Invest In Green Gold
In my opinion, there is no better asset to own during any kind of financial crisis than good agricultural or undeveloped farmland.

Good Undeveloped land -
As long as it is in the path of growth and development, undeveloped land is an excellent choice for various reasons. 

First –  and key to successful investing in undeveloped land today is timing.  Buying land with market conditions of today represents a hold for a couple of years in a lot of cases.  If you buy in the path of growth, buy the land  right, and proceed with all necessary studies up to master plan and permits, this will take 2 years. You would have to build this time frame into the project in any event.  The net result is that you can buy at today’s reduced prices and be ready to go when the market appears again and with the right product.

Second, – A most important  aspect is the assessment of the change in product required for today’s economy and Baby Boomer profile.  One must design to build according to what is now going to sell easily.

Third -  With undeveloped land you are not paying for the pre studies and plans to make a master plan ready for approvals that may or not be what you wish to develop.  When you make your own it will be timed and designed exactly to the market.

Agriculture
In some ways, land is even better than gold or silver.  At least farmland is an intrinsically useful.  A tangible yield is provided in the form of good things from the earth. We all have to eat. As consumers trim their budgets, they‘ll give up a lot before they give up their calorie intake. Worldwide, the per capita calorie intake is likely to rise, as quality soil  becomes a scarce commodity. Altogether, I see many big reasons why agriculture investments are as good as gold…   Here is a sample of an Agriculture farm in Costa Rica that is ripe as it has been deeply discounted already and probably will go for less than asking.   It has water, a year round lake, home, barns and more.  This farm was valued by a Bank at $1,500,000 not long ago.  You have to look to find this quality in a deal like this but with patience you can find them.

GRAIN  It is a fact that Grain inventories are falling to their lowest levels in more than 40 years It is impossible to continue dipping into inventories. The natural response you would expect to see is rising prices for grains and for the farmland that produces them. Global grain inventories, drought pending, are expected to rise this year, but will still remain well below historical level.

 Mark McLornan made this comparison of the current agricultural opportunity in the May issue of Marc Faber’s Gloom Boom & Doom Report:  “Investing in agriculture today will be like investing in the oil sector in 2001-2002.”  (If you’ll remember, that’s when oil raced up to $143 a barrel from its $30 low.) 
 
Does this translate to Costa Rica land opportunities?
“If the United States sneezes, Costa Rica get a cold.” is never more prevalent here.  Here is some background.  According to Javier Flores Galarza, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the resources aim to increase the local rice production by almost 50%. Currently, Costa Rica produces only 48% of the rice consumed by its population. The plan aims to produce 80% of the rice needed locally within the next two years. Furthermore, the local bean and white corn production will go from meeting 25% of the local needs to 70% within the next three years. As we know, a high percentage of Costa Rica food is made with one of these three basic grains (rice, beans and white corn for tortillas

With recent increases in food prices Costa Rican officials and the general public has become concerned about the cost and availability of our food imports.  Costa Rica is mainly self-sufficient in vegetable and fruits, meat and fish, and dairy products. This is far from the case with the basic staples of the population’s diet, rice and beans. Domestic production accounts for less than half national consumption of these staples. Corn and other grains are almost entirely imported. There is ample land for mechanized cultivation of these crops, especially in Costa Rica’s Northern Zone. For more information contact Heinz at 1 888 581 1786.

Bio Diesel
Costa Ric’s objective is to produce ethanol and biodiesel on a large enough scale to eventually reduce or even replace petroleum fuel.  Recope, the nations Refinery, is constructing a large processing plant. The government is about to release a plan for the  development of the industry. The Institute for Agrarian Development, is engaged in research projects for certain products to convert to biofuels. At present, ethanol is produced from sugar cane and to a lesser extent from yuca (cassava), a root crop. There is some production of bio-diesel from African Palm oil.

The next in this series of  Green Gold will be published shortly. 

If you have a specific requirement in Costa Rica Land, contact us at 1 888 581 1786 and ask for Robert or Heinz.

SIMPLEST – LEAST MAINTENANCE – MOST SECURE  TYPE OF INVESTMENT

“Land banking” is the process of buying and holding land for future sale or development. Parcels of land desirable for land banking are those that lie directly in the path of growth and development.

Historically, many fortunes have been made in land banking by individuals who understood the concept of buying and holding pre-developed land destined to increase in value because it lies in the path of growth. To reap the gains of this investment, they do little more than select the land, then wait. Imagine buying land on the outskirts of London, New York, or Tokyo 50 years ago and what it would be worth today!

The average investor thinks of Land banking being as reserved for the wealthy and for large corporations. However, there are models that open up land banking to everyone from a real estate investor who is just beginning to a sophisticated investor with many years of experience.

WHY BANK LAND IN COSTA RICA  -  Costa Rica is a large Brand world wide and will benefit greatly from the onslaught of 77,000,000 Baby Boomers in the USA alone. It already has more Americans per capita residing outside of the USA living here now.  It is the number one choice of Americans desiring offshore retirement.  It is cheaper by far to live here, offers world class health care, is a very peaceful democracy and most important the Government is now directing a large effort at enticing retirees with some attractive incentives.. Because it is so appealing, in the next five years we will see a tremendous growth in the Real Estate market here.

Before the crisis in the USA, investors eyeing Costa Rica were saying “I wish I had bought 5 years ago”.  Costa Rica has seen the first reversal of prices in Real Estate in 20 years. Land prices have dropped significantly.

This is a point in time where the astute investor can identify this opportunity. 
Warning:   This is not for the impulsive.  One has to be cautious and patient.  All land is not in the path of growth and development as it sometimes appears on the surface. Further, you must understand what can be done with it as well.

In this model, raw-land investors basically buys a piece of undeveloped land that is located strategically, has a potential good build out, will not be hampered by restrictions such as environmental issues, height etc that will preclude the profit plan.

When land becomes more accessible through new roads, bridges etc, it improves in value immediately. When a development suddenly appears, land around also becomes more valuable.  It is hard to predict when these things are going to occur for the average investor so it is important that you have yourself in good hands.  That will apply to the person buying a Vacation home, retirement property for the future or in fact any Real Estate for growth.

Here is an example of a classic opportunity 
 This property is located 30 minutes from the fastest growing town in Costa Rica. It has electric and water and very close to the main road to the Pacific and to San Jose.  Today, it may not look like much of an opportunity as it is remote. Imagine 5 years from now. It probably has potential of high rise, mid rise, townhouses and single family. Once the area opens up and a developer comes to look at this one, his approach will go something like this:
If one was to assume that you could build a combination of 40 units and set a profit at an average $50K net each, he would have after all costs including land at $350K a profit of $2,000,000.  The investor turned his 75K into $350K conservatively.
Worst case scenario: Build an estate home on the land for yourself or sell it as an estate hideaway which it is perfect for even today.

37 acres of beautiful terrain

So when is the best time to invest? 
When a market has crashed is an obvious good opportunity
Where there’s room for growth, and
where the potential for profit is greatest.

How to buy land and hold in Costa Rica  -  There is a process that we use and is very timely now. Learn how to do it without touching your capital. For more information on land banking or about investing in Costa Rica,  Please call 1-888 581 1786  ask for Robert.

Whether you are a beach or inland person, one can now capitalize on what was once described as
“I wish I  had bought 5 years ago” attitude.  Now you can!!!!!

Costa Rica can help you get the IRA back on track and fast. People are leaving the market in great numbers. Good financial planners see self direct offshore IRAS as an excellent choice.

Read all about the use of self directed IRA in Costa Rica and how to get checkbook control of it.

Vacation Properties have always strived to be ahead of the curve in retirement and investment property concepts. We are convinced that now is the best possible time to make investment moves whether they be for longer term or for retirement.

Call us and let us discuss our strategies with you to get a first hand feel for things.

We find good deals and know if they really because we are Realtors that cover Costa Rica thoroughly with the experience to know the real deals.

This project is a Jaco Beach Hotel Condominium that is properly priced to you the investor and the projected rates to the consumer are excellent for the area. It is completely safe for the investor the way it is structured. It is a quality concept brought about by Hoteliers with experience in the market This project is a Jaco Beach Hotel Condominium that is properly priced to you the investor and the projected rates to the consumer are excellent for the area. It is completely safe for the investor the way it is structured. It is a quality concept brought about by Hoteliers with experience in the market

Normally, I would be most cautious about a pre construction in this climate but as you read on you will see what this  one fits for those caring to invest today.

First : and foremost in importance is the land cost.  They Are not dealing with hyper inflated land as we saw it a few years ago in Jaco.  This is a large force for success in any project.
Second: It is a Tourist and Business traveller oriented project and by the way Tourism is still pretty good)
Third: Choices are set out nicely for the individual investor depending how aggressive you wish to be
Fourth: Pricing is excellent
Location: The new highway linking the coast is going to be the biggest benefit to this already popular area.
Fifth:  Amenities and location. The project will have everything for the Tourist or Business Traveller located in Jaco.
Sixth:  Security of investment. This project is panned in every detail to ensure investors of safety. From your deposit on through to the final finished product, your deposit and payments are handled in a way commensurate with the advancement of the project.  A major Escrow Company will release all funds according to Escrow rules.
Seventh:  You get to use the unit when it is not rented
Eighth: A very practical way to self direct your IRA in Costa Rica.

Rental program
· Your Hotel unit will pay for itself at a minimal 30% occupancy, delivering 62% of the rental income to the unit owner.
· There are no restrictions for the use of your unit on holidays and high season dates. While your unit is not being used, the Oceano team will rent it out and provide you with a detailed monthly report. What is The Oceano Experience?
Oceano is designed to deliver the ultimate living experience. From the moment you enter the lobby the building reveals its unique architecture and artistic design, unfolding the different layers or the sea, from the lobby representing the ocean’s floor to the penthouses displaying

The falling US dollar, not having enough time for IRA recovery, future debt, higher taxation or health care issues aret at the forefront of  people’s concerns  when it comes to deciding how, when and where to invest their money.  Many people we have seen in the last 14 months have been afraid to make a decision because they are not comfortable with is happening in the world today.

If we had this project when they visited, I am pretty sure a number of the astute investor types would have seen that this one could be a good choice.  The design and facilities are unsurpassed for the pricing of this Hotel Condominium.

The are offering –  a limited number of 44 exclusive units consisting of:

· 18 One bedroom units starting at $148,000.

· 10 Two bedroom units with a lock-off system starting at $207,000.

· 9 Special over sized units consisting of XL one or two bedrooms, with spa pools and Jacuzzis starting at $176,000.

· 3 Duplex lofts with arched roof beams reaching 5m in height, starting at $249,000.

· 4 Duplex penthouses with arched roof beams reaching 5m in height, starting at $627,000.

* All units come fully-furnished with the exception of the penthouses

the ocean’s surface. Each layer of the sea will create a world of its own, with over 20 types of water elements, aquariums, wall fountains and streams distributed throughout the building.

Rental program
· Your Hotel unit will pay for itself at a minimal 30% occupancy, delivering 62% of the rental income to the unit owner.
· There are no restrictions for the use of your unit on holidays and high season dates. While your unit is not being used, the Oceano team will rent it out and provide you with a detailed monthly report. (Please contact me for a detailed presentation of the rental program and business plan)

What is The Experience?
The Hotel is designed to deliver the ultimate living experience. From the moment you enter the lobby the building reveals its unique architecture and artistic design, unfolding the different layers or the sea, from the lobby representing the ocean’s floor to the penthouses displaying the ocean’s surface. Each layer of the sea will create a world of its own, with over 20 types of water elements, aquariums, wall fountains and streams distributed throughout the building.

Guests will find themselves marveling at different art works, fossils and unique details throughout the hotel and socialize at the pool side restaurant, business center, 2 storey art gallery or fitness center. The Hotel experience is inherent throughout the project as a perfect balance of beauty, design and functionality.

If safe investing is on your radar, please contact me for all details