OVER 1000 CANADIANS HEAD TO ECUADOR FOR THEIR RETIREMENT
The trend is not new: each year, thousands of Canadians flee the cold and the snow, heading south to sun destinations for weeks or months at a time. But for the most part, only the most adventurous dare to take the next big step and acquire their own prop
GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT: KEY FACTORS
The Canadian company HolaEcuador understood the challenges faced by Canadian snowbirds and now facilitates the sun property acquisition process. After having visited Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama, company co-owners Yves Cormier and Gordon Poole chose Ecuador as the ideal location. The quality of the country’s infrastructure, incredible biodiversity, low cost of living, beautiful landscapes, accessible and modern healthcare system and year-round mild climate were the decisive factors. “Since 2010 we have helped hundreds of Canadians acquire a property on the Pacific coast of Ecuador”, says M. Cormier, VP Sales and Marketing. “We are literally creating an entire seaside village. Of the 1,700 properties that we had available at the start of the project, only 700 remain unsold. And now with the majority of the site infrastructure completed, home construction is ramping up quickly.” Mr. and Mrs. Oulianov, from Ottawa, purchased their property in HolaEcuador’s urban development. “The ability to sign a Canadian contract was reassuring for us”, indicates Mrs. Oulianov. “Furthermore, the HolaEcuador representatives in our area answered all of our questions and helped us throughout the entire purchase process. The whole experience was very positive!” The following comments were shared by Mrs. Boucher from Gatineau, who felt reassured by the progress of the construction of her house and the project in general: “What was promised, was delivered! The project is moving forward quickly and the promoters work with the utmost precaution and make the proper decisions.”, she adds.
GOOD TIME TO INVEST
For now, Ecuador remains a relatively well-kept secret. Properties in Ecuador are much more affordable than in similar tourist destinations, which is one of the main reasons that Canadian travellers and investors are flocking to the region. “Prices reflect what was available in Costa Rica 15 years ago, but in a country where first-rate and modern infrastructure is already in place” confirms Mr. Poole. “Further, the Ecuadorian government is very stable and the currency is the US dollar, which is also very reassuring for investors.”, he adds. All that said, prices are rising quickly with the current real estate boom in the region. The Oulianovs wanted to act quickly and take advantage of the favourable market. “The development itself is spectacular - an endless beautiful beach, lots of parks and gardens, services available right on the site, and a ton of activities available in the region. We’re convinced that this will be a fantastic community in a secure and comfortable environment.”