Costa Rica Real Estate
Retirement Homes
Costa Rica - Retirement in Paradise
Have you ever dreamed of a Costa Rica Retirement Home and retiring to Paradise; where both the climate and nature are beautiful? And where the cost of living is lower and the people are friendly? Some people come to Costa Rica strictly for economic reasons: pensions or other retirement funds go a much longer way than back home.
Climate
Some folks come for the near-perfect climate. With over 25 distinct sub-climates, and topography that transitions from mountain cloud forest to white-sand beach, and from active volcano to turquoise waterfall within 50 miles, Costa Rica is one of the most climate-diverse countries in the world. And there is an affordable Costa Rica Retirement Home for everyone in every one of these climates. There are over 400 "micro" climates in Costa Rica, so the weather varies wildly, often from one town to the next, and often from one hour to the next as systems move through. There are twelve distinct climatic zones with temperatures that vary according to elevation, assuring a climate to fill everyone's preference.
Beauty & Diversity
Still other retirees come to Costa Rica for the beauty and diversity of the country's natural habitats. This ecological haven has become extremely popular and is very appealing. The American and foreign community is large and growing; Every week more and more expatriates are settling into their dream Costa Rica Retirement Home. And the country continues to prove that it is an exotic adventure and an exciting change of lifestyle.
Investment Opportunities
Additionally, there are those who come because of Costa Rica's safe investment climate.There are plenty of investment opportunities in Costa Rica, all of which are backed up by the economical and political stability of the country. One of the main sources for investment is real estate, and there are many expatriates who have successfully purchased a Costa Rica Retirement Home.
Here are some facts about retirement in Costa Rica that could make your dream of purchasing your Costa Rica Retirement Home very real:
There are more Americans (per capita) who have invested in a Costa Rica Retirement Home than any other country outside of the U.S. A few other reasons:
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Low violent-crime rate
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Many types of outdoor activities to participate in year round
Living in a Costa Rica Retirement Home among the country's friendly peaceful people, known as “Ticos,” you will find that they are just waiting to welcome you into their unique homeland.
Retirement & Residency Status
Before buying a Costa Rica Retirement Home there are certain legal considerations must be analyzed. Two of the more popular ways of achieving residency status are the retiree ("Pensionado"), or the legal resident ("Rentista"). The Pensionado must receive a minimum of $1,000 a month from a qualified pension system (like U.S. Social Security). To be a qualified plan, the pension must be payable to the resident applicant for life. One person allows both husband and wife to apply for residency. The new "Rentista" monthly income requirement is $2,500. The exact same amount applies to all applicants, whether or not the applicant is single, or married, or married with children.
Retirement Living Conditions & Activities
After a successful search for a Costa Rica Retirement Home, and achieving the desired resident status, the retired foreigner will experience relaxed living conditions, yet enjoy modern comforts of civilized society, as well as plenty of cultural diversity within the well-educated population. Entertainment activities are abundant and Costa Rica offers a great amount of ecological tours (cheaper for residents including retired foreigners) and trips to national parks as well as beaches and volcanoes. There are also special interest activities like bird-watching, scuba-diving and horse-back riding tours. For the less active retired person, there are plenty of cultural events like concerts, plays and art exhibits. Last but not least, movie theaters and excellent restaurants abound, especially in the San José area.
All Kinds of Costa Rica Real Estate
Whether you settle into your Costa Rica Retirement Home to leisurely enjoy life, or come to Costa Rica for non-stop action, there's plenty of opportunities, whatever you desire. In fact, with over 800 miles of Caribbean and Pacific coastline, four mountain ranges, 200 volcanic formations, and 26% of its lands devoted to protecting rainforests, national parks and private reserves, Costa Rica can be for everyone.
Real estate is booming in Costa Rica, one of the world's most popular vacation destinations. Splendid and affordable properties in Costa Rica are hotter than ever. Not only are thousands of people coming to purchase their Costa Rica Retirement Home, there are many who are not yet ready to retire, but are investing in the country's rapidly growing real estate industry. Whether you want a modern beachfront villa, a secluded mountain getaway, or a fabulous deal on an investment property, it's all here. Some are buying for rental income, others for a second and/or vacation home, and others just getting a foot in the country, so they can someday have their dream Costa Rica Retirement Home.
Due Diligence When Pursuing Your Retirement Home
Costa Rica's constitution provides foreigners equal treatment under the law. This means that, even as a non-resident, you will enjoy all the rights and privileges afforded to land and homeowners in Costa Rica.
Like back home, there are many ins and outs to buying a Costa Rica Retirement Home, especially if you are not fluent in Real Estate Spanish. To facilitate a smooth and successful transaction, you will need patience, time and a good real estate team – a lawyer, realtor and various property experts – will be indispensable.
As noted above, Costa Rica can be gorgeous, a verdant Garden of Eden, and this is not the United States or Canada, or Europe. But just like these countries, Real Estate Law has loopholes and regulations that you must navigate before securing your Costa Rican Retirement Home. Make sure you do plenty of due diligence during the buying process, talk to lots of people, particularly the ones who have gone through it, exercise common sense and don't try and save a few dollars by taking shortcuts. A good honest lawyer and realtor will prevent a lot of headaches. Get references on both!
10 Reasons to retire in Costa Rica
10), Climate, Climate, Climate. For your retirement, you can almost pick your preferred temperature in Costa Rica and we selected 72 degrees year round at our home in the Central Valley Mountains. But what about the Rainy/Green Season? Sure, we have about 2 hours of rain during our “winter” months each day, but most mornings are beautiful and sunny. That sure beats Fargo in Winter and Phoenix in Summer! We also happen to delight in that expected afternoon rain in green season for a few hours. In fact if you haven’t experienced the sound of rain falling on a tin roof, with a good book, frankly, you haven’t lived.
9) Nature Lover’s Paradise: From rain forest to crisp mountains to experiencing the “Gifts from the Sea’, Costa Rica is a Nature Lover’s Paradise. Each morning of our retirement, Barry and I hike out our front door to the countryside where following a cow on the road is as common and much more delightful than interstate traffic.
8) Health Care: As Business Owners in the United States faced with staggering insurance costs, we sought out a location for retirement that would provide, quality, affordable health care. Costa Rica has U.S. Trained Dr’s with state of the Art Hospitals and Medical Facilities. It also has a thriving medical tourism industry. When we first moved to Costa Rica, private insurance cost $1400 annually for the two of us covering most of our medical costs and prescriptions. What this meant was state of the art care when hospitalized. Third World? I don’t know about that. In my private hospital room, I had a flat screen TV. dining menu options and a companion bed for my husband to stay with me. While our insurance has increased slightly as we have aged, I believe the care in Costa Rica unbeatable.
7) Adventure: We probably saw too many Raiders of the Lost Ark movies, but we wanted the next chapter in our life after the rat race to be a True Learning Adventure! Flying through the Forest Canopy, White Water Rafting are just two examples of retirement activities and we have a long list of adventures still on the list. Every day, daily living in Costa Rica is an adventure from exploring exotic fruits to rescuing a sloth. I have to say it beats going to Wal*Mart.
6) Social Community: We could keep ourselves entertained 7 days and nights a week with Costa Rica’s busy and diverse ex pat community. There’s a club for every interest (Birding, Hiking, Bridge, Gourmet Food and Wine, Volunteer Opportunities) just name it and it’s here. Foreign residents find each other at social centers and hubs and groups like the Newcomers Organization that help with the transition of moving to a foreign country.
5) Safety: While we now look back to the good old days when there was virtually little crime when we came to Costa Rica. Sadly we are not immune to the increasing crime rates that you find almost everywhere in the world, much linked to the growing drug problem. Still crime tends to be more property related than violent and so we have added precautions like a home security system. What should be noted is there is more violent crime in most major U.S. Cities in one day, yet the media will spotlight any violent crime against U.S. Citizens that occurs outside of her borders. Costa Rica, it should be noted, is also a peace-loving and stable country with no Army, often referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas.
4) Cost of Living: Indeed there are financial benefits of being a U.S. citizen living in Costa Rica. One of the attractions for us in selecting and moving to Costa Rica was the benefit of the first $75,000 of foreign earned income being tax free; Another? Property taxes on our new contemporary home in Escazu, Costa Rica were a whopping $100 a year. That sure beat $6,000 a year property taxes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. . There was also no heating or air-conditioning expenses to contend with and the real kicker indulgence for me was massages were $10.00 an hour. I remember saying “I’m so there” There is no doubt, that we could not afford our current lifestyle in the United States and while Costa Rica is unfortunately being increasingly discovered and developed, there are still affordable options for creating a quality lifestyle at a fraction of U.S. prices.
3) Warm and Hospitable Costa Rican People. Pura Vida! “That’s a Costa Rican expression that means “pure life”. Sunday morning is our favorite day for walking in the barrio…Mothers and Fathers walking hand in hand with their children to church reminding us of our own childhood. “It’s like the United States in the 1950’s”. There is tranquility and a commitment to family.
2) Connected: Today’s Ability to Work and Live Anywhere. Yes, we have wireless Internet and low-cost phone service in Costa Rica that enables us to work from home on the deck with parrots flying overhead. It’s not everywhere in the country and certainly not deep in the rain forest, but technology has enabled us to work and stay connected with our offices and families and friends. Just 2.5 hour flight from Miami and 3 1/2 hour flight from Houston, we are closer to many relatives and clients than they are with others living within U.S. borders.
1) The Mangos, The Monkeys, The Magic: I love to watch visitors in our learning retreats discover their own magic here while staying amidst the jewels of the Costa Rican rain forest. Forever changed from their journey to paradise, their discovery is almost child-like. I developed the brand for my speaking and retreat business from the voices of those who have discovered their own passion here. On seeing lava flow from an active volcano, a child-like WOW would be uttered competing only slightly with the volcanic rumble.”
Retirement article - Complements of Rosemary Rein
Casa Uno - Central Pacific
$1,200,000
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