A Real Estate Nugget in the Mountains of Gold

Friday, January 13, 2012

Dear Reader,

On Wednesday I wrote about an unplanned scouting trip in Costa Rica that paid dividends. A change in my schedule meant I had a few hours to kill, and my driver suggested heading into the hills to see a little village in the Montes de Oro. Montes de Oro means mountains of gold.

I didn’t find any gold nuggets – but I did hit the mother lode. I loved the village. And I found a development close by with large ocean-view lots from $99,000.

As I mentioned on Wednesday, a new road that opened in January 2011 cut the drive time from San Jose (Costa Rica’s capital city) to the port city of Caldera in half. This new road didn’t just open up the port, though. It also makes it quicker and easier to get to the areas near by…including the village of Miramar.

Miramar would easily win a pretty town contest. It’s set on the slopes of the Tilaran Mountains. It’s laid out around a nice central plaza with a little white church. It looks fresh, clean and tidy. Tropical flowers burst from flower pots and spill over walls. There’s a mix of small houses in brightly-painted colors, grand older properties of historic significance and large modern homes with landscaped yards.

Miramar isn’t just pretty. It’s got many of the conveniences you’ll need: a doctor, dentist, supermarket, bank, butcher, gas station and hardware store. Small bakeries, cafes and restaurants offer light snacks and hearty meals at low prices. Thursday through Sunday, you can buy produce, cheeses and herbs at the local farmers market.

The surrounding countryside is peaceful and pastoral. Farms dot the hills. You’re close to cloud forest, national parks, and Costa Rica’s coffee-growing highlands. You can horse ride, zip line, hike, bird watch, or take a dip in a rippling waterfall.

You’re 20-25 minutes from a pretty white sand beach. And you’re 20 minutes from the Gulf of Nicoya, a good spot for sport fishing. So you can enjoy a bit of everything: tranquil country living, with forest, beach and mountains on your doorstep.

And with the new road, you’re just over an hour from San Jose’s nicest neighborhood, Escazu, where you’ll find big supermarkets, world-class hospitals, shopping malls, movie theaters, restaurants, cafes, a theater and night clubs.

The Opportunity

Five minutes from Miramar, Colinas de Miramar is a new private community spread over 260 acres, with rolling hills, centuries-old trees, and streams. Many lots offer panoramic views of the Gulf of Nicoya, with its deep-blue Pacific waters and sprinkling of islands.

Although I’ve heard of residential communities in the pipeline in this area, Colinas de Miramar is the only one that’s currently underway. The developer is a well-connected local. Community plans include a clubhouse with kitchen and social area, business center, fitness center, and a swimming pool.

The roads in the development are almost finished in the first phase. The first model home is complete.

But this project is still early-in – and the lot pricing reflects that.

A 10% Discount for Pathfinder Readers

Mountain-view lots in Colinas de Miramar start from $50,000. Ocean-view lots start from $99,000.

All the lots average 1.25 acres in size. That’s plenty of space to stretch out in. And there’s no build requirement. You can sit on your lot for as long as you like.

The developer is offering a 10% discount on lot prices to Pathfinder readers. That cuts the start price on a mountain-view lot to $45,000. And it cuts the start price on ocean-view lots to $89,100.

You pay 1/3 of the price down. The remainder is financed over 2 years, interest-free.

The 10% discount offer is only valid for lots reserved before February 15, 2012.

There’s an easy way to see this area and Colinas de Miramar. And it won’t cost you a cent.

Just contact the developer here. He’ll give you more details and help you choose your lot. If you reserve it with a fully refundable $2000 deposit, you have 60 days to come and check out Colinas de Miramar - for free.

Just get yourself to the airport at San Jose, and the Colinas team will meet you there. You’ll stay in a boutique hotel in Escazu, San Jose.

Over three days, you’ll explore Miramar, the views, the beaches…and get a first-hand look at Colinas de Miramar. The Colinas team will pick up the tab for your accommodation, airport transfers and transport.

This isn’t a high-pressure sales trip. If you don’t like what you see, you’ll get your deposit back. That’s it: No strings, no obligation. You’ll have enjoyed three days in Costa Rica, partly at someone else’s expense. Not bad at all…

You can get an information package from Colinas de Miramar here.

Margaret Summerfield