Many of you are still looking at Costa Rica as the new frontier and looking at the past few years of real estate and property development, one may think you are right.
But now the mainstream real estate investment world has caught on and areas such as Tamarindo, Jaco and Quepos have seen the same boom as San Diego, California.
So should you still invest in Costa Rica?
The answer is yes.
You should.
But knowing where is the key.
You may not want to buy property at sky high prices in Malpais and Santa Teresa (even though we are still finding great deal there), but rather the surrounding areas such as
Manzanillo, Delicias and Playa Hermosa (no, not the one close to Jaco, but the one on the Nicoya Peninsula).
We have recently taken a tour and shown clients properties overlooking the ocean and some of those are going very cheap.
Properties in those areas are bound to go way up especially with the roads being paved and more and more people feeling the desire to live where you can still enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica's nature, wildlife, flora and fauna.
The best way to go is to buy a huge piece of land and file it under your own Costa Rica Corporation and then sell off bits and pieces, develop some and then
let investors or homebuyers make it pay off many times within a few months.
A great example is a huge piece of land in Montezuma which has just been presented to us.
The owner wants to sell it for $6 Million which makes the 1km by 1km piece of land a steal at only $6 per square meter.
The problem is that many of the property owners here are land rich and cash poor.
Our lawyer is currently checking up on everything before we list it for sale, which is a process many of the local owners don't want to deal with.
Driving thru some of the still rustic locations makes you feel like a true pioneer. You remember what the older folks have told you about some parts of California back in the 50s or what you're used to seeing on television from way back when.
You come to some of the overpopulated tourist spots and you feel like you're in Miami and wonder if a cheaper way of life is the only reason those people come here.
Santa Teresa is still the number 4 spot for surfing in the world with constant waves. As long as you're close to good surf, you will always have people coming and business will not go away.
Those of you who haven't come to Costa Rica yet ... you should! But please avoid the tourist hot spots.
Get in touch with some people who have lived here for a while and ask them where to go.
You will not regret it. Whether you buy a house here or just stay for 6 days. Costa Rica is an experience you DON'T want to miss out on!

Mike