Brian McLane and his wife Mariel investigated many different countries – including Guatemala where Mariel was born – before eventually deciding to build their retirement home in Costa Rica.

They had been searching for a tranquil, rural area in “a safe and affordable country with a great climate” and after travelling throughout Costa Rica they eventually bought a plot of land known as Altos de Antigua in Puriscal.

Altos de Antigua is located in La Palma, Puriscal which is 18 kilometers South-West of Santiago de Puriscal and 50 kilometers South-West of San José, with the Central Pacific beach towns and resorts just 70 kilometers away.

It was here in Puriscal in June 2006 where Brian and Mariel started to build the perfect retirement home they had been dreaming about… And, it was here that their retirement in Costa Rica took a slightly different, somewhat unexpected turn.

Brian McLane is originally from Vancouver Island, Canada and was VP of Manufacturing for a multinational natural gas compression company, where he managed a staff of 20 Engineers, Designers and Project Managers and a crew of 200 to 300 industrial tradespeople.

This experience has given him great team building and team management skills which certainly came in very handy for Brian’s new “retirement” in Costa Rica.

Seeing the beautiful home that Brian and Mariel had built for themselves in a lush, green, picturesque and totally peaceful area of Costa Rica, impressed friends and family back home in Canada began asking whether Brian could perhaps do the same for them?

Could Brian please find a nice plot of land and help them build their retirement home too? At first Brian was not all that enthusiastic about the idea, after all he and Mariel came to Costa Rica to retire.

However, they were still young enough to embark on such an endeavor and were drawn to sharing their dream with others who wanted the same kind of lifestyle they had discovered

The dream that began with a few friends from Canada has now grown into the residential community known as Altos de Antigua. It has attracted homeowners from Canada, the United States and there are also a few European residents as well.

Some owners have made Costa Rica their permanent home, others live here just during the winter months – as an escape from the long, cold, dreary winters that are the norm back in Canada. Altos de Antigua is Brian’s flagship project and he has completed 15 homes with four new homes currently going through the design and construction phase.

During the last 5 years over 70% of the lots have been sold and now, there are only a few prime lots left for sale here.

Yeah! I know! Right now you’re reading this and saying to yourself:

• “Well that’s fine Scott but aren’t you the one who has always told that building a home in Costa Rica from a distance is a nightmare and that you “must” be here to visit the construction site at least every week?”
• “Didn’t you sell tens of thousands of copies of your book? ‘How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa?’ (Shirt)
• “Weren’t you the one who said that: “Building your own home in Costa Rica even while you are living here can only be described as an ‘extreme sport’?”

Yup! Yup and yup!

Yes! I must confess that I did say those things but, having followed Brian’s progress from a distance for the last five years and, having spent a few days in August 2011 with Brian McLane and his lovely wife in Puriscal, with quite a few neighbors, his architect Gustavo and having visited many of the homes they have already built, I must also go down on bended knee and confess to you that there are exceptions to the rule…

The Altos de Antigua residential community is most definitely situated in a very tranquil, rural area populated by hard-working country folk living – for the most part – in very simple homes however, Altos de Antigua is a very sophisticated, well planned and well built real estate development.

Brian and his team have laid out an excellent internal road system, installed very efficient drainage systems (which many developers neglect which can be a very serious problem), a beautiful, solar heated community swimming pool and a well designed utilities infrastructure with back-up systems in place.

Brian McLane and his team have come to specialize in helping people like you to build your retirement home in Costa Rica even while you are still up there in the frozen North… We can’t tell you that the entire process will be worry-free, but having spoken to a few of the very happy owners in Altos de Antigua, seems to me that there will be very little for you to worry about…

The lot pricing starts as low as US $22,000 with the larger building sites (lots over 1 acre) starting at $70,000.

The cost to build will obviously vary depending on the size, the method of construction and the materials used. The houses they have already built in Altos de Antigua are a medium-high specification with insulated tile roof, high end flooring and finishes and they cost between US$68 and US$95 per square foot.

So, if you have been looking for an affordable community by an established developer with a proven track record, in a great location with friendly neighbors – you need to look no further. Brian and his team are ready and waiting to help you build your own dream home, here in Puriscal.

It’s important to note that there are a very limited of lots available and both of these properties are also being actively marketed in Canada, so to avoid disappointments please don’t wait too long to contact them…

Written by Scott Oliver, author of 1. Costa Rica Real Estate Scams & How To Avoid Them, 2. How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa, 3. Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore and 4. ¿Cómo Comprar Bienes Raices en Costa Rica, Sin Perder Su Camisa?

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.