Costa Rica has a very diverse real estate market, so there’s a Costa Rica property for sale to satisfy everyone’s wildest dreams. From fully furnished homes and condos to bare lots and visions, beautiful properties at the right price are spread out across the entire country. And to anyone who’s looking to invest in a promising project, discover a home away from home, or relocate permanently to a shaded, poolside hammock behind a lovely ocean-view estate, we have one thing to say to you: it’s here, and we can get it for you.

Though building costs are relatively the same throughout the country, land value has significant variation based on location. Northwest Costa Rica is considered the country’s Gold Coast, and the price of a 5000 square meter ocean view lot ranges between $100,000 and $600,000 – (it’s worth mentioning that the small selection of half-million dollar lots are among the most spectacular in the world and worth every penny to those who can afford them). In less developed coastal areas on the Pacific, lots can be up to 75% cheaper than in the Gold Coast.

Building generally costs around $100 per square foot, so even in the Gold Coast, $300,000 can get you an ocean view lot boasting a beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. A 4500-7500 square foot Costa Rica property for sale would be priced between $750,000 and $1,500,000. Varying materials, contractors, and countless other factors manipulate price when building.

Many people desire to play a role in customizing their own home from the ground up, but the market is also ripe with fabulous turn-key homes and condos that have been given plenty of affection. Such properties most often come with high quality furniture, appliances, utensils, and décor. The real estate market is on the rise, yet prices will remain low for the time being. It’s certainly feasible to buy perfect house with top-notch appliances and furniture at lower cost than constructing an empty house. There are benefits to either choice, it all depends on the buyer’s needs!

Beachfront Costa Rica property for sale is more expensive than ocean view property, due to the limited selection and high desirability. The ocean serves as a pretty nice backyard, but just be ready to pay the price! In more desired areas of the country, beach development opportunities are few and far between, since most of the land is accounted for. However, there are beach homes on the market!

Again, no matter what your needs are, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect Costa Rica property for sale!

My Name is Jeremy Goodman, thanks for taking the time to read our articles. CostaRicaRealEstate.com is a web portal and Real Estate services web site devoted to becoming the top resource for information about living, retiring and prospering in Costa Rica. I welcome you to discover Costa Rica living and to get a fresh common sense approach to buying Costa Rica Real Estate.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

It’s been very nice here in the Atenas area we haven’t gotten as much rain as we have over in the Grecia area.  You can almost feel summer getting nearer.  And YES the Christmas decorations are already coming out off of the stores shelves. :(

Time sure flies by while your enjoying life in Costa Rica.

Happy Tuesday to all!!!

Wow!!! It is a beautiful day and look’s like there is no rain in the forecast over here in Atenas :)

It seems to be staying quite dry this rainy season.
And everyone is still looking forward to the dry season!!

Take Care

Me and the kids had a great weekend and I hope likewise for everyone else…

We got  to take a drive from Grecia over to San Carlos and oh what a beautiful and peaceful drive…  I would definately recommend going and then staying close to Arenal Volcano for a day or two.. Unfortunately we just went  there for a soccer game and returned right after.  But a definate must-do thing to do here in Costa Rica

Buying property in Costa Rica is a great investment for monetary and lifestyle purposes. With that being said, it requires due diligence; there are a number of things that must be closely examined when purchasing land or housing in Costa Rica to ensure that the transaction leads to a dream come true, rather than your worst nightmare.

First off, in any transaction involving land or a standing structure, it is crucial to know whether the ownership rights or the occupational rights are being offered. Unregistered land is offered under occupational ownership and a lengthy process of registration will follow suit if such land is purchased. The provisions of ownership rights are basically the same as those in the US, and always involve registered land.

Buying property in Costa Rica that’s on the beach can be a little trickier than inland property; there are parts of beaches that will always be public property of Costa Rica.  Beaches have two zones that make up a width of 200 meters: the public zone and the restricted zone. The public zone is 50 meters wide and falls between the high tide line and the start of the restricted zone. The restricted zone is 150 meters wide and runs from the end of the public zone inland. The restricted zone is private property belonging to the “owner” of the land; however, it is merely a concession from the government. Beachfront property in the restricted zone grants an owner occupational rights for 5-20 years, depending on the governments ruling. Leases can be extended, so a home or business can remain in control of the land for living or financial purposes.[1]

There are some exceptions to the Maritime Zoning Law, however, because it was implemented in 1977. Any beachfront property titled prior to the law’s implementation can still be transferred with its full title. However, only extremely old property from colonial times will include titled public zone.

In most cases of foreigners buying property in Costa Rica, the property is purchased through the formation of a corporation. It can cost up to $500 to start a corporation, and it requires that a Costa Rican resident holds 50% of the shares. However, the resident can sell their half to the purchaser once the sale is finished. A trusted attorney should always be involved in such sales, to make sure the transaction goes through smoothly. Because only residents of at least 5 years can own concessioned beachfront property, starting a corporation is required for any foreigner who purchases land on the beach.

Another important law involves condominiumization. This is a term that applies to zoning and other factors that provide benefits to developers: single family residence projects, finished lots, and typical US style townhomes and apartments.

In general, whenever buying property in Costa Rica, it’s necessary to closely inspect records and other paperwork to ensure that the land, water, and all other aspects of the home are legal.

[1] http://www.costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com/infocr/concession_property.htm

My Name is Jeremy Goodman, thanks for taking the time to read our articles. CostaRicaRealEstate.com is a web portal and Real Estate services web site devoted to becoming the top resource for information about living, retiring and prospering in Costa Rica. I welcome you to discover Costa Rica living and to get a fresh common sense approach to buying Costa Rica Real Estate.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

We hope you all have a fun and safe weekend!!!!

From all of us here at Casitas for Sale!!!!

Are you starting to plan your retirement and worrying about how the state of the economy will effect your life style after you turn 65?Are you watching your friends make plans to cash in their paper assets, move to a smaller home, and cut down on spending? This is what many people are doing in the face of a recession in the United States right now. But you imagined having a little money to travel, visit Paris maybe, or go on a cruise. Is all of that just a fantasy now?

Well some people have discovered out how to make the dream a reality and retire in style by living and investing in the heavenly paradise of Costa Rica! It all begins with the real estate market. Those who know say the real estate market in Costa Rica is one of the most stable in the world, and prices are easily comparable to US property or lower. You could easily find a beautiful beach house for $300,000 overlooking the ocean. Or buy a piece of land near the beach for $100,000 and build your dream home. Imagine spend your days walking on the beach, a drink on the terrace, watching the sunset, and socializing with new friends who share your enthusiasm for a good retirement!

You may think it sounds crazy, that people only go to Costa Rica on vacation, but that’s no longer true. More and more foreigners are retiring in Costa Rica, especially Americans but also Europeans and other foreigners. And they are all doing it the same way: investing in property which will only go up in value for years to come, while living their retirement in the sunshine. But how? you ask. The following are just a few examples of the things that make it so easy to live the dream and retire in Costa Rica:

ONLY 2 HOURS AWAY

Costa Rica is only 2 hours away from Florida and all the comforts of home. Take a log weekend in Miami and do some shopping, or grab a connector flight to visit your family, and have them come visit often! And be careful who you invite to come visit you, it is so easy to get to Costa Rica that they will certainly come!

ESPANGLISH

Maybe not everyone speaks English, but no matter where you are, there is probably someone around who will be able to translate. A large majority of the population can speak at least some English, and most of the private schools are English Immersion, so from a young age many of these kids are bilingual. And hey, why not take some Spanish lessons yourself? Stretch your brain a little and make some friends while you are at it.

COST OF LIVING

The cost of living is comparable to the US if not slightly lower. There are some items which are shockingly inexpensive, while others are what you are used to at home. Groceries, restaurants and shopping tend to be about what as you are used to, however workers such as a live in maid or gardener are much less expensive than in the US. During retirement, it can often be a great blessing to have people around to help you with the daily chores.

HEALTH CARE

Health Care in Costa Rica is known for its quality and inexpensive price tag. Many of the doctors are trained in the US or Europe, and hospitals are very modern with all the latest equipment and technologies. Not to gossip but Costa Rica is known for its movie star plastic surgery!

MEDICARE

Both the Costa Rican government and Medicare and are making it extremely easy for ex-patriots to receive their Medicare checks in Costa Rica through a network of banks in now offering direct deposit to your Costa Rican bank account.

VISAS & LEGAL ISSUES

Do I need a visa, or how does it work? If you are 45 years or older you can apply to be part of a retirement program set up by the Costa Rican government to encourage foreigners to come to Costa Rica. Benefits include tax exemptions and incentives, but the greatest thing is that you don’t have to pay tax on your retirement income in Costa Rica!

CAN I OWN PROPERTY IN COSTA RICA?

In Costa Rica foreigners are in no way penalized when purchasing property. Foreigners have the same rights as a Costa Rican and the law will treat them as an equal. You can also incorporate your own company and purchase the property through your company for additional tax breaks.

OF COURSE THE BEAUTY …

The words Cost Rica actually mean Rich Coast, a name Christopher Columbus bestowed on this country overflowing with natural beauty, lush rain forests, mountains, cloud forests, and sandy beaches. Costa Rica is world famous for its diverse natural habitat and beautiful sunsets.

So there you have it, not a bad list of reasons to rent out your house, cash in your paper assets, and retire to a beach house in Costa Rica! There may be a coming recession, but you don’t have to live in it, or let it spoil your long awaited liberation from the rat race.

Jennifer Cross, March 2008

[http://www.CostaRicaRealEstatePages.com]

The English MLS for Costa Rica Real Estate!

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

We all here hope that everyone is doing great!!! Now that we are heading towards the end of the week :)

It is a beautiful morning over here in Atenas today but quite warm.  I did get a phone call from  the Pacific coast and was informed that they woke up to rain showers and cloudy skies ….

Many people are now seeking to retire in Costa Rica – often called the “Jewel of Central America”, and its popularity is growing.

So, why are more people than ever looking to retire in Costa Rica? The major reasons for retiring to Costa Rica are:

. Close proximity to the US

. Climate

. Natural beauty

. Culture

. High standard of living for a very low cost

Quite simply, social security checks go a lot further in Costa Rica than they do in the US.

Geographical Location

For many people retiring to Costa Rica, one of the major advantages is its geographical proximity to the US.

Costa Rica is only a few hours flying distance to the southern U.S. mainland. Flights from Costa Rica to the US and Europe are frequent – making traveling easy. In addition, the time difference between Costa Rica and most US cities is just a couple of hours.

Cost of Living

Another reason for retiring in Costa Rica is that the cost of living is so much less than in the US.

For example, dining out will cost you around $12, and a maid will cost you just $150 a month. General household items are about 60% cheaper than in the US, and utility bills are also far cheaper.

In fact, you can quite easy live comfortably on a couple of thousand dollars a month.

Tax Status

When retiring to Costa Rica, one of the major advantages for Americans is its tax haven status – Americans retiring in Costa Rica do not pay income taxes on social security received from the U.S.

Cost of Real Estate

When you retire in Costa Rica, you’ll enjoy affordable housing – houses of an equivalent standard to those in the U.S. are available at a far cheaper cost.

While real estate has risen in price over the last few years, you can find small, basic homes from around $80,000 – with a choice of homes to suit your pocket and your lifestyle.

Costa Rican law and its constitution protect private ownership of land – and foreign nationals get the same rights as citizens. Costa Rica has a history of stability and democratic government.

The comfort of a stable political environment – as opposed to other Latin American countries, means retiring in Costa Rica gives you peace of mind, due to your legal rights.

Of course, if you buy a house when retiring in Costa Rica you become part of the real estate boom, that has seen houses bought for $30,000 15 years ago, rise to around $700,000 today.

Healthcare

For many years, Costa Rica has provided healthcare services to visitors from around the world – where they’ve been able to get world class healthcare at a fraction of the cost of that available in the US and Europe.

When retiring in Costa Rica, most people take out the medical insurance offered by the government’s insurance company – this offers cover at just $900 per year for an adult male, aged between 45 and 50 – and this covers 80% of medical costs!

In fact, the United Nations consistently ranks Costa Rica’s health services the best in Latin America – and in the top 20 worldwide.

When retiring in Costa Rica, it’s nice to know that as you get older, you can enjoy some of the best healthcare around – at a fraction of the cost of the US or Europe.

The Country

Costa Rica is a very small country of around 32,000 square miles – and a population of only 4 million.

Many people retire to Costa Rica for the slower pace of life – and because it’s one of the safest countries in the world. In addition, the infrastructure is first class.

Costa Rica is also a beautiful country with diverse scenery. With stunning sandy beaches, mountains, rolling hills, beautiful lakes and huge volcanoes – Costa Rica is truly a country of beauty and wonder.

Another attraction for many retiring to Costa Rica is the climate. For example, if you want the heat of the beach you can have it. However, if you like a cooler, less humid climate – then you may prefer the “Eternal Spring” of the Central Valley and San José. Here the average year round temperature is in the 80′s during the day – falling to the 60′s or 70′s in the evening.

You Deserve It!

Retiring in Costa Rica offers people a different, less stressful way of life, in a beautiful country – and at a cost that will allow you to get much more for your money.

When you retire, you deserve a quality lifestyle – and that’s what Costa Rica can offer you.

Discover Costa Rica today!

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