Vacation Travelers Group Blog

I recently had an enlightening conversation with one of our clients and I asked him: “How did you decide on Costa Rica?” and his response was very analytical and logical, and eye-opening for somebody that lives full-time in Costa Rica.

As a background and to contextualize his response, keep in mind that he is from Central Europe.  His response below:

“I started thinking first about Italy, there are several beautiful places in Italy and areas that are very beautiful but only during certain times of the year.  A home there would become usable only part of the year, since the rest of the year the climate and conditions would be almost the same as where I am from, therefore it would not become a full-year vacation home.  I wanted somewhere that I know I could come and enjoy at ANY time of the year.  Therefore, I decided to get an old-style earth globe, and draw an imaginary stripe of 10 degrees north and south of the Equator, to find a place that would have warm climates year-round…

The north and central africa and the middle east are out of the question for obvious reasons.  I found myself looking at gorgeous places like Bali, but they are too far away, travel is not the best around to those places, and there would be significant language barriers also.  Hawaii was an obvious choice, but it is too expensive, too american and too developed, I wanted somewhere more natural.  Then it’s ocean all around, and then you hit central and south america.  Colombia and Venezuela are also out for political reasons and travel is also quite long, the north of Brazil has almost no available locations to think about, their developed areas are more to the center of the country.

Then that leaves you with Central America.  Easy plane rides to any location from different travel hubs in the USA, so getting there is a positive.

Guatemala has security problems, and their beach locations are not that famous.  Honduras also not known for their beach locations and they are too close to Guatemala.  El Salvador has gang problems, and also too close to Guatemala.  Then you come to Nicaragua, there are places that are supposed to be beautiful, but you have Ortega, the Sandinistas and a whole array of problems there.  Not the place where I want to own a home.

Then this leaves you with Panama and Costa Rica.  Both have certain pros and cons, but evidently the pros steered me towards Costa Rica.  Political stability, long-term democracy, clear laws for owning land by foreigners, beautiful places to visit, and an array of options to choose from when selecting a piece of land, from independent locations, to developed resorts.  The people are friendly, communication is easier since a lot of them speak at least some english, and there are gorgeous places to own a home.  This was definitely the choice”

This was overall a very interesting and thorough explanation, and heart-warming for a native Costa Rican to hear.

Black Beauty Mariposa Villa is a massive 4,424 square foot, three-bedroom holiday home, located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The translation for “Mariposa” is “butterfly” and we are curious to see if you can find the reasons behind the name. Here is a description from the project developers: “Though nestled into the terrain, Mariposa gives the appearance of fluttering above Costa Rica’s lush Northern Pacific coast.

Its towering height and open spaces features an uninhibited union of earth, ocean, and a luxurious modern eco-lifestyle. An enveloping exterior garden bridged by a glass circulation spine connects and subtly separates the interior living spaces & entertaining areas from the private bedrooms.

Whether entering directly to the master bedroom from the corridor, or descending stairs to the family room and guest suites below, Mariposa’s intimate spaces provide ultimate privacy, while expanding one’s experience of picturesque nature, vivid sunsets and deluxe amenities.”

If you are interested in experiencing the National Wildlife Refuge, or would just love to relax in one of the world’s most famous travel destinations, you can book the villa all year long, for costs ranging from $550 to $700 per night.

Images and Booking information

Three luxurious residences in Costa Rica’s Pacific coast were awarded by the prestigious international competition, America Property Awards, a global contest that rewards the best professional design and construction.

Two of them were designed by Costa Rican architect Andrés Morales. One was the home of Pin Residence, located in Playa Hermosa, Guancaste, and built in 2010. It received the award in the category Detached House Property Division (and architectural field).

The other house was Pura Vista, located in Manuel Antonio, Quepos, built in 2009 and awarded in the category of Single Family Housing in Architecture.

The third is the home home to award-winning South House, a project designed by Costa Rican architect Jaime Rouillon, in the forest and the sea, located in Nosara, Guanacaste. It won first place in category “Unusual Houses”.

The Americas Property Awards are open to residential and commercial property professionals from North America, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

There are 19 categories to choose from – up to two of the most outstanding entries will be given a Highly Commended Award, the best overall entry will be given a five star award.

All five star winners will be rejudged to be shortlisted for the Best International Property Award for each category. Up to five nominations from the shortlist will be selected. Only one company will win the top prize.

The picture above was taken in 1916 from atop Cacique Point looking to Playa Hermosa on the right and across Culebra Bay and the Four Seasons Hotel at Peninsula Papagayo.

The Costa Rican Government has always taken a keen interest in what we Gringos call the “Papagayo” area.  This area was championed by the former Costa Rican President (1974-1978) Daniel Oduber Quiros so much so that the Liberia International Airport (LIR) was named after him.  The key step in attracting tourism to the Papagayo area was to build the Liberia airport.

After many years as a domestic airport and international Charter flight destination from North America and Europe, the Liberia Airport, in 2004, opened to International commercial direct flights that spurred growth in the region tremendously.  In November 2011 a brand new Passenger Terminal will be christened which will harken the start of a new era of growth in the region.

In spite of the new terminal not yet being open – International arrivals into the Liberia Airport are up over 20% through July 2011 even though 2010 was a record year for total international arrivals.

Some other pieces to the puzzle are also falling into place this year with the opening of the CIMA Hospital just 10 minutes from the Airport and 10 minutes from Playa Hermosa and the announcement of various new hotel and resort projects to come in the region – Bulgari Hotels and Resorts in the Peninsula Papagayo, Sol Melia Papagayo Bay just North of Villas Sol Playa Hermosa and the Manadarin Oriental next to the Allegro Papagayo.

We in the industry feel that the next wave of activity is going to bring sustained, steady growth in development and tourism activity leading us to believe that any wise investment in real estate made now will pay off big over the next 5-10 years.  Our core business philosophy is to provide our clients the best opportunity to achieve their goals – whether it is buying or selling property or trying to navigate life and business in Costa Rica.  Joining ReMax gives my clients a superior advantage towards achieving their goals here in Costa Rica.

In today’s market many Costa Rican sellers want to know the secret to selling their homes in record time. Sellers want to know ways to salvage the equity they’ve accrued over the past years.

Unfortunately, there is no magical formula to determine the perfect sale. Selling quickly is no “sure thing” in the Costa Rican housing market of today, there are certain factors that affect how quickly and for how much your home will demand in price.

Here are Emerald Forest Properties top ten factors. Consider how these apply to your home, how they affect our marketing, as well as what focal points of your home you should “play up” to appeal to prospective buyers.

1. Price: Number one common misconception that location is the leading factor of whether or not a home sells. It is, instead, pricing. Consider this scenario, your home is located in a prestigious neighborhood, say Villa Real, yet your list price is tens of thousands of dollars over the comps for the area. No one will be interested. However, your property priced just below the competition should move in a timely fashion to the wise consumers entering Costa Rica. Money never grew on trees and now not even in the banks, so the savvy buyer are the ones looking into Costa Rica for more affordable living.

2. Location: Granted, location is important, it is secondary to price. A home that sits next to a factory, crime-ridden neighborhood, or busy street is less desirable than one that backs up to green space, golf course, national forest. If your home is in a desirable location, then by all means Emerald Forest Properties will talk it up in their marketing plan designed for you.

3. Livability: This is fast becoming the new buzz word in real estate, especially in Costa Rica. Buyers today are looking for neighborhoods that deliver amenities such as parks, restaurants, theaters. They want good schools, safe neighborhoods, and plenty of things to keep their families entertained. If you have but a few of these qualities then we will be able to assist you in moving your home in a timely fashion.

4. Condition: There is a certain percentage of the market that is made up of renovators, flippers, and investors. You will not find as many people these days as eager to buy a run-down property even if it is in a good location. They simply can’t sell the property fast enough before monthly mortgage payments start eating up their profits. If your home is well-maintained, or is in a move-in ready condition it will appeal to a broader range of buyers. Even simple attention, such as new paint, landscaping, or power-washed walks, can have a dramatic effect on the way our buyers perceive your home.

5. Competitive Advantage: Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you are all alone in this race to sell, you are not. Current desperate sellers willing to take a huge loss and foreclosures are your direct competition. You must take these facts into consideration when deciding on a list price for your home. What amenities and upgrades do these homes have? Are the homes in your neighborhood updated, with modern baths, kitchens, are the yards landscaped? These all play a key factor in what you will get for your home; you must be in line with your competition that boasts these same upgrades. The wise buyer always goes for his or her best options in values, now more than ever.

6. Curb Appeal: Curb appeal is our buyer’s first impression. You must keep the yard cut, trimmed, orderly and maintained when your home is on the market. First impressions set the mood for the rest of the viewing.

7. Staging: Once our potential buyers enter your home, they must be wowed, their senses intoxicated, light scented candles, put in a pan of brownies, make it… read more

With the impact of the economic recession gradually receding, Canadians looking for a second home have rediscovered Costa Rica, says the developer of a private residence club.

There have been more international visitors through the recently completed, 32-villa The Palms project, says Bob Spence of Spence Enterprises LLC.

“Canadians represent the second largest national tourism group traveling to Costa Rica -after Americans -and represent significant buyers of Costa Rican real estate,” he says. “The strength of the Canadian economy and the dollar provide Canadians with strong purchasing power and a tremendous opportunity to purchase Costa Rican real estate at very attractive prices.”

The Palms is in the heart of the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica’s northern Pacific Coast -The Gold Coast -on Playa Flamingo beach.

Renowned for its clear, warm waters and white sand, Playa Flamingo is one of the most popular beach areas in the Gold Coast area of Guanacaste and Costa Rica.

The Palms is only a 45-minute drive from Liberia International Airport.

The villas -which measure more than 2,300 square feet with two bedrooms, three baths, dining room, large kitchen and living room -are available under either whole ownership or private residence club purchase plans.

Whole ownership starts at $1.2 million US, while private residence club ownership offers a one-eighth share for $149,000 and an annual club fee of $7,058, or one-tenth at $129,000 and a fee of $5,646.

Amenities on the property include an outdoor infinityedge pool, spa, poolside bar, private dining facilities and a fitness centre.

There’s also daily housekeeping, secured clothing and equipment storage. a business centre and airport transfers.

Spence says Canadians are “very important” to the success of the Palms.

“First and foremost, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise and is an attractive alternative to long, cold winters,” he says, adding that other Central American countries have lost some of their attractiveness because of crime and unstable governments. “Costa Rica has attributes like the weather, stability and prices that are important to Canadians,” he says.

Activities in the area include hiking, rain forest trekking, scuba diving, golf, sport fishing and surfing.

Spence Enterprises purchased five properties in Costa Rica, and of the five, he considers The Palms to be the “crown jewel.”

Ownership at The Palms brings with it a host of services, such as a concierge service and pre-arrival shopping.

Spence says The Palms offers all the amenities of a first class resort but in a vacation home atmosphere.

“The private residence club appeals to those seeking access to beachfront real estate in an eco-sensitive country that offers value without sacrificing quality or luxury,” he adds.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PROJECT: The Palms Private Residence Club. The 32 villas in the development measure more than 2,300 square feet with two bedrooms, three baths, large kitchen, living room and dining room. Property amenities include an infinity-edge pool, spa, private dining, fitness and business centers, poolside bar, and secure storage facilities. DEVELOPER: Spence Enterprises of California.

LOCATION: Guanacaste, Costa Rica about a 45-minute drive from Liberia International Airport.

PRICE: Whole ownership begins at $1.2 million US. A one-eighth share is priced from $149,000 plus an annual fee of $7,058, and a one-tenth share is priced from $129,000 plus a $5,646 annual fee.

INFORMATION: For information on the private residence club visit www.palms costarica.com, or call 1-800867-5762.

Villas Austria is a secluded nature, sport and health resort located in Nosara, on the North-West Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, with ocean, river and mountain views.

The main house features different lounge-areas surrounding the 90-feet infinity pool and offers space for relaxation, the hot tub sits in a palapago and is surrounded by the pool bar. The cottage is at the bottom part of the farm, between the horse stables and tennis court.

There are many activities to keep you occupied at Villas Austria including a language course, salsa dancing, hiking, surfing, golf, fishing, yoga, horse back riding, tennis, soccer, jogging, swimming and the fitness corner. You may also like to enjoy having a massage or a salt rub.

Villas Austria has numerous tours for you to enjoy that can be arranged for your convenience which leaves you more time to discover more of Costa Ricas natural beauty. Some of the amazing tours to experience include the Turtle Tour, Waterfall Tour, Canopy Tour and even spending a night on the beach of San Juanillo.

In the main house await you different lounge-areas around the 90-feet infinity pool and offer space for relaxation.

Our hot tub sits in a palapago and is surrounded by the poolbar, where our local staff spoils you with light snacks, refreshing cocktails and Costa Rican coffee right from the Italian espresso machine….

Whether you are seeking adventure, or rather enjoy the peaceful environment and relax, at Villas Austria you have the opportunities to do both!

If you like to be physically active, before you relax on the pool, you have plenty of opportunities to do so either right here in the tranquillness of Villas Austria or on the beautiful beaches of Nosara. We make sure you get the workout that makes you happy!

Your balance of body, mind and spirit is important to us.

Take in where you are at, enjoy the moment and leave it up to our skilled hands to lead you into deep relaxation…

Staying at our remote resort we are happy to organize tours for you to discover more of Costa Rica’s beauty.

Consider Villas Austria as your home that you love to come back to … as we do!

Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” is well known. Celebrities have caught on and spend millions of dollars on beach and jungle retreats. Thing is: There’s more to this wonderful country than the north Pacific-Coast resorts with sticker shock akin to Aspen or New York’s upper east side.

My Costa Rica is nicer…and you can buy for as little as one-tenth what you would pay where the jet-set shop.

Little Costa Rica has it all. Towering cone shaped volcanoes that rise from rich pasture land and stare down on glass flat lakes. Caribbean beaches that are so picture-perfect you want to pinch yourself to see if it’s real.

And a Pacific coast with crashing waves, silent coves and rich green vegetation…nature at her most opulent.

If you think Costa Rica has been discovered—that the opportunity has past—you are wrong…and also right. Let me explain.

Costa Rica’s north Pacific Coast saw a tourism and real estate boom in the 90s and first half of the last decade as accessibility improved with new roads and the Liberia airport. It’s nice up there. I really like the Peninsula Papagayo. But quality condos here start from $850,000.

Costa Rica’s southern zone is nicer.

It’s much greener down there. The hills are steeper, clad with richer jungle and the beaches have better sand and bluer water.

In villages like Ojochal you can eat a gourmet meal from a European chef who came here to visit and never left. You can buy a lot for as little as $40,000. Prices stayed low because this area was difficult to get to. That’s changed with the opening of a new road.

Here it feels authentic and honest. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining about the pampering I get in the Four Seasons up north. It’s a different thing. Also, a costlier thing—with ocean view lots in excess of $1 million in the Four Seasons Resort and the Peninsula Papagayo.

Costa Rica’s area of glowing towering volcanoes and lake that is the floor for rich elevated pastureland is surprisingly close to this $1 million lot. Arenal is less than a two-hour drive away. Her bubbling hot springs have been discovered by tourists and has a thriving expat community. It has great hiking, fishing, sailing, windsurfing and eating out. This is a fun and vibrant place to be.

You can buy a lot here overlooking the lake…with a view toward the towering volcano…for as little as $475 per month.

Finally, drive east from the capital San Jose and you might be surprised…very surprised. You wind your way around mountains and through a mythical cloud forest. There are no sprawling suburbs. It’s one big nature preserve. White foamy water falls from the mountainsides and crashes with a roar.

When you come out of the cloud forest 90 minutes from San Jose…the Caribbean’s blue waters stretch north and south along the horizon. With the elevation, the breezes are fresh and comforting. Farms with views to the ocean and jungle run around 20 – 50 acres in size…and go for $3,000 an acre. Here, you could have a retreat the jet set would envy. They just haven’t caught on…yet.

Editor’s note: This is the Costa Rica you will hear about at the Live and Invest in Costa Rica Conference in August. Ronan will be there, along with all our Costa Rica experts. And you’ll learn more about the types of real estate mentioned in this article, too…including that lot overlooking Lake Arenal for $475 per month. We haven’t officially launched registration for the Costa Rica event yet, but you can get advance information here (including how to be one of the first to sign up).

vacation rentals in Costa Rica

Homes for sale Costa Rica

Uvita, Costa Rica, continues to grow as the commercial center for the Costa Ballena (whale coast) area.

Mergers and acquisitions are taking place down here as businesses jockey for position to meet the growing demands for services, tourism and banking needs. Uvita is seeing no sign of a slowing economy as it prepares to add more tenants, grocery expansion, restaurants and tour-related operations.

Built in 2008, The Whale’s View B&B is perfected situated to benefit from all the above. Currently a three bungalow operation in the hills just above Uvita, the real opportunity rests in with the foundation that was built three years ago.

Its current owners upgraded the three rental units with an elegant remodelation concept borne from Bali. Each bungalow is finely appointed with Bali-imported furniture’s, travertine and rich colors offering a soothing and welcoming experience.

From its entrance, to its pool and decking there was no detail left untouched. And just recently they began their marketing campaign to reach out to the tourism market, and have done quite well out of the gates. And that is where this story gets exciting…

• Year Built: 2008
• Bedrooms: 5
• Bathroom: 3
• Floor Area: 1,400 sq meters (approx 14,000 sq ft)
• Lot Area: 7,601 sq m
• Sales Price: USD$499,000

There are two more building sites for an entrepreneur to expand the operation of this very attractive Costa Rica B&B, while utilizing its existing revenues to offset and expansion costs. From the main building site you get jaw-dropping views of the only National Marine Park in Costa Rica and its famous Whales Tale (where humpback whales breach throughout the year).

Whether it is a desire to build your home and have income with its existing rental units which rent for US$79 – US$165 per night depending on the season, or expand the existing concept to create an elegant boutique travel experience, or to bring your culinary skills and design your dream restaurant… This property has all… See more images and more info

There are a lot more options than the well publicized “Gringo” communities.

I will share with you my first hand experiences with the medical, pharmaceutical, insurance systems, banking, residency application, shopping, legal, real estate, rents, transportation, restaurants, the monthly cost of phone, electricity, water, Direct TV, Internet service, and gas. If you decide to move here, there are many factors to consider in deciding what to bring with you, (the cost and method) and what to buy here.

Nearly nine years of touring many types of people from many parts of the world reinforces my belief that there is no universal perfect location. Almost everyone who lives here in Costa Rica claims they have very close to their ideal set of conditions. Of course, there are many people who choose to live in Minnesota with its mosquitoes and extreme temperatures or Florida with its mosquitoes, rain, heat, and Hurricanes.

This is why I encourage all guests to keep an open mind while we visit the places I have chosen as “Benchmarks” of the many factors, which will affect their satisfaction of lifestyle. I provide a checklist of factors and ask each guest to score the various factors of living for each of the areas we visit. Not surprisingly, each area becomes the NUMBER 1 choice of someone.

I limit the tour to a maximum of 12 people to maximize your personal attention. Please select a tour from the “tour dates” page. Email or call me to assure there is still room on that tour and I will pencil you in for that tour. Then as soon as you have finalized your airline reservations, please complete the reservation form here, reservation form here so that I can lock in your reservaton.

If you are going stay more than the 3 days of the tour, I recommend you schedule them for after the tour so you can take advantage of all you will learn and spend the extra time in the areas you like the best.

One of our MAJOR CONCERNS ABOUT MOVING HERE WAS THE QUALITY, AVAILABILITY, AND COST OF MEDICAL CARE. Now that we have all of these years of experiencing all levels of the system, we would rather face a health or injury situation here than anywhere we know of. The World Health Organization rates the Costa Rica system 35th in the world. THE USA IS 36th. You can check out the facilities and costs at two of the major private Hospitals at: La Cima Hospital and Hospital Biblica

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