8 Canada Realestate Directory

Now that the paperwork belongs to the past and the movers have left leaving you alone to admire your new property, it is time to sit down and list all those things you will have to do before being able to relax on your couch or back yard and admire your new possession.

- First of all, install new locks. Since you probably have no idea who has a copy of your current keys, it is best not to take any chances. Consider making an extra set of keys and giving the copy to your parents or best friend.

- Of course, purchase a fire extinguisher for the kitchen and one for the garage and keep them handy. Check and replace if necessary, all the batteries in the smoke detectors.

- If the house needs any preventive maintenance do it as early as possible. It will be really frustrating having to deal with contractors or paint while all your possessions are located inside the house.

- Check to see that all possible damage, like wet wood conditions or walls’ deterioration.

- Clean the gutters and downspouts and check that drain water is directed away from the house.

- Service all heating equipment and check the chimney of the fireplace for possible damage.

- Install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors in key locations.

- All medicines, poisons, or other dangerous elements have to be kept in child proof cabinets and cupboards.

- Create an emergency kit and storage in close to the exit.

- Keep flashlights, batteries, matches and candles in a special child proof drawer in an easy to reach place.

- Consider recording all the important house data and keep the papers related to your house in a safe or a drawer that locks. Also save all receipts of money spent for permanent improvements, repairs and any damage you had to fix. These can later be used for tax deduction purposes.

- In case you wish to renovate a part or even all of your house, you should better check with your neighborhoods local authorities first.

- After you are settled in, introduce yourself to your neighbors and offer them a “hello” gift. Usually people are shy to bang on your door and introduce themselves, so it is better if you break first the ice by introducing yourself. One of the main reasons people enjoy living where they live is that they know and bond with their neighbors.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Real Estate, Business, and Finance

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Ecuador 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.

But it’s also a country where you can live on the smallest of incomes. In Ecuador 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. You’ll pay almost no taxes and enjoy one of the most non-intrusive and non-regulatory governments in the civilized world.

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 gives every sign of retaining a stable government. The landscape of the market has changed, but there are plenty of areas where significant property bargains can be found and a comfortable lifestyle can be enjoyed on just a fraction of what you’d spend in much of the world.

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. 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 process of restoring the old colonial center, something which caused property values to rise rapidly in Cuenca and Guayaquil upon completion. Yet the tremendous value found in these irreplaceable antique homes-some in the $25,000 to $50,000 range-has not yet been recognized by the Ecuadorian investors.

A two-bedroom apartment in Cuenca’s colonial historic center a block from the main square just sold 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.

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. Even if these prices doubled they would still be cheap.

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 50-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.

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, same in 2005 and it’s on track to be about the same in 2006. There are no foreign-exchange controls and no restrictions on foreign-owned businesses. You can repatriate 100 percent of your profits.

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 is called Ecuador’s Valley of Longevity. Here a two-story 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 (2006) for $60,000.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Real Estate

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Steamboat Springs, Colorado, or “Ski Town” as it is affectionately known, is one of the most charming and unique vacation destinations in the United States. The town prides itself as a place that offers world class service and amenities without the high prices. For the traveler tired of being taken advantage of, this attitude is very welcome. Steamboat Springs offers just as many exciting things to do in all four of the seasons. Visitors can choose between fast and exciting river rafting, water skiing, kayaking and canoeing as well as fishing and a myriad of other activities. There is also a downhill slide called “The Howler” that has people lined up in the warmer months for a fast paced ride down Howelson Hill.

Steamboat Springs is also known for its western hospitality so bring your cowboy boots and belt buckles, kick up your heels, and be prepared to enjoy yourself. Go horseback riding, take part in a real cattle drive (remember the movie “City Slickers”?) or just set a spell and let all that tension from the city fade away into a sunset so beautiful it will bring tears to your eyes. Here you can enjoy some of the best barbeque east of the Rocky Mountains or choose from a variety of four star restaurants that any major metropolitan city would be proud to claim as its own.

In Steamboat Springs you’re in good company for whatever suits you. Want to put your athletic abilities to the test? Steamboat Springs has been the training ground for more Olympians than any town in North America, so if you’re using your vacation to get ready for the next triathlon, you’ve come to the right place. Mostly, the atmosphere is lighthearted and casual with a climate that brings out the best in everyone who visits. Kids especially, enjoy the many recreational activities that are designed exclusively for them - without their parents. Come one, come all for a good time, any time in Steamboat Springs.

Steamboat Springs Info provides detailed information about Steamboat Springs real estate, restaurants, ski resorts, lodging, snowmobiling, and more. Steamboat Springs Info is the sister site of Poconos Web.

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