Gringos Renting a Home in Cuenca Ecuador Should Be ALL about Value!

As you may know, rental prices have gone up in Cuenca Ecuador and so we are now seeing a lot of really over-priced rentals out there, especially with house prices. It is possible to find a 3/2 apartment for $350 but a house, no.  Take a look at some of the prices we’re seeing lately in Cuenca. We’re going to show you two examples, however, there are many more bad deals out there just like these ones.




You Have to Lower Your Price!
 

Dear Real Estate Agents and Home Owners in Ecuador: The owners know what gringos like, so we are suggesting nicely to the owners that if you want to rent your house to gringos at higher prices than you’d better make it gringo friendly.  You know, as in offering more value instead of just raising prices but not adding anything on the table. Let’s talk about this.
 

Kitchens/Counters/Fixtures/Cabinets
 

We wouldn’t have rented the house we’re in now for $250 per month if it would have had old cracked tiles on the counters, cracked up walls, or outdated faucets, like the kitchen in this house below. And guess what they want for this house? They want $1,200 monthly for it!! Ugh! (Click photo to enlarge.)

This home has outdated kitchens and baths and their still asking for $1200 rent.

This is outrageous!
 

What should the price be for this house, you might be wondering? Well, because it is VERY spacious at 350M and because it does have a yard, it should be priced at $500 to $600 but no more. The house is old, outdated and has awful paint colors in all the rooms. By the way, that price would reflect a 5% inflation rate from 4 years ago. Some house prices would not normally rise with inflation if the house is not in an acceptable condition. Why would it?
 

Because it’s in an area the gringos want to live in there could be a dreamy perception that some naïve gringo will rent it for $1,200.  I suppose anything is possible especially if you’re from major u.s. metro areas, but don’t bring your dog. The ad says “no dogs”!
 

Moving on to the next bad deal!
 

Older Homes Need to be Priced Right
 

These older homes like this one below, used to go for $220 to $300 back in the day. And look, it’s now $500 and they’re asking for a guarantee too!! They assume the gringos will pay it; well, will you?
 

It’s funny that prior to the Gringo influx after the online hype, they never asked for a guarantee with the Ecuadorians but now that the “rich gringos” have come, they’re asking for a 2nd rent. Why not a third rent, or a fourth rent, heck, why not a whole year’s rent up front like they do in South Korea?  Why stop anywhere?  If the major metro u.s. residents financial condition is the driver of these foreign real estate markets, then why not? They can afford it, right?

This Cuenca older home should be $250

Would a gringo really pay $500 for this old house and $1000 just to get into it? (Click photo to see this old house).
 

You know, we’re just saying, the prices for many homes today in Cuenca have lost much of their value because the prices are just too high for old and outdated houses!
 

The older 3 and 4 bedroom homes still need to be priced at the $250 to $300 price range, unless they are actually updated to reflect modern times. Newer homes that offer green spaces and near everything can and should go for $350 to $500 depending on construction size. Bigger homes should be priced higher than the smaller homes.
 

It’s ALL about VALUE in a RENTAL: as we’ve touched on above, value as it relates to the local market.  The Per Capita GDP household income for all of Ecuador for 2016 is still less than a thousand per month.  Most parts of Ecuador outside of Cuenca would be much lower than that.  So, think about what you’re doing to your neighbors when you come down here, and compare rental prices to Florida, New York, Chicago, California, etc. etc. When was the last time you looked for a rental somewhere outside these very expensive u.s. areas?

Until we write again...



Here are a few related articles you might find interesting. 

• 10 Tips of the Trade When Looking for a Rental in Cuenca Ecuador

• 10 Warning Signs You're Paying Too Much for Rent in Cuenca Ecuador

• Articles Like This One on Yahoo Finance is Why We Should Be Responsible Expatters

•  Renting or Buying - Which is Best When Living Abroad?

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Spacious Corner House $370 - Best Rental Value in Cuenca Ecuador

230M (2,410’) spacious house! In today’s Cuenca rental market, this one spells VALUE written all over it!  This corner house is also new. DOGS are ALLOWED!  The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms and the price is $370!   Sure, house rentals in this price range pop up on occasion but NOT this big, NOT Brand New and NOT that Take Dogs (very rare at this price). We just called it and it is still for rent but this one really will not last long and that’s no joke.  This house is no longer available!
 

Do you want to see the inside?

5 bedrooms - 3.5 baths

We are not paid commissions from Ecuadorian landlords or Agents for procuring this house for you. We’re on YOUR side. Do you like this house or others you have seen? Check out our Gringo Good Samaritans assistance packages, and tell us on the form what your needs/requirements are.  



We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Ecuadorian Taxi Driver Says, "Don’t Pay more than $250 to $300 For Rent" - UPDATED 2016

Update January 2016 - This article was first published July 28, 2011. As you know we strive to keep our articles updated for you.  Please note, all new updates are in red text.



The taxi driver who told us not to rent for more than $300 has a budget for rent and it is $250 to $300!  It's what the prices used to be in 2011. Here's something to think about. Taxi drivers before meters made more money and now with the meters since 2014 taxi drivers make less but housing has gone up twofold. 



Update 2016 - There are no more houses in the $300 price range anymore, unless they are old, too far out, don't have a yard and or, are in need of repair. Gringos won't rent those.  



NOTE August 2013: This was said to us by a taxi driver over two years ago...more foreigners here now renting at unreasonable prices, causing the rental market to shoot up. You can still find $300 three and four bedroom home rentals but they are more rare, unfortunately. :-( 



Update 2016- again, no more (nicer with yards) house rentals (maybe apartments) in the $250 to $300. Punch in on OLX Ecuador, then add 4 bedroom homes to the left side column and all that pops up is $420 homes and up and there's just a few at the lower $420 price range, mostly you see $500 to $600, which once were $250 to $300!!

 --------- 

Sitting in San Blas Park in El Centro - Cuenca Ecuador

As the taxi pulled up in front of the house that we rent here in Cuenca Ecuador, the driver asked us, “How much do you pay for rent”? After we told him $250 a month he went on to tell us that paying anything over $300 month for a 3 or 4 bedroom house or apartment is paying too much. He then said, shaking his head and with a tone of disapproval that some Gringos are paying $500-$600, which hikes the prices up, making it hard for local families to find decent homes for themselves. We didn't say this, he did.

We do have to put things into perspective, however. Paying more than $300 for a 3 bedroom means that there might be a 24 hour security guard, or there may be a great view of the city, or that the home or condo is huge with many bedrooms, or perhaps the condo is furnished. Still, it is smart to do your research and not jump in emotionally and overpay, because most gringos that come here and rent are paying too much! Don't be another gringo target and be taken advantage of. When in Ecuador live as the Ecuadorians.



The Cuencanos like us Gringos to come here and spend money in their markets, shops, restaurants, and hotels, BECAUSE WE'RE TOURISTS, but they don’t like us to come here and pay exorbitant (to them) prices on housing because it makes it harder for them to find decent housing for themselves....except for the RE agents and landlords of course..... "sigh".... "sigh" again.



The average wage in Cuenca is about $350 to $400 month, give or take. With Minimum wage at $2.50 to $3.00 how can they rent a 3 or 4 bedroom for their family for $500 or $600 a month? They can’t!! If this isn’t reason enough to help keep rents stable, then I don’t know what would be reason enough.



The people of Ecuador do not have a $2000 dollar retirement check coming in the mail or a $2800 social security check each month. If you want to come here and live then live as they do and say no to being scammed for more rent than the local Cuencano’s would pay! In the end you will be doing the locals a big favor.



Update 2016 -  too late....referring to the statement above.



Cuenca Ecuador the best Retirement City



When we first started researching Ecuador two years ago, Internet real estate prices were about 20% lower than they are now. So what happened in the last two years? 



Well, Cuenca Ecuador has been named the best retirement city in 2009 and 2010 (still waiting to find out about the year 2011) and more and more Gringos are coming here renting at ridiculous prices and buying property at super ridiculous prices. 



International Living magazine loves to exploit new cities for people who want to have a better life with their resources than they have in the states and in Europe. It happened with Costa Rica and Panama. 



We believe Ecuador is the next tourist boom country. Cuenca has the highest rents and property prices out of all the cities in Ecuador and the most Gringos’. Go figure. 



Update 2016 - Cuenca Ecuador has been named in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 best place to retire, not sure about 2014 and 2015



Gringo’s come Here and Buy Property at Internet Prices



Gringos are selling their homes in California, Portland and North Carolina and then buying property here at Internet prices. Many of these house/condo seekers don’t speak very much Spanish so they get a Gringo real-estate company to help them find a property or rental. The Internet prices seems so good to them they just say, ok to the listed price. 



Update 2016 - Don't think there are that many foreigners buying without doing their due diligence first.



The problem is the prices are going up way too fast. Don’t misunderstand me, there are luxury furnished condos that perhaps should rent for the $600 to $700 price range, but we need to compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. When we see the same amount of housing for two totally different price tags, it makes us wonder. Someone is not negotiating, or walking away. 



Update 2016 - And what is considered "luxury" here is just nice or ok to U.S standards. Just saying...it's reality.



in June 2011, our family moved into a brand new 170M 3/3, office and sun room all on one level, with a back yard for $250 a month (see the pictures here). So, why are some people paying $500 to $600 a month for a 3 bedroom apartment or house when others are only paying $250? It’s called negotiation. If they won’t lower the price, go somewhere else. There are numerous houses and apartments for rent in Cuenca for less than $300 monthly.  Sadly, not anymore...



Update 2016 - We still pay $250 for rent and if we were to try and find the same amount of house today in Cuenca, it would cost around $500 to $600 depending on the area. 



The best way to get a good price on rent is to NOT go to realtor's that obviously target foreigners. Scan the local papers for deals (use google translate if you need to) and if the price seems out of line, walk away. Meet local Cuencano’s and make friends with them. They will gladly tell you where some houses or apartments are for good value on your rent. There are so few good deals for houses anymore, they should save what's out there for the local people.



Update 2016 - We put much of the blame on the greedy, greedier, greediest real estate agents and home owners who obviously are targeting foreigners. More and more ads say, "rent to foreigners". It's a tourist game.



Ecuadorians want you To Negotiate over Rent



The truth is Ecuadorians like for you to haggle with them over everything you buy, unless you are shopping at the grocery store (Supermaxi) where the prices are fixed. I’ve been told that haggling and bargaining is accepted practice in Ecuador and if you don’t try and haggle over the price they don’t respect you as much. They want you to bargain with them!! 



Update 2016 - It depends on who you are talking with if they will bargain or not. If they have a stake in it, they are less likely to negotiate with the gringos. This is what's happening to Cuenca Ecuador...its changing...just giving a heads up on what's happening here. 



We hope you enjoyed this 2016 update. Talk to us and let us know in the comments if there is anything you would like for us to cover in an up-coming post. We will do our best to offer you the latest information, updates and changes that are happening in Cuenca Ecuador and to share our experiences of living abroad in a Latin America country.



Until we write again.



If you liked this article, we think you like these too.

• Bargaining in Ecuador Is Not What It Used to Be

• 10 More (almost) Shocking Truths about Cuenca Ecuador

• Dealing with Two Unscrupulous Rental Agents in Cuenca Ecuador 

We're
an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We
live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a
chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five
weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Ecuador Retirement: What Can I Expect with 25K in Cuenca?

A Reader Asks: My income is 25T,what can I expect? 1br+ba cost close to pk caldron? Medical services? Sorry for all the? I'm 82, get around quite well, a gym close to apt?
 

We are asked this question from time to time. Everyone is different, with own circumstances, wants and needs and budget and so this subject is very subjective and depends on you and how you want to live.  Cost of living in a tourist destination is ambiguous at best. Meaning, you just have to come here with a plan in mind and live your plan.
 

Throwing out some random figure on the table can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. Here are a few things to consider about budgeting and cost of living in Cuenca Ecuador. By the way, we are assuming you meant $25K.
 

Bring Funds, Not a Wad of Cash
 

Rethink coming here without a pension coming in; unless you already know for sure you have something lined up that brings in your expenses for living. 25K might be enough to buy some land and get a residency visa, but how will you know if Cuenca is right for you? Plucking down your savings on property in Ecuador is not a good idea. We recommend that everyone come here and live for at least a year before investing in property.
 

Know Yourself & Know What You Want
 

If you are making your budget work in the U.S then it will likely work in Cuenca Ecuador as well. From your email it looks like your plan is to live in El Centro, walking distance to the park.  It sounds neat to live in the Center of town but many people learn the hard way, it's not as neat as they thought it would be.



Finding a one bedroom Furnished apartment in downtown Cuenca is easy and they range from $250 to $1000 dollar monthly rent. However, living downtown is not for everyone, especially the older generation.
 

A couple of examples come to mind that we know of personally. A single middle-aged woman lived in a furnished studio apartment in El Centro. She loved the apartment but across the street was two nightclubs and she wasn’t getting any sleep and had to move. The second example is of a couple who also lived in El Centro but after a couple of months the traffic noise and the diesel fumes wafting up into the apartment was overwhelming and they had to move.
 

We hear of numerous stories such as these. Staying in El Centro as a tourist for a few weeks or even a month is probably ok for the tourist, but for permanent long-time living it is not a healthy environment for emotional and physical well being. We've been saying this for going on five years in our DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.  Trying to save $20 and then having to waste hundreds to move again, well, its penny wise and pound foolish, isn't it?
 

For some people, staying in a condo with elevator and 24 hour security is what they need for peace of mind and for a peaceful night’s rest.  



Anyway, you did not specify monthly budget so we can’t really talk about what you can get (rental figures) for a certain amount of money but the one thing to be careful of is not to get taken advantage of when looking. Research the rental market so you know what to expect cost wise. Knowing some Spanish helps.
 

Until we write again…
 

If you liked this article, we think you might like these ones too.  

• You Can Now Retire on $1400 Instead of $900 Instead of $600 in Cuenca Ecuador

• Confusing Information and Misinformation about Retiring in Cuenca Ecuador

• International Living Names Best Hot Spot for Retirement in 2013

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

What’s It Like Dealing with Unscrupulous Rental Agents in Cuenca Ecuador

What (can) happen when you put an unscrupulous Ecuadorian and an unscrupulous Gringo together doing business? A lot of things can happen. Here’s the latest. BTW, some of you may have already dealt with these two buffoons and you’ll know right away, who we are talking about.

Cuenca Ecuador - Tomebamba River

We went to go see an unfurnished apartment that was listed online, as a fifth floor, brand new apartment with great views and a huge terrazza for $550.  Now understand, we saw the photos of the apartment.
 

So we get out there and they proceed to show us an apartment but it was not the one they had listed online. We said to the two guys, “this is not the apartment you have listed for $550 dollars”.   They just blankly stared at us. We said again, “This is not the same apartment we saw in the photos”. 
 

The now frustrated 40ish year old Ecuadorian RE agent begins to put the blame on the 70ish year old something gringo agent, saying “Did you get the photos mixed up, again”?  



The gringo apologized to his Ecuadorian partner for the mistake.  The Ecuadorian scolded the older gringo over and over again (in front of us) for posting the wrong photos. It was like a scene from the three Stooges with Curly and Moe, which one was Curly and which one was Moe is not yet apparent.
 

We could see right through the “good guy, bad guy” charade they were playing right in front of us…and they played this sham for as long as they thought they could get away with it.  We were not interested in the ground floor apartment at all and we were getting ready to walk when…
 

…the Ecuadorian gave us a big smile and piped up with “I know what you want, come on, I’ll show it to you”. So we all get into the elevator (now remember, this is considered a luxury apartment building and five people can’t fit in the elevator comfortably) to the top floor penthouse unit.  When we walked in we knew that this was the apartment we saw online. We right away said, “This is the apartment we saw in the photos”. 
 

The Ecuadorian said, “But this unit is not going to be $550”.  How come did we already know he was going to say that?
At this point the obvious was made quite apparent; we knew we were in the middle of a bait and switch. Frank and I talked quietly amongst ourselves about what we were going to do next. For now we decided to just play along.
 

Meanwhile about this time, after she had walked through the apartment, the expat woman renter came to us with love in her eyes because she told us, “I’m “in love” with this apartment”. What is it with gringos and views? Now, had she not cared about the apartment we would have walked already. Sure, the views were incredible but there was nothing special about the apartment. And well, all views in Cuenca are incredible.

The two guys noticed the expat lady loving the apartment and they loved every minute of watching her go gaga over the huge terraza and the views. Again the Ecuadorian said, “This apartment is not $550 dollars.”
 

“Ok, how much is it?” It’s $850 dollars”.
 

In the meantime we are becoming more annoyed at being suckered in on this bait and switch. Frank of course was not going to allow these two dodgy guys (and that’s nice way to put it for these guys) to get away with their unscrupulous dealings without letting them know he was on to them.
 

Frank looked right at the English speaking Ecuadorian and said, “This looks really bad on you and doing business like this will give you a bad reputation in the city of Cuenca.” The Ecuadorian nodded his head and seemed to agree and continued to blame the gringo agent. As long as the blame was not centered on him, all was okay…oh, you should have been there…It was comical.
 

The expat took us aside and let us know she would pay $750 rent for the apartment if everything was included. She was not coy about it or quiet either; we were sure she was overheard because it was just a few minutes later when the gringo piped up and said, “They might go $750”.  How funny.
 

So, that’s what we offered with everything included. The Ecuadorian said, “Ok, let me call the owner and see what she says.” 



The Ecuadorian leaves the room to go make the call to the owner of the apartment.
 

After about five minutes, the Ecuadorian comes back and says, “Yes, she said she will take $750 and that includes everything, utilities and aliquot and she will put a refrigerator in.”
 

The expat lady we were helping says, “Ok, what about my little four pound doggie?”
 

“Yes, she said your dog is okay too”.
 

“Ok, I want to give you a deposit to hold the apartment?”
 

The Ecuadorian put his hands up and backed up slightly, shaking his head and said, “Oh no, that’s okay, tomorrow you can meet with the landlord and work out the deposit.” and "don't worry, everything will be ok".  Always worry when you hear, "don't worry".  



We knew something was fishy. What kind of a rental agent is not going to take a deposit to hold an apartment? It just doesn’t happen...very fishy…
 

So the next day, at the scheduled time we show up at the apartment, ready and willing to pay a deposit and look over the contract. The landlord is there, the expat renter is there and we’re there. 
 

So, first we find out that the owner is not really the owner after all, it is her brother and he’s in the states. So, we are dealing with the sister. To make a long story short, the sister who is assisting her brother was hemming and hawing about the small four pound dog and making all kinds of excuses about why she still needs to talk with her brother about renting the apartment at $750 and if the dog would be ok.
 

In the meantime, we realized we were being strung along and that they were waiting for another gringo to show up (because they’ve been getting calls left and right about this penthouse apartment) and pay the $850 they were asking, or possibly more, thinking if a gringo likes it enough they might spend $1000 a month for this 2/2 unfurnished penthouse apartment.  They’d just do the bait and switch game on them too.
 

The Ecuadorian didn’t know that Frank understands Spanish and consequently Frank overheard him quietly tell the lady in Spanish, “I have other gringos that want to see the apartment”.  And after she heard that she came back to us and said, “I’ll talk with my brother and get back with you”.
 

That was three weeks ago. Apparently no gringos have offered to pay more than the $750 because the apartment is back online again with an asking price of $750! They obviously are not going to call us, since they know we are onto them and know they are shadier than Alaska during the wintertime.
 

So in a nutshell, the two stooges, Curly and Moe continue to do business unethically in Cuenca Ecuador, shamming unsuspecting new gringo arrivals. This is a clear-cut bait and switch to be aware of in Cuenca Ecuador. One guy kept saying, don't worry everything will be ok, and they both said dog ok all along. Then they said, talk to the owner, which then turns out to not be the owner, and turns out that dog is not ok.  You will be spun around like this and your time wasted.  Having someone on your side makes it much less stressful.  Think about it.

We share this with you today to make people aware of what’s happening in Cuenca Ecuador.  The reality is the rental market in Cuenca is saturated with rental agents, however most of them are honest enough, and if they are not, we quickly let them know we’re on to them; but once in awhile we run across a couple of punks like this and of course, we simply stop doing business with them. What else can you do?  



In Ecuador you are not allowed to publish names and harm someone’s (already bad) reputation, even though they are harming people’s lives. We will never use these guys again and we feel bad for anyone who accidentally does.



Until we write again.
 

Related Articles

• Are Ecuadorians as Friendly as Everyone Says?

• What's It Like Doing Business in Ecuador

• Does Cuenca Have Neighborhoods to Avoid from High Priced Rents?

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Dealing with Two Unscrupulous Rental Agents in Cuenca Ecuador

What (can) happen when you put an unscrupulous Ecuadorian and an unscrupulous Gringo together doing business? A lot of things can happen. Here’s the latest. BTW, some of you may have already dealt with these two buffoons and you’ll know right away, who we are talking about.

Cuenca Ecuador - Tomebamba River

We went to go see an unfurnished apartment that was listed online, as a fifth floor, brand new apartment with great views and a huge terrazza for $550.  Now understand, we saw the photos of the apartment.
 
So we get out there and they proceed to show us an apartment but it was not the one they had listed online. We said to the two guys, “this is not the apartment you have listed for $550 dollars”.   They just blankly stared at us. We said again, “This is not the same apartment we saw in the photos”. 
 
The now frustrated 40ish year old Ecuadorian rental agent begins to put the blame on the 70ish year old something gringo agent, saying “Did you get the photos mixed up, again”?  

The gringo apologized to his Ecuadorian partner for the mistake.  The Ecuadorian scolded the older gringo over and over again (in front of us) for posting the wrong photos. It was like a scene from the three Stooges with Curly and Moe, which one was Curly and which one was Moe is not yet apparent.
 
We could see right through the “good guy, bad guy” charade they were playing right in front of us…and they played this sham for as long as they thought they could get away with it.  We were not interested in the ground floor apartment at all and we were getting ready to walk when…
 
…the Ecuadorian gave us a big smile and piped up with “I know what you want, come on, I’ll show it to you”. So we all get into the elevator (now remember, this is considered a luxury apartment building and five people can’t fit in the elevator comfortably) to the top floor penthouse unit.  When we walked in we knew that this was the apartment we saw online. We right away said, “This is the apartment we saw in the photos”. 
 
The Ecuadorian said, “But this unit is not going to be $550”.  How come did we already know he was going to say that?
At this point the obvious was made quite apparent; we knew we were in the middle of a bait and switch. Frank and I talked quietly amongst ourselves about what we were going to do next. For now we decided to just play along.
 
Meanwhile about this time, after she had walked through the apartment, the expat woman renter came to us with love in her eyes because she told us, “I’m “in love” with this apartment”. What is it with gringos and views? Now, had she not cared about the apartment we would have walked already. Sure, the views were incredible but there was nothing special about the apartment. And well, all views in Cuenca are incredible.

The two guys noticed the expat lady loving the apartment and they loved every minute of watching her go gaga over the huge terraza and the views. Again the Ecuadorian said, “This apartment is not $550 dollars.”
 
“Ok, how much is it?” It’s $850 dollars”.
 
In the meantime we are becoming more annoyed at being suckered in on this bait and switch. Frank of course was not going to allow these two dodgy guys (and that’s nice way to put it for these guys) to get away with their unscrupulous dealings without letting them know he was on to them.
 
Frank looked right at the English speaking Ecuadorian and said, “This looks really bad on you and doing business like this will give you a bad reputation in the city of Cuenca.” The Ecuadorian nodded his head and seemed to agree and continued to blame the gringo agent. As long as the blame was not centered on him, all was okay…oh, you should have been there…It was comical.
 
The expat took us aside and let us know she would pay $750 rent for the apartment if everything was included. She was not coy about it or quiet either; we were sure she was overheard because it was just a few minutes later when the gringo piped up and said, “They might go $750”.  How funny.
 
So, that’s what we offered with everything included. The Ecuadorian said, “Ok, let me call the owner and see what she says.” 

The Ecuadorian leaves the room to go make the call to the owner of the apartment.
 
After about five minutes, the Ecuadorian comes back and says, “Yes, she said she will take $750 and that includes everything, utilities and aliquot and she will put a refrigerator in.”
 
The expat lady we were helping says, “Ok, what about my little four pound doggie?”
 
“Yes, she said your dog is okay too”.
 
“Ok, I want to give you a deposit to hold the apartment?”
 
The Ecuadorian put his hands up and backed up slightly, shaking his head and said, “Oh no, that’s okay, tomorrow you can meet with the landlord and work out the deposit.” and "don't worry, everything will be ok".  Always worry when you hear, "don't worry".  

We knew something was fishy. What kind of a rental agent is not going to take a deposit to hold an apartment? It just doesn’t happen...very fishy…
 
So the next day, at the scheduled time we show up at the apartment, ready and willing to pay a deposit and look over the contract. The landlord is there, the expat renter is there and we’re there. 
 
So, first we find out that the owner is not really the owner after all, it is her brother and he’s in the states. So, we are dealing with the sister. To make a long story short, the sister who is assisting her brother was hemming and hawing about the small four pound dog and making all kinds of excuses about why she still needs to talk with her brother about renting the apartment at $750 and if the dog would be ok.
 
In the meantime, we realized we were being strung along and that they were waiting for another gringo to show up (because they’ve been getting calls left and right about this penthouse apartment) and pay the $850 they were asking, or possibly more, thinking if a gringo likes it enough they might spend $1000 a month for this 2/2 unfurnished penthouse apartment.  They’d just do the bait and switch game on them too.
 
The Ecuadorian didn’t know that Frank understands Spanish and consequently Frank overheard him quietly tell the lady in Spanish, “I have other gringos that want to see the apartment”.  And after she heard that she came back to us and said, “I’ll talk with my brother and get back with you”.
 
That was three weeks ago. Apparently no gringos have offered to pay more than the $750 because the apartment is back online again with an asking price of $750! They obviously are not going to call us, since they know we are onto them and know they are shadier than Alaska during the wintertime.
 
So in a nutshell, the two stooges, Curly and Moe continue to do business unethically in Cuenca Ecuador, shamming unsuspecting new gringo arrivals. This is a clear-cut bait and switch to be aware of in Cuenca Ecuador. One guy kept saying, don't worry everything will be ok, and they both said dog ok all along. Then they said, talk to the owner, which then turns out to not be the owner, and turns out that dog is not ok.  You will be spun around like this and your time wasted.  Having someone on your side makes it much less stressful.  Think about it.

We share this with you today to make people aware of what’s happening in Cuenca Ecuador.  The reality is the rental market in Cuenca is saturated with rental agents, however most of them are honest enough, and if they are not, we quickly let them know we’re on to them; but once in awhile we run across a couple of punks like this and of course, we simply stop doing business with them. What else can you do?  

In Ecuador you are not allowed to publish names and harm someone’s (already bad) reputation, even though they are harming people’s lives. We will never use these guys again and we feel bad for anyone who accidentally does.

Until we write again.
 
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I Want to Move to Ecuador So I Can Be in the Middle Class Again

If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the world belongs to you." Lao Tzu
 

Did you know that some foreigners from North America move to Ecuador to live in luxury? What does that mean? Well, in a nutshell it means that people’s retirement money doesn’t go as far as it used to, or they don’t know how to make it go further, and because of that they have had to give up certain standards of living they’re used to having.  

Then they hear that Cuenca Ecuador is cheap and they think they can come here and (with their retirement money/pension) live in luxury. But that is not altogether correct any more than the idea that moving to Ecuador will allow you to live in the middle class again.
 

We have toured some of the nicest apartment complexes (just built) in Cuenca and what is viewed as “luxury” here is actually just standard construction, perhaps in the middle-end of North America but it certainly is not luxurious. So not to burst anyone’s luxury bubble; it’s not what you think. However, you will pay up for what is termed “luxury”. See the article at the end of this post.
 

Sometime ago there was an article posted in the Cuenca chatter; the article was talking about how some of the gringo buyers of the “in construction phase” condominium units were demanding certain finishes to be made to their high rise apartments to U.S building standards.  To make a long story short, the gringo’s demands were not met and some of them became very ugly and sue happy when the developers did not provide them with their demands of U.S standard finishes. We don’t really know how it ends because the article doesn’t really state, but interestingly enough, today in Cuenca there are about seven condo buildings located throughout the city that will not sell to gringos because they complain too much, are too picky, and want to sue when things do not go their way; this from the developers, not us.
 

We tell you all this because these are the same type of high rise buildings that are built all over town that are for rent and for sale and they are not luxurious; they are just nice, some of the units are nicer than others, but nothing more. So if you are in the luxurious crowd moving to Cuenca or are moving here to find your middle class, don’t have too high of expectations. Some gringos may find that paying $750 to $1250 for a condo termed luxury is not up to the standards they are accustomed to back home in North America and they might be disappointed.
 

The middle class in most developing countries is not the majority and the middle class in Cuenca is not the same as what we are used to in North America. Finding a middle class in Latin America is just another glamorized statement used by the travel abroad magazines to get people excited about moving wherever they happen to be pumping that month.  



They know that North America is decaying politically and morally and becoming  more expensive for pensioners to make ends meet, and is why they love to tout some of these developing countries as having a high middle class, but it is not what they make it out to be; it is not what you think it is.  Ecuador is a developing country with a GDP per Capita of $11,000 annually. Compare that to the USA of $54,000 GDP.  Source: List of Countries by GDP (PPP) Per Capita.

We need to understand that “middle class” is partly an attitude of the mind and partly learning how to spend the money we have. If we don’t have either of these things then we will feel as if we have lost something we once had. Perhaps we become discouraged and think that “going somewhere else” will make us feel better.
 

"Happiness is not having what you want. It is appreciating what you have." Unknown
 

Moving abroad to another place labeled as cheap is not the total solution; it can be part of it but if you don’t like it where you move to because everything is different or if you aren’t living on the money you have, wisely, where does “middle class” get you?
 

What are other people that are considered “middle class” in North America doing?  Did you know that most millionaires that had to work for their money got that way because they were frugal and didn’t spend everything they earned. We could list hundreds of wealthy folks that live frugal but comfortable lives; we’re just saying “middle class” is an attitude of the mind.
 

In all truth, moving to a developing, foreign land based on the need to feel better about one’s life is a really poor reason to move abroad. And sadly, it is exactly this type of people that move to a touted, hyped up, temporarily cheap city abroad and end up leaving because they are basing their move on a feeling.  They won’t make it here.
 

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." Denis Waitley
 

We have to change our way of thinking to feel good about our life and living standards.  Feelings cannot be met simply by moving to a South American country. In fact, if anyone is having financial problems now or if you feel like you aren’t living the standard of life you think you should where you are living now, then you should FIRST take care of that concern within yourself BEFORE uprooting your discontented life to a foreign environment. Bringing discontent with you to a totally different environment, totally different middle class, totally different culture can only compound problems within you.  Happiness comes from within not from without. No place in the world is going to change that.
 

“No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.” – Barbara DeAngelis
 

Source: Keep inspiring me Quotes

Source: INC Online Magazine
 

Until we write again…

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We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

10 Tips of the Trade When Looking for Rental in Cuenca Ecuador

It really is all about value; and frugal folks know that because being frugal does not necessarily mean, and usually doesn’t mean, buying the cheapest product or service on the market.  If you want to save money every month on your rent then there are a few things we must keep hush-hush. Why? When little ears know what you want in a rental the price suddenly goes up and up and up and up…and then where is “value”? 

Cuenca Ecuador

1. Don’t let it be known you want to be walking distance to Supermaxi or Coral – There is no need to tell the agent you want to be close to a grocery store. Eight times out of ten, you’ll actually be walking distance to a grocery store in Cuenca, unless you live in the country.
 

2. Don’t let it be known that you want to be near El Centro – Did you know that anywhere within the city of Cuenca, you can grab a taxi for a few bucks or a bus for $0.25 cents and be in the historic district?
 

Most Gringos Have the Same Rental Requirements
 

It’s all over the Cuenca chatter: The immigration office handles 10 new applicants from North America a day! That means there are ten new people who need a house or apartment to rent just in Cuenca! That’s 70 people needing a rental in one week in a city of just 500,000 people. And did you know that most gringos have the same rental requirements? What does that mean for Cuenca?  It means higher prices and less value. 



3. Don’t let it be known that you want a river or city view – Have you ever seen the ads that say “river view” or “on the river Yanuncay”?   Are they renting you the river or the apartment? Gee whiz!  
 

Let’s stop right here! You’re probably wondering how can I have all of the above things in a rental if I don’t let the agent or facilitator know what I want?  That’s easy. Just keep looking and usually you will find something you are looking for, or close to what you are looking for.   Gone is the $300 home with green space, river views and walking to a nice park and grocery store because that’s what everyone wants. That house is now at about twice as much!!



It’s not reality to have everything you want on your rental list and at the price range you are looking in.  We understand you want to rent a nice, clean, bright and airy place but too much pickiness above that will surely cost you.  The “cost you” part doesn’t make Cuenca cheap anymore, does it?
 

4. If you are renting for 6 months or less, we say forgo the river view!  It is funny, foreigners move here for three months and demand a river view. Are you going to stay cooped up in your apartment all day or go out exploring Cuenca?  Views cost money and are impractical at best. Views do not make the apartment any more comfortable and not having a view does not make a nice, clean, airy apartment less inviting either.  Sometimes an apartment just happens to have a view but because we didn’t demand it, the price stays in line with what it should be.
 

5. If you do not have a dog, then definitely give up the yard idea. Seriously, this is no joking matter.  Espacio verdes (green spaces) cost money in Cuenca Ecuador!  If a house on the Cuenca Ecuador rental market today happens to have a small green space then it’s going to be overpriced!  Sadly, that is what it’s come down to.
 

6. Renting in a certain neighborhood, plus wanting to have all the gringo requirements mentioned in this article, will surely cost you a higher rent and most-likely will take a lot longer to find.  Better not be in a hurry. 
 

7. Be willing to rent in any area of Cuenca as long as the neighborhood is good.  We know the good neighborhoods of Cuenca and the not so good neighborhoods.  Not being picky about what neighborhood (sector) of Cuenca you live in will surely open up a lot more variety and options to the renter, which means more value in a home.  The southeast side of Cuenca has less gringos living there but some of the nicest and newest homes are in this part of town and the river!!
 

8. If calling an ad out of the paper and you don’t speak Spanish very well or have a thick gringo accent, find a local Ecuadorian to call the ad for you and get the “real price” to the local market.  You wouldn’t believe how many times we’ve called on house ads that raised the price once they found out it was for a gringo. We have even had Ecuadorians say “You’re a gringo, so it will cost more for you”.
 

9. Always negotiate the price – This one is a sure thing. We should negotiate even if the ad doesn’t say it is negotiable. Don’t be bullied because you are a gringo.
 

10. Know what the contract says – Make sure you know exactly what is stipulated in the rental agreement because you might need to make changes. You do want your deposit back when your lease is up, right? Then nine times out of ten the lease will need to be changed. It’s all in the wording and if you don’t know what to look for you might just get gringoed. 



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We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Is the Rent Really Negotiable or Bait and Switch? Renting in Cuenca Ecuador

As you know we like to report our observations and experiences of what it’s like to live in Cuenca Ecuador. We simply love to give out details so newcomers can be made aware of and know what to expect in certain situations. Recently we have noticed a pattern emerging in the rental market in Cuenca Ecuador.
 

Rental Ads Says Negotiable
 

In Ecuador many ads say “negotiable”, which means the price is not set and you can negotiate with the landlord/real estate agent for a better/fairer price.
 

And, just like in the U.S when something says negotiable it usually means the price is already too high to begin with.
Here in Cuenca you still can negotiate even when an ad doesn’t say it’s negotiable and THAT is why we find it odd when an ad says “negotiable” and then it turns out that  it's really not.
 

Recently we have come across ads that say “negotiable” and when you negotiate for a lower price it’s not really negotiable after all. We call this back in North America “bait and switch”.  
 

Bait and Switch Definition
 

It’s false advertising, plain and simple. They bait the person in with whatever product or service that is being sold (in this case, home rental) and once the person is involved and wanting the product, they switch price or don’t do what the ad says.
 

1. A fraudulent advertising claim or sales offer for a product or service that is not available or not for sale at the stated price, made with the intention of luring customers who are then offered something else or forced to spend more money to get the same thing.
 

2. A deception based on a false claim or enticement that proves to be disappointing.
 

Source:  The Free Dictionary
 

Here’s how it’s played out in a nutshell. Both of these examples happened to us recently with two separate real estate companies in Cuenca.
 

Example 1:  The rental ad says $500 negotiable. We call the advertisement.  When we get out there we like the place and are prepared to negotiate. We negotiate the price to $450 and the landlord brings up a condo/aliquot fee not mentioned in the ad for $50.  Do you see what’s happening here? The monthly rent still comes out to be $500.  



We’re not done yet.
 

Example 2: The rental ad says $600 negotiable. When we get out there we like the place and are prepared to negotiate. We negotiate the price to $$550 and the landlord brings up a condo/aliquot fee not mentioned in the ad for $50, plus the rent is $600 not negotiable, so the rent comes out to be $650 but the ad read $600 negotiable!



uh? 



Why Rental Ads Say “Negotiable” When It’s Not?
 

1. It gets more people to call the ad – the word “negotiable” brings in a much larger call-in for the rental than if it didn’t say negotiable. Perhaps they are hoping that someone (a gringo) will just take the price and not care to negotiate.
 

2. It is negotiable for the locals but not for the gringos.
 

3. By not mentioning the aliquot fee perhaps they think that if the ad says negotiable and you negotiate the rental price that you will not balk at the aliquot fee when they bring it up.
 

4. The real estate agent/owner knows they don’t have to call you back. Many times we negotiate a price and you never hear back from them but the house or apartment is still on the Internet for rent. What’s up with that? They wait it out and take the best price, which might take weeks, and there’s nothing wrong with that except for the fact you’re putting people in the wings and they might like to look at other rentals. 



5. Playing on your emotions. They think that once you come all the way out to look at the apartment/house you will fall in love with it and won't care to negotiate or care about price.
 

Gringos Fear of Loss
 

And then you have the retiree who thinks it’s the only house or apartment they will like in ALL of Cuenca and so they are willing to pay anything. What they don’t realize is that in Cuenca, there’s lots of fish in the sea, and there is always a better price, if you’re not in a hurry.
 

When we put our emotional heart and soul into a place, we often think “it’s the one”, but that is our emotions talking, not our senses. In Latin American countries you sometimes have to be willing to walk away from getting trampled on; that’s all there is to it.
 

Something to Ponder
 

Have you ever thought about how the Ecuadorian real estate people were getting along financially before all of us gringos came along willing to pay two and three times as much as the locals?
 

In 2010 all the houses and apartments were $200 to $400 dollars? That was about five years ago. Five years ago in a building in gringoland you could rent a furnished 2/2 for $300 (local rate). Now, try $650 to $800 (gringo rate)!   



What has changed in that building to make the rents and condo fees higher? Absolutely nothing, but the building is getting older and needs more repairs, paint, updates, etc.  

-- Cuenca Ecuador apartment rentals located in a gringolandia building they call "luxury" --

Where’s the luxury we keep hearing about? The furniture in the first photo is cheap, uncomfortable and low to the floor. Hope you’re short legged.
 

The Ecuadorians were doing just fine renting to their own people and then we come along and they become insatiable! I wonder if they will negotiate. Our $250 dollar per month house is nicer than that.
 

Until we write again… 



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We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!