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HI Phil, Congratulations on your adventure. I would suggest visiting several different areas. There are micro climates here in Costa Rica that many do not realize. There are the beach areas that are typically more hot and humid, and that even differs from the Pacific coast to the Caribbean coast. There are mountain areas that have an average tempature of about 72 degrees. You would not be able to visit everywhere in just a one week trip. I’m not sure how long you are coming for on this first trip, but I think trying to spend time in several areas to start to get a feel is best. My wife and I took about 6 or 7 trips during different times of the year. I don’t know of much we would have done different after being here almost a year now, other than I wish we had done it sooner.
You may not have a problem with packaged food, however we have found that a lot of times it can depend on who happens to be manning customs and what mood they are in, so I would not count on being 100% assured of being allowed to bring anything in. One trip my wife made they made her throw away half a ham sandwich she had bought in Houston before boarding her flight. She was saving it for the drive over to the coast, but they confiscated it.
I am not a tax expert by any means. From my own research before making our move to Costa Rica I found simply that there is an expemption to a certain amount of money earned outside the US while you are living in a foreign country. That expemtion does not apply to monies earned from any source within the US, whether your primary residence is there or not.
Also, you must make sure you are moving from a state that offers the same exemption as the IRS does for federal income tax. We moved from California and the expemption is the same there. However, we have friends that moved to England from Massachusettes. They did not realize that Massachusettes offers no expemption from State income tax, no matter where you are living. Since Mass. was thier last known residence in the US, they have had to pay Mass. state tax on every penny earned while living in the UK. They have not lived in Mass. for 13 years. AS Scott and others have said, be sure and consult a tax expert. Ask questions of the tax person as well…..we found many tax preparers have no experience dealing with tax issues of someone living outside the US>
From our experience it makes no difference whether you are a corporation, business, or personal residence as to how long it takes ot have service installed. The main thing is if service is actually available to the property you are buying. After we remodeled our house we went to ICE to have service installed. We went on a Monday and they showed up on that same Thursday. From experience, that is not typical. Two friends waited a month to have it installed. Many areas, especially in the higher elevations may not even have service available to tie into.
During our frequent trips down before making our move we brought down suitcases full of stuff that we left here. It was convenient because we had a friend living here that stored the stuff for us. We always got a kick out of the customs people opening empty suitcases on our return trips. We have not found that everything is double in price for small appliances. Toasters, telephones,etc, we found to be priced about the same. We did bring our own blender, small food processor, kitchen knife set and cookware. Alot of your little kitchen gadgets you might like a lot can be hard to find here.
Terri I think the most important thing is to do your homework on the laws and guidelines you have to follow that pertain to the particular business you eventually want to start. There are specific labor laws that can get you into trouble if you do not follow them. Things that pertain to minimum wages,vacation pay and yearly bonuses, etc. Be creative, but be smart.
I agree with Scott, it is good to come here in different parts of the year. We made trips down in Nov/Dec. Feb/Mar and July/Aug, over a two year period and felt we got a good feel for both the rainy and dry season. If you have already been at least once or more during the dry season, your June/July trip would be good to get a little different perspective.
Very true, the bridges are part of the adventure I guess is the way we look at it. You obviously see there are less safety standards than in the U.S., but what we have found since moving here is that we don’t see any more accidents because of what most would consider laxed safety standards. The people aren’t sue happy if they slip on a bad board crossing the bridge either……somebody would probably just say “dummy, why did you step in the hole”? We figure if we watch a semi pulling a loaded trailer across, our little pick should make it.
I strongly agree with Scott…..why make the move to a foreign country if you don’t want to really experience the culture. There are gated communities near us, but we chose to not live there. Perhaps there is a certain level of security in a gated community, but to us it’s not such an issue. You can still have problems in gated communities. That said, there is one little gated community being built here in Esterillos Oeste that is right up from the beach. It is owned and being sold and built by a Tico builder. The houses are not elbaorate, but are very well constructed and very reasonably priced in comparison to any Gringo development we have seen. We walked through it and met the builder. As I’ve mentioned before, everyone has different things they want as far as where to live and how, but I think there are a few options such as this little gated place that still gives you the feel of living among the Tico’s and not totally isolating yourself. I personally do not believe in the modern gated communities of nothing but gringos, where they have their own restuarants, banks, stores and everything. Why not live in West Palm Beach instead.
Hola Marilyn,
The answer to all of your questions is yes. There are a variety of gated communities, gated developments under associations, as well as Americans living dispersed throughout the local population. We live in a single family home next to one other gringo. The other 7 or 8 houses around us are all owned by Tico’s. It is not a gated community. Different strokes for different folks, but we enjoy being part of the culture as much as possible and not hidden behind a gate with just gringos.
What type of house and how large are you looking to build? Do you have approved architectural plans?
Hi Dh,
My wife and I moved to Costa Rica in April of last year. On our first trip down 3 years ago we made it a point to visit both coasts. We spent time in Puerto Viejo and Cuhuita. We loved the area and look forward to going back. We met several people that live there and have cooresponded with them since. We could have bought property much cheaper on the Carribbean side. We spent time in the central valley and mountains, as well as time on the Pacific coast. The Pacific is more expensive, but several things weighed in our decision to move to the pacific side. There is better infrastructure on the pacific. Better phone, water, etc. and access to these utilities. The Pacific is much more easily accessible to larger towns and only about a 2 hour drive from San Jose, so is more accessible for any shopping you want to do there, medical facilities you may need, and closer access to the airport for trips you will be making or friends and family visiting. There are reputable people you can work with on both coasts. As Scott and everyone says, you have to do your homework and do your own due diligence because there are people out there that will not have your best interest in mind. We found a wonderful property on the Pacific side only 100 meters from the beach, at a very reasonable price, even though the asking price was quite high, we negotiated quite a bit. It really comes down to the details that are important to you and your wife and where you decide you will be the happiest. That is why we all come down here.
Kirk, My wife and I moved last year and found that you do not neccessarily have to move to an area where there are a lot of gringos who speak english. We have met our share here where we live on the Pacific coast, but have many Tico friends already as well, and it forces us to learn more spanish. It depends on the where you want to settle down, and the climate you want. In any case, where ever you settle you will typically be no more than a 3 hour drive from San Jose and the out lying communities where you can occassionaly hook up with an American group for activities. Let me know if you need any advice on the Pacific coast.
Depending on how long it is before you are thinking about moving, you might put your daughter in an excellerated emersion spanish course now. They learn much easier when they are young and she may pick it up quickly. That would enable you to really try any part of the country and your daughter could attend a local spanish school and what an awesome learning and cultural experience that could be for her. You can always supplement with some homeschool curiculum that you can bring along with you. I say let her and yourselves really experience the culture. Don’t isolate yourselves in an Escazu gated community of gringos and private english schools. Just a suggestion.
Hello Antonic, I am from Ohio as well. My wife and I moved from California in April of last year to Esterillos Oeste. Let me know if you are going to be on the Pacific side and I can point you in the right direction on some things to see. We love to have people stop in for a drink or a meal and share their travel stories.
