By city: buying and moving
Buying a property in Manta
What is specific to buying in Manta: the Property Registry's solvency certificate on the Municipality's Citizen Portal, the municipal certificates and the canton's parishes.
Manta is a canton of Manabí province, on the Pacific. According to INEC's geographic classification it has urban parishes — Manta, Tarqui, Los Esteros, San Mateo and Eloy Alfaro — and the rural parishes of San Lorenzo and Santa Marianita (Boca de Pacoche). Much of the property paperwork is done online through the Municipality's Citizen Portal.
Where the paperwork is done
| Procedure | Issued by | How |
|---|---|---|
| Solvency certificate for real estate (certificado de solvencia) | Property Registry of the Manta canton | Online at portalciudadano.manta.gob.ec (Servicios en Línea › Registro de la Propiedad › Certificado de solvencia) or in person; valid for 60 days. |
| Cadastral certificates and property tax | Municipality of the Manta canton | Through the municipal services; check the predial is paid. |
| Alcabala and plusvalía | Municipality of the Manta canton | The Municipality assesses the transfer taxes. |
The solvency certificate shows whether the property is free of encumbrances or carries a prohibition that prevents selling or mortgaging it. Because it expires after 60 days, request it close to the signing date and request it again if the deal drags on.
Step by step in Manta
Property Registry certificate
Request the solvency certificate from the Manta Property Registry on the Citizen Portal. Confirm the seller is the owner and that there are no unresolved mortgages, prohibitions or attachments.
Municipal certificates
Check the predial and the property's cadastral information through the Municipality's services.
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
How do I check in Manta that a property has no encumbrances?
With the solvency certificate from the Manta canton Property Registry, requested online on the Municipality's Citizen Portal with the owner's ID number. It is valid for 60 days.
Which parishes does Manta have?
According to INEC, the urban parishes of Manta, Tarqui, Los Esteros, San Mateo and Eloy Alfaro, and the rural parishes of San Lorenzo and Santa Marianita (Boca de Pacoche).
Sources
- Emisión de certificado de solvencia de bienes inmuebles en el cantón Manta — GAD Municipal del Cantón Manta (Guía Oficial de Trámites, gob.ec)
- 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)