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US attorneys cannot practice law in Costa Rica without being admitted to the Costa Rican Bar, however, there are several North Americans that have practices in CR. The attorneys listed by Scott on the left hand column of the home page are the best in the country, some are also admitted to a bar association in the states, all are bilingual and most importantly all are versed in CR Real Estate law. CR attorneys are also significantly less expensive than in the US.
Edited on Feb 28, 2009 10:11
Edited on Feb 28, 2009 10:12
It seems a way for the A & E’s to increase their % fees by inflating construction costs. Get at least 3 bids like an insurance copany in the states would require and you would have documented consensus. That is an 800 SF house @ $55/SF???
Everyone on this site should own Roger’s book; it is the legal Cliff Notes Legal Bible for “gringos” which equips you answer many questions yourself. Mine has passed several hands.
Go several times at different times of year (including the rainy season) and see as much of the country as you physically can. Then spend more time in your favorite locations and some time in the central valley, because if you need special medical attention or a big screen TV, it is the most likely place where you would go regardless of where you lived. We have been 1-2 times per year since 2004 and have at least settled on where we would want to reside for our own selfish reasons. It is a fantastic country, but if you are John Doe from the midwest you are the minority of archytypes who would adore the Tico lifestyle, respect the land & people and contribute wholeheartedly to the betterment of Costa Rica. This is why you always revisit your favorite places if it is the ideal fit.
You can’t legally work in CR, but you can form a company and hire Costa Ricans as your labor force as long as you operate in a “managerial” capacity.Immersion is the best way, however, I have learned Italian on the Rosetta Stone program. Absolutely the best language program out there. My wife learned Spanish this way, which gave her a big boost when spending our vacations in CR and looking forward to 3 weeks in Spain in May.
The US government should change the national symbol to the condom because it more acurately reflects the government’s political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pr…s and gives you the sense of security while actually being scr…d. It just doesn’t get more accurate than that.
NW softwoods such as Hem-Fir, Douglas Fir and Cedar will not last in CR due to high humidity + high temparatures and many wood consuming insects and rotting molds. Even with hardwood, it is a constant battle against the elements and one void is an invitation for many hosts. Most residential structures are built with masonry and some local hardwoods (mostly used for trim). Commercial buildings are masonry, concrete or steel. I have also seen an increased use of light gauge metal framing, but typically on higher end homes. The only way softwoods would work, is if they were completely encased in an air tight and moisture tight barriers (liquid applied membranes), which would require yearly maintenance. As far as seisimic properties, wood works well because it has a lot of give and will withstand a quake better than masonry given the assumption that it is all tied in the metal ties and straps.
I believe that if you get an I-phone, which is only technically available from ATT until 2012, you can get coverage on CR’s 3D system. The last two UK and US acquaintances I ran into in CR with I-phones were able to get coverage in CR after notifying their carier they needed coverage and not that expensive.
Edited on Feb 15, 2009 17:55
There are several excellent attorneys found on this site..see left hand bar on your screen. Fernandez, Peterson, Philps, et. al are all top notch CR lawyers. Scott is very thorough in demanding ability, honesty, savviness and economic value from the attorneys he has listed & I can personally attest to these attributes in 2 of 3 listed above.
Good Scotch and good Tequila are the only hard liquors that touch these lips. I like Oban & Dalwhinne, but the best tasting was a Macallan 30 year old that someone gifted.
The address system in Costa Rica is all based on landmarks and distances from those landmarks, such as 50m north of Multicentro (mall) and 100m west or 50m north of Banco Nacional (Cobano location of friend). In some cases the landmark may no longer exist such as the Coca Cola (former bottling plant) bus terminal in San Jose. Always wondered how emergency personnel find a home in an expedient manner.
I think we can all agree that all politicians are full of “mierda” regardless of party affiliation and both parties can garner equal blame over the last 20 years. Be educated enough to follow your instincts and intuition, not some elected mouthpiece paying lip service in order to keep his job and all the perks we taxpayers pay for. The 2nd stimulus package is just an effort to boost the consumer confidence of “John Smith” in hopes of boosting broader consumer confidence; the ultimate cost of which we will all bear. Here in Seattle, we had been less impacted by the recession compared to ther states with large manufacturing, technology and science based businesses, but the world needs less software, fewer planes and not as many semi-tractors. Amazon and Costco (the bargain companies) are holding their own, but Nordstrom is hurting badly. Again, I reiterate my long standing concern: at what point will the government regulate the freedom we enjoy of exiting the country when they finally realize that those with the means to leave might not come back and therefor there will be no one left to pay the bill?
I enjoy both haggis and fish, especially fresh Dorado caught courtesy of my favorite local fisherman in Mal Pais.If the new immigration law is passed, there will be a lot less dollar and euro reserves to sell, which in turn will make it more difficult for CR to purchase foreign goods (heavy equipment, pharmaceuticals, technology, etc.).
The culture, among other things, is why I would choose Costa Rica as opposed to SE Asia and I won’t live on an island. As the son of an Argentine mother, I adore the latin culture and it is what I was surrounded by as a child. According to Fidelity, the average 401k lost 27% in 2008. Unemployment jumped another .5% and at the rate it is going we should see 10% by June. Interesting to note that only 37% of the population approves of the bailout. How out of touch is our government?
Unfortunately, a vast segment of the population utilizes the “head in the sand” approach and the majority of the population does not understand fundamental economics, including our congress. I believe there is a significant amount of people looking to live elsewhere, myself included, but most of us have the majority of our wealth tied up in homes that cannot be sold, thus are in essence trapped until the real estate market improves…or win the lottery. Dr. Craigs article was poignant and blunt. I forwarded it to as many people as I know.
