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Want a Pool? An “average” sized pool will run $300 a month just to run the pumps, and that is from an energy rate in place 3 years ago.
You can also fly to Palmar Sur, which is about a 1.5 hour drive from San Isidro de General I don’t know how long it takes to drive there from Quepos.
vrbo dot com (vacation rentals by owner) has hundreds of luxury homes for rent in Costa Rica at prices often same or less than resorts in the same areas – many with perks you might like including privacy and personal services. Have a look!
Historically, Pathfinders have been rated by US auto magazines to have the best ride, if that’s a consideration for you. Toyota’s of the last 3 years or so ride real nice as well. Toyota’s are a bit more reliable. I often hear that the best SUV’s to purchase are (lightly) used by folks living in the SJ area, perhaps 3-5 years old. SUV’s in oulying areas have often taken a beating. Buyer beware!
ps CRV’s are not for off roading and will not last long if used for that task! Jeeps, I wouldn’t consider them for CR due to lesser reliability and relative scarcity.
Edited on Jun 08, 2009 18:25
Edited on Jun 08, 2009 18:26
Edited on Jun 08, 2009 18:27
Dominical, Uvita, & Ojochal area beaches are very safe for families, in terms of virtually no drugs/prostitutes/violence. These are not commercial areas that people congregate in, but mostly parks. Dominical has international surfers but the other beaches are mostly Tico’s and local Gringos. As was pointed out, the danger is the surf, not the people. Petty crime can happen, so watch your stuff just like you would at any beach in California. Your kids are going to have a blast, and you’ll love having the beach(es) virtually to yourselves!
For about the same money you could purchase a 1 bedroom prefab home with perhaps twice the space and a more desirable layout (not as strong as a container, though). Search this site for companies – there were some articles a while back. The idea of shipping containers is interesting, especially when multiple containers are used. Dwell Magazine did an article a while back, and web searches will find various applications…
I think the way to go would be to purchase the container(s) yourself (around 2-4K each, depending on size), and hire contractors yourself to finish them for less than what the company is selling them for…
You can use the search function on this site, both in forums and from the home page, to find some of what you are looking for. If you google those towns and dig around a bit, you will find some OK sites.
There is one private elementary school “School del Sur.” There is a new hospital in Cortez, about 10 – 15 minutes from Ojochal, depending on where you are leaving from. There are primary care physicians in Dominical, probably some in Uvita and Ojochal also, and more in San Isidro. These facilities are good for general care or emergency situations (to stablize someone). After that, you really want to get to CIMA in San Jose for critical care. Search this site for more info on that also. Good Luck!
Lets remember the good news: There *already* is a small domestic airport in Palmar Sur!
Ok, it’s more of an airstrip, but with 3+ daily flights to and from San Jose, I use it when ever I’m headed to the Southern Zone.
Chrhomebuilder is right! My suggestion is certainly not the best plan for many. I know some folks who have done so successfully, but don’t know at all that I would want to try it myself, especially if arriving to begin my retirement! My suggestions are an option, nothing more and nothing less. You don’t want your home sliding down a hill like a current article here describes!
All I can say is *monitor* your contractor and construction workers, and pay as you go. At least one contractor highlighted in welovecostarica has a poor reputation in the eyes of several owners he built for. I refuse to name names, but the point is that I encourage anyone building their dream home to strongly monitor all activities related to it.
You really would want to meet with the owners of homes who any possible contractor has constructed, both to see the quality and to get advice.
Good Luck! It will turn out great if you do due diligence!
Pay for materials yourself, ensure *all* paid for materials are delivered, and ensure they are guarded during construction. You can get the same “contractor discount” that contractors love to tout by simply negotiating with the local suppliers and set up a few accounts with them.
Hi,
If you will be in CR during the build, you might consider this approach. The combination of contractor overcharging for materials and some of them disappearing might be a larger concern than a price increase over the next year. Having known several people who have built in CR, over time they (commonly) saw the following scenarios:
Contractors ask for cash to order or buy more materials, provide a receipt from the purchase, but the # of bricks delivered is less than the # listed on the receipt…
Contractors ask for cash for materials, and then use it to pay someone else that they owe, and tell you things are paid for but back ordered…
Large stashes of materials are targets for thieves (which can be your workers) A percentage disappears and unless the owner is on site daily, who would notice?
Overseeing the building of your home in CR is no pic nic, but it’s not impossible either. You catch mistakes and other issues while there is still time to correct them. Doing so can be considered building instant equity, easily 6 figure equity on a midrange (by US standards) home, compared to what you would pay for a finished home. Plus you have the piece of mind knowing that it was built well.
If you hire a contractor, you can bet that he will not spend a lot of time on the property and thus not catch some issues, and that you will pay his salary at least.
Start asking around now to find a reputable work crew. One strategy is to connect with others who are currently well into their own construction, and happy with their crew. Then you can see the results and negotiate to have them build your house next!
Just some things to consider and good luck! Manuel Antonio is *muy bonita*!
**Note**
I do not intend to indicate that contractors or workers are generally not to be trusted. But some are. Also, with the construction boom in CR and specifically from Jaco on south to Ojochal, the best and most trusted workers in the region are in demand. Be cautions, but not paranoid, and monitor things. Just like you would on any other significant investment…Edited on Aug 10, 2008 17:58
Sheryl Crow has spent time at the highly regarded Rancho Pacifico Spa in Uvita, just south of Dominical, and Pamala Anderson is said to have purchased 100 acres in the area about 2 years ago (haven’t seen her around, though)
http://www.ranchopacifico2.com/images/GUESTS/SHERYLCROW.jpg
Edited on May 19, 2008 18:13
It’s only fair, just as in many places in the states, that people pay the same base rate for a limited amount of water or electricity, and then a higher rate for use above that. How much more is fair, I am not sure. It certainly would encourage alternative energy approaches, the use of which seem almost non-existent by ex pats in Costa Rica. I mentioned alternative energy once to a expat while I was on our lot – he looked at me funny and said “Why don’t you just hook up to the grid?” Lots of education is needed… and high energy prices certainly help that along 😉
Just a head’s up that electricity rates in CR have risen sharply over the last year. Perhaps not a big deal if you are in a condo w/ a shared pool, or install solar (pretty rare)or generally are energy frugal. If you live in full US “comfort?” it adds up. My relatives there have a fairly large pool, live in staff, and 2 spare villas that are in use perhaps 1/3 to 1/2 of the year. Electricity is now over $500 per month, and they estimate that half of that is for the pool pump.
Also, since you have such a nice chunk of time, I recommend checking out the Pacific side! There are many places more desirable, on average, IMHO. I’m biased towards the southern pacific zone, places like Uvita/Ojochal (coastal) and San Isidro de General (Mountains/farmland, but only .5 hours to Dominical beach). Good real estate values there and strong expat community – plus not over developed w/ polluted beaches & hordes of tourists. PS the new hospital Ciudad Cortes is now open!
Good luck and have fun searching!
