Buying a Condo/house

[Jeff Lamb]

I have been to San Jose and Jaco a couple of times – I am interested in buying a condo or house as a place to come 4 times a year or so. I am not interested in either downtown CR or JACO. Any suggestions of towns outside San Jose or beach areas to visit or look at the next time I am in CR?

[genincr]

We live just outside San José in San Rafael de Alajuela in Condominiums Concasa. It is a new project with nice apartments. A lot of people use this as second home. We live here permanently. Last year we went 3 months to Europe. We closed the door, car was parked here outside, nothing happened. Have a look at this website search for “concasa”.

[tomasino]

If you’re looking for a comfortable climate and a safe community to live in, check out San Antonio de Belen, Costa Rica. Here you will find all the conveniences you’re accustomed to for much less than most other communities. I have been in CR since 1992 and over the last 15 years I have had the opportunity to live on the beach in Guanacaste, in several communities around the central valley and now in a condo in the center of Belen. The climate here is very agreeable and since the sun shines most of the day it does not get cold at night. In Belen there are a variety of restaurants offering some of the best fire cooked chicken, broiled fish, Chinese, pizza and typical Tico food. The prices are lower here than in most pueblos. I eat out everyday and spend an average of 1500 colones or $2.90 for fresh cooked meals. A beer in the local bar is 500 colones or $.96 and a Johnnie Walker is 700 colones or $1.35. The municipality in Belen is very organized and keeps development under check which enables the community to stay clean. Additionally, it is one of the safest communities because it has its own Municipal Police force in addition to the Fuerza Publica and Transito officials that are present throughout the country. I walk to get everything I need in Belen and do not get stuck in traffic jambs or need to drive all over to find parking. If you want to get to know a community better, walk around as much as you can and say hola to as many people as possible to see how friendly the locals are toward you. In many pueblos it’s difficult to walk around because there is little or no infrastructure. In Belen there are handicap accessible ramps at most major intersections and ample sidewalks everywhere. Visit http://ticotomasino.spaces.live.com to see some photos of Belen.

[John H.]

We bought a very nice 2,400 square ft. condo (a gated community) about 3 miles from Jaco Beach (.5 mi. from Playa Herradura), 1 mile for Los Suenos Marriott and Marina and near the soon-to be-built St. Regis Hotel.

It was the right blend: access to many things to do but far enough away not to hear the noise.

John H.

[Jeff Lamb]

Thanks for your comments – the pictures were awesome and much appreciated. There seems to be a bunch of great towns in CR it will take some time to get aquianted. I dont want to get a place in a USA refugee containment and would like to have the opportunity to get to learn the culture and the people but I want to make sure that I dont end up being isolated either. I am planning on going down in the fall for a few days vacation and look at some property as well. This was helpful.

[cdcallen]

Do you have high speed internet and satellite tv avaialble in your unit ?

[tomasino]

We have 100.0 Mbps internet service for $20 p/month from the Cable Tica company that provides cable TV for $20 p/month, http://www.cabletica.com. They rent or sell a Motorola SB 5100 SURFboard cable modem and a Linksys Wireless-G, 2.4 Ghz Broadband Router, with the Atheros AR5005G Wireless Network the system works great!
We are located in the most convenient location in the central valley of Costa Rica just 10 minutes from the international airport and the drive to the capital, San Jose, in the evenings or on the weekend takes about 15 minutes and during the week at rush hour can be up to 45 minutes. We are 30 minutes from hospitals;
Clinica Biblica, http://www.clinicabiblica.com/english/msocial.php,
CIMA, http://www.hospitalsanjose.net.
Shopping is a 5 minute walk to several small grocery stores or Pali which is now owned by Walmart and 20 minutes away is Pricesmart which is the same as Costco in the USA, http://www.pricesmart.com/Local/Default.aspx
Only 5 minutes away by car on the expressway that connects the international airport to the capital of San Jose is the Real Cariari Mall with 3 floors of shopping, 6 US style cinemas, a fine grocery store and tons of restaurants. http://www.plazarealcariari.com
Less than 5 minutes away across from the Real Cariari Mall, you’ll find the hotel Ramada,
http://www.ramadaherradura.com/english/index/index.htm and
Melia Hotel, athttp://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hoteles/jsp/C_Hotel_Description.jsp?codigoHotel=5894. which are located on the Cariari Country Club golf course, http://www.clubcariari.com/english/index.html.
We are also located near Multiplaza Mall with
8 new movie theaters, http://www.cinemark.com.sv/cartelera/index.php, across from Plaza Iscatzu which contains Outback Steakhouse and Hooters. Within five more minutes is Friday’s and Tony Romas if you’re interested in US based restaurants. I prefer the very affordable fresh chicken and seafood available in Belen within walking distance from the condos. The local roasted (over coffee wood) chicken restaurant charges $4.64 for a 1/4 chicken with salad and tortillas incl. tip. Dinner at the El Dorado seafood restaurant pictured in the photos of Belen of fresh Dorado, salad and plantains was $5.00 incl. tip. The lunch special at the local cafeteria is $3.00 and is more than a normal person can eat.

[beachy_keen]

I have just been informed of a new development outside of Jaco near the Punta Leona Resort, there is a proposed Marina going in on the beach and although it is maybe 10=15 miles from Jaco, it is surrounded by mountains, farms and other developments. I would be glad to share the information that I have on it, please reply to this thread.

[tomasino]

Sounds like Punta Loras. I would appreciate any updates you are willing to provide.

[Author]

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