Pathfinder International

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Ecuador's South Pacific coast: sun, sea, sand and surf...

Dear Reader,

From the road, it doesn't look too promising: A string of rustic buildings in wood, bamboo and thatch with hand-written menu boards. But we figure we'll try it. We had an early start and covered a lot of ground on a tight schedule. We need a pit stop. And we can see enough cars to know that this place is popular.

The first surprise is the views. Walking through the restaurant, we sit at a table that's shaded by the thatch roof, and open to the sea breezes. We're right on the beach. We eat lunch to a backdrop of blue skies and rolling surf.

The next surprise is the food. The restaurant's busy, and we can see why when our waitress brings the food. She slides a giant platter of shrimp onto the table. She surrounds it with dishes of fluffy rice, fried plantain, dipping sauces and salad. She adds a jug of tropical juice and some chilled beers. And then she leaves us to enjoy our meal. And we do. It's delicious.

The final surprise is the bill for lunch. It's only $6-$7 a head. We double-check, but it's correct.

This modest fishing village on Ecuador's Southern Pacific coast is setting itself up as the place to come for inexpensive, tasty food. Little family-run restaurants now line the beach. They focus on seafood and regional specialties such as seafood stews cooked in earthenware pots.

But I'm not here for the food. I'm scouting Ecuador's southern coast for property bargains. This village is 20 minutes from the coastal city of Salinas, my base for the trip.

I'm checking out the coast's best properties...and you can too, on a real estate tour this May 1-5, 2012.

But first, why should you consider buying a second home in Ecuador...and why consider Ecuador's South Pacific coast?

Property Values that Are Hard to Beat

Ecuador regularly tops International Living's retirement index. That's because it offers a slew of benefits and discounts to retirees - and a low cost of living. Plus, residency in Ecuador is relatively straightforward. You can become a resident simply by buying a property for more than $25,000.

Moreover, Ecuador's property values are hard to beat. A second home in Ecuador will cost less than half the price of similar properties in Panama or Costa Rica.

It's still undeveloped and undervalued here...

Ecuador's coast hasn't seen the influx of foreign buyers that triggered a property boom in Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It's still early-in on Ecuador's coast.

Right now, you can find some of the world's best-value beachfront here. And savvy buyers are waking up to this coast's potential. Undervalued beachfront in one of the world's lowest-cost retirement havens... you can guess that won't stay overlooked for too long...

And if you think that undervalued and early-in means no access, no infrastructure and no amenities, read on.

Next Stop: Ecuador's South Pacific

On my scouting trip, I stayed in Salinas, the largest resort city on Ecuador's coast. It's easy to get to Salinas. You fly into Guayaquil, Ecuador's second international airport, and in 90 minutes or so, you can drive to Salinas.

I love spending time in Salinas. With only 4-5 inches of rain a year, it's warm year-round, without the sticky sweat factor you get with higher humidity. It's a comfortable climate, and perfect for hanging out at the beach.

Salinas is home to two yacht clubs

Middle-class Ecuadorian families have vacationed here for generations. They're well-heeled. They own large beach houses and high-end boardwalk condos. I watched a fashion show in my hotel, with hot guys and girls parading past in designer swimwear. On the city's boardwalk, expensive sports cars cruised along, engines growling.

The quiet end of the beach: Chipipe Beach, Salinas

Salinas is a city of 45,000 residents (200,000 if you include the neighboring towns of La Libertad and Santa Elena). It boasts large supermarkets, a shopping mall, produce and seafood markets, restaurants, cafes, ice-cream parlors and yacht clubs. The nightlife scene is fun, with a movie theater, restaurants, cafes, live music and clubs.

Salinas offers a good choice of affordable property in and around the city. You can choose from condos or houses, remodel ready homes or brand new luxury pads.

Here's a selection of the best-value properties for sale in the area right now:

A remodel ready condo, 1700 square feet in size, across from the beach in Salinas. The kitchen and bathrooms need updating, but it's a bargain at $80,000.
A two-bed two bath ocean-view condo in a small community just outside Salinas for $105,000.
A spacious home in a beachfront community 10 minutes from Salinas. The four-bed three-bath home is 2400 square feet in size. It comes with furniture and appliances. It's listed at $160,000.
A double condo on the boardwalk in Salinas. It's actually two condos with views of the beach, ocean and yacht club. The two condos (a three-bed four-bath unit and a two-bed two-bath unit) combined cover 325 square meters (3497 square feet). They're the only units on the 11th floor of the building. The furniture's included in the list price of $265,000.
A luxury house with 4000 square feet of construction in an upscale beachfront neighborhood. The home's nicest features include a beachside patio, a large rooftop terrace and direct beach access. It's priced at $294,000.

These homes are just a few samples of some of the property bargains you'll come across in the Salinas area. And the easiest way to check them out for yourself...and the best real estate opportunities along Ecuador's South Pacific coast...is on a real estate tour this May 1st - 5th.

Come & See this South Pacific for Yourself

Your hosts on this tour, Mike Sager and Amy Pinoargote, will show you Ecuador's coast...from up-and-coming Playas (just south of Guayaquil) to established Salinas...from quiet little beach towns to upscale beach communities.

You'll see home sites and condos, town homes and houses...beachfront, oceanfront, ocean-view and boardwalk properties. You'll see property with a wide price range. There's something for every budget on this coast, starting from $50,000.

Mike and Amy won't give you a hard-sell sales pitch on the tour. Instead, they'll help you uncover this amazing location, and give you the lowdown on what it's really like living here as an expat.

The tour runs from May 1st to May 5th, and costs $629 per person. That includes group ground transfers, five nights' accommodation, breakfasts and lunches.

You'll save $50 if you reserve your spot before March 1st. You can get more details and find out how to reserve your spot here.

Only 24 readers can take part in this tour. I don't want you to miss out. I know it'll be a worthwhile trip. You'll see some amazing deals. But you'll have fun too. You'll enjoy sharing notes and shooting the breeze with your fellow attendees.

Contact Amy here to get a tour schedule and to book your spot.

But remember - only the first 24 readers can take part.

Margaret Summerfield

Only 24 Readers Can Take Part in this Tour