Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
BIESS says its Credicasa housing loan requires a minimum credit score of 650, with financing of up to USD 65,000 for a first new home and a maximum term of 30 years.
A new report warns that only 30% of buildings in Ecuador comply with anti-seismic construction standards. The risk is tied to weak enforcement, informal construction and geological faults, especially in large cities such as Quito and Guayaquil.
Ecuador’s Assembly is debating tenancy-law changes that would set maximum limits and a return mechanism for rental guarantees, a practical issue for expats signing leases.
A Click Research poll says 67% support creating a new canton from nine Quito valley parishes, with insecurity leading the local problem list.
Ecuador issued Decree 441 on July 3, raising maximum values for certain social-interest housing categories. The change matters for buyers and developers watching subsidized housing, preferential mortgages, and lower-cost home inventory.
BIESS has modernized InmoBiess, a web platform where affiliates and retirees can review qualified housing projects and estimate mortgage payments. The tool includes projects by city, price and number of bedrooms, but it does not replace the formal credit evaluation.
Quito’s La Carolina and surrounding hypercenter remain among the city’s most demanded real-estate zones, with small units of 25 to 35 square meters in high demand. Market sources cite prices above $2,000 per square meter in high-end projects.
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.
