Vistas de Cataviña FAQ's

Here you can find additional information on the Vistas de Cataviña property development. Please feel free to Contact Us if you have additional questions.

Go to:
• Lot Map 1 - with Topographical Overlay and Price List
• Lot Map 2 - with suggested home construction sites
• Return to Property Description Page


General Development Information

What is the pricing of the lots?
See the Price List for exact size and prices for each block of 5 lots. Lots 11 - 15 includes a small greenspace area where the drinking water tank is for the property, and lots 16 - 20 includes the upper reservoir. The total land area also includes the roadway.

How long would it take to develop this property?
The work should take six to nine months for all the infrastructure development (roads, power, water, phone, landscaping of public areas, etc). Home construction could potentially start before the infrastructure is completed if you are eager to start building your dream home.

What would it cost to develop this property?
Depending on what type of road surface you would like, what type of septic installation, and how much landscaping of the public areas you would want to do, the total costs would run between $1 and $3 per sq. meter. The high end price would also include street lighting and walking paths.

What will be the annual property taxes and monthly maintenance fees?
We have not registered the new parcel numbers for the individual lots, so we don't have exact amounts for the property tax - however, we expect that it will be less than $25 per year per lot.  We expect general maintenance will run 1.5 cents per sq. meter per month - which would be a range of $23 for the smallest lot to $73 for the largest.  This amount would cover maintenance of the road and public spaces, the sewage system, and power for streetlights and other common utilities.

Are there any restrictions on the size or style of house that can be built in the development?
No.  You are free to build homes to suit your tastes.

Will you require that we start construction in a certain timeframe?
No.  You are free to purchase lots as an investment and wait as long as you desire before building.  You will probably want to maintain the grounds to reasonable standards so it does not get too overgrown.

Is financing available?
Bank financing may be available to qualified buyers for the purchase of lots and construction of houses. We can make an introduction to a local bank, but we will not provide any bank guarantees or letter of credit on your behalf.

What are the average costs for building a home here?
Prices will vary, depending on the style and design of the home, finishing's, etc – but in general we expect that a typical "American style" high-end home will cost about $40 per square foot (so a 2,500 sq. foot home would be roughly $100,000 plus the cost of the lot).  Very nicely built homes can be constructed for much less, and you can easily spend much more.

Is internet and satellite TV service available?
DirecTV is available starting at about $30 per month for basic service.  Internet service is currently available using "point to point" wireless service - which provides a very good high-speed connection.  A commercial service can be set up to provide a shared internet connection to all the homes in the development.


General area Information

What towns are in the area?
The biggest towns in the Yunguilla Valley are Santa Isabel (population 20,000), about ten minutes drive from the property to the South - and Giron, which is about a 20 minute drive to the North. These are both medium sized towns with relatively good shopping and services. For major shopping, you will need to go to Cuenca (45 minutes to an hour away) or Machala (1.5 hours away).  The closest communities are Asencion, Cataviña, and La Union.  These are all less than 5 minutes away, but are quite small.  La Union, however, has some very nice restaurants, a well stocked hardware store, and a garden/landscape supply store.

How far is it to the beach?
The closest beach is in Machala, about an hour and a half away - however, this is not usually considered one of the best beaches in Ecuador.  For a nicer weekend vacation you will want to go to Playas or Salinas, about five hours by car.

How about healthcare and schools
All of the towns in the Yunguilla valley are fairly small.  There are good medical clinics and a private school in Santa Isabel, but you will need to go to Cuenca for major medical procedures and better educational facilities.

Do you have other information about the Yunguilla Valley
See our article on Yunguilla that was published as a Daily Postcard by International Living Magazine.  This is a growing area, with better than average long-term appreciation potential. Please feel free to Contact Us if you have specific questions.