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I have just read < https://www.welovecostarica.com/public/1125.cfm?sd=33 > about ‘Buying Costa Rica Real Estate – Should I buy now and retire later? Ten Important Facts To Remember’ and would love to know if the people in this forum agree with what Scott is writing about?
Do you feel the same way?
Are you hearing the same things?
I have every respect for Scott’e expertize and the feedback he gets from the real estate professionals he works with but wanted to know what you thought, regular people that are living here?
Brad
Thanks Brad
I would love to hear what our VIP Members think too… Most of the feedback I receive are obviously from people in the real estate business but would like to know what the ‘neighbors’ are tralking about amongst themselves…
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comTraditionally, the real estate market in Costa Rica is generally sluggish. However, over the last two years or so the stars have lined up to create a trifecta in Costa Rica’s favor, at least in the Guanacaste region (i.e. beach property):
1. The market serving tourists and expats has matured to the point where it can absorb flocks of new visitors and retirees. This includes the relatively new international airport in Liberia which bypasses the rough and tumble of San Jose and transports people to the heart of Costa Rica’s “Gold Coast”, the construction of significant new housing projects aimed at the foreign market, and the learning curve for Costa Rican entrepreneurs in serving this market;
2. The bull market in US real estate over the last 10 years which has provided retirees with the financial resources necessary to contemplate such a move;
and
3. The beginning of the baby boomer retirement demographic;
Given this, the sooner the better, but not so much so that you need to rush into it, particularly if you’re not interested in beach property. I am particularly concerned with people who are thinking of buying property which they will leave unattended for several years. Owners of vacant land need to take an active role in preventing squatters, and vacant houses are prime targets for break-ins, which are endemic and rampant. If you must leave a house unattended, leave it completely empty, and open the drapes for all to see.
If you have some time before retiring, use it by visiting the country, looking around, and seeing what it has to offer. Get to know the market yourself, so when the right opportunity comes along, you’ll be able to recognize it. Also, unless you wish to be a slave to your new home, seriously consider a secure inium. This will allow you the freedom of movement which we are accustomed to in the U.S. and Canada.
Regarding the secondary theme running through Scott’s article of the crumbling American way of life, what with looming external threats, erosion of civil liberties, and higher taxes, well, that’s been going on for decades. I believe that, in spite of our political and economic missteps, Americans are still a uniquely dynamic, vibrant and entrepreneurial people, and the U.S. remains one of the safest bets for international investment. As the sole “great power” in the world, we have no where to go but down, but I don’t see it happening overnight.
Make your plans, do your homework, visit often. Opportunities will present themselves which will make your indecision a moot point.
Scott,
It is sounding more and more like you have a vested interest in some of these properties you are recommending. Now seems like a great time for full disclosure. Maybe you could clear the air just to set our minds at ease.
John in Florida
The VIP Members of this website had been nagging me for YEARS to help them choose real estate in Costa Rica and not just try to warn, educate and protect people when they invest or buy property in Costa Rica. And for years, I simply did not have the time to do that…
As detailed at The big problem we had here was that a very big percentage of our VIP Members were looking for affordable homes and the majority of real estate agents were focusing much more on high-end homes. They did not want to help them and many didn’t even bother to reply to their emails.
Knowing that there are hundreds of reputable developers (many of whom were contacting me) building thousands of affordable Costa Rica homes that our VIP Members would never find because their advertising is focused locally and is all in Spanish – I did eventually decided it would be a good idea to bring those two groups – who needed each other – together.
So late last year, I started spending more time meeting with developers that I know and unless you are new to my site, you will know that I have made it crystal clear that I only recommend experienced developers that I know personally and trust with a proven track record of building quality real estate in Costa Rica.
If a developer does not fit into that category, I won’t even meet with them and certainly don’t write about them.
Should they wish to be featured on this website, meet our criteria and everything checks out legally, yes! They pay me for my time and for the videographer, I’m certainly not going to spend a week of my life researching and writing about a project for free.
What do our VIP Members get out of it? They get to see articles about a few real estate projects built by experienced developers that I know know personally and trust with a proven track record of building quality real estate in Costa Rica.
They know that the project has been thoroughly researched by me and checked on by an attorney so they are way ahead of the game in doing their homework before they even arrive in Costa Rica.
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comScott,
Thanks, it helps to know that you are not on commission and are just taking a ad fee. Just trying to do “due diligence”.
John in Florida
I would like to add that even if Scott was getting a commission( I assumed he was) whats the problemo? Why call his integrity into question just because he is being paid?
The brokers that help our VIP Members to find suitable properties do indeed earn commissions and they deserve every penny.
But in helping my international investment clients to manage a fairly significant amount of money, I simply do not have the time (or the desire) to show properties to people.
Who knows what the future holds but for the time being, we are helping a lot of people find their new Costa Rica homes.
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostaRica.comThis site has been a wealth of information to us. In visiting CR we had some clear plans for developments we wanted to check out because of this site (also knew some to avoid! How much is that worth?) Some were not for us, some were exactly what we were looking for. If not for the time Scott has put into this, we would have been at a total loss for where to start. We did a tour that was recommended here…it was outstanding. We’ve spoken to developers that were recommended here and we always felt comfortable with them. If Scott was getting a commission, good for him! I’m grateful for the forum, too. What a place for info on so many topics! Thanks,Scott.
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