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can you just not pay the last month of your rent (or 2) once you decide to move out to force them to take the rent out of your security deposit to cover the rent?

Hi Don, we are neighbors, in fact you can see my house next block by your window in some of your short videos, regarding what I expect of a expat ( and believe me I hear them all every morning as they pass thru my window) Is to follow our society rules(which almost all do) and what I don't like is that they don't pick their pet's droppings (I have cameras, I know who you are, not you Don, mind me lol), but overall I welcome you all, watched you plan to leave, If you decide to I hope your time here was good enough to cherish it, and if you plan to stay, hopefully we'll meet one day in person. Anyway, great channel, i like your position towards current crime spike. Have fun!

Is there a sewer system? A couple of years ago, I toured the neighborhood and looked at several lots -- but I was turned off by the community sewer/septic system, which caused an odor in the breeze in some parts of the development. The sales rep said they were working with the town of MC to hook up to the muni sewer. Did that ever happen?

Don, thank you for being such a good ambassador for Ecuador.

Hi .. from seniors in Montreal, Quebec. Best of luck to you .. we lived in the Dominican for 4 years in the nineties .. played the blues and rock there. There's a Monte Cristi in the Dominican.

Guinea pig is not in the pork family😅

Off the subject, but Don, do you know if the new condos have steel beams in them now? I know the older buildings were just bricks on top of bricks with a little re-rod. I was there before and after the big earthquake and lots of those buildings have interior structural damage, so I'd recommend to new expats to make sure their building have steel beams. Lots of earthquakes and tremblors when I was there. The older buildings were just patched up on the outside. I'm eventually going to buy there, so was just wondering.

Have you ever thought of having your clothes made in Manta. My parents live there ( they were both born there ) and they will take a photo from a website...go to the fabric store and pick their fabric and then take it to a seamstress. Very inexpensive ( fabric was about 3.50$ and seamstress was 20$ but this was for a formal piece of attire). Just an idea:)

That was very helpful and great interview Don! I will definitely be contacting Francisco sometime in the future to discuss a build.

Best in a long time. Thanks for a really great video/interview!!

Turnkey here is NOT Turnkey there.

It's inaccurate to say there is "no supply and demand". There is HUGE supply but NO demand. Everything is for sale and for rent, but few Ecuadorians have any free capital. And the net expat population flow is currently OUT of the country, further creating a surplus. Buying or building in Ecuador should be treated as a depreciating asset and expense - NOT an investment. Only build or buy if you really want to live here for a while... because you are essentially guaranteed to lose money on it, should you decide to sell... at least in the next few years

Fascinating information coming out of youtube channel Vilcabamba Reality Disclosure.... now so much makes sense.

Don, thank you!!

You’re back! 🎉

funny watching for a few moments before i realized it was Don on video not a podcast...lol

Don, You threw some rice over your balcony. You know that's for good luck. 😂

Thank you, Don.

His services are "cradle to grave"...for a short version of that part of the story! Good video

9:27 Don, duck and run! 😆

Interesting. With no income requirement on the professional visa (currently), an early retirement in Ecuador is still in the mix of options. ❤👍

Thanks so much both of you...for the good info and not least, for the smile 🤗🌹🌹🌹

Thanx Don great interview and lots of great info to know

Completely unrelated to this topic, but I have been curious for a while. When you claim your IVA rebate, do you include your beer and wine purchases? I used to buy mine in Supermaxi, so the total was mixed with more legitimate purchases and hard to separate. Was always torn between including it or not.

This guy is a general contractor and architect, so all you have to do is pay him step by step as the house 🏠 is build 💯 .... Don't pay ahead of the job when you finish the concrete job. Pay him when finishing the framing on the 🏘 pay again so you control the financial part step by step .....

That was one I've been wanting for a while. Many thanks Don.

Don! Looking great and happy to see a new video. I asked once when I noticed but now I see you Aloe Vera getting too much sun, bring it in the shade. Looking forward to more vids

Another interesting video. Thanks, Don!!!!

Hola Don! I guess I am the third member in the Super Groupie Grumpy Old Gringo Club to see your video and post a comment. Geezus, Mike and Kathy must be stalking you to be this fast. Well, anyway - Awesome video and info. Abrazos

WOW! I guess I truly belong to "the super groupie Grumpy Old Gringo club" since I see that I am the first to view and comment on your video Don! Great to see you back!

great video!

I appreciate knowing about the cloned license plate and your story about what you did about it. I suppose it's a concern one has to be ready for although I hope it doesn't happen too often. I wonder why they couldn't find that other car? Did they not care? I also wonder why they kept using the same fake license plate because that seems like a sure fire way to get someone really after them.

There are general laws about landlords and tenants; for example, you are not responsible for repairs that are due to wear and tear. That is called "desgaste normal." You are responsible for repairs for damages you cause, which are called "reparaciones locativas." My landlord tried to get me to pay for a wear-and-tear damage; I refused, but I'm sure he will try to take it from the security. He seems like the kind who will postpone paying it and then never pay, so I plan to get a lawyer to draw up a document that will initiate a claim against him and have it in hand when it is time to leave. Lawyers are not expensive here, and I think that will be money well spent. Also, don't tell your landlord you are moving far away! That means you will never see that deposit. Start talking to him about the deposit long when you give notice and if needed tell him you are only moving to another place within the city. That's a white lie that may help motivate him to pay. Also, take pictures of damage that was there when you moved in.

They can jump a few feet if it finds a path. I would get too close

Hi, can you please, give me the name of your private insurance company? , and if possible the name of agent, and telephone number, I appreciate that very much. Thank you , best regards.

Are there any apartment deals where owners are paying tenants to move in? To prevent squatters and looters?

We regard IESS as our “got hit by a bus” catastrophic coverage. For everything else we just pay privately.

Don. I am in Colombia, married to my wife here. You mentioned Darby for translating Spanish documents. Is this a paid service or something available for free. I’m enjoying your EP’s. Thanks Roger

Hey Don, I have to pay $88 per month for IESS public health insurance here in Manglralto. I have no health issues. So you got a better deal than I did.

Thanks dear Don 🌹🌹I can't wait for Ecuador. No way I am spending my retired life on this old continent here...Colonial Europe have lost the plot 100% hence, I've lost all respect for them all and, will take my personal, forced saved pension from here and, I will let them care for themselves or, for the ones who survive over here in developing Europe....the International private insurer I asked was correct...Ecuador is better than Europe - roughly 10 times better 💓

You're living the life, Don. 😄

I like the music . I live outside America. I have private insurance, but I pay cash to visit my doctor, who doesn't accept insurance ( 30 dollars ) he had worked in a hospital for 20 years and is very astute. The private insurance ( 800 dollars a year) is for catastrophic injury . The majority of the country uses motorcycles, and they are out of control .

Spot on Don.

great info Don...

Hey Dawn. I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you videos. I love that you just don't show only the possetive but the not great to. Keep up the good work. I'll look for your email because I wanted to see the video called the brutal truth about living in ecuador. Thanks again for all the videos.

Thanks so much Don! This doesn't just sound as but is 100% like the majority of Europe!!

Don, how do I contact you? Or for the direct route, HOW do I sent you a cup of coffee? Why is this link, or app, or what ever you want to call it, maybe the cash hole (?), so difficult to find (?) on TH-cam, so that we can easily kick in a couple of bucks? For the un-technical in the short bus, please enlighten me? Hey is there a button? Bingo, Bango? Thanks Don.

Don, where do I find a link to buy you a coffee? I'm technically dangerous. Thank you

Don will you visit Cuenca again?

Hi Don. Enjoy your videos. Could you do a review on your car. Thx