Locations to consider living in Costa Rica

kohlerias wrote:

ExpatDave, I don't mean to be disrespectful    but I would think it would be more valuable that you provide us with the recommendation of living in the San Vito area, after you have moved there...

Good luck on your impending move....and hope you can sell your present  property, quickly.

Sorry, I guess I should have clarified.  I actually spend about half of my time in San Ramon and the other half at the Sabalito property.  There is an older house there that will eventually be the volunteer's housing that I stay at while working on the property.

We will need to build two large aviaries (6m x 12mx 4m), for the parrots prior to the San Ramon property selling.  After the property sells we'll build two more plus a bird kitchen, bird nursery, remodel the house on the property, a cabin and eventually my house.   I'm in the process of removing about 10,000+ m2 of coffee plants and then begin construction of the habitats and replanting trees in the same area.  Also have been planting "many" banana and plantain trees and papaya as well.  These are the main fruits that the birds are fed.  The property consists of 17 acres of land and 90% of it was cleared for cattle - so it will be reforested with native trees and bushes asap..

Definitely an area that you need espanol in.  Going into the hardware stores, restaurants, etc., I don't think I've run into one person that speaks English.  And have only seen one Gringo.  And very important... they have a good Chinese restaurant there!   

- Expat Dave

Thanks

Hello. I wonder if you'd rent your current house until you find a buyer. I live in Palmares but want to move to the San Ramon area because a daughter is going to school at the UCR scientific high school.

Plan on moving to CR by May of next year. Anyone that could help with finding a rental house or apartment near the beach would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Law7out

Law7out wrote:

Plan on moving to CR by May of next year. Anyone that could help with finding a rental house or apartment near the beach would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Law7out

Which beach? Which coast? Or is it not important?

Not important. I think maybe south closer to Panama for border run.

Not important think maybe south closer to Panama for border run.??????

There are some bulletin boards around town that might have a rental posted.
If Dave doesn't want to rent, I'd suggest checking out the bulletin board at Mas X Menos coming into town on the right, past the mall about 400 meters. And I can't recall exactly where but maybe some other supermarkets have bulletin boards.
I'd also suggest the San Ramon Facebook group just search and you'll find it. Ask on there for a rental and I imagine you'll get some response.
There's also a realtor or 2 that handle rentals but for the most part they are expensive, or were at the time I checked them out a few years back.

Then, there's this page which used to have some rentals:
http://gringocentral.org/index.html

@sjarvis19

Considering San Ramon

@GinnyP

As you have probably read; Getting your Residency can happen from 'up there' or if you're already here.  Just a have a good Residency Service helping you.   There are things that you have to do 'up there' ... like getting your FBI background check (which requires a set a fingerprints), copies (get extras!) of your birth certificates, getting a CR consulate to apostille your documents (note:  there are different things that you will need, depending on which type of Residency you apply for.. like a bank letter for Rentista; a certified and signed letter from SS verifying your benefits; etc.)  Everything from up there needs to be translated into Spanish... so your Residency Service should help you with all of that and make sure you have all your ducks in a row before they turn in your application.

I sort of did it from both ends..  I made contact with a service before I left the states and was able to procure many things while I was there... all sent to my service (they had a guy in Calif.)...  Then I came here.  The person from my service that was here compiled all of my data (her liaison in the states sent it all to her after apostille and translations) and she then met me at a police station in central SJ to get a copy of fingerprints and some passport photos that were required as part of the application package; and to a lawyer's office for a letter of verification.  I only had to go to SJ for 1/2 day...  she put the application package together and walked it to the Migracion office herself   From then... it was 4 months before I was notified that my application had been accepted for Processing Only.  So at that time, they sent me a document called Expediente which I made copies of and kept with my passport.  That document meant that I was free to stay in CR without leaving when my passport stamp/visa expired.  Before that, I was still obligated to leave and return as per the dates on that entry stamp. 

I then waited another 11 months? to hear from migration that my application was Approved !! (they sent me a new document called Resolution)  My service then sent me to the administrative office for the National Healthcare system (Caja) to join that... it is mandatory to join if you want to have any sort of residency. I went to the office in San Ramon (no line) and took a lawyer with me who helped me to opt-out of having to pay into the CR Pension program (because I would eventually get SS)... you cannot opt-out of that currently... the fee is around $100 a month and is added to your monthly Caja costs.

Once I had joined the Caja (they give you a receipt on the spot) I went to BCR (banco de costa rica) to apply for my Costa Rican ID card (cedula)... I had made an appointment at the BCR (Banco de Costa Rica) closest to me that offers that service; for the day after I went to join the Caja.  It was easy, you pay, they look at your documents to make sure all boxes are checked; take a photo, and then a few weeks later, I picked up my ID at the local Correos de Costa Rica (you can do the ID thing there as well... but you'll still have to go to BCR to pay the fee).   

So... I'm glad I did what I did up in the states before I left; and I"m glad I was here for the final steps before the application was turned in.  It requires patience, many questions, and more patience.

I'm sure it's harder to get Residency in the US than it is here.

Good Luck

sorry... just saw the date on the original post. I'm out.