Cuenca, Cuenca
Cuenca, Ecuador
Guide Price
$450,000
$450,000 USD · $107/sqft
PROPERTY TYPE
house
BEDROOMS
3
BATHROOMS
2
SIZE
4198 sq ft
Description
Hermosa casa de 2 plantas ubicada en Challuabamba a pocas cuadras del Supermaxi.. house for sale in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Location
Open in Google MapsLiving in Cuenca
Ecuador's top retirement destination with 8,000-10,000 expats already established, drawn by $350/month apartments, spring-like weather, and healthcare costs 50-70% below US prices. The colonial UNESCO center is beautiful and walkable, and the US dollar is the local currency. The trade-off is limited job opportunities, slower infrastructure, and a need for basic Spanish -- though the large expat community on Avenida Ordonez Lasso ('Gringolandia') provides a soft landing.
Colonial architecture draped in bougainvillea, $3 almuerzos that include soup and a main course, and a mountain-ringed city where retirees discover that the cost of a good life was always lower than they feared.
Visa
Retirement (Pensionado) Visa — requires just $1,446/mo pension income (Social Security qualifies), no age minimum. 2-year temporary permit, then permanent residency after 21 months. Professional Visa — for remote workers or self-employed, requires $1,446/mo income proof. One of the lowest income thresholds in the world.
Learn more: Retiring Abroad on Social Security→Key Fact
Ecuador uses the US dollar and has no currency exchange risk. The average US Social Security payment ($1,900/mo) comfortably exceeds the visa requirement and covers a good lifestyle. Cuenca has a massive American expat community with English-speaking services.
Learn more: Foreign Currency Risk: Protecting Your Investment→Ecuador at a glance
How Ecuador scores for American expats
Cost of buying in Ecuador
Estimated fees and ongoing costs for this property
Closing Costs
3-5% of purchase price
- ·Alcabala tax: 1%
- ·Notary: $200-500
- ·Registration: $100-300
- ·Legal fees: $500-1,500
- ·Municipal utility tax: 0.5-1%
Annual Costs
Property Tax
0.025-0.3% of cadastral value (very low)
Insurance
$200-400/yr
HOA / Condo Fees
$30-150/mo for condos (alícuota)
Good to Know
Agent Fees
Seller pays (3-5%)
Foreign Buyer Note
No restrictions on foreign buyers. Property purchases support visa applications. Uses US dollar — no currency risk.
Legal help in Ecuador
Hire your own attorney — not the seller's. We'll match you with a vetted local lawyer.
Need a local attorney in Ecuador?
We'll connect you with an independent, English-speaking real estate attorney experienced with foreign buyers. Not the seller's lawyer — yours.
Next steps for moving to Ecuador
Interested in this property? Here's how to move forward.
Understand the buying rules
Foreign ownership laws vary wildly by country. Some welcome you, others restrict or ban foreign buyers entirely.
Sort out your visa
Owning property doesn't give you the right to live there. Research residency options before you buy.
Plan your finances
Understand currency risk, international wire transfers, and whether you can get a local mortgage.
Know your tax obligations
US citizens are taxed on worldwide income. You'll need to file US taxes from abroad and may owe local taxes too.
Set up healthcare
Medicare doesn't cover you overseas. You'll need international health insurance or a local plan.
Run the full checklist
Banking, mail forwarding, power of attorney, pet import rules — the complete pre-move checklist.
FazWaz.com.ec
38,000
USD