Costa Rica Realtor – Jeff Hickcox in Atenas – The following is a story taken from the book Crash Proof authored by Peter D. Schiff. I believe it is a brilliant metaphor for why the U.S. economy is suffering as it is, and also why it is imperative to invest in stable foreign markets.

Schiff suggests investing in foreign assets including businesses, currencies, real estate, and gold to weather the current economic storm that is just beginning.

The Tale of Two Farmers

Farmer Chang grows only oranges. Farmer Jones grows only apples. Each grows only the fruit he produces most efficiently, trading his surplus for the fruit grown by the other. Both farmers benefit from comparative advantage and free trade. The sole reason that Farmer Chang “exports” oranges is so that he can afford to “import” apples, and vice versa.

Suppose that one year a flood wipes out Farmer Jones’ apple crop. Not having any fruit to trade, but hungry nevertheless, he proposes to trade apple IOUs for Farmer Chang’s oranges. Since Farmer Chang cannot eat all the oranges he grows anyway, and since Farmer Jones’ IOUs will pay 10 percent interest (in extra apples, of course), he accepts.

Farmer Chang accepts Farmer Jones’ offer only because of the apples that Farmer Jones’ IOUs promises to pay. By themselves, the IOUs have no intrinsic value. Farmer Chang cannot eat them. It is the promise to pay additional apples that gives the IOUs their value.

When Farmer Jones issues his apple IOUs in exchange for real oranges, he does not actually pay for the oranges. Payment will not really be made until the following year when Farmer Jones redeems his notes by giving Farmer Chang all the apples his IOUs obligate him to pay. Only then can the notes be retired and the transaction be completed.

Now suppose that the following year Farmer Jones’ crop is again destroyed, this time by a hurricane. He and Farmer Chang once again make the same deal, with Farmer Jones getting more of Farmer Chang’s oranges, and Farmer Chang accepting more of Farmer Jones’ IOUs.

Further suppose that similar natural disasters continue to besiege Farmer Jones for several more years, until it finally dawns on him that he is eating pretty well, without actually farming. He therefore decides to turn his apple orchard into a golf course and simply play golf all day while enjoying Farmer Chang’s oranges. In other words, Farmer Jones now operates as a service economy.

Farmer Chang, by contrast, is so busy growing all those oranges that he never gets a chance to play Farmer Jones’ course. In fact, he has been accepting Farmer Jones’s IOUs for so long that he no longer remembers his original reason for doing so. He now counts his wealth based solely on his accumulation of Farmer Jones’ IOUs.

Farmer Jones actually enjoys such a good reputation within the farming community that Farmer Chang is able to trade some of Farmer Jones’ IOUs for goods and services provided by other farmers and merchants. However, as a result of Farmer Jones’ good… read more

Properties for Sale in Costa Rica

Rental Properties in Costa Rica

Original Posting – www.welovecostarica.com

Villa Lora Playa Ocotal Costa Rica, our newest all-inclusive private luxury 7 bedroom Villa, named after the local green parrot, is an incredible grand two-story horseshoe-design villa that surrounds the most incredible infinity pool in Ocotal. Villa Lora features 10-foot solid wood antique doors opening into a huge 30-foot great room and a large modern kitchen. From the moment you walk in, you will be overwhelmed with the spaciousness of the villa and the amazing views from every angle. Villa Lora was built by the same builder and furnished by the same team of designers who built and furnished Villa Lapa, its sister villa. Villa Lora has a large satellite TV, VCR/DVD player with a superb stereo system with a CD player, and inside and outside speakers.

Villa Lora view Each of Villa Lora’s seven well appointed, air-conditioned bedrooms have full baths and offer beautiful ocean views facing the incredible infinity pool. Four of the beautifully furnished bedrooms offer king beds, while the other three have two queen beds each for a total sleeping capacity of 20 people in this gorgeous villa.

Villa Lora’s jewel feature is the astounding infinity pool that seemingly hangs on the hill with ocean views during the day and a colorful light show with fiber optic water jets spraying into the pool at night. Villa Lora, like Villa Lapa, sits on a mountain behind the other villas so while your walk to the beach is a few minutes farther, the incredible panoramic views from the villa and pool make it all worthwhile.

You won lift a finger during your stay at Villa Lora. Our all inclusive plan provides 3 meals per day, snacks, and a full open bar for one price. Our expertly trained staff is here to accommodate your every need. Your chef, housekeeper, and bartender arrive early each morning to serve breakfast when you are ready for it. A delicious lunch and dinner follow from a rolling menu that has been perfected by our staff and features fresh seafood, vegetables, and fruit, as well as chicken, beef, and Italian dishes.

Activities here are nearly limitless. There is something for everyone: deep sea fishing that many consider the best in the world, scuba diving excursions that depart from Ocotal Beach just below the villa, and two championship golf courses just a short drive away.

If your goal is pure relaxation just ask your bartender, Vidal, to set up appointments for Bahia Azul spa to come to the villa for relaxing massages, manicures and pedicures. You can also enjoy swinging through the jungle on a canopy tour, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, volcano tours, a sunset cruise, or choose among countless other options provided by Allan our tour guide. And don’t forget our guests most favorite activity simply sitting by the private luxurious infinity pool with an inlaid mosaic compass and sipping on a drink served by our courteous “in house” staff.

Costa Rica accommodations

A short journey of about 35 km westward from the Golfito or approximately 90 km on roads travel and 85 southward of Palmar Norte, there lies a tiny beautiful bustling burg known as Puerto Jimenez. A great section of the population of this little town is the gold panners.

The languid pace of the life, the green nature expansive soccer ground, mealy parrots and multicolored macaws amidst the cool blue sky are the real essence of the town. Being located at the southeastern end of the Osa peninsula the region enjoys a soothing climate with a pleasant temperature. In order to enjoy the feel of eternal freedom the eco-tourists and the celebrities from far and wide comes to this town almost all round the year.

While the day life seems to be busy and full of actions, it gradually comes to a tranquil state with the onset of crimson evening. The life during the night becomes so sleepy that sometimes a sense of lifelessness overshadows the city life. The nightlife of Puerto Jimenez becomes quite rowdy as well – especially when the gold panners find some money in their hand. The Corcovado National Park is very near to Puerto Jimenez and has its administrative head quarters here.

A great section of the tourists enjoy the excursion to the Concovado National Park. There a re few vacation rentals but there exist many hotels and means of accommodations in Puerto Jimenez and worth mentioning of which are Bosque Del Cabo, Iguana lodge, Parrot Bay Village, Agua Luna and Crocodile Bay Lodge. Since some of these accommodations can be expensive, a very short journey farther southward on the Osa Peninsula may be a wonderful solution.

PANAMA CITY – Bill Dorgan, a former management consultant with a bit of a wandering soul, gave up on his first attempt at retirement in Fort Lauderdale to move to Panama to seek new adventure.

And adventure he found.

“I drove out to Lake Gatun to visit the Embera Indians,” Dorgan recalls with a flicker in his eye. “They picked me up in a dugout canoe and took me across the lake to spend the day in their community, where I danced with bare-chested women. That was an adventure!”

Back in the capital city, Dorgan lives a more urbane lifestyle with his partner Raymond in a spacious and elegantly remodeled 12th-floor apartment overlooking the shimmering glass towers of Panama City’s oceanfront banking district.

Here he has found more modest adventure in daily tasks such as learning to speak Spanish, opening a bank account in a foreign country, making new friends and buying and remodeling an apartment.

Dorgan, like thousands of other North American retirees from his generation, has taken moving south for retirement to new latitudes.

A 2007 survey by New Global Initiatives, in conjunction with the Zogby International, found that more than 3 million U.S. citizens have decided to relocate outside of the United States, and another 17 million were considering making the move. The survey showed that Central America ranked second behind Europe among 55 to 69 year-olds who plan to retire abroad.

That was before the financial crisis hit like a tsunami at the end of the decade, wiping out millions of retirement funds and stock portfolios. Now Central America’s relatively low costs, adjusted property prices and promising economic recovery makes it an even more attractive destination for folks who need to make their retirement dollars stretch further than previously planned.

And within Central America, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama have positioned themselves as the… read more

Private home rentals Costa Rica

Costa Rica Vacation Rental Crystal Waters

Crystal Waters Chateau is a one of a kind ocean view custom design home over looking Potrero Bay and Flamingo and is located in the upscale Pacific Heights development.

The house has 5,000 sq. feet with 4 bedrooms (1 king, 2 queens, 2 singles), 4.5 baths with 24 hour security. The villa comes complete with full maid & grounds service, wireless high speed satellite internet, U.S. Vonage phone, U.S. style satellite TV and a professional gourmet kitchen.

There is an extended kitchen/pool bar and grill next to the large infinity pool with large sundeck covered in imported Columbian Coralina. Imported Mexican fossil marble floors & Columbian limestone bathrooms make this home the ultimate in fine vacation living.

Let the pictures speak for themselves, this is the perfect executive luxury vacation home.
Vacation rental Crystal Waters

Whether you’ve saved up for years for a fun family vacation or want a romantic honeymoon in a tropical paradise, Costa Rica offers something for everyone. This lovely locale isn’t one of the world’s most popular fun in the sun destinations for nothing. There are tons of great activities – on the beach or off, exotic and interesting plant life and wildlife, friendly people and of course, the amazing weather and beaches. Best of all, if you get the right vacation rental or vacation house, Costa Rica is one of the most affordable and flexible tropical vacations around.

If you’re looking for great vacation homes, Costa Rica vacation rentals are the best around. Getting a vacation rental is a great idea if you want an extended stay in exotic paradise on your terms. Whether you’re trying to avoid the hard partying singles of all-inclusive resorts or the stifling Club Med crowd, your own private vacation house gives you exactly the experience you’re looking for. Whether you’re after fun with the kids or a romantic getaway (or maybe both) vacation rentals in Costa Rica have some major advantages over standard hotels and resorts.

For one, vacation rentals give you tons of space. This is especially appealing for families. Many of the finest vacation homes in Costa Rica offer at least the same amount of space as you’d get in a 3 bedroom house, with most of them offering more. Anywhere from 1800 to 6500 square feet of blissful privacy can be yours with Costa Rica vacation rentals. Much more appealing than cramming the entire family into one or two cramped hotel rooms, all this space affords you and your spouse the opportunity for private moments while the kids are sleeping, and means that bickering siblings can each have their own private room while on vacation.

A large vacation house is also a great opportunity to get away with your extended family too, because there’s room for everyone. Imagine frolicking with all your nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters in paradise without the added expense of extra hotel rooms or resort packages. And once you split the cost of these vacation rental properties, you may find them to be even more cost effective than all-inclusive resorts.

Renting a vacation home also gives you privacy. Instead of sharing a large resort with hundreds of strangers, and worrying about who your kids are exposed to, a Costa Rica vacation rental means that no one is looking over your shoulder or intruding on your fun – including unwanted attention from other hotel guests or pushy staff trying to sell you tourist packages. If you’re a newlywed looking for a romantic honeymoon, the last thing you want is a bunch of other guests intruding on your passion. Enjoying yourself in a private vacation house with your new wife or husband, with no interruptions, will definitely keep the sparks flying for the entire trip and give you memories to last a lifetime.

Vacation rentals are available through commercial renters, who specialize in providing the very best in vacation homes to ensure you have a fantastic vacation. Alternatively, you can look for a vacation rental by owner, who would be willing to rent out their private residence to you. Many vacation rentals include private patios and beach access, private pools and kitchen facilities so you can cook what you like and never worry about unexpected surprises in the local cuisine.

If you are eager to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of Costa Rica on your next vacation, consider a vacation rental – it may be the smartest thing you’ve ever done.

Vacation Rentals in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Accommdations

Caution: Reading this story might make you extremely jealous.

James Island couple Frank Fleming and Kate Rothra Fleming have taken a wild plunge, buying a 117-acre parcel of rainforest deep in the banana-growing region of Costa Rica.

If things go as planned, the two will visit their Eden on the Pacific Coast whenever they can during the next few years, before moving in full-time to run the property as an eco-friendly destination.

And while the banana industry there fell apart years ago, the land remains home to various populations of stressed — but wildly entertaining — red-backed squirrel monkeys.

Frank said he found the property after surfing the Internet early one morning.

“Originally it was owned by a kind of survivalist guy who wanted to go out and grow his own food,” he said. “I think a girlfriend influenced him to turn it into a preserve,” where injured or stray monkeys kept being brought in. They were nursed back to health on a diet of ripe bananas.

“He was also a woodworker who built the cabins,” Kate said.

The couple, both in their 40s, have never been intimidated by travel and seemed to be especially drawn to Central America. The good news for them was that the previous owners had all been from the United States, which alleviated some of the headaches that go along with buying property in a foreign country since they could use U.S. banks to close the sale.

“We were very lucky because it was owned by Americans so we were able to basically wire money to them,” Frank said. Purchase price: about $225,000.

The nearest town is Golfito, which for many years was the country’s largest port on its south Pacific coast. The banana industry thrived there for much of the 20th century, but travel guides say the region’s downfall came after disease infected the banana crops, and worker strikes prompted the United Fruit Co. to pull out. The Costa Rican government tried to help by setting up a duty-free zone in the area.

Frank already had an affinity for banana trees. While his day job is working behind the camera on the locally produced television drama “Army Wives,” he has a side business — “Simply Bananas” — selling landscape banana plants around Charleston. Kate has her own business making and selling jewelry.

Their new property includes 117 acres in total, with two acres of living area, about 14 acres of old pasture lands and 101 acres of green rain forest. Also present are the remnants of the old banana company railroad that delivered…. read more

vacation rentals in Costa Rica

Casa Leo Loco, a 4-bedroom/3 bath Mediterranean style villa near the top of the hill overlooking Playa Tamarindo, has views that will leave you breathless.

On the ocean side of the villa is a flagstone Spanish style courtyard with a fountain, and a large tiled terrace area. There is a tiled “infinity” pool facing the ocean, surrounded by exquisite landscaping and a large outdoor BBQ/cooking area, with a gas oven. The high vantage point offers unparalleled views south to Playa Langosta and north to Playa Grande. The Mexican-tiled kitchen is fully equipped and opens to large dining/living area. The entire living/dining area is screened in and opens onto the terrace. Just off the kitchen is a tiled staircase leading to the master suite and bath.

The luxury master suite features a king size bed, air conditioning, bath with marble tub and counters, and a rosewood dressing table in the bathroom. The balcony off the master suite overlooks the pool and garden and affords an even grander view of the surrounding area. The two guest bedrooms off the main house open onto the terrace and have queen beds, ceiling fans, and private baths.

There is a library/pool house separate from the main house that has a private bath and an air-conditioned tower bedroom on the second floor with a queen bed and a lower bedroom has AC and a double bed.

A caretaker/guard is on-site in a small house located in front of the main house, and is there at all times to ensure your security. The house has cable TV and a stereo for your entertainment. Daily maid service is provided.

Costa Rica Vacation Rentals- Casa Papillon is an incredible home in a quiet location in Manuel Antonio with amazing views. This superb house has 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, spacious terraces and two pools. It is also fully furnished with very modern kitchen.

This impressive home provides flat screen TVs, cable, Internet connection, air conditioning and security system. This is one of the best equipped rental home in the area and it is also close to many bars and restaurants.
We know you are here to relax. Our massage therapists who will come to your villa to provide massage and beauty services, and nothing will make you feel more beautiful than feeling relaxed.

Personal chef service
Manuel Antonio has the finest restaurant s on the Pacific Coast, but nothing can beat the convenience and luxury of meals cooked in-house by your very own private chef. Services are very flexible. You can choose…  read more

Great Opportunity -  Flat Lot with Magnificent View for sale in “Los Altos De Cacique” Playa Hermosa. Lot is Flat with a million  dollar view of Playa Del Coco, Papagayo Gulf and the Pacific Ocean.  All utilities are available. Great infrastructure in place. Less than 1 mile from Steve Case new development set to start in 2011. Great potential for a flip or build your dream villa for retirement.  Only 20 minutes from the Liberia International Airport. Owner willing to take loss for quick sale.

Costa Rica Real Estate