How do I rent an apartment in Manta, Ecuador?

This episode is about the popular real estate, rental agent, Stella Coulter.
Stella has been a pillar of this community for years and when you need to find a place to rent in Manta, whether short term or long term, Stella is the one to call.
04:11 - Should you rent or buy at first?
04:42 - What is the process for renting an apartment?
06:08 - How is the deposit calculated?
07:52 - What about availability?
09:30 - Is AirBNB competition for you?
11:04 - What are the pricing differences between Ocean Front, Beach Front, Ocean View?
Are these prices negotiable?
12:15 - What about security?
13:00 - What about renting houses?
13:24 - Are most of the properties owned locally?
14:10 - Do you have actual lease agreements?
15:14 - Do you have to have a passport to rent an apartment?
15:44 - How are utilities paid?
16:20 - Is it difficult getting your deposit back?
16:42 - Where does the deposit go?
17:45 - How do you pay the utilities?
19:25 - What about senior discounts?
19:57 - In Manta, where should you NOT look for a place to live?
20:28 - What do you do when you hear loud music? Dealing with noise.
21:26 - Where are most of your rentals?
23:17 - Why should anyone call you for an apartment?
Stella's contact information -
WhatsApp - [phone]
Email - [e-mail]
Me:
Instagram: @shaderdon
Facebook: / don.shader
If you can't walk on water, freeze it
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The views expressed in this video are in no way intended to be taken as advice on retirement, migrating to Ecuador, investing, buying insurance, or getting your immigration documentation.
I am not responsible for any decision you make after watching my videos.
I don't give advice and I don't recommend anything unless it is based on my own personal, verifiable experience.
I want to be sure that the information I provide is accurate information and I don't want people to make a poor choice based on anything I say.
If one person comes here based on my influence and doesn't like it at all, then has to return to start all over again, I have failed.

[@wetcatfud6108]

Stella is great! Terrific interview with great advice.

[@jr8585]

Don you're a pro! Amzing guest, her friendly attitude and professionalism is top notch. Love the way the both of you engaged together and brought a calm, relaxed vibe but very informative 20mins to the table. Keep it up and I hope I get to call on her sometime in the future.

[@DonShader]

Wow, thank you!

[@sandywells5280]

It finally happened! 👍 Great interview Don, worth the wait. Stella is definitely the person to call if you're needing a place to stay in Manta. And she's such a lovely lady!

[@Nevereverbrake]

Don, great interview with Stella. Very helpful info. She is definitely the go to for finding the perfect place in Manta!

[@susywilliams9217]

Great interview. What a nice lady. Hope she gets a lot of business from your video!

[@DonShader]

I hope so too!

[@boothjr]

Very well done as usual. I am coming soon, Stella again is finding an apartment for me.

[@robbies2604]

Great interview with Stella! If I were to move to Manta, I would definitely want her as my realtor.

[@kellyharveylpc5143]

Nice job, Don & Stella.

[@tmcdon]

Don! Great to see you and Stella! Such a classy lady! Thank you both for putting this together, and for the great advice! Can't wait to take you two out!

[@DonShader]

Me too. Get here and lets go eat.

[@robertjackson9601]

Nice to finally meet you Stella, very informative interview. Thank you for all the information. Hoping you do more interviews and share your knowledge.

[@whacked00]

Awesome interview. On point questions, gracious guest, much good info. Thanks, Don.

[@Manta7123]

Just reached out to Stella- thanks Don!

[@taterkaze9428]

Good interview, Stella is clearly an expert.

[@ecuadorhusker2449]

Very informative Don. Good job.

[@shirleyvandemark3357]

Stella, you were great! She was nervous about doing this interview but I knew she'd do well.

[@DonShader]

Tell me about it. You would think I was asking her to marry me, trying to get her to settle down for this simple interview. -ds

[@angelatravers6937]

Great interview Don! Stella is an absolutely beautiful person. I can not say how much Brad and I enjoyed spending time with her when we were in town. We also are so impressed with her honesty, her genuineness, her connections and her amazing knowledge of all the places/amenities and pricing of the various properties :) ❤️ She is definitely the person to work with if you would need a place to live in Manta. She is absolutely lovely!

[@johnneycoon7808]

I really enjoyed your interview. Stella seems like a wealth of information and a very nice lady too. If I’m ever in the market for a rental in Manta, I will definitely contact her. I love your interviews, very well done.

[@stevenmoretti688]

Great interview Don. Stella seems to be a really nice person. Thanks for all you do.

[@DonShader]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@joann5157]

What a great interview with a lovely lady! So much good information. Thank you both!

[@DonShader]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danbar7176]

Thank you Don. Awesome video, as usual.

[@DonShader]

Very welcome

[@perfectlylonely]

Great video Don.

[@DonShader]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@rafaelsolorzano700]

A very nice video...quite interesting Don...very valuable information.

[@DonShader]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@fluffy5534]

Hi Don: I recently had a bad experience with an agent name Eduardo in Cuenca. He refuses to return my deposit. This is after I cleaned the apartment, paid all utilities etc. First, he said my deposit will be returned in 8 days. Then he said he will return my deposit after he rent the apartment. Then he passed me to the owner who lives in the U.S. He informed me that he won't return my deposit at all. I hope this is a lesson for everyone. It should be noted that I left that building because the elevator was broken 4-5 weeks. I had to climb the stairs with a bad knee. Also the apartment was very dirty when I moved in. The bed was bloody....

[@DonShader]

Okay, I don't want to come off as a none caring jerk but why did you accept the apartment that was dirty and a bed that was bloody? That should have been a major red flag. DO NOT accept them not returning your deposit. Talk to an attorney. I only know of one real estate attorney in Ecuador. He's here in Manta but you shjould contact him. If he can't help you, he probably knows someone that can in Cuenca. Contact David Villaroel at 099 981 3207 on WhatsApp. His email is david.villarroelabogados.com Let me know if you have any trouble reaching him, I will help you.

[@MemeHam123]

Thank you, Don! Always great content! Best!

[@DonShader]

Very welcome

[@bram992]

Beautiful interview. Thanks Don!!

[@DonShader]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sandylopez7181]

Guayaquil people doesn’t have just Salinas, it has Playas Beach and many other beaches nearby to go to….Very nice lady and nice interview…Regards

[@PierrePlogoff]

Thanks. Nice and smart people.

[@loiswhitesings]

What a GREAT interview !!! Thank you Don for asking all of the questions in our heads, and Thank you Stella for the extremely informative ,and insightful responses.This gave me such a Full glimpse into the Manta rental world,Really appreciate. I can't wait to land in the area to check everything out, and begin my process.

[@DonShader]

Our pleasure!

[@user-iw6kk4fc3h]

Nice video my friend

[@robertjackson9601]

Stella, I have told Don that also! Join the party.

[@jose.vargas1409]

I already rented in two Dif places in manta ocean view and I pay $700 a month.(two bedrooms 3 baths )...this is not MIAMI..

[@richardchurchill407]

Thank you and be sure and thank Stella. It was informative and appreciated. I'm planning on visiting with, the possibility of living in Ecuador.

[@DonShader]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marktanney3347]

Excellent interview. Very helpful. I do have one small comment. If there is a way to fit it in somewhere a few brief comments about allowing pets might be useful. I'm curious about that myself. But overall a great interview. I'll be contacting Stella.

[@DonShader]

Pets can be a problem in some of the newer apartments but you just have to talk to Stella and see how she can help.

[@peterhammond1851]

Never mind just found the description..thanks

[@DonShader]

You're welcome

[@KG-xt4oq]

This was absolutely outstanding and invaluable to me. Based on the fact she said there's an increase in demand for rentals during what would be summer there (Nov-Feb), this has led me to decide on coming down for an exploratory trip next March (was originally thinking right before or right after Christmas)...for how long is TBD. First thing I need to do is get the passport process started, which I will do some time next month. Thanks for the great video, Don! Also, I realize that you probably get a ton of emails every day, but I sent you one over a month ago with a couple questions and have not gotten a reply...am I being too impatient? Take care and be safe...

[@DonShader]

I thought I responded to your email. I'll investigate. And yes, you're right. I get TOO many emails but I try to answer all of them. -ds

[@DonShader]

I don't have any emails from a "KG". Please try sending it again and I'll watch for it but I need a name other than just an initial.

[@KG-xt4oq]

@@DonShader Thanks for the reply. My email address starts with 'sb' and ends with an '03' and is a hotmail/outlook address. Also, I just checked my sent items folder and I was mistaken on when I sent my email...it was on July 3rd and not over a month ago, my apologies; I confused it with an email I sent you at the end of May with questions on a topic you do not want to discuss.

[@DonShader]

@@KG-xt4oq lease resend the email.

[@KG-xt4oq]

@@DonShader I just re-sent it...some of what I wrote when I originally sent it is no longer pertinent, but the 2 questions I asked are so I decided not to make any changes to it. Thanks for your time; I watched your earthquake video today...take care and be safe...

[@pedroblanco8311]

Hi Don, when you have a moment, would you please be kind enough to modify the configurations for this video to allow Spanish subtitles. We look forward to listening to your interview with Stella Coulter. Thanks for your considersation.

[@DonShader]

Pedro we tried on this one and it didn't work because of Stella's broken english. I'll have to go through the text and correct hers as much as possible but that will take a long time to do.

[@pedroblanco8311]

@@DonShader OK. Thanks for advising.

[@qzh00k]

Am Interested in a place that allows chickens. Nice close Don.

[@DonShader]

Yeah, I hope you find one close by. I love me some fried chicken.

[@Mexicobeanpole]

@@DonShader 😂😂

[@MrJrweir]

Great info, what's the cost of living like in this area, also what are the highlights of this city

[@DonShader]

Watch my videos.

[@bram992]

Did she lived in Mauritius too ?

[@DonShader]

No.

[@peterhammond1851]

Hey Don I watch all your videos. Great stuff, very informative. Can't seem to find your email address in the description, I'd like to contact you directly, can you please share. Also how can I contact Stella?.Does she have a website with rental listings? Thanks!!

[@DonShader]

Stella Coulter: [e-mail]

[@billeagle51]

And the big thing is, and we have to be truthful, the politics of Latin America can change like the winds from day to day. Example...use to be a wealthy country! Venezuela

[@sandylopez7181]

Don what is the phone number for the realtor? Thank you….Someone might need it….☝️

[@yeahright532]

WhatsApp number and email address not enough?

[@DonShader]

Her information is in the description. Thanks.

[@sandylopez7181]

great …thank you Don. I wish you all the best…

[@hump1953]

Not clear whether she represents the renter or the landlord…

[@DonShader]

BOTH

[@hump1953]

@@DonShader that may be OK, probably no problem there, you’re not really dealing with a lot of money and she seems to be a very nice inter mediator

[@jamesfilerman2731]

don talks too much

[@DonShader]

James talks too much