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Penguin007
  8/30/2017 12:47 EST

Good morning Lorraine,

I have heard good things about that community. Here are some links to listings that are for sale there. Good luck with your search!

Kimberly

http://ieiecuador.net/default.asp?f=listing_details&listingid=486304&listingtype=18

http://ieiecuador.net/default.asp?f=listing_details&listingid=486014&listingtype=10

http://ieiecuador.net/default.asp?f=listing_details&listingid=485876&listingtype=10

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OceanHideaway
  8/30/2017 16:55 EST

First...

No... they have not "started to finish"...they will probably never finish.

In 10 years I have seen NONE of the ones started come close to completetion and I have seen quite a few put up gates, take money and the folks who started the projectys skip town with everyone´s loot.

I could name names but won´t do so publicly because of the defamation laws in Ecuador but if you want to speak with me in private I will be more than happy to name names. and provide the locations of all the sleletons.

Second...
Real estate professionals...we got a bunch of them...they will be your very best friend here in Ecuador. You have money to buy property. They want it. Greed is a nasty thing.

As I have advised for almost a decade...visit Ecuador, rent a place... if you want, let those greedy real estate folks wine you and dine you and take you to parties... but don´t buy anything for at least a year.

All those lovely properties they show you are the places left by other folks who weren´t nearly as smart as you are. They are the ones who fell for the fake friendships and the parties and the wining and dining and bought only to discover Ecuador wasn´t quite what they were sold, the place wasn´t quite what it was cracked up to be (termites, noisy, or just plain too foreign...or perhaps those promises of a great life on a low budget didn´t pan out)...and you are too smart to be re-sold someone else´s seconds and left overs...right?

A word to the wise...should be sufficient.

Susan

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LorraineS
  8/30/2017 17:21 EST

Thanks. Yes, I've seen those listings. Just wondering if the community is well run or if there are others that I am missing out on.

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LorraineS
  8/30/2017 17:26 EST

LO, got it. Yes, I understand. W'eve been through Mexico, Peru, Columbia and Panama. All (except Peru) had great things and no so great things but I've honed in on what we want/need to make us move. not jumping in quite yet but we do want to see what is available. Absence makes the heart grow fonder so we can look and think and then decide once stateside if we really want to come look again.

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remoore2001
  8/30/2017 17:39 EST

Having lived here over eight years and owned 3 properties, 1 on the coast 2 in the sierras, If they are just starting construction after 10 years it's almost a guarantee that it will never be completely finished. There is a reason those properties are for sale.
Travel the coast and check out the sites that a few homes were built and abandoned, Sites that were sold and never started. There are more than a few. Remember, this is Ecuador not Kansas and for the most part once you put money down it's not yours anymore. There are a few exceptions to this rule but not many

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OceanHideaway
  8/31/2017 19:50 EST

Just so you know:

...there is no "other buyer" who is looking at the place...

...the price is is not " going up next week"

...the realtor did not " sell one just like it" for twice as much...

And... This is not the last one (of whatever it is you want) to be found here.

Those are ALL CLASSIC tricks of the trade...

Now I can promise you that all our sharks...I mean dear real estate pros.. are working behind the scenes right now and explaining why what I am writing here doesn't apply to them...but folks, it does. In fact it's why we rarely have fins showing on this site and the listings for property tend to be FSBO type for Ecuador.

We posters who live here have made it too warm with warnings for the greedier realtors to hang out looking for chumps..or chum...is, new arrivals and prospective arrivals.

We tell folks...come, rent, learn the area.

You'll find a place to live you'll love that fits your budget. You'll probably find a bunch!

And you will probably never, ever, use a gringo realtor... PR any realtor.

By the way...my current place is a 2/1 house with a yard, turn key...with a huge kitchen. It's a cottage a short walk to the Ruta and the beach in O!on. Mountains behind me and a river to my north

I pay $200 a month.

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LorraineS
  9/1/2017 10:09 EST

Realtors are a special breed. The world over. Not my first rodeo. I've had some pretty awful experiences. I've also had some good ones in the 6 properties I've bought over my lifetime. I don't expect theyre any different in EC. I do expect protections for buyers are less than in the states however. Eyes open. Warning received.

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Penguin007
  9/1/2017 12:06 EST

I agree with Lorraine. They don't require licensing in Ecuador for real estate agents. Most agents who sell here, never sold in the United States. That is not to say they couldn't do a good job, but it is a good idea to check out the work history of the person working with you to purchase or rent a property here in Ecuador. I received my real estate license in the states in 1984 and also received my license here in Ecuador. While not required, I thought it was important. Best of luck.
Kimberly Kagan
312.985.7703 internationally
098.621.2688 Ecuador
[email protected]
www.ieiecuador.net

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ronwatral
  9/1/2017 13:43 EST

007....What do you hear from Mike and Raquel? : > ))))

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OceanHideaway
  9/1/2017 14:59 EST

Oh that´s funny Ron... Former members of the Island Estates Team, dontcha know...and there are many more stories about the members of the IEI team...

...no...I´m not real popular in Salinas at all...I know where ALL the skeletons are buried!

But now let´s get back to Gated Communities.

Gates do not mean security. Gates are just gates ...it does not mean you have guards

And Security does not mean your things are actually secured. You may or may not have guardians for your property, you may not have securty for your safety.

Sometimes it means that once you are gone, the folks watching your stuff know it is free to take witho no one to say anything about about it.

So if you are considering a gated Community for the safety and security of your personal belongings, you are assuming a great deal too much.

This is not the USA.

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LorraineS
  9/2/2017 08:11 EST

As an aside how easy would it be to rent a place with 4 dogs?

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OceanHideaway
  9/3/2017 21:16 EST

The hard part would bew bringing all four dogs to Ecuador on your own. You would need 2 people not of the same family to bring 4 dogs. That being said, if you have a large enough place, not a problem. I have 2 dogs and numerous cats. It has to do with the owners and if they are amenable. So far with a bit of haggling and a security deposit I have had no problem.

Again, if you are in a "gated community" you might have home owner association issues. In a real environment, you probably won{t. Only issue is if your dogs attack the local chickens. That´s a huge no-no.

There are big beautiful properties up in the San Jose area and out in Dos mangos that you could have horses, goats... so dogs aren´t really an issue.

Susan

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LorraineS
  9/4/2017 22:55 EST

Boyfriend and I can each take two fur kids. We live in a small rural town now so chickens run rampant, our dogs do not. They are terriers and leashed at all times. One issue we have living in the middle of nowhere is lack of decent healthcare Within reasonable distance. Not an issue until you start getting older or find yourself speeding down a rural road with a non communicative partner towards the local infirmary,Er ,I mean "hospital". 20 + yellow jacket stings, a ventilator and 45 minute ambulance ride to a larger hospital leaves one battered and bruised and wary of wandering too far from a larger city. I had to be honest with myself regarding rural life, love it but getting too old for this shi*

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multiego
  9/5/2017 10:48 EST

"Fur kids" Fur kids! I like that. One of the countless and interesting points of contact between gringo and Ecuadorian culture is the furry citizen. In Vilcabamba the sidewalks are awash with expats and four legged furry residents. The social difference between a gringo dog and a furry local is great. Gringo K9's usually don't bother to learn the language.

I remember once sitting at a table on the raised sidewalk when the second biggest dog in town came by. Approaching him from the other direction was the biggest dog in town.....I hope! The #2 furry one, scared sincaca, hid under my table When the bigger dog made a lunge the table ascended, rose, a foot in the air. It was like that jet they simulate zero gravity in. For a moment my beer is floating. The flowers and their vase is floating. The number two dog was really strong, especially when reminded of the pecking (maybe its, barking) order.

Dogs are a big part of the life in Vilcabamba. Cats, not so much. The cats are cautious. There are many on the tile roofs though. They have that to themselves and one roof leads to another usually.

the colder it gets here in the north the more I miss my pueblo and its denizens, furry and hairless.

sinmascota

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OceanHideaway
  9/5/2017 16:40 EST

Your kids will need to be good K9 citizens off leash too.

Dogs on lines are a bit like small fish on hooks when in large spaces (beaches). They need to learn social behavior to communicate. Terriers tend to be tenacious, do tend to attack (it's what they are bred to do) and you might have some scuffles to survive.

Never enter a dog fight! You lose...

Toss water,make noise, throw a rock...do not try to separate. You will get bit and I can tell you, that is painful.

On another note: epipens donation exist here. Neither does benadryl. If you need it, bring it!

Susan

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LorraineS
  9/6/2017 11:57 EST

We are well stocked in Epi Pens and benydrel. Thanks for the heads up. Boyfriend also has done allergy shots which should help somewhat. As for terriers, I know em well. My 2 westies play well with others but my Scottie, not so much... until the other 3 (I have a 43# Heinz 57) are having so much fun my scottie decides to join in. Best case is good walking trails to wear them and us out. As said, we don't "unleash" them.

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OceanHideaway
  9/6/2017 17:11 EST

I had a wonderfully fierce Scot Terrier I groomed years ago.

Quite a gentleman dog but not to be underestimated. Probably the strongest bite of all the terriers and largest mouth to body ratio. The Scotts would need a brave sturdy terrier for their terrain and boy do these fit the bill!

Walks up and down some coastal mountains should do the trick...someone will be tired...just not sure it will be the dogs!

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LorraineS
  9/6/2017 17:52 EST

She's 8 and quite lazy. If you ever try to walk a scottie who doesn't want to go (called scottitude) it's' like moving a pile of bricks. She'll turn her back on you, park her butt down and that's it. Try moving that. You are correct about the mouth. Teeth as big as a german shephards.

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OceanHideaway
  9/8/2017 21:14 EST

Do bring your grooming tools! We have burrs thiker than a highlaner´s accent! A good bristle brush, a few metal combs of various grades. and a whatever Wahl or Andes clippers you may use. A nice small clipper to do pads if you can. Good Groomers with the exception of Caty Carrasco in Cuenca (who has a baby now and are hard to find.

On the coast you get a good clipping but the kind of groomers we have in the states? not often available.. Water is cold, fluffer blowers don´t exist and the shampoos are whatecver is onsale.

I do some coming, bathing but it´s not the same as when I did bathing professionally...so be prepared to do it yourself if you can.

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LorraineS
  9/9/2017 15:00 EST

Hah. Even here in NC we can't find groomers that understand what a Westie or Scottie cut is. The mutt is on her own but the other 3 will have to look less perfect. frankly I don't care but BF is a bit anal about that for some reason (but not about his own personal appearence, go figure)

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mantatiger
  9/10/2017 22:50 EST

I live in Manta in a condo, and the Ciudad Del Mar area is really nice. I know a few people that do not like condos are all going there. It is close enough to the main city yet you have some privacy and your own house. Its a great call to check out.

As for realtors, there are some bad ones here for sure. I got hosed by one myself. And I had a great one that stepped in and saved my bacon. But putting them all in the same bucket is silly. Yes there is no regulation, so anyone can help sell property. Use referrals, do internet searches, and NEVER pay the realtor directly.

One of the main issues is that most realtors want the full commission on a sale, so they dont want to work with other realtors and wont show property that they dont have an agreement with the owner. It is sad, for if someone brings a buyer to a property, the selling agent will try to steal the client. Or buying agents will try to bypass a selling agent and go direct to the owner again due to greed and wanting full commission. Or just the fear of getting a sale they work on stolen from them. Since there is no escrow agency to settle all the accounting, the realtors tend to hold clients tight to them.

I will personally recommend Ryan Kelly of http://ecuadorshoresrealty.com. He is trying to bring North American style of real estate here to Ecuador. He doesn't mind splitting commissions with any realtor that brings clients or shows properties. He does alot in Manta and Ciudad Del Mar area.

But i agree, visit, look at places, and maybe even rent to start. until you are sure you like a place.

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multiego
  9/13/2017 14:29 EST

Do gated beach communities include submarine nets?

sin

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OceanHideaway
  9/13/2017 20:46 EST

Nope...

Would seriously limit viewing of midnight subermarine races!

:)

Susan

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PARKV003
  10/16/2017 18:19 EST

I have a condo in Ciudad del Mar. The community is very nice. You will have no problem renting out your condo during the winter months, but the summer will be much harder, most of the renters in that are come from Canada.
Costa Blanca has a nice view of the ocean. Only 5 min, by cab to go into town. New mall has everything you will need. Can't beat the weather all year long.

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LorraineS
  10/18/2017 01:06 EST

When you say summer do you mean Canadian summer or Ecuador summer? ??. Do you rent out your property through a management agency to handle the day to day?

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PARKV003
  10/18/2017 06:45 EST

Very easy to rent during Canadian winter rent goes up during that time frame. Harder to find tenants the rest of the year but not impossible. If you rent through an agency take precautions, very easy for you to be taken by the people you pay to help you..
Always do your do diligence

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LorraineS
  10/18/2017 07:43 EST

Agree about the due dillegence issue. Especially in EC. Do you rent out through Craig’s list? I wouldn’t care so much about renting full time. I would only be looking to help offset some of the costs while I’m not there.. Also, what is your experience with internet there? I’d be looking for high speed with a static IP. I’m told it exists but would like to hear from someone who has the experience. And finally lets talk about plumbing. Do most homes even in areas like Ciudad Del Mar still not have the ability to flush paper? That kind of surprises me especially when they say “built to North American standards”

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kmarch
  10/18/2017 08:16 EST

Finding an experienced, top-quality local property manager will be your best bet especially if you plan to rent the property short term. VRBO or AirBNB are good locations to advertise your rental. Hire a good photographer. Because these rentals are internet driven, excellent photos are critical.

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OceanHideaway
  10/18/2017 18:49 EST

Gated...

I woke up this morning and was reminded just why I have a gate on my house! There was a horse outside!

If not for the gate my roses and my laundry would have been history...

close call that... someone alert Nick Crowder...that would have been quite an emergency...and of course...remember to shut the gate ;)

Oh...about flushing your toilet paper...while YOUR pipes may be large enough to accept flushed paper, is the septic system you are flushing to able to both accept it and "digest" it? if not you will be causing a huge septic problem to your neighbors, your barrio and your community.

If you can´t deal with the 3rd world limitations... and it doesn´t matter what your realtor trying to sell you the property tells you, the reality is often quite different, then...don´t move here. That´s the hard cold reality of being an expat. it ain´t Kansas ...it´s Ecuador folks!

Susan

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LorraineS
  10/18/2017 23:02 EST

Well I actually thought I might buy me one of those fancy ass toi-lettes that wash wipe and dry all without papel. My question is more geared towards resale or renting out. I for one have been all through Mexico, Peru, China and some other places with sketchy plumbing. Hell, I have 4 dogs! Kaka don’t scare me, no shi*

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OceanHideaway
  10/18/2017 23:12 EST

You´ll be find Lorraine!

Yup if you have scooped the poop or changed your kid´s diapers you get over the ...ewww...factor soon enough. And you learn to take out the garbage rapidly. It´s an adjustment but we humans are adaptable. And many upscale homes have that little shower thingy next to the toilet for a quick wash which is actually the more hygenic way to keep clean and sanitary and isn´t that the point after all?

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LorraineS
  10/19/2017 22:10 EST

Ya don’t even need that anymore, new potty’s do it all, poop, wash, dry etc etc. Practically hands free!

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appoquin
  10/21/2017 23:01 EST

Is anyone familiar abput the Poseidon condo/hotel on Manta?It looks very nice. But o noticed surprisingly close tp to a Petro ecuador plant refinery .Any info on that area?

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appoquin
  10/21/2017 23:01 EST

Is anyone familiar abput the Poseidon condo/hotel on Manta?It looks very nice. But o noticed surprisingly close tp to a Petro ecuador plant refinery .Any info on that area?

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appoquin
  10/21/2017 23:02 EST

Is anyone familiar abput the Poseidon condo/hotel on Manta?It looks very nice. But o noticed surprisingly close tp to a Petro ecuador plant refinery .Any info on that area?

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mantatiger
  10/22/2017 20:54 EST

Hi there,

I currently own and live full time at the Poseidon. Absolutely love it here. No where near the refinery and no effect from it if that is what you are concern about. Suggest coming for a visit and even stay here as a hotel guest or rent a condo here. If you have any questions let me know? Are you thinking of purchasing or just staying for a vacation?

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LorraineS
  10/22/2017 21:55 EST

I am considering Ciudad Del Mar. Fits a lot of my wants list. The refinery is closer to Santa Marianita.

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Johninnv
  10/22/2017 21:59 EST

I live in Santa Marianita and there is NO refinery anywhere around here.

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mantatiger
  10/22/2017 22:39 EST

Ciudad Del Mar is fantastic, just a few miles south of where Poseidon is. Mostly houses and townhomes there. Very different than condo living if that is what works for you. But its beautiful there.

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LorraineS
  10/23/2017 09:44 EST

It hasn’t been built yet. Land has been cleared near Santa Marienita beach. http://www.rdp.ec/

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mantatiger
  10/23/2017 10:18 EST

that would be about 10-15 miles away from manta. Then again, IF it ever gets built and finished.

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LorraineS
  10/23/2017 20:49 EST

Agreed, it could take years if at all but there is a spot, land has been cleared. Saw it with my own two eyes today.

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