If you want a place in the sun, this Central American gem is a place to consider, and Costa Rica real estate is a great way to begin your search for your second home, vacation home, and simply your retirement dream.
Costa Rica is often called the ‘New Hawaii’. This usually means that it is similar to Hawaii when it comes to weather and beauty, but more importantly, this Central American country nestled between Nicaragua and Panama is what Hawaii used to be like fifty years ago! Back then Hawaii had huge sugar plantations. Now, however, Hawaii makes most of its money from tourism. Costa Rica has coffee and pineapple plantations, but its tourism industry is growing every year.
Located in Central America, Costa Rica is an emerging nation that is working hard to shed its ‘third world’ status. Bordered to the east by the Caribbean Sea and to the west by the Pacific Ocean, the country is truly beautiful and is famous for its biodiversity and indeed even the sand comes in all colors from volcanic black, browns, reds to a white. spectacular. The ocean is warm and you can enjoy a good book on the beach with the occasional swim or go all out with a myriad of sand and water activities from scuba diving to windsurfing to beach volleyball. There are many varieties of insects, birds and animals and this alone is a great source of eco-tourism.
There are two seasons: wet (green) and dry. On the coast it is usually hot and humid, although even that varies from north to south, where it is more arid in the north. However, the Central Valley that surrounds the capital, San José, has a spring-like climate throughout the year.
People who visit often think about moving there again, whether it’s for a vacation home, a second home, or even moving there permanently. Prices are still reasonable, but the place is already booming, so now is the time to shop.
Buying real estate can be as simple or as challenging as you like. There are so many options. Land and housing come in all shapes and prices! You can buy a simple cabin on a piece of land or go all out and build a villa with an ocean view.
It seems that everything is available if the price is right. Even North American real estate companies are there to help you: Remax and Century 21, for example, are well represented.
There are also companies from the US or Canada that have bought a large tract of land in Costa Rica and then put it up in lots for sale. You can buy this land in several stages, from the original land, the land with roads and infrastructure and many companies facilitate the construction of a house for you and take care of all the legal paperwork. Everyone here speaks Spanish, getting a lawyer who understands what you want and can speak and understand English can be a challenge.
These North American companies take care of all that and even after you have built your house, some companies offer furniture options, as well as cleaning and gardening services. To put the icing on the cake, they often offer rental services, meaning they will rent the place for you and keep it clean and in good repair for as long as you are not using it personally.
This is a great place to be and Costa Rica real estate is booming so make your decision soon.