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There are several projects in the area, but they vary in features, price, etc. Have you visited the area you are interested in?
I realize that everyone’s situations are different, and the reasons or causes of financial ruin can vary widely and in some cases may or may not be totally your fault. However, I personally believe that what you are proposing is very irresponsible and I am not sure, but would border on illegal. People come to Costa Rica for a variety of reasons, but I think most of them come for the right reasons…..in short, to experience what Pura Vida really is. Perhaps also you do not realize you cannot just come to Costa Rica and stay. Until you establish some sort of legal residency you have to leave the country every 90 days. Running from your responsibilities and perhaps always looking over your shoulder, you will never be able to truly experience it.
I have visited the Delfines Golf and Country Club but have not invested in property with them. If you have never been there, I can say that it is a very nice complex, very clean and from what I could tell, well run. There is not a lot of support facilities in the area. The roads are very good around that area. There just is not much in the way of shopping and other facilities. With everything in Costa Rica growing, I have no doubts more businesses will, and are coming into the area. for the Delfines project it seems to be very well run.
Perhaps if Paragon Properties took good care of their clients, didn’t use the high pressure sales tactics, and stuck to the time tables and finished a project before touting how great they are they would not have to spend so much time defending themselves. There is nothing sinister or malicous going on. Fix your reputation, don’t attack the messenger. All you do is validate most of what is said.
You should research extensively what you can and can not do as far as working in Costa Rica. Typically you can not hold a job in CR. In many cases you can own a business, but not actually work in the business. You make a very telling statement that is exactly the reason my wife and I semi-retired here at the age of 42 and 47. You said you are not going to retire until 60 to 65 years of age, (health permitting) Life is too short Peter, enjoy some of the fruits of your labor now while you have the health to do it. No one is guarenteed tomorrow, much less 10 years from now. Why work yourselves to the point of being too old and the chance of being in poor health to where you are not able to even travel to some of the places you want to see, much less go through the adventure of making a move to a foreign country. Just my two cents.
Hello Ken, my wife and I shared our story with Scott, published in one of his articles, so I won’t repeat everything. Feel free to do a search on that. A couple of quick things I would suggest is to not bring a lot of things with you when you first make your move. You realize after you arrive how little you need a lot of the items, or that some can be replaced fairly easily here in Costa Rica. Many people bring furniture down that does not withstand the climate and in a couple of years it is ruined. We initially stored about 20 boxes of things back in California. On our first trip back 3 months later we eliminated about half of what was in those boxes. We did not ship a container or ship a car here so I can’t comment on that. We were fortunant and found a great place to buy almost immediately. I don’t always suggest doing that. Most people will tell, and it’s good advice to rent for at least 6 months in an area to see if that is where you like. You didn’t mention any details about your upcoming move. Perhaps people could better advise and answer questions if you shared some details. When, where, how much time have you spent in Costa Rica, and maybe what your expectations are.
Dwayne, It isn’t hard to access value without seeing the property, it is virtually impossible. The variables are far too many for anyone to give you an evaluation on value and pricing. I agree though with Puravida, in Jaco you are probably looking in the $500K to $1 million range for beach front in Jaco of that size. Even further south in Esterillos beach some beach front lots are selling for upwards of $300 a sq meter. 3/4 of an acre is appx. 3000 sq meters. You do the math. Almost anything along the coast here is going to be in the range of $250K and up for any size of beach front lot. Most people will say that is rediculous. However, most people would not turn down the money if they were the ones selling. So a fair price, or market value is just that….it’s what the market is willing to pay, and what ever the market is willing to pay is a fair price. I think too many people take it personal when they are priced out of the market that they wish they could purchase in. I would love an ocean side home in Malibu but I can’t. It’s not overpriced, it’s overpriced for my budget.
Michael, I actually checked into the same thing before I moved. Seeing if a bank in the States would finance a foreign property. I did not find one that would. It was frustrating but I also understand the reasoning. They have very little recourse if something goes wrong. Your only two real options are the owner financing or cash purchase.
Michael, Please refer to previous posting regarding attitude. You are not being degraded and no one has acted high and mighty. You simply were given advice to lose the attitude. You will not make it very far or last very long in Costa Rica with it. Just some advice from a not so high and mighty person that actually lives here and sees the results of arrogant, mouthy foreigners that come here. In regards to not paying 17% interest, you are correct. The interest rate at most banks I believe is closer to 20%.
I live just a few km from Del Pacifico Esterillos. It is one of the largest projects up and down the coast and one of the most expensive. What I do not like about their project is their goal to control the entire area of Esterillos. Their website boast that they now own 50% of the beach front land in Esterillos, as well as land in the hills where their main project is under construction totalling appx. 1000 acres. Their website also states that their lots start at $200K to $275K. The main project in the hills will eventually have basically it’s own town center with banks, shopping, car rental, etc. I suppose that is what some people like. We see no point in moving to a foriegn country and isolating yourself so completely from the culture. To each his own though. I have heard nothing from anyone in the area as to thier project not being honest and good quality contruction.
Michael,
Just some advice before moving to Costa Rica. Lose the attitude. Scott was being helpful and a comment such as “dropping out of the rat race” can mean many different things to many people. Your comment that you cannot and will not pay 17% interest shows your lack of understanding that, THIS IS NOT THE US. If you do not find a willing owner financed property then yes….you will pay 17% or even higher…..or you will stay in the US.
I’m sure Scott can tell you more specifics on what you are asking. Just be forwarned, it is not as easy as just applying for residencie when you first arrive. The process can take up to a year or more, and depending on what type of residency you obtain, you still may not be allowed to work in even your own business.
I have not personally used Dave and cr-builders/die-trying, but have spoken with him several times and watched the progress of his website and his phylosophy of doing business. I think he would be an honest builder to work with and very informative and a professional builder with experience. I like the fact that he is willing to discuss the mistakes and challenges he has had and not just sugar coat things to tell you what you might like to hear.
