Properties in Costa Rica Blog

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.

The salary of a full time worker is modest and about $100 to $150 per week depending on how long they have worked for you.  If you are paying minimum wage, then there is a mandatory increase every 6 months. If you are paying above minimum wage, then you can give raises when you please.  Most all Costa Ricans are very hard and honest workers and although there can be a bad apple from time to time, my experiences have been mostly positive.

The employer is required to pay the equivalent of social security and health insurance to the “Caja Costariccencse de Seguro Social” or commonly called the “Caja”.   This is every month and for a full time minimum wage employee runs about $130 per month.  Even part time employees should be covered, but for a pro-rated the monthly fee.   The “Caja” gives each “patron” or boss a slip of paper each month to give their employees.  This paper is what they would take to the hospital if they get sick or anyone in their family gets sick, and provides proof of insurance.

All employees should also have the equivalent of Worker’s Compensation Insurance through “Instituto Nacional de Seguros” or “I.N.S.”  A worker’s comp policy is about $120 to $200 per year depending on the type of work and hours performed.   This covers any injury incurred while on the job and will pay their salary if they are incapacitated for an extended period of time.

Another option if you only need a part time employee and hire a ‘contract worker’ and they will be responsible for their own private insurance and worker’s comp policy.  The salary can be per day and slightly higher to cover this added expense for the worker. However, many employees just pocket this extra money and go uninsured, which is why it is recommended to pay the insurance and policy for part time and full time employees alike.

If you do not live in Costa Rica full time you may consider a professional property management company like ours and set up a specific schedule for workers as needed on your property or home.  Our team of gardeners and house cleaners all have their proper insurance and worker’s comp policies in place, and you just pay per day of work.  Even if you live in Costa Rica and do not want the hassle of paying monthly and yearly insurances, then we can handle it all for you and provide a custom cleaning and maintenance schedule to fit your needs!

by Joshua Kanter

The cost of living in Costa Rica is a popular topic among those considering it as a retirement location or for those moving down with their family.  Everyone wants to know how far their Dollar or Euro can stretch; which depends a lot on your life style.  If you have an affluent lifestyle where you are from, you will also have that type of lifestyle here, just for a bit less.  If you can live modestly using mostly local products, then you can save a lot.  More importantly no matter what your spending habits are, the quality of life here is so much more than anything I experienced in the U.S. with beautiful natural scenery, pristine beaches, clean rivers and waterfalls, fresh fruits and vegetables, locally caught fish, and the “Pura Vida” laid back lifestyle.  In this Blog I will attempt to portray some common expenses that the average retiree or person living in Costa Rica can expect.

Food and Entertainment

Food products and restaurants can be much less than the States or Europe and by how much really depends on how you live.  If you eat out a lot and buy American or European imported food items it can be expensive by Costa Rica standards.  However, if you buy local fruits and veggies at farmer’s markets and local food products at the supermarket it can be much cheaper.  Also there are local restaurants called “Sodas” that have a daily “Casado” for $5 to $7; which is a typical dish of rice and beans, a salad, usually another side, and a choice of fish, thin steak, chicken, or pork.  Even at high end elegant restaurants the prices are less than the same quality restaurant in a big city back home.

Entertainment is also more affordable whether going out to the movies, a bar and night club, or even attending a play (mostly in San Jose).  Although beers and drinks can be expensive, they are still less than what you are used to at a night club or bar.  Many beachside bars around here offer a drink special for happy hour and to watch the sunset.  Also there is tons of free daytime entertainment from hiking in the jungle to surfing or strolling local beaches.   Plus once you are a local you can receive discounts on the tour activities such as: zip-lining, rafting, sport fishing, and more.

Health Care

Health care, even private health care is much cheaper here.  When my wife gave birth to our last daughter it was around $3,500 for the C-section with doctor’s fees, medicine, and 1 night stay at the private clinic all included.  Dental care is much more affordable, as well as, minor and even major surgeries.  Medical Tourism is a becoming a very popular trend in Costa Rica with World-Class medical facilities like CIMA, Clinica Biblia, or Hospital Catolica in San Jose.  More and more foreigners are coming to have plastic surgery, dental implants, and all types of joint and even back surgery at a fraction of the cost.  Then the patient can recover in a lush tropical resort close by and be attended to their every need.

Services

Services like house cleaning, gardeners, and cooks are also very affordable at $2 to $4 per hour.  You can afford to have a full time employee in order to spend less time on household chores and more time enjoying life in paradise.

Imported Items

Cars and electronics like TV’s and cell phones are all much more here because of import taxes associated with them.  Diesel and gas at $5.50 to $7 per gallon respectively, along with car maintenance will be one of (if not) your biggest expenses here.  The mechanics are reasonable and parts are comparable in price, but there is more wear and tear on vehicles here depending where you live and what kind of road access it has.   A good 4×4 SUV or truck is the way to go and most people prefer diesel engines for better fuel efficiency and price at the pump.

Taxes

Property taxes are 0.25% of the registered property value, so for example a $100,000 house or property pays $250 per year in property tax.  There is a fairly new luxury home tax for homes over $200k and that is about $2,500 to $3,000 per year.  Additionally a new annual corporation tax implemented in 2012 is equal to approximately $180 for inactive corporations and $360 for active corporations.  There is currently no capital gains tax in Costa Rica; which is beneficial when selling personal property investments.

Costa Rica and specifically the Dominical area is a great option to retire or raise a family.  The lower cost of living and much higher quality of life make this a place to truly consider for your next full time or part time residence!!

Written by Joshua Kanter, Agent with Properties in Dominical

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.

The Dry Season

Our dry season typically begins in late November or early December and lasts until May, when the afternoon showers begin to return.  Although we can still get an occasional rain storm in the dry season it is usually sunny days and starlight nights.  I have even seen it go over a month with no rain before, which is rare.  The dry season is also known as the high season for tourism and many visitors come for the holidays of Christmas and New Year’s and during the week of Easter; which here is called Samana Santa.  March is the height of the dry season and a good time to experience the area at its hottest and driest time.  Even in March we are blessed that this tropical jungle never turns brown and keeps its lush green foliage year round.   Many tourists decide to visit in the dry season in order to enjoy the beaches and adventure tours without much chance of rain.  However, the rainy season can be a great time to visit as well and there is plenty of sunshine too.

The Rainy Season

Also known as the green season (even though it is always green around here), the rainy season usually starts at the end of May and goes through most of November.  It is a common misconception that it just rains all the time in the Dominical area during the rainy season.  Typically the day starts out sunny until about mid day or even later and then begins to cloud up leading to an afternoon or evening shower.  Sometimes it can drizzle most of the night or there can a shorter sustained heavy down pour.  September and October are the rainiest months and during that time you can experience a few days straight of grey clouds and off and on drizzle to steady rain.  In July we usually receive a mini-summer of about 2 weeks of dry season type weather.  Although the daytime temperature does not vary much between seasons, it can be slightly cooler during the rainy season and the afternoon showers cool everything off for the evening and rest of the night.  Also the rainy season is the best time to plant and you can basically take cuttings of most any plant, stick it in the ground, and wait for it to grow.  As far as adventure tours for visitors, you can enjoy zip-lining, hiking, fishing, ATV riding most of the day and not to mention white-water rafting is much better in the rainy season due to higher river levels and more intense rapids.  Plus for surfers there tends to be bigger waves and more frequent swells in the rainy season.

No matter when you plan a trip to Costa Rica you will have lots of fun and experiences of a lifetime.  If you are considering buying property and living here part or full time it is always a good idea to visit during the hottest and wettest times of the year before you make your decision.

*** Written by Joshua Kanter

Costa Rica is one of the top Surfing destinations in the world. Thousands flock to its beautiful rich coast every year to take advantage of prime breaks. Playa Hermosa just South of the city of Jaco is a popular destination for many surfers. But did you know that the area from Dominical to Pavones boasts some of the best surf and untouched beaches in Costa Rica?

The surfer town of Dominical has grown to become a affordable stop on anyone’s surfing
tour. Known as the most consistent surf spot in Costa Rica, Dominical is a must stop on any experienced surfers trip. Note that this beach is not at a beginner level, the high tides are powerful and the currents strong and low tide is shallow! Dominical is not recommended for swimming and never leave anything of value in your car.

Many surfers have relocated to the Dominical area and now call it home. This has drawn
attention to the town and brought a number of surf events to its beaches. In May 2012
Dominical hosted the 4th circuit of the Copa Quicksilver Olympus 2012 National Tour. One important difference at Dominical is that the beach has lifeguards, which the community have worked hard to keep over the years! Annually there is a local surf competition to raise funds for the lifeguards as well as other fundraising events. To find out more about supporting these hard working guys visit www.dominicallifeguards.org, you can also find daily surf reports for Dominical Beach here!

A short 2 km drive South of Dominical brings you to the cove of Dominicalito Beach. Dominicalito is a great place for beginner level surfers. The cove is rocky, so high tide is best for surfing since one doesn’t have to battle past the rocks. Dominical Surf Adventures surf school about lessons and tours! The point at Dominicalito provides advanced surfers with taller walls at low to mid tide with SSW swells, waves break on a shallow rock ledge. Dominicalito is a stunning cove to enjoy at low tide, with beautiful rock formations and perfect sunset views.

10 km South of Dominical brings you to Playa Hermosa, not to be confused with Playa Hermosa South of Jaco. Hermosa is a 2km long stretch of palm tree lined beach and serves as a great surf spot for beginner to intermediate surfing. Beginners can take best advantage of mid to high tide.

Advanced surfers usually group at the North end near the point. It remains a favorite among those living in the area. The beach has ample parking and usually remains a safe option. Playa Hermosa is a must stop for any South Pacific trip to Costa Rica; uncrowded, clean, beautiful, what more could you ask for?

The town of Uvita is home to the Marino Ballena National park, host of the famous Whale’s Tail sand bar. This coastal town has grown to provide all the basic services and necessities one might need, along with boasting some of the most beautiful beaches! With calm snorkeling and whale watching boat tours, it is a must stop. At Chaman beach one can find some of the best beginner surf in the area during mid to high tide. High tide is also prime for intermediate surfers who want to experience a tranquilo surf. There is ample parking, though again you do not want to leave anything of value in your car. The Flutterby House Hostel is nearby and provides cheap backpacker accommodations. Don’t forget to visit Playa Ballena where the Whale’s Tail is located for a beautiful beach destination, there you can also snorkel and walk the sand bar at low tide. Visit www.enuvita.com for more information on businesses in the area.

10 km South of Uvita is Playa Arco. This is best accessed at Villas Leonor restaurant
(purchasing of a meal is required). Arco is practically untouched and is never crowded. The surf is good for beginner. Another 3 km brings you to Playa Ventanas. Seeming like something out of Jurassic Park movie, this beautiful cove beach is a great beginner surf spot. The waves are best from low to mid for learners. Ventanas means “windows”, visit the 2 caves to the North of the cove, at low tide you can walk through them. Parking is located on the property adjacent to the beach, a $1 fee per person is charged for access. Again, do not leave anything valuable in your vehicle.

150 km South of Uvita is the small town of Pavones – it is the hidden gem of surfing in Costa Rica. This is surfers paradise! www.crsurf.com says this about Pavones “One of the longest lefts in the world. With a double overhead southwest swell it can break for 600-700 meters, two minute rides. When there is no swell, it can go flat, with surf maybe waist high with a rising tide. Best tide is around high tide so the wave breaks in deeper water and one can make more sections. At low tide there are lots of slippery barnacled cobblestones to walk over to get to the wave. Can get very crowded with over 100 surfers on it when it is good. And many of them are locals so give respect and wait for the right peak to take off on. The drift also helps to spread out the lineup.”. Pavones itself is undeveloped, there is no bank in the town, so bring necessities and cash with you. If you are a advanced surfer, Pavones is sure to find a place in your heart, as it has for many!

There are also a number of other surf spots located along this section of Costa Rica. Playa
Matapalo, Rio Terraba, Punta Banco, to name a few more.

The South Pacific zone of Costa Rica is a rich coast. Rich with wildlife, waterfalls, jungle,
untouched beaches and some of the best surf in the world. You do not want to miss out on this stretch of Surfer Paradise!

by Zoe Longworth

Well, the votes have been cast and counted…and now the results are in!  No, not for this year’s Academy Awards, but rather for the annual list of top retirement havens compiled each year by International Living.  As usual, Costa Rica has found itself near the top of the list.

Coming in at #5, Costa Rica was lauded in the article as being politically stable, conveniently close to the US, and as having high-quality, affordable health care.  The article cites expats who are enrolled in Costa Rica’s “Caja” or universal healthcare system, who give high marks to local doctors and medical facilities.

And of course Costa Rica’s famously large and welcoming expat community also got International Living’s stamp of approval.  Many expats here list the sense of community, and the huge number of groups and activities geared towards foreigners, as motivation for choosing Costa Rica for retirement.  There are groups for bird-watching, politics, wine-tasting, newcomers, animal welfare enthusiasts, community service, expats under 30, creative writing, and many, many more.   With so many diverse groups to join, it’s easy for newcomers to make new friends and connections.

For the full list of International Living’s choices for retirement havens, read the entire article

Costa Rica lists number 10th in The most positive country of the world, this is different from the Happiest People on earth, according to a survey this new parameters is different from the other one.

“Gallup measured positive emotions in 148 countries and areas in 2011 using five questions. These questions ask people whether they experienced a lot of enjoyment the day before the survey and whether they felt respected, well-rested, laughed and smiled a lot, and did or learned something interesting.

The average percentage of respondents worldwide who said “yes” to these five questions reflects a relatively upbeat world. Gallup found that 85% of adults worldwide felt treated with respect all day, 72% smiled and laughed a lot, 73% felt enjoyment a lot of the day, and 72% felt well-rested. The only emotion that less than half of people worldwide reported experiencing was getting to learn or do something interesting the previous day, at 43%. Despite many global challenges, people worldwide are experiencing many positive emotions.”

Higher income does not necessarily mean higher well being so with that said …One more reason to live in Costa Rica

Expecting change and hopes of better living and learning.. a possible opportunity for a change…

Enjoy the rest of the year and have a happy, happy and very positive New Year!!!!!!

Some information on how to pay the Luxury Home Tax

The impuesto solidario, is approaching The due date is January 16, The Tax Administration will provide at their:  website dgt.hacienda.go.cr, the details of each Tax’s pending and how to pay it on a bank. The percentage to pay depends on the value of the property and the Tax percent ranks from from 0.24 to 0.55.

They will have not only to pay and interest calculated from the due date, but they will be on a list of delinquents on their website.

On their page, you will find theSo hurry and pay your taxes….

The sun is shining, you might live to be 80 years old, your forest is protected, and your government is one of the least corrupt in Latin America – whats not to be happy about?! Well now there is one more thing on the list to be happy about and that is that Costa Rica has topped the UK-based happy people index for the second straight year.

The Costa Rican people are arguably the happiest people in the world according to the Happy Person index which weighs the value of happiness not on economic wealth and foreign investment but rather looks to ecological footprint and life expectancy. Following the belief that money does not make you happy this is an index that has some value.

With more and more studies showing that being in tune with the natural world around us is becoming what many doctors are prescribing for many disorders e.g. anxiety, stress, ADHD, and the list goes on. The idea is to get out and get yourself a dosage of Vitamin-N (Nature). Costa Rica is a country that has 30% of its land protected and no matter where you stand in the country you probably can see a protected area in the birds-eye view.

Along with the idea of life expectancy you can apply that a less stressed person and happy person will live longer. The Costa Rican people are all of these in most part due to their location on the planet with two beautiful coasts, spectacular mountain ranges, and many more marvelous natural wonders. It is what they have chose to do with these areas that has kept them happy. It is only natural that if you start destroying your very own life support system, a feeling of sadness will follow. Here in Costa Rica vibrant life is all around us. Some of the most biodiverse places on the planet can be found in Costa Rica. It is where life has fine tuned evolution to become a perfect balance. It seems even the Costa Rican people have found that balance as they are living among the natural world and feeling the benefits from it.

Estate-Size Lots and Land in the Central Valley

Let’s face it: in Costa Rica, there are a lot of cookie-cutter developments with row upon row of identical houses.  Even in some larger developments, home styles vary, but lots are small and houses are closely spaced.

If you long for more elbow room, great views, privacy, and perhaps a place for horses or other furry friends, choices can be limited.  Often buyers coming from North America are surprised at the small size of many building lots in the Central Valley.

If you are used to having a few acres to stretch you legs, but don’t want to drive an hour to get to schools or work, then it can be challenging to find larger parcels that are still convenient to all the services and amenities that the city offers.

Luckily there are some properties that cater to a select clientele who are interested in building a refined country retreat where peace and quiet prevail, yet still close to all the goods and services that are necessary for a cosmopolitan lifestyle.

United Country Properties in Costa Rica specializes in filling this niche market of estate-size building lots.

We have larger view lots in Salitral de Santa Ana inside a gated community of only 16 estate-style lots.

We also have a panoramic view property of 10 acres located in Piedades, only 3 km from the Ciudad Colon tollbooth on the Caldera highway.

Or take advantage of a special price on a 6.5 acre view parcel in the hills of Escazu.

Whether you are looking to build a family compound, private horse stables, or just have room to enjoy a relaxed country lifestyle, these properties have it all: views, privacy, wildlife, and room to spread your wings.