Osa Tropical Properties
May 12, 2023
Everyone wants to feel like they are being represented by the best agent in Costa Rica real estate. Which is tough, largely for three reasons: a) it’s hard to find trustworthy recommendations when you are new to a place; b) you don’t know what qualifications to look for in a Costa Rica realtor; and c) almost everyone you meet seems to be a realtor (*this last one is not exactly true, but it sure feels like it sometimes). My point is that we get it. We understand how difficult it can be to select a good realtor in Costa Rica and we want you to know that we’re here for you. We understand that sometimes people are going to need to see what else is out there before they come knocking on our doors. In admitting that, we also want to say that it’s rare that our clients leave us unsatisfied. This is because we do absolutely everything that we can to get homes and properties sold in the Costa Ballena. Our team of agents at Osa Tropical Properties has a unique set of tools, training, and spirit to get our jobs done to the highest standards. Here’s a list of a few of the key actions that we take that elevate our listings above the rest of the pack. Being an independent real estate agency in Costa Rica has its perks -- one of which is that we can build our own proprietary website. We do not use the traditional website hosts for our main website. Instead, we have built one of the cleanest, most functional Costa Rica real estate websites in all of this region. We use the standard MLS sites to advertise our listings in addition to our own proprietary website in order to expand the already powerful reach of our listings. Most other agencies in this region are franchises that come with their own branded marketing tools, many of which include a very rigid website template that does not allow for extended search parameters or even the ability to upload videos. On our amazingly functional website, which we have developed from scratch over a number of years, each of our Osa Tropical Properties exclusive listing pages are given the full marketing treatment. This includes high-quality, professionally edited photos, videos, maps, and a well-written description. We care about the listings we represent and we make sure that we have the tools in stock to show them off. Buyers love the search parameters on our well-developed site, which helps them hone in on exactly the type of property in Costa Rica they are looking for. We have built it to be like an MLS for the Costa Ballena region, which includes Ojochal, Uvita, Dominical and the surrounding communities. We update our inventory of listings regularly, reviewing them for quality, price, and other details. What separates us from a traditional MLS is that we don’t list properties that we wouldn’t want to show to our clients, depending on variables like price, location, and amenities. This leaves us with listings of hundreds of the very best properties for sale in our region of South Pacific Costa Rica. To go further into the details of our audio-visual department, we invest in our tools regularly. We know how important photos and videos are for communicating the story of your property for sale in Costa Rica. Buyers are not just looking at homes and lots. They want to know what the experience feels like to be on your property and living in this environment. To communicate visually as best as we can, our camera arsenal includes a professional camera with wide angle lens, a 360 camera, a drone for pictures and video, and a hand camera with gimbal for inside videos. Each of these cameras is used to capture different experiences of the property, through stills, from the air, or in-action shots. We also have additional lenses, lights, microphones, camera mounts, and tripods to help us get the job done right. The most crucial part to note is that, not only do we know how to use our equipment, we do so regularly and abundantly for each of our exclusive listings. Sometimes we will even film videos at open listings we really love, knowing that our buyers will love, too. Basically, we are well-equipped and eager to show off properties for sale in the Costa Ballena. Not only do we use the right physical equipment. We also are quite savvy with our social skills. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn …you will find us everywhere our buyers are. A lot of our buyers are spending most of their online time on these channels. We know this because we study our social media analytics. We study our audience and adapt our content to match the needs of people visiting our website and social media accounts. Because as good as our content may be, we know that the content we create is no good if we don’t share it with the right people. Therefore, we spend time every day updating our accounts with shareable posts that our audience is going to appreciate and enjoy. We like to share a good mix of practical, helpful, and funny posts about Costa Rica so that nobody gets bored. And we are proud to see our likes and follows growing every day, knowing that our sellers love us for it when they see our Facebook post of their property and a big ‘sold’ sign over it. Our team at Osa Tropical Properties genuinely values good storytelling. We love to imagine an experience described by a storyteller, imagining what it would be feel to live in the story’s world. We are sure that many people feel the same way. In fact, many of our newest clients find us through one of our stories about Costa Rica. They may have found us by reading one of our article's describing what it's like to wake up in the jungle, or after watching one of our video interviews with an expat business owners. Our goal as ‘Costa Rica storytellers’ is to take the time to cultivate in your mind a full experience of what it’s like to actually live here day to day. Even investors and developers need to be able to imagine how their business interests in Costa Rica will develop and we are here to fill those gaps in understanding by painting a full, detailed picture based on experiences and pertinent anecdotes. On top of practical information like monthly market reports, new listings, price reductions, and reporting sold listings, we also write a weekly blog entry with helpful and entertaining topics like ‘how to make friends in the Costa Ballena at any age’ or ‘A beginner’s guide to health care in Costa Rica’. We use video to tell stories, too, like Marcia Oro’s YouTube series, The Fountain of Youth. In it, OTP realtor, Marcia, documents her journey towards living a healthy and vibrant life in Costa Rica that includes visits to local health and beauty clinics and interviews with practitioners. By using a variety of tools and mediums to share stories about Costa Rica, we are reaching a wide audience of people who are enthusiastic about life in the land of pura vida. Over time, we have built a number of client databases over a variety of platforms. Our most prized of these is our CRM database. These are the people who have found us organically. Maybe they found us by searching Google for properties or content related to Costa Rica. Or perhaps we met them somewhere in our travels or day to day lives and offered to sign them on to receive periodic market updates about real estate in South Pacific Costa Rica. They also might be sellers who wandered into our office after seeing one of our magazine ads; or someone who has been referred to us by a past client. We do everything we can to give our clients the helpful information that they want and deserve to get, no matter if they are buyers and sellers. Everyone has their own needs and those people who trust us to work with us exclusively get detailed and personalized treatment from their dedicated Osa Tropical Properties agent. This means that our exclusive sellers will have full exposure over a number of mediums, including ensuring that every other real estate broker's website is advertising your property. And every buyer will have access to the full breadth of our in-depth knowledge about all things related to real estate and living in Costa Rica. We are not going to beat around the bush with you on this one: our most valuable asset is our teamwork. We know how important it is to be able to bounce ideas around with colleagues while maintaining a healthy level of competition. In this spirit, we meet as a team every week to discuss the trends that we are seeing in the local and wider real estate markets. Our agents, broker, administrator, and marketing department meet to go over the details of the week that just passed and our goals for the week ahead. We share key details about new listings we are taking, what properties we are showing, who we are showing listings to, and discuss how our listings are progressing. We have weekly meetings regularly and ritually to open the floor for more ideas. By comparing notes we help each other create solutions for any problems we may be encountering and we offer one another encouragement to keep pushing for more and better ways. It is also important to our office culture to celebrate our successes and achievements as a team. The better our team mates do, the better the team does altogether. In all of these ways, the close and trusting bond we share has been tended over time and it makes for a great support system that gives us strength to put our maximum effort into promoting our exclusive listings. Are you ready to test out the OTP way? We are ready for you. We work for this every day and we guarantee that we will promote your property or represent you as a property-hunter in a truly expert capacity. We welcome you to read through dozens of glowing testimonials from our past clients and ask around the local community: Osa Tropical Properties is one of the hottest teams in Costa Rica real estate right now! Big brands are not always the best choice to represent you. Email our office to learn more about what we can do that’s right for you: sales@osatropicalproperties.com The Best Website in Costa Rica Real Estate
High-end Technical Equipment
Social Media Savvy
Sharing Stories
Our Clients
Our Team
May 12, 2023
This month’s Osa Tropical Properties real estate market report for South Pacific Costa Rica highlights the strengths and weaknesses in Costa Rica’s plan for promoting its top industry. South Pacific Costa Rica’s real estate markets have grown significantly in recent years. 2019 has been our strongest year on record at Osa Tropical Properties. Retirees and non-pensioned investors looking for a simpler, more beautiful life, are finding value in our local property market in increasing numbers. Although we saw the typical decline in new inquiries between July and August, September has seen more inquiries than in previous years and we anticipate a busy high season in 2020. With the strong push for growth in tourism from Costa Rica's government comes a growing number of inquiries about what is on offer in our local real estate market. And based on Costa Rica’s recent international accolades, ad campaigns, and popular environmental policy, we can confidently forecast continued growth in tourism. In a world becoming more sensitized to the importance of protecting wilderness environments, it is easy to see Costa Rica’s appeal. It’s why many of us international residents have chosen to be here. We may or may not be headed for a global recession, but one thing’s for certain: Costa Rica is taking every measure to protect and promote its resources. Growth in tourism and promoting this country as a safe place for investment are top priorities for the current government. Costa Rica’s president, Carlos Alvarado, attended a ceremony this week in New York City to receive the award for policy leadership from the United Nations’ 2019 Champions of the Earth. The UN declared that Costa Rica “sets an example for the region and for the world” with its plan to decarbonize its economy by 2050. “Receiving the Champions of the Earth award on behalf of Costa Rica, its entire population, the past generations who protected the environment, and future generations fills me with pride and emotion for what Costa Rica has achieved and for what we can continue to do because we can achieve even more,” said President Alvarado. “I feel very proud to be Costa Rican.” Costa Rica’s plan for decarbonization includes a new transportation system in the country’s capital that is focused on walking, biking, and an electric train. The country’s plan also includes better management of waste, cattle, agriculture, construction, and cargo. This is also the fifth year in a row that Costa Rica has run on more than 98% clean, renewable energy, according to data from the National Center for Energy Control (CENCE). This honored designation is accompanied by Costa Rica receiving the top destination on Conde Nast Traveler’s list of the 40 most beautiful countries. The travel guide’s choice was based on the experiences that Costa Rica offers, like security, life expectancy, and natural resources. Travelers value the all-around attractiveness of Costa Rica, where nature reigns supreme in all its powerful beauty. 26% of this country’s entire territory is protected, hosting nearly 5% of the world’s total biodiversity. A high literacy rate, good health care, and a dynamic economy make this a friendly country that is ready and willing to welcome a growing number of tourists. Just in the first half of this year, Costa Rica saw 1,549,812 international arrivals by air, an increase of 8% over last year. The Costa Rican government is also growing infrastructure to match the expansion of the economy. A new commercial route between Costa Rica and China has been inaugurated this month, offering an unprecedented opportunity for exporters of fresh produce, and for Costa Rica to receive goods directly from China. Costa Rica has also signed a five-year contract with Loksys International to improve the country’s freight and haulage tracking system. Ian McDermot, Managing Director of Loksys Intl said, “The growth of the Latin American economy is well documented and the secure collection, transportation, and delivery of cargo around the continent is the lifeblood of this expansion.” Expats who choose to spend their retirement in Costa Rica are able to live on their Social Security check and still save money. Two people can live well on $2000 USD per month while still living a beautiful if relatively simple life. Within this budget for two, you may spend $300-$500 in groceries and $50-$100 on power, unless you love to run the A/C continuously. Car expenses like gas and maintenance can add another $200-$400 to the monthly total in our hilly South Pacific region. And contributing to the mandatory universal health care system costs about $90 per couple per month (depending on if you have an income or pension). And a $2000 USD per month pension is sufficient for a retired couple to receive residency. With an initial outlay of $200,000 USD for a property in Costa Rica, a non-pensioned couple has a clear path to residency. For the homeowners in Costa Rica, $2000 in monthly expenses per couple can easily encompass weekly outings to the many gourmet restaurants and lively, entertaining bars, as well as regular eco-adventure tours. Retiring in the United States, on the other hand, requires a lot more planning and saving ahead of time. According to NerdWallet’s retirement calculator, a 35 year old who is earning $80,000 USD in pre-tax income would need over $1200 in savings per month to retire at 67, including their pension. And investors are finding value in Costa Rica's property market, which is heating up significantly in the vacation rentals market. When it comes to a more beautiful and more affordable quality of life, it’s easy to see why Costa Rica is loved by so many. The growing number of expats and visitors to our Costa Ballena region are bringing more diversity to the local economy and the Costa Rican government is actively welcoming more visitors in the hopes of being able to better navigate a constantly changing global economic climate. If you receive our weekly newsletter, you probably noticed that quite a few properties have sold this past month in our region of Costa Rica. If you don't currently get our newsletter and would like to receive weekly market updates about real estate in the Costa Ballena, sign up below. World-Class Eco-Tourism Destination
More Honors for Costa Rica
Growing Infrastructure
Affordable Living in Costa Rica
May 12, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Discover Costa Ballena, Life in Costa Rica, Real Estate in Costa Rica
Many of us grow tired over time of our daily routines. We become worn from the pressures of sticking to deadlines and keeping up with the Joneses. Buying the latest gadgets and competing with our friends for who has the best quality of life stops feeling so important. Something inside of us calls us to find a different way to live. We know that it’s out there. And for those of us who feel adventurous enough, it is from this place of wanting "something more" that we begin our travels to find the place that feels like home. Some of us are called to Ojochal by a very direct path. Costa Rica’s natural wonders and rich culture make this nation a dream destination on more than a few bucket lists. Those who specifically visit our small coastal region called the Costa Ballena — where the mountains meet the sea — quite often fall deeply in love with the spirit of this land and community. They continue to return, holiday after holiday, extending the duration of their stay until it only makes sense to own their own home in Ojochal. Even those who can only stay for part of the year are able to enjoy the rental income that this growing eco-tourism destination affords. Those who find us after searching all over the world know that there is no place like Ojochal. You can live here how you want, feeling complete freedom to be yourself. This is a tranquil, serene culture and the home of pura vida. The essence of this phrase is embodied in the unpredictable yet consistent waves on our pristine beaches; in the relaxed but hardworking people; and in the flowing manner by which nature and humanity live together. It doesn’t matter how long it took us to get here. We feel privileged to live amidst the jungle’s rivers, waterfalls and its magical display of wildlife in the here and now. It is the most simple 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 much of our foothills are paths that will take you to secluded waterfalls that look like they’ve never been seen by anyone else before. Or to a breathtaking lookout spot where you can see to the horizon from the Osa Peninsula in the south to the Whale’s Tail in the north. 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 deeply in gratitude. Fresh air is plentiful here. When it all boils down, we love Ojochal for its exceptional community. This area has its history in purposeful development while keeping Costa Rica’s strong environmental ethics in mind. It hasn’t always been perfect but today Ojochal is a Blue Flag community with goals for continued improvement. We work collectively as a community 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. What we really do best is support one another in our ideals and attempts. 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. 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 about our local region without any pressure to buy. We know that it takes time and patience to satisfy the many concerns that people have about buying a home overseas. Our website is 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. We hope to hear from you soon!
If I could name my favorite place in the world, it would be the small village of Ojochal in South Pacific Costa Rica. No matter how many places you may have visited or lived in the world, Ojochal moves people. It draws us in with its simple charms and minimalism. We are reduced to our primal selves, appreciating nature and its many wonders with full attention.Escape burdensome routines
Getting to Ojochal by the scenic route
A one-of-a-kind community in Ojochal
May 12, 2023 in Discover Costa Rica, Discover Costa Ballena, Life in Costa Rica, Real Estate in Costa Rica
When it comes to everyday ethics, sustainability is a way of life that draws people to want to move to Costa Rica. There is a strong daily practice here of tending to the land, water and inhabitants. The green lands and blue coasts are filled with diverse and important life that inspire many of us who have the pleasure to witness them. Those who choose to move to Costa Rica are often especially interested in becoming involved in seeing a brighter future today. We are inspired by the best and brightest in our communities and we hope that our government can be reflective of our strongest community values. This is also the dream for many Costa Ricans and the best and brightest are pushing their nation to be the best that it can be. Costa Rica has a strong focus on being an environmental leader on the world stage. In the United States, renewable energy made up about 15% of the total power consumption in 2016. This figure pre-dates Trump and the Paris Climate Accord. Comparatively, Costa Rica's national grid continues to generate around 99% renewable energy. This paints a good picture of how far advanced Costa Rica's policies are ahead of the world leader. Even progressive Canada reports only generating 66% of the nations power through renewable resources in 2017. Costa Rica manages this incredibly high figure because the nation’s policies are reflective of the attitude of the people. The opportunity is present to harness the forces of nature that this dynamic landscape is known for and Costa Ricans are choosing to use these opportunities. There is abundant geothermal energy, along with and ample amount of hydro power stations, wind turbines and a growing solar power industry. Costa Rica as a nation continues to choose to grow its economy alongside its use of renewable resources. Costa Rica is a country that is proud of its rich heritage in green activism while accepting that it is still being developed. International expats who come to enjoy the pristine nature and relaxed atmosphere bring with them plenty of concern and care. The idea on many minds is to grow the percentage of land and marine territory dedicated to national parks and reserves. Around 27% of Costa Rica is currently dedicated to preserving the habitats of roughly 5% of the world’s total biodiversity. Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve in Nicoya became Costa Rica's first national reserve in 1963. The goal of the founder, Olof Wessberg, was to promote and support teaching, research and environmental education. With his great passion and wealth, he began the first major conservation project in the nation. Until the 1960s, the now reserve was being depleted of its natural forest to be used as farm and pasture land. Emphasis in those days was placed on economic development through the increase of agricultural production — a trend which began with the United Fruit Company in the 1880s. Little concern was paid to the conservation of natural habitats in Costa Rica at the time. Olof and his partner, Karen Mogensen, arrived in Costa Rica in the 1960s to pursue their dream of living in harmony with nature. They worked to reforest their newly acquired farm near Montezuma with native tree seeds in the Cabo Blanco area nearby. At the time, this region was an oasis amidst the vastly desertified land that was being used for low-yield pastures and agriculture. The couple sought to protect this natural jewel by buying 3,100 acres of land and turning it into the first protected area in all of Costa Rica. UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme met in June of 2017 to add Costa Rica’s Savegre Reserve to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves. According to the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), this reserve is home to 20% of Costa Rica’s flora, 54% of the country’s mammals, and 59% of the birds. This area is home to some 50,000 people, many of whom primarily subsist on either eco-tourism, agriculture or aquaculture. This designation was made possible by the hard fought efforts of the people in this region. In 2015, former President Solis signed an executive decree that banned dams from the Savegre River for at least 25 years, thus protecting this networked region that stretches from Manuel Antonio to the Costa Ballena. This is the fourth designation of its kind in the country, although it is the first to include coastal marine areas. People all over Costa Rica love to work with their hands and to create things from their land. Everywhere in this country, you will find craftspeople making food, clothing, utensils and anything else you might want or need. There is a love for this land and for using its abundance to create a simpler, possibly better world. People here are conscious that there is not a need to transport items from all over the world to sustain us and there is a big push to return to nature and local. Ferias (farmer's markets) are an important part of local economies, serving to sustain commerce within the community to a high level. In addition to the initiatives involving the protection of the nature out there, Costa Rica’s progressive ideals extend to civil rights. Especially when compared to its nearest neighbors, the democratically-elected government of Costa Rica stands out, continually working on achieving the highest civil standards set by the first world. This is a nation with no military. Government spending that would traditionally go to the military is instead allotted to universal health care and education. Literacy rates are among the highest in the world and Costa Rican workers are some of the highest paid in Latin America. And for many who care about everyday ethics, this is a big reason for them to want to move to Costa Rica. Gay marriage is not yet legal but the current government guarantees that it will be by May 26, 2020. Same sex unions are, however, legally recognized. The courts have deemed that the outdated constitution holds no baring over such matters. Costa Ricans are generally open-minded and accepting, despite being a largely conservative Catholic nation. They leave the door open for policies to grow quickly with the times. Can you see yourself living in this land of eco-ethics and sustainable culture? Do you want to move to Costa Rica? Contact our office to learn more about how our agents can help you live your best life in Costa Rica! sales@osatropicalproperties.com Renewable energy on the world stage
The origins of nature reserves in Costa Rica
National investment in the Southern Zone
Creating something from something
A new type of humanity