Categorized as Real Estate in Costa Rica
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Finding A Niche When The Market Is Slow: Local Developer Builds Affordable Communities – $140,000 Jaco Beachfront Homes and $85,000 Near The Beach!
Jaco Beach is the largest and most popular beach town in all of Costa Rica. Everything a tourist or resident would need for their comfort and convenience can be found there – banks, grocery stores, doctors, dentists, lawyers, clinics, and every imaginable type of store, bar and restaurant. In addition to the beach, there tons of activities, such as inshore and offshore fishing, diving, ziplines, quadracycle and jungle tours, horseback riding and more!
Four years ago, when the global economy was humming along and droves of foreigners were buying Jaco beachfront homes in Costa Rica, Jaco was Costa Rica’s version of a boomtown. Numerous very nice Jaco beachfront condominium projects were started and pre-sold. Other projects and Jaco Beach homes in the vicinity were built and the local resort community of Los Suenos saw its numbers grow to over 500 homes and condominiums built.
Then, as we all know the bottom fell out globally, two plus years ago and new development in Jaco, and all of Costa Rica in general, came to a grinding halt. Since then there have been very few new projects.
At this time, a local development company, determined that the market had in fact changed and there was now an opportunity to provide affordable homes in great locations so that people could still realize their dreams of living or owning a vacation home in Costa Rica. Thus the “Casitas” concept was born. The word “casita” means small home in Spanish. There are three casitas projects in the Jaco area that are thriving, and in all three there are homes being sold and built currently. These are one of the very few developers actually building new product in the area.
The Pueblo Escondido project in Playa Azul is 15 minutes from Jaco Beach and 200 meters from the beach front. There are 24 lots, 16 of which have been sold, and there are 12 homes already built. The project is walled, gated, and guarded 24/7 with lush plantings and a community pool. Homes are available from $45,000 with developer financing!
Click here to learn more about buying casitas in Costa Rica
Closer to Jaco Beach in Herradura, 5 minutes from the beach and Los Suenos and 10 minutes from Jaco, is the Los Tucanes project. Begun in April and nestled in the tropical forest, Los Tucanes will consist of 36 homes in 3 phases. Phase 1 has sold 9 of the 12 lots, and there are 4 homes completed with 3 more under construction. Phase 2 will be released shortly. Named because of the many tucans who pass through the project area, there are also daily visits by groups of monkeys, scarlet macaws, sloths and a variety of other friendly jungle dwellers.
The standard 2 bedroom / one bath home starts at $85,000 and comes with AC, appliances, hot water, custom kitchen cabinets and more. The homes can be enlarged and there is developer financing available. The community is gated and guarded 24/7 and has a community pool and rancho.
The newest addition to the Casitas community is the project Villa Bella, which sits on the beachfront in Playa Hermosa, one of the world’s most famous surfing beaches just 5 minutes south of Jaco. Villa Bella will consist of 52 – 2 bedroom / 1 or 2 bath homes starting at $140,000 equipped with AC, appliances, hot water, and custom kitchen cabinets. An optional rooftop deck expands the living area and offers a great view of each evening’s breathtaking sunset! Sales and construction have only recently begun and there are 2 homes underway. The best lots are going fast.
The Villa Bella community is steps from the beach and will also have 2 community pools with ranchos, will be gated and guarded 24/7. Developer financing is available and these Playa Hermosa vacation homes will certainly be in great demand as vacation rentals, offering a nice return to the owner(s).
With the opening of the modern new Autopista Del Sol highway that connects the capital of San Jose to the Central Pacific, Jaco is now only about an hour from San Jose and the Juan Santamaria International Airport .
Now is the time to start planning your escape from winter to come visit Costa Rica and see these wonderful communities. The Developer is happy to offer its “Fly and Buy” program, where they will reimburse you $1500.00 for your trip down should you buy a casita!
Getting Around Jaco, Costa Rica and surrounding area
Almost everything is within walking distance in Jaco, but you can rent a bicycle or scooter from several shops on the main street or call Jaco Taxi (tel. 2643-3030). A bike rental should run you around $8 to $12 per day, and a scooter should cost between $30 and $45 per day. There are several stands renting scooters along the main drag. Rent @ Me (tel. 643-1809) offers free shuttle service to and from your hotel.
For longer excursions, you can rent a car from Budget (tel. 2643-2265), Economy (tel. 2643-1098), National (tel. 2643-2881), Payless (tel. 2643-3224), or Zuma (tel. 2643-3207). Expect to pay approximately $50 for a 1-day rental. You might also consider talking to a local taxi driver, who'd probably take you wherever you want to go in the Jaco area for the same $50 per day. This can save you some hassle and headache and they can take you to cool places you'd never find on your own.
Getting To Jaco, Herradura, Hermosa and surrounding areas by Bus
The local Costa Rica bus lines run through most of the towns across Costa Rica, while the private bus lines mainly serve beach towns and inland tourist destinations. It cost aprox. $3 from San Jose to Jaco, $5 from San Jose to Quepos, and not much more to Guanacaste. If you choose a private bus or driver for transportation, I'd recommend if you can, purchase your tickets in advance.
Do yourself a favor. Go on the Directo bus for an easy, cheap way to get around Costa Rica. The large, new, Marco Polo buses to Jaco, Quepos and Manuel Antonio are roomy, comfortable, and have A/C. Make sure you choose the "Directo" bus. you'll save hours off your trip. The Manuel Antonio "Directo" usually has a restroom, but all buses make a pit stop on the way for bathrooms and snacks. (don't take a chance, bring some toilet paper with you - you've been warned!). The regular local Costa Rica buses are not in such good shape and will take an hour or two longer in transit. Unfortunately, if you're headed to Cahuita, Mal Pais, or more remote destinations in Costa Rica, you'll likely be traveling in a refurbished yellow school bus. Sit back and enjoy the experience.
If you are bound for Guanacaste or Arenal Volcano/Fortuna area, we recommend a private bus lines. The six-hour (or longer) bus ride is not something you'll want to experience on a local bus. If traveling with two or more people, a private van is the way to go. It won't cost you too much more and will make your entire Costa Rica vacation a more pleasant and memorable one.
Jaco: Quick Facts
Both the Banco Nacional (tel. 2643-3072) and the Banco de Costa Rica (tel. 2643-3695) have branches in town on the main road and are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3pm. There's a well-stocked Farmacia Fischel (tel. 643-2683) in the El Galeone shopping center, as well as the Farmacia Jaco (tel. 2643-3205); both are on the main road through town. There's a gas station out on the main highway, between Playa Herradura and Jaco, and a 24-hour gas station, El Arroyo, located on the highway on the southern edge of Jaco. The health center (tel. 2643-3667) and post office (tel. 2643-2175) are at the Municipal Center at the south end of Jaco.
A public phone office, where you can make international calls, is located in the ICE building on the main road, near the end of the main drag. This office is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to noon and 1 to 5pm. There are half a dozen or more Internet cafes in town, as well as several inexpensive full-service Laundromats. There's a Western Union office in a small strip mall across from La Hacienda restaurant. There's a large Max X Menos supermarket on the main drag in the center of Jaco.
