Gringo Families

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  • #196205
    delucajmj
    Member

    Any Gringo families out there? We will be visiting for 5 weeks this summer and would love to meet up with you to talk about your move to and life in CR. I have a 15 year old son and 12 year old daughter. We’re from NC and hope to settle in the Orosi Valley. Thanks. Terri

    #196206
    Andrew
    Keymaster

    Welcome to Costa Rica! We have 16,000+ VIP Members, 10,000+ of whom are from the USA…

    What is it exactly that you would like to discuss with them here in the Discussion Forum?

    Scott Oliver – Founder
    WeLoveCostaRica.com

    #196207
    delucajmj
    Member

    What are the ages of your chidren? Do your kids go to school or are they homeschooled? How did they learn Spanish – privately or total immersion? Are they happy or do they want to return to the US? Can we meet up this summer while we are down there? Any information would be helpful. Thank you. Terri

    #196208
    Andrew
    Keymaster

    Sorry I did not make myself clear. I was welcoming you to the site.

    My two children are in their late teens and live in the US. I am British not American and with 10,000+ VIP Members just from the USA alone, you will find that there are about 10,000 different life stories, different reasons for living in Costa Rica and a zillion unique opinions about what it’s like to live here.

    This site and our Forum will give you lots of information (2,000+ articles) but nobody’s situation will be exactly like yours because nobody’s family is exactly like yours…

    Scot Oliver – Founder
    WeLoveCostaRica.com

    #196209
    delucajmj
    Member

    Sorry, Scott. I didn’t word my reply very well. My response was in the form of questions to another Gringo family of what type of info I’d be interested in hearing. We are totally green and would love to know just how a family made the move. For instance, did they sell everything and start over or did they get a container and move everything? Moving a family is a big step as if the kids are unhappy, what do we do? School is also an issue if your kids don’t speak Spanish. Any family type information would be great in helping us get our ducks in a row so to speak. Thanks for your kind replies. Terri

    #196210
    2bncr
    Member

    Brick by Brick Terri. Travel here, live here and then own here. Its not for everybody but I have lived here on and off and I love it. The crime is starting to concern me a bit. I have never had bars on my windows but i am considering it. Crime is picking up in the US too particularly by the Mexican border. So, you never know, just exercise situational awareness and be proactive protecting your self, family and stuff.

    #196211
    delucajmj
    Member

    We already own 10 acres in San Joaquin on the north east side of Orosi – somewhere! So we started backwards, owning first! Does the crime seem more prevalent in one area vs. another? We really love Orosi and would like to buy a house there as well. Thanks. Terri

    #196212
    2bncr
    Member

    You have not seen your property? As you indicated “somewhere.”

    Do you have a caretaker? If not, you could be esaily asking for trouble. Orosi is still semi-remote. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.

    Crime is most prevelent in San Jose and its suburbs. Now its spreading to the highland regions. Still not as bad as the city and subs.

    By all the books you can on the subject of Costa Rica. What books do you have?

    #196213
    delucajmj
    Member

    Oh yes, we were there. We purchased from Steve Riley / Paradise Peak. Steve and his associate Puli are watching out for us. We feel that we have family down there in Steve and Puli. We are just uncertain where exactly our land is located. It is extremely remote with no houses anywhere around at the top of a mountain. Puli will be clearing it for us next month for our arrival in late June – but I really appreciate your advise and concern. We have Scott Oliver’s book. Any other suggestions would be great.

    #196214
    DavidCMurray
    Participant

    Everyone should own and read Roger Peterson’s “Legal Guide to Costa Rica”.

    Costa Rica operates under a Napoleonic legal system which is quite different from the common law system that we’re used to in the U.S., Canada and Great Britain. It’s important to understand the fundamentals of the differences.

    Too, Peterson goes into some of the details of the legal entanglements of everyday life. If there’s any chance you’ll be paying someone else to do work for you, you need to know your obligations under the labor laws. If you’re renting property, as landlord or tenant, things are quite different from in the U.S.

    This is important reading.

    #196215
    delucajmj
    Member

    I’ll get it right away. And I appreciate your advice. Really. Terri

    #196216
    ticorealtor
    Member

    Wow, that is the number 1 rule that you don’t do! Don’t trust someone that will say I will watch your land! In Costa Rica there is squaters rights and you can be had like thousands of others before you.
    I am sure that you might feel like they are family but that is what many people said before they lost thousands of dollars.

    #196217
    delucajmj
    Member

    And your advice?

    #196218
    2bncr
    Member

    Work contract and registration with the Caja (Costa Rica Social Security).

    #196219
    costaricafinca
    Participant

    “It is extremely remote with no houses anywhere around at the top of a mountain.”
    So you probably have no access to power, phone, etc? Do you have water? Accessibility to schools for your children? Do you know how much rain it gets there? The Orosi valley gets really heavy and frequent rain.

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