When I was reading the recent article from CNN about Costa Rica, I was not surprised to that Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world. Per capita, Costa Rica has the highest amount of US citizens living inside it’s borders than any other country outside of the USA.

Costa Rica tops list of ‘happiest’ nations

(CNN) — Forget Disneyland! Costa Rica is the happiest place in the world, according to an independent research group in Britain with the goal of building a new economy, “centered on people and the environment.” In a report released Saturday, the group ranks nations using the “Happy Planet Index,” which seeks countries with the most content people.

In addition to happiness, the index by the New Economics Foundation considers the ecological footprint and life expectancy of countries. For people living in Costa Rica reported “the highest life satisfaction in the world and have the second-highest average life expectancy of the new world (second to Canada),” the organization said in a statement. They “also have an ecological footprint that means that the country only narrowly fails to achieve the goal of … consuming its fair share of the Earth’s natural resources.”

The Central American country, tucked between Nicaragua and Panama, touts its lush rain forests and pristine beaches. Its president, Oscar Arias Sanchez, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for trying to help end civil wars in several Central American countries. This year’s survey, which looked at 143 countries, featured Latin American nations in nine of the Top 10 spots. The runner-up was the Dominican Republic, followed by Jamaica, Guatemala and Vietnam.

Most developed nations lagged in the study. While Britain ranked 74th, the United States snagged the 114th spot, because of its hefty consumption and massive ecological footprint. The United States was greener and happier 20 years ago than it is today, the report said. Other populous nations, such as China and India, had a lower index brought on by their vigorous pursuit of growth-based models, the survey suggested.

“As the world faces the triple crunch of deep financial crisis, accelerating climate change and the looming peak in oil production, we desperately need a new compass to guide us,” said Nic Marks, founder of the foundation’s center for well-being. Marks urged nations to make a collective global change before “our high-consuming lifestyles plunge us into the chaos of irreversible climate change.”

For those of you already living in Costa Rica, this is not news. For years business people have been touting Costa Rica as a ecological tranquil paradise. Eventually, people began to take notice and booked trips to Costa Rica learning first hand what all the fuss is about. As a result, many visitors become investors in the booming real estate industry. Buying a Costa Rica property has great benefits for your health according to this study and if you do it right, your pocketbook will benefit as well. With tourism increasing each year, vacation condo rentals are a way for Costa Rica condo owners to earn rental revenue on their investment. Add this to the low cost of living in Costa Rica, you have a ideal location for a vacation home, retirement, or for relocation.

If you have not yet experienced Costa Rica for yourself, contact us today and let us help you plan a trip to experience the Costa Rican lifestyle. Or, if you are interested in learning how to purchase a condominium or beach home as a vacation home and/or as an investment to earn rental revenue, please call Lisle Head at 866-403-1345 Lisle can discuss your options with you and help maximize your investment! Coldwell Banker Jaco prides itself on its integrity and its track record of success. Take a look at our Costa Rica Real Estate Testimonials section, to read what other people experienced with us.

You can find the original CNN article here

If you are one of the many people who come to Costa Rica and buy property for investment purposes then you would be keen to the trends in tourism. Costa Rica has been growing every year in tourism for the past 10 years and all indicators point to continued growth. For rental property investors or if you are considering buying a Costa Rica property the report below can give you some good indication of the potential earnings.

Costa Rica Tourism Report Q1 2010

After increasing from 2.06mn in 2006 to 2.29mn in 2007, the report expects arrivals to have increased to 2.51mn in 2008 before dipping down to 2.29mn in 2009. Arrival numbers are forecast to tick up again in 2010, and to grow to 3.5mn in 2014, at the end of our forecast period. The majority of tourists visit Costa Rica during the peak season (January-May) and come from the Americas. Arrivals from the country’s three most important source markets – the US, Nicaragua and Canada – increased steadily during 2004 to 2007. However, looking at the inbound tourism data by region, although 2008 continued to trend upwards in North America and Latin America, the report is forecasting arrivals numbers from both regions to decrease by 9.45% and 8.60%, respectively, in 2009. The next most important source markets in terms of arrivals are, in order, Panama, Mexico and Spain.

The main growth drivers for the industry are ecotourism and health tourism. Costa Rica has 32 national parks, eight biological reserves, 13 forest reserves and 51 wildlife refuges. The industry is estimated to suffer slightly in 2009 due to the ongoing recession, particularly in the US, and the H1N1 virus (swine flu), however it is forecast to see relatively quick turnaround beginning in 2010. The continued expansion of the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in the north and the growing amount of chartered flights from Europe all have the potential to drive growth in the market. Furthermore, the planned development of the Caribbean province, looks set to bring more tourists to this less-developed Costa Rican province. Indeed, already the province’s port has served as the finish line for the Transat Jacques Vabre sailboat race in 2009 and the race is scheduled to finish there in 2011, 2013 and 2015 as well. The port has also been added as a port of call in 2010 to two luxury cruise liners’ schedules.

Costa Rica’s tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy, accounting for about 7.8% of GDP in direct terms in 2008 and nearly 3% of total employment in 2006 – 49,000 individuals – according to data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). However, the industry’s contribution to GDP is forecast to steadily decline, from 7.1% in 2009 to just 4.6% in 2014. Collective government expenditure on tourism was an estimated US$29.7mn in 2008, a 4% increase year-on-year (y-o-y). Collective government expenditure is forecast to slump slightly in 2009 to 27.9mn, bouncing back to 30.0mn in 2011. Expenditure is then forecast to rise to 35.5mn by the end of the forecast period in 2014. The government has proposed a tax on inbound airfares. The legislation, which has yet to pass in the Assembly, requests the addition of a fee of US$15 to all airfares, to replace the current 3% hotel tax. Part of the revenue from the tax, which is expected to be more than US$80mn a year, will fund some activities of Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (Costa Rican Tourism Board, ICT), including marketing, promotion and planning. The change in taxation came about due to the increasing amount of condominium and other private rentals that were not included under the umbrella of the hotel tax. New hotel developments are ongoing in the country, with major international companies including Intercontinental Hotels Group, Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Barceló constructing hotels near the beaches and in urban centres.

If you are interested in learning how to purchase a condominium or beach home for your own enjoyment or to earn rental revenue, please call Lisle Head at 866-403-1345 Lisle can discuss your options with you that are the right ones! Coldwell Banker Jaco prides itself on its integrity and its track record of success. Take a look at our Costa Rica Real Estate Testimonials section, these are real people just like you.

To get a copy of the complete report you can find it here

If you have travelled Central America you can describe most of the countries by a few words. Guatemala has its large indigenous Indian culture along with their rustic colonial era architecture. The same can be said about Nicaragua but without the Indian culture which is isolated on the Caribbean coast, colonial towns like Granada really give you a feel what it was like living here during the colonial era. Panama is the Miami Beach south of the border with its chic high rises and young population and good roads. Then we have Costa Rica the ecological trailblazer with vast areas of protected forest and wild animals that has attracted people from around the world to make tourism in Costa Rica the second largest source of income and it is still growing(hint for property investors). Most travelers would agree that another overall descriptive of Central America is the low cost of living in this part of the world and its delightful weather zones from tropical rain forests to mountainous cloud forests offers everyone a place to visit.

Ever since the Iran-Contra scandal people had this image of Central America as a dangerous area to visit and not friendly to northern Americans. But in the last 15 years Central America has been lifted out of this obscure, war torn, guerrilla war to a peaceful region. Sitting in the middle of most of the Central American drama is the democratic republic of Costa Rica which has no military and has been an important ally of the United States for the last 60 years. Once people got the idea out of their heads that Central America is a war zone, tourism began. Costa Rica where capitalism has prospered; was the first country to see its future and made the adjustments needed to attract an international tourism market. As a result, with political and economic stability, it is no secret why Costa Rica has become an area of foreign dwellers who are investing their money in second homes, vacation homes, and investment properties. Today, Costa Rica has excellent and low cost healthcare, excellent private schools and prep schools, high speed internet on the ever increasing fiber optic network, low crime, and low taxes. All of these features continue to attract property investors and developers alike. You cannot have one without the other and Coldwell Banker Jaco has been helping clients and developers find the right investment for them. Lisle Head broker/owner of Coldwell Banker Jaco in Costa Rica can help you make a balanced and rewarding decision for you and your pocketbook. He has helped many people make the dream of living in the rain forest a reality for people just like you. So give Lisle a call today at 866-403-1345 to discuss your options and you will be pleasently surprised to find that Lisle genuinely wants to help you.

Now that you are here, walking on the beach during the sunset, having a drink beside the pool, enjoying lunch at the marina with friends, tee time at 6 for 18 holes and/or hiking in the rainforest is wonderful but for most people who are adventurous enough to purchase a property in Costa Rica they are going to want to discover more. So stay tuned for the second part of this article which addresses the opportunities here in Costa Rica for travel, adventure, and business opportunities that can keep your daily life rewarding and abundant.

Costa Rica Condo Investment Opportunities are on the Rise!

If you are interested in purchasing a condominium, Costa Rica would be a great place to make your purchase. The economy of the country is thriving, and the people of Costa Rica are turning their coastal villages from wilderness to investment opportunity paradise. Condo projects are established and new ones are breaking ground every few months. As a result, property management services are moving into town. They handle everything from paying your taxes to renting out your condo to earn you rental revenue. There are many reliable property management companies that will care for your property while you are out of the country.

The proof of this growth outside of Jaco Beach Condos and the central Pacific market is a $400 million dollar development being built in the Guanacaste Province. At this time, locals and foreign investors alike are prospering. The construction, business, and property sales in the region have been growing by leaps and bounds.

The central bank of Costa Rica states that foreign investment in the country has tripled in the last twelve to eighteen months. The largest growth throughout the country has been in the tourist industry. Local and foreign entrepreneurs alike are buying up boutique hotels, and other developments. Very few of the developers are mega corporations and most are families and individuals whom have been attracted to Costa Rica by the weather and the natural beauty of the country. It is this segment of the investment market that make up the bulk of new construction and as a group they are making a large investments in the central Pacific area. All types of people from all around the globe have discovered the earning potential of owning a condominium in Costa Rica. A condominium makes a wonderful vacation home, and after your vacation, you can rent it for the rest of the year making a huge profit.

If you want to purchase a condominium here in Jaco Beach you might want to consider one of the projects that offers in house professional property management. For single family homes or lots, property management services can prevent you from dealing with a squatter while you are away or out of the country. The benefit of having a professional property manager is numerous, and it allows you to feel confident when you leave the country. Plus a good manager can earn you rental revenues which can help augment your condo fees. Remember, these services are either paid for by sharing of the rental revenue or a guaranteed fee each month. The first fee structure is obvious, no rent, no fees. The second fee structure offers you a fee per month regardless of the rentals. The flipside is, the rental manager can earn huge profits since everything above their monthly fee is profit for them. Some owners like this because it gives them a lower but steady income each month. You will have no trouble renting your property here in Costa Rica The market is exploding as a tourist and vacation destination each year.

If you are interested in learning how to purchase a condominium or beach home as a vacation home and/or as an investment to earn rental revenue, please call Lisle Head at 866-403-1345 Lisle can discuss your options with you and help maximize your investment! Coldwell Banker Jaco prides itself on its integrity and its track record of success. Take a look at our Costa Rica Real Estate Testimonials section, these are real people just like you.

There are many ways for you to make a solid and fortuitous foreign investment in the Costa Rica real estate market. Right now the property tax rates are low because the Costa Rica government is trying to encourage foreign real estate investments which will help the booming tourism market. Since the tourism sector of Costa Rica is growing at an exponential rate, you can expect to see a very sizable return very soon after you purchase your Costa Rica property.

As a foreign investor there are several things you are going to need if you want to purchase a viable and solid piece of Costa Rica real estate. One of the things you always need to understand before signing your Costa Rica property contract is that there are many scam artists here. If you are not careful or you left your common sense at home you will be exposing yourself to undue risk. If you become a victim of real estate fraud you would be able to make a case for it with the government but it would take you years to reach any type of resolution. Therefore, you need to find an honest lawyer and real estate agent. Look for a lawyer who has many references and an agent that is accountable to a larger entity such as Coldwell Banker.

Second, you need to know every step of the Costa Rica real estate closing process so you can be sure when you leave the office, you have all of the papers and contracts you need to secure your property. For example, after you close it might be possible that some of the papers have been filled out wrong. The burden will then fall on you to correct the problem or you risk spending the first few years of your new Costa Rica vacation home with a cloud over your head. The easiest way to have your purchase contract declared invalid is not dealing with a tax lien on the property whether you knew about it or not. Again, if you use common sense in the beginning by working with professional organizations such as Coldwell Banker Jaco, your exposure to administrative problems is virtually zero!

If you are interested in learning how to purchase a condominium or beach home for your own enjoyment or to earn rental revenue, please call Lisle Head at 866-403-1345 Lisle can discuss your options with you that are the right ones! Coldwell Banker Jaco prides itself on its integrity and its track record of success. Take a look at our Costa Rica Real Estate Testimonials section, these are real people just like you.

Many people visit Costa Rica and feel like they never want to leave, which is why so many people begin to seriously consider buy land in Costa Rica. It is easy to see how it is possible to make a real profit purchasing real estate in Costa Rica since tourism is currently booming and likely to continue to increase. Even for people who are not serious investors, but simply looking for a nice place to retire, real estate in Costa Rica can hold extremely high potential.

However, even though now is a great time to purchase real estate in Costa Rica, there are a few things you should know prior to your investment so that you can move through the purchase as quickly as possible. First of all, one of the things that are going to affect you most is Maritime law, which prohibits you from owning land that is within the first 55 feet of the shore. Therefore, unless you want to engage in a long process that requires a large amount of funds, you probably will not want to look at oceanfront real estate in Costa Rica.

Second, you need to know that if there are any tax liens on the property, even if you have finished the closing process and paid your 60% deposit the property cannot actually be transferred. Therefore, you will a lawyer to check into this so you do not get scammed and lose your closing deposit. Along the same lines, there are many titles that float around that do not actually belong to the real estate in Costa Rica that you think you are purchasing.

In this way, it is possible to get scammed and pay a deposit on a property that the government will not be able to give you, since you were scammed by someone who does not really own the property. Therefore, you will have to make sure you always have a real estate agent and lawyer along when you purchase real estate in Costa Rica.

There are many reasons for moving to Costa Rica or deciding to invest in Costa Rica real estate, among the top is the fact that there are few places that offer such a temperate environment. With spacious beach lines and a jungle and mountain range running through the center, the Costa Rica real estate investment opportunities abound as there really is something for everyone no matter what age or desires they have. Rather you want adventure, calm, or both in your life; you can find a piece of Costa Rica real estate and make it happen.

These are excellent reasons why one of the best ways to make sure your Costa Rica real estate investment is solid is to simply go scope out the lay of the land before hand. Many people find that the best way to make a satisfying Costa Rica real estate purchase is by renting for a few years so that they can move around and find the best area for themselves. For those who want to invest now, you might decide that an extended vacation is in order so that you can properly access the Costa Rica real estate investment opportunities.

Of course, once you focus and zero in on where you want to make your Costa Rica real estate investment, you are not going to want to attempt the purchase on your own. Although it is possible to close a Costa Rica real estate deal on your own, it can get quite complicated since the law has many intricacies that protect the seller and ironically scam artists more than you. Therefore, you will want to make sure you hire a reputable and reliable Costa Rica real estate investment lawyer and a real estate agent who is familiar with the laws and courts of Costa Rica.

Like every other investment that a person may be looking into, investing in real estate in Costa Rica requires understanding the country, its people, culture, climate, market trends and the government.

The Costa Rican government has eased regulations on foreign investors and as a result, there is no distinction between local investors and foreigners in terms of taxation or duty. This trend has attracted more investors from the European markets into the country. Unlike other countries where real estate is regulated by a set of laws, the Costa Rica real estate industry has no such measures; realtors are therefore likely to have no licenses or relevant education.

Because the official Costa Rican language is Spanish, most of the contracts between the investor and the seller are drafted in Spanish. An investor who does not have a clear understanding of the language should therefore get a clear translation of the text before signing the contract.

Like other investment opportunities, Costa Rica estate investment can be risky, it is therefore advisable that a potential investor seek advice from credible sources to avoid being caught up in swindles. Other things to consider are the cost of living, the infrastructure, water, energy and security. Costa Rica oceanfront real estate fetches higher prices than the inland investments.

Before deciding what form of real estate in Costa Rica to opt for, one should consider the location, size, the interior fitting, design, architecture, and the overall buying price. Only then should an investor consider whether to buy or build. Prior to this however, a foreign investor should check with the relevant authorities to verify the ownership of the property.

After investing in Costa Rica real estate, getting a legal property title after settling the payments is also in order, although this may prove an active process as Costa Rican property ownership regulations change frequently. One should ensure that their property is properly registered instead of relying on the title deed