Retirement Planning Website November 17, 2007
Posted by admin in : Retirement , add a commentI’m pleased to announce the launch of my new retirement planning website. Many people consider Costa Rica for retirement, not because they necessarily want to retire in Costa Rica, but because they don’t believe they can afford to retire in the United States or Canada. Whether you want to retire in Costa Rica or the United States or Canada, this new retirement website will introduce, a new approach to retirement.
Visiting the website, may save you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and allow you to retire years earlier. The current model of retirement is based on consumption, it is not only damaging to the environment, but also may ruin your retirement. The new website introduces the concept of retirement through conservation. The website also contains a Retirement Blog.
Costa Rica faces an uncertain future, retiring to Costa Rica may not be the wisest decision at the moment, however there is an alternative. I think you will find the site, both interesting and unique, it also has a free retirement guide you can request that explains retirement planning in detail.
RetirementCAFTA and Costa Rica October 1, 2007
Posted by admin in : Investing , add a commentThis past weekend, over 100,000 Costa Ricans marched in San Jose, to oppose ratification of CAFTA in an upcoming October 7, 2007 referendum vote. That is the equivalent of 7.5 million Americans marching in Washington D.C., the last antiwar march in Washington D.C. drew only 20,000 marchers, so the numbers in San Jose were incredibly large. Yet, CAFTA appears to enjoy a slim majority of support, in the latest polling of Costa Rican’s.
What is at stake in the upcoming vote, as I have written before, is nothing less than the future of Costa Rica. On October 7, 2007, Costa Rican’s will decide between, maintaining a strong middle class, or turning the country over to American corporations.
Why should you, someone who is interested in living or retiring in Costa Rica, be interested in the outcome of the vote? Because it is in your best interest, both financially and socially, that Costa Rica continue to have a strong middle class and diversified economy.
Costa Rica is unique in Central America, most other countries in the region have either a small, or non-existent middle class. The wonders of a middle class, can not be under estimated, and any action that may put it at risk should be avoided.
A strong middle class helps insure democratic government. Provides opportunities for upward mobility. Reduces crime. Creates culture and art. Helps to avert civil wars and revolutions. Reduces poverty. Protects the environment.
Costa Rica has suffered in recent years, from American land speculators, that has had a negative effect on Costa Rica’s environment and society. With the decline in the U.S. Housing Market, currently underway, the pressure on Costa Rica’s environment and society will begin to diminish. Costa Rica will be able to recover. However, if CAFTA passes, then the future for Costa Rica will not be so clear.
Past experience, with NAFTA, suggests that neither Costa Rica’s nor the U.S. middle class, will benefit from CAFTA ratification. Only the C.E.O.’s in both countries will be the winners. Real incomes, and the actual sizes, of the middle classes will decline.
This will have a negative effect, on not only your investment in Costa Rica, but also your quality of life. With the passage of CAFTA, Costa Rica risks a drift down to the economic and social level of Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Costa Rica risks losing, what has made it unique in Central America, and attractive to North Americans.
InvestingCrime in Costa Rica September 15, 2007
Posted by admin in : Living , 3commentsOn September 6th, 2007, foreign residents were called upon to attend a meeting, held at Manuel Antonio’s premier resort hotel, to discuss the sudden and massive number of armed robberies in the community.
Manuel Antonio is not the first, community in Costa Rica, to hold meetings of residents to try and deal with crime in Costa Rica. Other communities, Puerto Viejo and Tamarindo, probably others, have held similar meetings. There is no question that crime in Costa Rica has seen a dramatic rise.
Why? And, what can be done about it? Those are two very good questions, which will not be answered, by the politicians, police, or public. A lot of nonsense, will be spoken, and ineffective measures will be institued. All of it, will of course, cost money. Let me get to the point by asking a series of rhetorical questions and then answering them with conclusions.
When did this crime wave begin? Answer: Shortly after the housing and land boom in Costa Rica started. First in San Jose, and it’s surrounding rich suburbs (with many foreigners), Escazu and Rohrmosser. Crime then spread to the beach communities.
What caused the increase in crime? An increase in wealth disparity. This would require a lengthy response, so let me just say that, the average Tico did not see great benefits from the boom. In came, wealthy foreigners, building big villas, and they became easy targets.
Why is it becoming violent? It’s the American way. Costa Rica’s youth has been over-exposed to “Yo, Yo, Bang, Bang” American cultural values. Plus, the crime has moved from petty (steal your bicycle), to home invasion, open the safe or we shoot you. To take over someone’s home - you need a fire arm.
What can be done? Bars, barbed wire, attack dogs, guns, private security, gated communities, facist police etc? All of these measures are ineffective. They either don’t work, cost money and your peace of mind, or only force the criminals to change tactics.
One example: You are afraid of crime, so you move into a gated community, with armed guards patrolling your walled compound. Now the criminals can’t get to your home, so instead they kidnap you, when you go to the mall.
You didn’t answer what can be done, you only pointed out, what doesn’t work? If you understand why Costa Rica was a peaceful, generally law abiding country, with friendly and helpful citizens, before the land and housing boom. And if you understand how the society changed because of it, then you can begin to see a path, back to better days.
In the days before the boom, Costa Rican’s and foreigners lived, in more or less equality and harmony. Costa Rica had a large and stable middle class, and the foreigners that lived in Costa Rica, generally lived simple and middle class lives. They blended into the communities in which they lived.
Their wasn’t a great disparity between most Costa Ricans and foreign residents. Income inequality creates crime. The huge villas, big S.U.V.’s, gated golf course communities, didn’t really exist before. They are new to Costa Rica, as is violent crime, the solution to crime in Costa Rica is obvious. Not only is it obvious it is cheap, friendly, and benefits everyone.
Return to the simple, humble, way of living, that we once practiced not so long ago. It is the iCare Costa Rica Real Estate and Retirement way.
That’s nice, but should I buy a home in Manuel Antonio? No. And you shouldn’t buy property in Jaco, Tamarindo, Escazu, Rohrmosser, and Puerto Viejo. These towns have been severly damaged, by the replacement of “Good” values, with “Bad” values.
Should I even bother with Costa Rica? Yes. There are many beautiful places in Costa Rica, that haven’t been destroyed, by the corrosion of social values and over- development.
These towns that I mentioned, didn’t start out bad, they became bad. The people who lived in those towns became greedy (foreigners and Ticos), the newcomers preferred to live in grandiose isolation, and the locals felt separated and taken advantage-of.
If you find one of these remaining beautiful towns, and you build a castle on the hill, and drive down into town in your big S.U.V, to quickly buy groceries, then zoom back up the hill. Employ a Nicaraguan maid and gardener, don’t get to know your neighbors, don’t hang out in the village square. Invite your friends to visit, and then they also build castles on the other hills, then you too can quickly destroy your paradise. And become crime victims.
There is another way, there is a choice, there is iCare Costa Rica Real Estate and Retirement.
armed robberies in Costa Rica Costa Rica security crime in Costa Rica Living UncategorizedWiFi in Costa Rica September 7, 2007
Posted by admin in : Living , add a commentFinding free Wireless internet in the United States is bad - trying to find wirless internet in Costa Rica is even worse. Where I live in Costa Rica, I am relegated to a dial-up internet connection, which makes downloading and uploading a major pain.
When I travel to San Jose Costa Rica, I take my laptop with me, in hopes of finding high-speed wireless internet. I have had very poor results finding wireless internet. Many hotels that advertise wireless internet, either don’t have it, or the service is lousy. So I usually end up eating a bagel.
Bagelmans in Escazu Costa Rica, is the one location I have found, that consistently provides outstanding wifi connectivity. It’s so good, in fact, that it is pretty much the defacto office for many people living in that area.
On any morning, you can find at least 5 or 6 people enjoying a cup of coffee, and high speed internet. What would take me ten hours to download at home - only takes ten minutes at Baglemens.
If you live in San Jose, you can get high speed internet, through Amnet Cable services. Baglemens has more than one location in San Jose but I haven’t tried them so can’t comment.
Does anyone know of other places that provide great wireless internet? Please comment and share with everyone.
Ramsay
escazu costa rica free wireless internet high speed internet LivingCosta Rica Real Estate - Finally! August 31, 2007
Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Retirement , add a commentFinally. For many reasons - Finally.
More than a year, after I initially planned to have iCare Costa Rica Real Estate and Retirement up and running, it finally is open to the public. It’s a monkey off my back, they have literally been on my back, to get this Costa Rica real estate and retirement company going. iCare is my effort at saving the monkeys, and all the creatures of the Costa Rica jungle, from being wiped out by reckless real estate.
And finally you have a choice. Before iCare Costa Rica Real Estate and Retirement, whichever real estate company in Costa Rica chose, you were helping to destroy the environment and society. No longer. With iCare Costa Rica Real Estate and Retirement, you now have a choice, and you can have a positive impact on Costa Rica and your wallet.
Finally, there is an honest real estate company in Costa Rica.
Finally there is a new approach to environmentalism. One that takes into account the realities of life. One that doesn’t ask you for money, but instead, helps you save money.
Finally, I can stop warning you about the dangers of buying property in Costa Rica, and the hurdles you face in retiring in Costa Rica, and start helping you. Helping you to discover the best of Costa Rica, help you to become a part of the community, help you to save money and get the most out of living in Costa Rica.
And finally, I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Ramsay Mameesh
Oh yeah! In all my excitement, I forgot to tell you that there is finally, a real estate website. Click the link below.
iCare Costa Rica Real Estate and Retirement
Real Estate RetirementReal Estate Games August 28, 2007
Posted by admin in : Real Estate , add a commentOne of the most common real estate games, played on both Costa Ricans and Americans, could end up costing you four times the amount you should have payed for property. The great thing about this real estate game, besides the incredible profits for the real estate agents and companies, is that it is so easy and you’ll never find out.
It’s just one of many games played on unsuspecting locals and foreigners, and one of the reasons to choose iCare Costa Rica Real Estate, it goes something like this:
You walk into a Costa Rica Real Estate office interested in purchasing property or land. You sit down at the desk, and after you tell the agent about where you are from, and him or her telling you how wonderful Costa Rica is, he’ll ask you, “So, Bob how much are you looking to spend on real estate?” And you say “Well Jim, I’d like to spend something under $200,000, if I can. Do you think that’s doable Bob?”
A hungry real estate agent will always agree, “Most definitely, we have some properties listed at around $200,000, I’d be happy to show them to you, and I can also ask around to see what else is out there.” You take a look at the properties that the agent has, and well, you may be a little disappointed, you were expecting more for your 200k. “Not a problem Bob. Let me ask around for you, enjoy your vacation, we’ll be in touch. Bye the way when do you leave Costa Rica?”
Here’s what happens next. The agent or his Costa Rican partner will either know of, or locate, a Costa Rican who wants to sell their property. The Costa Rican values his property at 50k, the Costa Rican partner approaches the landowner, and asks him how much does he want for his land. The landowner says 100k. The Costa Rican real estate partner knows the true value, and tells the landowner that he has an interested buyer, who is will to purchase the land in cash for 75k. The Costa Rican landowner thinks, “Wow, 25k more than it’s worth, enough to buy a nice car. Si, let’s do it.”
“Hi Bob, it’s Jim, I found a great deal on a piece of land, just what you were looking for, and the owner only wants 200k, right in your budget. Is it nice? Bob, I’ve been in this business for 10 years and I’ve only rarely seen a property like this at this price maybe once, 8 years ago.” Ahem. “It’s got ocean views, right off the main road, a cinch to get water and electric in there, you really should take a look.”
You take a look. And it is beautiful. You can see the ocean, hear the creek nearby, it’s peaceful, it may cost a little more to get water and electric, but the agent knows somebody that can get it done. You dream of spending days on the patio, smelling the fresh air, listening to the monkeys, and watching the sunset over the ocean. How can you say no. This doesn’t exist in the United States, and even if it did, it would cost millions. You buy it.
You have just payed four times as much as you should have for the property. Neither you nor the Costa Rican landowner are aware, because of the lawyer that’s in the middle of the process, that the Real Estate company has robbed you both. Instead of paying the real estate agency $6,000 (8% on 75k), you have just given them $125,000, not a bad commission.
Real EstateEnvironmentalists Killing Monkeys August 20, 2007
Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing , add a commentA part of what was once Costa Rica’s first National Park was in the process of being destroyed by men wielding machetes. They were employees of an American owned real estate company, chopping down the jungle, on behalf of an American real estate developer. It was land that had once belonged to Manuel Antonio National park, it was home to the endangered Titi Monkey, land behind my small hotel.
It wasn’t the first time, they had come to clear the forest, and it wouldn’t be the last. I had stopped them before, but this time it appeared that they were preparing a path for the bulldozers. I sent out an urgent call to my environmentalist friend in San Jose, but the men with machetes were doing their job quicker than usual, and I prepared to take action on my own.
One of my employees was an artist, and I had him create a huge plywood sign, that if the bulldozer appeared I would hang on the road- xx Real Estate kills monkeys. It was very graphic, showing a dead monkey with a noose around it’s head, and a knife dripping with blood.
My environmentalist friend appeared on the scene in time, put a halt to the chopping, and I never got to hang the sign. “Good thing you didn’t.” he told me, “you would have been sued or worse.” Mine was only one battle of many being fought to preserve Costa Rica’s environment.
The illegal deforestation of the jungle, is a necessary tactic used by real estate developers, done in order to be able to sell the property. Costa Rica has strict environmental laws on what trees can be chopped down, which land can be developed, and how the land can be used. If they sell you land with monkeys, trees, birds, and butterflies, you may not be able to build. If their are no trees, well then there aren’t any restrictions, and the land is easier to sell and develop.
If you go to the office of xx Costa Rica Real Estate company, or any real estate company in Costa Rica, you are likely to see pictures of monkeys, birds, and beaches. Photos of the places they are destroying. And you are helping them.
Me? “But I’m an environmentalist! I sort my trash, hike the woods on the weekend, and send a $30 check to the Sierra Club every year. I love monkeys, birds, and butterflies. I want to live or retire in Costa Rica to enjoy the nature.”
In many cases, environmentalists (and you may call yourself one), are helping to destroy the environment. Do you want to help or hurt? If you want to help the Costa Rica environment here are some things you can do:
1. Realize that you are part of the problem
Just in the fact that you come to Costa Rica, or decide to live in Costa Rica, you are having a negative impact on the environment. It’s unavoidable. We consume air, water and energy. We need food to eat, water to drink, and electricity and gas to live and move. Your sewage flows into the sea, forests are cleared for crops and cattle, and dams are built for water and electricity. Our very existence has a negative effect on the environment. But exist we do so…
2. Minimize your existence
Also known as sustainable living, small footprint, carbon neutral, and a host of other incomprehensible euphemisms. The point is to try and have the least impact on the enviroment. When it comes to Costa Rica real estate and living, you can minimize your impact by, minimizing your consumption. Things you can do:
- Don’t buy development properties in nature areas. You only encourage illegal deforestation.
- Don’t buy an air-conditioned house. If its too hot for you at the beach - then don’t live at the beach.
- No swimming pools. They consume a tremendous amount of fresh water and require toxic chemicals
- Avoid golf courses. Fertilizers and pesticides are required to keep the greens green.
3. Encourage better land use and evironmental living practices
- Reduce your meat consumption
- Buy organic shade grown coffee
- Shop at your farmers market
- Use the bus instead of the car
These are just a few of the actions you can take to help the environment. If you have others please comment.
Sorting your trash, donating to environmental groups, and kayaking, are all very positive and helpful for the environment. But just understand, that if you come to Costa Rica and buy a four bedroom villa, with a swimming pool, on a golf course - you are probably an environmentalist killing monkeys.
american real estate costa rica real estate environmental laws Investing manuel antonio national park Real Estate real estate developers titi monkeySell America before Buying Costa Rica August 10, 2007
Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing , add a commentOn the “About” page of this blog, I started the page by writing:
Are You the Owner?
Every week, without fail, a guest will walk into the lobby and ask “Are you the owner?” “We’re thinking of buying property in Costa Rica. Maybe investing in a business. Retiring in Costa Rica. What do you think about….”
What I didn’t write was my reply, and it has been the same for the past two years, “Do you own property in the United States?” I would ask. The person or couple almost always would answer “yes”, and then I would say “Sell it!”.
Before I would warn them about crooked real estate agents and lawyers, advise them to be careful about purchasing Costa Rica beach property, or suggest where I thought they could find good real estate values, I told them to sell their homes and properties in the U.S.
The reaction of the guests was typically a nervous chuckle followed by a bemused smile. I’m not sure if they listened to anything I had to say after that, nor to be honest did I really care, I could understand why they thought they were dealing with a fool. Sitting barefoot and half-naked, in a cute but otherwise un-impressive hotel in Costa Rica, I did not appear to be someone who could give decent advice on Costa Rica real estate - let alone suggest that they sell their quickly appreciating asset back home. An asset, that they were planning to leverage, to buy their investment or retirement home in Costa Rica.
I wrote the following in a blog post on this site dated March 18, 2007
The Second Scary Reason
The second and scariest reason not to buy Costa Rica beach property - the U.S. economy is about to tank. A painful plunge into recession in the United States is about to occur. Starting with the over inflated values in real estate, and an over valued stock market, the United States may be facing a prolonged recession.
Is this the time to be investing or buying Costa Rica Real Estate?
If the economy in the United States of America is going down, what makes you think, Costa Rica’s is going up? The United States is Costa Rica’s largest trading partner. When the U.S. and World economy tumbles, Costa Rica’s exports will decline. A severe slow down in tourism due to high airline tickets (jet fuel, Iraq war, job anxiety) , which has already begun, will worsen. And finally, if the run-up in real estate values in the United States have to correct, what will happen to real estate values in Costa Rica, where there has been tremendous appreciation in real estate values in the last two years?
In light of the massive foreclosure crisis in the U.S., and the recent stock market corrections, was the post accurate and prophetic? Yes. But I am not writing this post to say “I told you so!”, I don’t know you, nor do I have anything to prove to you. I’m writing this post to say “I’m telling you so!”. The economic situation is much worse than anyone realizes, it goes way past sub-prime mortgages, and strikes at the core of the U.S. economy.
If you are interested in the U.S. economy, what is happening, and where it is going. I suggest that you follow two writers, Paul Craig Roberts and Mark Whitney, their articles appear regularly on counterpunch.com - one of the few websites that produces honest opinion and journalism. Even though the fundamental factors, affecting the economy of the United States are greater than even they realize, these two writers come the closest to understanding the the current problems facing the U.S. economy.
Why am I focusing on the U.S. economy when this is a blog about Costa Rica real estate, retirement and investing? Because it was in Costa Rica where I realized that “No man is an island”. I came to Costa Rica to get away from the United States, to not have to worry about war, politics, and sub-prime mortgages. Many of you may be thinking the same.
Costa Rica is a beautiful country, but it is not an island, protected against the misfortunes of others. What happens in the United States has a direct impact on Costa Rica. The investment into Costa Rica, these last few years, came from the United States. Many people bought homes and land in Costa Rica from the appreciation they had made in U.S. real estate. That is over, finished, kaput. Now, Americans have to worry about holding on to their houses, in the U.S., not about buying property in Costa Rica.
Everyone’s situation is different, for those of you who wish to buy real estate, invest, or live in Costa Rica, it still may be a viable idea. Just be aware of a couple of things, what happens in the U.S. affects you in Costa Rica, and do not expect any substantial appreciation in Costa Rica property values.
More importantly, before you consider buying Costa Rica real estate, SELL your American real estate first. Do it - you don’t have another two years.
costa rica real estate Investing property in costa rica Real Estate real estate agents real estate values recession retiring in costa rica stock marketMeasuring Costa Rica Real Estate August 7, 2007
Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Living, Retirement , add a commentCosta Rica real estate is measured and priced in metric units. For Americans from the U.S., who are accustomed to measuring homes in square feet, this can be confusing. Does a 232 sq. meter house sound very big? Well, that’s a 2500 sq. foot house to you and me.
If you use approximation, the challenge of figuring out the size of a house, condo, or apartment in Costa Rica, actually becomes quite simple.
Sq. Meter Sq.Feet Approx. Sq. Feet Actual
100 1000 1076
150 1500 1614
200 2000 2152
As you can see, using approximation, the numbers logically match. 100 sq. meters equals 1000 sq. feet, 150 sq. meters equals 1,500 sq. feet, 200 sq. meters equals 2,000 sq. feet.
Costa Rican homes tend to be smaller than their U.S. counterparts, and so most houses, condos and apartments, will fall within this range.
costa rica real estate Living Real Estate RetirementCAFTA, Big Ass Fans, and Costa Rica’s Future. July 4, 2007
Posted by admin in : Real Estate, Investing, Living, Retirement , 1 comment so farAccording to the U.S. Government, if you are Big Ass Fans, you should be very excited if CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement), gets approved by Costa Ricans this September. But should you?
CAFTA - , or TLC as it is known in Costa Rica, will be approved or disapproved in a referendum vote by Costa Ricans in September. At stake is the future of Costa Rica. This is not another boring trade agreement. Costa Ricans are taking the upcoming elections seriously - and you should be as well.
Pro-CAFTA supporters suggest that passage will benefit Costa Rica by increasing investment into Costa Rica, create more employment, and expand Costa Rican exports. Furthermore, Costa Rica’s state monopolies will be privatized, and Costa Ricans will receive better service and lower costs for tele-communications, banking, and insurance, among other services.
They are correct.
Anti-CAFTA opponents suggest that that passage will destroy Costa Rica’s middle class, it’s treasured environment, and will create greater poverty in Costa Rica.
They are correct.
How can both sides be right? I will try and over simplify.
Investment - More investment will enter Costa Rica. It already has, Wal-Mart now owns all of Costa Rica’s major retail operations, for example. The privatization of the state owned monopolies will also cause a huge influx of investment.
Employment - More low-wage jobs will be created to work the new factories. And call-center jobs, the so called high-tech jobs, will boom. call-centers jobs are nothing more than people who learn english, sit at a computer all day, and harass you to pay your credit card bill.
Exports - will increase as the output of the factories, farms and fish, are shipped north.
Environment - More of Costa Rica’s precious environment will be destroyed as international agri-business takes over Costa Rica’s farming and fishing industries. Creating export farm products, typically environmentally un-suited, and un-friendly.
Tele-communications - More investment will go into communications, mainly to service call-centers, but will also expand the network of cell phones, and high-speed internet. This benefits those that can pay for the higher costs. The rest will be left with inefficient service.
Middle Class - Will shrink and get squeezed. Consolidations in banking, retail, agriculture, tele-communications, and government employment, through the state owned enterprises such as ICE, will cause loss of jobs in those industries.
Poverty - Will increase as the middle class declines and inflation eats away at real incomes. Inflation in Costa Rica is at 12%. Wages do not increase anywhere near that amount. Easy credit (predatory lending) to Costa Ricans the last few years has masked the deficiency.
How does this affect you? The person interested in living, investing and retiring in Costa Rica? Unless you are a multi-national corporation, a wealthy Costa Rican manufacturer, a large farmer, or you own an English Language School, you don’t receive any benefit. What you will get is a worsened environment, higher crime, and Big Ass Fans.
Ramsay
A Fan Company
Lexington, Kentucky 40505
Country of Success: Honduras
This company is a manufacturer of over-sized ceiling fans used to cool factories, warehouses, dairy barns, and other large spaces economically. As a result of U.S. Department of Commerce programs, this SME has had increased success in international markets, such as Europe, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and South America. Most recently, the Big Ass Fan Company added a new-to-market sale of two fans to a factory in Honduras. Big Ass Fans anticipates additional export sales to follow soon.
