Costa Rica Condo Rentals: Ideal for Vacationing or Investment

Jack — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:20:18 +0000

Costa Rica is the most visited country in the Caribbean. Over two billion US dollars is spent on tourism here every year by people who come for one or several of the country’s incredibly scenic attractions. There are very few places in the world that are as diverse as Costa Rica within such a small area. There are miles of white sand beaches along two coasts, volcanoes, and scenic mountains. In a few days you can hike through cloud forests, go river rafting, and experience some of the best scuba diving in the world at a fraction of the price you would pay for such activities in the United States. Costa Rica is also a great discount golf vacations destination as well. Whether you are just going to Costa Rica for a short holiday, or are trying to buy a property that you can use for an investment, Costa Rica condo rentals are sure to not leave you disappointed.

If you’re vacation plans are taking you to Costa Rica, there are many reputable internet sites that you can visit to find condos and reviews of them from past tenants. They’re a fairly cheap option, costing around $1200 to $1500 for an entire week, for what you get. Condo owners are generally fairly good landlords, because they visit the property a few times themselves every year, and make sure everything is in working order and kept up. Many condominium complexes also give you access to some great facilities, such as a swimming pool, spa, high speed internet, and parking free of charge. Most also have various security measures, from guards to cameras up so that you can rest easy at night.

If you’re a prospective beachfront property owner looking to invest in Costa Rican real estate and use it for a few weeks out of the year, finding a condo to rest is also a good idea. If you won’t be spending a lot of time in the country, condos are definitely a much more practical option than buying sprawling villas in gated communities. They will have lower property taxes, lower upkeep, and will be much easier to find tenants for. Because the Costa Rican real estate market is still expanding, you should be able to get a good return on the property and on renting it and have a great vacation spot to top it all off. If you still want a taste of the good life, there are many luxury condo units available as well. When you’re searching for a condo, a good place to start is the internet, but it’s always a good idea to visit the site first before you sign any papers. Keep in mind a list of all the features you want in your unit, from floor space to beds and baths, whether you want a beachfront condo or not and if you want a balcony or not. Expect to pay around two million to eight million US for a condo, depending on the location and how lavish it is.

Costa Rica condo rentals are great for both the week long vacationer and anyone looking to buy a piece of real estate in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Vacationers get a relatively cheap, safe, clean place to stay for their vacation, while prospective landlords will get access to the upside of a great real estate market, a great place to vacation, and a way to pay for maintenance and upkeep costs. Costa Rica may have become famous for its gated communities and huge villas, but for most people a beachfront condo will be the best option.

7 Reasons to Buy Costa Rica Beachfront Property

Jack — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:00:41 +0000

Costa Rica has been one of the most popular destinations for people looking for cheap beachfront real estate outside the United States for over twenty years now. Straddled between the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west and on the bridge connecting North and South America, there’s no shortage of coastline here. There’s also a thriving expat community in Costa Rica that has left the shackles of life in the Continental U.S. (or Europe and many other locations) to come to an incredibly beautiful tropical location and live for pennies compared to what they would be paying for similar conditions in their home countries. There’s no shortage of reasons to come to this amazing area, but these are some of the best reasons.

Reason #1 to Get Costa Rica Beachfront Property: The Weather

Costa Rica has one of the best climates in the world. In the main valley, where the capital city of San Jose is located, the temperature stays an unbelievable comfortable 72 degrees Fahrenheit year round. There’s only really two seasons to the climate here, wet and dry. How wet you get will depend on where in the country you live. Along the Northern Pacific Coast, where property values have skyrocketed in recent years, the worst of the wet season is avoided and the climate is the best.

Costa Rica also tends to avoid the worst of the disasters that strike many other more popular destinations in the Caribbean. There have been no direct hurricane hits on the country in the last forty years, which means that if you are going to be leaving your property, you can be relatively secure in the thought that Mother Nature won’t destroy it by the time you get back.

Reason #2: The Landscape

Despite being located on the thin strand of land that connects North and South America, Costa Rica has an incredibly varied landscape. It ranges from the peaceful Caribbean coast in the east, through the dense rainforests in the middle of the country, up to high volcanic peaks, and back down to a tropical Pacific coastline. Whether you like water sports, trekking, or any other outdoor activity, there will be something for you to do in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica has also become one of the premier spots for eco-tourism in the Americas. There are large tracts of untouched rain forest for you to explore and large parts of the sea are protect marine reserves, making for great snorkeling and scuba diving as well.

Manuel Antonio Beach, Costa Rica

Reason #3: The Beaches

Costa Rica has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Many of them stretch for miles upon miles of shimmering white sand in the tropical sunshine. Depending on what part of the country you visit, you can find anything from a bustle of people to a deserted, secluded beach.

Reason #4: The Expat Population

Costa Rica has been a popular place for foreign expats to vacation or retire in for over two decades now. In fact, there are over thirty thousand Americans living in Costa Rica full time with about twenty thousand living there part time. This means that many areas will speak English and you will have to deal much less with the “foreigner discount” you can get in other areas where the locals are more wary of your intentions. There will also be plenty of other people in the country that you can relate to, making the culture shock adjustment much easier.

On top of this, there are top notch consular services in the country that can help you out should you get in trouble or stuck for some reason.

Reason #5: Property Rights

Owning beachfront property in Costa Rica is incredibly easy. Unlike in other countries, such as the Philippines, foreigners have the same rights to buy property as native Costa Ricans do. There are various taxes and transfer fees that you will have to pay, and you will most likely have to hire a Costa Rican attorney, but once you buy the property it is yours and you will have complete title over it. The legal system is also very well developed for Latin America and you should be able to protect your rights in a dispute.

The only exception to this is in beachfront concessions. Private ownership of beach is technically not allowed in Costa Rica, however there are various methods to get around this fact in certain areas.

Reason #6: Property Values

Costa Rica is becoming more and more popular with expats every year it seems. This means that property values in the country are jumping, and in some places they are skyrocketing to new heights. Despite this, property is still affordable, just not as affordable as it was 10 or 20 years ago.

Reason #7: Easy Entry Requirements

Costa Rica also has easy entry requirements for foreigners looking to stay in the country. Anyone from North America is legally allowed to enter Costa Rica for three months, then must leave for 72 hours before they are granted readmittance. If you overshoot your stay, you will simply be fined at the airport on your way out.

If you want to retire in Costa Rica, the entry requirements for this are reasonable as well. You must be able to prove at least $600 a month in pension benefit, $1,200 a month in other income, or have investments totaling anywhere from $60,000 to $125,000 depending on where you are living and your situation.

This just scratches the surface of the myriad of reasons there are for buying Costa Rica beachfront property. The country also has access to great infrastructure, hospitals, and many great options for schooling. Do your research, visit the country a few times, and find out why everyone from celebrities to pensioners are choosing Costa Rica for their beachfront homes.

Beachfront Property Guide » Costa Rica