Who is this opportunity for?
Someone with the dream of living in the tropics, and bring in
clients for occasional or regular retreats, events or tourist
business. Someone who loves nature and yearns to escape the
mundane. Someone with an adventurous spirit drawn to life in
the jungle, yet who'd love to have people around.
This
center is perfectly suitable for:
- Bed and breakfast or small hotel
- Nature lovers
- Eco-center project
- Community living project
- Private home combined with running occasional events
Why is this property a wise investment?
Compare Costa Rica to where Hawaii was 20 or 30 years ago. In
Uvita, we've seen the prices rise tremendously in the past 5
years, with an average of 25-35% or more in increase per year.
Everyone wants their piece of paradise and the best places tend
to go first. It is no secret that this area of Costa Rica is
one of the most beautiful in the world, so that's why prices
are rising at a fast pace.
One reason is the recently built modern road (completed approx.
2 years ago) that connects Uvita and the southern zone directly
to the Pan-America highway that leads to Panama. Since this
new road has been built prices have risen accordingly. the prospect
of the international airport only 35 minuts away in less than
3 years is giving the region even more value.
Uvita is also a booming community. It's turning from a poor
Costa Rican village into a cosmopolitan area, with all necessary
services in proximity. At the same time, it will always keep
its quiet and tranquil environment, because the people that
are attracted here are nature lovers, alternative people and
environmentalists. This makes for a perfect location for any
alterative health or eco retreat center.
Other factors will make prices rise tremendously in the area.
The government is currently working on paving the road that
links Quepos to Dominical. Since Quepos is a major tourist center
up the coast, this new road will make traveling from the North
much easier. When the road is completed within 1 year, many
real experts believe prices will boom beyond belief.
At the same time, there is an international airport project
further south in Palmar Sur, which is located about 35 minutes
from our property. When the airport is completed, which should
be within 2-3 years (according to the government), it will be
possible to fly directly from major US and European centers
(or through connecting flights going there) to Palmar Sur. This
will certainly drive the prices up like nothing before.
With all real estate, there are no guarantee, but based on all
of these factors, you can pretty much count on this property
being worth at least one million dollars within 5 to 10 years,
probably even before that. If you have any doubts, just come
over and investigate for yourself.
Should I worry about overdevelopment?
If you want to hide in the jungle without seeing another human
being for months at a time, you probably want to find another
spot.
The development happening in the area of Uvita is a healty thing.
It's still at the very early stages, much like Hawaii was 30
years ago. You can only expect more excellent services to be
available, while being certain that no Walmart will open next
doors! That simply doesn't happen in rural Costa Rica.
Uvita already attracts a crowd of environmentally and health-conscious
people, and you can expect that trend to rise up as the area
gets more well-known.
What about taxes?
In terms of taxes it's very low in Costa Rica, so count on less
than a few hundred dollars per year. Electricity and water costs
are fairly low, but can increase if you have a lot of people,
although it is much cheaper than in the US.
Why Costa Rica?
You can't find a place that has it all, but Costa Rica comes
pretty close to it. There are many beautiful places in the world,
but most of them are out of reach because of their remote location.
Costa Rica is easy to get to, yet is a completely exotic location,
with probably more biodiversity and wild-life than anywhere
in the world.
Other neighboring countries such as Panama are an alternative,
but they don't feature the same level of environmental awareness
that's present in Costa Rica. There is more organic food available
in Costa Rica than in the neighboring countries, by far. And
over 30% of the land is protected by national parks.
Costa Rica is also a peaceful nation (no social conflicts)
with no army. If you are not already convinced that Costa Rica
is THE place to be, just do a little bit of research and you
will see.
What is the cost of living like?
Although Costa Rica is more expensive than the poorer neighboring
nations, the cost of living is still below most American standards.
Of course, if you wish to live on imported foods and not modify
your diet to include more of the local foods, then you'll probably
spend more money on groceries here. But if you're a health-minded
person who's willing to make a few changes, you'll find that
it's much less expensive to live here.
Here's an idea of some of the prices:
1 pound of mango in season: 50 cents
4 coconuts: one dollar
1 bananas: less than five cents
Hiring a full-time maid for the entire month: $200-300
Average hourly fee for manual workers: $1.5-2 per hour
Do I need a special visa or permit
to stay or do business in Costa Rica?
You don't need a special visa or permit to live and do business
in Costa Rica, other than the stamp on your passport when you
arrive. Without a residency card, you will be able to stay in
the country up to 90 days at a time. To renew your visa, simply
leave the country for 72 hours and come back. Most people take
a trip to Panama (which is less than 2 hours away) in order
to renew their visa. (If you leave before the 90 days, lets
say after 80, you cross the boarder and can return the same
day with a valid stemp for the next 90 (80) days.)
US citicens and most westerners can purchase land here, open
a bank account without residency.
How can I obtain a residency card?
There are many ways to obtain a residency card. One is to start
a business here. If you need help with this, we can put you
in touch with the right people.
What if I bring my children?
Several expat families live in the area with their children.
There are several schools available including an alternative
bilingual school (Spanish & English). Needless to say, kids
love life in Costa Rica!
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Most Americans who visit Costa Rica have a very limited knowledge
of Spanish, and do just fine, as English is spoken in the main
tourist centers. If you plan to live in Costa Rica, you should
make the effort to learn Spanish. Fortunately, it's an easy
language to learn. For more information on learning Spanish
or any other language, click here.
What should I know about buying
a car in Costa Rica?
A car would be a good thing to have if you plan to live in the
area. Ideally, get a 4 by 4 with manual transmission (automatics
are also available). I have a good connection to a company who
can help you purchase a car, and can also help you with any
other question in regards to moving to Costa Rica. We can put
you in touch.
What about Internet connection?
Uvita has an Internet cafe with high-speed, wireless connection.
On the property itself, you have to lines with 256K connection
and you can get a faster connection for a little extra money.
The government is currently bringing optic cables to the coast
so it's only a question of time before real high-speed Internet
connections are available.
What about phone services?
Phone service is excellent. Cellular phones are available and
incoming calls are always free in Costa Rica. For long distance
calls, we recommend a service that costs about 7 cents a minute.
What is the availability of fruits
and vegetables like?
There is an excellent variety of fruits and vegetables available
all year round, including:
Mangoes
Pineapples
Cherimoyas and other members of the anona family
Papaya
Fresh coconuts
Star fruit
Soursop
Granadilla and passion fruit
Bananas
Mangosteen
Rambutans
Apples
Blackberries
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, and most vegetables
And several varieties of tropical fruits
We can put you in touch with a local organic food distributor
that can deliver right to your door.
--
Do you have another question that hasn't been answered?
Contact us!
