New members of the Costa Rica forum, introduce yourselves here - 2021

Cratevision----- just to put into perspective, home construction no matter where you live in the world is never what they say it will be. it will always take longer and cost more than whatever you are quoted. People need to keep this in mind, even if the cost of the project ends up being more than the initial quote it does not necessarily mean you have been ripped off. A simple remodel on my home in the US cost 20k over quote.....very normal.
To anyone wishing to build, find a reputable architect or firm, look at their previous work, try to speak with prior clients.... if they are reputable they will give you numbers. If you see a house you like, ask the homeowners who built it. I owned a B and B which were several cabins in the mountains overlooking the ocean. I am planning on using the same builder to build my next home there if they are available. Some friends are building now in Santa Teresa and found their architect by looking up a local house they liked.....

LIHolly.....First of all,congrats on the recent sell of your property ! Everything around us is selling like a house on fire ! The guy down the road from us,sold his 500mtrs.of land with two double decker container homes for $449,000.I don't get it ! For people,to come all this way from the U.S and drop that kind of money to live in a can,10min.walk to the beach.We are North of Samara,in that pseudo environmental,glamour spiritual decoy "blue zone".The original foreign pioneers from the 1970's,mostly North Americans had a progressive vision but once the global capital started pouring in after 9-11, our zone ended up cookie cuttered even further,into being just one big commercial zone.The big fry for the Howler Monkeys started 15yrs.ago.Power lines have been insulated now but with this climate, maintenance of the power grid is a 24/7 job.

The more I read what people who live in CR are saying the more I am thinking of postponing of trying to live there in anyway greater than 90 days.

That is why, many of us that have actually lived in CR, recommend that folk visit for an extended time, prior to moving there. Check out various areas for year round weather patterns. Wet and/or humid weather will make for very high electric bills trying to keep your home cool and mildew free.

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my area is impossible to keep dry, you put clothes on the line and they never dry out completely, pillows get musty after awhile but that's part of beach living and the humid climate-you either get used to it or give up and go home. If you can't deal with erratic internet, electricity that often goes out and monkeys who come in and steal your beans then it's not the right place for you-me, I love it there!!!! I'll take musty and monkeys over the US any day. In my opinion, this country has gone to sh*% and I'm not gonna be here when Tr%$p gets re-elected in 2024. That's not a country I want to live in anymore......

Ola! We are thinking of relocating to Costa Rica but would like to know whats happening there now with respect to covid. Are there still services available for travellers? Are there lots of restrictions on masking and isolating?

Edwin- 449 is a lot of money but container homes are super chic right now, why anyone would want to live in an oven is beyond me...have you ever been in one of those? they get super hot inside so you need really good air conditioning or they become saunas.....the whole blue zone thing is kinda funny cause it really only applies to natives who grow up there, you can't expect to move there at 50 and live to be 100 because you've changed you're diet and have less stress now.....

masks are required inside all businesses, almost all business have sinks out front where you wash your hands before going inside. Social distancing is not as enforced as it is here in the US.

Are you living part time in CR? Which state do you live in?

Im in California at the moment, will be back in CR in February full time

Hello all!!!!

My name is Miranda, and my husband and I are from Houston, TX and planning to move to Costa Rica within the next few years.  We fell in love with the country on our first visit and after multiple trips, we decided to plan the move.  We’ve visited several locations and our next trip will consist of getting a realtor, lawyer, and looking for property in the Nicoya peninsula.  We also plan on traveling to the southern costal region as well to see if we like the area.  My husband wants to build vacation property to supplement our income since he won’t be able to work.  I’m a writer, so I can work anywhere, but his experience is in electronics and chemical refineries.  Right now, we’re waiting on money to get us there, so it could be a few months or a few years.  We have 3 kids (an adult daughter and 2 teenage sons) and I’m very excited about the school system there.  My youngest has severe ADHD and is high functioning autistic.  He’s learning Spanish, but I’m still wondering if I should put him in an international school because of the autism.  I’m hoping my oldest daughter will eventually join us there to go to college.  Since she wants to work in animal conservation and education of endangered species, I think the colleges there would be great for her!

Right now we are mainly considering the Nicoya peninsula, preferably somewhere between Samara and Tamarindo up in the mountains.  My husband isn’t sold on the idea yet, but I’d love to be near Montezuma on the southern tip.  I hope to get to know y’all over time and find the answers to some of my questions.

Hi Miranda, Montezuma is my jam! I absolutely love that town, fell in love with it the first time I went there and ended up buying a bed and breakfast in the hills above the waterfall. I sold the B and B just before Covid hit and although I miss the place I've become good friends with the new owners and the money I made off the sale has helped me to live through this past year since work was not happening....When I move down permanently Montezuma/ Delicias is my first choice of where to live I like the convenience to Cobano and shopping and banking since they got rid of the ATM there and its much less crowded and safer than Santa Teresa.I like the hippie laid back vibe....I will say that there's not much in the way of International schools for your son in the area that far south but perhaps by the time you get there he will be fluent enough in Spanish to go to one of the local schools. I think the closest international schools may be in Nosara but I may be wrong, someone else on the site may know more.

How is the internet in Puntarenas; which is a good provider and how much?  Eddie

Miranda, please be aware that for your children to be included in your residency application, they must be under 18 or attending university/college full time, else they have to apply as an individual which will be expensive.

Good luck!

Eddie..... The Puntarenas province covers are large territory.For Ticos,Puntarenas is in reference to the old nostalgic porto.Which has the ugliest beaches and is a real dump.

Is Playa Jaco or Ojochal in Puntarenas?

My spouse and I are beginning our research and exploration on retiring outside of the USA.   We desire to retire to progressive country.  We desire a quiet, peaceful beach location with warm, calm and clear water.  Could Costa Rica be the country for us?

Goirishnow......Forget all that progressive country and all that other heavy stuff that your looking for in a alternate country to live in.Start,with just coming down for a few vacations.Once you sign up to live in Costa Rica,one enters another realm of mediocrity,so different than what most people from other countries are use to.

I'd change this so-called "progressiveness" for simplicity (that you call mediocrity) at any moment.

Thank you!

kohlerias wrote:

Miranda, please be aware that for your children to be included in your residency application, they must be under 18 or attending university/college full time, else they have to apply as an individual which will be expensive.

Good luck!

Thanks for the info!  As of right now, only the youngest is coming along.  I have a 21 year old on her own staying in the US, and my 15 year old plans to move in with his aunt or grandma till he graduates.  Then he’ll be going to either France or Germany to attend college.  My youngest is 13, so he’ll be included under our umbrella.

Do you mean the town of Puntarenas or the county or state of Puntarenas? Anyway, from what I know and have seen, internet can vary wildly from one mile away to another mile away.
you might have great internet at one house, and the house down the street might not be able to have that same internet. A lot of it depends on line of sight to the Tower. I have very good internet, but my friend a half a mile away can't get that same internet and his is lousy.

Really?   Perhaps this is true in these developing countries but not in North America!  I am in the business in the US and your comment simply is incorrect.  And I did the entire list you supplied - get an architect, get a good lawyer, do due diligence, got a number of recommendations and referrals - my house cost me double what I was told - those are the simple facts!  I was one of three in the community that paid double what they were quoted so this is not a reflection on me not doing what I should have done.  There are tons of homes for sale - buy one of those - don't put yourself through the aggrevation of building - it's not the same as building in North America.

Excellent explanation from San Ramon on the internet

Hello -

My partner and I and our 5 animals are considering moving to Costa Rica.

We love the beauty of the country and the kinder gentler lifestyle.

Considering renting vs. possibly building a home in the Sabana Norte area of San Jose.

Damon

You don't have friends samramon. Know it all fool

Crate you are correct
My friend at the US embassy here says the data shows expats last between 1 to 5 years here before throwing in the towel and moving back to the US or Canada

Hello Everyone,
Mom from South Africa, looking forward to embark on my journey to CR.
I will be working as a Digital Nomad with plans to become a teacher at a language school.
Our plan would be for my son to attend a school,  if not the same school at which I would teach.
Please guide us on cost of living and  any schooling ideas.
This would be  great to hear and know before hand.
Take care

Hello everyone, are there any South Africans living in Costa Rica?
Please get in touch. I would love to connect with you and hear about your mission over there. See you soon 🔜🌍

Hello I am Scott 17 Year Veteran from the Army!

JBuonopane12 wrote:

Crate you are correct
My friend at the US embassy here says the data shows expats last between 1 to 5 years here before throwing in the towel and moving back to the US or Canada

Maybe it is usually the case. However, the US and Canada have drastically changed, especially Canada. So, this pattern may change as well depending on how events will unfold....

New member. Male "near" retirement age. Moving in a month or two for good. Planning to live in the southern half of Nicoya peninsula near the Pacific Ocean. I have friends in Samara and Nosara. Very exited and looking forward to getting set up so my female life partner can come down after I am settled. I am a former designer, builder, land developer and realtor

Welcome ! I will fly 'over' from Belgium (just sold my vacation home in Naples/Florida after going back and forward during 11 years). Arriving in October for 1 month to organize the little house (kitchen extension   large covered porch) and piece of land (swimming pool, tropical garden) I'm buying in Sámara before settling sometime next year. Good luck 🍀

Hi All,

Taking the first steps to eventually spend at least 1/2 of the year in CR.  Found and am purchasing a farm 700m above Uvita.  Headed back in 3 weeks for closing.  No view of the whale tail but we do have a view of the Pacific and abut against old old growth jungle. My wife and I fell in love with the region 8 years ago and are more than excited for this first step. 

Pura Vida!

-Adam

Welcome to Pura Vida 🙏

Hi all, I’m Marcus and yes, I’m a newbie to this forum! I hear great things about Costa Rica , beautiful, low cost of living. Would like some info on good places to live. Planning on retiring in a few years with my wife.

Ola All,

2-month newbie to this forum but never formally introduced myself. I'm a Nature & Animal lover moving to the San Isidro area near Mt. Chirripo in 2022. Looking soooooo forward to a slower pace and sustainable lifestyle, and, getting away from all the drama that's going on in the US.

Pura Vida here I come!!!!

Hi there,

I'm exactly in the same mindset, coming from Europe.
And I'm travelling to CR in October to organize the little traditional Tica home I'm buying in Sámara.

Domi........Good move,you will be able to see how the path water transforms everything on the Nicoya Peninsula in October.Hopefully you checked out your house and property previously before purchase,during the month of October.

Hi,

I'm coming in October and I have been many times in tropical areas where it rains a lot during the worse months, but it isn't cold... I used to live in Belgium, for 20 years in the middle of nowhere (250 people in the village, no buses, no public transportation, no shops): it rains there most of the time and in Winter, mud everywhere and freezing.
But I was happy: had a little garden, 2 dogs and a horse and not too much money...

Now, I travel in 'business' over the planet, live in between Normandy, a flat overlooking the Mediteranean sea in Spain and a large home at the outskirts of Brussels (Belgium) and I just sold the home I had for 11 years in Florida. Travel often to France, Italy, and you name it. That shows I can adjust anywhere as I speak French, Dutch, decent Spanish and English and open to other cultures.

I dislike more and more cities (except when they are filled with old homes/monuments) traffic noise and air pollution, people crossing each other without a smile or a hello, everything is now about money ...

I miss the natural beauty of 'nature', not manucured like in my Florida Golf and Country Club, walking to the beach with my Weimaraner, riding a bicycle, a horse or walking down the street to get some organic groceries, talking to my neighbours and to mingle with the ones I like. I'm not coming to start a business nor to invest money. Upon my arrival, I'm going to attend a daily course at the International Language School to improve my Spanish.

I came to the conclusion I wanted my very simple life back and will leave everything behind me without any regrets.

To conclude: referring to the WHO (World Health Organisation) Costa Rica is one of the best places to live (these are scientists and healthcare specialists) I know people who have settled more than 30 years and who are happy. The world is divided in 2 parts: positive people who are almost always happy and the others. Although I know a perfect place doesn't exist, I know this is what I want in my life