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Dear Reader, I’m writing to let you know about a new opportunity to learn about one of my favorite destinations, and one of the best places in the world to retire or invest. Ecuador
But it’s also a country where you can live on the smallest of incomes. A country where you can still find pristine beachfront lots for under $12,000, antique colonial homes for under $25,000, and peaceful mountain retreats for under $50,000…and you’ll pay almost no taxes and enjoy one of the most non-intrusive and un-regulating governments in the civilized world. A One-Of-A-Kind Conference But this conference—hosted by our Latin America Roving Editor Lee Harrison and our Ecuador correspondent David Morrill— is a bit different than most. Not only will you have access to all the information you need to live, work, invest, or retire to Ecuador, but you’ll also be meeting several expats who have actually done what you may be dreaming of doing yourself: they’ve left their old careers, reinvented themselves, and retired I have long found Ecuador to be one of the most beautiful, diverse, and exciting countries that we cover. Nestled in the jagged Andes Mountains, it is home to a large portion of the world’s wildlife and bird species, as well as a staggering array of different landscapes and climates. There’s truly something here for everyone. Ecuador’s real treasure, however, is its people. It’s one of the few places where a foreign resident or visitor can blend easily into the community, being welcomed into a new circle of friends and a new way of life with relative ease. As a foreigner here you’ll be treated with respect, and the people will be proud to get to know you. During the last 5 years, Ecuador has gone through a number of tumultuous changes, including the recent ousting of a president in 2005. But today’s Ecuador has emerged as a country which remains a haven for those wanting to retire or invest, and in fact, I myself have recently bought property here. The landscape of the market has changed, but there are plenty of areas where
Maid service costs around $120 monthly, and construction workers still earn around $200 per month. At the market, you’ll find handmade fisherman sweaters for less than $10 and leather jackets for under $50. If you join us in Quito, you’ll get a full accounting of what you can expect to pay for day-to-day living. A Quality Of Life That’s Hard To Beat Low prices alone do not make an ideal retirement or investment destination. There are plenty of places the world over where you can buy cheap land and find a 5-cent cup of coffee—but you wouldn’t want to live there. Not so in Ecuador. Here you’ll enjoy a quality of life that’s hard to beat, and an experience in living that you won’t get anywhere else. If you enjoy the outdoors, have dreamed of owning a Spanish Colonial home in a World Heritage site, or want to spend hours strolling on an undeveloped beach, then Ecuador may be for you. Hear about it directly in May from expats who are enjoying the life here already. A Great Opportunity For Starting A Solid Business As you may know, Ecuador survived the Latin American financial meltdown of 2002, in part because of a stability factor that came from adopting the US dollar as the official currency. The formerly high inflation rate came in at 3.9% in 2004, and it’s on track to be about the same in 2005. There are no foreign-exchange controls and no restrictions on foreign-owned businesses. You can repatriate 100 percent of your profits. Several of our readers have started their own businesses here…come to Quito and learn how they did it. What’s Hot Right Now In Ecuador While there are good buys all over the country, the best buy right now in the property market is unquestionably the purchase of old Spanish colonials in Quito’s historic center. The city is in the The other hot area at this writing is the village of Vilcabamba in Ecuador’s southern Sierra. Enjoying near-perfect year ‘round weather and dramatic mountain scenery, it has Ecuador’s highest concentration of IL readers. Read on to get all the details on our first Live and Prosper in Ecuador conference. Sincerely,
Kathleen Peddicord
or Contact Us International Living Conferences Team Phone: Toll-free 1-866-381-8446 |
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This is a country where you can live surrounded by unparalleled beauty, whether it be in the ancient colonial cities of the Sierra, the tranquil Valley of Longevity, the exotic Amazon rainforest, Ecuador’s beautiful and natural coastline, or the mystical and unique Galapagos Islands. 
Today, you can buy a two-bedroom condominium in Quito’s historic center, close to good shopping, gourmet restaurants, and hotels, for under $55,000…and a one-bedroom for just over $25,000. Quito’s antique Spanish colonial homes in need of restorations start at around $30,000. A two-bedroom apartment in Cuenca’s colonial historic center a block from the main square just sold to a reader for $34,000, and a beautiful one-bedroom apartment can be rented in Cuenca’s most luxurious neighborhood—directly on the Tomebamba River—for just $250 per month. In Vilcabamba, Ecuador’s Valley of Longevity, a two-story Home of the Panama Hat Grazing llamas in El Cajas traditional Ecuadorian house with five bedrooms on 2.5 acres with lots of fruit trees, and a fresh water source that provides fresh water year-round, sold this year for $60,000. During this conference, you’ll learn about the best places to buy, and a step-by-step process on how to get it done. 
