[rankingee]

There is that great advice again. Actually, I am partially looking at the possibility of buying a house or condo in a development. There are really two areas I am considering. One would be in Nosara and the other south of Jaco. I have already been to Mal Pais and like the area but think it is a bit too expensive and a bit too much of a party crowd. So here is what I am thinking. Fly into San Jose and drive to Nosara. The plane gets in about 10:30am and by the time we get though customs and get a car, about 12:OOpm. Can I get to Nosara in 5 hours via the new bridge? Stay in Nosara about 4 days, then down the coast to Mal Pais for a couple days, since I have been there already, then down to south of Jaco (which I don’t plan to stay in) but your suggestion of playa hermosa I shall check out. Stay there 3 or 4 days, then back to San Jose for the flight home! I figure I can check things out and focus in on which area is most appealing to me.

Lotus, are you in CR, the states, or where. It appears you have lots of experience in CR.

thanks again for the info.
rich, lake arrowhead, ca

[rankingee]

Thanks so much Lotus,

Again providing us with excellent travel advice. I will definetly have a 4X4. Just trying to figure out how much driving I want to do on this trip and if trying to cover both areas (Nosara and Jaco) is too much for a 10 day time period. What do you think?

thanks again,
rich

[rankingee]

This is a great discussion. I too have been watching the real estate situation in CR and just got back about a month ago after my first visit and fell in love with the country. I am concerned though over several factors. 1. The housing market in the US does seem to be slowing and many people have over extended themselves. I am from southern california and am seeing the prices beginning to stall, and in some areas, decrease. Southern california has been through this before and although hopefully not as bad as the early 90s, is due for a correction. 2. The feds have apparently not finished raising rates. Many, many people are at risk due to this as well as many of the higher risk home loans are due to kick in for increased payments.
3. The gas prices look like they will not be going down anytime soon. Although I realize that the prices are not as high as certain times in the 80s adjusted for inflation, and are lower than many countries, this has an incredible psychological affect on americans who may wish to tighten up their belts.

So I do think that taking a good look at various factors and investing and making decisions maturely is a great idea. It is easy to get the “fever” for costa rica.

[rankingee]

Thanks so much for all the input. I am planning a trip, but not until next December and will check out the area of Nosara. The problem I am finding with Costa Rica is that there are so many nice places it makes it difficult to pick just one.

rich

[rankingee]

Thanks so much Lotus for your quite comprehensive reply and knowledge of areas in Costa Rica. Actually, one area which I have been researching is Playa Esterillo, I believe just south of Bejuco where a development called “Hills of Esterillo” has just broken ground with what appears to be affordable housing. This is another area I will visit on my next trip. Would you think that a visit to Nosara and the Jaco area is doable in a 10 day visit?

thanks so much for your continued advice.

rich

[rankingee]

Very sage advice jneiman! Since I am a novice at this CR real estate myself and have been looking, what is your advice on how best to investigate the many development projects out there? It just seems to me that most I have looked at are “pre-construction” with lots of promises but I am really unsure how to determine if the promises will actually come to fruition. Thanks for any advice you can pass along.

[rankingee]

Well I certainly feel better now. It sure doesn’t sound as bad as South Central Los Angeles. You get killed there. I would take my chance in Parrita.

[rankingee]

Poppell

I am looking at the project at Hills of Esterillos and would like to contact those who have already bought in the Bejuco development. Would it be possible to contact you by e-mail or by phone if you are in the US to pick your brain (in a nice way, not like Hannable Lecter).

thanks,
rich

[rankingee]

Since I don’t read spanish, could I get a general summary. Does the article headline by any chance translate to “Drugs, robbers, and assults”? I hope I am wrong.

[rankingee]

I just got back from Mal Pais several weeks ago and looked a realestate in Mal Pais, Montezuma, and Tambor. But first, you talk of the price difference. Let me guess, Mal Pais is more expensive. I found Mal Pais to be a very funky and nice spot, but much more of a 20 something and surfer hangout (I am a 50 something something surfer and went with my 14 year-old daughter). I am not sure though that it is for everyone. Also alot of development going on there and apparently Santa Theresa is already having some problems with lack of water. Montezuma was a nice spot also with a great little town, but I spoke with a german tourism guy who has lived there for about 5 years. He said he has a terrible time with people breaking into his moutain house and stealing things. Even told me of a friend who put a steel door on her house and the theives used a blow torch to get inside. Tambor was just nice and quite. So, I have turned my attention to the central coast and have been looking at some projects in the Plays Esterillo area, up north a bit from Manuel Antonio. Although I have not been there yet, my first impressions are that the properity values are a lot more reasonable. Also, much easier to get to than Mal Pais. One thing I actually loved about Mal Pais is that it is off the beaten path, but if I were going to live in CR, that may be a negative if you wanted to get to some bigger cities. If you have not been to Mal Pais, have scott give me your e-mail and I can forward some pictures.

rich

[rankingee]

Thanks for the information Koty. I guess I am a bit hesitent about how all the infrastucture will be put in and maintained. For instance, the builders have told me that the homes will have “state of the art water treatment plants” and no septic system. In the states, these types of infrastructure cost millions to build and maintain. I am just wondering how $500. a year fees will pay for this? That is the problem with low property taxes, you get no roads, no sewer, or other services we are used to in the states. I just have some concerns that the local infrastructure will not be able to handle all the development with not much money going out for road repairs, etc.

I appreciate all the open discussion on this forum.

thanks,
rich

[rankingee]

Dear Lipskm,

I sure would like to get some more info about your purchase in the “Hills” I just started to e-mail the folks down there on your advice and it sounds very nice. I still have a lot of questions though. Would it be possible to get your direct e-mail for some consult on this project? I was in Mal Pais a couple weeks ago but I think it is way overpriced and looking for more reasonable area and like the idea of a surf community with hopefully more than “20 somethings.”

thanks,

rich from lake arrowhead, ca (a “50 something” surfer)

thanks so much

[rankingee]

Thanks so much for the feedback DK. I actually am going to Costa Rica late tonight out of los angeles and will check out the facility next week while staying in Mal Pais and getting a few tubes. I am looking at several options for investment including lots and homes but want to check out everything. I am looking for something I can use for vacation property and rental until I retire, but that will be in about 13 years. I would then like a place I could stay for about 4 to 6 months a year. So just deciding on some longer term plans and what would work now and then.

thanks,
rich

[rankingee]

No serious concern but I was just following the advice of the Center for Disease control (CDC) and a couple of other travel medical websites which were consistent in their recommendations, especially for the area around Mal Pais. As I said, I had absolutely no side effects from the anti-malaria medication so I will just be decreasing any risk that may be out there.

rich

[rankingee]

Just an update. Both myself and my daughter took the once a week anti-malaria medication yesterday prior to our trip to MalPais in a couple of week and had no problems what so ever! So come and get us mosquitos.

I will keep you informed.

thanks,

rich

[Author]

Posts