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Sorry vegasknit – can’t be done.
1. davidcmurray is right. There’s no way the leasing company would let you do it.
2. jreeves is right. After the second 3 month permission you’re toast. (I thought that was the case in another thread, but everyone disagreed with me, saying that while you can renew your tourist visa once, you couldn’t renew the visa for the car after the 1st 3 month period.)
3. There’s no way CR dealer or leasing agent would take it back.
I’m afraid your complicated plan to save money will surely end up costing much more. If I were you I’d negotiate the purchase, then resell it right away (unless you figure the resulting loss will be greater than paying the termination fee and getting it over with), and buy a car when you get to CR.
I’ve brought 2 cars into CR (when I didn’t know better), and purchased several others there as well (after learning the hard way). One car I drove down (something you only do once) was placed in a customs warehouse after 6 months. The bill I got for the import taxes was more than the car was worth, so I walked away from it.
The Central Bank posts daily exchange rates of all the different financial entities on its website at:
http://www.bccr.fi.cr/flat/bccr_flat.htm
Click on the first big box at the top that says:
“Tipo de cambio del dólar de los Estados Unidos de América anunciado en ventanilla por las entidades participantes en el Mercado Cambiario En colones costarricenses por dólar de los Estados Unidos de América”
See, even when you’re mildly arguing you beg pardon. You were made for Tiquicia, maje.
As usual Lotus, I sympathize with your point of view. That’s why I put quotations around the phrase “known world”.
The conundrum is thus exposed. To survive, one must change with the times. Changing with the times destroys one’s way of life.
The only reasonable long-term solution is moderated change. CR seems to be doing pretty well in this context.
If CR does not sign onto CAFTA, it dooms itself to the margin. Look for companies such as S.C. Johnson, Oracle, Unisys, IBM (called GBM there) and others to move their Central American HQ’s to Guatemala, despite the poverty and political instability there. If it does become a signatory, Costa Rica transforms itself into the overwhelming choice in the region for setting up shop. That means jobs and economic progress. While some may question the definition of the term “progress”, I think most Ticos would agree that a better economy is a good thing. They just don’t like loosing their famed government monopolies and closed markets. Also, I think you can count on CR politicians to distribute the resulting wealth more effectively than in the U.S. The dominant political parties there seem to be left, and further left.
Of course, this is all academic given the democratic victory in Congress. The Democrats, despite their reputation for promoting social equality, seem to be more isolationist on this point than the Republicans. I guess we’re all hypocrites.
BTW, I’ve met my share of Scandinavians living in CR after running away from 50%+ income tax rates. I’m not saying you’re wrong, just that there are two sides to every coin (at least). Most of us seem to get fixated on just one of them.
It’s easy to think that, given all the negative economic conditions in the U.S. But the free-wheeling entrepreneurial nature of Gringos and our (relatively) free, open, dynamic and permissive society always seems to adapt. Furthermore, it is well to remember that the fall of the Roman Empire plunged the entire “known world” into the dark ages. I can’t say if life was better nearer or farther from the epicenter after that happened.
I think that well over 50% of CR’s economy is dependant on what happens in the U.S.
Yeah, Diego’s actually a very reasonable guy if you can keep him off that subject.
Sorry Diego. The dichotomy of your posts is remarkable though. Schizophrenia? Manic depressive? Obessive compulsive? BiPolar?
I’m a skitzoid myself. Maybe Maravilla can tell me how the big pharma nazis can help me out. I am feeling that restless leg syndrome a bit as well…
Sorry, I plead ignorance. It does seem like all the money’s going toward your (previous?) side of town though. Makes sense, as that’s where the road to Jaco and Manuel Antonio will start (finally, after 30 years of speculative investments!) Still, I’ll believe it when I see it, after which I’ll surely kick myself for my procrastination.
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? Procrastination is, after all, the key to flexibility…
When I applied for residency (long ago) all they asked for was a certified report from the police department in the community where I lived. This seemed rather silly, since it didn’t include any record outside that particular suburb (speeding tickets only, haven’t been caught for anything else yet…). Still, even a state-wide report is only limited to that state, and is just as silly considering our very mobile culture. Furthermore, if you rob a bank, it still doesn’t show up on the state record, as that’s a federal crime and will only appear on a federal report.
Hope I’m not giving migración any ideas…
I have all sorts of compassion for people who try to excel and fail. There just seems to be so many Gringos that don’t try. Did you hear about Oprah’s donation for a school in Africa? She said that she can’t stand going into U.S. inner city schools anymore because the kids simply have no passion for learning. Ask them what they want and they’ll tell you an Ipod. Ask the same question in Africa and they’ll say a uniform for going to school. (I’m paraphrasing her).
This is what I’m talking about. The U.S. is still the land of opportunity for those who strive for it, no matter how poor you are. The same cannot be said for the underdeveloped world.
I say again – it’s hard to feel sorry for poor Gringos after you’ve seen the plight of the truly impoverished outside our borders. We have so much, and we throw it all away.
That said, I agree that there are more and more working poor in the U.S., and the disparity of wealth is obviously growing. Whether this is due to regressive economic policies, the rise of the welfare class, poor parenting, dollar-dominated politics, etc. is debatable. Just don’t try to compare what passes as poverty in the U.S. to true poverty with no way out in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Haiti… That’s just ridiculous.
Maravilla, don’t let your good intentions blind you to objective reality. The U.S. is not the evil empire, nor was the USSR. Socialism is not a panacea, and hammering only one side of the argument while totally dismissing the other side undermines confidence in your position.
Lotus, it’s hard to argue with you, you’re too nice (tuanis!).
Me? I yearn for my days of youth, when I knew “everything”. Now I just know too much.
Here’s an option – have it custom-made in CR. It probably costs less than buying it in the U.S. Plan ahead and bring down the fabric with you.
Yeah, and that’s when you can see all the transvestites hanging out on the corners too. A quick ride with a show to boot!
Linda, IMHO the Heredia area is the best choice for people who like cooler weather, easy (relatively speaking) access to San Jose, and country living. However, you say you’re looking at a lot in “Barrio” – probably Barreal de Heredia, I assume as your “dream home” location. If you go ahead with it, it will be so only until your first break-in, after which you, like every other lot owner outside a condo or (truly) gated neighborhood in the country, will become a slave to your house.
I know it’s hard to alter your dream, it certainly was for me as well. But I learned the hard way. I’m trying to spare you, and other naive Gringos, the same fate.
Don’t think “lot”, think condo. Living in a secure condo will avoid the main drawback with living in CR – having to worry about the security of your home. This worry is a heavy burden, particularly for a Gringo who’s used to locking up their house and going away for a few hours, days or weeks.
In CR I’m extremely paranoid about theft and burglary, and unfortunately not overly so. So is every Tico.
In love with Costa Rica? Want to stay that way? Buy a condo, NOT a stand-alone lot. Make your dream a reality, not a fantasy.
Unfortunately, most of the condo development seems to be taking place in the Escazu/Santa Ana area.
Scott O.: Can you tell us anything about condo developments in the Heredia area, say from Santa Barbara east to Barrio Socorro right off the highway to Limon?
Mr. Schindler,
If you’re asking if your investment in CR will be a wise one from an economic standpoint, you might as well ask if the stock market will be up or down tomorrow.
If you’re asking if it would be wise to purchase a condo so you can live there and enjoy the many wonderful amenities Costa Rica has to offer, without having to worry about the security of your home, that’s a no-brainer. Whether you make a little or lose a little upon resale is inconsequential compared to the riches you’ll be able to experience every day as a year-round resident in Tiquicia.
The debate about whether the U.S. is more stable or less crime-ridden than CR is a valid one.
Regarding your disability, as you know it’s currently not a very disability-friendly country. However, they are starting to enact legislation which will make it so. For instance, all public busses (which are all privately owned) are now mandated to have handicap-accessible ramps by a certain deadline (can’t remember when). That’s quite a feat for a “third world” country. Still, I don’t envy someone in a wheel chair or walker attempting to traverse the many crumbling sidewalks there, that is if there’s any sidewalk at all.
The good and bad news about this area is that it’s at the western crossroads of San Jose, where the road to downtown, Alajuela, and the “beltline” intersect.
Also, there’s only one way out of this neighborhood, and during rush hour it’s a real bottleneck. So unless you’re going to the Parque de Diversiones, or to Hospital Mexico after falling off one of the rides, you’re better off staying at home from 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.
If I remember correctly, that barrio does have a guard shack and a railroad track style gate at the entrance. However, I would not consider it a “gated” community. This type of security is common in many neighborhoods, but not sufficient to leave your house unattended.
I’m sure the Ticos who sold their land to foreigners for many times over what they bought it for, or what they would have sold it for to a Tico, are thoroughly enraged.
The fact that they then place these profits in offshore banks, or spend it on shopping sprees to Miami, means the rest of CR won’t benefit. Blame CR economic policies, not the Gringo speculator who overpaid for the land, and may or may not get it back when they bug out 2-5 years later.
So this reporter at La Republica wants to limit land sales? He must not own any himself.
At least all beaches in CR remain public property. Visit during Semana Santa and you’ll see all sorts of average Ticos enjoying a day on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world for the price of a bus ride.
Everyone keeps complaining about foreign ownership of land and companies resulting from a globalized economy. It’s interesting that ALL participant countries, both rich and poor, seem to complain equally.
