Location
Costa Rica is the last link in a small chain of nations that comprise the isthmus of Central America.
Costa Rica is bordered by Nicaragua to the North and Panama to the South and offers abundant beaches and ocean access…with more than 635 miles of Pacific coastline and 132 miles of Caribbean coastline.
Climate
Costa Rica is renowned for its remarkable weather. Since this small nation resides just ten degrees north of the Equator, mild sub-tropical conditions prevail year-round. Costa Rica has two seasons: summer (dry season) and winter (rainy season). The rainy season begins mildly in May and lasts through November, with the month of October usually bringing the most rain.
The residents of Guanacaste experience sunshine more than 80% of the year, and have a very mild rainy season, with the lowest rainfall in the nation.
Buying Real Estate
Buying real estate is perhaps the single most important investment you’ll ever make. It can also be one of the most stressful! Purchasing real estate in a foreign country can seem even more difficult as you struggle with new people, customs and languages. The good news is that hundreds of thousands of Americans, Canadians and Europeans have already successfully purchased property in Costa Rica. Click on the link below for an insightful article about Buying Real Estate in Costa Rica.
About Guanacaste
Guanacaste is witnessing an incredible sustained property boom that is transforming small, sleepy fishing villages into thriving, ocean side resort towns.
Well known for its stunning golden beaches and virtually limitless supply of sun, Guanacaste is quickly becoming the destination of choice for buyers looking for a piece of warm, tropical paradise.
Most tourists and successful Costa Rica property investors are familiar with the resort towns of Tamarindo and Flamingo on the north Pacific Guanacaste coast. Prices in these areas have skyrocketed over the past several years, resulting in some of the most expensive real estate in Costa Rica. Many speculators believe that property in and near Playa Lagarto will experience the same dramatic appreciation!
Guanacaste’s Pacific Coast…now known as the “Gold Coast” is renowned for its golden sand beaches, world class fishing, surfing, snorkeling and diving. Guanacaste’s newly expanded international airport in Liberia now offers direct flights from Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Newark, Dallas and Miami…offering incredible direct access to Guanacaste’s jewels…most within a very short drive from this convenient new airport
Living in Costa Rica
You can definitely live in Costa Rica for a lot less than what you’d be spending in the U.S. or Canada, but it takes some conscious effort. What helps is that most people who move down want to pare down, to let go of all they’ve accumulated over the years. They want to own less, work and spend less, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. With this approach, it’s not hard to live economically.
Residency Visas
Residency requirements underwent an overhaul in September 2009, and the new regulations went into effect March 1, 2010. The dust is still settling on some of the details, and it remains to be seen how diligently the new rules will be enforced, and what sort of workarounds will spring up to circumvent some of the provisions.
What's clear, though, is that the monthly income needed to qualify for the two most popular residency categories--pensionado (pensioner) and rentista (small investor) have changed dramatically. The amount required to qualify went from $600/month to $1000/month for pensionados and from $1000/month to $2,500/month for rentistas.
Costa Rica in the News
- New York Times: In a Corner of Costa Rica: A Beachhead for Luxury
- Motley Fool: Save Your Retirement
- Hacienda Pinilla: NEW JW Marriott Hotel Slated for Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- Inside Costa Rica: U.S. Real Estate Developer Sets Sights on Costa Rica
- Business in Costa Rica
- Golfink: Costa Rica Golf Vacations