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.

A TRUE ENTREPRENEUR
Outside England’s Bristol Zoo there is a parking lot for 150 cars and 8 buses. For 25 years, its parking fees were managed by a very pleasant attendant. The fees were $1.40 for cars, $7 for busses.

Then, one day, after 25 solid years of never missing a day of work, he just didn’t show up; so the Zoo Management called the City Council and asked it to send them another parking agent.

The Council did some research and replied that the parking lot was the Zoo’s own responsibility. The Zoo advised the Council that the attendant was a City employee. The City Council responded that the lot attendant had never been on the City payroll.

Meanwhile, sitting in his villa somewhere on the coast of Spain (or some such scenario), is a man who’d apparently had a ticket machine installed
completely on his own; and then had simply begun to show up every day, commencing to collect and keep the parking fees, estimated at about $560 per day — for 25 years.
 
Assuming 7 days a week, this amounts to just over $7 million dollars!  And no one even knows his name.

If anyone know his contact inforamtion, send it here as we have some beautiful Costa Rica Real Estate for him.

Is the glass half full or half empty

You are probably aware Costa Rica is a big Brand world wide and one of the leading destinations for retiring Americans.  With all the uneasiness in the USA, and 77,000,000 Baby Boomers poised and ready to retire, we are going to benefit greatly from this in Costa Rica.  Americans like the lower cost of living, great health care, peaceful democracy, the climate, and proximity to the USA.  Costa Rica is still the number one choice for retiring Americans offshore.  We have more Americans here per capita than any other Country in the world.

By the way, they are not just baby Boomers either that are interested in coming here to live and work.

We have just experienced the first significant drop in pricing in Real Estate in over 20 years which makes this an opportunistic time frame.  There people out there with property that are now desperate to sell.

Whether you are a beach or inland person, one can now capitalize on what was once described as “I wish I had bought 4 years ago” attitude.

Today with what has happened, Costa Rica can help you get the IRA back on track and fast .  Or, people with cash that are seeking this type of refuge and safety also can take advantage of the opportunities.

People are leaving the market in great numbers. Good financial planners have a very low percentage of portfolios in stocks. For people retiring  2 to 10 years out, using your IRA smartly can be the one of the best things you can do.

One of the best hedges against dollar and inflation today is Costa Rica property.  Given the sheer number of Baby Boomers alone and with an eye to lowering costs, living in a nice climate and peaceful country, it is a no brainer.  If you buy a property today with your IRA and hold it through the onslaught of the Baby Boomer explosion it will have a profound gain by sheer pressure of numbers, not to mention the income during the time you hold it. (You still must buy it right)

Read all about the use of self directed IRA’S in Costa Rica and get checkbook control of it.  Join in on our Webinar for self directed IRA’s.

There are also some fine land opportunities that relate to the eminent growth forecasted above.  We have seen some discounting that has never been experienced here before.

Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties has always strived to be ahead of the curve in retirement and investment property concepts.

We are convinced that the Country is so well positioned at this time, that careful purchasing Costa Rica land now can lead to very respectable gains near term for the foregoing reasons.  Unlike buying foreclosures that still have the unchanged mill rates, (taxed at former levels) no idea if these are bottom out totally yet and having to realize that this at best  what the real value is today.  With all that is being put in place in north America, property gains are going to be small at best in the next years as there is no redemption for the losses of the past and they will continue to haunt institutions and buyers alike.

It is the best possible time to make investment moves whether they be for longer term or your retirement.  We have carefully identified some serious opportunities in property for investment or retirement.  These are deeply discounted and in good areas.

If you have a group of individuals, professional or developers and would like to develop a feel for Development in Costa Rica, we can make a mini seminar upon arrival and set up a very specific tour for your group.

Call us and let us discuss our strategies with you to get a first hand feel for things.  Toll free 1 888 581 1786 ask for Robert

 This is an article from Examiner.com

I have been a long time resident and am very close to how things work in medicine here.  At the same time, I am also aware of disgruntled people who would criticize this article profusely. 

On balance with that, I personally know of cases of maternity, bypass , appendix, Laparoscopic surgery and much more that have been done very successfully. 
Things require perspective and one needs to understand how the  system works before you can fairly evaluate whether it is for you.  For example, people with chronic care needs have to schedule their appointments well in advance according to the frequency they require care.  Emergencies are always dealt with quickly.

Many people use their own private care physician and have the public insurance for long term hospital care. It is kind of like catastrophic policy.

When you take into account, your income and the fact that this is so cheap, it might just be worth your while to understand how to utilize this system for your own benefit.  Some of the older Hospitals are very crowded and busy. This may not be right for most people. However, some of the new public Hospitals are very nice and well equipped to give good service.

When we at Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties  have clients coming to reside here and their need is public health care, we make sure we locate them in an area whereby they can qualify for one of  the new Hospitals.

Anyway, here is the article, read on….

Costa Rica, a small developing country of 4.6 million people, in Central America, surprised many people by having a health care ranking by the World Health Organization higher than the United States. The life expectancy of people in Costa Rica is higher than the U.S. and the infant mortality rate is approximately the same. What is incredible is they are spending $6,000 less per capita than the U.S. and they are covering all of the people. 

The Costa Rican Social Security System was started in 1941, by President Rafael Angel Calderón Guardia, a Costa Rican physician, who was educated in Europe. He modeled the program after the one in Chile.

As in the U.S. now, the Costa Rica national health care system was strongly opposed by doctors, employers and pharmacies at the time.  There were concerns, just like in the US that it would eliminate private medicine and related businesses. However, the government of Costa Rica had the courage to move ahead and coverage was gradually expanded. Each step was met with complaints that it would eliminate private medicine.

The Caja, the name of the Costa Rican national health care program, is funded for the most part by employers who pay 9.25 percent into the social security system and employees who pay 5.5 percent.  The government provides only for the 17 percent of people that live below the poverty line. 

Costa Rica also offers a private option, which primarily serves the upper middle and upper class. The cost is approximately $800. a year depending on age and medical condition. This allows them to avoid the wait time associated with the Caja. They have found, in order to compete with the public system, that private practices are keeping their rates low.

Is the Caja perfect?  Absolutely not and they are working to make it better.  There are wait times for non-emergency care. An example is a man who has waited 35 days for hip replacement surgery. The country is also working to expand services in rural communities making it unnecessary to come to San Jose, the capital, for treatment. However with these problems, the Costa Rican people are justifiably proud of their health care system which provides high quality, the latest technology and doctors who divide their time between private and public sectors of health care.  

Chrissie Long of the Tico Times, the leading English-language newspaper is doing an excellent in-depth analysis of Caja.  In her interviews she found that while people interviewed in Costa Rica voiced concerns about delays, they would not trade their system for the one in the U.S.  A doctor she interviewed, Danilo González stated, “Anyone – anyone can receive care in Costa Rica, and they’ll receive the best care available in the country.  In the United States (what happens) if you don’t have insurance and can’t pay?  Out the door.  You are left to die in the streets. “  

Rosa Climent, the director of the day to day operations of the Costa Rica Social Security System stated the biggest obstacle to the U.S implementing national health care was the lack of solidarity. Referring to the U.S., she stated, “They don’t have the same commitment to solidarity. We have a culture of solidarity in our country, in which people with more economic means, take care of those with less.”

If you are contemplating Costa Rica Retirement and medical care is an issue with you, please contact Robert at 1 888 581 1786 and we will be happy to assist you in any way.
Medical care is one of the things we cover extensively on our Lifestyle & Property Tours