Want to buy and build in CR

[JPbuilder]

We (my family and I) are considering a change of life and CR has so many of the right elements. I am a builder and design and will need to make a living while we are there. We have a modest amount to invest in a project, and I have some spanish skills. I am looking for 3 or 4 potential areas to focus my research on. Criterias are;
1. No wild speculative projects or scams; only reasonable and well researched projects.
2. No overly posh resort areas, we are pretty modest people by nature.
3. Must have an emphasis on sustainability and respect for the local culture.
4. Must be economically sound.
5. Must be fun!

I would love to buy a piece of land and plan/design and build a few nice but modest environmentally responsible homes, using local labor paid fairly, and perhaps develop a crew of locals to design and build homes for other expats/retirees etc.
This is just one of many possible scenarios. We have the drive, stamina and sense of adventure for this sort of thing.
Any information on where to start or who to speak with would be appreciated. We are in the very early stages of considering this adventure.

Thank you in advance,
JPBuilder

[sant2domingo]

Hi, my wife and I are thinking about moving to Costa Rica to live. I've been reading a lot about the areas of Escazu, Santa Ana, San Pedro, Tres Rios and Rohmosehr. Where are you living now ? I am in Florida. Our kids are grown and we are looking for an idylic place to retire to. Hope to hear from you.

George

[Russ]

Thanks for stopping by JP and George. 

Costa Rica is a great place to be a builder, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding work here.  My 2 cents:

- One area would be the Nicoya Peninsula south of El Coco.  The Northern Pacific coast is the posh area you want to avoid, but towards the south are many areas with locals and foreigners who support sustainable development.

- Another area you should really check out is the South Caribbean.  This area is up and coming and there will be (already is?) a shortage of builders.  There is a lot of raw land, at very reasonable prices.  There also seems to be a shortage of quality homes on the market, which is also good news for a spec builder. 

- Another option is along the Carara Park corridor.  The route between Jaco and San Ramon seems to be opening up to development and there are some good locations along there, with the park being a natural attraction for people attracted to the kind of building you are talking about.

That is not to rule out areas like the Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce and Central Pacific.  As with any family moving to Costa Rica it will come down to finding the area you are most comforable with in terms of the expat community and surroundings. 

[JPbuilder]

Russ,
Thanks for the info. That is a great start. We are just beginning to plan our first trip down next year. I will look into the architects down there and see what the process entails. Are there any other good CR websites with forums where I might post my information?
Thanks again,
JP

[Russ]

I check on the ARCR forums sometimes. I think there is also a Yahoo group, but I don't have the address (well, aside from Yahoo.com ) Good luck with your adventure, it sounds like you are on the right track and I think there will be a market for your sustainable style design and construction skills.

[Spencer]

I think all of the above are certainly true for prospects of your new life.  I live in Tambor on the southern Nicoya peninsula and I'd highly recommend checking out the southern Nicoya Peninsula.  Look at Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Tambor, etc... Check out              [http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com] It is a fantastic and informative website.  There are some developments going down but we're far from Tamarindo (up north).  I think (and hope) that you will absolutely love Costa Rica for yourself and your family.  With the new construction projects going on, there is a serious demand for quality builders.  And, too, the southern Caribbean coast is really nice and offers a different pace altogether.  I really enjoyed Puerto Viejo.  I'd stay away from Limon if I had a family.  I don't foresee it changing anytime soon.  I think Nicoya is your best bet. 

Best of luck...

spence

[JPbuilder]

Spence and Russ,
Thanks for your input. It is great to hear from people living down in CR. We will definitely put  Southern Nicoya peninsula on our list of places to check out. We are planning a trip next year after the birth of our second child when he is old enough to travel comfortably. In the mean time we will work on our Spanish and dream. Do you have a family/know expat families and if so how are they getting along in CR? We considered Hawaii but chose against it primarily due to the rough time "haolie" kids have in local schools (oh yeah, and the prices).
Thanks again,
Joshua

[Russ]

In general Ticos are very accepting of foreigners and very family oriented.  I would say your  kids shouldn't have any trouble adapting, particularly once they understand Spanish.

However I could see that in a particular school or area it might be a problem, so it is something you want to make sure to check out once you determine your ideal location.  However I would say more as a precaution rather than something that I have heard of as being a general problem.  Many of the local private schools have more expat students than locals, so if anything it might be the reverse of what your concern is. 

[JPbuilder]

Russ,
As always, you are the voice of experience and reason. It would seem that with a country experiencing reverse immigration (developed counties moving into lesser developed ones) that there are enclaves where the diversity is less controversial. I spoke with a friend who spent some time down in CR as a visitor and the main negative element they encountered was an abundance of petty theft/crime. I am sure this varies greatly from region to region. While I have never been detered by minor issues like this (Morroco, Spain, Guatemala, Honduras) it can be a real nuisance. Do you find robbery and theft is primarily focused on tourism or is there a general problem (like many developing countries) with minor crimes like theft and "breaking and entering"?
P.S. It is odd to learn intimate details (via forums) of a place I have never visited. I am so used to just jumping in and experiencing the trial by fire. But these days, with time becoming a more precious thing, I find the vicarious knowledge better than none at all.

Grateful as always,
JP

[Russ]

Always glad to help and I think trial by fire is great when you are young and invincible, but for the rest of us the Internet is much better.   

It is interesting that in local polls during the recent elections, insecurity or fighting crime was a big issue. Costa Ricans then feel that crime is on the rise and want to see something done about it.  However actual crime rates in urban Costa Rica are lower than rates in most urban areas worldwide. Including most areas of the US and Europe.  There is more crime here than in some countries, like Japan.   The crimes statistics also show that while violent crime is relatively low, petty theft and non-violent crime (like burglary) is relatively high.

So the "experts" conclude that the perception of crime is greater than the actuality.  However, that is not to say that you shouldn't take precautions or that criminals don't exist. 

You have made a good point about most developing countries and poverty. In general people find it hard to put themselves in another's place. The local poor people see tourists here spending a lot of money and they figure that they can put the money to better use. They don't realize that most tourists have saved for a long time in order to be able to travel. 

The other point is that tourists are always good targets no matter where you are.  They are on unfamiliar ground and often careless, so anyone with bad intentions will hang around tourist areas waiting for opportunities. 

So this is why gated communities are popular.  If you have a secure house in a nice area and take good precautions then you can be fairly confident leaving your home alone while you travel around Costa Rica or outside Costa Rica.

[slider]

  Would anyone happen to have any backround info. on a developement company called "Costa Developers"? Would appreciate it as they have been soliciting me for quite some time. Would a reputable company ask me if I had $25,000-100,000 to put down (in escrow with a ft. lauderdale attorney) on property in CR if I saw what I wanted? They also said the same as some other contracters about "giving me $500 to come down and visit". They are supposedly developing in the central pacific area. Are they part of "Paragon" using one of their aliases?  If anyone knows about them, please respond. Thanx

[Russ]

This is a different company from Paragon.  They do give an actual location of the development on their website and are working with Stewart Title for the escrow money. They also advertise every week in The Tico Times.  However, I read the escrow agreement and it gives them the right to access 75% of the money in escrow and as far as I could tell on an unrestricted basis. 

I think it could be legitimate for a developer or realtor to ask you directly about your finances in the way you stated, although it is also a good telemarketer's questin too.  Pre-qualifying clients is important for realtors, it saves everyone time.  There is, however, a big difference between asking you a question like this and requiring you to deposit money in escrow before you can see the property.

[CMI]

?- How do you plan to finance the property and structure?  Be aware I have the best finacing in the region- period! It is an alternative to all cash at U.S.  rates (7.5% fxd, 30 yrs- up to $2,500,000.00 for residential real estate - for U.S. citizens only. It's  established and already in process in Belize FYI. Please take this offer seriously.

Regards,

Charles Sangston
410-241-1943 cell