The Costa Rica Real Estate Expert

Growing up in freezing, cold winters in a small rural town just outside the bustling metropolis of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the only way I can explain my fascination with all things tropical

Ever since I can remember, I dreamed of beaches, palm trees, coconuts, waves, and warmth.  My favorite foods are all exotic (Thai, Hawaiian).  My favorite smells (coconut sunscreen and neoprene from wetsuits) bring up visions of crystal clear waters on a cinnamon-colored, sandy beach.  Maybe that’s another reason why I’m fascinated by using exotic bamboo as a building material.

I started looking into it casually on the Internet a few years ago.  I even checked Amazon for some books on using bamboo to build structures, hoping I might find a “How To” book.  The idea of living in a tropical-looking house made of bamboo warms me and brings a silly smile to my face.

As it turns out, bamboo is also an extremely strong, renewable, and plentiful building material that has recently gained the attention that it deserves in mainstream architecture and development.    First of all, its growth rate is extraordinary - unsurpassed by any of the typical timber competitors.

Bamboo is also a superior building material when it comes to standing up to earthquakes.  Brick and concrete buildings collapse before bamboo buildings do.

If you want to read more about the mainstreaming of bamboo in development, check out this article on Yahoo.

So now I’m curious as to what you all think of bamboo houses?  Fill out my short questionnaire below and I’ll report the results in the upcoming weeks.

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Do you know what your options are for financing your Costa Rica real estate purchase?  You may be surprised to find that there are more than you may think.  Check out this article, Financing Options to Purchase Costa Rica Real Estate to review the options available to you.

Okay, so after having read that article, you know what your options are - what next?  Well, lucky for you, the Costa Rica Real Estate Expert has partnered with select financial professionals to serve our US and European customers.

We want to work with the best in the business, and we think we have definitely found that.  They will help you review all of the financing options available to you, review your current financial situation, and even discuss your future financial goals.  From there, they can recommend a financing course of action to purchase your Costa Rica property AND they can offer you the financial products to do just that.

Our foreign financing experts would love to assist you.  Please fill out this form and one of them will contact you shortly!

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Do you know what your options are for financing your Costa Rica real estate purchase?  You may be surprised to find that there are more than you may think.  Check out this article, Financing Options to Purchase Costa Rica Real Estate to review the options available to you.

Okay, so after having read that article, you know what your options are - what next?  Well, lucky for you, the Costa Rica Real Estate Expert has partnered with select financial professionals in Canada to serve our Canadian customers (my peeps - I’m originally from Manitoba).

We want to work with the best in the business, and we think we have definitely found that.  They will help you review all of the financing options available to you, review your current financial situation, and even discuss your future financial goals.  From there, they can recommend a financing course of action to purchase your Costa Rica property AND they can offer you the financial products to do just that.

Our Canadian financing experts would love to assist you.  Please fill out this form and one of them will contact you shortly!

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Okay, I wish I had read something like this before I headed down to Costa Rica the first time!  I had traveled a lot and always without issues.  Of course, my travel was limited to the US, Canada, and the Bahamas many years ago - which of course is very similar to home.

I thought I was well prepared:  I had my passport, money, credit cards, hotel reservation, transportation, flight, bathing suit, toothbrush…  What else could I need for a 3 day trip?

I found out the second night in Costa Rica, when my husband got the first migraine that he has ever had since I have known him.

Let’s step back a few days when I was packing.  I was looking at the medicine in the medicine cabinet, and thought to myself, “we won’t need anything for just a 3 day trip, and if we do, we can stop at a pharmacy.”  The error in my logic was thinking that Costa Rica was just like where I lived - 24 hour pharmacies.

So, back at our hotel room, my husband was in agony and we didn’t have any pain medication.  It was a long night for both of us, but of course my husband suffered the most.  As morning neared, I kept going to the front desk to see if anyone could open the hotel gift shop so I could buy some aspirin.  When they finally did, they didn’t have a bottle of aspirin, but 3 individually wrapped tablets.  They gave them to me.

My husband was finally able to get some rest once he took those 3 aspirin, but it was a huge lesson learned!  The next day, we stopped at one of the many well-stocked pharmacies in town and picked up some extra-strength Tylenol!

So, here are a few packing tips when you are headed to Costa Rica:

• Medicine - Pain medication, anti-diarrheal tablets, Tums, infant/kids medicine, prescription medicine, whatever you think you could possibly (even remotely) need and not be able to wait to get.  Learn from my experience.  If you don’t want to bring it with you, buy it at the pharmacy on the first day you arrive in Costa Rica.  Remember - they don’t have 24 hour pharmacies.
• Travel First Aid Kit - Why not take the next step and bring a travel first aid kit?  You never know when you might need a band aid!  Try Johnson & Johnson’s Portable Travel First Aid Kit with Forty Items.
• Mosquito repellent - There are mosquitoes in Costa Rica, though not a lot on the Pacific coast.  I did get a couple of bites while I was there, but I didn’t see a lot.  I grew up in Manitoba, Canada, which has a LOT of mosquitoes in the summers.  Try California Baby Bug Repellent Spray - if it’s good for baby, it’s good for you!
• Sunscreen - Okay, on another trip - though not to Costa Rica - I got a REALLY bad sunburn and it ruined the rest of my vacation.  Don’t let that happen to you!!  And make sure you choose the correct sunscreens.  The higher the SPF, the better.  If you are going to be doing a lot of activities where you sweat or get in the water, make sure your sunscreen is waterproof.  And here is a tip from an avid surfer for those of you who are going to be doing a lot of water activities - use a stick-type sunscreen on your face.  It won’t run in your eyes and it won’t wash off as quickly.  This is also good for kids who keep wiping their face and smearing the sunscreen in their eyes.  Try some of these sunscreen products: Bull Frog Sunblock Surfer Formula Body Gel, SPF 36 (Pack of 2), Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock Stick, SPF 30 (Pack of 3), California Baby SPF30+ Sunscreen Lotion, Water Resistant and Hypo-Allergenic (Pack of 2), and Fruit Of The Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel in case you do get a little too much sun!

If you pack carefully, you’ll come back with great stories of your stay in beautiful Costa Rica - not horror stories that could have been prevented with a little careful planning!

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Over $60K in equity!

$199,000 $165,000 Just lowered another $34,000!  Price to Sell!

Location Around 20 minutes South of the popular tourist town of Jaco, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.   Pictures/Slideshow   Local Sights/Activities 3 minute walk to Blue Ribbon awarded beach Jaco Beach 20 minutes away Costa Rica’s prized national park, Manuel Antonio, less than an hour away Less than a mile from new commercial center where you’ll find restaurants, shops, and groceries.   Related Resources Costa Rica Real Estate FAQ Costa Rica Real Estate Financing Options   INQUIRE ABOUT THIS PROPERTY Costa Del Sol Property Inquiry Your Name (required) Email (valid email required) Phone How would you prefer we contact you? Phone Email What's the best time to contact you? Morning Afternoon Evening Other Message cforms contact form by delicious:days

Description This is a rare and fantastic opportunity at the fabulous Costa Del Sol community, just 20 minutes south of popular Jaco Beach. It was recently reduced to $165,000 from $199,000, which was already below market!At Costa Del Sol, you’ll find a fantastic community which is perfect for getting to know your neighbor.  Meet up at the pool, plan BBQ’s with your friends, or catch some rays at the beach, just a short walk past the palm trees.  Meet others by starting a tennis club, playing on the community tennis courts. And when you want a little more action, head north towards Jaco for dining, dancing, surfing, or to take in some of the tours. This house is unlived in and has fantastic terracotta tile throughout.  Each bedroom has its own bathroom, finished with granite countertops and a tile & glass shower surround. The kitchen has hardwood cabinetry and also granite countertops.  The adjacent dining and living room make for a perfect atmosphere for entertaining, with the fresh ocean breeze flowing in through the patio doors. From the roomy dining and living rooms, 2 sets of patio doors lead you out to the backyard.  It currently has a grass lawn, but it is large enough for a pool.  Or grow a lush, tropical garden that you can escape to. Full furnishing packages can be provided for about 10% the cost of the home.  Contact us for more details. Other homes in the community are selling in the $260’s, so this is a fantastic deal that won’t last!  Contact me TODAY so we can get you over to see the property.  And don’t forget our full service travel agents who can assist you in your travel needs!   Property/Unit Amenities Lot #34 Bedrooms:  2 Bathrooms:  2 1/2 Square Feet:  1366 under air Terracotta tile throughout the house Solid wood doors and cabinets Granite countertops in kitchen and bathrooms Tile and glass shower in master bathrooms Plenty of natural light from numerous windows Large patio doors opening to back yard with grass lawn. Washer/dryer hookup in linen closet 2 car carport Lot Sq Ft:  5403 Furnishing packages available for about 10% of the property cost   Community Amenities Gated front entrance Pool BBQ area with granite prep station in open air pavilion.  Located by pool. Tennis courts 3 minute walk to Blue Ribbon beach Lush landscaping   Floor Plan This home in Costa Del Sol is the Marquis model.Costa Del Sol’s Marquis Model Floor Plan   Price JUST REDUCED AGAIN!  $199,000 $165,000   Financing Costa Rica Real Estate Financing OptionsContact us for referrals to loan providers in your area - Canada, US, Europe, or Costa Rica!Typical financing: Note:  These numbers are estimates only.  It is recommended that you get an accurate quote from a loan provider. Price:  $165,000 25% down:  $41,250 Interest Rate:  8.25 Term of Loan:  25 years Monthly Loan Payment:  $975.71 DOWNLOAD Loan Calculator for Costa Del Sol Home - Lot 34   Rent/Property Management Available.  For more information please contact us.

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Even though Costa Rica is a small country - about the size of West Virginia, or 1/10 the size of Alberta - it is still quite diverse offering up a variety of landscape and climates.  There are beaches, rainforests, mountains, and 2 coasts very different from each other.  This makes the number of different options for places to live quite numerous.

Though the majority of foreigners who are looking to buy real estate in Costa Rica are interested in Pacific beachfront or “beach-close” (my own term, indicating that a property is a short walk to the beach), there are others who would like something in the mountain areas or even on the Caribbean side of the country.  Some people are looking for an investment or vacation/investment, while others don’t wish to rent out their property and instead plan on retiring there full or part time.  Whatever you are looking for in Costa Rica, there are definitely certain properties that lend themselves better to certain uses or situations.

For those of you that are concerned about the value of your Costa Rican home - more specifically about appreciation - there is no need for concern.  With annual appreciation rates of foreign-owned homes, in the range of 10-30%+ (highest in the coastal areas), you can rest assured that your Costa Rica real estate purchase will experience healthy appreciation, wherever or whatever you buy.

So, the first step in starting your property search is to sit down with any other decision makers (spouse, investment partner, etc.) and make a list of the following things:

1. Location - do you want beachfront, “beach-close”, mountain property?  Is there a specific city, town, or region you are interested in?
2. Usage - how do you intend on using your Costa Rica property?  Investment?  Vacation?  Retirement?  A combination of any of these?  Or maybe you even want to move to Costa Rica full time?  Are you okay with renting the property when you aren’t there?
3. Budget - Just like anywhere, property values vary from region to region.  Get a good idea in your mind of what your budget will be.
4. Conveniences & activities - How close do you want to be to all the conveniences like shopping, grocery stores, restaurants, etc?  How about proximity to activities or sights like golf, surfing, fishing, or national parks?  Do you want to be in the heart of the activity or in a more private location?
5. Property type - You might be able to get a good deal by building.  Or maybe you prefer a condo?  Looking for a lot to invest in?  Consider your options carefully, but remain as open as possible to as many possibilities.  Of course, if you cringe at the thought of building in another country, or don’t want to be directly next to your neighbors in a condo, just cross that off the list.
6. Property details - How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?  What sort of amenities would you like?

Now that you have put together your Costa Rica property “wish list”, fill out our Personalized Property Search form for a specialized property recommendation from one of our Costa Rica real estate specialists.  We’ll review your wish list and recommend a selection of properties that are a best fit for your needs.  And if for some reason we do not have a property that we can recommend (it’s rare, but it happens), we can refer you to one of our affiliates who may have something that would be a fit for you.

One last note - the final step is to go down to Costa Rica and see the properties for yourself.  It is recommended that you not only check out the properties that were recommended to you, but to look at others.  You may be surprised to find that a particular property didn’t appear to be a fit for you on paper, but in reality is perfect when you see it in person.  Give each property a chance, or you might miss out on a gem!

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What if I told you that it was very possible that you could build a new home, just minutes from the beach, the popular tourist town of Tamarindo, and under 40 minutes from the Daniel Oduber International airport in Liberia for under $200,000?  Would you believe me?  Well, it’s true at the gated community of Colinas Del Coyolar!

The developer of Colinas Del Coyolar is offering incentives to its buyers for:

1. Using the developer also as the home builder, and using one of their attractive home plans.
2. Having the developer build this new home within a year of purchasing the lot from them.

When you use the Colinas Del Coyolar developer as the home builder, you get an 8% discount on the purchase of the lot.  And when you have them build your home within a year of purchasing the lot, you get a 5% discount off of the building costs.

So, do you want to see how much it will cost for you to build a home at Colinas Del Coyolar?  Then download the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet below and play around with the numbers to see what your estimated building costs will be!

Download this Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet:  Estimated Building Costs & Worksheet for Colinas Del Coyolar

Colinas Del Coyolar home plans from the developer:

• Colinas Del Coyolar Home Plan 2
• Colinas Del Coyolar Home Plan 3
• Colinas Del Coyolar Home Plan 4

Exterior home style choices for Colinas Del Coyolar home plans from the developer:

• Colinas Del Coyolar Home Style #1
• Colinas Del Coyolar Home Style #2
• Colinas Del Coyolar Home Style #3

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Negative movements in the exchange rate can drastically increase the cost of property to Canadians 

If you are a Canadian looking to buy property in Costa Rica, you will inevitably need to transfer your currency to US dollars to buy the property or arrange financing.  Canadian buyers should pay close attention to the USD/CAD exchange rate, as volatility in the currency markets can have drastic repercussions on the final Canadian dollar (CAD) cost of an American property priced in US dollars (USD).

For example, a Canadian buyer wants to purchase a property in Costa Rica priced at $300,000 USD.  In the first week of November 2007, it would have cost approximately $271,500 CAD (USD/CAD = .9050).  One month later in December 2007 the same property would have increased in cost due to the exchange rate to $306,000 CAD (USD/CAD = 1.0214).  In other words, the property in one month became $34,500 CAD (over 12%) more expensive to a Canadian!

Currency exchange specialists like HiFX can help you protect against currency fluctuations that would increase the cost of your property by locking in an exchange rate for up to two years with a ‘forward contract’.  This service can be useful if you have a lengthy closing period or future property payments.  With a ‘forward contract’ you will have locked in the cost of the property in CAD and will be unaffected by any volatility in the currency market.  HiFX provides ‘forward contracts’ free of cost and requires only a 10% deposit.

Canadians have amazing purchasing power today

Fortunately for Canadians, now is an attractive time to look for a property in Costa Rica as CAD has strengthened heavily against the USD over the last few years, making property in Costa Rica even less expensive.  On September 20^th, 2007, the Canadian dollar reached parity against the US dollar for the first time since 1976.  This means that Canadians have more purchasing power now than they have in the last 31 years!

If a Canadian buyer was looking to buy a $300,000 USD property in Costa Rica in January 2008 it would cost approximately $300,000 CAD.  If five years ago the Canadian had been looking to buy the same $300,000 USD property, it would have cost them a staggering $485,000 CAD.  In other words, the same property is now $185,000 CAD (almost 40%) cheaper than it was five years ago!

Use a currency specialist to pay for your property

Working with a currency exchange specialist to make property payments can not only save you time and hassle, it can also save you money. The fact is that many individuals will simply use the exchange rate offered by their personal bank. Currency specialists can typically offer more competitive rates of exchange than personal banks, to save you on the cost of your property. The bank may also charge wire transfer fees, commissions, and bank receiving fees. Many individuals don’t realize there are better alternatives available to them.

HiFX has seen an average savings of 1%-4% of the transaction amount for its clients, and in addition will transfer funds free of charge.  On larger transfers the savings can turn into thousands of dollars.  HiFX does not speculate with funds and all funds are held in a secure private client trust account at the Bank of Montreal in Canada.  It may be worth speaking with a consultant at HiFX to register for no cost or obligation.

If you have any questions about the currency exchange rates, or would like to learn more about HiFX fee-free currency exchange services, please contact Thomas Wight.

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Well, I am finally getting a little more organized after returning from my trip to Calgary.  While I was there, I hosted a booth at the Calgary Herald’s 2008 Recreational & Investment Properties Show which was held at the Roundup Centre, and I also held a few Discover Costa Rica Real Estate seminars.  Every event was received very well.

At the Properties Show, I met some lovely people who are looking to make Costa Rica a part time or full time retirement spot.  They loved the excellent healthcare, the low cost of living, and the safety.  Many folks already had trips planned for Costa Rica, and many others were smitten by the enchanting, tropical images they saw at my booth and have already contacted my preferred travel agent to make a trip down to Costa Rica.

At my seminars, I recognized many faces from the Properties Show, who made a choice to learn more about Costa Rica and what it is really like.  At these seminars, Brian Gentles of Canada Mortgage Direct talked about financing options for buying Costa Rica real estate, which was very informative.  We also had a special visitor at our January 16th seminar - Cam MacIntosh, Canada’s Tax Expert - who discussed some of the tax implications Canadians need to be aware of when buying Costa Rica real estate.

I enjoyed my stay in Calgary very much - especially since the Calgarians ordered up a chinook while I was there, making the weather much more comfortable for this thin-skinned, California resident!  People don’t believe me when I tell them I’m Canadian:  “You should be used to the cold!”  Sorry folks, that was almost 10 years ago!  I’ve acclimated.

Now that I am back in the office, I am sifting through my notes, papers, and emails, making the best effort to respond to those people who require it.  May I please graciously ask that you all be patient with me, as my computer hard drive crashed while I was traveling, resulting in a huge backlog of work I am catching up on.  If I promised to get back to you after my return to my office, and you don’t hear from me by January 26, then please email me a friendly reminder as to your request.

Gracias and pura vida!

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Are you looking for a property rental in Costa Rica?  Many of the properties that are for sale can also be rented.  That’s a great way to check out a property before you buy it!  Of course, staying there on vacation is great too.

If you are interested in renting, please fill out the form below.

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