Why move clear across the world if you're not going to really enjoy the new land you move to? This video talks about one of the wonderful ways to avoid the plastic-fake life and really see what's inside the package of life abroad. This is an important issue because we see many foreigners that leave and go back home because they really didn't experience and enjoy the authenticity of the culture and its people of the new land they moved to....they only stayed trapped within the confounds of gringolandia and it's community...how utterly boring!
Welcome to Gringo Good Samaritans, integrated with our 8 years of living in Cuenca Ecuador and traveling the world. We create informative videos and articles helping people come to awareness of what's happening in our world so they can enjoy their retire early lifestyle with their families, healthy, happy and free!
Showing posts with label gringolandia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gringolandia. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2018
Friday, September 8, 2017
5 Popular Gringo Neighborhoods in Cuenca Ecuador with PROS and CONS 2017 Vlog
These are the top 5 popular gringo neighborhoods in Cuenca Ecuador. A taxi driver told us in 2016 that all of Cuenca is gringolandia now. There are other neighborhoods in Cuenca that are up and coming with expats and we'll talk about those in a later post.
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Friday, September 18, 2015
What’s It Like to Live in an Ecuadorian Neighborhood, for Us?
The wonderful thing about living in Cuenca Ecuador is all of the neighborhoods are made up of Ecuadorians and so if you live in a house or townhome you can almost be sure that your next door neighbors will be Ecuadorian, usually anyway.
When we first moved to Cuenca back in 2011, there were only two areas the gringos were living in and that was gringolandia and in the center of downtown. We didn’t want to live in gringo-land; we wanted a more authentic experience and life. Our thinking was if we’re going to learn the language we’d better find a house in an Ecuadorian neighborhood and that’s what we did. No one in our neighborhood speaks a lick of English.
We’ve been in the same neighborhood and same house for four-plus years (Rent is still $250 per month) and our neighbors are pleasantly and uncharacteristically (compared to the u.s. anyway) live and let live; and they are quiet…only a couple of times has there been blaring music in the middle of the night, usually during a birthday party or other family gathering.
Our neighbors don’t just stop over whenever they feel like it to chat or gab. Everyone keeps to themselves. When we see our neighbors outside their gate or walking down the street we might stop and talk with them for a bit and then be on our way.
We’ve had all our close neighbors over to our house for pan de yuca rolls and cocoa and coffee, and they have had us over to their house for grilled fish almuerzo and even bible study, all in Spanish. What a way to learn Spanish, go to Spanish only bible study, uh?
Ecuadorians are very pleasant, easy going people. If you give them a gift they feel the need to reciprocate every time. The reciprocal gift giving can go on for months; it's funny. Our neighbors have made us some wonderful food like Ecuadorian aji sauce and delicious humitas.
I learned the hard way Ecuadorians do not like spicy food. Brandon brought three of his friends over for spicy enchiladas and that was a bit embarrassing for me. They were so kind and sweet about the whole thing; they didn’t want to hurt my feelings so they never said anything, however they kept asking for water and more water and it was taking them forever to eat their food. Finally, I figured out that my enchiladas were just too spicy. I took their plates away and they seemed to be relieved. We then all laughed about it. Next time I'll make Lasagna.
We live in an area that has detached houses with small yards. On Sundays our neighbors have their family members over (about 8 to 10 people) and they play soccer and volleyball in their yard and then later they all gather to eat. If you live in a family friendly neighborhood you might be invited to play
soccer too.
Our house, looks like all the other houses in the neighborhood. In fact, there are nicer houses than ours and that’s the way we like it. You don’t want to give any impression of overflowing affluence anywhere in Latin America. As gringos we have to work diligently and consistently about that, because we already carry that stigma, whether we want it or not just by the fact that we’re foreigners. We never leave anything out on our terraza for anyone to walk by and see and then get tempted later.
We don’t have an electric fence and we’ve had some prowlers ONLY recently (We’ll write all about it one day) and our neighbors have been helpful and watchful. One of our neighbors told us to call him if we hear anything, no matter what time of night it is, and he’d blare his siren and/or call the police for us if we need him to. And our other neighbor has German Shepherds that will bark if there are strangers in the neighborhood. Everyone watches out for each other here.
We still really like our house, we love the neighborhood and we like our neighbors. We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It is annoying that we have had some negative incidents with prowlers but we realize that no matter where we live in Cuenca, if our house is target-able (less secure) than the rest of the houses in the neighborhood, anyone will have prowlers and possibly get robbed. The best of the neighborhoods in Cuenca have home invasions from time to time.
If you like this article, we think you'll like these ones too!
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.
 |
| Cuenca - Bella Vista area |
When we first moved to Cuenca back in 2011, there were only two areas the gringos were living in and that was gringolandia and in the center of downtown. We didn’t want to live in gringo-land; we wanted a more authentic experience and life. Our thinking was if we’re going to learn the language we’d better find a house in an Ecuadorian neighborhood and that’s what we did. No one in our neighborhood speaks a lick of English.
We’ve been in the same neighborhood and same house for four-plus years (Rent is still $250 per month) and our neighbors are pleasantly and uncharacteristically (compared to the u.s. anyway) live and let live; and they are quiet…only a couple of times has there been blaring music in the middle of the night, usually during a birthday party or other family gathering.
Our neighbors don’t just stop over whenever they feel like it to chat or gab. Everyone keeps to themselves. When we see our neighbors outside their gate or walking down the street we might stop and talk with them for a bit and then be on our way.
We’ve had all our close neighbors over to our house for pan de yuca rolls and cocoa and coffee, and they have had us over to their house for grilled fish almuerzo and even bible study, all in Spanish. What a way to learn Spanish, go to Spanish only bible study, uh?
Ecuadorians are very pleasant, easy going people. If you give them a gift they feel the need to reciprocate every time. The reciprocal gift giving can go on for months; it's funny. Our neighbors have made us some wonderful food like Ecuadorian aji sauce and delicious humitas.
I learned the hard way Ecuadorians do not like spicy food. Brandon brought three of his friends over for spicy enchiladas and that was a bit embarrassing for me. They were so kind and sweet about the whole thing; they didn’t want to hurt my feelings so they never said anything, however they kept asking for water and more water and it was taking them forever to eat their food. Finally, I figured out that my enchiladas were just too spicy. I took their plates away and they seemed to be relieved. We then all laughed about it. Next time I'll make Lasagna.
 |
| Spicy Mexican food - enchiladas |
We live in an area that has detached houses with small yards. On Sundays our neighbors have their family members over (about 8 to 10 people) and they play soccer and volleyball in their yard and then later they all gather to eat. If you live in a family friendly neighborhood you might be invited to play
soccer too.
Our house, looks like all the other houses in the neighborhood. In fact, there are nicer houses than ours and that’s the way we like it. You don’t want to give any impression of overflowing affluence anywhere in Latin America. As gringos we have to work diligently and consistently about that, because we already carry that stigma, whether we want it or not just by the fact that we’re foreigners. We never leave anything out on our terraza for anyone to walk by and see and then get tempted later.
We don’t have an electric fence and we’ve had some prowlers ONLY recently (We’ll write all about it one day) and our neighbors have been helpful and watchful. One of our neighbors told us to call him if we hear anything, no matter what time of night it is, and he’d blare his siren and/or call the police for us if we need him to. And our other neighbor has German Shepherds that will bark if there are strangers in the neighborhood. Everyone watches out for each other here.
We still really like our house, we love the neighborhood and we like our neighbors. We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It is annoying that we have had some negative incidents with prowlers but we realize that no matter where we live in Cuenca, if our house is target-able (less secure) than the rest of the houses in the neighborhood, anyone will have prowlers and possibly get robbed. The best of the neighborhoods in Cuenca have home invasions from time to time.
If you like this article, we think you'll like these ones too!
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.
Friday, August 21, 2015
What's the Difference between Foreign GUEST and Permanent RESIDENT Abroad?
There are some big differences between being a guest and being a permanent resident abroad. As a guest it is easy to accept the first price quoted. After all, we’re not staying; money is not on our mind as vacationers; we just want to have fun! Guests always pay more for everything because, truly, it’s not a big deal; it’s expected that as a tourist (90-day stay) we will pay tourist pricing, so what. It’s not always about money however. It’s about how we behave as travelers. Let me explain.
Frank and I always “go local” when we travel; we speak Spanish; we take the local transportation; we eat in the local eateries; and we shop in the local Mercado's; we know most of the cultural quirks and customs of living in Latin America since we’ve lived here for four plus years now. So we do not consider ourselves guests in Latin America but more like permanent expats. Which means, we behave with a certain amount of confidence when doing things in foreign countries. This self-confidence shows in our mannerisms when for instance, we are looking at rentals or buying produce from the local market.
Where Does the Term EXPAT Come In?
Ecuador opens their doors to foreign guests for full 90-days and if a foreigner decides to put down roots after the visitor stamp is up, they will then need to process a resident VISA. This is why some foreigners have been given the title of EXPAT.
However, technically speaking an “EXPAT” is one who renounces citizenship in their home country and becomes a citizen of another country, which is called EXPATRIATION, and is where the term EXPAT comes from. But from a world traveler standpoint, the name is given to many foreigners who have left their home country and have moved abroad, whether or not they have renounced their citizenship somewhere else or not.
EXPATS are not GUESTS
Once a person packs up their belongings, whether they sell them or bring them with them abroad, and they begin renting permanently, (not just 3 months) they are no longer guests or tourists, but residents; this also applies even if there is still paperwork going through the process stage. If the intent is to live somewhere on a full-time basis then how is that being a guest?
For personal fulfillment we believe it is necessary and respectful to adapt to the ways of the new land we are moving to, even if that means to negotiate prices. In all Latin American countries, negotiating is what the locals do, and if you are not a guest any longer then it is what they expect you to do too. They will not gringo you if you play the game with them; in fact they will respect you more for it. Watch them grin as you try and negotiate with them; they like it!
Now, when you hear “John and Jane Doe's cost of living is $2,300 and Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s cost of living is $1,300 in the same city or town somewhere abroad then you’ll know that one couple is still living as guests, while the other couple has “integrated into the community”. This is one reason why cost of living statistics of foreigners living abroad are all over the map; it’s ambiguous at best.
If you think it is all about money and pricing, or how much time spent in a place, it’s not, it’s also about our attitude. Many expats that have been living abroad for several years “feel” like they are still guests in the country they reside in. A resident abroad can certainly make themselves “feel” like they are a guest where they live permanently, and it is certainly ok to have that feeling...but...
The point is not whether we think of ourselves as guests or not, but that we ALWAYS treat everyone with respect. That’s all about it. If I were to wonder why some folks still feel like guests when living abroad it would be because they feel disconnected from the local community and possibly even the expat community.
Certainly, not everyone can blend in, speak Spanish in a few years and start living like a local; and we do not expect everyone to do that or even want to do that. Again the point is, foreign residents that live permanently abroad are not guests any longer, although many of them behave like they are still guests; some folks might think because they are “foreigners” abroad then they must be a guest”. But this is only “a way of thinking” that bases assumptions on their foreignness and goes directly back to our attitude.
What is a “Foreigner”?
When you look up the definition of a foreigner it means “stranger”, an “alien”, an “outsider”. So then some foreigners who are living as permanent residents may feel they are still guests and is why they often express themselves to others as being guests. It’s perfectly ok to feel this way. However, when looking at this issue from both sides of the apple cart, we see this way of thinking can be disadvantageous to both parties as long as the foreigner is still living abroad, and here’s why.
1. The foreigner will always feel like a guest
When the foreigner always feels like a foreigner they are less likely to learn the language, blend in, interact, negotiate, and feel comfortable in their new home land. Humans have an inherit need to “fit-in” and it can be disconcerting when one does not feel good about where they live. This is why many foreigners move back to their home country; it’s perfectly fine. They still have the adventure of traveling to a new foreign land and seeing what it’s like living in a totally different cultural environment and that’s great.
2. The locals will always treat the foreigner as a foreigner
When the foreigner continues to behave like a guest, by not speaking Spanish, dressing differently, not living in the same kind of housing and neighborhood, and not shopping and negotiating where they do, etc, etc, they will never get to know you, respect you, and be your friend because you are keeping yourself at a distance from them, not just physically, but mentally, and emotionally as well and that can and does come across as somewhat disrespectful.
Not only that, but your cost of living will be much higher because the guest (tourist) attitude gets taken advantage of in Latin American cultures. For instance when the landlord knows he can get $600 from the foreigner he will gladly skip over the local who can only pay $300, to rent to you instead. Who does this hurt? It hurts everyone.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: “For how long are we foreigners for”? Until we live somewhere abroad for 2 years? Or until we become permanent residents on paper and have an ID card? Until we renounce our citizenship in our home country? Or ?...?
NONE OF THE ABOVE.
Using the term “foreigner” is a label, meaning it is only how one feels in their heart and mind, which makes up our attitude. A person can allow themselves to feel like a foreign guest forever and continue to get taken advantage of by the locals, or they can break out of this labeling and realize that they have just as much right to live anywhere they dream as long as they are respectful of the people and culture of their new life location abroad.
When we negotiate, ride the local transportation, dress like they dress, live in a house like their house and enjoy the same restaurants and events as they do, then where is the guest attitude now? It’s gone with the wind and that my friend will make you and them the happiest while living together in the same community. We think life has much more fulfillment when going local abroad.
Until we write again!
If you liked this article we think you will like these too!
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!
Frank and I always “go local” when we travel; we speak Spanish; we take the local transportation; we eat in the local eateries; and we shop in the local Mercado's; we know most of the cultural quirks and customs of living in Latin America since we’ve lived here for four plus years now. So we do not consider ourselves guests in Latin America but more like permanent expats. Which means, we behave with a certain amount of confidence when doing things in foreign countries. This self-confidence shows in our mannerisms when for instance, we are looking at rentals or buying produce from the local market.
 |
| Group of tourists in El Centro - Cuenca Ecuador |
Where Does the Term EXPAT Come In?
Ecuador opens their doors to foreign guests for full 90-days and if a foreigner decides to put down roots after the visitor stamp is up, they will then need to process a resident VISA. This is why some foreigners have been given the title of EXPAT.
However, technically speaking an “EXPAT” is one who renounces citizenship in their home country and becomes a citizen of another country, which is called EXPATRIATION, and is where the term EXPAT comes from. But from a world traveler standpoint, the name is given to many foreigners who have left their home country and have moved abroad, whether or not they have renounced their citizenship somewhere else or not.
EXPATS are not GUESTS
Once a person packs up their belongings, whether they sell them or bring them with them abroad, and they begin renting permanently, (not just 3 months) they are no longer guests or tourists, but residents; this also applies even if there is still paperwork going through the process stage. If the intent is to live somewhere on a full-time basis then how is that being a guest?
For personal fulfillment we believe it is necessary and respectful to adapt to the ways of the new land we are moving to, even if that means to negotiate prices. In all Latin American countries, negotiating is what the locals do, and if you are not a guest any longer then it is what they expect you to do too. They will not gringo you if you play the game with them; in fact they will respect you more for it. Watch them grin as you try and negotiate with them; they like it!
Now, when you hear “John and Jane Doe's cost of living is $2,300 and Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s cost of living is $1,300 in the same city or town somewhere abroad then you’ll know that one couple is still living as guests, while the other couple has “integrated into the community”. This is one reason why cost of living statistics of foreigners living abroad are all over the map; it’s ambiguous at best.
If you think it is all about money and pricing, or how much time spent in a place, it’s not, it’s also about our attitude. Many expats that have been living abroad for several years “feel” like they are still guests in the country they reside in. A resident abroad can certainly make themselves “feel” like they are a guest where they live permanently, and it is certainly ok to have that feeling...but...
The point is not whether we think of ourselves as guests or not, but that we ALWAYS treat everyone with respect. That’s all about it. If I were to wonder why some folks still feel like guests when living abroad it would be because they feel disconnected from the local community and possibly even the expat community.
Certainly, not everyone can blend in, speak Spanish in a few years and start living like a local; and we do not expect everyone to do that or even want to do that. Again the point is, foreign residents that live permanently abroad are not guests any longer, although many of them behave like they are still guests; some folks might think because they are “foreigners” abroad then they must be a guest”. But this is only “a way of thinking” that bases assumptions on their foreignness and goes directly back to our attitude.
What is a “Foreigner”?
When you look up the definition of a foreigner it means “stranger”, an “alien”, an “outsider”. So then some foreigners who are living as permanent residents may feel they are still guests and is why they often express themselves to others as being guests. It’s perfectly ok to feel this way. However, when looking at this issue from both sides of the apple cart, we see this way of thinking can be disadvantageous to both parties as long as the foreigner is still living abroad, and here’s why.
1. The foreigner will always feel like a guest
When the foreigner always feels like a foreigner they are less likely to learn the language, blend in, interact, negotiate, and feel comfortable in their new home land. Humans have an inherit need to “fit-in” and it can be disconcerting when one does not feel good about where they live. This is why many foreigners move back to their home country; it’s perfectly fine. They still have the adventure of traveling to a new foreign land and seeing what it’s like living in a totally different cultural environment and that’s great.
2. The locals will always treat the foreigner as a foreigner
When the foreigner continues to behave like a guest, by not speaking Spanish, dressing differently, not living in the same kind of housing and neighborhood, and not shopping and negotiating where they do, etc, etc, they will never get to know you, respect you, and be your friend because you are keeping yourself at a distance from them, not just physically, but mentally, and emotionally as well and that can and does come across as somewhat disrespectful.
Not only that, but your cost of living will be much higher because the guest (tourist) attitude gets taken advantage of in Latin American cultures. For instance when the landlord knows he can get $600 from the foreigner he will gladly skip over the local who can only pay $300, to rent to you instead. Who does this hurt? It hurts everyone.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: “For how long are we foreigners for”? Until we live somewhere abroad for 2 years? Or until we become permanent residents on paper and have an ID card? Until we renounce our citizenship in our home country? Or ?...?
NONE OF THE ABOVE.
Using the term “foreigner” is a label, meaning it is only how one feels in their heart and mind, which makes up our attitude. A person can allow themselves to feel like a foreign guest forever and continue to get taken advantage of by the locals, or they can break out of this labeling and realize that they have just as much right to live anywhere they dream as long as they are respectful of the people and culture of their new life location abroad.
When we negotiate, ride the local transportation, dress like they dress, live in a house like their house and enjoy the same restaurants and events as they do, then where is the guest attitude now? It’s gone with the wind and that my friend will make you and them the happiest while living together in the same community. We think life has much more fulfillment when going local abroad.
Until we write again!
If you liked this article we think you will like these too!
- Live Like a Local in Cuenca Ecuador: When in Rome Do Like the Romans, When in Ecuador...
- Searching for a Local Priced Rental 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!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Alice Retires in Cuenca Ecuador and Rents for $350
We are pleased to share with our readers how an expat's retirement dream has come true in Cuenca Ecuador. Alice shares all of the details of why she chose Cuenca for her retirement and about her new life in Cuenca. Alice also talks about some very important and informative aspects of retirement life for the expat.
In part one of our six part series, Alice tells us "why" she chose Cuenca Ecuador for her retirement city. Below the Video is all the video series with Alice.
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (1of 6)
Why Alice Chose Cuenca Ecuador
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (2 of 6)
Banking, Social Security, and Safety in Cuenca
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (3 of 6)
Alice Really is Enjoying Her New Life in Cuenca
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (4 of 6)
Alice Shares Her Cost of Living
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (5 of 6)
Tour of Alice's $350 Rental in Cuenca!
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local(6 of 6)
Alice Talks about Furnishing Her Rental Home
In part one of our six part series, Alice tells us "why" she chose Cuenca Ecuador for her retirement city. Below the Video is all the video series with Alice.
Alice Retires in Cuenca Ecuador and Rents for $350
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (1of 6)
Why Alice Chose Cuenca Ecuador
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (2 of 6)
Banking, Social Security, and Safety in Cuenca
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (3 of 6)
Alice Really is Enjoying Her New Life in Cuenca
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (4 of 6)
Alice Shares Her Cost of Living
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local (5 of 6)
Tour of Alice's $350 Rental in Cuenca!
Expats Retirement Dream Comes True by Going Local(6 of 6)
Alice Talks about Furnishing Her Rental Home
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Searching for a Local Priced Rental in Cuenca Ecuador: A Day in the Life
 |
| We still rent this home for $250 monthly |
All I want to do is rent an unfurnished house for the local price of $300 a month. That’s it. Is that too much to ask?
It’s the threshold the local taxi driver said we should stay under when we first moved here. It’s the price the blogs were saying was the going rate at the time, only a few short months ago! And it’s a whopping 75% of the average personal income, although it may be only 30%-40% of household income, which makes sense under the rule of 3 & 4.
Everybody knows we only pay $250 a month for a three year old house, but we’ve already pounded that nail all the way through. So when a friend asked us to help him find a house for rent in Cuenca for the local price of under the now infamous figure of $300 a month. We agreed!
So when I called an ad in the local paper (spoken in Spanish) and asked the Ecuadorian lady the price on the vacant three bedroom house, and she said $500, of course my next question was – why? “Why is it so high?” I wanted to know…”does it have a big yard?”. “No, it’s just average sized” she replied. “Is the house very large?” I asked inquisitively. “Not particularly” she answered, as she described the average floor plan of kitchen living room, laundry room, downstairs, and three bedrooms upstairs w/2 baths.“Is it newly remodeled?” She finally got impatient with my questions and interrupted…”well you know, it’s by Supermaxi”. Well lo and behold, that explains everything. “Are you flexible on the price?” I ask. “No”. She says, “ok, have a nice day, good bye”.
Undaunted, I call another ad.
This one has the price clearly in the ad, it screams at me $300 DOLLARS.
Excellent. Always looking to save money on my cell bill @ .25 cents a minute, I call that one next. Here’s the conversation, in Spanish.
Me: Hello? – I’m calling about the house for rent for $300 dollars. How many bedrooms does it have?
Landlord: It has five bedrooms, but where are you from?
Me: (a little skeptical at the question) err…I’m from here, I live here, why do you ask?
Landlord: You sound like a gringo. For you the price will be higher. Chuckle.
Me: (Not laughing) uhm, oh, well, ok, have a nice day. Good bye.
Ok, well, I’ve made a commitment to help my friend so, as if I am a glutton for punishment, I keep going. I call the next ad:
(remember, Spanish paper, speaking in Spanish)
Me: Hello? I’m calling about the large house for rent. How much is it?
Landlord: It’s $800 a month.
Me: Uh, why is it so much?
Landlord: It’s furnished and it’s for foreigners, plus it’s by Supermaxi.
Me: Isn’t that a little high?
Landlord: Yes, but, it’s for foreigners.
Me: Ok, thank you and have a nice day. Good bye.
My Ecuadorian neighbor/friend decided to get in on the foreign rental action. She approached me with a super duper rental deal, I figured she got offered a commission. Two “large” (her description) houses on one lot, with a pool for $600 a month. Sounds good so far right?
So I called the lady myself, and find out, it’s only one house, it’s only 2000 square feet, and the pool is empty. I tell my friend, it’s too high. She frustratingly says: “is it for you?” as if to say, who cares if it’s too high, it’s not for you, it’s for the foreigners.
Somehow, I didn’t find it appropriate to explain to her, that I don’t appreciate gringo pricing, even if it’s not directed toward me exclusively.
When we were in Salinas, while walking the Malecon an Ecuadorian promoter approached us for boat rides, and condo rentals, etc. so we decided to talk with him and go look at a few. All his rentals were for $1000 to $1200 a month, furnished two or three blocks back from the beach, and unfurnished waterfront, $1000-$2300.
I patiently explain I’m not a tourist; I want a long term, unfurnished rental at local prices, not tourist prices. “Ok, I’ll call you”, he says. It’s been almost a year, still haven’t heard from him. Apparently, there’s no money in it for him.Same thing happened when we walked in to the Spanish speaking Spanish Real Estate Company offices, again, in Salinas, because we saw some advertised houses in the $400 per month price range, on their website, in Salinas. (We always avoid the gringo agencies as they told us themselves the prices are $800-$1200)
We find out the $400 houses have been gone for two years, and they haven’t updated their website! But hey, we have some $800-$1200 houses over here. “No thanks”. We practically beg them to call us when they get some more $400 dollar houses for rent. We even stretch our boundaries to $500. Many, many moons later, we’re still waiting for the call. But without holding our breath!
This will be the last example.
The ad on Craig’s List had pictures of furniture, so it’s a furnished three bedroom right? $450, ok sounds reasonable so far. I call the ad, and well, no, it’s not furnished.
Me: “Why are the pictures of a furnished house then?” I ask.
Agent: “I forgot to remove those pictures” says the Spanish Real Estate agent. The house is $450 a month.
Me: But that’s a furnished price, for that size of house.
Agent: yes, but it’s not furnished.
Me: Yes, but that is an unfurnished house and at that price, it’s too high.
The very next day, we saw the same ad on Craig’s List and he had lowered the price by $50! I still thought it was too high at $400. Almost all the prices on Craig’s List are too high. Very rarely do you see something priced properly to the local prices. It is very skewed toward English speaking foreigners.
So why did I write all this? Am I trying to discourage you? Absolutely not! To the contrary! We want to give you a feel for the real picture. That is why the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide is a very necessary addition to your arsenal for living well on smaller means here in Cuenca Ecuador. Avoid the foreign hype, be ahead of the game, get the guide today. Because you will need all the help you can get. If you're interested in learning more about the local priced rental market click here.
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