Costa Rica-Real Estate Condos for sale in Guanacaste

Although it appears that some of the big development projects in Guanacaste were put on hold for while, it appears that there actually nothing to worry about. For a moment a lot of realtors and investors in Costa Rica were a little bit frustrated and worried, yet the hold was set with the best interest.

Due to the terrible weather conditions that the Guanacaste area suffered in the past month, a lot of emergency alerts were set and most of the projects that ere put on hold just needed to be either checked for security and some because of their proximity to the affected areas.

The weather has now cleared a whole lot and some of the holds were removed already, some properties in Guanacaste still need to go through a detailed check up but everything seems to moving smoothly and quick.

Guanacaste real estate is also changing due to the fact that people are really getting tired of the ridiculous high prices and even some real estate agents in Costa Rica have started to do something about it, refusing to deal properties that don’t comply with their standards. It is ok that a huge property located in the middle of an impressive Guanacaste beach to be expensive, but no one was really checking if the prices were fair or not.

The sunny days in Guanacaste beaches and forests are only a few weeks away and people are definitely getting ready to spend a well deserved vacation during the holidays. If you are planning to do the same, make sure you get your reservations quickly since most vacation properties in Guanacaste might get rented before you know it.

Picture by Periodico Al Dia

A couple of months ago I made an entry about a Costa Rica girl who manage to be part of the top 15 contestants for the Latin version of American Idol. You can find that entry on this link: http://buildingzoneconstruction.com/costa-rica-real-estate-blog/2008/07/24/latin-american-idol-costa-rica-needs-support/. Well the contest is almost over and that Costa Rica girl is now a full grown woman who is competing among the top four participants as one of the finalists.

This past weekend the production of Latin American Idol allowed her to visit her family and friends and make a small video of her life in Costa Rica as part of the final shows before the real Latin American Idol is chosen. This past Friday the Juan Santamaria Airport was a filled with fans since the early hours of the day who wanted to take greet and meet the Costa Rica singer. People collapse the streets between the airport and her house in Heredia, they held banners and gave her flowers and even a Cimarrona (group of local musicians that play typical songs) awaited her arrival in Barva de Heredia. The young Maria Jose Castillo did small performances for her fans and spent time with her family, friends and boyfriend and although she did not have much time to rest, she said that her batteries were charged and she was really to leave the name of Costa Rica up high.

The support given to the performer has shown that Costa Rica is proud of their contestant and even small activities took place to collect money for messages to vote this next Wednesday, when the Latin American Idol semifinals will take place in Argentina. Even big companies such as Neutrogena and TCBY ice creams have worked on promotions to make people vote: Neutrogena paid for huge banners place in big bus routes and TCBY has been giving away ice creams in exchange for votes.

The hopes are high and the faith is big, the Costa Rica people have been supporting Maria Jose very strong and proving that a small country can have idol material and that the power of pride can join countries, since a lot of the Central American people have supported her with the same power Costa Rica has. The next performance for the top for will be held this next Wednesday, voting will be enabled right after the show ends and to support Costa Rica’s performer all you need to do is sent a text message: Maria at 43657. I honestly wish the best of luck to her and Costa Rica.

Is it to hard to live in a trailer? Talking to some people about how really expensive real estate in Costa Rica has become for Ticos (yes, I know I am becoming annoying with this, but trust me I have a good point) One the locals introduced me to a new a very useful way to build a home: Containers!

Apparently, in some other locations worldwide, building a home inside one or several containers has become one of the easiest and cheapest ways to own a home and not spend ridiculous high amounts of money. In Costa Rica, container homes have not been used so far, but I hear that it is a topic under study.

Finished Container Home: A Solution for Costa Rica Homes?

These container homes can be built in only 4 weeks and they can be as big as you want them, even have multiple floors. The very well known Fort Bragg in the US Army is already using one of these constructions as an administrative command center.

Costa Rica is a wonderful, place and if these container homes project is taking into further consideration maybe the issue of unaffordable prices in real estate will be fixed. These homes can a nice solution in Guanacaste for example where the climate is too hot to work a property for several months or in Limon where it rains most of the year. So far, this container home conversation was only in our table but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Costa Rica government or even the people start testing these container homes.

It would be a lot easier to provide housing projects for families with low incomes; young professionals might be able to finally afford their Costa Rica home and stop wasting money on rent; space can be used wiser in the residential areas located near the National Parks in Costa Rica, definitely a win/win situation.

The final steps to begin working with the approved TLC (Free Trade Agreement) Costa Rica worked with the US government will be put on hold until November 6^th, 2008 according to recent resolution between the Costa Rica government and the US. On that date a delegation that will be headed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Carlos Gutiérrez, and the United States Trade Representative, Susan Schwab will arrive in Costa Rica to check on final details and operations required to start moving on with the proposal and the process and advances of approving the last of the 13 “complimentary” laws that are required to accompany the trade deal.

Costa Rica agreed with the TLC last year after several years of discussions and even and entire referendum to make sure that the agreement was a decision made by the majority of citizens, as the their democratic laws and government type requires. Costa Rica is much firmed on their democratic and peaceful way of living and decisions are often made taking into account the opinion of the people first.  

Even development projects in Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Limon or any other province where natural reservations may be around have to be approved by a board or commission before hand. Properties in Costa Rica located in the surrounding areas of beaches, rain forests, volcanoes and rivers are carefully checked to make sure they comply with all protection requirements.

Regarding the Free Trade Agreement (TLC), Costa Rica has been the hardest country to sign, and now with this delay some countries that have already moved forward will stay on stand by until the agreement is finalized.

If you ask me, I am actually proud that this country work so fair with their people, laws and the government is actually handle by the word of the citizens. Costa Rica government model should be used as an example of democracy and taken into consideration for other countries, even the US government.

Recently the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) has submitted a request to increase the electricity rate for residential customers by 30% to the ARESEP, if this request is approved a regular family in Costa Rica, that usually pays a bill of 10.000 colones (a little less than $20 ) a month will have to pay over 3.000 colones more each month. The ICE is actually pushing an increase of 46% and the 455 mil users of the Compañia Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL) will come to experience and increase of almost a 56%.

There have been several increases in utilities bills during the past few months, Costa Rica is experiencing one of the fastest increases in years and a recent study confirmed that regular consumption products like rice, beans, meat, toilet paper and cleaning products are over three times more expensive now than 3 or 4 years ago. Unfortunately in Costa Rica, cost of living is increasing unparallel to salaries and families are the ones getting more and more affected by this discrepancy.

As I have published before, Costa Rica is indeed a paradise for foreigners, where the dollar became king and Costa Rica citizens are hardly able to afford a middle class life. The very sad part of all these is that in Costa Rica most of the people have college education and all the hard work is not paying off enough. A College graduate minimum salary hardly covers rent rates in middle to low class neighborhoods and loans are hard to get with those salaries.

Oscar Arias, Costa Rica president second time around has claimed he feels “tired” of trying to please the people which has become frustrating to all the hard working Costa Ricans that can’t see any progress at all. While properties in Guanacaste are on the most wanted list for young professionals due to the fast development of the area, prices are high and it seems property owners rather inflate their pocket with US investment.

Believe it or not, it is true: Costa Rica will now begin to play American Football professionally. An American Football coach named Benjamin Vega has created the Costa Rican American Football Association (ACFA) with the future goal of actually creating a Football Federation in a near future. Apparently, several highschools (mostly private schools) have signed up to play a national championship, among these schools are  Country Day, Kamuk, Light House, San Paul and Saint Clare. The national football championship which will begin competing next year in what would be the first official competition of its kind in the history of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has several professional leagues in different sports such as swimming, volleyball, basketball and of course soccer, which is the most followed sport in Costa Rica. Organizers have high hopes with the inclusion of this sport in Costa Rica and they expect that at least 16 university teams may compete using soccer fields, as they have similar dimensions as typical U.S. football pitches once the American football league is put together. At the moment, Reyhan Fraile, president of ACFA, has expressed his wish to create an adult league once the federation is established. The first American football tournament is scheduled for the second Saturday of January, with seven high schools confirmed

In Costa Rica, athletes have proved that discipline and strength can be reached no matter the social status, collecting several medals trophies and achieving high numbers in several championships worldwide. This effort has also been recognized by the Chinese government: this year the construction of a new and very modern national stadium was possible through a donation from that country to Costa Rica in an effort to motivate young athletes to pursue their dreams.

It is very impressive how Costa Rica continues thriving to give more and more positive activities for youngsters, the efforts made everyday to keep going further and further in education, technology and now sports proves that Costa Rica is definitely not the third world country some of us thought it was.

While everyone I know is getting ready for the daylight savings time change I sit here on a hammock and rejoice on my routine: there is no daylight savings in Costa Rica!

Usually by this time of the year I begin working on the schedule changes required on everyday life, in Costa Rica we don’t need to do that at all. Modern Daylight Savings time was proposed in 1907 by the English builder William Willett and many countries have used it since then; details vary by location and change occasionally, for example in Great Britain it is just called summer time. There are different views on this practice: Adding daylight to afternoons benefits retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours yet it causes problems for farming, entertainment and other occupations tied to the sun, therefore studies are still going on about how beneficial this change is for everyone.

Daylight savings time is practiced mostly in countries where that have the four seasons throughout the year, in Costa Rica there is only two seasons: dry and rainy therefore there are no really visible changes in the daylight, the main difference may be that it does gets darker about 20 minutes earlier than usual, but it is actually hardly noticeable.

Also, during the past few days Costa Rica weather has changed a lot and there are no more hurricane or storm threats, it has actually been very sunny and peaceful, usually September and October are the wettest months of the year so we should expect some more rain. Guanacaste beaches are receiving little more visitors than in the past three weeks and for what I experience last year the Costa Rica tourism rate drops after December for foreigners, but locals know that January and February are the best months to visit Guanacaste.

And we continue on with more impressive Costa Rica treasures: The Massachusetts senate may include the daughter of one of Costa Rica’s most influential scientists and the only astronaut in Costa Rica as a member. Sonia Chang Díaz, has been won these primary elections with a small difference of 200 votes but with a huge step towards the US senate; her father astronaut Franklin Chang Díaz, her mother and sister have lived in the United States since they were little so she has become very close to people as a well known activist fighting for equality of rights and searching ways to fight the issues created through climate changes.

Costa Rica people do have the tendency to be very political about their views, they fight for their rights and for justice with a strong mind and disposition so it is not surprising to see a Tica use her faith in her convictions to try and makes changes anywhere they are. Costa Rica education has been known to be always avantguarde and it is quite impressive to see how this makes a change in the world. Costa Rica has a very deep commitment with making things better for everyone: justice, environment and family values are probably the most important things Ticos cherish. Even businesses in Costa Rica are usually handled with extreme care, trying to make the best for all the parties involved.

Costa Rica heroes these days are really making a change: Maria Jose Castillo the girl compiting in Latin American Idol is now in the Top 4 contestants. Miguel Gomez and Ishtar Yassir opened up the audiovisual and movies world going beyond their limitations, Nery Brenes did an amazing job during the past Olympics and now a Costa Rica woman is aspiring to be part of the US Senate. You can’t really ask for more, Costa Rica is now breaking barriers and going places and I am proud to have moved to this wonderful country.

Reading the news today I found a very nice and interesting article: The cure for the mosquito transmitted disease Malaria might inside the Costa Rica rain forests!

Every year an estimated 1-3 million people die from Malaria all over the world and although Malaria is not a common disease in Costa Rica at all, there are so many different types of plants hidden inside the rainforests, scientists and doctors have been collecting samples of the wide diversity available and so far 50 of them seem very promising and two of them actually appear to be medicinal candidates are from the Asteraceae and Meliaceae families. The Asteraceae family includes flowers like asters, daisies and sunflowers. This means that Costa Rica forests will not only be used to preserve species and run ecological tours nut also to save millions of lives around the world.

The plants from the Meliaceae family have been used as natural cures for fevers in some parts of the world and herbal remedies like the plant Echinacea are also found in the Asteraceae family. Costa Rica lands are known to be quite rich and the discovery of these potential remedies is a huge step forward in contemporary medicine, not only in Costa Rica, but all over the world.

Costa Rica products include bananas, coffee, some medicinal plants and homeopathic treatments for several diseases, flowers, rice and of course, tourism and of course my favorite: Costa Rica real estate. The variety of business as you can see as somehow related to the richness in Costa Rica natural resources, something every country should start paying more attention to. In the United States we have lost over half our mountains, forests and beaches, which is extremely sad since technology will cannot replace living in a paradise of natural beauties such as Costa Rica.

For someone who has lived in Guanacaste for several months I think I have managed to get to know how businesses in the Costa Rica real estate market works; I have learned so much I think I would actually like to become a realtor in my spare time. Properties, hotels, apartments, lots, villas, houses and even mansions are part of the every day real estate listings in Costa Rica and like in any other place there is people who like doing fair business and those who like to scam foreigners to see how much money they can get.

The best places are of course usually handled by the most serious companies. Yet there are some awesome Costa Rica properties that are used only for rentals and purchasing prices can be insane. Other just build and design these wonderful beach side villas especially for sale and those are the ones a regular John can afford.  One of the most common real estate deals, especially downtown is to get either a lot or a very old house and deign your own home from scratch. Costa Rica has very beautiful contemporary architecture designs and some of the newest buildings are also inspired on those designs, also building a home in Costa Rica is not as expensive as it is in the United States or Europe.

Finding a place that meets all your needs takes patience, requires a lot of research and detail. Costa Rica is one of the most desirable locations to purchase real estate not only because of the accessible prices compared to other locations in the world, but also because of the beauty of the place, the variety of sceneries, the people, the culture and the business opportunities. In Costa Rica, real estate is not only well developed but meets both luxury and accessibility.