Environmentalists 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 monkeyCosta Rica Real Estate - Part 2 March 18, 2007
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Common Sense Says…
The American Real Estate investors who originally bought the land, and either subdivided it into lots or built condo high rises, and the agents who sell the land and condos, will take most of the appreciation out of the asset before selling it to you. This makes common sense. If the land developer believes, that their land is going to double in value within a year, why would they sell it to you today?
“Who Knew?”
Real Estate agents get paid when they sell. It is in their best interests for you to buy, they will show you the obvious and deny the reality, and tell you later “who knew?” If you are buying Costa Rica beach property now, you are most probably buying it from a land speculator, at a fully appreciated price. You are a 2nd generation real estate investor. You will not double your money in Costa Rica Real Estate - the land speculator who came before you just did.
“I’ll take a double doble please!”
The Costa Ricans long ago, figured out that Americans coming to Costa Rica, will buy real estate at incredible prices. If an American shows up looking to buy his land? He instantly doubles the price. Bye-Bye appreciation.
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? Read more in Costa Rica Real Estate Part 3
