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There is basically no MLS in CR and you can not easily go to city hall and look up the transaction records of surrounding real-estate deals as you can in the US in order to compare or track prices. Also, you still have a lot of research to do. Your stunning view may ultimately be nothing more than an expensive campsite if you expect to have access to a well or city water, electric and phone. Many places do not have this access, and I know of one person that spent $100K and did all of his homework, but was given false information as to water rights, and how his property could be used. He described it to me now as a $100K elephant.
True, many people like the club scene and even go for the drugs and the hookers……sad, but true. I speculate that eventually Jaco will be cleaned up, the drug pushers and hookers politely led out of town. Probably to be replaced by high class hookers, but that’s another argument. It will become an upscale town where the typical retired couple wouldn’t even be able to afford a house in what is now a typical Tico neighborhood there in Jaco. I am sure that is many years off, but very possible. I see the drastic changes in Panama where they have taken very pro-active steps to clean up the crime in many of thier cities. Costa Rica should take note and realize that perhaps that is why I recently heard that Panama passed Costa Rica as one of the most desired places for foreign retirees.
ghislaineeyer, I agree whole heartedly with Dave. The “old world charm” perception is subjective I guess depending on your definition of what that means. We have been here for one year now and bought a house after we arrived. We could have lived in it for awhile, but as Dave said, it would have almost been like camping out. To give you an idea of our experience, the kitchen consisted of a concrete outdoor type sink, a stove and a fridge. No cabinets, shelves or counter tops even. the electrical was exposed wire stapled to the walls and ceilings and just hanging down attatched to the light fixtures. The bedrooms were small….about 1 1/2 to 2 feet of space on each side of a full size bed. The walls did not go all the way to the ceilings. I would describe it though as a fairly typical Tico home. We gutted the entire house and remodeled it and had a beautiful home within about 5 months.
wspeed, I don’t think there are any restrictions on building your own home. You have to get the proper permits as you would if someone else was building it. Make sure you understand and follow the labor laws if you hire additional help, or even if you sub-contract out certain areas of the work to be done. If your sub-contractor is not paying the proper taxes on his workers, you may ultimately be responsible when the Municipalidad, or Sociodad come checking. We have a friend building his own home in the hills above the Parrita area here on the Pacific coast and has had these issues arise. He worked for one of the largest builders in the states so it sounds similiar to your situation and experience, and what you want to do.
I’m not sure things have changed that much in just a year Scott, but we had no trouble opening two seperate bank accounts in our personal names. I might disagree with you Scott on the Patriot Act issue. The IRS has had that mandate for years, so it’s nothing new. Perhaps parts of the Patriot Act make things more difficult for law abiding citizens, but those are the times we live in.
In Esterillos Oeste the garbage service is included along with our water bill. It is itemized as a seperate charge but only amounts to 400 colones a month. While 14,500 colones is not a lot of money, I would venture to guess 75% of that, if not all of it is going into someone’s pocket and not actually paying for the “privilege”. I find that much more unacceptable than people burning and burying thier trash.
no one said they were not illegal and no one said they were any better than the Nica’s. I believe in a countries soveriegnty and that their laws should be respected. That goes for Americans living in Costa Rica or anyone else living here. You ask why they do not research the number of Americans living here illegally. I think you could pretty well be gaurenteed if the American living here illegally was not supporting himself and was using the countries social and welfare programs that are meant for it’s citizens he would be just as villified as the next guy, and be promptly deported if detained. The fact that the American may be able to support himself and may be putting quite a bit of money into the local economy doesn’t make him any more legal. The fact that he is not a burden to the society and is not taking away a job from a Tico is one reason they don’t investigate that issue. In many cases he is supplying jobs to more than one Tico. None of this makes him any better of a person, nor does it make any difference as to his legal status, nor am I saying it is ok. I am simply answering your question, “why do they not research that”? Your apparent disgust should be directed towards the Costa Rican authorities that allow the rules to be changed for one and not another and in doing so are not even respecting their own countries laws.
I agree that for the most part the Bejuco project is too tight. I think the Esterillos Hills project will be a little better. Many people do not like a lot of property to have to maintain, so there is always a buyer to fit each situation, style, or size. As with anything, you should always do your due diligence and study the area and determine what it is you are really looking for and what will make you feel the most comfortable. I know people who love highrise condo living in the city. Personally, that’s not for me. To each his own as they say.
I have had no personal experience employing an illegal migrant, but have talked to people here in the Central Pacific area that say the Nica’s are sometimes willing to work for half of what would be the norm for a Tico. I personally think this is wrong and is exploitation, but on the same hand I do not support illegal immigration into any country. The U.S.has a major problem and is trying to address it as is Costa Rica. Both countries in many respects are being vilified for wanting to stem the tide of illegal immigrants. In short, what part of Illegal do they not understand? It always amazes me the arrogance of those breaking the law, willing to march in porotest, in the country they are occupying illegally, and demand services that the honest, legal residents are paying the bill for. If you don’t like your home then you need to take steps to make it better. You don’t go to your next door neighbor, break into his home and tell him “I like your house better so I’m going to live here instead. Oh, and by the way please make sure to sign me up for your healthcare plan and pay the premium for me……and please make sure the fridge and cabinets are kept stocked for me. I’m willing to work hard, but I probably won’t pay any taxes on what I earn to pay for any of the services I use. You make more than me, you can pay for those services. Lastly, don’t you dare critisize me and call me illegal….I’m a migrant and just want to make a better life for myself and my family”.
Perhaps it would be best to stick to the issue and question you first raised. What different reasons people have for coming to Costa Rica is really irrelevant to your personal situation. It is apparent by your new posting about still being able to trade stocks online with your investment portfolio that what you are proposing doing is exactly as was previously stated. You are simply looking for an easy way to shirk your financial responsibilities. Your original post stated that you wanted to leave the U.S. without filing for bankruptcy, basically just leaving all of your creditors hanging. Perhaps you want to just flee the country and not go through the proper channels of filing for bankruptcy because your investment portfolio would be attached for repayment of a portion of your debt. I am not a law expert, so the following is merely an observation and speculation. Whether you flee the country or not, you are not immune to judgements that will most certainly be brought against you in court by your creditors, and most likely those judgements will be attached to any assets you retain, including any stocks you may own in an investment portfolio. I would suggest that you stand up to your responsibilities, do what is neccessary to pay your debts…..debts which you incurred and legally owe. I got myself in debt way over my head years ago. I worked two jobs for almost 7 years to pay my debts off. I would agree with jasman, moving to CR is not the answer to your problems and we definitely don’t need more irresponsible people moving to CR.
As I stated, most, and I stress most people come to CR for the right reasons. You are always going to have lowlife individuals who prey on the innocent no matter where you go. Obviously one would not consider someone coming to CR for the purpose of committing a crime to be coming for the “right reasons”. My feeling is, running from your financial responsibilities is not a reason I personally would consider one of the “right reasons”, and that is exactly what you are suggesting doing. Please do not try to justify what you are considering by simply saying others are doing something worse. If you do not start taking responsibility for you actions now, there is nothing to indicate you would be any more responsible living in CR.
I believe they are going to be selling 119 homes in the project. I think in comparison to other projects in the area the homes they have planned are not way over priced, but I would not describe them as bargains either. I think you can always build cheaper yourself if you are able to find a suitable building site and do your homework before jumping into your own building project. One of the first steps would be to read Scott’s book. The infrastructure in and around Esterillos Oeste is good compared to many areas and the project is walking distance to the beach, small market,several resturants and bars, all of which adds to ones perceived value.
I have met with both partners in the Hills of Esterillos project discussing with them selling lots in their project which they gave me the ok to represent, and discussing the over all project itself. Jeff told me that his partner Bob jumped the gun on having the signs made and putting them up. They only have title and permits for the 29 lots that front the entrance road to Esterillos Oeste. They have done some bulldozing and grading at the road by the highway just cleaning up the entrance in front of lots 1 through 4, but have not started any clearing in the project itself, and again, they will only be working on those front 29 lots at first. Jeff said that it could be 6 to 12 months before they start on the inside lots as they are still going through the permit and titling process. Jeff also said that most likely the cheapest house they will be building is $129K, and not the $89K that Bob put on the signs. One reason for that is they have modified the size of what they will be building and will most likely not be building the small 800 sq foot house that would have been $89K.
It’s a competetive business down here, but like any other kind of businesses there are good and bad ones. The one thing I have noticed most here since moving is that whether you are dealing with a Tico run business or many American run business, neither take marketing their business very seriously. There are exceptions of course. Perhaps it is that most came down not wanting to work 9 to 5 and run a full time business but still need some income. I think if you run a professional business and market it well, one can be successful. I would suggest coming down and making the investment of going out on at least 4 or 5 sport fishing boats, maybe a couple of times each. See how they operate and take lots of mental notes on what you could do better, or things you think you could improve on that would make your business stand out above the rest. Spending perhaps $5K doing research will pay off in the long run and you’ll ideally have a lot of fun while doing it.
We have friends that moved alot of furniture down from the states and everything that had any sort of laminate buckled, cracked, split, etc. with the humidity. Go with the natural woods of the area and you’ll be happy.
Our first visit to Costa Rica before moving here included Jaco to Manuel Antonio during Thanksgiving and the first part of December. We had some rain, but the rain here does not typically prevent you from enjoying the area and rarely is an all day thing. Even with the record rainfall of this last year August and November both were great times here.
