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My wife and i are retired and would like to move somewhere with a better climate,where our money would go farther.
The prices in Costa Rica that the realestate people quote are insane!
I’m beginning to think Costa Rica was a bad idea, at least for poor people !
To live a comparable lifestyle to that in Canada, or the U.S., Costa Rica is no less expensive. Your bonus is the climate and the environment.
[b]Vern[/b], no one is forcing you to purchase property, so consider what many of us suggest and rent. At least until you determine whether CR is right for [b]you.[/b]
Hi Vern. Get the heck out of the central valley and off the coast! There is a great lake up here…..
We bought our home near the lake from Juan Carlos at Moran and couldn’t be happier. A large expat community, lots of activities, a lake, great weather (ok, its raining right now but ’tis the season), and nice low prices. If you decide to visit the area, send me a private message and come for a drink on the deck!
Here at Lake Arenal are you can buy 5000 meters (1.25 acres) with lake view for 40 – 50 K, or a small home (1000 sq ft.) for 50 K. In 2006 those properties would have been twice as much.
[quote=”elindermuller”]Here at Lake Arenal are you can buy 5000 meters (1.25 acres) with lake view for 40 – 50 K, or a small home (1000 sq ft.) for 50 K. In 2006 those properties would have been twice as much.[/quote]
I have noticed a lot of price reductions and “fire sales” when I look online……..
Vern,
Where have you been looking? What’s your criteria? Go south to the San Isidro del General area or north to Lake Arenal. My observation as a frequent visitor and “blog” watcher is that so many want to move to CR, live with fellow expats in the same size homes/crap they are leaving behind. We find the simple, relaxed lifestyle to be our draw not “stuff” or the same house/property we’ll be leaving behind one day.[quote=”critterhill”]Vern,
Where have you been looking? What’s your criteria? Go south to the San Isidro del General area or north to Lake Arenal. My observation as a frequent visitor and “blog” watcher is that so many want to move to CR, live with fellow expats in the same size homes/crap they are leaving behind. We find the simple, relaxed lifestyle to be our draw not “stuff” or the same house/property we’ll be leaving behind one day.[/quote]Noted that too, I get a lot of real estate emails about settling in cookie-cutter homes in gated communities and most look like the neighborhoods and track homes we have around us. To each their own, fine, but for me, would not want to live like a strip mall, strip neighborhood I would leave behind………..
At first, can see hanging w/expats and groups, would eventually, wantto branch out and meet/greet Tico/a and I am not the joiner type long term..if you already consider yourself poor, for god’s sake, don’t move here. you will become even poorer as the prices for everything escalates.
[quote=”maravilla”]if you already consider yourself poor, for god’s sake, don’t move here. you will become even poorer as the prices for everything escalates.[/quote]
Maravilla’s right. Stay where you are, wherever that may be, where the cost of living is on a constant downhill slide.
It all depends what part of the Country you choose to live in. I have been looking at the Tilaran – Lake Arenal area. It is quite different from San Jose and surrounding areas.
Cheap real estate compared to other places, quite unexpensive for food, not congested, a simpler life style, less petty crime, etc.
On the other side; you do not have a large selection of goods and products to buy but in my Golden years I don’t need the night club life (been there-done that).
Coffe in the morning while reading the newspaper never worry about the 8 to 5 clock, retirement MODE for me.
Noted that too, I get a lot of real estate emails about settling in cookie-cutter homes in gated communities and most look like the neighborhoods and track homes we have around us. To each their own, fine, but for me, would not want to live like a strip mall, strip neighborhood I would leave behind………..
At first, can see hanging w/expats and groups, would eventually, wantto branch out and meet/greet Tico/a and I am not the joiner type long term..[/quote]Have you spent time in CR? If not, as a traveler, I’d be more than happy to share some info on great places to visit and stay. I’m amazed at how many people have LIVED in CR for a decade and haven’t ventured across the country. It’s sooooooo gorgeous. Every trip we’ve made (5 so far) has found an extra 5-6 hundred miles on our rented vehicle.
Our lifestyle here in the states is very simple. We live in the country, have a garden, chickens and milk goats. We seldom go to movies or any other kind of entertainment venue as we are busy on the “farm” and love our lifestyle. Our house is much too large and we have waaaaaay too much crap. We go into “town” to buy groceries maybe once a week.
When we visit CR, we stay only in places that have a Tico and ex-pat population. We NEVER stay at a resort/hotel that we could stay in the states. Sodas are our favorite places to eat as the food is soooo good and reasonably priced. Plus, we’ve learned alot about Ticos by just talking to them. I even have some of them as Facebook friends now. Oh, and when we eat out, we are never quite sure what we’re getting, but our attitude is we’re on an adventure. I ordered enchiladas at one soda and got the best chalupas I’ve ever eaten.
Wecame last month, could only stay for a week and stayed in the NE part of Guancaste, Playa Hermosa……yes, very lovely, would like to come back, see other parts, in particular, Lake Arenal, Nicoya Peninsula, Osa,etc….
[quote=”aguirrewar”]It all depends what part of the Country you choose to live in. I have been looking at the Tilaran – Lake Arenal area. It is quite different from San Jose and surrounding areas.
Cheap real estate compared to other places, quite unexpensive for food, not congested, a simpler life style, less petty crime, etc.
On the other side; you do not have a large selection of goods and products to buy but in my Golden years I don’t need the night club life (been there-done that).
Coffe in the morning while reading the newspaper never worry about the 8 to 5 clock, retirement MODE for me.
[/quote]
😀
Nobody has to live in a gated community with equal looking gringo homes (I´m getting pretty tired of the thousands of “spanish” style homes built during the last 10 years). I would always prefer to buy a piece of land and build to my own taste and for my own needs.
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