Ecuador Raises VIS Housing Subsidy Values Under Decree 441

Ecuador issued Decree 441 on July 3, 2026, changing the rules for social-interest housing and raising the values tied to some subsidized homes.

The reform takes effect once it is published in the Registro Oficial.

VIS housing is defined as a first and only home for priority groups and people in poverty, extreme poverty, or vulnerability. The program is aimed at low- and middle-income households that need a home and have not received a similar benefit before.

What Changed

The regulation keeps three housing segments, but raises maximum values in the fully subsidized first segment.

For homes built on land owned by the beneficiary, the maximum value moves from 44 unified basic salaries to 54 unified basic salaries. Using the 2026 salary value cited in the rule coverage, that equals $26,028.

For homes built on state-owned land, the ceiling moves from 64 unified basic salaries to 74 unified basic salaries, or $35,668 in 2026.

The second segment continues to include homes that receive a partial state subsidy and may be combined with a preferential-rate mortgage or other financing selected by the beneficiary.

What This Means For Expats

Most foreign residents are not the target audience for VIS subsidies. But the policy still matters if you track Ecuador’s real-estate market.

Higher VIS ceilings can affect the bottom end of new housing inventory, developer math, and the price bands around subsidized and entry-level projects. If you are buying outside the expat bubble, those shifts can eventually influence neighborhood pricing and supply.