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 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 RetirementCosta Rica Real Estate - Part 3 March 20, 2007
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Costa Rica Real Estate Outlook
If you are looking to buy Costa Rica land or real estate on speculation, and your investment time frame is less than five years, you should be thinking of Short-Term Treasuries instead. Of course, you may get lucky and find a real estate nugget in Costa Rica, there are at least a hundred real estate agents in the country who won’t help you find it. And even if you do find a great deal on Costa Rica real estate, will you have anyone to sell it to, in three years when the U.S. economy is still struggling in recession? The likely answer is there will be no one.”So why bother with Costa Rica Real Estate at all?
Why Costa Rica Real Estate?
Why? Because, if your investing time frame is longer than five years, then Costa Rica could be a smart investment. There are still places in Costa Rica, peices of heaven, that have not been seriously damaged. And that are, depending on your particular circumstances, wise investments. In any case, if you are at all interested in investing in Costa Rica real estate, you should come and visit Costa Rica. There is still an abundance of beauty in Costa Rica - and people who are trying to preserve what remains. And as an investor, someone looking to purchase Costa Rica real estate, considering Costa Rica for retirement, or living and working in Costa Rica, visiting will give you a base point that will help you make better decisions in the future.
In the end, if you seek to appreciate Costa Rica, not seek real estate appreciation in Costa Rica, you’ll receive a much better return on your life.
Ramsay
costa rica land costa rica real estate Investing Living Real Estate real estate agents real estate appreciation recession Retirement smart investment speculation wise investments working in costa ricaCosta 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
Read the Tico Times March 18, 2007
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Read the Fine Print in the Tico Times
Before you buy real estate, invest, move or retire to Costa Rica or any foreign country, especially one you are unfamiliar with, you need to research that country as thoroughly as possible. You should be familiar with it’s history, culture, economic system, political situation, and you should be able to make an educated guess about that country’s future. “What are things going to be like in three years, five years, or twenty years?”
“Feeling” Costa Rica
Most potential investors, conduct their Costa Rica research, by visiting Costa Rica. Their visit to Costa Rica usually lasts anywhere, from a week to two weeks, and will involve two or three different locations in Costa Rica. Most are trying to get a “feel” for Costa Rica.
Visit Costa Rica
A one week visit, may be sufficient to determine if you want to continue exploring Costa Rica, or to discover that Costa Rica is not for you. A one week visit to Costa Rica may or may not give you an accurate picture of the country. However, a one week visit to Costa Rica, will definitely not give you enough time or information to make an accurate investment or life changing decision regarding Costa Rica.
You should visit Costa Rica before investing, some people have invested in Costa Rica real estate, or even moved here without first visiting. But before you visit Costa Rica there is something you should do that will be benefit you immensely.
Read the Tico Times
Before I had even visited Costa Rica, I was a subscriber to the Tico Times, Central America’s leading weekly English language newspaper. I took out a six month subscription, and had it delivered to my house in the United States, I prefer the paper edition over the online. You can compare the Tico Times, in quality and depth, to your local hometown newspaper. The cost for a six month subscription is only $34 - incredibly inexpensive for the wealth of information you receive.
Gossip Too!
Read the TicoTimes every week. Read every section of the Tico Times. Even stuff you’re not interested in like sport fishing or the theatre. And especially the classified section of the Tico Times. Read the slick full color ads for real estate developments, even though you’re not interested in them, (as explained in Costa Real Estate) the appreciation has already been taken out. Read the gossip section.
Why do you care about Sport Fishing or the Theatre in Costa Rica?
If you are thinking about buying a condo in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica, because you are gay and love the gay beach so much, but you don’t care about sport fishing - you should.
Gay Sport Fishermen
Because if you read the fishing report in the Tico Times, you might know that, sport fishermen aren’t doing well. Their aren’t as many fish in the sea. They’re blaming el nino, global warming, long lining, the Taiwanese, and they are worried about the future of fishing in Quepos.
“Who cares about Quepos?”
You are about to buy a condo in Manuel Antonio. Quepos is a port town, that serves as the commercial and financial hub for Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio National Park is only five minutes from Quepos. Much of Quepos’s fortune is tied to sport fishing. And sport fishermen rent condos in Manuel Antonio. If fishing isn’t doing well? You aren’t either. “But the gay beach was beautiful when I visited and everything seemed fine?” If you’re a sport fisherman why should you care about the theatre in Costa Rica? I’ll let you figure that one out.
Appreciating Slick Real Estate
What do the slick real estate developer ads in Costa Rica tell you? If you are an interested real estate investor in Costa Rica -it tells you where not to invest. Again, the appreciation has been removed. Beyond that, and beyond the development, the surrounding land and property has over appreciated. As a value investor you are not interested.
The Exciting Classifieds
The most exciting part of the Tico Times is the Classified Section. If you are interested in retiring or living in Costa Rica, then the classified section of the Tico Times, is a must read. Everything from the obvious, properties, apartment rentals, cost of a used car in Costa Rica, help wanted, washing machines, pets, and much more. It is a wealth of data that you can track, with your subscription to the Tico Times, over a long period of time. To the not so obvious, why are their a lot more rental listings for Escazu, than three months ago? And why are rental prices going up in Heredia? The reason is home invasion robberies. Read the Tico Times.
Ramsay
buy real estate costa rica real estate exploring costa rica history culture Investing Living political situation Real Estate real estate invest Retirement sport fishing ticotimes tico times
