In the past investing in Costa Rica real estate was one of the best investments Worldwide, with exponential returns year over year. However, these exuberant returns were unsustainable and when the global economic crisis hit the property values had to come back down to realistic levels. Today it appears we have past the bottom of the cycle and many of the fire sales have been swooped up by savvy investors. It is still very much a buyer’s market and great time to invest in Costa Rica because as the U.S. and other World economies recover, the property values here will once again begin to increase.
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While browsing the storefronts of Quepos/Manuel Antonio the other day, I saw this Hurricane History Map in an office window. What caught my attention was how Costa Rica was completely free of any direct hurricane/tropical storm trajectories. People ask us if we get hit by hurricanes, and now it’s nice to have a chart showing just how ideally located Costa Rica is, especially on the Pacific side. Clearly, the vast majority of tropical storms and hurricanes are born in the oceans to the west and especially
the east of Costa Rica, and then almost always track north. In recent years, only Hurricane Cesar and Hurricane Mitch (1996 and 1998, respectively) traveled all the way across the Central America landmass.
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There are many questions first time Buyers in Costa Rica may have and these are some of the most common we experience. This guide of Frequently Asked Questions will help first time Buyers become informed of the Buying Process and different aspects of owning property in Costa Rica.
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“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
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Editor’s Note: Todays post was written by Josh Linnes, an american expat living in Costa Rica. He writes for Viva Tropical and is the founder of property investment company Emerging Terrains. You can reach him on Google+. With its gorgeous beaches, tropical climate, and exotic wildlife, Costa Rica has been attracting expats searching for a little piece of paradise for years now. While it’s true that a significant portion of expats are childless couples and retirees, more and more expat families are moving down to see what life in Costa Rica is all about. So once the decision to pack up and move down to Costa Rica is made, where should expats look to find that perfect family community?
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Labor in Costa Rica is very affordable compared to the U.S., Canada, or Europe and many ex-pats employ a full or part time gardener and house cleaner. Since the jungle grows so fast around here, a gardener can keep the property and the landscaping maintained. Same for a finished home, having some help cleaning windows, sweeping, mopping, and more helps maintain its beauty. After all most people move to Costa Rica to relax, not do house and yard work.
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Costa Rica has been a favorite destination for tourists, retirees, and second home owners for many years. It is perfectly safe to travel and live here full time in this country. Of course you have to use caution in certain areas of the San Jose due to crime concerns and use common sense to avoid petty theft when travelling with cash, passports, and electronics throughout the country. In tourism areas there is always petty theft of thieves breaking into cars and taking wallets, cameras, and cell phones or snatching an unattended bag in a crowded public place. In the capital city of San Jose crime is of greater concern and many home owners have bars on their windows and live in gated communities with 24 hour security.
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Costa Rica is an amazing country with tons of biodiversity and natural attractions, friendly local people, safe for retirees and families, and real estate opportunities for any level investor. Many come to Costa Rica with romantic dreams and grandiose plans of how they will live the rest of their life in tropical paradise stress free on the beach or a mountain retreat. However, some common mistakes can lead to frustration and disillusionment of this idyllic dream and for some, result in returning to their country of origin. This blog will discuss some of those mistakes and how to avoid them in order to truly enjoy the “Pura Vida” lifestyle.
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The weather in Costa Rica is warm and tropical all year round and depending on which part of the country to visit the climate can vary in temperature, annual rain fall, and humidity. The Guanacaste in the North can be really dry at times and gets winds every March; where as the Central Valley can be cool in the high elevation mountain areas around San Jose. No matter where you are though there are only two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. In this blog we will discuss the typical weather patterns of the Southern Zone and the Costa Ballena area.
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