real estate investment in costa rica

hate sharing secrets like this, especially one that has helped me so much, since I’ve lived in Costa Rica. But since a surfer friend of mine, Sandro Anderson, shared it with me, I shouldn’t be selfish.
Anytime I am sick, injured or exhausted, I go here first before I see the doctor. It has cured my sinusitis, the air has negatively charged ions, according to the Romanian Physical Therapist. It cured my back. Chiropractors, acupuncture, a new mattress had all only partially helped. Two days here and I was new.
When my wife and I are emotionally exhausted, owning a hotel is hard work, and our level of bickering has reached an intolerable level - we head here.
This last time it failed. There are somethings it can’t cure, but this cure is so pleasurable with no side effects, why not try it? Two months ago something happened to me, that all surfers have accepted will happen to them, I had a killer wipeout. I broke two fins and my collar bone. I went to my secret health spot, and it helped a little but no cure, the x-ray confirmed - surgery. But it was still worth the trip.
El Tucano Resort is only two hours from San Jose, located next to a hot springs river, in the mountains in Agua Zarcas. Far from the tourist crowds, in La Fortuna’s hot springs, El Tucano is practically alone in the protected Rainforest.
As a hotel owner I know a great value when I see one. At only $79, high season rate for residents, this 5 star health retreat, is an exceptional value. The setting is beautiful, the waters are healing, and the price is unbeatable.
The hotel features, a hot spring fed olympic size pool, three hot pools, a steam room, a full spa, access to river hot springs, and breakfast is included.
Hotel El Tucano is our favorite secret spot in Costa Rica - Thank us by not passing it along.
Ramsay
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Top 5 Costa Rica Real Estate Lines March 24, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , 1 comment so far If you hear

If you hear any of the following lines, coming out of the mouths of real estate agents in Costa Rica, something should go beep-beep in your head.
The Top 5 Costa Rica Real Estate Lines:
#5) Once the highway is built, in about a years time (connecting us with civilization), real estate values in Alto Humongous will Skyrocket! You should, in general, be wary of the word skyrocket.
#4) When the Marina is built, in about a couple of years time, your investment in Jaco Tower 24 is going to instantly double. Add “instantly double”, along with “skyrocket”, to the list.
#3) The New Administration, is going to fix all the roads, get rid of the corrupt and inefficient state monopolies, pass CAFTA - thereby opening up Costa Rica to a flood of American investors, and cure cancer. The New Administration isn’t really that “New” anymore, so I expect to see a decline in it’s usage, but it was and still is very popular.
#2) It looks like secondary forest to me? I’m sure the monkeys, sloths, parrots, toucans would all disagree, it looks like the forest is primary to survival for them.
#1) People have bars on their windows to keep out Raccoons. Yes, while they may be effective in keeping raccoons out of the house, their main purpose is to keep out thieves. The same holds true for the Rottweiler chained to the front door.
Cheers,
Ramsay
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Costa Rica Beach Evacuation March 21, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , 3comments
What began a year ago as a trickle, longtime residents leaving Costa Rica’s pacific beach communities, is now a stream. American and foreign residents, are either moving to San Jose, or are leaving Costa Rica entirely. Fed-up with the rampant illegal real estate development, the destruction of not only the environment, but also the destruction of the tranquil beach communities they’ve helped build.
This is a great loss for Costa Rica. Many of these foreign residents, were a part of Costa Rica’s original movement, to protect her environmental treasures. They are foreigners who respect Costa Rica’s land and traditions. Losing these wonderful people makes the effort to preserve Costa Rica more difficult.
There are even some, who have recently purchased Costa Rica beach property, that have become frustrated with lying real estate agents, theiving lawyers, and corrupt municipalities, and have decided to leave after only a short time in Costa Rica.
I will write more about the reasons, and the implications, in future posts.
Ramsay
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Costa Rica Real Estate - Part 3 March 20, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , add a comment
Costa Rica Real Estate OutlookIf you are looking to buy Costa Rica land or real estate on speculation, and your investment time frame is less than five years, you should be thinking of Short-Term Treasuries instead. Of course, you may get lucky and find a real estate nugget in Costa Rica, there are at least a hundred real estate agents in the country who won’t help you find it. And even if you do find a great deal on Costa Rica real estate, will you have anyone to sell it to, in three years when the U.S. economy is still struggling in recession? The likely answer is there will be no one.”So why bother with Costa Rica Real Estate at all?
Why Costa Rica Real Estate?Why? Because, if your investing time frame is longer than five years, then Costa Rica could be a smart investment. There are still places in Costa Rica, peices of heaven, that have not been seriously damaged. And that are, depending on your particular circumstances, wise investments. In any case, if you are at all interested in investing in Costa Rica real estate, you should come and visit Costa Rica. There is still an abundance of beauty in Costa Rica - and people who are trying to preserve what remains. And as an investor, someone looking to purchase Costa Rica real estate, considering Costa Rica for retirement, or living and working in Costa Rica, visiting will give you a base point that will help you make better decisions in the future.
In the end, if you seek to appreciate Costa Rica, not seek real estate appreciation in Costa Rica, you’ll receive a much better return on your life.
Ramsay
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Costa Rica Real Estate - Part 2 March 18, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , add a comment Common Sense Says…The American Real Estate investors who originally bought the land, and either subdivided it into lots or built condo high rises, and the agents who sell the land and condos, will take most of the appreciation out of the asset before selling it to you. This makes common sense. If the land developer believes, that their land is going to double in value within a year, why would they sell it to you today?
“Who Knew?”Real Estate agents get paid when they sell. It is in their best interests for you to buy, they will show you the obvious and deny the reality, and tell you later “who knew?” If you are buying Costa Rica beach property now, you are most probably buying it from a land speculator, at a fully appreciated price. You are a 2nd generation real estate investor. You will not double your money in Costa Rica Real Estate - the land speculator who came before you just did.
“I’ll take a double doble please!”The Costa Ricans long ago, figured out that Americans coming to Costa Rica, will buy real estate at incredible prices. If an American shows up looking to buy his land? He instantly doubles the price. Bye-Bye appreciation.
The Second Scary ReasonThe second and scariest reason not to buy Costa Rica beach property - the U.S. economy is about to tank. A painful plunge into recession in the United States is about to occur. Starting with the over inflated values in real estate, and an over valued stock market, the United States may be facing a prolonged recession.
Is this the time to be investing or buying Costa Rica Real Estate?If the economy in the United States of America is going down, what makes you think, Costa Rica’s is going up? The United States is Costa Rica’s largest trading partner. When the U.S. and World economy tumbles, Costa Rica’s exports will decline. A severe slow down in tourism due to high airline tickets (jet fuel, Iraq war, job anxiety) , which has already begun, will worsen. And finally, if the run-up in real estate values in the United States have to correct, what will happen to real estate values in Costa Rica, where there has been tremendous appreciation in real estate values in the last two years? Read more in Costa Rica Real Estate Part 3
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Read the Tico Times March 18, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , add a comment
Read the Fine Print in the Tico TimesBefore you buy real estate, invest, move or retire to Costa Rica or any foreign country, especially one you are unfamiliar with, you need to research that country as thoroughly as possible. You should be familiar with it’s history, culture, economic system, political situation, and you should be able to make an educated guess about that country’s future. “What are things going to be like in three years, five years, or twenty years?”
“Feeling” Costa RicaMost potential investors, conduct their Costa Rica research, by visiting Costa Rica. Their visit to Costa Rica usually lasts anywhere, from a week to two weeks, and will involve two or three different locations in Costa Rica. Most are trying to get a “feel” for Costa Rica.
Visit Costa RicaA one week visit, may be sufficient to determine if you want to continue exploring Costa Rica, or to discover that Costa Rica is not for you. A one week visit to Costa Rica may or may not give you an accurate picture of the country. However, a one week visit to Costa Rica, will definitely not give you enough time or information to make an accurate investment or life changing decision regarding Costa Rica.
You should visit Costa Rica before investing, some people have invested in Costa Rica real estate, or even moved here without first visiting. But before you visit Costa Rica there is something you should do that will be benefit you immensely.
Read the Tico TimesBefore I had even visited Costa Rica, I was a subscriber to the Tico Times, Central America’s leading weekly English language newspaper. I took out a six month subscription, and had it delivered to my house in the United States, I prefer the paper edition over the online. You can compare the Tico Times, in quality and depth, to your local hometown newspaper. The cost for a six month subscription is only $34 - incredibly inexpensive for the wealth of information you receive.
Gossip Too!Read the TicoTimes every week. Read every section of the Tico Times. Even stuff you’re not interested in like sport fishing or the theatre. And especially the classified section of the Tico Times. Read the slick full color ads for real estate developments, even though you’re not interested in them, (as explained in Costa Real Estate) the appreciation has already been taken out. Read the gossip section.
Why do you care about Sport Fishing or the Theatre in Costa Rica?If you are thinking about buying a condo in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica, because you are gay and love the gay beach so much, but you don’t care about sport fishing - you should.
Gay Sport FishermenBecause if you read the fishing report in the Tico Times, you might know that, sport fishermen aren’t doing well. Their aren’t as many fish in the sea. They’re blaming el nino, global warming, long lining, the Taiwanese, and they are worried about the future of fishing in Quepos.
“Who cares about Quepos?”You are about to buy a condo in Manuel Antonio. Quepos is a port town, that serves as the commercial and financial hub for Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio National Park is only five minutes from Quepos. Much of Quepos’s fortune is tied to sport fishing. And sport fishermen rent condos in Manuel Antonio. If fishing isn’t doing well? You aren’t either. “But the gay beach was beautiful when I visited and everything seemed fine?” If you’re a sport fisherman why should you care about the theatre in Costa Rica? I’ll let you figure that one out.
Appreciating Slick Real EstateWhat do the slick real estate developer ads in Costa Rica tell you? If you are an interested real estate investor in Costa Rica -it tells you where not to invest. Again, the appreciation has been removed. Beyond that, and beyond the development, the surrounding land and property has over appreciated. As a value investor you are not interested.
The Exciting ClassifiedsThe most exciting part of the Tico Times is the Classified Section. If you are interested in retiring or living in Costa Rica, then the classified section of the Tico Times, is a must read. Everything from the obvious, properties, apartment rentals, cost of a used car in Costa Rica, help wanted, washing machines, pets, and much more. It is a wealth of data that you can track, with your subscription to the Tico Times, over a long period of time. To the not so obvious, why are their a lot more rental listings for Escazu, than three months ago? And why are rental prices going up in Heredia? The reason is home invasion robberies. Read the Tico Times.
Ramsay
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Preserving Costa Rica - Hometown Heroes! March 17, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Living, Retirement , 1 comment so far People Preserving Costa RicaMany people are becoming aware of the, environmental and social destruction taking place in Costa Rica, due to illegal and un-planned real estate development. One of the wonderful things about Costa Rica, is that it attracts a large number of people, who love nature and culture. And many of them have been fighting to preserve Costa Rica’s environment and society for a very long time. They are a part of what makes Costa Rica special, and I am proud to call, a few of them my friends.
Chip and Jennifer own a hotel in Manuel Antonio, along with Jeanine their talented and beautiful daughter, run a foundation called “Kids Saving the Rainforest” . Kids Saving the Rainforest has been educating not only, visitors to Manuel Antonio National Park, but world-wide through school classrooms the importance of preserving Costa Rica’s environment. Jeanine will be leaving Costa Rica soon, to attend university, where she will study environmental issues in the United States. And then she plans to return to Costa Rica to benefit the nation with her expertise.
Matt Cook who started the Fund for Costa Rica, is a special friend of mine (we share many values in common), who is fighting to preserve Costa Rica. He has been warning people for years about the danger, facing the environment in Costa Rica, from un-checked real estate development. And how this will affect the environment and the tourism industry. He has been very busy lately, slapping lawsuits on reckless real estate developers, and he appears to be having success. Matt got his start in environmental defense, in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica, trying to save the Mono Titi monkey from extinction. He has now broadened his approach to include other parts of Costa Rica.
Matt and his group of paid environmental volunteers, using GPS technology monitor the development around Manuel Antonio, and notify the appropriate authorities to investigate possible illegal deforestation and development. He has helped me fight, two different American owned real estate companies, in their attempts to deforest, land that lies behind the Banana Tree Hotel, and that is contiguous to Manuel Antonio National Park.
I’ve never met Jack Ewing - but he is my friend. Anyone who tries to protect and preserve Costa Rica is a friend of mine. He lives about one hour south of me, at his large environmental preserve Hacienda Baru, that attracts thousands of visitors per year. At Hacienda Baru, Tourists can enjoy a preserved and protected tropical rainforest and beach, and witness Jack’s re-forestation projects. Jack didn’t start out an environmentalist, quite the opposite, he came to Costa Rica to cattle ranch. A wise investment - and probably the greatest destructive cause - of rainforest deforestation.
Jack Ewing must have had an epiphany, which I am sure you can find him mention, in one of his many books and well written article. He became one of the first environmentalists in Costa Rica. And more importantly, he has worked tirelessly for decades, in doing something that actually makes a difference. He has taken his Costa Rica ranch land and is transforming it back into it’s natural state. Jack realized, back when I was still eating Coco Puffs cereal, that the trends were negative, and that action must be taken to preserve our way of life and the life of the planet. Jack Ewing is a visionary, teacher, and poet. He is one of the reasons I love Costa Rica so much and why I remain so positive.
Ramsay
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Costa Rica Real Estate - Part 1 March 16, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , add a comment If I had the Costa Rica Real Estate / Investing / Living and Retirement blog, a year ago, this is one of the first posts I would have written.

Costa Rica Beach PropertySorry dude, the beach party is over, should’ve been here yesterday. I’ve been advising my guests, for over a year now, to carefully think before purchasing Costa Rica beach real estate. About two years ago, the money men and women from the United States - mainly Florida, either wealthy individuals or real estate investing groups, began consuming and hoarding Costa Rica beach property.
Within a year most of Costa Rica’s beach front property had been bought. And the real estate investors began moving their purchases away from the beaches, and into the hills overlooking Costa Rica’s magnificent beaches, anywhere with an ocean view.
Middle Class American Real Estate SpeculatorsThe middle class Americans then followed. And the American owned Costa Rica real estate companies, printed extra brochures and spiffied-up their offices, to welcome their fellow countrymen and women. The American middle class had heard about the incredibly low land prices and wanted to get in on the Costa Rica land rush. They followed the American real estate investors up into the hills, looking for those incredible Costa Rica land prices.
Costa Rica Real Estate el DoradoMany American real estate investors, who are looking to purchase Costa Rica real estate, return back to the United States - dissapointed. Never finding the Costa Rica real estate el dorado. However, many others still buy investment properties, either land in the booneys, or condos on the beach. For many of them it is an investment mistake - still going on.
Successful investment opportunities occur, only when you seize the opportuinity, before everyone else has realized them as well.
It’s over? Nuggets!A few nuggets of Costa Rica real estate can still found, enough to keep a lot of people excited, and many independent American real estate agents pouring into Costa Rica to set-up offices. But it is over.
Dirty Real Estate SecretsThe dirty little secret the American owned Costa Rica real estate agencies don’t want you to know? There is no significant money to be made in Costa Rica beach and hill real estate. The investment opportunity window has shut. And will remain shut for the forseeable future. I give my reasons in Costa Rica Real Estate Part 2.
Ramsay
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Mango Fever Paralyzes Costa Rica March 12, 2007Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , add a comment
Students stop StudentingThere is no official start date for mango season in Costa Rica. At first, small crowds will gather under mango trees alongside country roads, until when the fruit ripens in about 3 weeks, the whole nation will become paralyzed with Mango Fever. Workers stop working, teachers stop teaching, and students stop studenting. Risking their lives climbing Mango trees, and literally going out on a limb, for this succulent fruit.Orotina is the capital of the Mango NationLocated 1.5 hours southwest of San Jose, and 45 minutes from Costa Rica’s Pacific beaches in Jaco - and surfing in Hermosa. The town is the site of the well known Mango Festival, when bus loads of people come to worship, and then eat the Mango.Not a Truck StopOrotina lies on a main highway intersection connecting San Jose and the Central Pacific beach towns. Although not a particularly attractive town, Orotina does have the services, a town it’s size would imply. Banks, grocery stores, vets, clinics, doctors etc., are all available in Orotina.
Reasonable Real EstateThe climate around Orotina consists of hot dry summers and mild winters. Perfect Mango growing weather. Orotina does provide distant ocean views from some parts of the area. But the best views are of hidden valleys located off the main road. Land and real estate prices are more reasonable in Orotina, than in Atenas (higher up the mountain and closer to San Jose). And definitely a much better Costa Rica real estate value than the beach towns.
Anyone want to be a Mango Farmer?
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Working in Costa Rica March 11, 2007Posted by admin in : Investing, Living , add a comment A guest from Russia, and an American from Florida, today both asked me about working in Costa Rica. They love Costa Rica and are considering moving here and working in Costa Rica. They can’t. If a business in Costa Rica hires them they could face fines and get shutdown.
It is illegal for non-citizens or non-residents to work in Costa Rica unless…
You Get TransferredThe guest from Moscow works for HP computers, HP has an office in Costa Rica, if he gets a transfer - no problem. The company will arrange for him to receive a special work visa.
You Start a BusinessThe used car salesman from Orlando? Unlikely his company has an office in Costa Rica. He’ll have to find another way. If he opens a used car lot in Costa Rica he can work 80 hours a week selling his lemons - no problem. Owning a business in Costa Rica allows you to work and receive an income. And if you work and receive an income, you are eligible for health insurance, pension, and many other benefits. It’s how I do it.
Rice and Beans“Whatever. I’m coming to Costa Rica and looking for work. I’m a web 4.0 programmer and everyone wants me, I’ll find a job, or I’ll just do it on the side.” My advice - learn this recipe for Gallo Pinto (rice and beans). Because that’s all you’re going to be able to afford to eat. My maids earn $1.50, my hotel receptionists who are bilingual and computer literate, earn $2 an hour. But you’re a web 4.0 programmer, cutting edge technology, degree from the University of Technology - $10 an hour no benefits. That’s what my sometimes php programmer earns.
Ramsay