[baontheriver]

We too started looking seriously about 5 years ago but dreamed about since we got married down here 12 years ago. The prices have really dropped for the Tico builders and not so much for the Gringo builders. Gringos are around $80/sf and not as hungry as the Ticos who have children in school and have dropped to around $30/sf for survival reasons. This is where it was around 10 years ago and they are just trying to feed their family. We started building our bodega on January 3rd and the casa started right on time January 17. We live up the mountain from you just down from Tina Mastes and we do not need A/C since it gets down around 65 F each night. That will add to the costs along with insulated glass windows and doors. We are our own general contractor which helps greatly since the Gringos wanted cost plus 15%. We set up a pre paid account at Boston Hardware in San Isidro which saves us 10% for cash right off the bat and then 2-5% for contractor discount. If you live here full time I would suggest this route but if you are building from afar I would never do it. We live out of our bodega until the main house is built and are on site everyday to manage the crews.

Norman and Ronny that are brothers have been outstanding to work with since Ronny speaks very good English and Norman has been building houses his entire life. They are charging us a flat fee for the bodega and casa and we are paying for the materials. This way you can watch the costs and save by paying cash. Santiago at Boston also speaks very good English and has helped us in many ways. So far we are meeting budget and we hope that it will run about $27-30/sf which includes a large front porch not counted in the sf. We have also hired a Gringo that married a Tico to do our electrical at $5/hour. We have hired other neighbors in the area that needed the work so we have been well received. This helps to watch your back with thieves and such…which there are many to go around.

If you would like to speak further let me know and we can talk via phone.

Pura Vida,
Brian
[quote=”dreammakers”]After 5 years of looking and trying to decide which was the perfect location for us, we finally made the decision. Endured the rainy season on Pacific and still agree it’s better than Puerto Viejo for us. We closed escrow on a property in Hatillo (Dominical) Now we are starting to decide on building. I think we will start with a small 1 bedroom on the upper lot (has a bigger lower plantel as well) Can anyone suggest builder? Also the “driveway” to lower lot is somewhat steep. Would you suggest gravel, or some concrete? How long to get permits? I’m mostly hearing about $70 sq. ft. Does that sound right? And does anyone have any experience with prefabs? We have considered this option for one of the buildings because it would be quick. Thanks.[/quote]

[baontheriver]

[quote=”JRelon”]We are about to purchase a property in Costa Rica. Unfortunately we can only visit about twice a year (one week at a time). We are not buying into a gated community. Is it necessary to hire a property manager to check on our place and make sure no one robs it? Not to be paranoid but I just don’t know enough about this topic.

We are buying around Domincal area. Very excited!!! Costa Rica is amazing and we feel very lucky to be a part of it! Hope to some day soon be full time residents.

Please reply if you have suggestions on this topic.

Thanks, Jeffrey[/quote]

Hola Jeffrey,

I understand what you are going through since my wife and I went through the same dilema. To help you with your choices I would have to take up 3 pages of options to the boredom of many. Briefly I will say three things and if you would like to speak further we can elsewhere.

1. If you do not plan on moving here soon…buy the property but DO NOT BUILD. Have your real estate agent keep an eye on the property for you.
2. If you still want to build you will need the help of several qualified people before and after completion.
3. If you stiil want to build and then rent while you are away then you will need a property manager that can market and rent it out for you. Legalities are much different than in the states so you will need a good attorney here in CR.

My wife and I just moved to CR after 12 years of visiting and are building our casa and 3-4 rental cabinas with a view of Diamante waterfall. I have over 25 years of project management experience and she has around 25 years of property management under her belt.
Thanks,
Brian

[baontheriver]

We are using Omar Tabash in Casimiro Vargas’s law firm for our property purchase. They have been great to work with and are very thorough and speak very good english. Casimiro married us near Dominical 10 years ago. I would highly reccomend his firm.

Brian Anthony

[baontheriver]

We will be right behind you at the end of June with our 2 dogs. You might want to contact Angie at worldpetravel or Guardian Angels CR for the safe transport of your canine kids. Where are you planning on living? We have chosen Tinamaste over by San Isidro. Hopefully we can meet someday. You can e-mail me directly at baontheriver@gmail.com if you would like to stay in touch and maybe our kids can have a play day.

[quote=”vmc”]We reached a milestone in our preparations for our own move to Costa Rica yesterday, with loose ends coming together one-by-one.

We’re shooting for Mid-June, with our biggest hurdle now, the transporting of the doggies.

Here’s to keeping our fingers crossed that the Presidential Decree works out and we get in the air with no big hang-ups!

Hope to meet a lot of you in person sometime soon!

Pura Vida![/quote]

[Author]

Posts