Real Deals in Costa Rica

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Dear Reader,

If you're considering a second home or retirement destination, you may have discounted Costa Rica. Sure, you know that it's easy to get to (2 hours 40 minutes from Miami, and 5 hours from New York)...it has great weather all year round...and offers high-quality, low-cost healthcare. But there's a misconception that owning a home in Costa Rica is no longer affordable...that the property boom in the last ten years has priced the average buyer out of the real estate market. While that's true for a couple of locations, it certainly doesn't apply to the whole of Costa Rica...

You see, expats, retirees and property buyers focused on two areas: The Central Valley (around the country's capital, San Jose)...and Guanacaste on the northwest Pacific. Off those two well-beaten tracks, you'll find that Costa Rica still has a lot to offer...

We have pinpointed three locations where you can enjoy Costa Rica's natural beauty...her friendly charms...and some stunning settings...at pocket book prices.

Let's take a snapshot look at each of those three hot locations:

Mountains, Beaches, National Parks...plus Brie and Baguettes

The scenery in this part of Costa Rica is dramatically, jaw-droppingly, beautiful. The knife-edge mountain ridges curve like a dragon's spine, twisting and turning their way to the horizon and dropping sharply to the long sandy beaches that run along this coastline. Rich pristine forests cloak the mountain slopes, teeming with wildlife. One park alone covers 425 square kilometers...home to monkeys, river otters, sloths, tiny tree frogs, ocelots, lumbering tapirs, sea turtles, a riot of tropical birds and butterflies...and Indiana Jones-style adventures.

Yet you're only three hours from an international airport. And you're sipping an espresso you just bought from a little coffee shop. Your picnic basket is filled with goodies...warm baguettes, Brie, smokehouse chicken, mangoes, and fresh-squeezed juice. You're on your way to meet friends for a day at the beach, sunning yourself on the sand, taking a dip in the warm ocean...relaxing and enjoying life. You love it here. Your only regret? You wish you'd made the move earlier...

Think this is a pricey fantasy...one you couldn't possibly afford in Costa Rica? In fact, you can own a lot in this location for only $40,000. It used to be tough getting here, and that kept property prices low...but a new highway that opened last year is bringing more tourists and property shoppers to this location. We'll show you how to get in now ahead of the crowds, and grab your slice of Pacific paradise.

A Little Piece of Switzerland with a Tiny Price Tag.

This area is a guarded secret by those in the know that have already discovered it...and want to keep it all to themselves. The setting is unbeatable. A gentle breeze ruffles the glass-smooth surface of a lake, ringed by hills and mountains. The fierce point of a volcano rises to one side, its smoldering image mirrored in the waters of the lake. Howler monkeys call out to each other as they move through the forest, gathering food. Hummingbirds zip from one tropical bloom to another, creating a little light show of jade, white and sapphire.

You're gazing at the slopes of the volcano as you relax in a series of rock pools, fed by hot springs and surrounded by lush vegetation. The heated water soothes your muscles. Your plans this evening call for dinner with your new friends. But this isn't just any dinner...your chef is Costa Rica's finest...but the modest bill won't reflect that.

Property prices are modest, too. You can buy a lake view lot in a private community for $19,000... a 15-acre lake and volcano view jungle farm with a small house and two rivers for $179,000...

Or you can upgrade to an exclusive private community, for $225,000. This home is set in 30 acres of landscaped lakefront grounds that you share with just eight other owners. You can enjoy the swimming pool, play tennis...and this complex has a private marina...perfect for boating enthusiasts.

Village Charm, Ocean Views, and the Big City Close By.

This is another place that was tough to get to. But a new highway opened last year, cutting the drive time from Costa Rica's capital to this spot in half. It now takes just over an hour on a good paved road.

When you get here, you'll appreciate the tranquil laid-back pace of country life. From the hills and mountains, you get panoramic views of the deep-blue Pacific, and the pastoral landscape, dotted with small farms. A short ferry ride takes you to some of Costa Rica's nicest beaches, where Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis and Harrison Ford hang out...

Here is where you'll find one of Costa Rica's nicest villages, too. A small white church with twin red-roofed towers sits on the clean central plaza. The houses are a mix: Modest bright-painted wooden ones, grander colonial homes, and new spacious houses in landscaped grounds. Flowers greet you at every turn...in exotic shades of pink, yellow and orange. A mirador (viewing spot) above the village showcases awesome views of the mountains, the wide bay and ocean, and endless rolling green hills and slopes...

This small village boasts a doctor, dentist, supermarket, bank, and hardware store. It's easy to buy fresh produce and meat...this is farming country, after all. Little bakeries, cafes and restaurants offer light snacks and hearty meals at low prices...

This village would make a perfect second home or retirement destination. And you can buy a lot in a private community close by for $50,000. That gets you an acre and a quarter...plenty of space to spread out. Ocean-view lots (the same size) start at $99,000.

So, how can you grab your piece of affordable Costa Rica? You can join us this August for International Living's Live & Invest conference in Costa Rica. You'll discover everything you need to know about buying a home here...medical care...residency...all the nuts and bolts stuff. You'll meet expats who have already made the move. And you'll hear about different locations in Costa Rica that make sense for second home buyers and retirees (including the ones highlighted above).

Find out more about the Costa Rica conference here, including how you can lock down a $200 early bird discount. But hurry. Last year's event sold out quickly--and I'd hate for you to miss it. Snap up your discounted spot today by clicking here.

Margaret Summerfield

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Posted Under:

costa rica, affordable, conference

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