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There is always an economic lag effect between developing and developed countries. I will wait to see the 2009 vs. 2010 numbers before I fully accept the “resilient nature” of CR real estate. Pacific Coast real estate may be a relative bargain by next spring. By all indications thus far, the decision to wait to purchase in south Nicoya will result in a 20-25% price reduction over 2 years. Also, there are significantly more properties on the market longer and more available from foreign owners in a financial bind. The Tico owners have the patience of Job.
Stick with Toyota or Hyundai. The large SUV versions in both can carry 7. They are by far the easiest to get parts for and even small town mechanics can fix them becuase they are ubiquitous in CR. A mercedes is extremely dependable, but expensive to fix and very expensive to buy in CR. The best vehcile I have had in CR is the Toyota Hi-Lux Pick-up with 3.0L diesel and quad cab. The same engine comes in the Prado.
David:
Is medicare accepted at CIMA?
I think in the near future you will see more US health insurers cover specific countries, including CR. After all, it is good for their bottom line.CRHB
Medical field yes, but service sector is stagnant worldwide, even tourism. Hawaii has a 58% ocupancy rate these days. With the majority of business down, the service sector follows unless you are a niche business like keeping foreclosed home pools clean.
Medical is growing everywhere (even US all he hospitals are adding or remodeling) + the CR med. tourism business needs the support infrastructure. Bottom line from a bus. perspective is that you have an educated workforce with the bonus of being less expensive by a greater than typ. corp. profit margins in US. Good for CR! Besides medical, the only other growing sector in US is education and US Customs/Border Patrol = (nationalism rearing its ugly commerce killing head).He should be able to take care of this at the embassy in Escazu if there is nothing that would preclude him from doing so.
I am not waiting until I am old. I have 10 years full time + 5 part time to preserve a large deferred benefit. We love CR and feel at home already in Montezuma area with several friends. Being fluent by birth and exposure to the latin culture has made it quite easy. A 2nd family is becoming more appealing. Our reasons are to live a leisurely life where your time is spent enjoying your rich outdoor environment, wear little clothing,sharing your expertise, gifts, labor, skills are whatever you have with the community you will likely die in. The health, tax and all other benefits are purely secondary. If you don’t love where you live every day, life is too short not to move.
Anchor babies…the new wave of residency seekers. Even at 45 with grown children I am reconsidering..lol
My branch of BN is in Cobano, Punarenas (Montezuma/Mal Pais). There is a new BCR in Santa Teresa, but still a national bank. As they grow, which is not smooth given the intra-town rivalries and lack of a wealthier, respected visionary who can orchestrate a change for the betterment of their commercial hub. There is cargo ship loads of PhD brain power in the region. A local grown credit union akin to the small regional pharmacy chains would workw ell in CR. Like the old farmer’s coops were in the states once. I am curious what it would entail to strat a financial institution. Scott? Anyone?
What I believe will happen, is this economic episode will change the way the professional segment of the population saves. The downside is that states with sales taxes as their primary tax base (like WA & Seattle), will have to impose an income tax out of raw necessity, but maintain a portion of the sales tax for individual cities and library + park districts. After a decade, you will be paying 50% more in local taxes. Those of us on the 120+ side of the IQ who understand economics, will figure out a way to live on 1/2 of what we earn for the next 5-10 years and learn to be self-sufficient in order to fund our own bail out. Unless you win the Lotto, then I am on el primer avion en la manana.
Customer service is only in the banks’ mission statements as pure false advertising. Every time I must do something from the states, it invariably takes several e-mails and faxes to the branch to even get their attention. Threats to remove your deposits, which I will not do because they are a waste of breath & counterproductive on the Tico culture so you have to plan for contingency days to accomplish anything. Even in person it is a wait that could easily consume the tyical lunch hour in the states so you quickly learn the non-peak times and days. What would it take to st.rrat a credit union Scott?
Learned a trick after our supposedly on-the-cheap experience on our 2nd trip. I have a corporate Platinum AMEX card and when I charge the rental car, I contact AMEX and let them know what the max. ammount will be and not to authroize anymore than the amount. This stops the companies from charging an additional amount after one attempt.
You can check http://www.elparaisoschool.com , http://www.spanishabroad.com , http://www.linguaserviceworldwide.com
Quepos used to be a little rough around the edges. There is a new marina there, which I hear has started to tranform things somewhat. Any major purchase or health care would be in San Isidro. Dominical is very popular these days and in closer proximity to San Isidro. Looks like the new road between Manuel Antonio and Dominical is under way. 5 years ago it was a pond filled, 4WD track in the wet season with the biggest bats I have ever seen.
