Articles

Everyone tells you to buy. The prices are so cheap! But cheap doesn't mean smart. Here's why renting might be the better financial move for most expats — and when buying actually makes sense.

Over 700,000 people in Ecuador need to file income tax returns by March. If you earned more than $12,081 last year — including rental income or freelance work — you're probably one of them. Here are the dates, thresholds, and what you need to know.

Cuenca's waste management company switched how it charges you for garbage collection. The new system dropped senior discounts, changed the billing method, and left EMAC with a $500,000 monthly shortfall. Parks and tree planting are already on hold.

Cuenca's real estate market is defying Ecuador's broader economic headwinds. Property values are up 8-12% annually, rents are surging in expat-popular neighborhoods, and the investor visa threshold just went up. Here's a practical breakdown of what's happening and how to navigate it.

Cuenca's 2026 rainy season is anything but ordinary. After years of drought, the skies have opened up with a vengeance — flooding streets, dusting the Cajas with snow, and refilling the reservoirs that kept the lights off in 2024. Here's what expats need to know to stay safe and dry.

What started as a festive Carnival Saturday turned dangerous fast. Intense afternoon rains on February 14 and 15 flooded at least 15 neighborhoods, damaged homes in Barabón Chico, and sent emergency crews scrambling across western Cuenca. Meanwhile, in Cajas National Park, lightning struck four hikers on Cerro San Luis.

From Cuenca's first full wastewater treatment plant to potable water expansion in Santa Ana, ETAPA's 2026 plan includes 200 contracts worth $58.4 million. Here's what's actually in the pipeline and why it matters for the city's future.

If you earned more than $12,081 in 2025 or have interest income from Ecuadorian bank CDs, the SRI wants to hear from you. Your first deadline is this month. Here's the timeline.

The City Council approved a one-time exception letting inherited rural properties subdivide below the legal minimum lot size. New floor: 120 square meters. Pilot starts in Llacao, then expands to all 20 rural parishes.