This article really tells it like it is : immigration, health care, cost of living in Costa Rica.

La retraite au Costa Rica est une très bonne option pour les citoyens des États Unis.Voici la traduction

Déménagement  vers le Costa Rica
Comment deux amis ont  fait d’ un rêve ,réalité,  en anticipant leur retraite  en Amérique centrale.

Par Vicki BERRONG

La première chose que je vois tous les matins quand je sors sur le porche de ma maison au Costa Rica , c’ est le Golfe de Nicoya, toujours changeant.

Au moment où j’écris ceci (en Septembre), c’est la saison des pluies, ce qui signifie qu’il y a une centaine de teintes de vert dans les arbres entre les couleurs de la montagne et la mer gris-bleu vitreux. Ce matin-là, je vois deux petits bateaux de pêche sur l’eau entre le port et les îles boisées de l’horizon. Il n’est pas encore sept heures, et je peux déjà dire que la température atteindra au moins 26 degrés  à midi.

J’ai 60 ans et retraitée  après une carrière de 35 ans comme secrétaire juridique. Comment je suis venue vivre sur la côte Pacifique du Costa Rica est une histoire à propos de la retraite anticipée, de budget  serré et beaucoup d’organisation.

Ma meilleure amie, Carole, et moi-même avons  commencé à penser sérieusement à la retraite il y a environ 12 ans. Nous savions que nous voulions prendre une retraite anticipée, mais nous avons reconnu que notre petit panier d’épargne (et le fait que Medicare (  sécurité sociale) ne  nous couvre pas avant 65 ans) n’allait pas vraiment le faire. Finalement, nous avons conclu que vivre en dehors des Etats-Unis nous permettrait d’étirer nos dollars et de prendre la retraite à l’âge  de notre choix. Ainsi est né un plan de 10 ans: cinq ans pour rembourser nos dettes autant que possible, et cinq ans pour trouver une maison à l’étranger.

Les 10 critères :
Dans notre recherche d’une destination de retraite, nous avons convenu de 10 critères: temps chaud, un pays avec une démocratie stable, un voyage en avion de quatre heures ou moins depuis les Etats-Unis, les soins de santé adéquats et abordables; relation amicale envers avec  les américains des Etats Unis ; situé à proximité d’ un océan ; propre et abondant en eau douce ; le logement abordable; coût de la vie d’au moins 50% plus bas qu’aux Etats-Unis et  bon café !

Cartes guides, nous avons lus et étudiés. Nous avons évalué les pays visités, et souscrit à toutes les publications que nous pouvions trouver sur le sujet de la vie à l’étranger.. Notre recherche ne cessa de nous indiquer Costa Rica.

Après un total de sept voyages dans ce petit pays (5 000m2 de plus que la région En France, Midi-Pyrénées), nous avons trouvé la «maison»: une maison à deux étages (avec, comme indiqué précédemment, magnifique vues sur l’Océan) dans le village rural de Playa Naranjo. Carole, à la retraite ,a déménagé  au début de 2010, et j’ai suivi un an plus tard.

Le Costa Rica facilite l’installation des expatriés, sauf pour une particularité. Les non-résidents (comme moi) qualifient pour un visa de 90 jours, mais doivent quitter le pays pendant 36 heures à la fin des 90 jours. Ensuite, vous revenez et obtenez un nouveau visa de 90 jours. (Une solution simple: Vacances au Panama ou au Nicaragua, pays voisins, ou même en Colombie pour un couple de jours) Les retraités peuvent demander la résidence avec la preuve qu’ils reçoivent un revenu mensuel d’au moins $ 1000 provenant d’une source de pension permanente ou fonds de retraite. Je pourrais le faire à mes 62 ans lorsque je  collecterai mes cotisations de la sécurité sociale.

Pour l’instant, je n’ai pas de travail ici, même si à un moment donné (lorsque je maîtriserai plus l’espagnol) je voudrais travailler comme guide touristique. Outre les tâches ménagères normales, mes journées sont consacrées à faire de longues promenades, aller à la plage (une promenade de 10 minutes), baignade dans l’une des deux piscines locales, sieste, lecture et correspondre avec famille et amis. Nous sommes bénis avec des voisins merveilleux, un mélange de Costariciens natifs (appelé Ticos) et les expatriés du Canada, la Belgique, l’Allemagne, les Pays-Bas, Ecosse, Espagne, Italie, Singapour et les Etats-Unis surtout pendant la saison sèche (de Novembre à Mars) , il y a plein de fêtes.

L’essence coute cher :

Le vendredi est jour de marché. Nous nous dirigeons vers Jicaral, une communauté agricole prospère à environ huit km de notre maison, où les agriculteurs locaux ont mis en place des étalages colorés de fruits et légumes frais près  de la place du village. Avec l’essence qui coûte environ 2.80 euros le litre, nous faisons de notre mieux pour partager nos voyages avec les voisins. Et cela réduit assez bien le coût des marchandises au Costa Rica: Ce qui est cultivé ici est bon marché; ce qui est importé ne l’est pas.

Nous dépensons  environ 38.24 euros par semaine pour la nourriture (pour deux personnes). Tarif local du riz et des haricots (environ 1.53 euros pour environ 1 kg ), pommes de terre, le yucca, oignon, poivron rouge et carotte (environ 19 centimes chacun). Pour 76 centimes d’euros vous pouvez acheter trois melons, ou deux avocats, quatre  mangues ou trois oranges (en saison), une pastèque ou un ananas entier et assez de poisson pour nourrir deux personnes. Un kg de bœuf haché (86% de maigre) ou un poulet désossé coute environ 3.06 euros. À l’occasion, je vais faire des folies, acheter  environ 4.59 euros un sac de Cheetos ou de chocolats miniatures.

Logement abordable

Les prix du logement ont considérablement baissé, comparé à 3 années auparavant. Vous pouvez acheter une belle maison de deux chambres sur environ 4000 m2 de terrain entre 76500 euros et 229 500 euros. Ma facture d’électricité est entre 38 euros et 114 euros par mois, selon l’air conditionné utilisé. Mes impôts fonciers l’an dernier était inférieurs à 72 euros.
Les soins de santé, quant à eux, se sont avérés être exactement ce que nous recherchions: un prix abordable et plus que convenable. Il y a deux systèmes d’assurance maladie: un plan du secteur public (similaire à la santé sociale aux États-Unis) et un plan plus global privé (environ 1147  euros annuellement). Visites chez le médecin, médicaments prescrits et soins hospitaliers sont couverts.

Non, ce pays n’est pas parfait. Les différences culturelles sont parfois frustrantes  et toujours source d’humilité. Ticos sont quelques-unes des personnes au monde les plus amicales. Parfois, il y a quelques problèmes. Par exemple,  vous demandez quand les gros sacs de nourriture pour chiens vont arriver et le propriétaire, avec un sourire, répondra, “Mardi”. Traduction: “. Señora, je ne sais pas quand le camion arrivera, mais vous les Américains veulent toujours connaitre la date ou l’ heure précise, de sorte que je dis mardi”.

En bref, la patience n’est pas une vertu ici, c’est une nécessité. Il peut y avoir cinq clients en face de vous à la banque pour voir un banquier. Apportez un livre. Très probablement vous entendrez le banquier se renseigner sur le bien-être de tous les 22 membres de la famille de son client. Bien sûr, quand c’est votre tour, vos transactions ne seront pas précipitées, et il vous demandera aussi  des nouvelles de votre famille.

La douleur du départ :

En analysant notre projet et notre expérience, j’ai appris que déménager à l’étranger n’est pas pour les faibles de cœur. En fait, c’est une des choses les plus difficiles que j’ai fait. Vous n’aurez pas de place pour tout ce que vous voulez prendre avec vous, vous n’aurez pas le temps de dire au revoir à tout le monde, et vous ne pouvez pas remplir toutes les tâches que vous pensez devoir accomplir. (Bien sûr, je m’ennuie de mes amis et mes deux petits-enfants, Shane et Michele. Ceci dit, nous  nous Skypons fréquemment, correspondons via courriel et nous suivons  sur Facebook. Je les vois lors de mes voyages aux  Etats Unis, et ils prévoient de visiter le Costa Rica .)

Vais-je rester longtemps au Costa Rica? Il est trop tôt pour le dire. (Il y a toujours une chance que nous pourrions revenir aux Etats- Unis quand nous qualifierons pour Medicare.) Cela dit, ma nouvelle aventure, à ce point, a dépassé mes attentes. Assise sur mon porche regardant les plusieurs nuances de rose et rouge flottant dans le ciel au coucher du soleil, à travers le golfe, je sens que je suis à la maison.

Il y a une phrase que les habitants utilisent beaucoup ici, une expression- remerciement qui résume bien nos sentiments :

Pura Vida », disent-ils.  La Vie est belle.

:

Ocean view villa in a a beautiful 12.5 acres property : 2 houses, 2 garages,1 rancho, a large swimming pool, and more building space to create your eco lodge project, of your family retreat.

5 hectares avec magnifique vue sur l’Ocean pacifiques, 2 maisons, 2 garages, 1 rancho, une grande piscine. Beaucoup d’espaces pour construire plus. Parfait pour un eco lodge ou pour votre refuge en famille.

5 hectarias con vista al mar, 2 casas , 2 garages, 1 rancho, mucho espacio para construir mas. grande piscina, cerca de Dominical, Costa Rica.

$650 000

Land Assurance à Dominical offre ses services d’immobilier en Français.

Achats, ventes, locations,  reforestation, développement et construction sont  nos prestations.

Notre agence est spécialiste de l’immobilier dans les villes suivantes:  Dominical, Hatillo, Matapalo, Guapil,  San Isidro,  Uvita,  Ojochal,  Coronado,  San Buenas,  Golfito,  Pavones  et  Zancudo.

Notre liste de propriétés est  vaste:  villas, terrains,  commerces ,  fermes,  et développements ,dans les collines ou en bord de mer.

Ces 15 dernières années, notre compagnie a dédié beaucoup de son temps à la reforestation: Tim et Brice, les propriétaires de l’agence ont plantés plus de  500 000 arbres en suivant les règles de biodiversité.

Ils ont aussi développés et viabilisés environ 40 fermes.

Ils ont ainsi acquéris une connaissance remarquable dans les projets d’ eau, d’électricité, de routes, de terrassements, d’assainissements, d’aménagements de jardins,  de permis etc.  Aujourd’hui, en partenariat avec Rosario Araya,  ils construisent des maisons ; leur première maison sera prête fin février 2012. Géomètre,  avocat,  architecte, taxes de propriété,  permis de construction,  nous pouvons vous conseiller et vous guider dans ces étapes essentielles.

A Land Assurance, notre secrétaire Cindy Moya tient à jour une liste de locations vacances ou long terme.

Notre site internet est en anglais mais vous pouvez me contacter directement à     nat@landassurance.com   N’hésitez pas  si vous voulez vendre votre bien ou acheter une propriété au Costa Rica.  Notre nouveau site est en cours de construction, tous les biens offerts seront traduits d’ici peu  en anglais, espagnol et français.

A bientôt donc,

Nathalie Donahue.

What is Stand Up Paddle Boarding ? It is a floaty board where one can stand . A paddle is used for propulsion.  This water sport is also called SUP .

Shawn Donahue is the owner of CR Surf and kite. He and his family spent the past 5 years in the south of Costa Rica, Pavones , Pilon.

Active beachbum, he spent most of his life windsurfing Hookipa, kite surfing, sailing any kind of vessels, and of course surfing. For 3 years , he added stand up Paddle boarding to his daily routine.

He is now offering lessons,  surfing and Stand Up paddle Boarding camps and rentals.

He is located 10 minutes south of Dominical . People can come up there to rent a board .

There are few beaches with gentle sea : Tortuga Beach, Ballena Beach, and Dominicalito are the spots to learn and to practice Stand Up  techniques. Those beaches are mostly to do  long distance paddle. For few months already, more and more people paddle around 3 sisters rocks, Ballena rock.  Trips from la Punta to Hermosa Beach are also frequently organized.

Rides on the river Baru are also a great way to stay in shape.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding is one of the fastest growing watersport on the planet today. Why? because it is easy and healthy. It is a great work out.

It is also an activity that the whole family can enjoy together.

Surfing is also very fun on a stand up paddle boarding. Most surfers do not quite enjoy paddle boarding as they see it dangerous in the line up and also very competitive. But it only depends on the driver to show a good attitude and respect on the water.

_Personally, I love surfing my 6’3. But when the waves are small, i am not staying on the beach, I go for a cruise or I go surfing those small waves , and come back with a big smile.

For more info,  private lessons , boards rentals or sales , Pilon surf and Sup camps, please contact Shawn at Shawn @crsurfandkite.com or call 8380-5877.

If you have ever purchased a car, house, property, or business in Costa Rica chances are you have been involved in an Sociedad Anonima (S.A.).

The use of Costa Rican corporations referred to locally as “S.A” has been a popular way to hold property in Costa Rica.
The constitution of a corporation is around $500. One can maintain a corporation at low cost. Like in most of the countries, any Corporation making profits in Costa Rica must pay the respective Income Tax, which is called in Costa Rica as “Impuesto sobre la Renta”.

In addition to such tax, every Costa Rican Corporation or foreign corporation must pay a special tax which is called “Timbre de Educación y Cultura” (Education and Culture Stamp Tax). This tax must be paid every year, during February or March. Each Corporation must pay it, either if it is making profits or not. If you forget to pay it , do not panic, go to the Hacienda in San Jose or San Isidro. They will tell you how much you owe.
The tax varies from 750 colones to 9000 colones per year, depending on the capital of the corporation,.
So far, having a corporation was pretty cheap.

However, that all may soon come to an end.
In order to raise additional funds the Costa Rican legislature has approved a law that would create an annual corporate tax that ranges from $150 per year for “inactive” corporations to $300 per year for corporations that are active.
According to the National Registry of Costa Rica, there are 486,000 corporations recorded.

The government plans to use this new tax to boost security in and around the country. Security costs have escalated in the last couple of years with more police, cameras in cities, and an improving legal system.

The law is being challenged by the opposing political party in the legislature so it is not yet in effect.

The proposed $300 tax (₡158,000), known as the “Impuesto a las Personas Jurídicas,” passed a first vote on Aug. 8. The tax, if passed, would be applied to all Costa Rican corporations, foreign companies with offices in Costa Rica and limited liability corporations as early as January 2012.

The vote on the $300 tax for national businesses was delayed twice in a week. Deemed a priority by President Chinchilla, an uncooperative Legislative Assembly has stalled the process.

Will the tax ever pass?

Before we turn to the legal principles, hovering over them all is the requirement of
transparency. This is the key to any reputable deal. Everything good, bad or indifferent about the property should be disclosed by the sellers and their agent, if such items are relevant to the intended use or not. Also, there should be no hidden fees; everybody who gets paid at the closing should have his or her cards on the table, with the amounts they are charging agreed to in writing ahead of time. The commissions that will go to certain parties must also be spelled out in advance. An example of a clear violation of the transparency rule is the practice of overpricing, also called net listing. The broker lists a property for a higher price than the true selling price, and tries to pocket the difference at the closing without the buyer ever realizing it. This is all-too common in Costa Rica. However, a broker is only entitled to the standard, agreed-upon commission. This is usually 10% for raw land and can fall to as low as 5-6% for large deals or centrally located houses. But more important than the exact figure is that all the parties agree in advance to the nature and type of fees. The critical legal principles and procedures include the following:

1st Principle: The land you are shown must correspond to the legal description on the title page in the Public Registry, as well as to the plat map which is inscribed in the “Catastro Nacinal” ( plat map registration bureau). With a small lot, this is pretty straightforward, but for large properties, it’s hard to be sure that you are getting what you were shown. Procedure: After walking the borders, and inspecting the title and plat map to be sure they correspond to each other and to what you were shown and told; you must hire a topographer to verify the borders, before (not after) you buy. If there is a discrepancy, it should be worked out prior to the closing. If your new survey is materially different from the old one, you should re-register your new survey over the old one, again, before the closing.

2nd Principle: When an offer to buy is accepted here in Costa Rica, just as in the US, the terms should be duly written up in a signed purchase agreement, and earnest money placed in escrow. At that point, the owner has a duty to sell to no one else and to honor the established price at the closing. Procedure: You get a written contract in the lawyer’s “protocolo” attesting to the terms of the offer your lawyer records this option in the National Registry, under the title page. That way, nobody can buy the property out from under you during the contract period without facing a loss in court. That’s because the buyer would not qualify as a third party good faith purchaser, thanks to the notice in the Registry of a pending sale.

3rd Principle: Ownership of real property is called fee simple absolute under US common law. The concept is the same here, although the name may be different. Procedure: The title to the property should already have been recorded in the National Registry, so that when you buy it, the ownership is transferred to your name or the name of your corporation (see sample registered plat map or plano catastrado in the adjacent column). Now nobody can try to claim it without due process, just as we are used to “back home.”

4th Principle: You must actively protect and/or use your land or you risk losing it to third parties (squatters). In Costa Rica this applies only to rural land, not houses or land in towns or cities. The US has similar laws, known as “adverse prescription.” Procedure: Putting up and maintaining fences and signs, having the property checked or patrolled on a regular basis, keeping the weeds down, and performing other signs of active ownership are all you need to protect you property from squatters; moreover, in the last five years or so, squatters have begun to lose consistently in litigation, as the courts increasingly recognize that valuable ocean view land should not be taken from a careless owner just so that someone can grow beans on it. Rural real estate throughout Costa Rica is often untitled. The land may have been settled, farmed and perhaps sold several times in the past with nothing more formal than a bill of sale (carta de venta). This is not necessarily an obstacle to purchase since the title may be acquired after purchase through a legal process known as Information Posesoria (Law Nº139 of July 14, 1941). Minimum requirements to qualify for a registered title to possession land are a registered survey and documentation of peaceful, public and undisputed possession of the land for a period of at least 10 years. This procedure involves verifying the history of the real estate, its boundaries and the declarations of owners of adjacent land. Private documentation such as bills of sale recording the history of ownership is very useful for this process. To accomplish title to possession land, a lawyer should guide the paperwork k through t he appropriate court, usually the agrarian court. He will present letters from all pertinent governmental agencies certifying that the property does not fall within the boundaries of National Parks, Indigenous Reserves, or other protected areas, and notarized statements from adjacent property owners attesting that the landholder is in fact in possession of the land and that they agree to the specified boundaries. A judge’s inspection of the land and review of all documentation are also part of the title process. It is a bureaucratic procedure that may take from six months to a year (possibly more) to Complete; however, untitled land is usually less expensive than registered property so the time factor may not be of concern to some buyers. In some cases, the title process s even stated as a condition of the sale or escrow.

Once approved, legal occupants inside the newly zoned area can “activate” their Solicitud de Concesión and transform their Permiso de Uso into a Concesión. This is a more permanent and specific form of ownership that can be inscribed in the National Registry. Concessions are as close to a title as you can get for beachfront even though the land technically is still owned by the state. They are typically issued for terms of 5-20 years, and are automatically renewable, assuming applicable laws and regulations have been respected.

Even though certain areas have seen substantial development in the ZMT, over 90% of the coast in CR still lacks approved zoning or concessions. It follows that over 90% of the development inside the ZMT country-wide is illegal. That’s because any development at all is prohibited without the proper ZMT zoning under a duly approved Plan Regulador. In fact, the majority of occupants of the ZMT in CR today probably don’t even have valid first-in-line applications for concessions on file and up to date with their respective Munis. If you are one of these folks, this means that your rights could be at risk. That’s because the ZMT law doesn’t care what you may have paid for the land. Neither does the law care how long you may have lived there, since tecnically no one can ever acquire any legal rights to the ZMT merely by possessing it over time. What the law does care about is very narrow and specific: who is first in line with a valid and current application for concession? First in line, first in rights. To the winner go the spoils. We know of some nearby beaches where five or more “owners” of the same parcel are all vying to sell the same dubious “right.” Pity the poor buyer who falls into their clutches while looking for a little peace and quiet on the beach. Costa Ricans or foreigners having five years of residency can register beach property in their own name. Costa Ricans or foreigners having 5 years of residency can register beach property in their own name. Foreign citizens must register the rights to their beach parcel through a Costa Rican corporation formed by an attorney. The corporation must have at least fifty percent of its shares held by a Costa Rican resident. This sounds weird, but can be set up safely in our experience.

In sum, a word of advice from us at Land Assurance: when considering beachfront, be very, very careful. If it comes with a valid concession, then that is as safe as it gets. Just be sure it is zoned for your intended use. But without the all-important concession in hand, it’s inherently risky. Then the name of the game is, caveat emptor times ten!

Contrary to rumor, it is quite possible to end up with a satisfactory result, with no residual bitterness about the construction process. But you have to plan ahead. Also you must be either personally involved and on site at least three times a week from start to finish,  or have someone do that for you who represents your interests only.

To get started,  a lot of due diligence has to be done.  There is no other way to ferret out the best architects, builders, and sub-contractors (all the way to the finishing contractors each of whom separately do windows, doors, kitchen cabinets, railings, gutters, pools, decks, even sometimes ceilings and paint).  You also have to be realistic and keep a balance between your budget and the finishes you are expecting. Finally, you also have to make decisions quickly and move forward, since you can expect a lot of delays along the way.

This article will give you a brief idea of what to expect when you plan on building down here.

1. Building Process In C.R. (some info and suggestions on how to proceed)

a.       Do the dirt movement in the dry season, as soon as you know you want to build in the near future. That will allow the dirt to settle through a rainy season.  This is not mandatory, but it is very useful for judging potential erosion or drainage problems before the construction starts.

b.      Have the soil studies done by a reputable firm.

c.       Decide what suits you better, an architect, or an engineer.  By law, all applications for building permits must be signed by either of those so long as they are duly licensed by the Costa Rican Association of Engineers and Architects (Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Ingenieros y Arquitectos-CFIA.). Their fees to do the blueprints are based upon a percentage of the value of the construction project, which is officially pegged at 10.5 %, but can sometimes be negotiated.

d.      The involvement of a licensed architect/engineer in a construction project is separated into two phases. Phase 1 is construction plans and permits, and phase 2 is control and execution.

e.       The law requires that three completed sets of plans be drawn that will include structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, elevations, topography, roof design, septic design and details, finish materials of facade and floors, and walls. Once you have approved them, the plans are registered by the professional in charge with the “college of engineers,” listing his or her name as the responsible designer. The three sets of plans will be divided among: the designer, the municipality (required in order to get the construction permits approved); and the owner, to be kept on site by whomever is in charge of the project.

f.       In order to start any construction permits process, water and power should be in place.

g.      The necessary building permits mentioned above must be obtained before you can begin to build.  These are issued by the municipality where your property is located. The required list of documents is mind-numbing but can be dealt with using our old friend patience.  You basically have to fill out a form, prove you have the municipal taxes paid to date,  and provide the following: a zoning use letter, a certified plat map, three sets of the construction plans, an insurance receipt from INS proving you have your mandatory policy,  and the signed contract with the main contractor.

h.      Thereafter, depending on the project and location, the plans will be studied by representatives from MOPT (roads and transportation department), INVU (housing and urban development department), ICE (electricity department), AyA (water department), or ASADA (water local association). This list might vary from one municipality to another, but it’s about right for all.

i.        Take your time choosing one of the most important members of the construction team, the builder. Tour some of the houses that he has built in the area, review carefully what you see, and talk to the owners of those places. Do the same thing for any sub-contractor.

2. About Construction Costs
The most expensive areas in a home are usually the bathrooms and the kitchen. The number of windows and the size and quality of windows can also affect the cost. Vaulted ceilings and high roof pitches will also increase the cost of a home. If you are using other homes to calculate an estimate, be sure the home has a similar style and features of the home you plan to build.

The cost per square foot/meter is often higher for a small vs. a larger home. When building a larger home, the cost of expensive items (such as a furnace or kitchen) is spread over a larger area.  Thus a larger home may have a lower square foot/ meter cost than a smaller home.

Some details in the design of your home can make a big difference in the price. To save on costs, begin estimating construction expenses before you select your final blueprints.

a.       Expect Some Features to Cost More

i.      Shape of Home
Homes that have a rectangular or box shape cost less to build. Having more angles and corners in the shape of your home can increase the amount of labor and materials needed to build a home. Domes shaped homes also make efficient use of materials and tend to cost less than other shapes.

ii.      Site Preparation
Preparing a site for construction can have a big impact on the cost of a home. Building on a flat lot will usually cost much less than on mountainous terrain. If you have to haul in lots of dirt, do a lot of grading, filling, clear trees, or blast through large rocks, then site preparations will become more expensive, and the construction process will take longer.

iii.      Cost Overruns
Usually the finished cost of a home is more then the original bid price. Cost overruns occur from overspending the allowances, making changes, and encountering unforeseen problems. Proper planning can greatly reduce cost overruns. In general, it is a good idea to allow an additional 10% to cover unexpected costs.

iv.      Inflation and Market Conditions
Usually the cost of building a home increases around 6% per year. If it will be several years before you begin construction, remember to include inflation into the cost estimate for your home. When using other homes to compare prices, try to use homes that have been built within the last six months.

b. What Does It Cost?
To analyze potential costs, we need to identify what kind of house is to be built.  Here are three general scenarios:

i.      A basic, local-style construction, like a “rancho” house: involves a simple design, and inexpensive features. It is usually one floor, it doesn’t have hot water through the house, and the finishes are very basic. Built typically of cement block (or something cheaper like different kind of light materials), with basic tile floors and a tin roof, this would be one of the most modest constructions you could choose. Approximate costs are $20-35 sq. ft.

ii.      A North America standard house: requires a well designed layout with clear specifications of the structural, electrical and finishes. Everything will be to US codes, and the house will have ceramic title, porcelain, two or more bathrooms, kitchen countertops, hot water throughout, A/C, roof tile, and so on. This construction could cost from $70 to $120 per sq. ft. (or more depending on the finishes)

iii. A luxury house: it is hard to give a price of a house in this range because the higher end practically has no limit. But assuming “standard” luxury items like marble floors, granite kitchen tops, top end appliances, vaulted ceilings, central A/C, and so on, the price starts at about $120, sq. ft. and heads north from there…

3. Recommendations or What To Watch Out For

a.       It is important that you have someone representing  your interests who speaks the language. This person should have some contacts and expertise in construction.

b.      Have your owner’s rep visit the building site as many times as possible, at least two times a week to answer questions and check that everything is going well.

c.       Before hiring people ask for references, go and see what they have done and talk to the people that they have worked for to CONFIRM if it is true.

d.      Hire a reliable architect or engineer. Before hiring this professional is advisable to be sure that he/she would perform weekly inspections (sometimes including the electrical and structural engineer, as well), and that the set of the plans have been reviewed as many times as necessary and that they are complete and quite clear.

e.       Review some of the houses that the contractor and architect have built in the area, and talk to the owners of those places. Also, it is better if the contractor will be on the construction site all the time, or if not, as much as possible.

f.       Pay the builder for his labor only,  a certain price per foot/meter. I don’t advise that you pay one price to the builder for both labor and materials.  The danger is that you will not be happy with the resulting quality of the materials and finishes.

g.      Have a written contract with all the contractors; make it as explicit and clear as possible. I highly recommend never paying unnecessarily in advance. Work out a schedule of how much to give the builder, architect, and sub-contractors, and make them stick to it. Also, include some kind of penalty clause in the likely event that things are not done on time.

h.      Before you sign any contract, be sure that you understand the fee structure and know exactly what is and is not included in the fee. Likewise, clearly define the responsibilities that people you are going will assume.

i.        Demand that your builder keep a very organized and clean job site through the construction.

j.        Get a detailed estimate from the builder regarding the kind and number of materials will be needed to build your house. Don’t let the builder run up unlimited credit at the hardware store.  Maintain a strict control over the buying of materials.

k.      Make sure that all the people you are hiring by contract have their CCSS and INS in order. Remember that by law it is the ultimate responsibility of the owner to make sure the workers are legally registered for benefits like Social Security and INS.

l.        Negotiate with hardware stores to give you a builder’s (wholesale) discount, including free delivery.

m.    When you get to the finishes part don’t be limited by what the area provides. The hardware stores here don’t have much selection.  Some things are better bought in San Jose or even brought down from abroad if they aren’t too big (if possible bring certain small but valuable things from abroad through the airport, like electrical outlets, door locks, plumbing fixtures, lamps, etc.) Shop around, it pays off.

n.      Save on security costs by letting the workers sleep at the site during construction, typically in lean-tos that they build, thereby saving you the need to have a guard.

o.      Be sure when the workers are gone (typically Sat-Sun.) someone is watching the house, to avoid theft.

p.      Insist on good quality; cheap work and materials will only turn out more expensive in the long run.

q.      Keep a clear and organized account of expenses.

r.        Try to plan things way ahead, don’t leave anything for the last minute, because you can count on enough unforeseen delays along the way.

Given the huge business and commercial opportunities in Costa Rica, it is becoming an investor’s paradise.  And the secret is out. Costa Rica came out very favorably in the Economist’s 2007 “global business risk of investing” survey.  Its rank was 33^rd in the world, not that far behind the US at 23^rd.  Costa Rica was deemed a safer business environment than any other nation south of the US, except Chile (which even beat the US).  Only 32 nations were deemed less risky for business, almost all of them in Western Europe.

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