Fruit Haven 4
Fruit Haven 4 is a 23.5-hectare property along the Rio Zamora, adjacent to Fruit Haven 2.
Its location and easy access make it perfect for people who prefer not to live in the more remote Fruit Haven properties up the mountain. The lots available are 0.8 hectares / 2 acres, and will have a price range of $10-$20k depending on location and terrain.
Click here to see lots for sale at FH4
(read the info below first!)
Access
The property is accessible via a bridge across the Rio Zamora near Chuchumbleza, between Gualaquiza and El Pangui. The bridge is accessible to foot traffic, bicycle, and motorcycle, though it is not wide enough for cars. The government has plans to widen the bridge so cars and pickup trucks can pass. See the area map below.
IIt is a very short walk to the other side of the bridge where you can take a taxi to El Pangui for $5 or Gualaquiza for $9-10. You can also buy fruits and basic necessities in Chuchumbleza, the small village that is a 5 minute walk from the bridge.
It is about a 15-minute walk (or short bicycle ride) from the bridge out to the main road (E-45) where one can easily catch a bus or drive north to Gualaquiza (40 minutes) or south to El Pangui (15 minutes). Once the bridge is widened (we expect this to happen in 2-3 years) there will be direct road access to the property.
In the photo, you can see the FH4 property to the right after the bridge (the open pasture.)
Utilities
Electric is not installed but there is a powerline nearby. We will connect the community area to the powerline. Individual homestead lot owners can hook up to the powerline if they want (installation cost is their own responsibility) or use off-grid options such as solar power. Internet can be installed at this location all throughout the property. We are installing a community water system that will allow all owners to hook up and receive gravity-powered pressurized water from the stream up in the mountain.
Property features and geography
The property starts at the river, with about 16 hectares of pasture. The terrain is a mix of rolling hills, flat areas, plateaus, and gentle slopes. After the pasture, it is forested all the way to the back (east) side of the property. At the far east end it is very steep; this part will not be used for homestead lots. The property is about 525 meters wide (north to south) along the river and 950 meters long, though the eastern part has a peninsula shape. It will be divided into ~0.8 hectare lots and an ~0.8 hectare community area, and those lots can be combined into larger lots for the larger shareholders. Remaining land is either taken up by driveways, or is the forest reserve at the far east side.
Property development budget
When we do a group buy, the price of each share includes a contribution to the property development fund. This allows for basic maintenance of the property, construction and maintenance of the community area, and other important elements (driveway, electric, internet, water system, etc.)
This fund should be sufficient for the 3-4 years after the initial closing. After this fund is exhausted, FH4 owners should expect to pay about $300-$500/year per 5% share to cover maintenance of the driveways, community area, property boundary, etc. However, this amount may be reduced via renting out rooms in the community house.
Click here to see the property development budget for FH4 (PDF).
Community Contract
When we do a group buy, owners must sign a horizontal property contract (via power of attorney) specifying land use, lot assignment, and other general rules. A sample of this contract can be found on the main Group Land Buys page.
Approximate GPS location
GPS location of the property: OpenStreetMap, Google Maps
Elevation and Climate
The elevation is 760-850m elevation on average. We are 3 degrees from the equator. This results in annual average daytime temps of around 24-28 and nighttime of 18-20. Examples of tropical fruits that will grow well here: Jackfruit, marang, rollinia, mangosteen, banana, papaya, citrus, durian (except for super-low-elevation varieties), mangifera odorata and mangifera caesia, matoa, and many others.
Area Map
This map shows the existing and planned future Fruit Haven properties. FH4 is the one just south of Fruit Haven 2.
Lot Map
Below is the lot map of FH4. Lots in yellow are for sale. See lots for sale here: https://www.fruithaven.org/fh4-land-available/
Closing Costs
Closing costs for purchasing one lot that is owned by one seed investor, will be $1200. Closing costs for purchasing one lot that is jointly owned by the seed investors, not combined with any other closing, will be $1500. The cost difference is due to government fees based on number of participants in a sale. Costs will reduce significantly if purchasing 2 or more lots, or if 2 people buy a lot at the same time. Contact us for details.
This covers all government fees, sales taxes, registration, as well as the agent’s fee for carrying out the sale. There are two things it does not cover: (1) Your signing, sending, or possible translation of the power of attorney document, as these costs can vary depending on your situation. (2) Any money transfer fees you may incur in sending the closing costs or property purchase funds. Click here for more information on closing costs.
Contact us at fruithaven@protonmail.com if you are interested in purchasing a share of this property.