Boomers In Costa Rica's Real Estate & More

Some Things We've Learned Along the Way

Everyone asks us about the types of things we learned since moving to Costa Rica that we would never have learned back in the states, from the various Costa Rica Internet forums, and so on.  So, here are a few of them:

1. When you budget for building your dream home here, don't forget the architect's fees!  Generally, it's 3% of the value of the home, and oh, you often have to pay for the workers' insurance!
2. Wiring money from your Costa Rican bank account to almost anywhere seems to take forever! It's much easier to wire money from your U.S. bank account using your bank's online services.
3. Watch carefully how much material your building contractor purchases.  They often buy more than you need and sometimes even use what you've paid for on other jobs!
4. In many smaller towns, many shops often close for lunch.
5. When figuring your moving expenses, don't forget that you are likely to pay some customs charges on your goods once they arrive in Costa Rica.
6. Always say "buenas dias" before talking business with a store sales person.  It gets you a lot farther.
7. Make sure you high quality surge protectors for your electronics equipment.
8. Bring a book whereever you go, especially if you are visiting a government office.
9. Get to know your Tico neighbors.  They'll know the best and least expensive shops and services!
10. Always look both ways before crossing a street--Tico drivers, well, you know....

There's so much more, but more soon!

BOOMERS IN COSTA RICA TOURS!

PURA VIDA!

The Baby Boomer generation embodies a spirit that is all our own! We have defined the world on our own terms, and, as we find ourselves rapidly approaching retirement, we will do this like no generation before us ever has!

As you begin this new chapter in your life, what is your dream?

• Invest in a booming real estate market?
• Live well for a fraction of what it costs in the U.S?
• Run a small business full or part-time, perhaps a B&B, an eco-tourism project, or a restaurant?
• Over just live a simpler, peaceful life surrounded by nature and gentle people?

Whatever your dreams, our Boomers in Costa Rica tours are designed to show you how to realize them in this incredible paradise we call home.

Boomers in Costa Rica tours strives to provide you with every reason you should invest and live in Costa Rica and shows you how to do it in the most efficient manner possible.  When you’ve completed one of our tours, we want you to feel completely comfortable in your decision to move here (or not to move here)! We will help you build confidence in your decision to make a bold and life-altering choice!

Our tours provide objective information on the up and coming areas to live, business opportunities, real estate investments and more! And, you don´t just get talking heads—you get to meet real people who have already done what you want to do—and you get a wealth of detailed information to take home with you so you can quickly plan your move to Costa Rica.

We´re Alex and Andrew and we´ve already done what you´re thinking about doing. We want to show you how to successfully move to Costa Rica by learning from our experiences. We´ve done all the legwork for you so you can quickly begin your new life here.

Unlike other tours, all the detailed information you learn while with us is provided on a jam-packed CD that you take home with you. This includes residency information, objective comparison of real estate opportunities, moving and living checklists, healthcare information, sample legal documents, contacts with attorneys, architects, business people, banks and much more! We even provide a post-tour relocation referral service!

Our tours are designed for busy people who may be on the verge of retirement or people who aren´t retired, but want to investigate the tremendous opportunities in Costa Rica.

Our tours are also for people who just want to live a more relaxed, natural and affordable lifestyle. Whatever your situation, if you are curious or already decided about beginning a new life in Costa Rica, come join us and discover how to invest, live and retire in paradise!

Our tours will begin in the late fall. In a few days, our website, www.boomersincostarica.com , will be up and running,  and will be jam-packed with information about our tours,  so bookmark it now and check back next week!

In the meantime, if you’d like additional information about our tours, or want to be added to our mailing list, drop us an email at:  boomersincostarica@gmail.com 

Gracias!

Alex & Andrew
From the U.S. 011+(506) 854-0146 or in CR 854-0146 (Alex)
From the U.S. 011+(712) 350-7647 or in CR 350-7647 (Andrew)
Boomers In Costa RicaTours
San Ramon, Costa Rica

Some Nice Homes Under 100K
From For Sale By Owner Costa Rica

San Ramon: 2/br, 2/bth; $62,500
Santa Ana: 2br/2bth, lots of parking; $86,000
Heredia: 3br/2bth; $90,000
San Jose: 3br/2bth; $65,000    
Lake Arenal/Tiliaran: 2br/2bth; $95,000
Turrialba: 3br/2bth; $55,000

Now here's a SWEET Hotel!

Today we had an opportunity to meet with Johanna, the owner of Vista del Valle Plantation Inn Costa Rica  just off the autopista near Grecia and a stone's throw from the airport and most everything else in the Central Valley.  The property sits at the edge of the Rio Grande Canyon, and we loved everything about Vista del Valle from the rooms/villas to the gardens, restaurant, and pool.  Johanna and her husband have been in Costa Rica for many years and its quite obvious the pride they take in their hotel and the surrounding 50+ acres of property.

It's also very refreshing to see people here so concerned with protecting the natural environment and from what Johanna told us, they've gone to great lengths to protect their area, and even a few other areas in the country!

They also have some extremely tempting lots and homes for sale, all with interesting and unique layouts, and with particular attention paid to the harmony between their properties and the environment.  It's worth a trip there even if you just want to see how some ex-pats are living a unique, considered, spirtual, and peaceful life in Costa Rica.  But check out the properties too!

If you are planning to visit Costa Rica, we highly recommend Vista Del Valle, and even if you live here already, why not take long weekend away!?  Take look at their website:
Vista Del Valle Plantation Inn Costa Rica and relax in this small slice of paradise!

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

Curious about what went on in the world the year you were born?  Perhaps you already have some idea but just want to relive your year of birth?  Well, check out this link:  Baby Boomer News: Your Year, and just click on your year of birth (between 1946 and 1964 only).

The Best Investment for Baby Boomers....

There is a lot of information available on the best ways for baby boomers to invest their money and live well beyond their working careers.  You see it everywhere these days given the huge number of boomers retiring now and in the next 20 years--some 78 million of us--and you cannot escape the advice from the so-called "experts," whether on television, in magazines, or on the Internet.  I recently came across a terrific piece of advice that we should all heed in how to invest for our later years in life: EXERCISE!

The full article on "investing in exercise" is here: Invest in Exercise!

Check out the rest of this cool site, Boomers Cafe, as there is some interesting information here!

You're Gonna Overpay If.....

I often pick up those glossy real estate magazines you see everywhere whether in Costa Rica or anywhere else in the world.  It's fun to see incredible properties offered for sale.  However, keep in mind that you'll likely pay a hefty premium for many of the properities in these magazines.  That's because there are higher selling costs and the advertisers realize they are catering to the "gringo market."  If you want bargain, look for local experts who really understand the area you're interested in and who may not be pushing just one development, condominium project or certain areas.  The glossy magazines, however, are a good starting point to see what homes are like in an area, and to give you a VERY general ballpark price range--but usually, you can do better!

Coming soon!  Boomers in Costa Rica Tours!  www.BoomersInCostaRica.com
To join our mailing list for upcoming tour dates and the launch of our website, just email us...today:
BoomersInCostaRica@gmail.com

Real Estate in Grecia and Atenas

I had the pleasure of exploring the Central Valley recently, looking to uncover real estate deals in these prime areas.  I had heard that both areas had become overpriced but I was wrong!  It was just a matter of meeting the right people and getting an "insiders' tour" of the area.  I met all of my local contacts in the Internet cafes--terrrific places to meet fellow ex-pats--and before your know it, I was getting an extensive tour of prime areas in Grecia and Atenas!  Three of the people I met, Loek van Mook of Bridging Worlds Realty in Atenas and Peter Barredo and Jennifer Schubert of Zen Real Estate in Grecia showed me some sweet properties with INCREDIBLE views of the Central Valley.  I also enjoyed meeting Rick, of Rick's Internet Cafe in Atenas as he is very knowledgeable of the area.  You can contact them at:

www.zenrealestate.info (Grecia)
Bridging World (Atenas) 
Ricksinternetcafe@hotmail.com (Atenas)

Costa Rica blogs I read frequently

Blogs are the latest craze and everyone seems to have at least one (I have three!).  I've found blogs to be an excellent way to get to know my fellow ex-pats living in Costa Rica.  You can learn a lot about the "real Costa Rica" from real people writing about their experiences living here.  Their also an excellent way to learn about the country prior to moving here.  Yes, they are all personal opinions but they are worth checking out.  One way to find Costa Rica-related blogs is to do a Google blog search at: Google Blogsearch

In any event, here are some of my favorite blogs:

A Broad in Costa Rica
Crazy Jungle
Colinsito - Life in Puerto Viejo
My Dos Colones
Sand Cruiser
The (Mis) Adventures of a Gringa in Costa Rica
This blogger's personal blog - AndrewNCostaRica      
Letters from Exile
Just Jen
The Bortmans

Beautiful Home for Sale in Atenas: $409K

I visited this home the other day in Atenas, which is for sale.  I'm not buying it as I already have a home but I just had to see if it looks as beautiful in person as it does in the pictures.  In real life it is indeed stunning!  I don't normally list individual properties in a post on my blog, but someone needs to scoop this one up!  If you buy it, let the agent and owner know you saw it on "Boomers in Costa Rica Blog!  Thanks!

Here's the link to the ad for it:

Costa Rica Real Estate Listing Manager

P.S. I do not take commissions from any of the properties I mention on this blog.