The Costa Rica Real Estate Expert

Even with the real estate market slowdown in many countries - the US, Canada, UK, and Costa Rica as well - major players in the tourism industry are still confident in Costa Rica as a world class destination.  A number of tourist mega-projects are in the works, or currently underway. Three Spanish hotel projects will begin in Costa Rica, totaling more than $1 billion. Others like the first luxury megacomplex in the Osa Peninsula, in the province of Puntarenas, will begin construction shortly.

So why do major tourism investors continue to feel comfortable in Costa Rica? They say that it is thanks to its legal system, its hardworking and skilled labor force, as well as its peaceful climate - an ideal country for vacationers.  There is definitely validity in this statement, which we should explore further.

Many people are often concerned about their safety when traveling to another country.  Typically, this fear is due more to the unknown and media hype.  But the good news is that we KNOW that Costa Rica is a safe country.  Recently, FTI Ibero-America Consulting rated Costa Rica as THE safest country in Costa Rica for businessmen and multinational companies.  CINDE also states on their website that Costa Rica is the most politically stable country in Latin America.

Regarding Costa Rica’s skilled and hardworking labor force, that is due in large part to their excellent public education system, where all children are required to attend school.  Numerous international companies - like Intel, Glaxo Smith Kline, and Bayer, to name a few - recognize this and have invested millions in Costa Rica.  This of course serves the tourism industry well too, resulting in memorable experiences for tourists.

The bottom line is that Costa Rica is extremely foreign investor friendly has resulted in a tourist-friendly environment - making many major tourism companies very happy.

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Costa Rica is well known for its eco-tourism, and for the most part, Costa Rica has done an exceptional job when it comes to being a leader in protecting its precious environment.  It started years ago when Costa Rica truly came onto the global scene as a hotspot for eco-tourism (still a popular niche in the tourism industry), and continues today as Costa Rica is one of four countries in a race to be the first to go carbon neutral (the other three countries are New Zealand, Iceland, and Norway).

That’s why it is not surprising to find a real estate development in Costa Rica that has adopted a firm stance on protecting the environment.  In fact, in my opinion, it should be odd to find a Costa Rican development that does NOT take a strong stance.  Of course, I don’t rule the world yet!

The development that I am speaking of is Las Colinas de Miramar in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, a Certified Green Worldwide development.  The Certified Green Worldwide designation is a 12-point protocol that mandates comprehensive environmental safeguards:

1. Protection of wildlife habitats while allowing for recreation.
2. Protection of wetlands, natural water courses and aquifer regeneration areas.
3. Soil erosion safeguards; both during road building, construction, and occupation.
4. Utility operations, site specific or municipal, to contain contamination retention features for ground water protection.
5. Development plans consistent with local mandates, inputs and requirements.
6. Maintenance of natural geologic contours.
7. No construction on sites with a slope greater than 40 degrees.
8. Density restrictions; based on a formula of slope and wet land proximity.
9. View shed protections including project height standards.
10. Construction to use low wattage consumption by electric appliances and fixtures, insulated windows and walls using passive solar techniques, and recycling to reduce the carbon footprint.  Potential solar electrical generation may become additional options.
11. Encourage community related sustainable economic development though the use of locally produced building materials and local labor.
12. Good Corporation Citizenship.

As an aspiring Eco-broker, it gladdens me to work with a developer so dedicated to protecting the environment.  That is why I am going to do my part by purchasing carbon offsets from Carbonfund.org.   I am promising that for each Phase 1 lot I sell in Las Colinas de Miaramar, I will buy enough carbon offsets to make a medium sized home (1500-2499 sq ft) carbon neutral for one year.

So what can you do to make better take care of our Earth?

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Best valued development in the Central Pacific Reserve your lot today - send a reservation inquiry below.

From $30,000 Certified Green Worldwide

Project Updates May 3, 2008 - The Phase 1 Master Plan map was just released and is now available for download (see below).  Finalized price list to follow within the next month.  Reservations being accepted.  Fill out the inquiry form below for more details on reservations. May 18, 3008 - The file for the Phase 1 Master Plan map was minimized to make downloading easier.   Location 10 minutes from the city of Puntarenas in the Central Pacific region   Pictures/Slideshow Local Sights/Activities Minutes from the historic city of Puntarenas, port for major cruise lines Close to numerous surf spots About 25 minutes from the popular tourist town of Jaco Beach Take a catamaran cruist to Isla Tortuga from Puntarenas The maritime museum, Museo Historico Maritimo, in Puntarenas Parque Marina Del Pacifico aquarium in Puntarenas   Master Plan Download the Phase 1 Master Plan Map for Las Colinas de Miramar (right-click, and select “Save Target As”).  Current as of May 18, 2008.   Related Resources Costa Rica Real Estate FAQ Costa Rica Real Estate Financing Options   Real Estate Professionals Real estate agents, investors, and other real estate professionals can earn up to 5% co-broke fee.  Please inquire below for more information.   Inquire About This Property Las Colinas de Miramar Inquiry Your Name (required) Email (valid email required) Phone How would you prefer we contact you? PhoneEmail What's the best time to contact you? MorningAfternoon EveningOther Would you like information on reserving a lot? Yes No Message cforms contact form by delicious:days

Description Imagine yourself and your loved ones standing atop your own private paradise.Imagine yourself and your loved ones among the verdant fields and colorful flowers of your own special Garden of Eden. Imagine being lost in the tranquility, romance and splendor of endless sunsets aglow with the brilliant light of nature’s prism. Imagine The Hills of Miramar. Nestled among the foothills of the Cordillera de Tilaran near the Central Pacific coast of beautiful Costa Rica, the Hills of Miramar is a “Certified Green” Master Planned Community of 185 custom, fully improved home sites. Set among 1,200 green acres, the Hills of Miramar (Las Colinas de Miramar) will feature over 100 home sites of 1.25 acres each. All home sites will be fully improved with roads, water, electric, cable and sewer. All will have direct access to the Pan American Highway near the quaint, historic town of Puntarenas. The entrance to the Hills of Miramar is only minutes to the new Caldera Highway - a direct 45 minute drive from the Pacific Coast to the bustling capital city of San Jose. Most of our home sites offer sweeping, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Nicoya and the Nicoya Peninsula. All of our home sites feature magnificent pastoral views of rolling green pastures and forests. All home sites are fully titled - fee simple. You own it! What’s more title insurance is available from Stewart Title - one of the world’s largest title insurance companies. The Hills of Miramar has been awarded the coveted “Certified Green Worldwide” designation. This honor is given to those communities that conform to the twelve point environmental protocol of the Certified Green initiative ensuring environmentally safe development. The Hills of Miramar features - Outstanding, panoramic ocean views; Over 100 Custom Home Sites of 1.25 acres each; Fully improved home sites complete with roads, water, electric, cable and sewer; All home sites have direct access to the Pan American Highway and are only minutes to the new Caldera Highway to San Jose; The Hills of Miramar is located in one of the most emerging areas of Costa Rica; The Hills of Miramar has received the Certified Green Worldwide designation for responsible development; All home sites are priced competitively for maximum future appreciation. Home sites start at only $30,000. You can build right away or whenever you’d like.   Community Amenities Pools Basketball court Commercial/retail center Equestrian stables Gated front entrances   Preferred Builders TBD, though you can choose your own!   Home Plans/Floor Plans Coming soon…  You do have a choice of building a home using your own plans or homebuilder (some restrictions may apply).   Price/Pricing Phase 1:1.25 acre lots starting at $30,000. Same sized, ocean view lots starting at $60,000   Financing Financing available.  Please fill out the inquiry form on this page for more information.   Rent/Property Management Property management will be made available as the community becomes more developed.  For more information please fill out the inquiry form on this page.

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If any of you have ever even remotely considered or inquired into real estate in the Central Pacific - especially around Jaco - then you most probably have been told by one or several people about the Caldera Highway.

Now, they may not have called it the Caldera Highway, but I’m sure that they talked of a new highway that was being built that would shorten the drive from San Jose by half - going from about a 2 1/2 hour drive down to a 1 hour drive.

Sound familiar?

Then you may have also heard about how it has been years since this highway was started, and the local joke was that “yes, the highway will be finished - someday.”

Well in case you hadn’t heard, thankfully it appears as if the wait is coming to an end.  After what appeared to be years, the residents and investors of Costa Rica were fed up and put pressure on the government to “finish the Caldera, or stop promising it.”

The result has been for the government to put their foot down and set some strict rules with the contractor.  Now, the contractor has a strict deadline which they must meet, or suffer strict fines.

And that deadline?  About 2 years from now.

Well, better late than never…

Will it be like this..

or this.. 

Just jokes!  I’m confident it will be great when completed.

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