Costa Rica Mortgages – Special deals on offer at ExpoCasa 2007

The August 2007 ExpoCasa home exhibition fair was be held at the Convention Center of the Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura in San Jose.

La Nacion newspaper reported that the banks made the public “dizzy” with their vast array of special offers (for a limited time only) for mortgages in Costa Rica. Not all Costa Rican banks offer mortgages to non-residents but more than ever do…

As an example of the differences in the mortgages on offer; ScotiaBank is offering a 30 year mortgage with fixed rate of 7.25% for the first seven years with a commission of 2.5% plus 0.7 – 1.05% in additional ‘expenses.’

Long-time VIP Members may recall the truly abysmal pathetic customer service that I endured at ScotiaBank, one can only hope that they have improved dramatically since that time.

Banco Lafisee was offering a fixed rate 25 year mortgage at 8.25% with a commission of 3.5%

Costa Rica Real Estate Exhibitors:

• Real estate developers
• Furniture stores
• Curtains and blinds
• Flooring – traditional and ceramic floors
• Appliances
• Plumbing fixtures & fittings
• Gates
• Cable TV companies
• Lighting systems
• Spas and jacuzzis
• Tools of all kinds for construction & gardening
• Solar system suppliers
• Title companies
• Numerous banks

Even though Costa Rica mortgage rates and commissions still vary widely at this time, the fact that the banks are becoming more aggressive and certainly more competitive than they used to be can only be good for real estate buyers in Costa Rica.

The following companies were exhibiting at the 2007 ExpoCasa:

• Abbasea Enterprise
• Aceros Roag
• ADT Security Services
• AICA – Sagmac
• Administración y Mercadeo DJM S.A. – Amersa S.A.
• Amnet Televisión
• Andreoli Arquitectos
• Arquihogar
• Arte Brujo
• Asesorías e Inversión
• Asociación Cámara Costarricense de la Construcción
• Audio City
• Bac San José
• Banco Banex
• Banco de Costa Rica
• Banco Crédito Agrícola de Cartago / Bancrédito
• Banco Cuscatlán
• Banco Lafise
• Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
• Banco Popular y de Desarrollo Comunal
• Beldecor
• Century 21
• Coast Spa
• Condominios Riverside
• Constructora Concasa
• Constructora Kirebe
• Constructora La Constancia
• Constructora Navarro & Asociados
• Continentes / LG
• Coto & Compañía
• CR Casas.net
• Decor Portones
• Decoraciones Avanzadas, Dekora
• Desarrolladores Inmobiliarios del Lago Arenal
• Desarrollos Técnicos
• Desarrollos Urbanísticos La Lillyana
• Deyco Desarrollos y Construcción
• East Indies Trading Company
• Electrodomésticos Mabeca S.A.
• Electronics Daytron / Samsung
• Elio Hurtado
• Euro Toldos
• Ferretería Epa
• Flores de Mi Tierra S.A.
• Floristería Arte Flor
• Fomento Urbano
• Fuentes Ornamentales
• GL International Group S.A. (Grupo Lagos)
• GMG Eléctrica Costa Rica / Importadora Monge
• Grupo Futurista del Norte
• Grupo Jambu
• Grupo Lagos
• Grupo Mutual Alajuela la Vivienda de Ahorro y Préstamo
• Grupo Nación
• Grupo Vila GP, S.A.
• Hogar Feliz / GE Appliance Center
• Hogares de Costa Rica
• Industria de Cerámica Costarricense (INCESA)
• Inmobiliaria Lauca
• Inmobiliaria M & J
• Inmobiliaria Piaca
• Inversiones Casaloma de La Rivera
• INVU
• Kaizensa
• Los Reyes / Ciudad – Hacienda los Reyes
• Mercoflex
• Montemarmol
• Mueble América – Industria González
• Mundo del Metal Portón Elefante
• Mutual Cartago de Ahorro y Préstamo MUCAP
• MV ENTERPRISES/ DESIGN S.A.
• Paradigma Construcción Ltda
• Pinturerías de Costa Rica / Comex
• Proyectos Urbanísticos Zion
• Quiero Lote Punto Com
• Real Estate Guide
• Rejillas Modulares, S.A.
• Revista Casa Galería
• Revista Inmobilia
• Rica Costa Inmobiliaria
• Río Oro Realty Inc.
• Salas Portones y Sistemas Automáticos S.A.
• Santarelli Mármoles y Granitos
• Sawgrass Costa Rica
• Scotiabank
• Silicon Rain
• Stewart Title
• Swiss Import
• Tico Times
• Urbanizadora La Laguna
• Urbanizadora Lucy / Residencias Lomas del Zurquí
• Urbanizadora Siglo Veinte
• VIVICON Inmobiliaria

On a note totally unrelated to mortgages, I should point out that single men should probably not attend this event because the models are just drop dead, turn-your-head-all-the-way-around jaw-droppingly, gasping-for-air gorgeous which makes focusing on mortgages somewhat difficult…

Written by Scott Oliver, author of How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.