Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Net housing reservations in Ecuador rose 28% from January to April 2026 compared with the same period last year. Builders now project that annual housing sales could reach or exceed 40,000 units if favorable conditions continue.
BIESS has three mechanisms for affiliates, retirees and pensioners with pending mortgage obligations: refinancing, restructuring and novation. The options are designed to reduce late-interest pressure, protect credit history and avoid legal action tied to missed payments.
El Mercurio reports the Biess Credicasa mortgage plan has received 1,600 requests nationwide for more than $81 million. The plan offers a 2.99% mortgage rate for homes up to $65,000.
Primicias reports that mortgage-credit disbursements grew 22% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Sales, project visits and net reservations also rose, giving buyers and renters another signal that the housing market is tightening.
Ecuador's housing market is pulling in different directions — rents are rising faster than sale prices, the construction sector is growing 4.1%, and affordability is becoming a concern in popular expat areas. Here's where things stand.
Ecuador's rental market is tightening sharply in Cuenca, Quito, and Guayaquil, with rising demand from both locals and expats pushing monthly rates higher. Meanwhile, property sale prices are firming up after years of stagnation, with condos and gated communities in highest demand.
Repeated wave surges have flooded condo lobbies, destroyed sea walls, and damaged vehicles in Salinas and Punta Blanca. Experts warn that sea levels have risen 39 centimeters since the 1970s — and the worst is yet to come.
Quito has approved a new urban development plan for La Mariscal — the city's historic expat and tourist district. The centerpiece: Avenida Amazonas will revert to two-way traffic as part of an economic revitalization strategy.
Ecuador's Valley of Longevity earned its spot in the national Pueblos Mágicos program. With Carnival weekend coming, it's one of the best quiet getaways in the country — horseback riding, waterfalls, 140+ bird species, and nobody throwing water balloons at you.
Carnival weekend means four days off and half of Ecuador heading to the coast. Whether you want surf and parties, a quiet beach with a book, or something in between — here's where to go and what to watch out for.
A 2023 municipal risk reassessment has frozen construction in some of Manta's most desirable coastal neighbourhoods. Property values are down 15-25% in affected areas, and foreign buyers are walking away from deals.
Once overlooked by foreign buyers, the Pacific coast city of Manta is now one of Ecuador's hottest real estate markets, with beachfront property values climbing 25% in the past year alone.
