Why Invest in Costa Rica Real Estate?

Let me start off by saying that there are two reasonshigh-speed Internet. In El Cajon de Grecia, where we
why anyone buys a property anywhere in the world:live, we have a stable Internet connection as well as
to live on the property and/or to invest in the propertyAmerican television.
by selling it at some point in the future, when they seeThe country has a great transportation infrastructure.
the value of the property increasing over time. Let'sTravel plans from and to Costa Rica are simple. Daily
face it, the investment opportunities in the States areinternational, 3-hour flights to the U.S. and an extensive
narrowing quite rapidly with equities, bonds, and realroad system are available.
estate all in a spiral going the wrong direction. DuringCosta Rica is characterized by its economic diversity.
this same time period, Costa Rica land investmentPeople from all over the world come here all the time
growth has been double digits. It is not a hard equationto enjoy their holidays in a safe, beautiful country. In
to see, and with the Boomers seeking a place to retire2006, 1.7 million international visitors came to Costa
with less money than they thought they would have,Rica, helping the country earn $1.6 billion in tourism
the influx is fairly obvious.receipts. The country ranked first in Central America
The real estate market in Costa Rica is thriving, andand second in Latin American and the Caribbean
over the past years, the country has become moreregion in the 2008's Travel & Tourism
and more popular as a tourist destination. Costa RicaCompetitiveness Report released by the World
ranks fourth as the most ideal environment for foreignEconomic Forum. Costa Rica is Latin America's largest
investment worldwide, and investors all over the worldexporter of technology products to the U.S., which is
come here to capitalize on Costa Rica's cultural andalso Costa Rica's largest trading partner. It has the
economic prosperity.second most energy-efficient economy in the world.
Americans, Canadians, and Europeans are wisePlus, 99% of the country's electricity is generated from
enough to come here to invest, and there are plentyrenewable resources, mainly hydroelectric.
of reasons for them to do so. Costa Rica offersThe country is also characterized by its ecological
foreigners a real estate market that is more attractivediversity. Costa Rica's sunny beaches, rich rainforests,
and cheaper than that of the U.S. Land and homevariety of wild animals, and amazing mountains attract
prices here are 20-25% cheaper than those in the U.S.American, Canadian, and European investors to the
The cost of property maintenance is very low, makingCosta Rica property market. The country is regarded
buying and renting out properties a sound andas the "ecotourism capital of the world." Costa Rica's
profitable investment. As over 50,000 U.S. citizens liveecology and natural beauty are its main attractions,
here, U.S. property brokers can arrange finances forand the government always makes plans to preserve
Costa Rica real estate investment. What's more, thethem. 25% of the country's land is protected, and 25%
cost of living in Costa Rica is much lower than that inof tropical biology research worldwide is carried out
the U.S., Canada, or most European countries.here. There are more than 850 species of birds, and
Costa Rica is an ideal environment for business andmore than 80% of visitors coming to Costa Rica are
real estate investment. There are no foreign exchangeeco-tourists.
controls and no restrictions on capital or profitWorld-class medical and health care services, including
repatriation. Foreigners face no restrictions on owningplastic surgery and dental implants, are available at
a business or land in Costa Rica, and they enjoy equalknock-down prices. Costa Rica has one of the longest
property rights as local citizens. Business taxation andlife-expectancy rates on earth (77 years).
property taxation rates are very low. The Costa RicaCosta Rica also supports gender equality. It ranks
real estate market is based on the U.S. dollar, andseventh in the world by percentage of women in
forming a company here is easy and inexpensive. Plus,Congress, and 53% of the country's top public officials
investments in the business sector are expected toare women.
increase, as Costa Rica has recently agreed to theThe real estate hot spot in Costa Rica nowadays is
Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).the Central Valley. Specifically in Grecia, the weather is
Unlike all other countries in Latin America, Costa Ricatemperate year round, the quality of life is simply
enjoys the greatest political, social, and economicincomparable, and the real estate prices are much
stability. Costa Rica is a safe and peaceful nation thatlower than those in the U.S.
has been a democracy since 1949. The country hasEven though Costa Rica is widely regarded as a safe
no standing army, and it was the first country in theand well-governed country and the vast majority of
world to constitutionally abolish its army.Costa Rica's real estate transactions are carried out
Costa Rica's compulsory free education system goeswithout any problem, you should always research and
way back to 1869, and the country now has one ofinvestigate any foreign property you consider buying.
the highest literacy rates in the world (95%), a highlyYou should also visit Costa Rica in person before you
qualified workforce, and a strong and growing middlemake any property purchase.
class. There are computer labs in most of theAs you can see, it makes a lot of sense to invest in
elementary schools and all of the secondary schools,Costa Rica real estate. While the U.S. real estate
and there are 67 university campuses and 81 technicalmarket seems not likely to recover any time soon,
high schools.Costa Rica's tourism industry and economy are
In Costa Rica, you will find excellent communicationalways on the rise.
services (landline and cell phones and faxes) and