Property rights and legal security concerns in Nicaragua and Ecuador

In Nicaragua, property ownership has become a high-risk political and financial endeavor due to illegal confiscations, tax extortion, and a lack of legal certainty. The Attorney General's Office (PGJ) has reportedly implemented an administrative process to confiscate properties without official notification or trial, subsequently donating them to state institutions. Between 2024 and 2026, more than 370 properties were transferred to the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS) under this scheme. A documented case involved the seizure of luxury homes in Tola, Rivas, valued at $15 million, though the regime briefly returned them following public scrutiny.

In contrast, the Property Registry of Guayaquil in Ecuador is focusing on digital transformation to enhance legal security for families and businesses. The institution has modernized its services to facilitate property purchases, inheritance formalization, and mortgage management. Through its digital platform, the registry offers over 600 types of inscriptions and certificates, processing approximately 7,000 inscriptions and 16,000 certificates monthly to support the local real estate market.