True Community Living,  A Golf Resort reaching out to its local community.

When I read articles about new developments in Costa Rica that have done horrible damages to the environment as well as destruction to the local community, it makes me proud that the first Golf Resort in South West Costa Rica has gone to great lengths not only to protect the environment, but to improve the local community. The San Buenas Golf Resort has a vision to significantly invest into the people and infrastructure of the pueblo of San Buenadventura, it´s new neighbor. There are 4 main projects.

-Escuela San Marcos This school is a completely new 2 room educational facility for 28 local students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Materials were donated by community members. All labor and construction was completed by the staff of SBGR. This includes an upgraded electric system, improved drainage, and an edible fruit and medicinal plant garden.

-Recycling Programs Located in the new Escuela San Marcos, and focused on educating the students on the importance of recycling, the project receives plastic, glass and aluminum from 90 local businesses. The SBGR employees use company trucks bi-weekly for pick up, recycling more than any other project in the Southern Zone. A pilot program for the Canton of Osa is being formed.

-Local Hiring Practices SBGR employees 20 men and women in various capacities, but would like to hire every willing person in San Buenaventura. In order for them to excel, every new staff member is provided with training and educational materials. Remember the old saying “Give a man a fish….”

-River Rehabilitation Project To minimize local flooding and erosion the river banks are being lowered and routed to access parts of the Golf Course, creating a natural floodplain on site, not in the town. Additional reforestation will provide stability and not affect playability.

-Road Improvements SBGR will be providing laborers and equipment on a regular basis as part of the community plan dedicated to improve the road conditions. Plans are to improve 5 kilometers of the Coastal Highway to a standard 14 meters wide, improving safety and access.

As time goes by, SBGR will create and join many other community efforts. It is commendable that while so many other developments concern themselves with maximum profit, they put the community and minimal environmental impact first.

Annie Drake, marketing manager, south Pacific
Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties

Identifying problematic situations in purchasing a home or a piece of land for constructing a home or small development is often the most difficult part of any purchase.

The laws, proceeds and protocol can be intimidating to many when developing a special project or building a home. One has to worry about potential inherited problems when buying a turn key house or business. You should know the potential uses of the property under consideration if is is your intention to develop. Property owners and potential buyers in Costa Rica need help evaluating various properties and navigating the complexities of purchasing and planning their construction projects.

As part of our services of Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties southern zone, we are trying to make things easier for our clients. For this purpose, we use and recommend a specialist who is a consultant with a wide range of experience. This serves to identify and solve many problems prior to purchasing property offer independent consultant services to support  Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties clients seeking assistance with purchasing, developing and selling Real Estate in the Central and Southern Pacific areas of Costa Rica, including Perez Zeledon (also called San Isidro).

His background is that of a project manager with engineering and technical experience in gaining approvals for site development, design, and construction in the United States, Europe and Central America.  His role ranges from conducting feasibility studies to providing bilingual project oversight and problem-solving. He provides reports and assistance mainly focused on determining if the visions and plans of the clients –- potential buyers or owners — can be realized for a specific property. After doing research, he produces reports tailored to each situation. The reports address important questions and cover potential costs and development options on a property or a remodeling project for an existing home.  The two main products are:

Basic Report: This includes information about the property from the public registry (Registro Nacional) and determining if any liens, restrictions, setbacks or other issues are discovered that warrant caution by the potential purchaser. After a site visit, he can make rough estimates for improvements such as roads, electrical service, remodeling, construction, etc.  In most areas, the Basic Report will include an overlay of the official “plano” or property map onto a Google Earth photo of the area, with my notes and comments.

The Basic Report answers the client’s specific questions, such as, “Can this property be subdivided into segregated and titled lots and sold on the open market?” The report also evaluates possible building sites on properties with environmental restrictions around natural springs and rivers.

Pre-Build Report: For potential buyers, investors or property owners who want to start on the process of developing or building on a property, he produces a Pre-Build Report similar to that required by SENTENA –- the Costa Rican equivalent of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This report includes clearance and setback information required for the building permit process and can be completed before architectural and engineering plans are finalized.

Documents obtained in the Pre-Build Report include the critically important Uso de Suelo in areas administered by municipalities and INVU for unincorporated areas. He submits formal requests to public utility agencies such as ICE (electricity and phone) and AYA (municipal water) to determine if these services are available.  Most of the official documents obtained in this effort are valid for one year and can be used in the submission for building permits.

The Pre-Build Report also can include price estimates for improvements such as access roads, on- and off-grid electrical services, water sources including wells, and more.  Also available are well-researched reports on what plants, trees, and food-producing crops will work well on a particular property.

Other types of projects that he has supported include development strategies for an assisted living center, intentional community planning and the sale of properties with “issues”

Please feel free to write or call me if you require this kind of service.  Telephone 1 888 581 1786 or email me at
annie@costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com
Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties

Not Par for the Course, Golf for the Ecologically minded Golfer

The new, exciting news in the South Pacific region of Costa Rica is the SAN BUENAS GOLF RESORT, the first one in our area. Not only are locals thrilled about the project and the new possibilities that it offers, but we are proud of the ecological, environmental way it has been developed.

This 18 hole course is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the land upholding the highest standards to cause minimal environmental impact. The 332 acres was originally a pasture that had been deforested for the cattle. Great efforts were made to leave the 220 original trees in tact, thus influencing the design of the course. Traditional tractor work which can cause damage was replaced working with the natural existing features. The local sand and gravel provided the perfect drainage.

The SBGC did not only stop at preservation, but actually made more of a positive impact through reforestation. Through the advice of forest engineer, they are adding 15,000 more trees, including a wide variety of fruit trees and over 80 varieties of indigenous trees. This ongoing project is supported by 2 on site nurseries with plans to build a larger 3rd nursery. This former pasture will one day be a migration corridor for native wildlife, while in the meantime providing shade for residents, golfers and employees.

The Paspalum grass, native to Australia is also an ecological benefit. It can be irrigated, live and thrive off salt water, thus diminishing weed growth. It has minimal, low toxicity fertilizer requirements and tolerates wet conditions well, but has minimal dew collection thus facilitating faster drainage. Playability will not be affected by rains.

An Earth University graduate advises SBGR on greenhouse management, seedling propagation, pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer production from organic materials. They are creating natural pest control systems. Some of these methods predate the use of modern chemicals. It is more common to see birds than bugs there.

As far as water goes, the importance of responsible and sustainable water management is a priority. The project is located on 3 high flow springs that produces enough water to sustain the community and future growth, leaving a surplus to tie into the local water system. The mini waste water treatment plants are aerobic verses the normal anaerobic septic systems, creating a cleaner process. Natural Bio-filters like shrimp, fish and crayfish will be seed the projects wetlands resulting in water that is perfect for irrigation. Only recycled gray water, rain and small springs will be used for irrigation, no potable water.

In future entries, the luxury amenities of this Ecological Haven will be described. The clubhouse, golf academy, hotel, villas, condominiums and view lots are inviting, but it is nice to know that something of this magnitude could be created with such low impact on the environment.

For a tour of this great property, call me, Annie Drake  at 1 888 581 1786 or drop me a line
annie@costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com