't suit everyone. Some of you may prefer the North Pacific coast, where wild cats roam the forests, the pace of life is slow and the beaches are wonderfully empty. But for anyone that wants Ecuador's low property prices, pretty beaches, and city amenities all rolled into one, look to Salinas. It won't let you down.

Margaret Summerfield

P.S. Those property listings come from local real estate agent Amy Pinoargote. The easiest way to check out Salinas, and those property bargains, is on a real estate tour with Amy . Amy will help you plan your trip, show you the best properties and give you the real skinny on what it's like to live here. Contact Amy here to let her know what you're looking for and to start planning your trip.