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[quote=”bloucas”][quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”bloucas”]
Yes, in Los Angelas. It has to be done in Mexico. We live in San Diego so we may have to drive down for the 1st part but we dont want to go to Mexico City (CR Consulate) for the authentication part.[/quote]

Is that an indication that the only CR consulate is in Mexico City?
It would seem that there would be a consulate in the state in which she was born. I would have e4xpected closer ties between the Central American countries.[/quote]

I may have mis spoke. Let me clarify. She was born in Tijuana MX but is a US citizen. CR does not accept an apostile, instead they need to have her BC legalized which must be done in the state of Mex she was born. Then sent to the CR embassy for authentication. We cannot find info on how to complete this process including how much $ to send to the embassy for their processing.[/quote]

thank you

[bloucas]

[quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”bloucas”]
Yes, in Los Angelas. It has to be done in Mexico. We live in San Diego so we may have to drive down for the 1st part but we dont want to go to Mexico City (CR Consulate) for the authentication part.[/quote]

Is that an indication that the only CR consulate is in Mexico City?
It would seem that there would be a consulate in the state in which she was born. I would have e4xpected closer ties between the Central American countries.[/quote]

I may have mis spoke. Let me clarify. She was born in Tijuana MX but is a US citizen. CR does not accept an apostile, instead they need to have her BC legalized which must be done in the state of Mex she was born. Then sent to the CR embassy for authentication. We cannot find info on how to complete this process including how much $ to send to the embassy for their processing.

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[quote=”watchdog”][quote=”johnf”]2 questions

I cut the following from the Pensco article

While it is legal to purchase real estate in any country or even on the moon,
PENSCO will only allow investment in countries that are generally democratic
and that use English in their documents or which will translate their documents to
English. Examples include the U.S. Virgin Islands, England, India, New Zealand,
Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Mexico, and Canada, among many others.

I assume that since you used their article that they have acted as trustee for purchases in Costa Rica?

Also are there lenders willing to loan money on a non recourse note on Costa Rican properties

Thanks[/quote]

As a Costa Rica Attorney, I can confirm the PENSCO, Entrust, and Sovereign IRA Fund Managers all permit use of IRA funds for the purchase of real estate in Costa Rica. The general conditions for the use of the IRA funds, are that the real estate purchase be for investment purposes and not for the personal use of the principal IRA Account holder, that only IRA funds be used for the purchase and not a combination of IRA and personal funds, that the purchase be made through a Costa Rica corporation of which the IRA Fund Manager becomes the Custodian Shareholder for the purchaser’s IRA Account, and that the party in control of the investment owning Costa Rica corporation be a party other than the principal IRA Account holder, nor anybody related by blood,or marriage to the principal IRA Account holder (in other words, a trusted friend, or business associate would have to be appointed as the President of the registered corporate owner of the investment property).[/quote]

I am in the process of completing the type of purchase you may be looking at and I used ENTRUST to set up the IRA. I also have Schwab and I simply transfered funds from Schwab to Entrust. Like the man siad, it must be a purly investment property and you should get expert advice on all the details.
What part of CR are you interested in?

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[quote=”waggoner41″][quote=”bloucas”] Then we send it to Mexico City for [b]authentication[/b], but for this part there is no information any where on how to pay for this service. [/quote]

Have you tried the nearest Mexican consulate?[/quote]

Yes, in Los Angelas. It has to be done in Mexico. We live in San Diego so we may have to drive down for the 1st part but we dont want to go to Mexico City (CR Consulate) for the authentication part.

[bloucas]

Thanks! Would the Tico Times have it?

[quote=”costaricafinca”]As of today, it is still closed.
Check the local online news websites for new info. as it is reported that it [i]may open tomorrow…[/i][/quote]

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Hey everybody, been away for awhile. I took the toll rd in Mar/Apr and it was great. So what’s the latest? I’m coming back for the 3rd time this Sun and now I hear it will be closed for mos? Traveling from the airport to the coast (Jaco and south) is any part of it open or is back to the mtn route????
Bill

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[quote=”Scott”]Oscar Arias has very little time left in office here so I’m assuming he has to sign this soon but, when all the details of this program are known and when this would actually take effect? We have no idea ….[/quote]

Well a very positive article if only a teaser right now. I think we all would love to know more as we make our retirement plans. Mine are for Oct/Nov of next year. I must admit I have considered Panama due to the huge financial incentives they offer. Of course CR offers the superior life style we all love. Will there be more updates here as as they become available?
Best to all,
Bill

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[quote=”bloucas”][quote=”sueandchris”]Scott:

We just got back from Costa Rica yesterday and had the opportunity to travel on the new (is it called the Pista del Sol?) highway from two different points. All I can say is “WOW”!!! We went from Puriscal (via the back way thru San Pablo) and then on down to Jaco. The whole trip was about 50 minutes. Had lunch at the Taco Bar in Jaco and then blasted back on the highway and got off at the Atenas exit, and then to San Ramon via Palmares (which seemed to us like the fastest way back to San Ramon) and that trip was just at an hour. Very little traffic.

I really agree with you..this highway is a BIG game changer. Reminds me of when the little coastal towns of SoCal were finally connected to LAX by freeways. The new highway experience helped us decide on property in San Ramon, which we bought on Wednesday. We feel that San Ramon is now “close enough” to the beaches for us, but will “stay” San Ramon because it isn’t TOO close to the new highway.

Honestly, being on the highway was sort of an “altered experience”….it was so fundamentally different from all of our other travels in Costa Rica. Whew…..[/quote]

Thx Sue, I gotten mixed reviews (I’ll have to paste an interesting one into the blog) but far more positive. I think I’ll have to take another look at San Ramon although we’re planning to be much closer to the beach.
Bill[/quote]
I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback (toll road)on this blog but as a counter point I am pasting part of an email (w/o identity)below that I got from a long time resident and business owner in the Jaco area……….here you go…..

The president promised to finish the new highway, which he did just a week or so ago, right before the election. In order to do it though they made it only two lanes with no shoulder to pull off on in most places for break downs or accidents. It was supposed to be 4 lanes, two in each direction, which would have made a lot more sense. Most Costa Ricans I have talked to are embarrassed by it. It cost $8 in tolls to go both ways. The Costa Ricans are really upset about that and have protested it because for the average Costa Rican that is almost a half days pay. So the average Costa Rican can not even use it and even though it does cut about 35 minutes off the trip over the mountains, if there is even one break down or an accident as there have been already, people can be stuck for hours. There was a bottle neck the third day it was open because of a big rig break down and the 30 minute trip took 3 hours. This was a highway that was started by this same president 30 years ago. Every president since Arias has skimmed the money for their own pockets every year until finally they indited 3 previous presidents for fraud, extortion, and money laundering. Other than the new highway, this currrent president has not really accomplished anything significant in 4 years. I guess that makes him a typical politician huh.

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[quote=”Len Greene”]Hi Len, I too am interested in the Platanillo area. On on last visit I started in Jaco and worked my way south of Uvita. I liked the area but the beaches were a bit rough for me. Did I miss any that are good for just layed back swimming? And from Platanillo where would you go for good medical care? San Isidro?
I hope to retire in CR in less than a year, will take my SS early!
Bill[/quote]

Hi Bill, There are several GREAT swimming beaches between Dominical and Uvita. Playa Hermoso is one of our favorites. Traveling south, look for the monkey bridges over the road and, just past them you’ll see entrances on the right where you can park. There’s shade right up to the ocean.

There are many doctors and a hospital in San Isidro and a new hospital has just been opened south of Ojochal. You’re probably best off going to San Jose for the best care in a serious health crisis.[/quote]

Thx Len….I’m familiar with the Playa Hermosa south of Jaco (near Esterillos) I assume this is another? Are you living there now?
Bill

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[quote=”sueandchris”]Scott:

We just got back from Costa Rica yesterday and had the opportunity to travel on the new (is it called the Pista del Sol?) highway from two different points. All I can say is “WOW”!!! We went from Puriscal (via the back way thru San Pablo) and then on down to Jaco. The whole trip was about 50 minutes. Had lunch at the Taco Bar in Jaco and then blasted back on the highway and got off at the Atenas exit, and then to San Ramon via Palmares (which seemed to us like the fastest way back to San Ramon) and that trip was just at an hour. Very little traffic.

I really agree with you..this highway is a BIG game changer. Reminds me of when the little coastal towns of SoCal were finally connected to LAX by freeways. The new highway experience helped us decide on property in San Ramon, which we bought on Wednesday. We feel that San Ramon is now “close enough” to the beaches for us, but will “stay” San Ramon because it isn’t TOO close to the new highway.

Honestly, being on the highway was sort of an “altered experience”….it was so fundamentally different from all of our other travels in Costa Rica. Whew…..[/quote]

Thx Sue, I gotten mixed reviews (I’ll have to paste an interesting one into the blog) but far more positive. I think I’ll have to take another look at San Ramon although we’re planning to be much closer to the beach.
Bill

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[quote=”ronny”]With all respect to the above posters and your preferences..isn’t there an extra percentage tagged on by renting cars at the airport?
I always have the agency drop off the car at my hotel for my first night at no extra charge and avoid the extra cost. I think they charge an extra 20% at the airport for car rentals …unless something has changed recently.
Hopefully Scott will offer us an updated map of the new hwy with directions for off ramps…at no cost of course..hehehe[/quote]

Well I’ve heard that before but last time I rented at the airport and this time I p/u in downtown SJ and didn’t seem to be much of a difference.
~B

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[quote=”tomstew1″]TS, I was glad to hear about your positive experience. I have been hearing that the new toll road isn’t so great after all unless you catch it at just the right time. Some say the traffic has been bad and the squeezing down to 2 lanes adds to it. I want to take it from SJ airport to the coast and then south to Dominical.
~Bill[/quote]

Bill:
I did read about backups at toll booths and some other compalints, but I didn’t experience any of that really….

Alot of people just like to bitch and moan about anything…you know how that is….

I went down on a Thursday around 3pm and came back to SJ on a Saturday around 1pm…No worries…the road has plenty of pass lanes for slower traffic…The only problem I had was gringos in front of me trying to get directions for the toll booth operators…It will save you 45-50 minutes off that trip….plus I heard the road from Quepos to Dominical is now paved….that will save you some time also….

The only difficult part for me was determining where to get on and off….I usually rent vehicles from Dollar (airport location) and those guys were very helpful and although I wasn’t confident about their directions when I left the Dollar lot, I did follow their instructions to the letter and they were perfect. I didn’t have ANY confidence on the directions on the way back because he said the following “Go until the road ends and turn left”….go straight for about 5 miles and there is a hill with a Bridgestone Tire plant at the top of the hill with a big sign…exit at the top of the hill and we (dollar rental) are about 300 mtr on your right….well I did just what he said and again he was spot on…..

If you rent a car, rent it from them because it is damned easy to get onto and off of the road from their location….[/quote]

Thx again TS, great advice. I already have have a rental reserved with National but no matter since I forgot to say I’ll be staring out in downtown SJ. Im attending the 2 day ARCR seminar 1st then up and down the coast to meet with a realtor (already set up) I assume I can still work my way over to the new highway from SJ.

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[quote=”*Lotus”]Try and avoid the weekends. Even with some of the best roads in the world (New York), getting to the beach Friday-Sunday in season is pure hell!:wink:

And we have 4 lanes each way!![/quote]

Thx Lotus. 4 lanes all the way to the coast?

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[quote=”tomstew1″][quote=”Johnhw2″]When did the toll road open, I thought it was projected for later this year?

Is it now open all the way from Caldera to Escazu now?
Also do you know if the entrance/exit near Atenas is open now too?
Thanks[/quote]

I can speak to this: It is open from Escazu to Ortina which is where I got off to head to the Quepos area.

I know that you can exit Atenas as I did pay attention to the exit in that area…I would imagine the entrace is open also…[/quote]

TS, I was glad to hear about your positive experience. I have been hearing that the new toll road isn’t so great after all unless you catch it at just the right time. Some say the traffic has been bad and the squeezing down to 2 lanes adds to it. I want to take it from SJ airport to the coast and then south to Dominical.
~Bill

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[quote=”aenaze1″][quote=”Dr Jeff”][quote=”maravilla”]and then there is the San Ramon area which is only 45 minutes to the ocean, the temps rarely get above 80, and the nights are cool enough to sleep under a down comforter. san ramon has everything — good doctors, a big hospital, dentists, good food shopping, good hardware stores. lots of good property available on which to build. if not, there are some good rentals in the mountains. i love it here. no heating, no air conditioning; i have ceiling fans and a fireplace for those cool nights.[/quote]

thanks! did some research-looks very promising.I’d like to be a little closer to the coast,tho. Anyone familiar w/ San Isidro del General area?[/quote]

San Isidro de General is nice. Known as Perez Zeladon too it is about 30 minutes to ocean in Dominical. That beach is more of a surfer beach.

What is nice about the coast a little further north of Dominical is that you can get in the mountains just as quickly where it is cooler from good elevation combined with ocean breezes and the surf calms down somewhat.[/quote]

Maravilla, where a little north of Dominical are you thinking? I would like to be close to the ocean, maybe even a view but up in the hills sounds good to me. I also want to be close to medical care.
~B

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