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[quote=”costaricafinca”]Don’t know exactly which type they were, but these are usually seen on structures made with wood here…and I have seen quite a lot of damage. The info leads to not building a house made of wooden 2×4’s and stick to cement, steel and glass.
We have had termites completely destroy boxes of books and sometimes they only eat the center of a hard back. They also consume anything constructed of pressed board, such as stand alone cabinets or shelves.[/quote]How did you get rid of them? Is the land treated here for Subterranial termites like it is in Fla? We have the same problem if the land is not treated before building in South Fla.
[quote=”2bncr”]I agree with what fincs said. You need to double check your alititude. That is very high. Do you see many expats in the area. If not you have to ask yourself why. I live at 4500ft elevation and this winter was a bear. I WAS WISHING i LIVED LOWER.
It seens as if around 4000 ft the tropical feeling is lost.
The older you are the more the DAMPNESS affects you and the harder it is to keep the dampness out.[/quote]
Thank you for your thoughts. I guess that is why some of us lived in Vermont,Calf, Arizona, or Seattle. We use a humidifier and it works great. It was a Bear even in Grecia
downtown. WET IS WET!.
I appreciate your thoughts. NOW any opinion 2/3 or 2/2 bedroom homes?[quote=”2bncr”]I agree with what fincs said. You need to double check your alititude. That is very high. Do you see many expats in the area. If not you have to ask yourself why. I live at 4500ft elevation and this winter was a bear. I WAS WISHING i LIVED LOWER.
It seens as if around 4000 ft the tropical feeling is lost.
The older you are the more the DAMPNESS affects you and the harder it is to keep the dampness out.[/quote]
Thank you for your reply,
There are many expats that live up here and love it.
I just was in Puriscal up 3000 and we found it a little
to warn and bugs/ bugs. This is our 3rd trip for 3 days there and to buggy. Yes, this winter was a wet one. Humidifiers work great IF your land lord will allow you to
run on and keep the dampness out. With the humidifier it makes it a whole lot better. Also the view gets better and better. WE have a eagle view of San Jose. I guess that is why the USA has people living in Vermont and others in Calf. or Fla. We all like different cliamate.Thank you for your thoughts,
gg[quote=”Jim S.”]I don’t remember the cost of the Registro certificate but it isn’t expensive and the process isn’t complicated or time-consuming. I was required to buy insurance at the border despite having INS insurance.
There are plenty of hotels in David in every price range. No advance reservation is necessary. Just look around once you arrive. If you’re on a budget, try Hotel Castilla or Puerta Del Sol, both in the range of $30-$40 per night for clean, basic accomodations. The Gran Nacional is the largest, best known hotel in David but is over-priced unless you get a promotional rate. There a numerous other options.
Take dollars with you and/or use your Visa/Mastercard. Don’t try to exchange colones at the border or in David. It’s a hassle and you’ll get a bad exchange rate.
There are no serious concerns about personal safety. In general, Panama is safer than Costa Rica. Just exercise normal caution. Shops are everywhere and prices are much lower on most items than in Costa Rica. Also, shopping at the frontier is good, on both sides of the border. There’s no problem bringing purchases across the border, although you’ll probably have to use your customs exemtion for the TV. There’s no special paperwork, just be sure you have the original receipt. The amount of the exemption is $500 per person every six months. It doesn’t matter if you are a resident or not. The CR customs officials will stamp your passport to indicate that you’ve used your exemtion. It can’t be prorated, so if your TV costs over $500 you can’t exempt it and will have to pay the customs duty. Don’t declare any of your small purchases, no matter the total value of your purchases. They won’t check them.
Panama City is quite a drive from David, about 200 miles, but the highway is very good and the speed limit fairly high (110 kph?). Another excursion from David is a day trip to Boquete, which is a nice, small mountain town popular with ex-pats and tourists.
Your best route from Grecia will be the Pacific coast highway – towards Jaco, Quepos, etc. There may still be ongoing construction north of Dominical. I’m not sure. During my last trip about a year ago it didn’t slow us down much. However, the section of highway south of Dominical (Palmar Norte) was in very bad shape. I don’t know if it’s been repaired. If not, drive with extreme caution or the potholes will destroy your car.
Be sure to take a cell phone with you in case you do have trouble on the road. Be aware that your INS insurance includes towing.
Enjoy your trip![/quote]
Dear Jim,
Yes , we went to Golfito and the road is repaired. We did not purchase anything, because
when we got there it was closed for some unknown holiday. So we thought we would
try our luck in David and make a little journey of it. 🙂
Jim all you information was great.. very good information. Is there anything you would
like for me to report back to you once we go?
You have been a great help, thanks for you time.
GeeGee
Pura Vida
[quote=”Jim S.”]Crossing the border from CR to Panama in a private vehicle is a major hassle, particularly if you don’t speak fluent Spanish and aren’t thoroughly familiar with all of the documentation and requirements.
Among other things, before you travel, you must go to the Registro Nacional here in Costa Rica and obtain a certificate proving your ownership of the vehicle. You can’t take your car across the border without it. Also, your Costa Rican insurance isn’t valid in Panama. You’re required to purchase short-term insurance at the border, but it’s not expensive.
I recommend travelling and crossing the border by bus. If you want a car to travel around in Panama, rent one in David.[/quote]
Jim,
Thank you for your reply. Do you know how much it is for the Registro Certification. We have a friend that goes and gets these documents for $20.00 for the day for us. As we assume it is a whole day process. We just spoke to our insurance guy at INS and he said,”WE go to INS and get a paper saying we are going to PANAMA FOR A WEEK AND THEY GIVE
US A CERTIFICATION AND WE SHOW IT AT THE BORDER.”
Now I dont know if that is true or not, we still can pay at the border. Is David a nice place to stay once we get there?
WE want to go on in to Panama City also and on the way back
bring a TV and some other things. IS the border a problem
for that? WE have C.R. drivers license and our passport, other than the other things you mention is there any thing
else we need?Places to shop at Davids, or place to see or stay.
IS IT SAFE IN MOST AREAS? WITH THE SAME CAUTION AS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD?THANKS
[quote=”costaricafinca”]Considering the altitude you intend to build at, it may be too cool for many potential retirees.[/quote]
Thank you, that is a thought, but like us in our 60’s we live in Fla. The beaches are way to hot for us.
It feels and is simular to N.C and S.C weather.
NOT to hot not to Cold.. JUST RIGHT. We find the weather is
comfortable and refreshing. I would think for most Europeans
it is also the right weather. We have been told by several people they moved out of Atenas or Sachi it was to hot in the summer.
Thank you for your input.[quote=”Doug Ward”]I cant kill it. Every time I plant posts of it to make fencing and handrails 25% sprouts and I have to Roundup it.
The next question is why would anyone plant that garbage to begin with ?[/quote]I guess to make a hedge verses the other ugly plants that most ticos plant.
Do you have any other better hedge to plants the gives
you the hedge/fencing, hides and borders the house?I am building some homes and was going to use the clump bamboo, but open to better suggestions. I was told their
are many species of bamboo some better than others.While I am asking we also need to hold up a large 25 foot
bank of hard dirt. What is best to hold the bank and beautify
it? Grass, Vetiver, coffee plants? And where is a honest,fair priced landscaper for planting here close to Grecia.Thank you,
gg[quote=”Scott”]You may not have considered this but the vast majority (at least 80%) of the buyers/sales I have personally been involved with as a consultant in the Central Valley area over the past 2 years have NOT been Americans or Canadians, they don’t even speak English.
1. Where exactly will you be building these “nice American homes”?
2. Can we also assume that you plan on eventually selling the home to Americans too, yes?
3. Are you thinking of renting to Americans as well?
4. What sort of age group?The clearer the picture you have of who you are targetting as your customer, the easier it will be for you to come up with the answer.
Whether that answer will still be correct when you’ve finished building is a whole different question…
Scott[/quote]
Scott and readers,1.Building in San Miguel in Grecia at about 5,300 over looking all of San Jose.
2. yes, would like to sell to Americans, but not a requirement. We will be neighbors as we will keep one for ourselves.
3.We were planning on renting the guest homes ( 2) to Americans, but not a requirement. We have travel all over the world and Europeans, Germans,Swiss,Turkish are great also.
Whether we should do all furnished or just appliances depends on the stronger demand.
4. Retires looking to move to C.R or looking were to live or long stays 3/4 months. We dont want to do weekly
or monthly rentals. The homes will be as we are a second home and back and forth from the Fla.
So that is why the question… I am looking for your imput and your readers.
I know the economy is slow in the USA, but dont you think as the baby boomers retire and the unstibility of the US economy that C.R. will have another inflex 4-5 years from now. WE are not in a hurry to sell.Thank you Scott and I enjoy your site.
gg
