House in Costa Rica
May 13, 2023 in Real Estate in Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica
As this year comes to a close, we are invited by tradition to recall what we are grateful for about our lives. It has been a challenging year for many if not most of us but there is at least one thing that our team at Osa Tropical Properties are thankful to have: a home in Ojochal. No matter how many places you may have visited or lived in the world, Ojochal moves people. It draws us in with its simple charm and spectacular beauty. Here, we are reduced to a more primal version of ourselves — one that appreciates nature and its many wonders with full attention. Many of us grow tired over time of our daily routines. We get worn out by the pressures of sticking to deadlines and keeping up with the Joneses. Seeking out the latest gadgets and competing with our friends for who has the best quality of life stops feeling so important after a year where the safety of our health and happiness have been called into question all at once. More people are feeling the call to find a different way to live. Some of us are lucky enough to know that it’s out there. Others have yet to find it. But those who feel adventurous enough to begin their quest, it is from this place of wanting “something more” that we begin our travels to find the place that feels like home. Costa Rica’s natural wonders and rich culture make this nation a dream destination on more than a few bucket lists. Our Southern Zone home, Ojochal, is still fairly low on the global radar even though most people who do make it here will instantly fall in love. Those who visit our small coastal region called the Costa Ballena — where the mountains meet the sea — become enamored by the spirit of this land and community. The warm climate is matched equally with the warmth of the people who inhabit this fertile and dynamic landscape. Here, you will find small yet flourishing communities amid true, natural beauty, which altogether encompass the best qualities of life in the tropics. Those who find us after searching all over the world know that there is no place like Ojochal. This is a tranquil, serene culture and the home of pura vida. The essence of this phrase is embodied in the gentle flow of this small, conscious and connected population who collectively value the environment that we feel so blessed to live within. It doesn’t matter how long it took us to get here. We feel privileged to live near pristine mountain rivers, waterfalls and the enchanting displays of wildlife that keep us living in the here and now. It is a simple yet fulfilling indulgence to walk the grounds of our green properties, taking in the gentle and beautiful routines of the nature that surrounds us. Fantastic flowers and their intoxicating smells are only some of the many wonders that Ojochal exhibits. In the thick, green carpet covering the foothills of this mountainous region are paths that will take you to secluded waterfalls that look like they’ve never been seen by anyone else before. Or a breathtaking lookout spot high above the jungle valley, looking down at the vivid display of nature's wonders. Birds of multi-colored plumage and monkey troupes with howls as loud as jet engines parade across the jungle’s canopy. We have almost every luxury here — stores, spas, clinics, first-class restaurants, high-speed internet. But spending time in the lush nature at our doorsteps is a daily reminder to breathe the fresh air deeply in gratitude. This area has a history of purposeful development that was slow enough to grow and maintain a strong focus on environmental ethics. It hasn’t always been perfect but today Ojochal is a Blue Flag community with goals for continued improvement to the health of our environment. We work collectively to ensure the maintenance of our roads, schools and services. And we have recently grown an exciting number of new businesses that serve the whole of our international population. We are proud of every accomplishment that we make and we celebrate our successes together. After spending enough time living here, we tend to fall deeply in love with our home in Ojochal for its exceptional community. What we really do best is support one another in our ideas to benefit our home as a whole and our attempts to bring these ideas to fruition. There are a number of groups and forums that help us stay connected to our local community. We easily learn about the many classes, get togethers and volunteer opportunities that occur regularly. Each of us came here to live a better life and we know that teamwork makes the dream work. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="41710,41709"] Two recent community initiatives that are bringing vast improvements to our collective lifestyle: the newly paved road through Ojochal (left) and the children’s playground in the village center (right). If Ojochal sounds like it might be your dream destination in the future, we invite you to get in touch with our office. We are a local and independent real estate office that has been operating in Ojochal, Costa Rica and the whole of the Costa Ballena since 2005. Our agents are happy to answer any questions you have about our local region and what it’s like to live here. Our website is also filled with helpful articles to get you started on your journey to Costa Rica. Sign up to our newsletter below for weekly market updates, showing you what’s happening in our area from local experts. Talk to you soon! We are so grateful to have found our home in Costa Rica and we are proud to share this gift location with all of our real estate clients.
A place of tranquility
Living the scenic lifestyle
A one-of-a-kind community in Ojochal
May 12, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Discover Costa Ballena, Real Estate in Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica
As important as the interiors of a home are, you aren’t taking full advantage of Costa Rica homes without creating living spaces outdoors as well. These chic, tropical outdoor spaces in Costa Rica’s South Pacific capitalize on the climate, views, and the architecture of the property. Take inspiration from these well-designed "exterior rooms" and make the outdoors your own when you build or buy in Costa Rica. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1460"] When you are lucky enough to live in a climate that affords you the luxury of dry, sunny summers, make the most of it! Sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors are the perfect way to merge your outdoor dining area with the interior of your home. When the doors are open dinner guests can flow in and out of the house, and when closed you still have a gorgeous view of your tropical gardens. Having easy access to your kitchen also reduces the amount of back and forth needed to bring your meal outdoors. If you have a bit of distance to cover, consider buying a rolling bar cart to make transporting the food less burdensome. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Outdoor dining is even easier if you can do the cooking outside too. Instead of being inside cooking the meal, a full outdoor kitchen in your Costa Rica property allows you to prepare the meal while still spending time with your guests. Today’s outdoor kitchens are not limited to grills alone. When you create your outdoor kitchen, you can build in any number of modern conveniences. Add in a functional sink, counter space, or even a wine fridge for an outdoor kitchen that rivals your kitchen inside. Large outdoor spaces are ideal for entertaining in our coastal mountain region. Properties tend to be spacious with lots of room for creating an outdoor oasis amidst jungle and ocean views. Whether you are want to host a full dinner party or cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, be sure to create plenty of spaces for guests to mingle that are connected to one another. Consider incorporating comfortable outdoor seating, an outdoor bar, and ample locations for guests to set down their drinks. When you are choosing outdoor furnishings, be sure to consider function as well as form. Pieces that can serve double duty as side tables or seating, like sturdy square ottomans, increase the functionality of your entertaining space.Outdoor spaces not only add monetary value to your home, but livable value too. Your satisfaction of your own home increases when you have beautiful and functional spaces to enjoy with others. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2500"]
This stunning luxury home has a seamless indoor-outdoor blend thanks to the sliding glass windows that recess into the home. Lounge "resort-style" in the privacy of this exclusive ocean view masterpiece.[/caption] As the weather in our South Pacific region is always warm, even in the rainy season, you will find yourself eager to spend as much time as you can outdoors. The best exterior spaces in Costa Rica have all the luxuries of their indoor counterparts. Whether it’s the kitchen, dining room, entertainment lounge, or even the shower, being outside in Costa Rica means you can enjoy all the beautiful ambiance of living al fresco. Fresh air, green backdrops, and the sounds of birds and running water are just some of the many treats associated with our outdoor style of life. Achieving the perfect balance living amongst the elements is tricky, but it is easier with a little insider knowledge. As you prep yourself for a life in the tropics, consider these tips to make the most of your outdoor space.Blend the Outside with the In
This lovely outdoor space in Ojochal is a sumptuous retreat in keeping with the rest of the property’s Colonial architecture. Surrounded by palms and tropical flowers, this incredible terrace with resort-sized pool and swim up bar provide cozy privacy for intimate gatherings.[/caption]Outdoor Kitchens Make Outdoor Dining a Breeze
In the right climate, outdoor spaces are ideal for al fresco dining as well. The outdoor dining pavilion of this Ojochal property has a modern-rustic aesthetic that perfectly matches the Pacific Coast it overlooks. Enjoy the Costa Rica sun during an afternoon lunch, or the twinkling lights of the stars in the evening.[/caption]Plan to Entertain
Sometimes the best way to utilize your outdoor space is to keep the furnishings minimal and let the amazing views speak for themselves. The open railings of this ocean view Escaleras home allow the terrace to merge right into the vista.[/caption] If you want to know more about what makes our exterior spaces in Costa Rica so enticing, contact one of our expert agents with any and all of your questions about everyday life in Costa Rica. And sign up to our weekly newsletter below!
May 12, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Discover Costa Ballena, Life in Costa Rica
Although we recognize that there is not much room for anyone to move to Costa Rica or change locations at the moment, we are hopeful that our global situation will change soon. We at Osa Tropical Properties are all feeling happy and blessed to be riding out this storm from such a beautiful location, and where the virus has yet to be officially found. We wish all of our readers health and safety in this difficult time and we invite you to dream with us of a better tomorrow, however that may look to you. Are you ready to make a shift in your life that will change it for the better? There are no guarantees that moving to a new place will bring you the changes that you desire. But if there is one place that opens up possibilities for trying new things and seeing the world through new eyes, Costa Rica is probably it. Dubbed ‘the land of pura vida’ (their motto of “pure life”), this small Central American nation is filled with those rare qualities that most of us dream about when we think of paradise. This is a peaceful nation with a warm climate, gentle, smiling people, hundreds of picturesque beaches, volcanoes, rainforests, and truly magical flora and fauna. Are these qualities enough to change your life when you move to Costa Rica? Every year, over 3 million tourists arrive in this nation of under 5 million to explore the many wonders of this magical place. Costa Ricans (known amicably as ‘Ticos’) have an immense pride in how visitors view their country, which likely contributes to the nation being ranked as #1 on many world happiness indices. It is also the reason why an estimated 50,000 North American and European expats now call this place home. But this is not just a nation for expat retirees, surfers, and nature enthusiasts. Young families, digital nomads, and many others who are ready to think outside of the box are finding themselves challenged to try a new style of life that is more of a surrender to the moment. So how might moving to Costa Rica change your life? Read on to see if any of these catalysts for change resonate with you. Costa Rica is a nation that delivers the best of the best when it comes to adventure attractions, exciting wildlife, and pristine, awe-inspiring, natural vistas. These are the biggest draws for those of us who grew up in more of a ‘concrete jungle,’ with very little daily exposure to nature. When you move to Costa Rica, you will find yourself living outdoors most of the day, surrounded by wildlife. Exploring the coasts and countryside will open you to a world of new possibilities. You can surf consistent breaks daily in clean, coastal waters filled with vibrant marine life. You can visit cloud forests with hanging bridges linking you through the jungle’s canopy. There is so much natural beauty in this country that you will hardly have time to remember the daily struggles of back home, like traffic, noise, and pollution. What you need to remember is that this is still everyday life. Chores still need to be done, bills still need to be paid, and you still need to look after your health. But what better place is there from which to manage your daily ‘life admin’ tasks than a small town with all of the basic services and amenities you need, while being situated in a picture-perfect natural setting? Costa Rica’s terrains are rich and diverse, featuring twelve different natural ecosystems. These wild and rugged settings are home to all manner of tropical species. You won’t have to go to a nature preserve to see them because they will come to you... And this isn’t always ideal for everyone! You might spot a family of howler monkeys or a sloth in the trees outside your home. Or you might find scorpions and spiders inside your home. There are creepy crawlies in Costa Rica unlike any you’ve seen in North America or Europe. A relaxed person will note that these beings are not coming after you. But a tightly-wound person will likely scream bloody murder every time one flies near. Clean homes are the best way to keep the jungle at bay so keep that broom handy. But if you can’t take the regular visits from your neighbors in the jungle, Costa Rica may not be the country for you. The warm, tropical weather that makes Costa Rica an iconic postcard destination is a big draw for most people in the seasonal Northern Hemisphere. But Costa Rica has seasons, too. Two seasons, in fact: a dry season and a rainy season. And when I say rainy, I mean pour-y! From around the end of May until about the end of November, you can expect heavy rains to arrive like clockwork almost every afternoon. And you may be thinking that this will dampen your style. But for most expats who move to Costa Rica, the rainy season quickly becomes their favorite! The slightly cooler temperatures and wetness of this season still come with warm and sunny mornings, meaning that you can continue to dry your laundry outside. And around 1pm, the clouds will roll down off the mountains and bring a delicious downpour that refreshes the lush, colorful life of the jungle and our tropical fruit and flower gardens. Without it, Costa Rica wouldn’t be the vibrant land that it is, filled with all of the incredible seasonal foods that we so enjoy. The best thing to do to come to terms with living in a jungle paradise is to take the unexpectedly good with the good. There are thousands of beautifully unique communities scattered across this small landmass. Many of them host a number of happy expats living among the local population. To move to Costa Rica, you must be prepared to accept the slogan of the people -- “pura vida” -- into your personal way of life -- for good or for bad. The reason why Ticos are so happy and relaxed is because they do not allow themselves to be forced to work on someone else’s timeline. “Mañana” is a phrase that can mean later, tomorrow, or next week. It is really up to the elements and circumstances presented by everyday life because everything that Ticos do is “pure life." A tree may have fallen, a family member may have called, or it’s simply too hot to do that job right now. Whatever it is, if you want to live in Costa Rica, you have to be able to learn patience and compassion for the things you cannot change. Because let me tell you, no amount of stressing or yelling is going to change their pura vida mentality. Soon enough, you will learn to slow down and enjoy life, letting your usual stressors roll off your back and relaxing your expectations. Their ability to let go of stress is one of many reasons why Costa Ricans are some of the happiest and healthiest people in the world. And our inability to let go of stress is one of the reasons why the most uptight potential expats in Costa Rica don’t last their first year. Costa Rica is a beacon of peace amidst a sea of uncertainty. But it is not the most perfect option for everyone considering a life in the tropics. Although this is the most stable, neutral, and financially secure nation in Central America, it is also the least affordable in the region. The reason for this is that Costa Rica strikes a rare balance between a high standard of living -- the highest in the region -- and affordability, when comparing on a global scale. The cost of living in Costa Rica is far less than in the United States and most other developed nations. In saying that, expats who are looking to spend the minimum price for the same goods that they can get back in the U.S. will not take comfort in the cost or selection that Costa Rica typically has on offer. American products and Mexican cuisine are less available than one might initially assume of a Latin American nation. But if you value quality, Costa Rica will never fail to impress you. Food may be more expensive in Costa Rica than in neighboring Panama or Nicaragua. It is, however, more likely to be locally grown, hand-prepared, and delivered to you in an incredible environment of serene beauty. Stick to the local varieties of the items you enjoy and you will experience a new kind of joy that involves supporting an economy of peaceful and nature-loving people. When you move to Costa Rica, you will quickly learn that the bureaucracy is a legendary negative that stands out to anyone from a first world country. For instance, the steps towards getting your visa or a building permit that you were told to expect last month may have changed even though you’ve returned to the same office. Processes that should take weeks may take years, which can be incredibly frustrating to someone who expects consistency in government systems. You will find yourself either tearing out your hair or learning how to roll with the punches. You can learn to be patient and calm while waiting for hours at the bank, chatting with your neighbors or reading a good book. The point is to know to expect a long wait anywhere you go that involves paperwork. Most processes in Costa Rica still involve paperwork and only a few things like personal banking can be done online. But as a general rule of thumb, the more documentation you have, the more likely that things will go smoothly. Losing your temper, conversely, would involve taking your anger out on an underpaid, overworked employee and will get you nowhere. Better to take a deep breath, say “gracias” for being in such a wonderful place, and take your new life in stride. You will get to where you need to be “mañana.” Do you want to move to Costa Rica? Sign up to our weekly newsletter below to get a first look at new listings in Costa Ballena, as well as featured properties, video walk-throughs, articles about living in Costa Rica, and more! How your life will change when you move to Costa Rica
Getting Lost in Nature
Learning To Let Go Of Your Fears
Taking Pleasure In The Unexpected
Finding Yourself Among the Happiest People in the World
Learning The Value (Not The Cost) Of Living
Finding Peace in All of Your Surroundings
May 12, 2023 in Real Estate in Costa Rica, Tips for Buyers
When looking at purchasing real estate in Costa Rica, it is helpful to know that some properties make excellent investments, while others are sold for much less than what the buyers paid, even after many years on the market. Choosing wisely what to buy -- whether a lot to build on or a home to renovate and make your own -- is important. And that choice needs to be based on a number of factors that differ depending on your desired location and price point. Working with an educated, informative real estate agent is key to making the right, informed decisions, and avoid losing money in real estate in Costa Rica. When buying a new lot in Costa Rica, pay attention to if it has access to water and electricity. Not every lot for sale in Costa Rica has these items covered. And if it does, it may have less than ideal aspects. For instance, test your water source before you buy for chemicals and water pressure. Or do you like to save on electricity costs? Pay attention to the direction of the breezes on a plot of land. If you can orient your windows to allow for good cross-flow, you can minimize on cooling bills. Is security of your personal items very important to you? It might sound like a strange question because everyone wants to feel safe. In general, our Costa Ballena communities are quite safe. But there are areas and types of homes that are more targeted by opportunists. If you intend on filling your home with expensive art or electronics, or if you plan to host high-end renters, it can be a good idea to choose to be located within a gated community with 24/7 security staff on site. The drive can be a big factor in determining a buyer’s long-time love for their property. There are some dirt roads in the Costa Ballena (although fewer every year) that can feel like they go on forever when you are driving up the first time to see a property. But many of these new clients will feel differently going back down, having gotten to know the drive. A good rule of thumb is that if you hate the drive there the first few times, you’re probably not going to grow to like it. Does the property you are looking at have a view easement? Will you continue to have the same view that you have right now in the future? These are questions that an expert agent will know to ask but an uneducated buyer may not think about until it is too late. Expats who stay for an extended period of time may find that access to services becomes more important as time passes. Being nearby police, hospitals, gas stations, or your favorite restaurant may become the key to your satisfaction with your location. Whatever it is, it is best to think over all of the details of your life and plan your location based on your individual needs, not necessarily the most popular locations. One other big item to consider for the location of real estate in Costa Rica is wireless communication. While most properties in Costa Ballena have very good cellphone service and high-speed internet, be sure you test the cell service on your phone and a wifi test when you look at each property to be sure it has these services. Don’t buy a property in a dead zone for cell phone or internet without the expectation of spending a lot of money putting in infrastructure. Look for businesses or houses within line-of-sight that have internet and a wifi receiving dish if you’d like to live more remotely. This would involve buying bandwidth from your neighbor and is therefore a solution that may not always be available for very remote properties. If you are planning to have a rental property in Costa Rica, remember to keep in mind what renters are looking for in our unique Costa Ballena region. Renters in the South Pacific are either looking for proximity to attractions or breathtaking natural beauty and tranquility. Don’t try to please all renters here and make the mistake of building an “eco-paradise” located 5 minutes from the beach where you can hear all the highway noise and don’t have the fresh breezes and privacy of the higher altitudes. Preserving nature is an interesting and important issue that is really burgeoning in our local Costa Ballena communities and all around the world. Costa Rica’s South Pacific is a lush, mountainous terrain that is not really in danger of being clear-cut. But it is still very important to be mindful of maintaining biological corridors that are traditionally used by migrating wildlife. Making sure you choose an ethical site development is a priority that most new buyers don’t consider until after they move in and realize that the monkeys they heard when they looked at their uncleared lot are no longer visiting this spot. Erosion control should be planted immediately and actually more beautiful and solid using plants, not the very expensive geo-textile plastic fabrics. If the lot is properly done these expensive fabrics are not necessary. The perfection is in the planning. A poorly designed and cut lot or road can do immeasurable damage not just to the forest but to the watershed below. It is about the way the land is incorporated into the whole project. Taking care to only remove certain trees and hold onto the rare important and threatened trees. Also taking care of trees which feed animals. So many people are so focused on the house but do not focus on the land. Building a hot water shower outdoors doesn’t require hot water plumbing in this sun-friendly nation. Using something like a big black barrel or thick black water tubing coiled up above is a great alternative. Make sure it mixed with the cold water at the shower head so that you don’t burn yourself. Bamboo is one of the most sustainable building materials in the world. You can start harvesting bamboo within 3 years of planting and new shoots come out of the cut clumps. Most people who build for a second time and have the time to do so will choose to do their own general contracting on the project. A big clincher is needing to speak Spanish to really negotiate and get your points across. This is because local contractors can be difficult to trust because there is no legal protection for their clients’ interests, unlike with architects in Costa Rica. As such, those who choose to build often have to be very involved in managing the project despite having hired a general contractor. In saying that, a general contractor’s job is to obey the laws governing building codes, enforcing US standard building codes (as per client spec), paying workers fair wages and social security. But if you can handle these things, you can probably get your home built much faster than depending on a General Contractor working on multiple projects. If you already know the design for your dream house in Costa Rica, you do not need an architect at all. "You can save time and money (50%) by hiring an Engineer to draw up the blueprints for the project," says Osa Tropical Properties agent Rebecca Rowntree. "For me that was the biggest learning of my entire building process. I overspent by $10,000!" True tropical architecture is being given a backseat to amateurs coming to the jungle with computer programs producing pretty pictures without accounting for the elements in that specific location. Seeing the architect's physical work and asking their previous clients about what they would change about their build is essential if you want to hire a local architect. In case of an eventual controversy during the design and construction process the Federate College of Architects and Engineers is empowered by law to protect the client's interests, which well is not the case with builders/contractors. Renovation is a much simpler process than new construction. Sorting out electrical, plumbing, septic, and floor plans are common challenges when building in Costa Rica. Many builders can have sub-par ideas on what works based on local standards, which can be a far cry from high-end international expectations. Those who choose to build from scratch will often term their project as a labor of love that they would not do again. Time frames are not what people expect, meaning that move in dates get pushed back often. This can add up in rental expenses, as opposed to renovating an existing home where you can live, albeit on a minor construction site. For those who are wanting to build at a rapid pace, some new builders are creating container homes in Costa Rica that can be built and ready within 90 days. Efficient to build regarding cost, insects, weather, electricity and temperature control, they can be placed on any lot, including steep ones on stilts, rather than carving into the landscape. Osa Tropical Properties’ agent, Marcia Oro, had rented a few houses before moving to Costa Rica. However, they were traditional tropical vacation homes that turned out to be less-than-ideal for long-term living. She learned the importance of building walk-in closets instead of adding in armoires. And dehumidified closets/rooms go a long way towards protecting your less-used items. Although it seems like an indoor living rooms is not important, many of us who choose to live in Costa Rica full time will want to spend some evenings on the couch in front of the television. Adding big overhangs is much more important for a home than a rental because you want as much shaded real estate you can have when you are here full-time and want to enjoy afternoon meals outside without cooking in the sunshine yourself! This is a feature that high-end rental homes do consider because shaded space is key to enjoying the tropics in style. Placing a pool right outside of your patio doors is the best way to ensure that it won’t go neglected or underused. Marcia says that the location of her pool is the biggest thing she would change about her home because even though it's just 20 paces away, it is tucked behind her beautiful floral gardens, making it 'out of sight, out of mind'. And if you are looking for resale value, don’t take the inexpensive route when outfitting your Costa Rica home for sale. Install the beautiful granite countertops and add the nice window dressing because it all counts a great deal towards presentation. A covered carport goes a long way towards protecting your car and other vehicles from long-term sun damage. This space can also double as extra storage, laundry, and more things that you don’t want in your main living space. Don’t bring all kinds of furniture, art, and expensive clothing that is susceptible to mold and mildew growth. Black mold stains will appear all over natural fabrics that are untreated. And mildew will cover all of your clothes and shoes that do not get used frequently. Using Lysol and dehumidifiers are two temporary fixes. It’s best to adapt and shop local, buying materials that are have been proven to stand the test of time in these elements. There are many more stores today than there were even a couple of years ago and you can get anything in Costa Rica cheaper and faster than you can by importing it yourself, most likely with a guarantee. Want to know more about what we would do differently if we were in your shoes? Email our office to chat with one of our agents about their experiences of moving here and some of the things that their clients learned, too. We are a great resource in your journey over here so please feel free to use us! Contact sales@osatropicalproperties.com today. It's All About Location
Building the Perfect Rental Home in Costa Rica
Saving Room For Nature
Utilizing Creative (and Inexpensive) Building Ideas
Hiring A General Contractor (Or Not)
Hiring a Local Architect
Renovating Instead Of Building From Scratch
Top Things People Want To Change In Their Costa Rica Homes
Don’t Import Your Whole Life
May 12, 2023 in Buying Process, Real Estate in Costa Rica, Tips for Buyers
Jungle, mountains, ocean views, and waterfalls: Costa Rica houses with these sensational features make the best rental properties. Our Osa Tropical Properties office does not manage rental properties as a part of our business model. But we do recognize that rental potential is one of the biggest factors that our clients are looking for today and we sell a lot of homes that go on to become successful vacation rentals in Costa Rica. Investing in real estate has always been a great way to secure one’s long-term savings and it seems that confidence in Costa Rica's houses, lots, and businesses is growing. International investors have been watching our real estate market for years, witnessing the number of sales going up and prices increasing steadily. This is not likely a bubble; it is proof that a growing number of people are wanting to spend time in this incredible part of the world, whether short-term or long. Foreign investors in Costa Rica are observing a rise in vacationers traveling to this region looking for houses to rent in Ojochal, Uvita, Dominical, Tres Rios, Chontales and beyond. New, international cuisine restaurants are openings all over the coast and long-time Costa Ballena tour companies are thriving amid a new crop of adventure guides. This dynamic landscape serves to inspire the nature lover, who is thrilled to discover hidden ecological jewels, whether by hike, kayak, or off-road track. All of these many, diverse people need a place to stay while they are visiting the Costa Ballena. And many of the so-called “snowbirds” who come and go throughout the year are all too happy to share their Costa Rica homes in exchange for a great rental income. Aside from the obvious reason of return on investment, the cost of ownership in Costa Rica real estate is a topic that is often overlooked and has significant baring for many who rent their Costa Rica homes. Maintenance in Costa Rica houses can become expensive, especially if a home is not lived in and looked after often. Ants, geckos, vines, and the elements all have their slow and steady effect on structures in the tropics. It won't be long before the jungle reclaims a structure that is not looked after by human interference. You don’t have to have people living in your home to prevent the elements taking over your home in Costa Rica. But if you are away for any length of time, you will have to have cleaning and maintenance people visiting your home at least once every 2 weeks to tend to your home's cleanliness, the garden, and your pool. The cost for this work is much lower than in North America or Europe but these costs still add up. It works out to be quite worth it to have people enjoy your well-maintained space since the work is getting done anyway. Buyers of Costa Rica real estate who are not yet ready to retire are also taking comfort in their retirement savings earning an income through their Costa Rica houses. They have fallen in love with the Costa Ballena and have chosen to purchase property in Costa Rica now while the market is still growing and evolving. Since they are still working and only able to visit Costa Rica every once in a while, they will frequently choose to rent their homes. We have a number of clients who have purchased homes in the Costa Ballena over the last few years, who are now wanting to expand their local real estate portfolio. It makes sense to have multiple investments in one region, especially if you have a great property management team looking after you. Our clients who have chosen this path appear to be delighted with their choice. International investors who are happy to not yet use their Costa Rica houses for their own personal use are finding that buying property in Costa Rica with their IRA or similar investment scheme is a worthwhile venture. To maximize this investment, buyers are looking for luxury homes in the best regions of Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal; or premium, well-situated homes that they can upgrade to increase their rental potential. The highest return on investment in Costa Rica properties can be found in high-end vacation rentals. Luxury seekers are willing to pay top dollar to enjoy the sensual experiences that a private home in this beautiful environment can provide. As a basic rule of thumb for South Pacific Costa Rica vacation rental properties, you can expect an annual net return of 4 – 6% on your investment. According to local property managers, on average, a good rental property will rent for about 65% of the year. But these figures can climb as high as a netting an 8 – 10% on investment if you build or buy the right kind of rental for the growing premium rentals market. It’s critical to keep guest experience in mind when selecting your property purchase. A large pool, tropical landscaping, and guest amenities are crucial factors to consider adding and maintaining in your Costa Rica house for rent. Consider all of your target market’s needs and desires based on the nightly price average in which your home naturally falls. If, for instance, you own an older home near the beach, you may want to target smaller-budget surf and adventure clientele who may not need luxury features like expensive entertainment systems. But they will likely want a small pool to cool off in, A/C in the bedrooms to combat the beach-side heat, and a BBQ to cook their dinners. And if you have a great ocean view property up in the mountains of Costa Ballena, your guests will likely want a fuller set of amenities since they will be traveling a further distance inland to reach your rental home. Think large pools, lots of shaded outdoor space, great landscaping, and a full-range of high-end appliances and electronics. Vacationers choose this South Pacific region of Costa Rica for the incredible quality of life that features stunning nature, tranquility, and warmth. As long as these three characteristics are emphasized on your Costa Rica rental property, you are likely to find a long list of international clientele who will love to return here again and again. We know that there is no place else in the world like the South Pacific region of Costa Rica that we know as Costa Ballena. If you are interested in purchasing real estate in Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal, Tres Rios, or Chontales, this is our Osa Tropical Properties region of service. We know all of the best homes and lots for sale in Costa Rica's South Pacific and we are here to answer any and all of your questions. Sign up to our real estate newsletter below for weekly updates about our local properties market. Or email our team at sales@osatropicalproperties.com for immediate attention. Pura vida! The top reasons why people choose to share their Costa Rica houses with vacationers
Helpful advice for Costa Ballena vacation property investors
May 11, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica, Tips for Buyers, Real Estate in Costa Rica, Discover Costa Ballena
Costa Rica is a nation that holds over 25% of its land mass in nature reserves and people are increasingly choosing to buy real estate in Costa Rica for its abundance of "green spaces." Current research shows big correlations between the amount of time that we spend in green spaces and our mental health and well-being. And for those of us who want to feel our best, it is natural that Costa Rica's pristine environment beacons us to call it home. “Green space” is an umbrella term used to describe either maintained or unmaintained environmental areas, which can include nature reserves, wilderness environments and urban parks. In urban contexts, green spaces are purposefully designated for their recreational or aesthetic merits. But in the Costa Ballena region of Costa Rica, life organizes itself around green spaces. Global urbanization has reduced our access to and engagement with green spaces, even though there is a good amount of evidence to prove that being in green spaces improves mental health and well-being. Air quality, physical activity, stress and social integration are all important factors in how we feel every day. And in Costa Rica, green spaces are available to everyone, offering the same health benefits to all who take advantage of their surroundings. Recent estimates show that physical inactivity, linked to poor walkability and lack of access to recreational areas, accounts for 3.3% of global deaths. Our regular environments invite different types of possibilities into our lives. Nature invites experiences of physical activity that promote well-being. The more green space there is available, the more likely a person is to engage in physical activity. And physical activity is the great link between green spaces and mental health and well-being. ‘Green exercise’ is a term used to express physical exercise in green spaces. People who use the natural environment for green exercise at least once a week have about half the risk of poor mental health compared with those who do not. Each extra weekly green exercise session reduces the risk of poor mental health by a further 6%. Compared with exercising indoors, green settings improve the results of exercise. Even just seeing nature while exercising can dramatically improve results. Mental health conditions are one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide. The treatment of these conditions is estimated to cost $2 trillion per year globally. Health systems across the world have not yet responded adequately and the gap between the need for treatment and the ability to give treatment. Green spaces are meant to be a refuge from noise and a place of relaxation. Trees produce oxygen and help filter out harmful air pollution. Bodies of water moderate temperature (blue spaces are as important as green). When looking at real estate in Costa Rica, proximity to the best 'green and blue spaces' is one of the highest priorities for buyers. Individuals living in areas with more green spaces tend to have less mental distress, less anxiety and depression, greater wellbeing and healthier cortisol levels. Large differences are even reported between those who live in very green settings (similar to our real estate in Costa Rica) compared to less green settings. The quantity and quality of nearby green spaces act as buffers for life stresses across all ages and cultures. It is evident that the vast amount of green spaces in Costa Rica has a big influence on why this is consistently chosen as one of the happiest countries to live by locals and expats every year. Nature also benefits our emotional state and our ability to reflect on life problems. As a result, green spaces are often used in therapy. ‘Nature therapy’ is an umbrella term for a variety of techniques for improving mental health. Green interventions can include learning wilderness survival skills, gardening, conservation efforts, care farming, eco-therapy, nature-based arts and crafts, and animal-assisted interventions. Nature therapy can enhance things like self-esteem, self-control and decision making for people with behavioral problems. For individuals living with dementia, engaging with green spaces can positively influence their eating and sleeping patterns, fitness and mobility, sense of well-being and their sense of belonging. Stress, agitation, anger, apathy and depression are all improved by spending time in nature. Mental health researchers have proposed the idea that ‘self-selecting’ a greener environment creates an even more positive relationship between spending time in green areas and better health. A desire for better health and actively seeking out a better environment increases the chances of improving mental health. Those who move from a less green to a more green area have been found to show significantly better mental health for years afterward. From our experience with clients who buy real estate in Costa Rica, most continue to feel happy and grateful for their decision to move here many years later. Contact with nature helps us function at our highest levels. People who experience negative moods are more likely to choose natural areas as their favorite places for this reason. Choosing to spend more time in nature can offer more enjoyable experiences than the same amount of time spent in any other environment. The simple exposure to nature is restorative to the mind. Given the current amount of people suffering from mental ill-health and the global costs, there is a need for people to take elements of their well-being into their own hands. It is becoming increasingly important to incorporate green spaces into our everyday environments. For the ultimate green space environment, consider our Costa Ballena communities in South Pacific Costa Rica. Those ready to retire to a greener setting find themselves welcomed by a diverse community of international expats who love the local pace of life. And younger entrepreneurs and digital employees are finding that Costa Rica provides a great setting to continue work in a better environment. Great healthcare, wide ranging services and amenities, entertainment and social clubs, and a pure, green environment are all wrapped nicely together into a pura vida package in our beloved Costa Ballena region. Come experience it for yourself and let us know when you are ready to make the shift to a better way of life in Costa Rica. Environments shape behaviors
Mental health and green space
Nature therapy
The importance of choosing nature
The time to make a shift
sales@osatropicalproperties.com
May 11, 2023 in Tips for Sellers, Tips for Buyers, Real Estate in Costa Rica
If you spend any time reading expat message boards about buying property in Costa Rica, you will see a lot of commentary about how important it is to rent first and try it out. This may have been advisable since the global economic recession in 2009. But for the few years prior to that, development in Costa Rica was booming. A huge number of houses in Ojochal were built between 2004 and 2008. After that, investment and development virtually came to a halt for a number of years. This has changed in a big way over the last two years. New, modern construction is happening everywhere in our Costa Ballena region. Beautiful ocean view homes in scenic mountainside locations are being built at record pace, with numerous local construction companies and architectural firms cropping up to fill those job orders. These companies and the materials that they use did not exist 10 years ago, showing the swift pace that this region is modernizing. Just in the last year, a number of new stores and restaurants have opened. Ojochal has the newly-built Plaza Tangara (replacing one that burned down in an accidental fire 2 years ago) with a doctor’s office, pharmacy, salon and spa, and the iconic Citrus Restaurant, one of many culinary delights in the international community of Ojochal. The highway side Jucaloa supermarket is also being upgraded to a new larger location behind its current one. And the Cinco Ventanas plaza is about to get a revival, including the reopening of the gas station, which is incredibly exciting for the local community. The Costa Ballena's commercial hub, Uvita, is currently witnessing a substantial upgrade to its BM supermarket. This nationwide chain supermarket already stocks many imported items and will likely see expansion of that list. And the long-standing Pacific Pool business is moving to a new standalone location with a massive showroom, showing that business must be going well. One of the biggest pieces of recent local news is that Walmart is coming to the second biggest city in Costa Rica: San Isidro de El General, also known as Perez Zeledon. The Costa Ballena is about a 40 minutes drive from Perez and there is much excitement about this store opening. The opening of this store will likely pave the way for more big box stores to open in this already large city. Perez Zeledon is also the likely site for a future international airport, which will open our beloved South Pacific communities even more to the rest of the world. When it comes to furnishing a new home, buyers used to either import furniture (often at great cost and with little success of the furniture surviving this climate) or traveling to San José. The capital of Costa Rica has long had most of the quality items that expats expect, but it also used to be the only place in Costa Rica where you could find many items. This 3 hour drive from the Costa Ballena used to take 4-5 hours only 10 years ago, which was a lot of time to spend driving for just shopping. It also used to be difficult to find a moving company that would bring items from the city to our region. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. Bodegon de Asia is one new furniture store near Jacó (less than a 2 hour drive away) and it is huge. They recently expanded to 10x their original size and deliver to our area. Riviera Home Center is another notable furniture store in Jacó. It has a small showroom but a huge warehouse that they will take you to and many catalogs to shop through. Basically, you can find any shape, size, material, quality and color you want. The famous Sarchi furniture manufacturers have also opened a location in Jaco so you don’t have to drive to Sarchi to bring their iconic pieces into your home. And when it comes to shopping in San José, the company Varma will deliver everything you need to our region. Just give them your receipts and they’ll go to any number of stores to pick up the items you purchased and deliver them to your door. New roads are being planned for many local communities in the Costa Ballena. These new roads will cut the driving distance to the highway from 20 minutes to 5 minutes in some instances and making for smoother, safer drives. Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal have all had significant portions of their main roads paved in the last 2 years, welcoming more traffic to each of these communities. All of the above indicators point to a surge in new construction and refurbishing old construction. This means that investment in Costa Rica is growing and this is reflective of our Costa Ballena region. For these and many other reasons, we suggest to potential buyers that maybe they don’t rent for a year. Instead, we recommend that potential buyers travel around the different regions of Costa Rica and to pick the community that inspires them the most. Our buyers have often traveled most regions of Costa Rica before visiting here and immediately falling in love. This is a dramatically beautiful region where the mountains meet the sea, with pristine coastlines and wild, unpopulated beaches that are absolutely breathtaking. Renting long term is not ideal in a rising price market and this is where we are finding ourselves today with many prospects for continued growth. But when it comes to those who use their Costa Rica property for income while they are away, local property managers are reporting that there are often more short-term renters than there are rentals, especially during the high season between December and April. Luxury vacation rentals in Costa Ballena with spectacular ocean views and amenities are rented at least 50% of the year, according to Christine Schiferl from Jaguar Property Management. Starting around June, we receive a boost in tourism in Costa Rica, with a number of North American and European families using their summer holidays to visit. European businesses often require their employees to take holidays in the summer and many of these visitors will use this time to explore real estate and the possibility of enjoying a Costa Rica property over a longer period of time. With the growing number of airlines and ports opening regular direct flights to and from Costa Rica, the possibility of owning a property in Costa Rica has expanded to more parts of the world. Now is a great time to jump in and build a new home or buy an existing home while prices are still climbing. It is difficult to predict what the world economies will do in the near future, but for now, in Costa Rica, the trends in real estate are pointing towards growth. Our Osa Tropical properties agents have recently had a number of closings mainly on homes within the $350,000 - $450,000 range. This average range has already grown around $50,000 from this same period last year. We have also had a record number of luxury home closings in our office and in the region in general. Coupled with the huge number of brand new modern homes coming onto the market, we are excited to see much more foreign money coming into the country. Thanks to development in our region, the growing number of expats coming to our region are bringing jobs and growth, which is plainly evident in the housing and commercial improvements being made in our local communities and the upgrades in the cars that local Costa Ricans drive. Thanks to more foreign money coming in, many locals are directly benefitting and hoping for additional growth. Excitingly, despite all of this development, Costa Rica has doubled its forest cover in the last 35 years. Thanks to a change in government regulations, Costa Rica’s priorities shifted from logging to promoting eco-tourism in 1983. These initiatives have led to Costa Rica having 52% forest cover and a wide variety of abundant natural wonders that continue to draw the world to marvel at the beauty and purity of this land. This feeling of inspiration lingers in more than a few people and we are witnessing an increasing pull for many to embrace the pura vida way of life more fully by investing in real estate in Costa Rica. When you are ready, we welcome you to contact us with any questions about real estate or life in general in Costa Rica. Commercial development in the Costa Ballena
Furnishing a new home in our region
Increases in investment
Expanding prospects
May 11, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica
Costa Rica has taken on the challenge of leading scientific and technological development within the framework of environmentalism in Costa Rica. Researchers, government institutes and the private sector are all working towards the improvement of the quality of life in general, especially of the most marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society. They are looking for alternative solutions to the problems of balancing environmental sustainability with increasing wealth distribution to local communities. Costa Rica is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean and is famous for its fresh seafood and its coffee. The population of Costa Rica is of multi-ethnic ancestry, with rich cultural manifestations including dance, legends, string songs, colonial instruments, and traditional songs. Indigenous, European, Afro-Caribbean and Asian influences come together to create a medley of culture, newly blending with Western culture through more recent expat immigration. But environmentalism in Costa Rican is a cultural movement growing in influence, however new it may be in the grand scheme. This week, Costa Rica inaugurated its 29th national park at Miravalles Volcano in celebration of World Environment Day. President Carlos Alvarado ceremoniously decreed that a protected area in Guanacaste would become Miravalles National Park, further protecting species at risk of extinction, like the Central American tapir. Meanwhile, the Costa Rican government is presently preparing itself to host the preceding meeting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25). The main event is set take place in Chile in October. Both meetings serve to “promote the work that Chile and Costa Rica have done for decarbonization, and to consolidate Latin American leadership in the global agenda of Climate Change,” according to the Presidential House. Their collaborative goal is to strengthen actions and solutions in the carbon market. Environmentalism is at the forefront of the everyday Costa Rican's mindset and it permeates culture and politics more every day. One notable organization working on environmental sustainability in Costa Rica is the Simón Bolívar Zoological Park and Botanical Garden in downtown San Jose. They currently have over 100 native species of trees and shrubs planted in the small park. And from 2007 to 2017, the number of avian species increased by nearly 52% to 88 species. Costa Rica has also launched the online platform, Costa Rica Silvestre, which is tasked to publish news about ongoing conservation efforts in the country. Working with the Environment and Energy Ministry (MINAE) and the Education Ministry, their goal is to “promote the development of an environmental culture that facilitates the reach of sustainability, adaptation to climate change and the conservation of biodiversity,” according to President Alvarado. MINAE has the goal of improving the quality of life in Costa Rica by promoting conservation and sustainable development. Through this organization, the government works to position itself as internationally competitive and protective of environmental and natural resources. ICE, or the Institute of Energy in Costa Rica, has suspended energy imports in May of this year, and is exporting energy steadily. May 2019 has become the highest month for energy production in Costa Rica’s history. Thanks to successful improvements in the national grid, ICE is able to protect reservoirs in dry periods by increasing geothermal energy production. During the whole of last month, 984.19 gigawatt hours were generated. Since 2015, Costa Rica has exceeded 98% renewable energy usage in the national grid. This trend is being maintained in 2019 in spite of the El Niño phenomenon, and will increase during the rainy season. Nearly 100% of Costa Rica’s energy comes from five renewable sources: water, geothermal energy, sun, wind and biomass. The private sector is getting involved in environmental sustainability as well. Companies like Café Britt are working to protect Costa Rica’s wildlife. Partnering with the Toucan Rescue Ranch to rescue sloths, Café Britt’s volunteers want to give released animals a better chance to survive by reforesting with native species. In conjunction with environmentalism in Costa Rica, the government is fulfilling its economic goals by attracting successful global corporations to open offices in Costa Rica. Leading software company Wind River is one of the newest businesses to expand operations into Costa Rica’s growing tech sector. Known as the Silicon Valley of Latin America, Wind River is joining over 800 high-tech companies in San José, the capital of Costa Rica. Microsoft, Cisco and others all take advantage of Costa Rica’s free-trade zones, existing infrastructure and a highly literate population. “Wind River’s decision to open an office in Costa Rica was based on its great economic climate and nascent technology sector; it’s also a place where we know our company culture can thrive,” said Jim Douglas, Wind River president and chief executive officer. “Costa Rica has proven to have a deep pool of world-class tech talent, and we’re excited to build a strong foundation there with the high-impact team we have in place.” According to Dick Fowler, the retired owner of the Foreign Investment Group in Costa Rica, manufacturers tend to gravitate to where they can maximize profits. Thanks to new tariffs on Chinese imports in the USA, says Fowler, "Costa Rica is able to export more medical devices, computers, washing machines, cell phones, toys, and more." To learn more about environmentalism in Costa Rica, or what this amazing country has to offer you and how you can make this your future home, contact an agent from our team today at sales@osatropicalproperties.com The culture of environmentalism in Costa Rica
Environmentalism in Costa Rica's governmental institutes
Environmentalism in the Private Sector
May 11, 2023 in Life in Costa Rica, Tips for Buyers
Costa Rica has long had a socialized system that universally protects its citizens’ and residents’ health and property through inexpensive mandatory basic insurance in Costa Rica. The insurance monopolies that operate in Costa Rica offer good basic coverage, while a number of private providers are finding their way due to trade policy changes in the last ten years. Read below for the current state of different types of insurance in Costa Rica, and a little bit about what to expect. For many years, the only option for health and medical insurance in Costa Rica was with the National Insurance Institute (INS). You can now find a number of national and international health insurance providers throughout Costa Rica. Some offer coverage for pre-existing conditions and check ups while others don’t. A large number of international health insurers offer specialty expat health policies that includes international travel. CAJA is the socialized medicine system in Costa Rica. It is inexpensive at around $70-100 per couple per month for full coverage of pre-existing conditions, doctor visits, prescription drugs, examinations, hospitalization, dental and eyes. And there is no limit on annual amounts paid out by the plan. Some procedures require months of wait-time, though, so most expats prefer to have combination of CAJA and private health insurance in Costa Rica. Car insurance is not mandatory in Costa Rica. Liability insurance (called marchamo) from INS is mandated by law but it only provides minimal coverage. Car insurance costs in Costa Rica is fairly comparable to North American rates and many locals forego insuring their vehicles. Most expats choose to insure their vehicles, whether they import a car to Costa Rica or buy one here. INS continues to have a monopoly on the car insurance market and their rates depend on the vehicle-type and the driver’s record. Their car insurance covers the vehicle regardless of who is driving, and plans offer a variety of coverage, from liability, theft, fire, and flood to full-coverage. A full-coverage plan from INS includes hospital visits in the event of an accident in the car, even if the victim does not have health insurance and a set number of free tows or assistance in case you lock your keys in the car. Signing up requires visiting an INS office and taking photos of your car to file. If you miss a payment with INS, your policy is automatically cancelled and will have to be renewed in the office, with new photos taken. INS does not increase your rate after your first accident. You will have to pay the deductible for every accident afterwards and will be subject to rate increases. In some cases, if the damages are very minor, it is better and cheaper to have them fixed without tapping into the INS policy or using the first time ‘freebie’. Car rental agencies in Costa Rica offer both mandatory insurance and supplemental programs that cover deductibles and contingencies other than a simple traffic accident. The cost of insurance can approach or exceed the cost of renting a car in Costa Rica. Credit card coverage is often better than the insurance plan offered by the rental car company. Check that your credit card company does not have exclusions against Latin American rentals. Mandatory INS liability insurance applies to all rental cars in Costa Rica. This cost ranges from US$10-20 per day. It does not cover damage to your rental car, only damages to other people and their property. There are a number of insurance companies offering home insurance, however INS remains the predominant provider and most reliable for paying claims. Premiums range from 0.75% to 1.5% plus 13% sales tax annually depending on your property’s location and security. Each company has a variety of policies that include coverage for fire and natural disasters like landslide, flood, earthquake and hurricanes, so homeowner’s can select specific plans with different coverages. For example a home valued at $335,000 with $50,000 in contents may cost approximately $800 US per year, or $1,100 US with additional personal liability coverage. Having additional personal liability coverage is important if you plan to rent the house to guests. In the case that a guest suffers a personal injury, your insurance will cover for their healthcare and potential lawsuit. If you are going to be away from your property for more than 48 hours, you may be required to alert your insurance provider in writing at least one week in advance and you must hire a house sitter or guard to watch the property. Currently insurance providers only cover contents for theft if the home has an alarm system and surveillance cameras installed. This coverage is limited to the contents of a home inventory list that you provide when you sign up. The details of this list include the current estimated market value to replace the items on the list. It is up to you to keep this list current with prices and items you own. When you enter into an employer-employee relationship in your business in Costa Rica, you become subject to the legal dispositions of the Costa Rican Labor Code. As an employer, you gain obligations with the Costa Rican Social Security Administration and INS. Worker’s compensation in Costa Rica covers injuries for accidents or illness of the employee that is work related. Every employer is under the legal obligation to provide a Worker’s Compensation Insurance Policy for their employee. If your employee is injured and you do not have the insurance, you will be liable for the medical expenses incurred. This obligation may extend to home owner’s hiring a maid or a part time gardener, depending on the circumstances. Comment below with any questions that you may have about this topic or any others. Thanks for reading! Health and medical insurance in Costa Rica
Car insurance
Rental car insurance
Home insurance
Worker’s insurance
May 11, 2023 in Discover Costa Ballena, Discover Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica
As we enter the rainy season in Costa Rica, it is a good time to remind others why we expats love living in such a dynamic climate. Many of us did move to Costa Rica for the sun and the heat, but the longer we stay here, the more that we come to appreciate the rain. In Costa Ballena real estate, the majority of the homes that we have on market are located between 200 and 1000m above sea level. According to the Holdridge life zones system chart, the Costa Ballena region predominantly consists of tropical wet forest in the lowlands and middle elevation rainforest in the higher elevations. Despite having a dry season of around 5 months, these areas receive a substantial rain fall of between 120” and 160” annually. From pelo de gato (misty rain) to aguacero (heavy downpour), invierno (winter) in the Southern Zone offers a whole range of wet experiences for all to enjoy. Rain is essential for the local ecosystem, filling our rivers and creeks and their tributaries. If you plan to visit the Southern Zone of Costa Rica between May and November, you can expect to experience rain – from gentle morning showers to thundering afternoon storms. The average temperatures during this time remain warm at around the mid 80s (29 C). And after a hot dry spell, the refreshing rainy season comes as more of a blessing than a curse. But if you’re worried about what you’re going to do during six months of wet weather, rest easy. Below, we have compiled a list containing a wide variety of ways that the lush, vibrant, rainforest region of the South Pacific will entertain you throughout the rainy season. Rainforests are home to two-thirds of all living animals and plants on Earth. Although Costa Rica’s area is very small, it is easy to witness this level of biodiversity, especially during the rainy season. The first rain of the season is often a joyous occasion where people will run into the drops and dance in gratitude. Five months with relatively few bursts of rain is depleting to nature. The areas that are nearest our dirt roads are the most obviously revitalized. As soon as the first rains of wet season begin, it is almost as though you can hear the forest breathe a sigh of relief. Colorful flowers blossom overnight and grass turns moist and lavish. The rainy season is a time when the succulent, tuberous plants of our gardens and local jungle will flower and fruit. You can feel life abounding all around you. The smell of the rain quenching the forest is intoxicating as you sit on your patio or balcony during a storm in Costa Rica. Watching lightning from a distance as it strikes the sea in the dark of night is mesmerizing, or hearing the rumble of thunder vibrate the earth around you. By virtue of our mountainous area, the storms cool the air and set up the sky for the most awe-inspiring sunsets filled with colored clouds. And keep your eyes peeled for rainbows in the daytime rains! Although you can see wildlife in our region at any time of year, there are certain natural phenomena that are more likely to happen in the rainy season in Costa Rica. In the marine world, of the four species of turtles in the Costa Ballena, the majority have their arribadas (birthing arrivals) during the rainy season. Reserva Playa Tortuga in Ojochal is a great place to learn more about turtles, reptiles, birds and butterflies in the region. Visiting their office near the beach is especially great if you have small kids and want to get out of the rain for an afternoon. Humpback whales have a long mating season between August and September in the warm subduction zone waters of the Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita. Take a boat tour to see the pods as they feed and play, sometimes breaching water to great heights! Even trees near the beaches flower and fruit more in the rainy season in Costa Rica, bringing more sloths, squirrel monkeys, fiery-billed aracari, and toucans in more prominent view of beach-goers. There must be something about the freshness of the rain brings a wider variety of bird and frog species to our lower forests, exposing our ears to a cacophony of new sounds. This is the season to listen to parrots, parakeets, toucans, woodpeckers, and many others call out to their mates with untiring persistence. The yigüirro, or clay colored thrush, is the national bird of Costa Rica who is especially vocal in the rainy season. The yigüirro’s song is said to be “asking for rain.” Watching them splash around in puddles with apparent enjoyment can make one think that their appreciation for rain is more than a mating ritual. River rafting trips are the fastest, smoothest and most intense during the rainy season when raftable rivers swell with class III and IV rapids. The rapids in Savegre near Dominical are much more thrilling to raft through with gushing waters and dark green jungles surrounding you. Bear in mind that the later you go in rainy season, the more likely your tour may be cancelled because the river heads are too intense. Deep sea sport fishing in Costa Rica is generally very good in the rainy season. Peak months for Wahoo and Yellowfin tuna around nearby Caño Island are from June to November and Mahi Mahi has its peak season from September to November. Although heavy storms can affect visibility underwater, some of Costa Rica’s best dive sites are only accessible during the rainy season. And if you plan on getting your scuba diving certification, rainy season is a great time to do it since it is also cheaper in most places. Our Costa Ballena region of Costa Rica has consistent waves year-round at a few different beaches. Though the rainy season generally offers stronger wind and rain — it also brings with it the biggest waves. The South Pacific beaches of Dominical, Hermosa and Chaman get large southern swells during the majority of the rainy season. And the beach lovers can enjoy a quieter beach experience with less tourists in this season. If you like to play rough and dirty instead, off-road ATV adventures during the rainy season are extra exciting! Splashing through puddings and cutting through knee deep rivers to get to an intensely flowing waterfall can be an exhilarating trip for the thrill seeker in the family. If you’re planning on traveling in Costa Rica on a budget, rainy season is definitely the best time to visit. Hotels and home stays in Costa Rica normally have three different seasonal rates: low, high and peak. Low is rainy season and the best time for the budget-minded to take advantage of less traffic and lower prices. Car rental rates are significantly lower during the rainy season. Lodging prices during this season are usually 10-40 percent cheaper, and many hotels offer deeper discounts for residents (that includes expats with residency) to encourage local travel during the low months. Though tour prices generally remain the same, the lower volume of travelers makes it easier to negotiate deals. During a northern winter, one of the best things to do is to sit down to a nice, rich meal in a warm environment. Most of the restaurants in the Southern Zone are open-air, so in that warm freshness of the rainy season in Costa Rica, one of the best things to do is to savor some exceptional traditional soups that are well suited for a rainy day. Olla de carne, creama de pejibaye, sopa negra, sopa de mariscos and rondón are just a few traditional Costa Rican soups that will warm your heart and excite your palate. Ojochal is still claiming its title of Culinary Capital of Costa Rica, with long time favorites and newcomers continuing to inspire diners and each other with the gifts of international flavors and sensational multicultural ambiance. In recent years, Uvita and Dominical have started bringing a whole new set of gastronomical experiences to our Costa Ballena region. From wine bars to sushi bars, it really feels now like we’ve got it all. Craft beer culture in Costa Rica is unsurprisingly gaining a strong local following. Places like Fuego Brew Co have a delightful array of ales, as well as a full menu of delicious treats and a warm polished wood ambiance to accompany your artfully decorated flight of beers. Been dreaming about visiting galleries and museums or going on a shopping trip? The rainy season is a great time to visit the capital for some culture in Costa Rica! San Jose is a comfortable twenty minute flight from Quepos or Palmar Sur, both of which are within an hour’s drive of the Costa Ballena. Uber around the city and visit the National Theatre, the National Art Gallery, the Gold and Jade Museums, and go shopping at the Multiplaza in Escazu. Walmart, Price Mart, and all of the art, furniture, bedding, linens, tools and more can be found in San Jose. Enjoy a day of shopping, have a delicious meal at a high-end restaurant and go out to see a movie or a musical performance in the evening. Treat yourself, indulge, and make your rainy day extra relaxing by getting a spa treatment. There is no better time for a spa day than a rainy day and our Costa Ballena region has world-class spas and treatments. There are plenty of options to get a great massage, volcanic mud mask, a blue clay mask or a soothing body scrub at a number of world-class hotels. Try Kura Design Villas or Oxygen Spa for a day of deluxe treatments. Rain is one of the most used sounds for aiding in rejuvenating rest and relaxation. The color green, which surrounds us everywhere in Costa Rica, makes people feel refreshed and calm. This makes the rainy season in Costa Rica an easy recipe for deep decompression. The slow, whooshing sound of rain is naturally calming. Lay back and listing to the sounds of the rain on the roof, or the stream nearby flowing more strongly and the waves crashing in the distance. These are all sounds that stimulate relaxation and sleep, perfect for reading, journaling and napping. If you prefer to be more active during the rainy season in Costa Rica, submit yourself to a full day of yoga in peacefulness and tranquility. Meditate while listening to the rain and focus on the soothing sound to reach deeper levels in your practice. Indulge in a ritual: light a candle, bring an offering, and be present in the moment to get closer in touch with your intuition. More vibrant forests
More wildlife sightings
Exciting activities
Cheaper prices
Time to take in culinary delights
Culture trips
Spa treatments
Peaceful relaxation
Explore your spirituality
Added thoughts for the rainy season in Costa Rica
May 11, 2023 in Tips for Buyers, Buying Process, Tips for Sellers
As a potential buyer of properties in Costa Rica, maybe you’ve heard whispers about it being difficult to get a water concession in Costa Rica. Some of you might have even brushed up against the issue. A valid water concession is essential in obtaining a building permit in Costa Rica. So what is the situation with water in our Costa Ballena region? Since July of 2018, AyA, the water authority in Costa Rica, declared new intentions in the environmental management within MINAE (Ministry of the Environment and Energy). This involved the cessation of granting water concessions in developments that were not tied into a local ASADA, which is a government sanctioned authority that manages a communal water system within a region. This ruling has left a number of property owners in a bind all over Costa Rica, unable to tie into an ASADA system without the complete overhaul of their current water system to meet their local ASADA-defined standards, such as the size of the tubing or the amount of water flow per second. Over the last year, our office has been working hard to understand these tighter regulations by meeting a number of times with the president of our local ASADA as well as representatives from the municipality government, MINAE and a team of lawyers. We have not been able to receive a clear answer about how to proceed, other than to council our sellers that if their property is in a development that is not tied to ASADA to lobby their home owner’s association to share in the costs of redeveloping the water system. This is obviously not an easy solution and one that may take an exhausting amount of time, especially for our clients who need to sell in the near future. It would be irresponsible of us to recommend the purchase of a property without access to legal water. As of this week, we have found some more appropriate solutions that have been successful for others without incurring much additional cost or added delay. On Wednesday, we hosted Jonathan Bogantes of TB Bogantes Soluciones Industriales. He is an engineer from Perez Zeledon who has completed a number of water filtration and purification projects. He has assisted in obtaining a number of water concessions for private clients since July of last year and he filled us in on what his suggestions are for obtaining a legal water source that will result in receiving a water concession. Bogantes says that there are four methods for obtaining legal water access rights in Costa Rica. Below, we list them in order of ease of obtaining a water concession based on time, money, and other factors, as related to us by Bogantes: The above quoted times and prices for making a concession application are applicable between December and April. If application is made any other time of the year, the process could take an additional 6 months or so because the flow of water can only be accurately measured when it is at its lowest pressure in the drier months of December to April. The company's ability to dig is also impeded during heavy rains, also delaying this process.
May 11, 2023 in Real Estate in Costa Rica, Selling Process, Tips for Sellers
Days on market in Costa Rica is not an indicator of the health of your listing. But how do we reconcile this idea with our international buyers who are used to days on market being an important indicator of real estate market health? Why does Costa Rica not advertise the number of days on market? There are a number of reasons why ‘days on market’ in Costa Rica has very little bearing on real estate market health. Firstly, it is important to mention that the Costa Rica real estate market does not have a centralized MLS system. Zillow, Trulia, and other real estate database companies that feature multiple listings systems have not made it into Costa Rica because their market reports would be inaccurate or incomplete for lack of data. Because there is no shared MLS system across the country or even within a small district, it is nearly impossible to create a salient real estate market report. Real estate brokerages like ours do the best we can to emulate an MLS system. We send and receive listings between our local brokerage houses and choose whether to list properties on a case by case basis. Generally, we list any viable property for sale that is brought to our attention. There are cases where legal water concessions have not been established or a property has a very visible flaw that we know will make it difficult to sell. In these cases, we may likely choose not to list such a property, however another agency may choose to list it regardless. To facilitate this end goal of selling properties in Costa Ballena, we use all of our knowledge of local and international real estate markets and economies to anticipate the best positioning for any properties that we list at Osa Tropical Properties. Our goal is to work with our seller’s needs, to price, position and market the properties we list in such a way that our clients feel satisfied that we are giving their Costa Rica real estate investment the best chance for success. We do not under- or over-value properties as a strategy. Instead, we aim to match our suggested price as closely to recent comparable solds as we can. As an office, we are lucky that we have had a number of solds recently at a variety of price points so we have a great idea of how buyers from all over the world are valuing local properties. At the end of the day, it is buyers from international markets who determine the number of days a property in Costa Rica will spend on market, not us. Aside from fatal flaws, like a lack of water concession (meaning that the property owner cannot receive a building permit), what keeps some properties on the market for longer? The shift in the economic climate 10 years ago went from a major boom in this region to nearly no action overnight. The 2008/9 Global Recession hit Costa Rica hard and many of the property buyers at that time were paying a premium price after years of growth, which has been difficult for then buyers/now sellers to recoup for many years. Thankfully, we have reached a new hot market where travelers are falling in love with Costa Rica’s wildly beautiful aesthetic and it’s uniquely peaceful ethics. Even though we have entered into more of a seller’s market as of late 2018, there are still a number of segments of the real estate market that are hotter than others. Buyers come to our South Pacific region of Costa Rica from all over the world, from a variety of economic climates of their own. Some of these buyers, like from parts of Canada, are coming from hot seller’s markets, too, but their dollar exchange with the US Dollar (Costa Rica real estate’s unofficial currency) is low. As such, buyers from Canada are often on a smaller budget than the average buyer from California, which is also in a hot seller’s market. The same goes for many international buyers visiting our region who are finding themselves much more comfortable in the lower price points due to foreign exchange rates. The result is a surplus of buyers in the under $500k segment, regardless of view. These buyers are coming for the pura vida lifestyle and the less stressful and less expensive way of life. Much less money is spent here on day-to-day life (groceries, utilities, travel) and less is spend on annual expenses like property taxes, also. When it comes to listings over $500k, the market action takes a significant dip down as the price goes up. In saying that, there has been a sharp increase in new properties coming onto the market hovering around the $1 million mark. These new developers appear confident that the luxury property market is growing in our Costa Ballena region, thanks largely to the growing number of services and amenities serving the luxury tourism market, coupled with the incredible beauty, peace, and privacy that can be enjoyed in this region. Our office has seen a rise in buyers over $500k in the last year and we are excited for our luxury property sellers, hoping to close the gap in the number of days on market that they spend. Speaking generally about Costa Rica and real estate, we have to keep in mind that this is a destination for most potential buyers. Although a potential buyer may be certain that they want to move to Costa Rica one day, the fact is that they actually have to make the time to plan a trip and get here to take a good look around. This is getting easier every year with the consistent additions of more direct flight routes to and from Costa Rica from international hubs all over the world. It has reached a point where some buyers might make 3-5 short trips in a year to see different properties before selecting the one they want to buy. But more often than not, when a buyer finds a property they love, they jump right on it. In this and other ways, it is difficult to anticipate how many days on market a property might spend in Costa Rica. At Osa Tropical Properties, we produce regular quarterly market reports that feature the number of “tourists” (and potential buyers) coming through the country, what the Costa Rican government is doing to promote Costa Rica internationally, what has been selling in our region recently, and what we anticipate for the future of the local real estate market. We do a lot of hard work researching statistics that can easily be found by anyone using a service like Zillow in North America. We know that clients want to have the best possible understanding of the local real estate market before they invest and it is our goal to provide as much information as we can to our exclusive clients. Please reach out to our office if you have any questions and we’d love to help you better understand what to expect from you Costa Rica property venture, no matter where you are in the process. Pura vida! Why do some properties sit on the market for longer?
Luxury real estate segmentations
‘Days on market’ at the end of the day
May 11, 2023 in Buying Process, Discover Costa Ballena, Discover Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica, Real Estate in Costa Rica, Tips for Buyers
Today’s article is a follow-up to our recent list of questions that people ask about Costa Rica when they first get to our office. We took a poll amongst ourselves in the office and came up with this list of frequently asked questions that more serious buyers have for us about real estate in Costa Rica. Most of these questions are asked by buyers at one time or another, so we decided to bring them to you now to kickstart your Costa Rica experience with a fuller picture. As a nation that is famous for medical tourism, Costa Rica has numerous healthcare options available to residents and tourists alike. If you are a resident, you are entitled to Costa Rica’s universal healthcare service called Caja, which is the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, or CCSS. This is a service that every resident pays for and it amounts to a small percentage of your net annual income. It is paid monthly and amounts to around US$70-$100 per couple for most expats in our region, including those with pre-existing conditions. Costa Rica has around 30 Caja hospitals and many more private hospitals. In both public and private categories, Costa Rica has some of the most prominent hospitals in Latin America. There are also more than 1000 Ebais clinics, which is the equivalent of a free walk-in health clinic. Each Ebais has a doctor, nurse and a technical assistant who together work to prevent, diagnose and help cure. The nearest Caja hospitals are in Cortes and Quepos, both of which are within a 1 hours drive from the Costa Ballena (Cortes is about 20 minutes drive from Ojochal). In terms of private clinics, there are a number of cutting-edge clinics in all facets of healthcare, wellness and beauty all around the country. Uvita has a number of dentists, doctors, pharmacies, beauticians, and healers of all kinds. Ojochal has also just opened its first pharmacy where there is a doctor and pharmacist on-site. At a private level, an appointment with a doctor is around $50 USD. In the case of a specialist, prices range between $80 and $100. Major surgeries cost about half or a quarter of what is paid in the United States. Residency status in Costa Rica is available to a foreign investor who purchases assets valued at US$200,000 or more. This is called ‘investor status’ residency and it is accessible as most homes in the Costa Ballena would qualify buyers for this category. This residency path takes anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on how organized you are with your paper work and how quickly your lawyer files your application. For most motivated people, it takes a year to acquire this temporary residency status. This temporary status lasts for 3 years and as long as you are living in Costa Rica for the majority of the year, you can apply for permanent residence after that. Residency status offers you the ability to stay in Costa Rica without having to leave the country every 90 days, like on a tourism visa. The other popular path to residency for expats is offered to retirees who collect a lifetime pension of at least US$1,000 per month. The typical applicant in this category has a government, private sector pension or social security retirement benefits. Income-based residency applications are a growing category for younger expats moving to Costa Rica. To apply for residency under the 'Rentista' category, the applicant must demonstrate that they will receive at least US$2,500 per month of income in a permanent, stable and irrevocable manner for at least 2 years, which is equivalent to US$60,000 over 2 years. A lot of buyers want to know who else is adventurous enough to move to the tropics, and this region in particular. Most expats in Costa Rica are North American, with a vast majority from the United States. Breaking things down further, the most popular states that expats come from are Texas, California, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. There are also a large number of expats from the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia and European countries like the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Germany. Our Costa Ballena communities are so diverse thanks to this mix of international expats, each bringing their own flavor and skills to the already diverse local population. If you like volunteering and animals, there are a number of rescue programs for domestic animals and wildlife rehabilitation. There are two domestic animal shelters in the region that do spay and neuter clinics regularly that are fairly popular but can use a lot of assistance with time, money, and spreading information. These programs help to curb the stray population, which has been steadily declining since the programs began. There are many other volunteer organizations that expats participate in their own areas. These include security committees, road associations, home owner’s associations and libraries. Ojochal has a food bank and thrift store called the Family Support Center that helps the underprivileged in the local community in a number of ways. For those a more ecologically minded, there is the Blug Flag Committee, which ensures that the local communities meet and exceed guidelines of a safe, functional and environmentally conscious village. And for those who want to mix more with the locals, there are also regular beach and river clean ups that happen in every community. Teaching or tutoring students in English or another language is very helpful and welcome for diversifying the skill sets of locals who are living amidst an international expat population. Teaching can be done either privately or at the elementary school. Internet and digital tv packages are available from CableTica, Claro, Kolbi, Movistar and Tigo. Packages range from about $50-$100 per month for 10-20mbps download speed and North American + Latin American digital tv packages that include traditional North American channels like HBO, ESPN, Comedy Central and more, all depending on the provider. See their individual websites for specific pricing and details. Electricity rates in Costa Rica are on a sliding scales that averages around US$0.20 per kilowatt. This rate is dependent on if you use more than 200 kilowatts per month or less. If you own a small home with a pool, electricity can cost about US$110 per month without the use of A/C. Without a pool and A/C, you can spend as little as US$30 per month. And with a large home or business full of people with a pool pump and A/C running constantly, you could be spending between US$300-400 per month. Water bills in our region are anywhere between US$10-50 per month for standard home's usage, depending on the season and if the home has a pool. Out of our diverse office team, we get up to the following on a regular basis: morning or afternoon hikes around the mountain roads, social meal outings, shopping in local commercial centers like Uvita or San Isidro, playing sports (volleyball, softball), surfing, walking along the beach, entertaining, swimming in pools, and whatever other hobbies we enjoy. There are a number of social groups that meet for a wide variety of reasons and our online community message boards (like on Facebook) are a great resource for finding a like-minded group. An offer to purchase is a very simple document that the agent prepares. An offer can be done by email as long as the buyer prints it, signs it and scans it. The Sale and Purchase Agreement is a more detailed contract that a lawyer prepares and usually needs to be notarized. For closing a transaction, you do need representation in the form of a power of attorney in your lieu. We are happy to offer this service free of charge (although the lawyer will charge a small fee to set this up). We attend all of our closings to ensure that our clients are represented properly when buying or selling real estate in Costa Rica and we often act as Power of Attorney for our clients who cannot be present. Legal fees amount to approximately 4% of the sales price and it is usually split 50/50. The buyer will have a few more additional costs like purchasing a corporation, which costs between US$800-1000, and the escrow fee. The seller pays the realtor’s commission in Costa Rica. Due diligence is what happens after the Sales & Purchase Agreement has been executed. This includes the strongly suggested items of a home inspection and boundary verification. On average and depending on the size of the lot, a surveyor will charge around $450 for boundary verification. The home inspection cost depends on the size of the home and the average price would be around $600 for a 2000 sq.ft home. We hear from buyers time and again that they have chosen to move to Costa Rica for their health. They want to get back to their roots as a civilization; to get away from the stressful ways of living in the city; to get away from disease-inducing environments and to get back to nature. The typical expat also enjoys the smaller property taxes, the warm and calm weather (with very few natural disasters), the diversity of wildlife, the beach life, peace, relaxation, and community. House prices in our region of Costa Rica are significantly lower than other countries for a similar, if not better, quality of ocean view (and life in general!) So, when life "back home" becomes too much of a routine, renew your sense of adventure in our vibrant communities of the Costa Ballena in South Pacific Costa Rica. What are the healthcare options in the region?
How do I go about getting residency?
Who lives in the Costa Ballena?
What are the options for volunteer work?
How is the internet and television quality?
What are the costs of utilities?
What is there to do day-to-day?
Do I have to be here to write an offer or close a transaction?
What are the legal fees for closing?
Who pays the realtor’s commission?
What is involved in the due diligence process?
Why do people choose to come here to live?
May 11, 2023 in Discover Costa Ballena, Discover Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica
Flights originating in Canada, Germany, Switzerland and more were added this winter due to an increase in tourism in Costa Rica. Seven airlines that fly non-stop to Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) from Europe and two from Canada have been pleased with demand and hope to increase their offerings to Costa Rica, according to the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT). “Attracting airlines and a greater number of seats from our main tourist-sending markets is a significant achievement that benefits the country’s tourism market. It is a significant achievement that is the result of our ongoing efforts in this strategic area”, said the Costa Rican Minister of Tourism, Maria Amalia Revelo. Over the past few years, airlines have seen an increase in demand for flights to Costa Rica. Hermes Navarro, Director of Investment Attraction for ICT, recently made a deal with a Canadian airline at FITUR, an international tourism fair in Spain. And following ICT’s participation in the ITB Berlin, a worldwide travel-industry convention, Minister Revelo met with representatives from Lufthansa (Germany), KLM (the Netherlands), Air France, Edelweiss (Switzerland) and Condor (Germany). “In 2006, Costa Rica had a single indirect flight to Europe, and today, there are eight airlines offering flights between the old continent and Costa Rica,” said the Minister of Tourism, María Amalia Revelo. “This is evidence of the great leap that our country has taken as a result of its strategy to attract airlines.” The ICT is will be carrying out further promotional campaigns in airline communication media and mass media with the aim of promoting travel to Costa Rica. The current promotional focus is on the cities of Toronto and Montreal. Some 217,000 tourists arrive in Canada each year from all sources in 2018, which represented an increase of 7.5% over the previous year. In January of 2019 alone, Costa Rica experienced an increase of 9.2 percent compared to the same month in 2018. According to ICT exit surveys, visitors choose Costa Rica for sun and beach activities (84%), hiking (50%), observing flora and fauna (61%), visiting volcanoes (46%) and enjoying hot springs (37%), among other activities. Increases in Flights
Continued Growth
May 11, 2023 in Real Estate in Costa Rica, Tips for Sellers, Tips for Buyers
Realtors in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica are expecting continued growth in the Costa Ballena real estate market. Residential and commercial properties are seeing growth in sales frequency and price since 2018. An undersupply in certain price brackets, amenities and locations is leading to increased prices. The same cannot be said for every region of Costa Rica. San Jose and other Central Valley communities have seen a decline in growth, largely due to a surplus of new construction. But on the coastal south, land is a precious commodity that is depleting in the most popular regions. The Costa Ballena communities of Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal are popular with international expats for their amenities, services, and utilities. Each of these towns has paved major roadways in the last year and experienced increases in new businesses opening. Ojochal, for one, has a new plaza at the entrance to the village, with a doctor's office, pharmacy, and dentist. Coupled with the newly paved main road, these advancements are bringing more tourism traffic and providing new services to residents in the area. When analyzing the best time and place to buy a house in Costa Rica with foreign currencies, it’s good to review the economy. Try to understand what goods, services and life in general will cost--now and in the near future. Costa Rica’s economic growth has slowed in recent years and government debt is increasing. Costa Rica’s economy enjoyed strong and stable growth since 2010. This growth slowed in 2018, dropping from a 4.6% high in 2017 to 2.6% in 2018. Alongside this economic decline, the Costa Rican colon has seen its lowest exchange rates in years against the USD. In a continued effort to increase economic growth, the president of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, is set to travel to Silicon Valley and beyond, where he will seek investments in Costa Rica from the tech sector. “The objective will be the attraction of investment, welfare and employment to the country” said Alvarado in a statement from Casa Presidencial. His agenda includes meetings with Amazon, Pop Digital, MicaSense, Microsoft, HP, Intel and Google to discuss the expansion of their operations in Costa Rica. Our office has noted an increase in buyer traffic from the West Coast regions of the United States. Younger expats are finding their way to our coast, retiring earlier to live a more peaceful, less expensive lifestyle in the beauty of the jungle. Most of the recent buyers coming through our office have been from the United States, with Canadians and Europeans trailing as a distance second combined. American expats are continuing to choose Costa Rica for the favorable exchange rate and proximity to home. There are numerous quick, direct, and inexpensive flights from major hubs like Houston, Denver, Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles. As the colon slowly drops in value over time, Americans are going to gain an even more favorable exchange. They also make big savings on the much less expensive healthcare at top notch facilities, the cheaper dental care at state of the art facilities, and the cutting edge and well-priced aesthetic treatments. And, of course, the great weather and beaches that make you feel like you're on holiday all year long. But the Canadians and Europeans who can afford a USD cash offer on property in Costa Rica are finding that the investment is worthwhile. Not only is the proximity of Costa Rica to home good, resale values are also climbing. Kevin Champagne, real estate broker for Osa Tropical Properties, says that his Canadian clients have been buying retirement properties in Ojochal because of increases in cost of living in metropolitan areas like Vancouver and Toronto. And with these real estate markets at a peak, many are choosing to sell in Canada and buy in Costa Rica, where real estate prices are still rising. Osa Tropical Properties agent, Rebecca Rowntree, notes that Canadians sellers are seeing great returns on their investment now, thanks to the low exchange rates on the US Dollar. Those who cash purchased real estate in the Costa Ballena in the last 10 years are receiving a good return in USD today. Marcia Oro, another realtor in the Osa Tropical Properties team, is counseling her real estate clients from Canada to buy right now. She has seen a steady increase in property prices for 3 to 4 bedroom ocean view homes. “In 2017, we sold out of ocean view homes under $300,000. Then, in 2018, we sold out of ocean view homes under $400,000. In 2019, we are seeing an influx of buyers in the $500,000 range, looking for three-bedroom ocean view homes in Ojochal.” “We haven’t seen these numbers since 2008,” says Kevin Champagne, who is excited about the prospects for his area of interest. “As long as all of the property's due diligence is in order, we are finding buyers with successful offers.” Recent buyers have all but cleared out the large inventory of “fixer-uppers” (older homes in need of renovation but often sitting on maturely landscaped properties with incredible ocean views). Many of the best fixer-uppers have sold in the last year. Small 2-3 bedroom homes with mountain or jungle views can be found in the $200,000-$300,000 in Ojochal and other places in the Costa Ballena. Some home buyers are choosing these options for their unique beauty and investment potential. Mountain views are truly majestic in the jungle and their green ridges emerge out of the backdrops of many of these properties. Riverside homes are in this price range, too, which are favored for their abundant animal sightings. And when it comes to tourism in Costa Rica, many visitors are coming for the spectacular flora and fauna.Costa Rica's Economy
Buyer's of Costa Ballena Real Estate
Canadian and European Expats
Properties For Sale
May 11, 2023 in Real Estate in Costa Rica, Tips for Buyers, Tips for Sellers
In December of 2018, the Costa Rican government approved a new tax law that includes the addition of a capital gains tax in Costa Rica. According to the law, the new capital gains tax will be implemented on July 1, 2019. This tax will incur a 15% charge on the capital gains generated when selling a property in Costa Rica. In the event someone had bought a property before July 1, 2019, there is a possibility of only incurring a one-time, reduced tax of 2.25% of the total sales price, instead of 15% on the capital gains. It is up to the seller to work out which is a better deal in this one-time scenario. In many cases, 2.25% will result in a lower payment. If you sell before July 1, 2019, your sale will not incur a capital gains tax. In this scenario, the buyer will also eventually be able to apply for the 2.25% alternative if it was more beneficial financially speaking than the 15% capital gains tax. Below are some key points to help you understand how the capital gains tax in Costa Rica may affect you: Our lawyers are advising that clients properly back up their land acquisition value by making sure their deed of purchase corresponds with the real purchase price. You will need to be able to back this up with official receipts of all costs and expenses incurred while making improvements to the property. This includes any remodeling, expansions, new constructions and so on. Your property costs will need to be formally approved as the “cost basis” so that the tax authorities only charge the 15% Capital Gains tax over the difference between a future total sale amount and the seller’s total cost basis. Our goal is to keep buyers and sellers of property in Costa Rica informed and updated. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of everything you need to know about Costa Rica real estate in the Costa Ballena region. Thanks to Alberto Sáenz Roesch, from Invicta Legal Costa Rica, for supplying our office with the facts that went into this article.Special Cases
Avoiding the Capital Gains Tax in the Short Term
May 13, 2023 in Real Estate in Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica
As this year comes to a close, we are invited by tradition to recall what we are grateful for about our lives. It has been a challenging year for many if not most of us but there is at least one thing that our team at Osa Tropical Properties are thankful to have: a home in Ojochal. No matter how many places you may have visited or lived in the world, Ojochal moves people. It draws us in with its simple charm and spectacular beauty. Here, we are reduced to a more primal version of ourselves — one that appreciates nature and its many wonders with full attention. Many of us grow tired over time of our daily routines. We get worn out by the pressures of sticking to deadlines and keeping up with the Joneses. Seeking out the latest gadgets and competing with our friends for who has the best quality of life stops feeling so important after a year where the safety of our health and happiness have been called into question all at once. More people are feeling the call to find a different way to live. Some of us are lucky enough to know that it’s out there. Others have yet to find it. But those who feel adventurous enough to begin their quest, it is from this place of wanting “something more” that we begin our travels to find the place that feels like home. Costa Rica’s natural wonders and rich culture make this nation a dream destination on more than a few bucket lists. Our Southern Zone home, Ojochal, is still fairly low on the global radar even though most people who do make it here will instantly fall in love. Those who visit our small coastal region called the Costa Ballena — where the mountains meet the sea — become enamored by the spirit of this land and community. The warm climate is matched equally with the warmth of the people who inhabit this fertile and dynamic landscape. Here, you will find small yet flourishing communities amid true, natural beauty, which altogether encompass the best qualities of life in the tropics. Those who find us after searching all over the world know that there is no place like Ojochal. This is a tranquil, serene culture and the home of pura vida. The essence of this phrase is embodied in the gentle flow of this small, conscious and connected population who collectively value the environment that we feel so blessed to live within. It doesn’t matter how long it took us to get here. We feel privileged to live near pristine mountain rivers, waterfalls and the enchanting displays of wildlife that keep us living in the here and now. It is a simple yet fulfilling indulgence to walk the grounds of our green properties, taking in the gentle and beautiful routines of the nature that surrounds us. Fantastic flowers and their intoxicating smells are only some of the many wonders that Ojochal exhibits. In the thick, green carpet covering the foothills of this mountainous region are paths that will take you to secluded waterfalls that look like they’ve never been seen by anyone else before. Or a breathtaking lookout spot high above the jungle valley, looking down at the vivid display of nature's wonders. Birds of multi-colored plumage and monkey troupes with howls as loud as jet engines parade across the jungle’s canopy. We have almost every luxury here — stores, spas, clinics, first-class restaurants, high-speed internet. But spending time in the lush nature at our doorsteps is a daily reminder to breathe the fresh air deeply in gratitude. This area has a history of purposeful development that was slow enough to grow and maintain a strong focus on environmental ethics. It hasn’t always been perfect but today Ojochal is a Blue Flag community with goals for continued improvement to the health of our environment. We work collectively to ensure the maintenance of our roads, schools and services. And we have recently grown an exciting number of new businesses that serve the whole of our international population. We are proud of every accomplishment that we make and we celebrate our successes together. After spending enough time living here, we tend to fall deeply in love with our home in Ojochal for its exceptional community. What we really do best is support one another in our ideas to benefit our home as a whole and our attempts to bring these ideas to fruition. There are a number of groups and forums that help us stay connected to our local community. We easily learn about the many classes, get togethers and volunteer opportunities that occur regularly. Each of us came here to live a better life and we know that teamwork makes the dream work. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="41710,41709"] Two recent community initiatives that are bringing vast improvements to our collective lifestyle: the newly paved road through Ojochal (left) and the children’s playground in the village center (right). If Ojochal sounds like it might be your dream destination in the future, we invite you to get in touch with our office. We are a local and independent real estate office that has been operating in Ojochal, Costa Rica and the whole of the Costa Ballena since 2005. Our agents are happy to answer any questions you have about our local region and what it’s like to live here. Our website is also filled with helpful articles to get you started on your journey to Costa Rica. Sign up to our newsletter below for weekly market updates, showing you what’s happening in our area from local experts. Talk to you soon! We are so grateful to have found our home in Costa Rica and we are proud to share this gift location with all of our real estate clients.
A place of tranquility
Living the scenic lifestyle
A one-of-a-kind community in Ojochal
May 12, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Discover Costa Ballena, Real Estate in Costa Rica, Life in Costa Rica
As important as the interiors of a home are, you aren’t taking full advantage of Costa Rica homes without creating living spaces outdoors as well. These chic, tropical outdoor spaces in Costa Rica’s South Pacific capitalize on the climate, views, and the architecture of the property. Take inspiration from these well-designed "exterior rooms" and make the outdoors your own when you build or buy in Costa Rica. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1460"] When you are lucky enough to live in a climate that affords you the luxury of dry, sunny summers, make the most of it! Sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors are the perfect way to merge your outdoor dining area with the interior of your home. When the doors are open dinner guests can flow in and out of the house, and when closed you still have a gorgeous view of your tropical gardens. Having easy access to your kitchen also reduces the amount of back and forth needed to bring your meal outdoors. If you have a bit of distance to cover, consider buying a rolling bar cart to make transporting the food less burdensome. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Outdoor dining is even easier if you can do the cooking outside too. Instead of being inside cooking the meal, a full outdoor kitchen in your Costa Rica property allows you to prepare the meal while still spending time with your guests. Today’s outdoor kitchens are not limited to grills alone. When you create your outdoor kitchen, you can build in any number of modern conveniences. Add in a functional sink, counter space, or even a wine fridge for an outdoor kitchen that rivals your kitchen inside. Large outdoor spaces are ideal for entertaining in our coastal mountain region. Properties tend to be spacious with lots of room for creating an outdoor oasis amidst jungle and ocean views. Whether you are want to host a full dinner party or cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, be sure to create plenty of spaces for guests to mingle that are connected to one another. Consider incorporating comfortable outdoor seating, an outdoor bar, and ample locations for guests to set down their drinks. When you are choosing outdoor furnishings, be sure to consider function as well as form. Pieces that can serve double duty as side tables or seating, like sturdy square ottomans, increase the functionality of your entertaining space.Outdoor spaces not only add monetary value to your home, but livable value too. Your satisfaction of your own home increases when you have beautiful and functional spaces to enjoy with others. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2500"] This stunning luxury home has a seamless indoor-outdoor blend thanks to the sliding glass windows that recess into the home. Lounge "resort-style" in the privacy of this exclusive ocean view masterpiece.[/caption] As the weather in our South Pacific region is always warm, even in the rainy season, you will find yourself eager to spend as much time as you can outdoors. The best exterior spaces in Costa Rica have all the luxuries of their indoor counterparts. Whether it’s the kitchen, dining room, entertainment lounge, or even the shower, being outside in Costa Rica means you can enjoy all the beautiful ambiance of living al fresco. Fresh air, green backdrops, and the sounds of birds and running water are just some of the many treats associated with our outdoor style of life. Achieving the perfect balance living amongst the elements is tricky, but it is easier with a little insider knowledge. As you prep yourself for a life in the tropics, consider these tips to make the most of your outdoor space.Blend the Outside with the In
This lovely outdoor space in Ojochal is a sumptuous retreat in keeping with the rest of the property’s Colonial architecture. Surrounded by palms and tropical flowers, this incredible terrace with resort-sized pool and swim up bar provide cozy privacy for intimate gatherings.[/caption]Outdoor Kitchens Make Outdoor Dining a Breeze
In the right climate, outdoor spaces are ideal for al fresco dining as well. The outdoor dining pavilion of this Ojochal property has a modern-rustic aesthetic that perfectly matches the Pacific Coast it overlooks. Enjoy the Costa Rica sun during an afternoon lunch, or the twinkling lights of the stars in the evening.[/caption]Plan to Entertain
Sometimes the best way to utilize your outdoor space is to keep the furnishings minimal and let the amazing views speak for themselves. The open railings of this ocean view Escaleras home allow the terrace to merge right into the vista.[/caption] If you want to know more about what makes our exterior spaces in Costa Rica so enticing, contact one of our expert agents with any and all of your questions about everyday life in Costa Rica. And sign up to our weekly newsletter below!
May 12, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Discover Costa Ballena, Life in Costa Rica
Although we recognize that there is not much room for anyone to move to Costa Rica or change locations at the moment, we are hopeful that our global situation will change soon. We at Osa Tropical Properties are all feeling happy and blessed to be riding out this storm from such a beautiful location, and where the virus has yet to be officially found. We wish all of our readers health and safety in this difficult time and we invite you to dream with us of a better tomorrow, however that may look to you. Are you ready to make a shift in your life that will change it for the better? There are no guarantees that moving to a new place will bring you the changes that you desire. But if there is one place that opens up possibilities for trying new things and seeing the world through new eyes, Costa Rica is probably it. Dubbed ‘the land of pura vida’ (their motto of “pure life”), this small Central American nation is filled with those rare qualities that most of us dream about when we think of paradise. This is a peaceful nation with a warm climate, gentle, smiling people, hundreds of picturesque beaches, volcanoes, rainforests, and truly magical flora and fauna. Are these qualities enough to change your life when you move to Costa Rica? Every year, over 3 million tourists arrive in this nation of under 5 million to explore the many wonders of this magical place. Costa Ricans (known amicably as ‘Ticos’) have an immense pride in how visitors view their country, which likely contributes to the nation being ranked as #1 on many world happiness indices. It is also the reason why an estimated 50,000 North American and European expats now call this place home. But this is not just a nation for expat retirees, surfers, and nature enthusiasts. Young families, digital nomads, and many others who are ready to think outside of the box are finding themselves challenged to try a new style of life that is more of a surrender to the moment. So how might moving to Costa Rica change your life? Read on to see if any of these catalysts for change resonate with you. Costa Rica is a nation that delivers the best of the best when it comes to adventure attractions, exciting wildlife, and pristine, awe-inspiring, natural vistas. These are the biggest draws for those of us who grew up in more of a ‘concrete jungle,’ with very little daily exposure to nature. When you move to Costa Rica, you will find yourself living outdoors most of the day, surrounded by wildlife. Exploring the coasts and countryside will open you to a world of new possibilities. You can surf consistent breaks daily in clean, coastal waters filled with vibrant marine life. You can visit cloud forests with hanging bridges linking you through the jungle’s canopy. There is so much natural beauty in this country that you will hardly have time to remember the daily struggles of back home, like traffic, noise, and pollution. What you need to remember is that this is still everyday life. Chores still need to be done, bills still need to be paid, and you still need to look after your health. But what better place is there from which to manage your daily ‘life admin’ tasks than a small town with all of the basic services and amenities you need, while being situated in a picture-perfect natural setting? Costa Rica’s terrains are rich and diverse, featuring twelve different natural ecosystems. These wild and rugged settings are home to all manner of tropical species. You won’t have to go to a nature preserve to see them because they will come to you... And this isn’t always ideal for everyone! You might spot a family of howler monkeys or a sloth in the trees outside your home. Or you might find scorpions and spiders inside your home. There are creepy crawlies in Costa Rica unlike any you’ve seen in North America or Europe. A relaxed person will note that these beings are not coming after you. But a tightly-wound person will likely scream bloody murder every time one flies near. Clean homes are the best way to keep the jungle at bay so keep that broom handy. But if you can’t take the regular visits from your neighbors in the jungle, Costa Rica may not be the country for you. The warm, tropical weather that makes Costa Rica an iconic postcard destination is a big draw for most people in the seasonal Northern Hemisphere. But Costa Rica has seasons, too. Two seasons, in fact: a dry season and a rainy season. And when I say rainy, I mean pour-y! From around the end of May until about the end of November, you can expect heavy rains to arrive like clockwork almost every afternoon. And you may be thinking that this will dampen your style. But for most expats who move to Costa Rica, the rainy season quickly becomes their favorite! The slightly cooler temperatures and wetness of this season still come with warm and sunny mornings, meaning that you can continue to dry your laundry outside. And around 1pm, the clouds will roll down off the mountains and bring a delicious downpour that refreshes the lush, colorful life of the jungle and our tropical fruit and flower gardens. Without it, Costa Rica wouldn’t be the vibrant land that it is, filled with all of the incredible seasonal foods that we so enjoy. The best thing to do to come to terms with living in a jungle paradise is to take the unexpectedly good with the good. There are thousands of beautifully unique communities scattered across this small landmass. Many of them host a number of happy expats living among the local population. To move to Costa Rica, you must be prepared to accept the slogan of the people -- “pura vida” -- into your personal way of life -- for good or for bad. The reason why Ticos are so happy and relaxed is because they do not allow themselves to be forced to work on someone else’s timeline. “Mañana” is a phrase that can mean later, tomorrow, or next week. It is really up to the elements and circumstances presented by everyday life because everything that Ticos do is “pure life." A tree may have fallen, a family member may have called, or it’s simply too hot to do that job right now. Whatever it is, if you want to live in Costa Rica, you have to be able to learn patience and compassion for the things you cannot change. Because let me tell you, no amount of stressing or yelling is going to change their pura vida mentality. Soon enough, you will learn to slow down and enjoy life, letting your usual stressors roll off your back and relaxing your expectations. Their ability to let go of stress is one of many reasons why Costa Ricans are some of the happiest and healthiest people in the world. And our inability to let go of stress is one of the reasons why the most uptight potential expats in Costa Rica don’t last their first year. Costa Rica is a beacon of peace amidst a sea of uncertainty. But it is not the most perfect option for everyone considering a life in the tropics. Although this is the most stable, neutral, and financially secure nation in Central America, it is also the least affordable in the region. The reason for this is that Costa Rica strikes a rare balance between a high standard of living -- the highest in the region -- and affordability, when comparing on a global scale. The cost of living in Costa Rica is far less than in the United States and most other developed nations. In saying that, expats who are looking to spend the minimum price for the same goods that they can get back in the U.S. will not take comfort in the cost or selection that Costa Rica typically has on offer. American products and Mexican cuisine are less available than one might initially assume of a Latin American nation. But if you value quality, Costa Rica will never fail to impress you. Food may be more expensive in Costa Rica than in neighboring Panama or Nicaragua. It is, however, more likely to be locally grown, hand-prepared, and delivered to you in an incredible environment of serene beauty. Stick to the local varieties of the items you enjoy and you will experience a new kind of joy that involves supporting an economy of peaceful and nature-loving people. When you move to Costa Rica, you will quickly learn that the bureaucracy is a legendary negative that stands out to anyone from a first world country. For instance, the steps towards getting your visa or a building permit that you were told to expect last month may have changed even though you’ve returned to the same office. Processes that should take weeks may take years, which can be incredibly frustrating to someone who expects consistency in government systems. You will find yourself either tearing out your hair or learning how to roll with the punches. You can learn to be patient and calm while waiting for hours at the bank, chatting with your neighbors or reading a good book. The point is to know to expect a long wait anywhere you go that involves paperwork. Most processes in Costa Rica still involve paperwork and only a few things like personal banking can be done online. But as a general rule of thumb, the more documentation you have, the more likely that things will go smoothly. Losing your temper, conversely, would involve taking your anger out on an underpaid, overworked employee and will get you nowhere. Better to take a deep breath, say “gracias” for being in such a wonderful place, and take your new life in stride. You will get to where you need to be “mañana.” Do you want to move to Costa Rica? Sign up to our weekly newsletter below to get a first look at new listings in Costa Ballena, as well as featured properties, video walk-throughs, articles about living in Costa Rica, and more! How your life will change when you move to Costa Rica
Getting Lost in Nature
Learning To Let Go Of Your Fears
Taking Pleasure In The Unexpected
Finding Yourself Among the Happiest People in the World
Learning The Value (Not The Cost) Of Living
Finding Peace in All of Your Surroundings
May 12, 2023 in Real Estate in Costa Rica, Tips for Buyers
When looking at purchasing real estate in Costa Rica, it is helpful to know that some properties make excellent investments, while others are sold for much less than what the buyers paid, even after many years on the market. Choosing wisely what to buy -- whether a lot to build on or a home to renovate and make your own -- is important. And that choice needs to be based on a number of factors that differ depending on your desired location and price point. Working with an educated, informative real estate agent is key to making the right, informed decisions, and avoid losing money in real estate in Costa Rica. When buying a new lot in Costa Rica, pay attention to if it has access to water and electricity. Not every lot for sale in Costa Rica has these items covered. And if it does, it may have less than ideal aspects. For instance, test your water source before you buy for chemicals and water pressure. Or do you like to save on electricity costs? Pay attention to the direction of the breezes on a plot of land. If you can orient your windows to allow for good cross-flow, you can minimize on cooling bills. Is security of your personal items very important to you? It might sound like a strange question because everyone wants to feel safe. In general, our Costa Ballena communities are quite safe. But there are areas and types of homes that are more targeted by opportunists. If you intend on filling your home with expensive art or electronics, or if you plan to host high-end renters, it can be a good idea to choose to be located within a gated community with 24/7 security staff on site. The drive can be a big factor in determining a buyer’s long-time love for their property. There are some dirt roads in the Costa Ballena (although fewer every year) that can feel like they go on forever when you are driving up the first time to see a property. But many of these new clients will feel differently going back down, having gotten to know the drive. A good rule of thumb is that if you hate the drive there the first few times, you’re probably not going to grow to like it. Does the property you are looking at have a view easement? Will you continue to have the same view that you have right now in the future? These are questions that an expert agent will know to ask but an uneducated buyer may not think about until it is too late. Expats who stay for an extended period of time may find that access to services becomes more important as time passes. Being nearby police, hospitals, gas stations, or your favorite restaurant may become the key to your satisfaction with your location. Whatever it is, it is best to think over all of the details of your life and plan your location based on your individual needs, not necessarily the most popular locations. One other big item to consider for the location of real estate in Costa Rica is wireless communication. While most properties in Costa Ballena have very good cellphone service and high-speed internet, be sure you test the cell service on your phone and a wifi test when you look at each property to be sure it has these services. Don’t buy a property in a dead zone for cell phone or internet without the expectation of spending a lot of money putting in infrastructure. Look for businesses or houses within line-of-sight that have internet and a wifi receiving dish if you’d like to live more remotely. This would involve buying bandwidth from your neighbor and is therefore a solution that may not always be available for very remote properties. If you are planning to have a rental property in Costa Rica, remember to keep in mind what renters are looking for in our unique Costa Ballena region. Renters in the South Pacific are either looking for proximity to attractions or breathtaking natural beauty and tranquility. Don’t try to please all renters here and make the mistake of building an “eco-paradise” located 5 minutes from the beach where you can hear all the highway noise and don’t have the fresh breezes and privacy of the higher altitudes. Preserving nature is an interesting and important issue that is really burgeoning in our local Costa Ballena communities and all around the world. Costa Rica’s South Pacific is a lush, mountainous terrain that is not really in danger of being clear-cut. But it is still very important to be mindful of maintaining biological corridors that are traditionally used by migrating wildlife. Making sure you choose an ethical site development is a priority that most new buyers don’t consider until after they move in and realize that the monkeys they heard when they looked at their uncleared lot are no longer visiting this spot. Erosion control should be planted immediately and actually more beautiful and solid using plants, not the very expensive geo-textile plastic fabrics. If the lot is properly done these expensive fabrics are not necessary. The perfection is in the planning. A poorly designed and cut lot or road can do immeasurable damage not just to the forest but to the watershed below. It is about the way the land is incorporated into the whole project. Taking care to only remove certain trees and hold onto the rare important and threatened trees. Also taking care of trees which feed animals. So many people are so focused on the house but do not focus on the land. Building a hot water shower outdoors doesn’t require hot water plumbing in this sun-friendly nation. Using something like a big black barrel or thick black water tubing coiled up above is a great alternative. Make sure it mixed with the cold water at the shower head so that you don’t burn yourself. Bamboo is one of the most sustainable building materials in the world. You can start harvesting bamboo within 3 years of planting and new shoots come out of the cut clumps. Most people who build for a second time and have the time to do so will choose to do their own general contracting on the project. A big clincher is needing to speak Spanish to really negotiate and get your points across. This is because local contractors can be difficult to trust because there is no legal protection for their clients’ interests, unlike with architects in Costa Rica. As such, those who choose to build often have to be very involved in managing the project despite having hired a general contractor. In saying that, a general contractor’s job is to obey the laws governing building codes, enforcing US standard building codes (as per client spec), paying workers fair wages and social security. But if you can handle these things, you can probably get your home built much faster than depending on a General Contractor working on multiple projects. If you already know the design for your dream house in Costa Rica, you do not need an architect at all. "You can save time and money (50%) by hiring an Engineer to draw up the blueprints for the project," says Osa Tropical Properties agent Rebecca Rowntree. "For me that was the biggest learning of my entire building process. I overspent by $10,000!" True tropical architecture is being given a backseat to amateurs coming to the jungle with computer programs producing pretty pictures without accounting for the elements in that specific location. Seeing the architect's physical work and asking their previous clients about what they would change about their build is essential if you want to hire a local architect. In case of an eventual controversy during the design and construction process the Federate College of Architects and Engineers is empowered by law to protect the client's interests, which well is not the case with builders/contractors. Renovation is a much simpler process than new construction. Sorting out electrical, plumbing, septic, and floor plans are common challenges when building in Costa Rica. Many builders can have sub-par ideas on what works based on local standards, which can be a far cry from high-end international expectations. Those who choose to build from scratch will often term their project as a labor of love that they would not do again. Time frames are not what people expect, meaning that move in dates get pushed back often. This can add up in rental expenses, as opposed to renovating an existing home where you can live, albeit on a minor construction site. For those who are wanting to build at a rapid pace, some new builders are creating container homes in Costa Rica that can be built and ready within 90 days. Efficient to build regarding cost, insects, weather, electricity and temperature control, they can be placed on any lot, including steep ones on stilts, rather than carving into the landscape. Osa Tropical Properties’ agent, Marcia Oro, had rented a few houses before moving to Costa Rica. However, they were traditional tropical vacation homes that turned out to be less-than-ideal for long-term living. She learned the importance of building walk-in closets instead of adding in armoires. And dehumidified closets/rooms go a long way towards protecting your less-used items. Although it seems like an indoor living rooms is not important, many of us who choose to live in Costa Rica full time will want to spend some evenings on the couch in front of the television. Adding big overhangs is much more important for a home than a rental because you want as much shaded real estate you can have when you are here full-time and want to enjoy afternoon meals outside without cooking in the sunshine yourself! This is a feature that high-end rental homes do consider because shaded space is key to enjoying the tropics in style. Placing a pool right outside of your patio doors is the best way to ensure that it won’t go neglected or underused. Marcia says that the location of her pool is the biggest thing she would change about her home because even though it's just 20 paces away, it is tucked behind her beautiful floral gardens, making it 'out of sight, out of mind'. And if you are looking for resale value, don’t take the inexpensive route when outfitting your Costa Rica home for sale. Install the beautiful granite countertops and add the nice window dressing because it all counts a great deal towards presentation. A covered carport goes a long way towards protecting your car and other vehicles from long-term sun damage. This space can also double as extra storage, laundry, and more things that you don’t want in your main living space. Don’t bring all kinds of furniture, art, and expensive clothing that is susceptible to mold and mildew growth. Black mold stains will appear all over natural fabrics that are untreated. And mildew will cover all of your clothes and shoes that do not get used frequently. Using Lysol and dehumidifiers are two temporary fixes. It’s best to adapt and shop local, buying materials that are have been proven to stand the test of time in these elements. There are many more stores today than there were even a couple of years ago and you can get anything in Costa Rica cheaper and faster than you can by importing it yourself, most likely with a guarantee. Want to know more about what we would do differently if we were in your shoes? Email our office to chat with one of our agents about their experiences of moving here and some of the things that their clients learned, too. We are a great resource in your journey over here so please feel free to use us! Contact sales@osatropicalproperties.com today. It's All About Location
Building the Perfect Rental Home in Costa Rica
Saving Room For Nature
Utilizing Creative (and Inexpensive) Building Ideas
Hiring A General Contractor (Or Not)
Hiring a Local Architect
Renovating Instead Of Building From Scratch
Top Things People Want To Change In Their Costa Rica Homes
Don’t Import Your Whole Life