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[quote=”NancyRoman”]My husband and I are considering visiting for a few months to see if we can possible live there.
I have heard that there are some plumbing issues and when one uses the restroom the toilet paper is put in a trash can and not flushed down the toilet. I can maybe understand that for older homes, but is it so in the newer homes and condos?:?:[/quote]
The vast majority of houses we have rented or hotels we’ve stayed in, have said to place all toilet paper in the trash can… and this was regardless of the age of the building. It does sound a little gross, but you get used to it. I’m sure there are places that allow toilet paper in the toilet, but I have found that to be the exception and not the rule (and that includes restaurants). Plenty of things to get used to when in Costa Rica…
[quote=”ddspell12″]Does anyone live in this area that can give me some info about relocating there. Interested in loong term rental property,towns, conviences and general information. Thank You.[/quote]
Lake Arenal, with my favorite being in the Nuevo Arenal to Rio Piedras area, is very lovely. The weather is temperate, the people are friendly and there are restaurants, banks, and conveniences in town. While we don’t live there ‘yet’, we have property. There are quite a few options for rentals, just type in ‘lake arenal rentals’ or consult with a local realtor to help you find something.
I have met quite a few people that fell in love with the area on first sight…and subsequently bought there. That lake and region are magical and it’s my favorite area in all of CR.
[quote=”3dogsrule”]Thanks again everyone for the tips! Where I was initially avoiding the whole Nicoya peninsula because I was scared it’d be wall-to-wall faux touristy crap, y’all have convinced me that there’s some “real life” to be found there. I haven’t discussed it thoroughly with the others yet, but I’m thinking we’ll spend a couple of nights in Samara and probably one night in Playa del Coco or Hermosa on our way back to the airport.
Thanks also Costaricafinca about the marriage tip. My BF and I have been together about ten years, but we’ll probably bite the bullet and tie the knot before we seek residency (or buy property) in a foreign country. Great link to the most up-to-date info I’ve seen on residency info, thanks for that!
As our plans firm up I may be asking for some more tips, I appreciate everyone’s hospitality!
😀Karen[/quote]
Playa Hermosa is beautiful…I loved it there. The one big drawback for me…the extreme heat. If you love it hot, hot, hot, that’s the place. Keep in mind that a/c costs will be very expensive at the beach.
The Lake Arenal area is beautiful…more temperate weather, more rain so more green and it’s not that far from the NW coast if you wanted to go to the beach for a weekend. Lots of sun but also lots of rain to keep it green.
My favorite beach is Playa Preciosa in Puerto Jimenez on the Osa. It’s a very long way but, in my opinion, it is the most beautiful beach area I have ever seen in CR. So unspoiled, so vast with beautiful macaws flying all over. It felt like the end of the world.
There is no perfect place in CR or anywhere else. You just have to find what speaks to you. Have fun!
[quote=”ratus”]President Obama cancels Costa Rica trip over pothole, bridge concerns
Obama
April 1st, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) The White House confirmed today that President Barack Obama has canceled a planned May visit to Costa Rica due to concerns over the number and depth of the country’s thousands of potholes.
The statement also mentioned concerns that the numerous Bailey bridges used throughout the country may not be able to support the weight of the presidential limousine and motorcade, which is heavily armored.
“The potholes could become a real security issue, as the motorcade would be forced to swerve all over the road,” a Secret Service agent said on the condition of anonymity.
“In addition, holes large enough to swallow the presidential limousine have opened up on major highways there in the past. It is a risk we simply cannot afford to take,” the agent continued.
[/quote]
Are you kidding me? I have never heard of anything so idiotic. Potholes swallowing a limo? Guess he needs to be careful when traveling to places in the US, too…there are many sinkholes there.
[quote=”VictoriaLST”]Oh boy. Now we can protest his outrageous ideas in person without leaving home![/quote]
O’bummer
keep spending, keep spending, keep spending
[quote=”lyndahykin”]I just came back from a week in Guanacaste – I can’t believe coming from Ontario that I am going to say this – but it was WAY too hot for me! I was expecting mid 80’s…and got 98-104F. I also found Hermosa Bay a little too ‘laid back’ for me, I want something to do when I’m in CR, even a little town to walk around in.
I spent 3 years in Vancouver, BC so I do not like rain (at least 6 months of it…all at once, lol)so I’m looking for an area in between. High 80’s, rain (except rainy season of course) just once in a while. Any suggestions?
Thanks! Lynda[/quote]Rainfall…I guess it’s all how you look at it. A lot rain? One would think Seattle is rainy, dark and gloomy and who would want to live there. And then there is Miami…hot, beautiful and sunny. Well, Miami gets more rain than Seattle. Miami just gets it in larger spurts and it isn’t as noticeable. If you asked me, I would take Miami any day of the week–but it gets more rain! But it also has a lot of sun. It’s all how you look at it. I live in NYS…when it rains, it might not rain that much at once, but it could be raining for 5 days. It’s not the volume, it’s the length of time it lasts (same with snow).
I remember one night in Nuevo Arenal last June…it rained from 3-6 inches (depending on the area it was gauged). The storm was incredible (never saw thunder/lightening like that), and so much rain. Next morning, the sky was blue and temps hot and you never would have known it happened. It’s the tropics.
[quote=”costaricafinca”]I, too, like the Arenal, Tilaran area …but it is too wet, windy and cool for us to live there!
Make that an extended round trip and check out various parts of the country.[/quote]
Wet=green and lush (with still lots of sun during the day)
Cool=temperate=70s-90
Windy-find yourself an isolated, protected spot. Some lake areas are far windier than others.
After a couple of days on the NW coast, I couldn’t wait to get back to the temperate weather. Oh, another plus, with the humidity/moisture comes beautiful, plump skin…it does wonders for the face and body! Everybody I see in Lake region looks SO much younger than they are! You all know who you are…hahaha.
[quote=”costaricabill”]http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches-cTop-g291958
Trip Advisor announced their 10 best beaches in Central America as voted on by their subscribers, 8 of 10 were in Costa Rica, with Manuel Antonio #1 and Playa Samara #2!
Considering that Manuel Antonio gets about 1,000 times the visitors that Samara gets, I would expect that MA would get the nod, but I think it is great that our little Samara/Carrillo area ranks so high![/quote]
By far my favorite is Playa Preciosa in Puerto Jimenez, Osa. That is so incredibly beautiful, with Scarlet Macaws flying all around, big waves, and an empty, endless beach that looks like it’s at the end of the world. Breathtaking!
[quote=”jackson”]I am looking for feedback on active and inactive corporations. When filing the yearly tax declaration the fee is $200.00USD. for inactive companies and $400.00 for active companies. As per my lawyers request I have sent $200.00 for an inactive corp. Note: I have had the corporation for over five years, the purpose of the company is strictly ownership of a small acreage in S.W. Costa Rica which I hope to put a house on someday in the future. The law firm that I deal with has now stated that the C.R. government requires S400.00 this year for an inactive company and that the law firm wants additional $200.00 to re register me as an inactive company. Are there other members with inactive companies having this same experience.[/quote]
This is NOT correct. Your lawyer is doing something screwy. Corporations with only real estate in them are classified inactive. I just sent in the $ for my fees and they were $189 or so per my lawyer. You can also go online and it’ll show you the corp fees due plus any interest, if due. I would look that up and then mention it to your lawyer. Possibly, that is his fee for completing the transaction (which would be VERY high). Or could this include 2012 also, if you did not pay them?
BTW, I formed my corp and bought my land in 2012. I am having great difficulty finding out what tax forms I have to file for the IRS for 2012. The IRS was useless and said they give NO info regarding foreign corps. Since you have had your land and corp for 5 years, how do you claim this on your 1040? What forms do you file? Do you have to claim the corp and do you have to claim the land as a foreign asset? Is that dependent on the land value?
[quote=”Rf2cr”]johnnyh –
On the Caribbean Coast you are MUCH more likely to get shot by drug dealers than you are to suffer any damage from the Arenal volcano, even if you are in La Fortuna, we are 40 or so miles from the volcano! Read La Nacion, it is rough over there.
We looked at Atenas, it is nice but this area has something very special about it.[/quote]
I agree the Lake area is very special. What side of the lake are you on? Yes, I think the volcano is going to sleep. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see it erupt a couple of times a few years back. It was a sight to behold!
[quote=”aguirrewar”]I lived in CR in the 1970’s
left and visited in the 1980-1990
Now 45 days away from a FULL retirement and heading south in the 2013 year
I will not be carrying a suit case this time and will not be in CR for a couple of weeks but for the rest of my life.
Born in a small island in the Carribean, raised in Verdun, France then joined the US Army and was stationed in Europe and Central America, did I TRAVEL??? many times
But the road ends at some point and that point is very close now
NO alarm clock and NO uniform to wear besides I will not have to CLOCK in anymore
Other things that must be done is set a Bank account in CR and most important is to let go of the DOG eat DOG mentality of the USA and understand CR
you might think it is a JUMP in Faith but I have a cushion, have a house already in CR and a CR wife
Gallo Pinto will replace the Burger King, LOL
[/quote]
A leap of faith? I don’t think so. You’ve already lived there before, you have a CR wife and you own a house. It sounds like you are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of us who hope to retire there in the upcoming years.
You’ve worked hard and now it’s time to relax a little and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Congratulations on your upcoming retirement and many, many years of happy times in CR!
[quote=”jmcbuilder”][quote=”DavidCMurray”]Whether you’re a U.S. citizen or not, if you qualify for a Social Security Pension, you have a right to it. While SS will not electronically deposit your benefit outside the U.S., it can be deposited in Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica, or (maybe) ScotiaBank via an intermediary. You can also have it deposited in a U.S, bank and move it to Costa Rica by ATM withdrawal, by wire transfer, or by writing a check on the U.S. bank account.
The math . . . You can opt for a reduced SS benefit at age 62 or you can wait and take the full benefit at age 66 or 67. If you take the benefit at 62, your total net income from SS will even out at about age 74. If you can live without it, and if you expect to live much past 74, it makes sense to wait as long as you can. You can also take the SS benefit at any age between 62 and 67 (or whenever the benefit is maximized.
[/quote]
David is right on the money. It takes 12 years from taking SS at 62 before there is a wash from taking at full retirement age. To me it seems taking early is a better way to go. Also there is the devaluation of the dollar that seems to be a long term trend.[/quote]
By taking SS at 62 means taking a huge cut, plus I think you are not eligible for a COl adjustment. It all comes down to your life expectancy and family history. Your maximum amount you can collect tops out at 70. If you can wait from 62 to 70, your benefit will be nearly doubled. See the attached link from SS for the annual increase to delay your benefit. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/delayret.htm
[quote=”maxdevil”]I want to drive from Los Angeles to Costa Rica at the end of May, beginning of June 2013. I want to bring my vehicle and my dogs to Costa Rica. A friend of mine who is Spanish speaking will do the trip with me, along with a caravan of people traveling from Los Angeles to the various countries located between the USA and Costa Rica. Central-American families (now living in California) going back “home” to visit their families during summer vacations. Has anyone done that in the past? If so, can you comment on this plan? Maxine de Villefranche[/quote]
We met a group of guys a couple of years back that drove from the states and they made it ‘all right’, however, Mexico was difficult. They wouldn’t let them drive through Mexico without an ‘escort’. Basically, they gave them $1000+ to be allowed to drive through.
You are taking a huge chance. You have no idea what it’s going to cost you in the end should you meet people like this at the borders…not to mention your safety.
[quote=”bogino”]Notice how now that we have achieved new highs in the markets and the DOW has doubled off it’s Financial Crisis bottom all the “[b]experts[/b]” and “[b]analysts[/b]” are [b]NOW[/b][u][/u] talking up the Bull Market and notice how since that hype has begun we are getting fresh reports of significant new inflows into stock mutual funds. Translation: The [b]STUPID[/b] small retail investor is jumping into the market now……at the [b]TOP[/b].
Secondly, you buy stocks when the economy is [b]growing[/b], unemployment is [b]declining[/b], companies are [b]selling[/b] stuff (versus cutting expenses) and things are [b]looking good[/b]. You [b]DON’T[/b] buy stocks just because bond yields are at or near 0% and you [b]THINK[/b] you might do better in stocks.
Thanks. but I’ll stick with my 5% muni’s.[/quote]
That’s the problem with emotional investing and then trying to time the market. ‘They’ should have been in and investing (dollar cost averaging) all along and they would have weathered the rollercoaster just fine. Slow and steady wins the race.
[quote=”costaricabill”]I file the corporate tax and Municipal tax for many non-resident friends in the Cantons of Nicoya and Hojancha. It is SO EASY! If you have a friend that lives nearby your property, just ask them to help you pay the local tax, Solidarity Tax (Luxury Tax) and/or Corporate Tax.
They can either wire you the $$, or just deposit it in your account in the States and then you pay by credit card or go to the ATM and withdraw the $$ and pay on their behalf![/quote]
I don’t live there nor have accounts there. I just formed the corps last year and was wondering how to declare them on my 1040 for 2012. From what I can see, I use the form 5471 (for foreign corps) as well as the 8938.
For paying prop tax and corp fees, we have someone to do that. I was more trying to find out the correct forms to use since the IRS is completely useless when I tried to call them.
