50% of real estate searches in Quito are for rentals. At a general level, 43% are looking for a house, 35% for an apartment and 22% for land, according to a study of real estate demand in Ecuador conducted by the Plusvalía portal.

During 2018, rental searches represented 28% of the total number, while in 2019 and 2020 they expanded to 49%.

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By area, in the center of the capital, the search for a purchase reaches 60%. While in the eastern zone, houses are the most sought after with 54%, followed by land with 34% and finally apartments with 12%. In the western zone, the ratio is 52% houses, 31% apartments and 17% land.

The report indicates that houses are the most profitable property to buy in relation to the demand that exists. The eastern zone is the one with the biggest shortage, as house ads have 1.58 times more demand than apartment ads. Meanwhile, in the central and western areas, houses have between 19% and 27% more demand than the average apartment listing.

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In 2017, homes represented between 50% and 56% of purchase searches; however, in 2020 – the year of the pandemic – that participation dropped to 44% and has remained stable since then. Likewise, the demand for land has fallen since 2020, from 30% to 22% of total searches, but its share is still higher than in the pre-pandemic period.

Most are looking for three and four bedroom units

The report states that half of the searches are for four-bedroom units. Studio apartments maintain their participation at around 26% of the total number in 2023, 12% represents the total demand for three rooms, and 10% of the total amount represents the search for two rooms.

The western zone reaches 66% participation of the search for large units. Based on this data, 67% of users are looking for properties for less than $175,000, 16% are looking for between $175,000 and $250,000, and 17% are looking for more than this value.

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In the west, there is a demand for cheaper properties than in the central and eastern zones: 58% go to properties under $100,000, while in the eastern zone the highest demand is for units over $175,000.

The parishes of Llano Chico and Pifo concentrate the highest demand pressure for notice of sale in 2023, which in numbers means 4.5 and 3.5 times the demand of Quito average. While Guangopolo and Calacalí are the ones with less demand pressure, according to the Plusvalía study.