Vilcabamba and the nearby villages continue to cast their spell on savvy world travellers who recognise a unique location with unusual benefits when they see one.  The highly touted health benefits derived from the energy fields of intersecting ley lines seem to bear out the legends.  In talking with many newly relocated gringos I hear stories of increased vigor and decreased aches and pains.  It’s amazing how many people I hear from who have vague plans to move here upon their retirement.  But, like everywhere else in the world where the countryside is beautiful and the living is easy, progress is inexorable.  So my advice is “Don´t wait much longer or you will miss the boat”.  
Vilcabamba has sprung into the modern age with long awaited cellular service, internet (in most areas) and several new and excellent restaurants and small businesses.  This, of course, means property values are rising though still a bargain by US standards.  No longer is it possible to buy country property for a few thousand dollars a hectare and properties within the town have risen accordingly.  But let me back up a little with the welcome news that beautiful and valuable properties are still available and are expected to continue to rise in value making for an excellent investment.

The days of $35,000 homes however are long gone and, to be perfectly blunt, most of the homes in this price range that you may have read about, would not be considered houses in the western sense.  In order to inform (and certainly not discourage) let me give you an honest and realistic picture of real estate in the less populated areas of Ecuador. 

So many of us look at a stunning piece of property, fall in love with it and set in motion the process of purchase without fully understanding the challenges of living or building in a less developed country than that to which we have been accustomed.  There are few paved roads outside of the towns and often only donkey trails to many areas.  Picturesque yes, but not so charming in the rainy season or when the novelty of hauling everything (including groceries) on the backs of a 4 legged animal has passed.

Most country dwellings consist of 2 to 3 rooms usually with dirt floors.  Again somewhat charming but with the potential to leave you with a lifetime of problems in the rainy season unless everything is well sealed and protected by a sufficiently overhanging roof.  There would be no hot water (if any running water at all), no indoor bathroom and often no electricity.  To upgrade these homes to even basic western standards can be relatively expensive and their structure many be insufficiently sophisticated to be able to withstand additional weight or change.  Even the most adaptable Westerners prefer comfortable toilet and bathing facilities and I know I am a bear all day if my morning shower is ice cold.  So what I am saying is that one must be realistic in figuring the actual cost of a liveable home.  Occasionally a home with all the basic ¨luxuries¨ does come on the market and if the price is fair I always recommend these as a first choice for those wishing to move here with a minimum of unexpected and unbudgeted expense.

The alternative is to buy a nice piece of property and build your own home.  Normally it is considerably cheaper than trying to remodel something that may not be architecturally sound (but keep that original 2 roomer while your home is being built).  You will need a secure bodega (storeroom) for your tools and supplies during construction anyway.  Of course you will also need a caretaker to live on the property and safeguard your equipment while construction is in progress and, generally speaking, even after you have moved into your new home.  You will appear to be very wealthy to the poor country dwellers here and things have a tendency to disappear from your property overnight if you don´t take sensible precautions especially if you are leaving the area for a few days.

Many folks however, are not planning to actually move here full time, but plan a 2 or 3 month stay each year and would prefer to take advantage of the eternally spring like temps here and avoid the miserable cold of winter back home.  For them a nice place in or very near to, a local town is a much better choice and much easier to find someone to keep an eye on their property while they are gone. (It’s not easy to find a reliable caretaker to live out in the country in rather isolated circumstances.)

It is possible to spend 3 months a year here on a visitor’s visa without any special visa or legal expenses.  Forget the much advertised $1,400 investors visa.  It is now very much a thing of the past and to qualify for an investor’s visa you must now be prepared to put up $25,000.  There are other attractive visas available for retirees and other classifications and I would be happy to recommend excellent, honest and reliable lawyers in Cuenca who specialize in immigration and customs issues.  They also have an English speaking attorney on their team so instructions and information are always crystal clear to the non Spanish speakers.  They can take care of all the legalities including title insurance for your purchase so are an invaluable asset should you decide to actually move here to live.  

I also recommend that prospective property purchasers look around the general area and not be fixated on Vilcabamba property.  There are stunningly beautiful valleys and mountains all over the Loja province.  Pueblos like Malacatos, Taxiche and Landangui are so close to Vilcabamba they share the same health promoting energies but are, generally speaking, spared the hordes of backpackers and noisy revellers that can make peaceful living difficult at times.  Sometimes too, the prices can be a little cheaper.

Bearing in mind all the above and making sensible decisions, I still believe this valley to be one of Natures´ most beautiful and healthy places to live.  I am always glad to help you in your search for the perfect spot however, it is impossible to tell you what is available for sale today and expect it to still be on the market if you are planning your trip weeks in the future.  As anywhere else in the world ¨hot properties¨ tend to sell very quickly.  Occasionally I hear of something coming up for sale on a certain date and can alert you but be prepared to hop on a plane and hightail it out here or arrange for a lawyer here in Ecuador to have power of attorney to act on your behalf. 

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