Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties

I am the proud owner of four dogs, so I feel that the many people like myself that are thinking about retiring in Costa Rica have this subject foremost on their minds.

“Can I bring my pets to Costa Rica”?

Read this guideline
Importing Your Pets To Costa Rica

The very first step

you must take is to check with the air carrier that you will be using because I have found that from one carrier to another, their requirements vary from “oh, we don’t ship pets at all”, to very specific requirements as to time of day and temperature, season, “in cabin” requirements as well as “cargo” requirements. The fee for their transport varies from one airline to another from almost highway robbery to extremely fair. When checking with the carrier, it is recommended that you personally go to the airport where you will exit and speak with a knowledgeable agent.

Also, it goes without saying that for the comfort of your pet, try to choose the most direct route to Costa Rica that would eliminate many connecting flights.

They will have requirements for transporting “in cabin” which normally means the pet must be small enough to fit under your seat in a soft, collapsible carrier and that the pet must be able to stand up in their carrier without the head touching the top, etc. Also, if you have more than one pet, they may have requirements per flight of how many pets can fly in cabin.

If your pet is too large, it must travel in cargo in an airline approved hard transport carrier (no wire or open carriers, it must be plastic, closed on three sides, etc) and all transport carriers marked appropriately with your name, phone number, “LIVE ANIMAL”, etc. Also, if you have more than one “in cargo” pet, you need to know the rules for that as well. Again, do your homework and adhere to their rules to the letter.

Step two would be to determine as soon as possible the date you want to leave and this may be dictated by the airline if they have certain months of pet embargo due to climate, etc.

If you have a choice, try to choose the mildest climate for the pet, spring or fall to avoid the extremes in temperatures and night flights during especially warm weather is going to be better than day time. Make sure your pet/s is healthy and free of parasites and are up to date on their vaccinations, and especially rabies.  The rule is that the vaccinations must be no older than one year or newer than one month.

So, you have met all the air carrier’s requirements, your pet/s are healthy and up to date on vaccinations and free of parasites, your next step are their International health certificate from a qualified veterinarian. Again, adhere to your air carrier’s requirements as to exactly when you get the health certificate completed. The (very strict) rules seem to be by the airlines that the health certificate be issued no more than 8 to 10 days prior to take off. This is pretty obvious as they don’t want an animal with a six month health certificate that has contracted a disease in the interim. Carefully choose the doctor because your vet must be certified (be sure he/she is) to issue an international health certificate.

To Tranquilize Or Not? Tranquilizers act differently in each animal; leaving some dangerously sedated and others wired for charge. Since you would not be able to supervise should a normal dosage happen to be an overdose in your pet, it is best not to drug them at all.

To Feed Or Not To Feed? Feed them a good meal no sooner than 6 to 8 hours prior to take off to assure they don’t get motion sickness and vomit and have to travel the whole way in a soiled crate. Perhaps feeding a meal with a high moisture content to keep them from dehydration is a plus.

A good and vigorous walk some few hours prior to take off to be sure they eliminate well will go a long way for their comfort. Pack a soft absorbent type of fabric, an old thick towel is great to serve as comfort for resting or to absorb any type of bodily “mistakes” is a great aid. A favorite toy is a good comfort as well.

Now, with all documents in hand and pets loaded and everything a “done deal”, sit back and enjoy the ride. When you land in Costa Rica, pets will be waiting separately from luggage for you to present proper paperwork. Let me dispel one fear: Costa Rica does not have a pet quarantine. Your pet is accepted or rejected; it won’t enter “purgatory”.

If you adhere to all the above regulations when you present your paperwork to the Costa Rican customs agent you will be fine!.

 Please feel free to call me or write for any help you may need 
Carol Odonnell: Cell: (506) 8318-0717
Location: Hermosa/Jaco beach
Position: Marketing Director Central Pacific
Telephones: Office (506) 2778-7410
Toll Free: 1 (866) 374 -8522  SanJose toll free  1 888 581 1786
Email: carol@costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com 

Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties   - 
We are a Real Estate Company – listing and marketing properties in all of Costa Rica.  We and know the country and Real Estate business very well. 
Buying Real Estate is easy simple and safe with our company.

The current investor should be taking a hard look at good projects priced to this market with amenities built in that won’t cause you to lose sleep over the maintenance fees.  These should be located with good proximity to the Ocean and to the major medical and services.  The location and amenities should reflect a real price savings over that of the past.

One such place that we see falling nicely into the Retirement market in Costa Rica as well as the Vacation Home market is located in Orotina.  It has gorgeous land at $50 per meter ($5 per foot) and beautiful infrastructure as well as ocean, valley and mountain views.  The Best part is that it is only 25 minutes to the beach and 30 minutes to San Jose with all its services including fine dining, world class health care, dentistry and shopping.

This is not a deeply discounted deal, but is a true deal today.  You can lock in your Costa Rica Retirement or Vacation home now and when you look down the road, it will have truly been a deeply discounted property.

The market for this type of product will be fantastic in the near future.  Costa Rica is still a number one destination for retiring north Americans. With the 77,000,000 Baby Boomer falling out as we speak, coupled with other social and political issues, our share of the Baby Boomers  is going to be even larger in the future.  This spells opportunity for the investor, vacation home buyer and those seeking a nice community for retirement today or in the future.

We are currently previewing this project in depth with our full staff and will be happy to report  more information on this retirement or vacation home location.  We will be showcasing it on our Lifestyle Real Estate Tours.
call us at 1 888 581 1786 and ask for Steve, Robert or Gustavo.

Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties  
We are a Real Estate Company – listing and marketing properties in all of Costa Rica.  We and know the country and Real Estate business very well. 
Buying Real Estate is easy simple and safe with our company.

Often  clients call to tell me they are coming to Costa Rica with cash and are coming to buy. They make it clear that they have cash and will only entertain deeply discounted opportunities.  Further, they plan to arrive in 3 days to 1 week.  Think of the logic here.  When a real deal that is truly deeply discounted appears, who knows about them first? 

The owner’s:  Realtor? – Bank?  -  Attorney?

The Bank, depending how they prioritize it can move it the same day if they want as they have good clients of their own asking them to be on the lookout for deals. If the Bank has money in  it, they will prioritize it and give it to their clients seeking this kind of deal, or a good Realtor client of theirs.  Seldom do they have to call Realtors.  Attorneys are in a similar position.  Not only do they have clients seeking deals but often will buy it themselves or with partners.  Realtors as well have clients waiting and they also have interest in putting deals together on distressed situations.  So unless, I have an inventory of really good deals that I am sitting on (not likely), my new found client is coming all the way here for nothing.

Wielding cash doesn’t get done what one thinks. Often the person has already discounted his property in bad markets and is in a wait and see mode.  Therefore the cash guy comes to him with his already discounted property and tries to offer 50 cents on the dollar.  Where do you think this negotiation is going?  Nowhere.  Sooner or later frustration sets in and when he sees something on his own he perceives to be a real deal, it may be something that is fraught with problems.  It usually is. You know where this is going.

Well, how do you find the good deals you are always hearing about?

1  You need to advise your representative that you are sincerely interested in deeply discounted properties in Costa Rica. 

2  You need to be ready to come to view the Costa Rica Real Estate on very short notice.

3  You need to  have the ability to act quickly

This may take 2 to 6  months, but in the end it is the best way to go about it.  There are some very good deals that we hear about early as Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties covers most of Costa Rica.   Costa Rica for the most part is very nicely situated in this down economy believe it or not.  Prices have finally adjusted and we are seeing sales again. That tells us what the market  pricing really is for the here and now.  Deeply discounted properties are not that available today given the above scenario.  Also, a property can only be deemed deeply discounted when there is an up market on the horizon so you may take advantage of it and sell.  That is the only barometer as far as how discounted anything really is.  We don’t see escalating prices in the near to mid term.

Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties   - 
We are a Real Estate Company – listing and marketing properties in all of Costa Rica.  We and know the country and Real Estate business very well. 
Buying Real Estate is easy simple and safe with our company.

After the 27th of January, private world class health care will only be 45 minutes away from the Costa Rica central Pacific.  Couple this with all the shopping, the fine dining and cultural events the central valley offers, Baby Boomers seeking Retirement Real Estate will now be able to take a serious look at this area.

Various routes along the way such as Atenas, Orotina, Puriscal will become more attractive to foreigners seeking retirement in Costa Rica as well.

Recent release
The new autopista a Caldera will be inaugurated on January 27th, one week before the national elections,  Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, announced in Puntarenas on Saturday. “For the first time I made it here (Puntarenas) in 50 minutes by way of the new highway”, Arias told a crowd during a tour of the Pacific port town. The section between Santa Ana and Orotina of the new San José – Caldera highway that is not yet open to the public, had been scheduled to be open in March, pushed up from the original June opening date when construction commenced two years ago. However, advances in the work enable it open early. President Arias called the new highway a “gift to Puntarenses”, saying that Costa Rica has waited almost 40 years for this highway to become a reality, for the port city to have easy and fast access to San José and vice-versa. The new road allows travel between La Sabana on the west side of San José to Caldera, south of Puntarenas, in less than 45 minutes. Currently it takes between 90 and 120 minutes to make the same trip. The savings in time is because the highway cuts through the mountains, eliminating the steep climbs and drops on the current routes, as well the slowdown in traffic caused by big trucks and buses. The sections between San José and Santa Ana and Orotina and Caldera have been open since last year, remaining was the middle portion. The cost of tolls to travel the 77 kilometres of the new highway, from end to end, is about ¢1.500 colones each way for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, more for heavy trucks and buses. On Christmas day, Inside Costa Rica was able to ride the road. Click here for that report.

Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties serves all areas between the central Valley and the Pacific coast.  If you are a Baby Boomer trying to decide, “WE MAKE IT EASY” with our Lifestyle Real Estate Tours.

Jenny Phillips, of the ministra de Hacienda. said on Thursday it is extending the deadline for the payment of the luxury home tax.  Luxury home owners  will have until January 15, 2010 to pay the tax and not December 31, 2009.   (This refers to the new law recently passed imposing tax on Luxury Costa Rica Real Estate)

Only 600 of the estimated 10.000 owners of luxury homes have already paid. 

The fact that many offices are closed for the year end holidays and the complexities experienced by the tax department has complicated matters for many, both the taxpayers and the tax collector,  the other reason for the extension.

October 1, 2009  lawmakers passed a law that imposes a special tax homes valued at more than ¢100 million colones. Approximately $180,000)

The tax is expected to raise some ¢10 billion colones for government coffers, money that would be used to eradicate slums.

The law requires that every owner of a luxury home ( any home valued at ¢100 million colones or more, be it free standing or part of a condominium) must pay the tax or face sanctions that include fines and possible confiscation of the home.

Home owners who don’t pay up by the deadline face a fine of up to 10 times the original tax, plus interest.

The tax is for a 10 year period, beginning this year.

 
This is the first time that the tax department has attempted to collect a property tax in one lump sum.   Francisco Gamboa, director general de Tributación, said that this has been a learning experience both for the taxpayer as the tax collector.

Some of the complaints filed with the tax department so far is the complications of the form and the manner of payment. In some cases taxpayers have reported difficulties in paying the tax, no matter how hard they tried.

It is recommended to hire a professionals to complete the forms and service of calculation and payment of tax.

The price for the professional services vary. The service can cost between us$200 and us$2.000 or more. Some firms offer certificates of evaluation to assure the taxpayer that the evaluation and contribution is not unfounded.

Some owners of the luxury home tax are totally confused as if they should pay or not. Adding to the confusion it the possibility of a Constitutional Court challenge to the tax law, which could stall the payment or collection of the tax until the courts resolve the issue. However, no such appeal has been filed as yet.

To see if you should pay, we offer the following advice:

1. Determine the type of housing based on Manual de Valores Base Unitarios por Tipología Constructiva, which is available on the Ministerio de Hacienda website (https://www.hacienda.go.cr).

2. Obtain the m2 (per square metre) value of the home.

3. Calculate the depreciation that corresponds to your home depending on the type of housing that it corresponds.

4. If the value of the home is more than ¢100 million colones, the property is subject to the tax.

I have listed a few of the reasons people are choosing San Ramon for Costa Rica Retirement.
This is information important to one’s decision in choosing location

It is located 10 13’ 13’’ latitude North, 84 35- 20 longitudes West. 40 Miles North of San Jose, and about 3468 feet above sea level. Situated in the Alajuela province, just off the Interamerican highway.

• Distances from other places
• Airport 35 minutes
• San Jose 1 hour
• Beaches 45 minutes
• Mountains 15 minutes
• Volcano Arenal 1.5 hour
• Golf 45 minutes
• Lodging, Resorts, B&B, Hotels, all in and around San Ramon
• It’s warm and breezy year round, about 74 F.
• It is the most important city out of the Great Metropolitan Area. Is the Regional Center for many public entities, It has all the public services (Major hospital, Private clinics, Red Cross with free ambulances services, Schools, Churches, Universities, UCR, University San Jose, and so on) 
• It is an important commercial center. The commercial activities in town are shoe stores, clothing stores, restaurants, bars, discotheques, jewelry stores, public market, weekend ferias of the agriculture with very cheap produces and fruits etc, and there’s even a small shopping center in the entrance of San Ramon from the highway. Its principal agriculture activities are the coffee, ornamental plants and sugar cane plantations. 
• European settlers colonized San Ramon in the 1840’s, and started developing the land of this little colony for farming. It is also known as the “City Of Poets” (for many and important Costa Rican poets were born here) and three ex presidents of the Republic were born and brought up in San Ramon.

As some areas of Costa Rica are becoming over-developed, San Ramon is a unique gem located in a mountain valley, It has retained its laid-back Pura Vida life style and affordability, for example most of the stores in the downtown area close from 12 pm to 2 pm. San Ramon is just being discovered by an International community craving a real Costa Rica.

Here we have properties in San Ramon for every taste and wallet, from downtown houses, guarded communities, small to medium farms to big fincas, with prices ranges US$ 5.00 square meter of land, US$ 30.000.00 for lot with a small house, to million dollars properties.

Just let us know what you would like and will find it for you.

I chose San Ramon for its many wonderful interesting places to visit, plenty of activities for everyone, the slower pace of life that attracts locals and visitors, the charming people, the appealing climate, the beautiful mountain and coast views, the easiness to find any service or product that you need in a very anti stressful and quick way.

It’s just the perfect place to live if you want to enjoy peacefulness and comfort in even a very affordable way. And be close to everything.

Choose, San Ramon. I did and I don’t regret it… AT ALL!

Any questions do not hesitate to contact us.

 Michel Paulin  toll free 1 888 581 1786

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ram%C3%B3n_%28cant%C3%B3n%29
http://www.sanramon.go.cr/
http://www.so.ucr.ac.cr/

It really doesn’t matter what income level one has, the common thread in Costa Rica Real Estate today is property with value.   It is not always easy to find for various reasons.  Some of the past projects were designed and partially built to the previous market are were stopped in their tracks because of this commitment to design and market.  It is very hard to undo expensive land under them and designs that are too expensive for today. Other just don’t have the amenities necessary to compete today. 

I would like to introduce the newest member of our Costa Rica Real Estate network, Gustavo Odio.  His role is very timely and good for our clientele. He seeks out properties with special amenities and value that match up to this market.   One such property is our new Los Pelicanos Costa Rica which is an excellent Investment  , Retirement or Vacation property.  It’s unique (first ever in Costa Rica) low price , choices and very low maintenance and docking price makes this a winner for the times.
Meet Gustavo Odio.  He is a fully experienced and qualified Costa Rican Real Estate professional with many years of business background. He is native Costa Rican. His family is very prominent in the Construction industry which also affords him a very good insight into today’s markets and what is selling.

His time with us in large and small development properties is a great asset to investors wanting to develop projects. The process can be painful without his type of expertise. He is very valuable to our group because of his connections to quality developers offering projects that are marketable in this economy.

His love for meeting new people and relocating them comfortably in Costa Rica is a large asset for our Retirement market as well.

We are pleased an fortunate that he is part of our team.  For more on Los Pelicanos Costa Rica, contact us at:

Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties  toll free 1 888 581 1786.
To see Los Pelicanos Costa Rica ask for Robert  or Gustavo/  By appointment only

Recently we uncovered a very unique opportunity in Costa Rica .  Now you can own a home and dock your boat at your back door. 
The best part – maintenance and docking $140 per month.  If  you chose to buy a Condo, you can leave your boat in the harbor or your garage and the cost is only $40 monthly.  Waterfront homes from $335m to 535.   Very important to mention is that this is a very good Costa Rican Developer with extensive Marine engineering background.

This unique project has been in the making for 8 years. It is all completely approved and well underway with club house and model 75% completed. .  The location is excellent and the experience and Lifestyle unsurpassed.  This Costa Rica Marine project is perfect for any number of  people and is designed for:
A fine retirement Lifestyle with lots to do every day because of the area and concept.
A very good investment property
An excellent vacation home

Los Pelicanos Costa Rica has location, good pricing, very low maintenance and a wide range of choices.

You can actually have a waterfront home from $335,000, dock your boat at the back on canal, pay only $140 monthly for all maintenance and dockage.  This is unheard of and fits today’s market perfectly.  We are very proud to have this for our clients and will be very pleased to arrange a tour for you..   Tours are by appointment only

For  more information on this call us at Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties
toll free 1 888 581 1786.   Please ask for Gustavo or Robert

 Some of our smaller communities that we class as the central valley area are becoming target of   the savvy investor and retiree due to the new highways being completed. One can enjoy beautiful views, tranquility and a low cost of living and not be too far from all the services.

Meet Mike Paulin is along resident of San Ramon and has recently joined our network as our San Ramon Real Estate marketing associate for this area.

Mike is from France and is a long time resident of San Ramon and intimate with the area. His background is that of an international Chef. He is well travelled and chose Costa Rica for it’s beauty, friendly people and comfortable cost of living for his early retirement years.

His activities in Costa Rica include working with indigenous people here to assist them in their lifestyle. Recently he decided to take advantage of his many languages and experience with people of all walks of life. He felt his investigation process and choice of Costa Rica as a retirement destination could serve him well with our firm.

Further, he is a dyed in the wool San Ramonian and can be very informative for people seeking a rural lifestyle in an area that has many amenities for a great and comfortable life. Michel rounds us out nicely and we are very pleased to have a person of his caliber with our team.

Mike is currently working on locating a number  of small farms in the San Ramon area that will fit nicely the plans of people seeking a quiet lifestyle with a little land and not too costly. 

Cost of living is very low in this area and the views are magnificent.  Lifestyle is laid back. The town is fairly large with all you need for basic living including a hospital.

Mike has some very nice properties in the area of San Ramon, including a development that is quite different and beautiful yet still rustic.

We offer a Lifestyle Property Tour of the area which includes orientation upon arrival which covers every subject you need for relocation, tour of all facilities and service of San Ramon and a good selection of properties.
For information on our Lifestyle tours of the area, call and ask for Mike or Robert. 
Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties  toll free 1 888 581 1786

I just went to Atenas and met with a new client and the developer to finalize a contract for an Atenas home and wish to relate the total history and  experience.  This is a good example of what has to be in place to make deals today.

After the paperwork was completed, I wanted to extend greetings and a big thank you to our client Dan and the Developer, Norman.  In doing so I made the comment to Dan that he was very fortunate to have been able to make a very good deal as many people that bought a yeas ago were not so fortunate. 
I also pointed out to Norman that I was pleased in this meeting to hear Dan’s comments on how cooperative and good the communication has been between them.  

Norman replied that the diligent work of our Rudy Matthews of our firm Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties made this good deal happen.  Dan concurred.  Kudos to Rudy and congrats to Dan and welcome to Costa Rica.

In this market, deals are few these days and when one occurs, a number of things have to be present.  Our client had a budget of less than the price of the home.  Our Developer is one of high standing and that we have dealt with for many deals.  Norman, had one lot left in this phase. It was a nice one with great views, privacy and in a gated community.  Normally this home would have sold for over $400,000. 

After much negotiation a very fair price was struck and Norman offered an very attractive financing package as part of it.

There is no doubt that this was a very good deal, but for both. With the market winding down like it is now and being the last lot he had, it became Win Win for each.

Dan bought value in today’s market, Norman has no inventory and a very happy client.  Dropping prices is not the norm in Costa Rica because of the 20 year constant climb.  However, today one has to be very prudent especially-if you have something in the $200,000 and up range. Holding out for yesterday’s profit will be folly.  You will have it for some time.

While I personally don’t feel we will drop like Florida, people are seeing beautiful homes that were priced at $800,000 and now lucky to sell at $400,000.  Foreclosures are rampant and there you find everything. People buying in Florida at foreclosure levels may very well be still paying too much.  The USA recession is very real and needs building blocks this time to recuperate not creative financing and the like.

Many of our clients feel we are going to experience the same levels of pricing here.  I, for one don’t agree with that for a host of reasons. We did not get involved in junk mortgages, we are not a debt driven economy with low loan to value mortgages and we are still a solution not only to the Baby Boomer, but many disgruntled people that want a change. Remember, There is no better option than Costa Rica unless you are a $600 per month person that we keep seeing advertised.  We need to maintain this status by not pricing ourselves out of this great market.

Costa Rica Real Estate will still be very desirable if priced according to our market conditions.  We, as Realtor have to develop a strong message to our sellers depicting the reality for the times.

I have some opinions that I feel are fueled by experience and what Costa Rica has to offer. If anyone cares to discuss this, please feel free to call 1 888 581 1786.  Robert

PS: About Dan
He  was on the Christopher Howard Retirement Relocation tour to acquaint himself with Costa Rica. Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties provides the property sampling for this tour.  Dan opted for the extra days “Add on” that we offer for people that have decided they wish to focus on property.  We had a good orientation with him, developed a very strong itinerary and gave him our full service with our Lifestyle Property Tour.    Congratulations Dan on going about things correctly ending up buying safely and efficiently.