Harold J. Says:
Do you have any advice on finding long-term rentals in Ecuador?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Harold,
At International Living, we always recommend that you rent before you buy. Before you put down money on a house or condo in a new place, plan to rent first to thoroughly check out the area. You can start your search for a rental on the internet. You’ll find plenty of websites out there, but many promote short-term vacation rentals in touristy locations, and prices can be high. In recent years, many real estate agents have begun to offer rental properties.
The classified section of online local newspapers and social media are good sources of information, especially to get a feel for prices. Unless you go through a reputable agency, you should never send money to reserve a rental sight-unseen. Too many things can go wrong.
Better advice is to start your search once you’re there. Book a hotel or guesthouse for a few days, then explore. Decide what neighborhood you want to live in and what type of accommodation you need (house or apartment, number of bedrooms, swimming pool, or other specifications).
One of the most effective (and most adventurous, depending on your level of Spanish) strategies for finding a good rental is simply to stroll the area you find most attractive and look for Se Renta or Se Arrienda (“For Rent”) signs and call the telephone numbers on them.
If your Spanish isn’t great, have a local friend call the numbers and make price inquiries for you or pay a facilitator (typically about $15 an hour) to help. It will cost you $20 to $25 per hour for a bilingual guide from a tour company or a reputable real estate agent to show you around.
Often, people with apartments and condos for rent in large buildings will leave a key with the security guard. Asking the guard if there is anything available in a likely-looking building is a great way to find unpublicized deals and to get into some gorgeous buildings and apartments.
Also talk to expats and locals and ask them if they know of places for rent. Most sizable cities have well-known expat meeting places, where you’ll often find community bulletin boards posted with real estate ads, ride-share notes, and more.
Grab hard copies of local newspapers and go through the classifieds. For example, one of the most reliable sources of currently available rentals in all categories in Quito is the Sunday edition of newspaper El Comercio. Published in Quito and available throughout the city, it has a large rental section with listings from all areas of town.
You can find more information on rentals in Ecuador, including what to do once you find a place you like, in Chapter 4 of Escape to Ecuador, available on the IL Bookstore here.
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