During downturns, it is important to conserve cash and we always recommend that our readers visit Ecuador and rent so they can get to know the area before they buy.
Here is an excerpt from our latest Ecuadorliving.com update on how to find good Cotacachi condo and house rentals.
Excerpt from Cotacachi Rental
A recent Ecuador Living message looked how Lee & Peggy Harper rented this Cotacachi country house for $150 a month.
House with a view
Lee found this on his own by asking around in town. There is no such thing as a listing service in Cotacachi, … or not until I start one anyway! Lee entered a pharmacy and got talking to the owner. He let it be known in his very basic Spanish that he was looking for a place to live.
By the way, Lee gained his Spanish basics on one of our Super Thinking – Super Spanish course and the rest he continues to pick up by not being afraid to try and communicate.
The lady in the pharmacy had a cousin with this house. There were a couple of others Lee was looking at but he thought it would be rude to not accept such a great offer at such a cheap price.
This Cotacachi property is some 4 miles outside. Lee and Peg used the local bus to get to town for 20 cents a day. The bus runs every 45 minutes but the catch to this cheap rental is that the bus is invariably full.
Then Lee and Peg decided to rent in Cotacachi and hit pay direct again.
There are some condos which were being renovated right next to our hotel. (The boarded up building on the left._
Now…they look like this (the yellow building). Lee and Peg were able to rent a condo there for just $150 a month. Some downsides about this. We’ll get to that in a moment.
This is a brand-new 1,200-square-foot apartment and their low rent helps them keep their total monthly expenses around $600. This includes food, utilities, medications and doctor’s visits, haircuts and manicures, laundry bills, cigarettes, a couple of cases of beer, and food for their two dogs.
Rent $150
Food $150
Water $6
Electricty $13
Propane $7
Medications $50
Laundry $24
House cleaning $40
Dog Food $40
Misc. $120.
They love Cotacachi, finding the people friendly and enjoy a real sense of belonging to the community.
Cotacachi sits between two stunning volcanoes…Mt. Imabura
and Mt. Cotacachi.
The area is largely dependent on agriculture which means the food is good, abundant and absolutely fresh.
There is no great night life, but after a day mountain sunshine and fresh air the nighttime is for sleeping.
This lifestyle leaves people feeling good! Lee says: I haven’t felt this good in so long I can’t remember. I used to take pain medication, but here I rarely take an aspirin. I don’t pick up a phone or get on the computer. I used to be glued to all that at home.
Not all Cotacachi rentals are so low. The typical condo is renting for $400 to $500 a month.
For example we rent the house below in Cotacachi at $500 a month with access to internet, free phone calls to the US, Europe and Canada, plus a full served breakfast (all at our hotel a few blocks away).
This is a rustic, but new, casita.
Here is the cozy living view.
Peaceful, quiet views from the garden deck. Lots of birds singing the the morning.
Deck chairs in the outdoor lounging place…facing the sunrise.
Outdoor Bar-B-Q just below.
Nice kitchen with all hardwood cabinets.
Light and bright.
Dining for six.
Open plan with unique handmade furniture from coffee wood.
Ecuadorian botanical art.
Really comfortable brand new king size bed and lots of hardwood closets.
Plus a second bathroom.
This unit is about seven minutes walk to our hotel El Meson de las Flores. Rent of the house includes free full served breakfast plus free broadband and free phone calls to US, Canada and Europe…all available at the hotel…not in the casita.
I just sent a full report on why the difference between high and low rentals plus four steps to find the low cost rentals to our Ecuador Living subscribers. You can access this report when you subscribe to Ecuador Living.
Until next message may your living anywere always be good!
Gary
Enjoy fresh Ecuador Christmas roses at your home or send as gifts.
Join us at a course in Cotacachi or on Ecuador’s coast this winter.
Jan. 16-21 Ecuador Spanish Course
Jan. 22-23 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
See condos like this in Cotacachi for $46,500.
Jan. 24-27 Coastal Real Estate Tour
See Manta condos like this one. Delegates are inspecting the 1,000+ square foot patio.
The patio has this view.
Feb. 9-11 Beyond Logic-Shamanic Mingo
Feb. 13-15 International Business & Investing Made EZ
Feb. 16-17 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
March 8-9 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
March 10-15 Ecuador Export Expedition
March 16-19 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Attend any three Ecuador courses or tours in a calendar month…$1,199 for one. $1,799 for two
Here is our Ecuador tour schedule for the balance of 2009.
Date Course Couples Fee
May 21-26 Ecuador Spanish Course ($999)
May 27-28 Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($749)
June 12-15 Shamanic Mingo Tour ($999)
June 16-17 Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($749)
June 18-21 Coastal Real Estate Tour ($749)
July 2-7 Ecuador Import Export Expedition ($1,499)
July 8-9 Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($749)
July 10-13 Coastal Real Estate Tour ($749)
Sept. 17-22 Ecuador Spanish Course ($999)
Sept. 23-24 Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($749)
Sept. 25-28 Coastal Real Estate Tour ($749)
Oct. 21-26 Ecuador Import Export Expedition ($1,499)
Nov. 6-8 International Investing and Business Made EZ Ecuador ($999)
Nov. 9-10 Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($749)
Nov. 11-14 Coastal Real Estate Tour ($749)
Attend any two Ecuador courses or tours in a calendar month…$949 for one. $1,349 for two
Attend any three Ecuador courses or tours in a calendar month…$1,199 for one. $1,799 for two
Better still join us all year in Ecuador! See our entire schedule of 26 courses, tours, mingos and expeditions we’ll conduct in 2009.
The course fee includes meeting at Quito airport (day before the
course)…transportation (by group bus) to Cotacachi and back to Quito.
Course fee does not include air are. accommodations, food or individual
transportation.
