Mar 01, 2019
Hello! My name is Derrick Rowland. I am Costa Rican and work as an Administrative Assistant in the Remax office here in the beautiful beach community of Playa Tamarindo.
I am originally from the capital, San José, which is about a 4-hour drive from our very well-known beach town. After having moved here temporarily for a brief seasonal job as a...
Jan 19, 2019
Before the end of 2019, the International Airport in Liberia in Costa Rica will extend its operating hours to work 24/7. It is currently open from 4h00am to midnight but due to an increase in traffic to this newly renovated airport, the government decided to increase the numbers of hours open to serve its growing clientele. With the increase in...
Dec 24, 2018
DECEMBER 2018
The Costa Rica Tax Reform law has been approved by the legislature. The tax bill that was being discussed in the Legislature as bill number 20.580 has been approved in the first debate. The bill now moves on to a 2nd vote and constitutional review prior to being implemented into law. There will be changes in the following...
Sep 24, 2018
August 25, 2018 - RE/MAX Ocean Surf and Sun and Rancho Villa Real (RVR), located on the Gold Coast of Coast Rica, are pleased to announce that RE/MAX Ocean Surf and Sun will be the new exclusive sales team for Rancho Villa Real.
Rancho Villa Real is a 135 acre (55 ha) gated community set against a naturally wooded hillside, positioned...
Aug 28, 2018
If you are looking to relocate to Playa Tamarindo, you might be looking into bringing your cat or dog with you. New residents that have their furry family members with them are often seeking a good veterinarian for regular checkup appointments, grooming, mediations, and emergency care.
There are some issues with specific pet diseases in Costa...
Jul 21, 2018
The debt per capita in Costa Rica is very low, with US$ 7,200/citzen. "Per capita" numbers are always a great way to compare different economies from around the world. If every citizen in a country suddenly became liable for paying an equal share of the national debt, there would be serious problems, especially when an individual’s portion of the...
May 21, 2018
Price value misperception: Most people in every day’s conversation use price and value as synonyms but they are not. Price and value have two separate connotations in the business world “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”, hence price is negotiable and value is not; value is intrinsic to the property in a given market. ...
Apr 30, 2018
Guanacaste is a fantastic place for families. In the last ten years, a number of great schools have opened in the area that offer bilingual education and have curriculums that are recognized internationally. Parents that are moving to the area often ask about the activities that are available that their children can participate in outside of their...
Apr 06, 2018
Most condominiums have a homeowner's association, abbreviated HOA, which all condo owners in the complex are required to join. The association is managed by a board of directors whose members are elected democratically. While each board operates differently, they usually have a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and members. Some...
Mar 22, 2018
Medical emergencies are scary when you are in your home country, but when you are on vacation it can be even more challenging. When you are traveling, you should always have basic information ready and have an understanding of the medical options in the area.
It is always recommended to travel with a basic first aid emergency kit. Suggested items...
Mar 04, 2018
Costa Rica is a very pet-friendly country. It will be rare to find a family in Costa Rica that doesn’t have a dog and for good reasons. They are protectors, friends, and good life companions! Pets are welcome in shopping centers, cafes, restaurants, and bars everywhere in the country. It’s easy to incorporate your dog into your daily life if you...
Feb 13, 2018
Costa Rica has a few fantastic options for golf enthusiasts. Some of the best golf courses in Costa Rica are located in Guanacaste.
Hacienda Pinilla, a 4,500-acre development located just south of Tamarindo, features an 18-hole Mike Young designed golf course. Mike Young is well known for his golf course designs in the southeast United States....
Feb 02, 2018
With stock market indices hitting new all-time highs almost daily throughout 2017, and the economy (average 2% GDP growth since the Great Recession of 2008) performing not much above stall speed, a severe stock market crash and a major recession are in the cards. How did we get there, we ask ourselves?
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Jan 21, 2018
What is an MLS? It is a multiple listing service that real estate brokers and agents use to establish contractual offers of compensation (among brokers and agents). The primary purpose of an MLS is to provide a facility to publish a "unilateral offer of compensation" by a listing broker, to other broker participants in that MLS. In other words,...
Jan 17, 2018
Potential real estate buyers sometimes see reports in the news or hear from friends about real estate scams in Costa Rica. It is important for Buyers to be aware of the ways to protect themselves and what to look for to avoid real estate hoaxes.
The first way buyers can work toward protecting their interests is finding a knowledgeable real...
Jan 06, 2018
Is it possible to buy property in Costa Rica with Bitcoins?
Bitcoins are not new, they exist since 2009. The Bitcoin (BTC) is the first cryptocurrency that has been created and a cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange. Cryptocurrencies are classified as a subset of digital...
Dec 24, 2017
New Year’s is one of the most popular vacation holidays in Costa Rica. Thousands of Costa Rican’s leave the capital city of San Jose to visit the coast for a week of sunshine with family and friends. There are beach parties in almost every town on the coast, but what are the favorite activities for locals and expats to celebrate the New Year?...
Dec 06, 2017
While it’s technically possible for a foreigner to get a mortgage with a bank in Costa Rica, it is also almost impossible to go through the process without losing one's mind. For the purpose of testing it, I tried in 2012. After 12 months chasing the employee in charge, trying to get a list of things missing and get at least a confirmation that...
Nov 23, 2017
We are starting to see the high season for tourism start in Guanacaste, but the real estate sales for local real estate agents is year round. Most agents report more tours and showing requests in the months of December to April, but sales are reported 12 months per year. Statistics even show an increase during the months of July to December...
Nov 07, 2017
"I want a house". "I want a condo". Which one is right for you?
It is difficult to answer because it really depends on what you prefer and what you need. Here are a few scenarios to help you decide:
1. You are moving here. You have the options of being in town, outside town, in a gated community or not. You could look for a condo, home or...
Nov 02, 2017
Did you know that on July 25,1824 Costa Rica received Guanacaste with open arms, formerly known as “La Gran Nicoya”? With this, our nation not only enlarged its territory, but incorporated its major cultural asset. We all know Guanacaste is a great place, full of contrasts unlike other regions in Costa Rica. Measures 10,140 km2 and volcanoes...
Oct 24, 2017
For the Caribbean and Puerto Rico, this hurricane season has been one of the most damaging in recent history. The two hurricanes that swept through the region, Maria and Irma, were both category 5 hurricanes (with wind speeds exceeding 157 mph). Many people think that this trend of so many category 4 and 5 hurricanes touching land will continue to...
Oct 17, 2017
After Tropical Storm Nate we have been enjoying sunny days now in Tamarindo. The town of Tamarindo and the popular beach areas we serve were minimally affected by the storm Nate, however many outlining areas were affected by the heavy storms. Especially people inland that built in very low areas, or in riverbanks.
It has been amazing to...
Oct 09, 2017
October 9th, 2017
We have just been through Tropical Storm Nate in Costa Rica and it affected all of the country, some areas more than others, like the Southern part of Costa Rica where they experienced much more rain and strong winds. Our offices are located in the Guanacaste, Pacific side/North portion of the country where tropical storms are...
Oct 07, 2017
So, you bought a place in Tamarindo or Flamingo and you want to go to San Jose. Do you fly or do you drive? Well, let’s look at the pros and cons.
First, if you fly, it’s much faster! But.. Once you arrive in San Jose, where are you going? How are you going to get there? That is the problem. It takes about 45 minutes to fly to San Jose. 30...
