Gated Communities in Atenas, Costa Rica – 5 reasons why most expats choose a gated community

There is certainly an abundance of safe areas and homes outside of private communities in Costa Rica. However, it’s no surprise that the average expatriate chooses to buy a property in a gated or private community in Costa Rica.

No matter how much you research at home, and how comfortable you are with the decision to relocate, there is still the uncertainty that comes with moving to, or buying in, a foreign country.

Here are the 5 principal reasons why gated communities offer the best of both worlds for most people:

1. Immediate Social Network — On average, the greatest barrier to living in a foreign country is detaching from one’s social network at home. Naturally, most people arrive with the desire to learn a new language, study a different culture, and explore a new world. However, the transitional period has its challenges. A gated community offers a ready-made repository of information from like-minded people at different stages of the relocation process; some are part-time vacationers, while some have been in the country for decades.

   The ability to quickly share information with a diversity of people (often from different countries) can be invaluable in the learning curve, while providing an immediate sense of comfort and perspective about your new experience. The expat community provides a wealth of activities, study groups, political groups, artistic endeavors, as well as serving as a testing ground for your own ideas and events.



2. Consistency of Home Quality — A gated community offers a planned environment that can not be found in most Costa Rican neighborhoods. However, one key difference between gated communities in Costa Rica vs. the States, for instance, is that the single-family homes are rarely established by one builder. In most of the Atenas gated communities, several builders work within the same community. This offers a nice diversity of style (not cookie-cutter), while maintaining an agreed-upon quality standard that enhances the overall community.
3. Safety — Most of Costa Rica is far safer than other locations around the world. Atenas is one of the safest, but a gated community offers the additional protection of a secure entry, and normally a 24-hour guard service for minimal expense. This is especially important for vacation home buyers, as it would not be wise to leave a home for many months unattended in any part of the world.

   Additionally, it might be easier to find a trusted neighbor to check on your home while you are away. For those living full time, the security concerns are minimal, but Costa Rica does not have a high-tech alarm system and surveillance structure, so many people may feel more comfortable having a dedicated personal guard for their community.

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4. Convenience — Roadside maintenance is usually part of community fees, while most communities have people that can help with house cleaning, lawn maintenance, pool cleaning and even full property management if you would like to rent your house while you are away. This convenience alleviates many of the headaches of finding these services on your own — especially if you do not speak Spanish.
5. Investment Fundamentals — We estimate that 70% of our clients are seeking a gated community. By purchasing a home in a gated community you are automatically making a sound financial decision should you want (or need) to sell your home in the future. Furthermore, the consistency of North American/European home styles offers easily determinable home prices in the community. This also helps valuing the home upon purchase.

In an upcoming series of articles we will provide specific details about the various gated or private communities available in Atenas. Atenas is a small tranquil mountain town located about halfway between San Jose and the central Pacific beaches, said to have the “Best Climate in the World”.

To see our Discussion Forum About Gated Communities

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Atenas is home to the largest expat community outside of the San Jose area. We believe it is the perfect place for those interested in gated-community living to find all the amenities of home, yet still be a part of true Costa Rican culture.

This new series of articles will discuss lot sizes, prices, number of lots, distance from town, building restrictions, HOA fees, water source, land elevation, and amenities. Prospective buyers will get a complete overview of which community is best suited for their tastes and lifestyles. We look forward to your comments and questions.

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For more information about homes and land for sale in the Atenas area, please contact our Recommended Realtors in Atenas by using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.