Considering retiring to Costa Rica

Hello David,

Similar to you, my husband and I have been to CR twice/my husband 3 times. CR has become our happy place. We live in CA and decided (during our last visit early this month) to purchase land in Playa Grande. We close on our lot at the end of September with plans to build. We have spent time in Santa Teresa and Conchal beach (lovely but way too expensive for our second home) and Tamarindo (too over populated with tourists in our opinion) and we felt Playa Grande is upcoming and you see many expats, particularly Americans, investing in Playa Grande.

I would highly recommend our realtor from Coldwell Banker who is at Tico (local) if you plan to look in the Guanacaste Province. Only 1 hour from Liberia airport and the roads are very good between the two locations.

Good luck and I hope an expat who resides in CR will have more answers for you.

Pure Vida. Shail

@davidhodory

We've been here nineteen years. Built two homes. Bought five cars, two dogs and two cats. Had open heart surgery.

Wouldn't live anywhere else.

Cost of living is what you want it to be and what you can afford. You can live at the beach and pay hundreds of dollars a month for electricity to run the A/C, or live higher up and pay just a few dollars a month. Rents will be cheaper away from beachy/touristy areas, too. You can shop at the local markets or at the more sophisticated (read: more expensive) ones. You can own a car or ride the bus and taxis. Gas is expensive, but the country is small. It's still relatively cheap to get around. Here, you have many more options as to what it all costs.

What do we miss? Darn little. Fried oysters comes to mind.

With fairly easy online shopping, there's not much that's inconvenient.

Sophisticated health care is largely centered in and around San Jose and Liberia. Routine health care via the CAJA, the national health care system, can be lacking or maybe not. The private sector can fill in the gaps -- not for free, but also not for what you're used to paying.

I've been investigating Starlink satellite Internet service. It's available in Costa Rica but the latest Starlink hardware is not. Two unanswered questions are whether I can buy the hardware in the States and import it? Answer: Yes. And can I activate that latest hardware from Costa Rica? Answer: Not Sure.

Our only regret is not having moved here sooner. Costa Rica is the only true democracy south of Canada.

@davidhodory

Hello David from a fellow born and raised mid-westerner.  I came here via Philadelphia though, where I spent my adult years.  Still miss the snow, but not the cold.  I will never miss below zero F temps.   Where I am in western San Carlos Canton it is always between 21 and 32 degrees Celsius.  Always.  But this is a country of micro-climates... so do know that you can travel less than 30 minutes and be in a different temp. zone... higher is cooler here (duh!) and away from the beaches is also cooler... don't be fooled about ocean breezes, this isn't California.  Beach areas are hot as hell.

Your Questions are well thought out and I'm So glad you departed by saying "I'll be spending some time reading posts" because most of your questions have been asked and somewhat thoroughly answered... the problem can be that many posts can take 'turns' and end up with information not previously solicited by the original poster... so Yes... put your feet up and spend some time reading.  You don't have to go back further than a few years at the most.  Beware... some posts have initial posting dates of 5 or even 10 years ago... so a lot of the responses are dated and may no longer be relevant.  I have fallen into that hole myself.

First, can I just say, that it is very very promising to hear that somebody 'rational and realistic' wants to come here to live.  I'm sure 'dave' from daveandmarcia will agree!!   Too many people seem to leave their brains, common sense, and even entire life experiences back on the RunWay from whatever airport they took off from to come here.  It leaves me baffled; but we seem to live in a world where almost anything can happen; like ?? a criminal running for president.

START SPANISH NOW.   Today.   I use Duolingo... it is free, on-line and easy to use.  At first it's repetitive and a little annoying.. but time and repetition/practice are the best tools.  Learning Spanish now will exponentially Improve your experience here.  It will effect EVERYTHING... from shopping, to construction, to healthcare, building relationships with Ticos (you'll learn more from them than from US expats) figuring out the banking and bill-paying system, public transport, etc.  Take it from somebody who came here with very little Spanish and some old Italian from way-back-when... if I had been able to understand more, the entire process... from the move, to property purchase, to getting around, to Residency, to healthcare and finding what I needed to survive, would have been a lot less stressful.  Granted, I am stubborn and like to figure things out for myself, but MAN... getting some Spanish under your belts will smooth at least some of the bumps you will no doubt encounter.  Dorothy... you will not be in Kansas, OK??   Expect the unexpected.  You control only what you can comprehend... and even then, central America will throw you some curve balls.  You may catch one or two, and some may/will hit you in the face.  Be patient and let it happen.  Don't let something as 'small' as a language barrier turn you into the a-hole American.  Less barriers = less curve ball mishaps.

So... without further ado... I'll address your questions even though 'dave' did a damn good job!!!  He's an excellent resource on this forum.  We have butted heads a few times, but respect goes to those who earn it and he is at the top, as far as I'm concerned.

1)  As an American Expat... this is by far the best 'big' thing I've ever done in my life.  I went in without hesitation.  Unlike you, I didn't use any 'forum' because honestly, I didn't know they existed.  I'm not a big computer/internet guy... I viewed the computer as a tool and not a friend.  Just me.  But in hindsight, it would have helped.  To be brutally honest... I will say, the best ADVICE I've gotten since living here has come from Ticos. Duh!!!   Who would know better than 'they' do about their own country.  Sure, expats can help when it comes to Residency and Caja woes... but those things don't matter after a while. Good neighbors do.

2) Community 'feel' and real estate costs...  Same as up there.  Sorry dude, every part of CR is different from the next... and things can change in less than kilometer.   But use your head... closer to bigger cities and towns, costs go UP.  More rural, costs go DOWN.  Closer to beaches, costs go UP...  etc.   If you want to live like an American... costs go UP;  if you examine how the locals live, and you live more like the Ticos do... costs go DOWN.

As for community 'feel'...  just look around.  If it looks clean and safe, it most likely IS.  If it doesn't, it most likely has some bad eggs.  Maybe your mid-sized city experience will come in handy when determining this.   I feel safer here than I did in Philadelphia... but that is mainly because I was always living in marginal neighborhoods where I could buy cheap and do a full gut and remodel; then wait for the 'hood' to gentrify, and move on and do it again.  I loved taking an abandoned house and making it into something special and giving a 'boost' to the neighbors that felt their lives were doomed because of where they lived.  Imagine how my older neighbor felt when I told her that her house (which was in deplorable shape) was worth $195K as is.  She told me she and her late husband paid $19k for it.  Not a typo.   But you get my drift... you'll have to use gut instincts to determine 'feel'... after all... it is a sensory thing.

So... this is perhaps the most important thing I have to "say" at this point... "Make a Needs List and stick to it."  Be realistic and consider what you have NOW and wouldn't want to live without... like proximity to a Hospital.  There,  I said it.  Proximity to a Hospital is a big thing for folks our age... you can't let palm trees and sun sets turn a simple emergency into a Tragedy.   Hospitals are not everywhere... and half of the hospitals in CR are near and or around the San Jose metro.  I'm always shocked when people write about living on the Pacific coast areas... if you simply look at a map, you'll see NO CITIES on the Pacific; because there are no natural 'ports'...  and thus, no hospitals.  Even the most posh of seaside areas have a not-so-great travel time to emergency care.  Remember, the ambulance needs to travel TO YOU first, and if they can find you (most houses don't have address with a number, nor do roads have names ???)  ...  then they have to take you 'back' to the hospital before you flat line.  Ambulances don't have 'medics' on board here... just a driver.   Add a language barrier to the mix and doom appears almost inevitably.   Consider that.  Clinics are everywhere... but not open 24/7 and don't have trauma care ... ??? 

Also.. make a 'wants' list and remember than you'll have to make some compromises, but that's OK because you haven't lived here before... so those 'wants' just may end up looking stupid anyway."  LOL!!

I had a short 'needs' list...   

1) paved road... it rains a lot and I didn't want 8 months of mud dragging me down nor tracking into my house;  2) concrete house... duh!!  it's cooler and quieter; 

3)  proximity to hospital... less than 40 minutes away... which I now think should be between 20-30... I compromised with 40 minute car ride; or 20 minute FAST CAR RIDE.  A new highway has helped cut the time.  4) proximity to Public Transportation - Bus...  I don't drive and hate owning a car... just one more thing to break.  I want a simple life!!!  I am 300 yards from a bus stop on a main highway with numerous, daily buses to La Fortuna, ciudad Quesada, and San Ramon.  The later two of which have many daily buses, almost bi-hourly, to the airport and central SJ.  I love the bus!!!   I can look out the windows and see many things that I wouldn't if I was driving.  I can chat with neighbors.  I can doze.  Sometimes you have to hold a baby, or a box of chicks... ???    And... I find that the schedule makes me condense my trips so that I have a plan and get things done... less time for 'window shopping' and other crap like that. Yes... things can go wrong, the weather (rain) can cause cancelations, delays, detours, etc.  In Costa Rica, we call that Tuesday.  There are also taxis in the area (they give out their card with whatsapp phone number) as well as 'Pirate' taxis.. not really 'illegal'... but a little sketchy.  Thing is, I live in a village of 150 people; everybody knows everybody... and we now a lot of people in neighboring towns and villages... so I'm on a first name basis with the pirate taxi guys.. who know me (the gringo) and I know them and their extended families.  So travel is not an issue; and my neighbors said they will drive me to the hospital if I'm capable of making the phone call... LOL!!!   Great neighbors.  6) Basic amenities.  we have a mini-super which sells most 'things'... of course, run by Chinese.  We have a 'bar'... if you can call it that, and a soccer pitch, cemetery, elem. school, church, Ebais clinic (national healthcare system) that is open one day a week; communal kitchen for events, and a large indoor 'salon' which is like a gymnasium.  We are within a 45 minute walk to two other villages that both have hardware stores; bakeries; clinics, etc.  I have never walked without getting picked up by a local who knows who I am... usually some kid on a motorcycle who takes me for a helmetless ride. ??   7) Close to nature.  So... I'm in a village at the edge of a mountain chain... literally behind us... like 500 yards from my back yard, is the long mountain chain that starts up at the Arenal Volcano and goes south before heading west.  Those mountains contain the Monte Verde Rainforest and Cloud forest reserve, amongst others.  So nature is close.  I hear the howler monkeys every day...but they could be as far away as 4 kms.  The mountains are protected, so no roads go west... in fact, we must drive either an hour south or an hour north, in order to go west.  East of us is the immense sprawling valley that goes up and over to the northeastern wetlands and to the Caribbean.  The valley is rich agriculture land and dotted with many towns and villages.  Immediately to the east is the tip of the mountain chain that starts outside and above the city of Quesada and runs south... all the way down to the central valley.  I see so many animals and birds and new plants that I'm overwhelmed. Just today, a group of white-faced Capuchin monkeys... some babies were on their mothers' backs.  It has been extra wet this year and they have been coming to the edges of the rainforests and jungles to eat fruit from trees where there is some sun.  My dog has a melt down and me as well.  I don't even have to leave my porch to watch the birds... from tiny red-winged black birds and humming birds, to noisy green parrots, Toucans of 3 diff. varieties, and much larger fowl... even egrets, herrons, eagels, and vultures.  Reptiles are everywhere and if you don't like them do not come here.   Ha!!

Now for some short answers to your particulars...

    COL (only for me, a low-key gringo who chooses to live like his neighbors do... so as not to stand out 'perhaps')...

a)  yearly property taxes on 1500 sq. meters on paved road with municipal water; elec. and Wi-Fi... $225

b)  Water... never more than $10/month;  Elec... never more than $20/month (no AC, hot water shower head only, ceiling fans, and no dryer)  Wi-Fi... currently $28/month... I think I may get a better plan... it may cost more but there have been a lot of hick-ups lately; I currently do not have cable;  Caja (nat'l health plan... mandatory if you want Residency)... mine is currently around $255/month.  But the US dollar is weak as hell... when it goes up, my cost in 'dollars' will go down. 

c) I buy gasoline for my lawn cutter (like a weed-wacker) and for my motor scooter.  If you buy a scooter that has 'pedals' you don't need to register it nor do you need a drivers license... I think gas is around $4.75 a gallon now... but I use so little that I just don't care. 

d) Buses are very reasonable; but slow... as expected.  example:  from my village to Quesada is less than $3.. around 80 minutes give or take. the price depends on the driver... really!!  Just accept it.

??? Miss most about USA...  Ethnic food.  I would kill you, or anybody else, for a good Falafel, some Thai food, Indian food, Middle Eastern food... etc.  Even REAL wood-fired oven pizza would be worth a few bodies.  Sorry.

???  Missed conveniences??   easy mail order;  I've completely given up on that.  Plus the convenience of ordering food delivered.  I can get OK pizza, or bad fried chicken... BTW... Pollo Frito (fried chicken) is number one fast food in CR.  Blah.   I don't miss anything else except dry cleaning... but those clothes are now garden work clothes and really need to just get burned.

??? Rural vers. SJ ...  I avoid SJ like plague... as do most expats.  There are some wonderful and really nice, upscale suburbs, and of course, Ex-Burbs that have good elevations and nice temps and yet are still close to the amenities that the city has to offer.  But central SJ... Ok to visit for shopping and such... but when the sun goes down... not too kosher.  'Unsavory' is too kind.  And it's ugly.  Concrete, metal bars, no trees, dog poop.  Like most central American cities... it reminds me of Italy from the 50's to the 70's.

You can have the WONDERS of 'rural' here... and be just 10 minutes outside of a good sized town or small city...  and pay far far less than you would in suburban SJ.  example:  San Ramon, Quesada, San Isidro General... all three have mountains and beautiful countryside with many options for living high up or down lower... and the amenities of a good sized town or small city.. including Hospitals.   I love San Ramon; but I go to Quesada more because it is closer.  It just isn't pretty.... but it's rich.  Excellent amenities are the draw.. but also good 'living' options just outside of town if you don't like the traffic and noise.

??  Beach or not... You will be surprised to learn that the majority of expats do not live AT the beach... some are nearby, or a relatively close distance... but most of us live further inland.  I know the sun sets into the Pacific, but I don't need to watch it every day.  I wouldn't trade the cows, chickens, fresh delicious water from the mountains near me, or the nice rural folks for anything.   I'm staying put.  If I did leave... it would be for higher elevation for cooler temps.  Or Peru.  It's hotter at the beach and I don't want to be trapped inside with the AC all day... I don't want to pay for 'air' and I could have gone to AZ for that.

??  Healthcare.  The public system, or Caja is ok at best.  It depends on where you live.  More population, better access; hours, etc.  I get one day a week and you have to be in line at 5 a.m.  ... they only take 15 people per day.   But I can go to other villages on other days nearby that are in my same 'canton'   I have used private when I thought it was warranted (retina surgery and then cataract) and I have used the Caja for emergency... I had Dengue Fever last year and was in the hospital 2x in a weeks time.  Everything was free, including meds. and follow up.   I almost died... a nosey neighbor found me... luckily the bathroom window was open and she peeked in.  I was on the floor for 'who knows how long?' and in a pool of blood.  Broken nose, collar bone, and sick as hell.  It comes out of nowhere and you won't be conscious of what is happening.  I must have passed out numerous times... the house looked like a crime scene.  It took 60 days to get better.  I don't love nor even like the Caja system... but I'm sure in a more populated area it is just fine.  They misdiagnosed my 'shingles' as a bug bite... which I have since learned is their 'go-to' answer for everything.  LOL!!!    I honestly don't know how hospital costs are dealt with in Private plans; etc.  You'll get a ton of differing responses to that question.

?? Internet is fine.. but you get what you pay for ... same as anyplace else.  Like I said above, I'll probably get a more powerful plan.  Still cheap if you ask me.

??  I would move here again for ONE main reason... the people.  Good people.  And get this... Costa Ricans actually like each other.   Imagine that.   If I left it would be because of the food!!!   hahahaha!!...  I want some excitement in my mouth!!  Obviously, I live in a hamlet, and I'm sure that good food is to be had in SJ or in the tourist areas... but neither place interest me at all... in fact, I find nothing even remotely 'Tico' about those areas. 

??? I wish I knew before I came...  more Spanish.

??  Cultural surprises... This is a sensitive subject.  Where I am in rural western San Carlos... it is common for most people over 50 to have very little formal education... and certainly not High School... which is, by the way, optional here.  So it is common to find adults who live somewhat normal lives, but are 'officially illiterate.  They love Television because they don't have to read it.  I teach English classes... started with one as per a request from the village ladies... now 5 a week... I have a 34 year old who didn't go to any high school; and I had a 65-year-old who left school to work on the farm at the age of 9.  If it weren't for the bible... they would know even less. I just didn't know about that.  Costa Rica has modernized quite Rapidly since te 70's and 80's... so the differences between the generations are wide.  My village has only had electricity since 1983.  I was in college.

Also... people marry relatives here.  I'm not sure if it is illegal, but in rural areas it was the 'norm' for many years due to being 'remote' and far from other people that they 'knew'.   If they married outside the extended family, it was to an indigenous person.   I know a family that just lost 2 little girls within 5 months of each other... they were normal young girls until they started having seizures; then blindness; paralyzed; no hearing; no swallowing; etc.   After they died, I asked a few questions, just out of curiosity because I know the people; and one brave local told me that the 'blood' of the parents wasn't compatible.   I had only heard that before when it came to very rare conditions or,  incest.  I then asked a good friend from just 'outside' the tight knit village about it and he told me that the two were first cousins.  Apparently, their families were thrilled that they were marrying each other and that it was all being kept 'in' the family.  So the babies' grandfathers were also brothers to each other.   I have struggled with this for over 2 years now and have settled on remaining 'unsettled'.   Since then... I have found out many other 'cousin' marriages and just now I'm starting to realize why I see so many infants and toddlers with extremely severe birth issues.   A friend of mine in the village says her kid is still terrorized by the little girls having seizures at school... and then, disappearing.   I'm not sure if the medical community investigated or figured it out... but the two are in the church praying every single day without fail; as are their parents.   Maybe they were 'told' that marrying cousins is what caused their girls to die and now they are consumed by guilt ???    People still think it's ok... but admit that 2nd cousins is better.   I have to walk away.   I can't be the gringo know-it-all... even if I do know!!

Another cultural surprise is the willingness to say 'Yes' even though 'no' is, or should be, the answer.  I think of it as lying; but here it is called survival.

And lastly, sexual promiscuity/opportunism/and just, general 'willingness'.  There is truth to the 'Latin lover' myth, which is.... it's not a myth! and there is no 'off' switch.   Don't ask.

Anyway David;  you have some homework to do.   

Pura Vida

Oooops!   Forgot to address a few things in your original post.

Physical fitness; sports; gardening; the 'arts'... 

All but 'gardening' will present some challenges and creativity. 

The growing season is 365 days a year... so expect trees and bushes to grow 2 - 3x FASTER... which means bigger.  And... many trees here DO lose their leaves... either continually year-round; or all at once... and then return just a month or two later... Thus... don't be surprised to be Raking Leaves year round.  I hate it.  Even the tropicals will lose their lower 'fronds' or branches... so there is constant upkeep and cleanup.  But you'll love what you can grow and EAT ... I personally enjoy the low maintenance things... Pineapple, bananas, plantains, cas, green coconuts (water); avocado, guayaba, and mamon chinos (cousins to leechees).  Plant nurseries are everywhere; so that part of you life here will be like Fireworks all year long.

Sports: only two 'sports' really exist here.. Soccer and Rodeo.  Of course, anybody can walk, run, hike, bike, or swim, and surfing is popular if you live at the beach with the 'kids'.

Physical fitness... if you don't live in or near a big town, small city, San Jose, or a tourist area... you will not see a fitness center.  High schools here don't even have gymnasiums, usually.  Gyms are getting more and more popular; they tend to 'move' location a lot; but they exist... even in tiny towns.  Some have yoga and stuff like that... but Bigger population centers tend to have more facilities to address fitness... so you will find Gyms, tennis courts, pools, running tracks, etc.  But once away from any decent sized population... your sneakers are your fitness center.  Get bikes, and maybe live a little more 'urban' so that you can fulfil those needs.

The Arts... only really in the Central Valley.   Sure... there are some artist co-ops and small museums dotting the map here... but not many.  And a lot of the 'art' is CRAFT.  So... don't expect Mozart in the Park, or regular 'art' fairs, or avant garde 'plays' in outdoor amphitheaters.   I came here from Philadelphia... so between everything that Philly had to offer, not to mention, proximity to NYC, and DC...  I miss culture and the 'arts' a lot.  Never thought I'd be happy about having a computer... but I am.  It is my connection to that part of my former life.

Real Estate. I will be frank... If it's written in English, has a name like Caldwell Banker, or the realtor's name is 'Gail', or 'Steve', and they've been here for 12 years!!! selling stuff to Expats... then it is priced for foreigners.  It's called Gringo Pricing. If it looks similar to house prices in your city or town 'up there'... then you be gettin screwed.  It may even be built just for foreigners; and even built BY a foreigner; thus the price.  It sucks that they come down here and can't even leave their property pricing behind.   The Ticos RESENT being priced out of coastal areas; etc. They really do.   They can't even find a place to live so that they can 'work' near the hotels and resorts... without taking a long bus ride every day.  I live in a village where it is 'normal' for people to work in La Fortuna... yet it is a 1 hour bus ride each way. They can't afford to live closer.   I won't say more about that...  but I'm sure the 'haters' will attack me now.  Bring it !!!

Just try looking at local realtor listings... that are all in Spanish.  You can figure out how to translate it if you have half a brain ... the same words get used over and over.  Many times on the forum people recommend 'Encuentra 24' ... which is like a classified ads service.  You go onto it; click the country; click what you are looking for... car?  house? etc.; then the location, and then choose house/business/land/commercial space/etc.   

If anything... it'll give you an idea of what you can get for the $$$ that Ticos are generally accustomed to paying for. 

I found my house on Encuentra 24... it was listed for $85K...  but I had a TICO call to set up the appointment to do a walk-thru; he didn't mention that it was for a Gringo.  I did this 4 times during my initial 'hunting trip' down here... in four different parts of CR.  It gave me a really good 'look' at how much you get for the money, what houses look like, are built like, and how people live here... which is VERY DIFFERENT from what you may expect.   The sellers and realtor had no idea that he was doing it for me... a gringo.  When I decided to make an on-the-spot offer... again, he called the listing agent... who was 2.5 hours away in Heredia, and discussed the price, but not for long... $85K 'magically' became $40K, with no argument.  He even got them to throw in a 'lot' directly behind the house for another $14k so that I could keep 'neighbors' at bay...   It had everything I wanted... even though it needed a gut-job and Renovation/Addition.  I didn't want somebody elses' mistakes... but the location was great; all the boxes on my needs list were checked off... and it had a bunch of things on my 'wants' list...and the concrete house had good bones.   

Also...  once you find an area that you really like; spend some time 'driving around' looking at places that are listed for sale by 'sign' only... it will read:  'Se Vende' ... which means 'for sale'.   My guess is that 90% of houses in CR are not listed by an agent...  so the non 'built-for Gringo' houses and vacant properties/land... is only going to be found with some good ole footwork. You're Midwesterners... you can do it.

Of course, good idea to use an Agent to take care of the sale... they will find out if the title is clean and clear, first and foremost. 

Just my story...

Good luck

@davidhodory Hello,

I haven't moved to Costa Rica yet, but my husband and I have a similar plan in mind, maybe a little more than 5 years. We have already invested in Costa Rica with a home purchase in UVITA. I have an exceptional real estate agent there. His name is Mark . He has a free ebook with all the ins and out of moving to the the country.  Costa Rica *** i think is his site. (if you reach out to him, please tell him Andrea sent you.)  I also have an agent in Guanacaste area who i really like and trust as well.

Heres just a few things i have learned so far. The last trip I was there 9 days and set up our home so i got to "pretend" local or expat if you will.

• #1 rule i have run into with purchasing a home is find a good agent, there are some really bad ones out there.
• #2 i would never buy a home under a "pre built" idea,  there are many people who try to become builders or developers in country that really have no idea how to make the project actually come to fruition. We were burned that way initially.
• #3 if you're heading up to the Guanacaste area make sure if you're buying Land you have water rights. If you buy land without the rights you may never be able to build on it.  I was told by the agent i have up in that area that a lot of times your water will be shut off during the day time hours because there isn't enough water to go around.
• #4 in the southern part of the country you don't have to worry about it, but the disadvantages are you are further from the Airport.

-negative or down side, buying furniture and regular household items is a challenge. I brought all my own bedding and towels with me. It is very expensive.  For me the drive to san jose was terrible I hated the traffic.  It will be one of those things that we probably get everything we need in bulk and make the trip 1 time a month. 

@daveandmarcia

Hello,

Can I ask where you are online shopping that is shipping Costa Rica? I have heard its so expensive with Amazon. Also, I might have missed it, where do you live in Costa Rica? thank you

@rideforlife1221

Ride...  I think it may be, just my opinion, better for you and us, to get a few years of 'living here' under your belts before giving advice, names, or even testimonials from brief visits. 

Your advice about the water issue in Guanacaste was very good.   I would think that any unsuspecting person considering buying up there would 'get what they pay for' if they didn't look around and notice that it is an arid area and that 'water' could be in question.  But I guess dumb people move here too.   

But most other things you shared are not really valid.   Here's why... you were basing all of your opinions on the fact that you don't live here yet and thus, don't really know much that is 'solid' and 'valuable' information worth sharing, yet.

example:   You hated driving to SJ to buy things because of traffic and I'm guessing... you had to do some navigating in 'unknown' territory.  That can happen anywhere, can't it???... whether it is a new city in Kansas, or Bulgaria.  It's not unique to CR only.   How do you 'swallow' dealing with traffic back in the States??   Once you know an area, navigation is easier, and of course, you 'learn' which areas to avoid; and which areas will have all that you need.  Same as anywhere.

another example:  90% of Ticos live below the Lower Middle Class living standards of North Americans...  and yet, they have towels and bedding and didn't go without food in order to procure them.  You just don't know where to shop; yet.  One can find almost everything here... even mid-century modern furniture 'knockoffs' if you need an Eames lounge chair, or a Saarinen dinging table.  The 'search' is part of the fun of getting to know a new country; it should not be considered a challenge unless your glass is half empty to begin with.   And lumber is a big natural resource here... so cabinet makers and carpenters abound!!!  If you can't find the piece in a store... then have it made!!!    I had experience designing and building custom furniture back in the states...  What I have had 'built' for me here was ALWAYS less than 50% the cost of up there... even cheaper sometimes.  And the domestic wood species are gorgeous!!  But you don't know that.

another... !!  Real Estate 'Agent'... You imported that 'idea' here with you... and most agents in CR generally only work for Imported Foreigners who think that everything here is done as it is 'up there' or rich folks...  But 95% of all Ticos (and me)  don't and didn't use an 'Agent'... it is a foreign idea... just like 'mail'.  I highly recommend doing things the Tico Way if you really want to assimilate.

And of course... bringing what you can from the States is a good idea!!   Most airlines will allow extra luggage for a fee... but if you can fit $500 worth of 'stuff' into a suitcase or even a cardboard box... and only pay $75 to get it here... then by all means do it!!   I brought a ton of stuff... all of which came with me, on the plane, and I didn't pay a single penny for taxes or customs fees, nor did I have to wait.  4 or 5 back-and-forth flights can result in bringing a ton of household items, especially bedding, kitchen, some art, and clothing.  Leave the down comforters, flannel shirts, and anything 'heavy' or 'wool'  behind though!!!

I could go on, but I'll spare Davidhodory.

Anyway... Please give it some time and get some REAL experience before you start sharing tid-bits of things that are not yet tried and/or true.  Sharing every hick-up and challenge isn't interesting nor is it helpful.  And of course, some of us may consider the 'challenge' to be 'adventure' and every part of learning the ins and outs here acts as an ambassador to your new life in CR.  Maybe, someday, you'll be able to come on here and share good, valuable, useable, advice that comes from trial and error and of course, good sense.

Mucha Paz

    @daveandmarcia
Hello,
Can I ask where you are online shopping that is shipping Costa Rica? I have heard its so expensive with Amazon. Also, I might have missed it, where do you live in Costa Rica? thank you
   

    -@rideforlife1221

We live outside Grecia on one of the ridges that come down from Volcan Poas. There are at least three services here in Costa Rica that will enroll you with a shipping address (for Amazon and others) in south Florida. You have your stuff sent there, then the importing service brings it here. From there, you can go pick it up, or the one we use will ship it to your local bus station. That's a service that is widely used in Costa Rica.

The cost to get your package from south Florida to Costa Rica is a flat $6.00 per pound for the service we use. From there, the cost to have your stuff shipped by bus depends on weight and distance, but it's cheap.

We buy a lot of stuff from Amazon.

So many well thought out replies.  Thank you all.

I know it's been a bit since I asked my question - busy season for me at work.

Will be in country in early December.

rideforlife1221 - any way to communicate about your realtor?  I'd really like to do a bit of a "tour" this December when I'm down there.

You may not find real estate agents too receptive to your desire for ". . . a bit of a 'tour'". Their time is limited and most aren't interested in just showing you the sights. When you're ready to commit, they'll be a little more receptive, but since most of them operate in limited areas of the country, you'll have to know where you wish to settle first.

I should have added above that there is nothing like al Multiple Listing Service in Costa Rica, so no real estate agent is likely to have knowledge of properties beyond his or her own personal location. Folks who inquire about a "trustworthy real estate agent" are not likely to get good information until their interests are narrowed down by location and the type of property that interests them.

Thanks for the responses.  Some poor assumptions on my part.  I'm beginning to think that my best approach here is to look at homes on a regional basis each time I take a trip to CR.

Let me re-phrase: if I wanted to look at homes in/around Playa Herradura (in around Los Suenos), what would be the best way to do that?

" . . if I wanted to look at homes in/around Playa Herradura (in around Los Suenos), what would be the best way to do that?"

Google "real estate agents in Playa Herradura, Costa Rica.

Or visit the area and check supermarket bulletin boards.

Look for advertising signs in the area.

Stop in an attorney's office and ask.

Etc . . .

Good advice from Dave... "look for advertising signs in the area"  ...  (they will read, 'Se Vende') ...I'm guessing that 90% of homes and residential properties don't get listed here... just a SIGN in the front yard, or pictures in the window of a Realtor's office (rare).   Usually the sellers don't 'want' to use a realtor outright; they just wait to see who is buying and if the legal costs can be split or shared; or if the buyer is uber cautious and spends the $$ to do it all legally.  Many times, small town people want he house to sell to locals because of historical 'bonds' between the various families...  thus, just a sign in front.  Many times, at least where I live, places sit for sale for 2+ years... so by then they are ready and willing to make a deal.  Other times... no sign at all... but the property, if big and valuable, gets listed where the locals would never have the opportunity to look.  Many big properties in my area sell to wealthier City Folk... it is common for the big city guys with money to own properties all over CR... bragging rights, I guess.  The properties sit empty and the owner trades 'maintaining the property' with grazing rights for cattle.   It works.  I love my 'cow' neighbors.

But it's getting easier to list properties on websites that include photos; maps; and even dizzying videos of the place...   just be resourceful. 

Also.. when in the area... ask everybody!!   The hotel staff, drivers, store employees, waitresses, even the cops!!   When I found my place, the guy that was living in it didn't want to leave... so he got on the phone and called around and within 30 minutes I was looking at other properties.  One was huge and high up overlooking a vast valley and was dirt cheap (the family had medical expenses) but was too off-grid for me.  I appreciated his help but I bought the house he was in because it was, after all, for sale.  He still lives here and we are friendly.  If he holds a grudge, it isn't obvious.

good luck.