By city: buying and moving
Buying a property in Cuenca
What is specific to buying in Cuenca: the certificates of the Dirección General de Avalúos y Catastros, the Cuenca canton Property Registry and the urban and rural parishes.
Cuenca is the capital of Azuay province. INEC's geographic classification divides the canton into urban parishes — El Sagrario, San Sebastián, El Batán, Yanuncay, Totoracocha, Monay, Machángara, among others — and rural parishes such as Baños, Ricaurte, Sayausí, Turi, Sinincay or Valle. For a buyer, what matters is knowing which office issues each certificate.
Where the paperwork is done
| Procedure | Issued by | How |
|---|---|---|
| Appraisal certificate (certificado de avalúo) | Dirección General de Avalúos y Catastros, Municipality of Cuenca | Online (enlinea.cuenca.gob.ec, Avalúos y Catastros menu) or at the counter, with the plot's cadastral code. |
| Rent certificate (certificado de canon de arrendamiento) | Dirección General de Avalúos y Catastros | Online or at the counter; useful if you will let the property. |
| Rural transfer certificate | Dirección General de Avalúos y Catastros | At the counter, with the minuta signed by a lawyer and a georeferenced survey. |
| Certificate of encumbrances / sales and encumbrances | Property Registry of the Cuenca canton | With a copy of the property's deed. |
The Municipality notes that, to issue its certificates, the plot must be up to date on every payment under its cadastral code and the owner must owe nothing to the municipality. For the transfer of a rural plot, also get an updated certificate of sales and encumbrances from the Property Registry when the title was recorded more than 90 days ago.
Step by step in Cuenca
Property Registry certificate
Request the certificate of encumbrances from the Cuenca canton Property Registry. Confirm the seller is the owner and that there are no unresolved mortgages, prohibitions or attachments.
Municipal certificates
Get the appraisal certificate from Avalúos y Catastros with the cadastral code and check the plot is up to date; for rural land, apply for the rural transfer certificate.
Promise, minuta and taxes
If needed, sign a promise of sale by public deed (Civil Code, art. 1570); the lawyer drafts the minuta and the municipality assesses the alcabala and the plusvalía, without payment of which the deed is not granted (COOTAD, arts. 537 and 560).
Deed and recording
The deed is signed before a notary and recorded in the Property Registry of the canton where the property lies (Civil Code, arts. 702 and 703).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the appraisal certificate in Cuenca?
From the Municipality's Dirección General de Avalúos y Catastros, online at enlinea.cuenca.gob.ec or at the counter in the City Hall building, with the plot's cadastral code.
What is needed to transfer a rural plot in Cuenca?
The rural transfer certificate from Avalúos y Catastros, which requires the original minuta signed by a lawyer with the cadastral code, the recorded deed and a georeferenced survey.
Sources
- Emisión de certificados (Avalúos y Catastros) — GAD Municipal de Cuenca
- Registro de la Propiedad del cantón Cuenca — Registro de la Propiedad del cantón Cuenca
- Código Orgánico de Organización Territorial, Autonomía y Descentralización (COOTAD) — Consejo de Participación Ciudadana y Control Social (copia publicada)
- Código Civil (Codificación 2005-010) — FAOLEX, FAO (copia del texto oficial)
- Clasificador Geográfico Estadístico (División Político Administrativa) — Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC)