Dom I know you know a lot about real estate in Ecuador. There is a Developement called Las Olas going up just south of Bahia on 1500 acres, that will have 2golf courses, 2hotels, yacht club, health clinic, stores to shop, horse stables, condos, golf course homes and beachfront homes. They have a founders club going on right now, that is to collect upfront money and help build the developement. 18 beachfront homes, 10 golf course homes and 24 condos units. When finished complex is supposed to have over 4000 homes and condos done in 6 phases over 15 years. You put $10,000 down to hold your lot and then have 60 days to come see and pick out your lot. If you decide to purchase you give them a deposit and pay the balance over three years. Beachfront lots with 2000 sq ft home are $200,000 but with founders 5% discount on monthly payments you end up moly paying $160,000. If you don't like developement they will refund your $10,000 in the sixty day period. Golf course homes end up being $120,000 for 1,500 sq ft and condos $69,000 for 900 sq ft.
I am here in Bahia looking at the property and it is nice, but have concerns about contract. They are not using a trust for the 52 founders club members, 18 beachfront homes, 10 golf course homes and 24 condos. They are just giving the 52 founders title to the phase 1 property if the developement fails. Although I am sure the property would be worth more than I invested, I do not know how easy it would be to coordinate 52 people to sell the property to get my money back.
What are your views on this, when I asked the developer this he said that they didn't want to be tied down to a trust which safe guards the investor. He said that the perks they were giving founders club members, 10% off of future property purchases there, first right to buy other new listings there, free rental car when needed, lifetime golf membership, no membership fees to name a few. Also said that they were willing to take this stand because they knew they would have no problem selling them. Also said that maybe founders club was not for me and to purchase here after it was started, but would obviously cost more. $200,000 for beachfront and $150,000 for golf course home to start and going up from there.
I just don't know if this is a good business deal on my part. If the property happens it will be very nice.
Your thoughts or anybody's would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Ken