Surf, Sun, Sand, and Bargains | Pathfinder International

Saturday, October 08, 2011

2700 acres, five beaches, swimming and surfing, and a bargain deal...

Dear Reader,

It's the classic California surf scene. The morning sunlight sparkles on the ocean. Massive white-capped waves rise up higher and higher before breaking on the sand. Groups of surfers paddle out to meet the waves, tracing the crests in an intricate series of twists and turns. A sandy shoreline that runs for miles with a scattering of sunbathers...

But I wasn't in California. I was on Nicaragua's South Pacific coast. I'd come here to see if the slowdown in Nicaragua's real estate market had thrown up some bargains. And I found one that's such a good deal, I'm writing about it today.

The lot is in Rancho Santana. It's the most established community on Nicaragua's Pacific coast. Santana covers 2700 acres of forested hills overlooking a shoreline of sandy beaches and rocky inlets. Santana has five beaches, each with its own character. Playa Santana is a favorite with surfers. Playa Rosada's romantically pink sands reflect the glorious sunsets this coast is famous for.

Rancho Santana is more than just a gorgeous setting. The infrastructure's already in...roads, water, electricity, Internet, cable TV. There's a clubhouse, restaurant and pool...tennis courts...and an equestrian center.

Santana has fifty-one completed homes, as well as casitas and 24 beachfront condos. More owners want to build. Santana just set up a building management company to assist owners through the build process from design to delivery. The company already has 12 homes at the design stage.

During my stay, Santana was buzzing with families on vacation, owners, and a big group of surfers. I watched workers building a new convention center next to the clubhouse. The convention center will bring even more paying guests to Santana. The center will host gatherings for Agora groups when it opens next year. (Agora is the owner and developer of Rancho Santana.)

The lot that caught my eye is a re-sale. It's a third of an acre. It's a short walk from the clubhouse, restaurant, convention center and the beach. It's got views of Playa Santana and the Pacific Ocean. It's a great lot. And the asking price is only $65,000.

That's a good price. However, the owner has commitments back home and would like a quick sale. He's open to offers. You can contact his broker Bryan here if you'd like more details.But don't delay. This lot won't stay on the market long.

Margaret Summerfield