Properties in Costa Rica Blog

Monthly Archives: July 2013


Conservation and Private Reserve Ownership in Costa Rica

July 15, 2013

Properties in Costa Rica

In 2011, Forbes ranked Manuel Antonio National Park as one of “the world’s most beautiful national parks”.  It is also one of the most popular national parks within Costa Rica.  The 26 national parks and 13 additional “protected areas” within Costa Rica encompass primary and secondary rainforests, cloud forests, tropical dry forests, marine environments and wetlands.  They cover over 26% of Costa Rica’s landmass according to the SINAC website, making the country a world leader in conserved land mass.

Working in conjunction with the many national parks, investors have established private reserves in order to assist in maintaining the biological corridors surrounding the many protected areas.  According at the Watershed Markets organization website- “A combination of political leadership and the continuous evolution of forestry sector laws since the 1960s (forest cover decreased from 72% in 1950 to 26% in 1983.  By 2002, it had recovered to 45%). During the mid-1990s Costa Rica, faced with the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) of the World Bank, was forced to withdraw the generous subsidies it had offered landowners for reforestation. This led the forestry lobby to search for other financing means, which in turn prompted the strong environmental movement.”

Watershed Markets goes on to point out the incentives for land owners- “The government-led Costa Rican PES Program (Payment for Environmental Services) rewards forest owners for four bundled Environmental Services their forests provide– watershed protection, carbon sequestration, landscape beauty and biodiversity protection… Fondo Nacional de Financiamiento Forestal (FONAFIFO) and local NGOs like FUNDECOR, play important intermediary roles.”

This PES Program has benefited more than 7,000 land owners, and thus recaptured 26% of Costa Rica’s land-mass-to-forest-cover from 1987 to 2000.  Privately owned conservation projects have allowed tourists and locals to intimately experience the flora and fauna of Costa Rica.

What this means for property owners is that through their dedication of land for conservation to the FONOFIFO program, they will be rewarded with funds to maintain this natural and undisturbed beauty.  Some owners use these private preserves for biodiversity education and research, while others establish retreats that are open to the public.

If you are interested in getting back to nature and being your own “steward of the land”, look into the conservation of private land covering large acreage.  This is an investment that can be used as a means of living, while giving your investment a meaning worth living for.

by Rod Martin

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Wildlife Calms The Soul In Costa Rica

Properties in Costa Rica

Here’s the progression… you visit the southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica, you fall in love with the southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica, you eventually buy property in the southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica. But, many of you are still wondering why you should visit this tropical, Jurassic part of the world? One of the top reasons… is wildlife.

Since the monkeys, sloths and toucans get most of the publicity, we thought a focus on the aquatic wildlife was in order.

Parque Nacional Marino Ballena

Recognized in 1989, the Marino Ballena National Marine Park was the first national marine park in Costa Rica. It was created to protect the marine ecosystems associated with the beaches, mangroves, islands and fragile coral reefs, one of the largest on the Pacific Coast of Central America. The park stretches from Uvita’s famous Whale’s Tail south to Playa Piñuela, and then 9 miles out into the Pacific Ocean. The islands called Tres Hermanas (The Three Sisters) and Isla Ballena are contained within this triangular park.

In addition to enhancing many of the ocean view properties in the area, these coastal landmarks are home to thousands of aquatic and terrestrial species.

Larger Than Life 

“Ballena” means whale in Spanish. Both the southern and northern hemisphere female humpback whales visit the area between the months of November to March. They arrive to give birth and nurture their calves in the calm, aquatic environment. Although there are daily whale sightings in the peak season, this majestic mammal is still on the endangered species list. If you haven’t seen one up close, you will want to add a whale-watching tour out of Uvita on your Bucket List.

For those who do not enjoy boats or the open ocean, you can still enjoy the experience from land. We frequently see whales spouting from the beach many times, but one event during a visit with my parents stands out. We were enjoying a nice, ocean view breakfast when suddenly a slate blue whale suddenly breached in the middle of the bay. Over the next half hour, it continued to jump, twist, and crash sideways at least 20 times. Without question, it was the most memorable breakfast we have ever shared together.

Return Of The Ridley

The humpback whales and dolphins are just a couple of many creatures inhabiting the marine park. Sea turtles are another majestic species that return to nest on these specific beaches every year. Thanks to conservation efforts, Ridley turtle numbers are actually rising in the southern Pacific. You can see them while snorkeling around the Whale’s Tail or one of the islands off the coast. Watching a baby sea turtle dig out of its sandy nest and instinctively scratch its way to the water makes a lasting impression for people, young and old.

Without question, the great outdoors, including the rich variety of marine life found in Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, is at the center of the Costa Ballena experience. It is one of the primary reasons tourists visit and why many of those tourists eventually invest in real estate and/or relocate in this part of Costa Rica. The immediacy of wildlife in the southern Pacific zone, like a 50-foot whale breaching during breakfast, adds value beyond measure.

by  Joshua Kanter

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Let the Negative Outweigh the Positive, Ions That Is.

July 12, 2013

Properties in Costa Rica

The world we live in today is streaming with Positive ions. But this saturation of positive ions due to the ever developing electronics in our homes and offices, the radiation we are exposed to on a daily basis and the chemical and pollution our bodies come in contact with, is actually not a positive thing. This abundance of positive ions contributes to an imbalance of the acid-alkaline levels within our bodies, thus contributing to free radicals which are believed to advance aging and the development of cancer.

Negative ions are said to cause biochemical reactions within our bodies, stimulating our immune system, the release of serotonin and increasing alpha brain waves. There are an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 negative ions to each cubic centimetre of fresh air; whereas there can be less than 100 in polluted city air. The amazing thing about the ocean, waterfalls and even just taking a shower, is that the force behind the falling water causes splitting of neutral air molecules causing the freeing of electrons which attach to other molecules creating a negative charge. Simply put, swimming in the ocean waves or enjoying a refreshing waterfall is of great benefit to your health!

Many have relocated to Costa Rica because they are in need of a lifestyle change. The only way to decrease our exposure to positive ions is to remove ourselves from the contributing factors and expose our bodies to negative ions. The ocean is teaming with negative ions. The air is full of negative ions after a lighting storm. The negative ions resulting from cascading waterfalls not only refresh your body, it refreshes your mind. Plus living away from the pollution of the city, away from electronic driven society, will already decrease the intake of positive ions into your lungs and mind. If you ever wanted a creative justification for retiring in Costa Rica, this is it! Surfing the churning waves or swimming in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, this is the key to unlock better emotional and physical well being!

by Zoe Longworth

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Seller Financing Saves The Day

July 5, 2013

Properties in Costa Rica

Costa Rica real estate is typically a cash market for foreign investors. The main reason is Costa Rican banks lend money at a significantly higher interest rate than the Prime rate, which has been cut to historically low level since January of 2009. However, you don’t have to give up the dream of owning your own piece of paradise, because there are two elements working in your favor—lower prices and seller financing.

Pricing After The Downturn

Whether you desire a luxury home or an ocean view lot, there’s never been a better time to buy Costa Rica real estate. Land values are down by 50-60% from the peak in 2008. Houses have held their value a bit more, but even these turnkey options are lower.

Seller Financing Is Easy

Before the downturn, most foreign buyers—Americans, Canadians, Europeans—traveled to Costa Rica with cash to invest. Then, the downturn hit and property values around the world decreased… dramatically in some areas. Equity in their home dried up along with previously abundant lines of credit. This is where property owners in Costa Rica got creative.

In fact, “holding paper” in the form of a registered mortgage, became more than an option, it quickly became common. “Holding paper” means the seller is willing to take a portion of the purchase price up front and hold a note in the form of a trust or mortgage. Your lawyers set up a trust or a mortgage here in Costa Rica.

Here’s the security for the seller… If the buyer defaults on the terms of the trust or mortgage (usually by missing payments), the seller can initiate the foreclosure process.

Term-inology

Generally speaking, we see certain deal points common to the seller financing deals (e.g., approx.. half of the purchase price down, a term of less than 5 years). While other details like interest rates, ballon payments, and monthly/annual payments vary greatly.

Cash is still king in the Costa Rica real estate market. If you, as a cash investor, have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right time to buy your dream property in the tropics, your time is now. You have the maximum buying power with the maximum inventory of ocean view land.

by Rod Martin

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Forget the Bottle, Drink it Straight from the Coconut!

Properties in Costa Rica

A Superfood is defined generally as “a food considered especially nutritious or otherwise beneficial to health and well-being”.  Many move to Costa Rica in hopes of doing that very thing, benefiting their health and well-being.  In this day and age there are varying discussions on superfoods (Are they really super?) but it is certain, eating healthy is smart.  This is one easy thing to accomplish in Costa Rica and if you are into the superfood movement, you will love it here.

Cacao.  Not only are Cacao seeds the main ingredient in chocolate but they can be turned into cacao butter, cacao oil, cacao powder, all which have varying uses and all of which smell like chocolate.  Yum.  But it is the antioxidant flavanols which you find in cacao that are of benefit to your health.  Cacao plants grow very easily in Costa Rica, particularly in secondary rainforest areas.  What to try something really different?  The fruity, somewhat slimy, “meat” of the Cacao is a unique experience in itself!

Kale.  Grown mainly in the central valley area of Costa Rica, you will find a couple different leaf types of kale are available here.   Kale is from the same family as broccoli and contains the same vitamins and anticancer chemicals.

Chia Seeds.  Chi chi chi chia, we all know the infomercials where you can own your very own pottery pet that grows a chia fur, well who ever thought people would eat those seeds? The proper name for Chia is Salvia Hispanica.  This tiny seed is known for its high omega-3 fatty acid content, as well as calcium, phosphorus and manganese.

Coconut oil.  One of the best oils to cook with, coconut oil promotes heart health, brain health and the immune system.  It is easy on your digestive system and great for use as a topical moisturizer.  Plus, it adds a nice coconut flavor to any dish.

Agua de Pipa.  Drinking coconut water has become a trend; companies are capitalizing on the bottling of this refreshing juice.  This clear “water” is taken from young green coconuts called pipas and is sold on practically every corner of every beach town in Costa Rica.  Here you don’t buy it in a bottle; you drink it straight from the coconut.  If you can’t find a vendor, just look for a tree and knock one down (of course you will need a machete to open it).  Known for its rich electrolyte concentration, this juice also contains high amounts of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and plant hormones called cytokinins.

These are only a few of the superfoods available in Costa Rica that you will find at most local farmers markets, plus usually they are organic.  Due to the marketing and distribution of these kinds of foods, they can be quite costly at the supermarket in Canada or the US, but in Costa Rica they are very affordable.  How does $2 for a bunch of kale or $1.25 for a pipa sound to you?  It is easy to make these, and other, superfoods part of your healthy lifestyle in Costa Rica.

by Zoe Longworth

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