Cuenca, Ecuador
If you are not already a Spanish-speaker, this dictionary will help you get started with your hunt for real estate, using the Internet or newspaper ads.
Here are a few tips on Internet shopping for real estate
Finding English real estate websites on the Internet is easy, using any Internet search engine. If you use English search terms-such as “real estate Cuenca Ecuador”-you’ll generally find English-language sites.
But if you want a wide selection of properties and more-local prices, try searching the Spanish sites. Use terms such as these:
- Bienes Raices Cuenca Ecuador
- Propiedades Cuenca Ecuador
- En venta Cuenca Ecuador
- Departamento Cuenca Ecuador
But remember, Internet ads are aimed at people wealthy enough to own computers and savvy enough to find the ads. This is not your average Ecuadorian buyer. If you want to penetrate the local market, you’ll need to look for “se vende” signs on the street, make use of the local paper, and visit local realtors.
Here are some of the terms that you’ll find while shopping for real estate in Cuenca:
Asador-Barbeque or wood grill
Alfombra-Carpeting or rug
Alíquota-Condo fees
Alquilar-to rent
Arrendar-to rent
Baño compartido-shared bath among bedrooms
Baño de padres-master bath
Baño social-the bathroom used by guests, normally off the living room
Bodega-storage room
Cancha-court or playing field, such as cancha de tenis, meaning tennis court
Chanul-dark, tropical hardwood used for flooring or stairways in premium construction.
Cerámica-ceramic tiles (noun), or made of ceramic (adjective)
Comedor-dining room
Corredor-real estate agent
Cuarto de empleada-maid’s quarters
Dormitorio-bedroom
Dormitorio de padres-master bedroom
Ducha-shower
Entrada-entrance
Espacio verde-green space, or interior courtyard
Estar-a small family room usually placed centrally among the bedrooms, used for TV, etc. Estudio-study, or home library.
Garaje-garage; this is most often a carport rather than an enclosed garage.
Hectárea-a hectare, which is 10,000 square meters or 2.47 acres
Hormigón-concrete
Inmobiliaria-real estate office
Jardín-literally meaning “garden,” this is used for the yard or courtyard
Ladrillo-brick
Lavandería-laundry room
Lindero-border, or property line
Local Comercial-a storefront that’s usually integrated with a colonial home
Mármol-marble
MC or metros de construcción-square meters of construction[1]
MT or metros de terreno-square meters of land
Portón-large door at the property’s entrance through which you enter the driveway
Quebrada-a gulley generally for seasonal runoff; sometimes with a full-time stream.
Sala de juegos-game room
Salón-living room
Taller-workshop
[1] One square meter equals 10.76 square feet. For land measurements, 4,000 square meters equals about one acre