tips for buying property in costa rica....................

Real estate is booming in Costa Rica, one of the America's most popular destinations. The country’s attraction goes beyond white-sand beaches, lush rainforests and great weather. With real estate markets in the U.S. topping out, Costa Rica’s stable democracy and comparatively low prices have attracted an increasing number of investors searching for their own slice of paradise. Another advantage to purchasing real estate here is that the constitution provides foreigners and Costa Ricans equal treatment under the law. Here are a few recommendations to get you started:

Locate a Reliable Attorney: Ask someone you trust to recommend an attorney who is reliable and trustworthy. Your country's embassy or one of your consulates might have some suggestions to offer. The Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce is worth a call or check out our Commercial Directory. Research the Property Information: Ask your attorney to conduct a title search at the Registro Publico (Public Registry) for the property you want to buy. By law all properties must be registered in Registro Publico. Most properties have a title registration number called the "Folio Real." Once you have this number you can search the database. The Registro Publico's Report, called the "Informe Registral," contains information such as the name of the title holder, boundary lines, tax appraisal, liens, mortgages, recorded easements, and other records that could affect the title. Costa Rica follows "first in time, first in right" rule. Additions to a property title are prioritized according to the date they were recorded. So make sure your attorney searches your title back to the beginning title entry to esnure that you can hold clear title. Write a Transfer Deed: This is the document that transfers ownership of the property. The transfer is made with the buyer and seller signing the transfer deed (called an "escritura") in the presence of an attorney. The attorney then drafts the transfer deed and registers the sale at the Registro Publico. Custom dictates that if the buyer pays in cash, he selects the attorney to draft the transfer deed. If the purchase is financed, then the transfer can be made in various other ways. A. If a large percentage of the purchase price is financed by the seller and a mortgage needs to be drafted to guarantee payment, the seller's attorney may draft the transfer deed upon seller's request. B. If a property is purchased 50% cash and 50% financed, the buyer's attorney and seller's attorneys can draft the transfer deed and mortgage in a single document. This process is called a co-notariado. C. Buyer may have his attorney write the transfer deed and let the seller's attorney draft a separate mortgage instrument. Since the mortgage agreement is being drafted separately, registration fees are higher. Closing Costs: By custom, buyer and seller split the closing costs, but the split may be negotiated as part of the purchase contract. What they want are: Taxes: You must buy Documentary Stamps – Agrarian, Hospital, Municipal, Bar Association, National Archive and Fiscal – totaling 0.55% of sale price. You must pay a Real Estate Transfer Tax at 3% of the sale price and a Registration Fee of 0.5 % of sale price Notary Fees: 1.5 % of the first $5,000 (one million colones) and 1.25 % of the balance. Mortgage Registration Fees: Usually, the person getting the financing pays for the costs of drafting and registering the mortgage instrument. A mortgage may be issued at the time of the sale by adding a mortgage clause to the transfer deed. A mortgage within a deed costs 0.25% in registration fees and approximately 0.53% in documentary stamps. For drafting the document, the notary receives between 0.5% and 1.25% of the amount of the mortgage.

It is customary in Costa Rica to register a property at a figure far less than its actual sale price. All transfer taxes and fees discussed above are figured as a percentage of the reduced sale price -- with the exception of the notary. He or she drafted the documents. He or she knows exactly how much money changed hands. He or she collects the full .5 to 1.25% of the mortgage. Consult your attorney about further consequences of these practices. Register The Transfer Deed: To register your transfer deed, you or your attorney must bring to the Registro Publico (Public Registry) the following documents: A. Proof of payment of all taxes and registrations fees B. Certifications issued by: a) Finance Ministry, confirming that all seller's property taxes were paid; and, b) the local Municipality, stating that buyer and seller areup to date on municipal taxes. C. Proof that all prior mortgages, liens and judgments (if any) have been resolved Once all fees are paid, make sure that the attorney who drafted the transfer deed registered it in the Property Section of Registro Publico. It should be registered by the Registro Publico 45 to 60 business day after presentation. Check with the notary to make sure the deed has been properly filed. Hint: Before you buy the house check conditions of the house during dry and rainy season; talk to the neighbors and ask them if they know of any problems in the house. - See more at: http://costarica.com/real-estate/buying-real-estate/#sthash.DfX1FVBf.dpuf

Travel tips for your next trip to costa rica

Around 2 million people visit Costa Rica each year, attracted by the country’s vibrant towns, plentiful beaches and unspoiled forests rich with tropical wildlife. Costa Rica is politically stable, peaceful and democratic with a well-developed tourist industry. That said, there are some important health and safety considerations to be aware of before leaving for Costa Rica and throughout your trip. * To ensure smooth entry to Costa Rica, make sure your passport is valid for more than 30 days after your arrival and that it is in good condition. You must also have an onward or return ticket. If you intend to stay for more than 90 days you must apply for an extension with the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. If you intend to travel to Costa Rica from certain South American countries, including Brazil, Peru and Ecuador, you need to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate upon arrival. Health * The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you visit a health care provider four-to-six weeks before leaving for Costa Rica. The CDC recommends that you make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date and that you get vaccinated against typhoid and hepatitis A. In a medical emergency in Costa Rica, dial 911 (as in the US). English-speaking operators should be available. If you require medical attention, expect to pay in cash upfront for the service. Crime Prevention * Tourists anywhere are prime targets for criminals, so you always need to be aware of the risk of theft and take measures to protect yourself and your property. Don’t carry large amounts of cash or wear valuable jewelry; use your hotel room safe; and carry a copy of your passport rather than the original. The State Department advises visitors to Costa Rica to be aware of “good Samaritan” scams, especially in busy tourist destinations. One such scheme involves a criminal puncturing the tire of a rental car, then pretending to help the unfortunate driver while stealing valuables from the vehicle. If your rental car gets a flat tire, drive it to a service station or busy public area to change the tire. Personal Safety * Costa Rica’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts are a major draw for tourists, and many visitors spend their entire vacation in and around the water. Be aware of swift and potentially dangerous currents and riptides on both coasts. Lifeguards are not often present, and dangerous beaches are not necessarily marked by signs. Tour Companies * Many of the most popular tourist activities in Costa Rica, such as diving and whitewater rafting, are inherently hazardous, so it is always prudent to pursue such adventures with a professional tour company or expert guide. Tour companies are regulated by the Costa Rican government to ensure they meet safety and insurance regulations, so only use properly licensed companies. Travel and Transport * Only use licensed taxis, which are identified by numbered yellow triangles painted on the side. They should also have seat belts and meters. If you travel by local bus, keep your personal belongings on your person rather than in overhead storage compartments. If you rent a car, you should be aware that Costa Rican roads are often in bad condition and have many hazardous potholes. In the rainy season, visibility can be poor, and there is a risk of mudslides on the roads. The Overseas Security Advisory Council warn visitors not to drive at night outside the capital, San Jose. As a pedestrian, be aware that you do not have the right of way on roads and that drivers often exceed legal speed limits and fail to use turn signals. * * US State Department: Costa Rica Travel Advisories Overseas Security Advisory Council: Costa Rica 2013 Crime & Safety Report Centers for Disease Controland prevention: Health Information for Travelers to Costa Rica About the Author J.C. Lewis is the editor and co-owner of a weekly newspaper, as well as an editor for a group of newspapers in Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared on USAToday.com, Hotels.com, LIVESTRONG and MichelobUltra.com. Lewis holds a BSc in politics from the University of Bristol, England.

JACO BEACH TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS,car,bike,4x4,and scooter rentals

Jaco Costa Rica Orientation & Getting Around Jaco - Playa de Jaco beach is a short distance off the southern highway. One main road runs parallel to Jaco beach, with a host of arteries heading toward the water; off these roads you'll find most of the hotels and restaurants. www.claritashotel.com 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.

Categorized as Real Estate in Costa Rica los-tucanes-casitas-rendering2los-tucanes-casitas-rendering1los-tucanes-casitas-modellos-tucanes-casitas-beach 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!

no spring break in mexico,for american college students

College Students Told To Avoid Mexico

Mexican resort towns like Cancun, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas are major spring break destinations. Hundreds of thousands of college students flock to these beach resorts and other places south of the border to take advantage of cheaper prices and fewer restrictions. But spring break in Mexico might be a little less crowded this year. The Texas Department of Public Safety has issued a statement advising students to avoid Mexico during spring break, with the department’s head saying that continuously escalating drug violence has made it too dangerous, especially for young, inexperienced travelers.

For the most part, tourists have not been targets of drug gangs. However, there have been frequent shootouts between rival gangs, cartel members and Mexican armed forces. The biggest danger for spring break travelers would be getting caught in the crossfire of such gun battles.

The Department of Public Safety’s statement didn’t mince words: “Our safety message is simple: avoid traveling to Mexico during Spring Break and stay alive.” Though the statement focused on Mexico as a whole, Texans are especially concerned about areas near the border that are especially prone to violence and especially easy for tourists to access. The statement specifically mentioned Falcon Lake, a body of water that straddles the border. An American jet skier was killed by a sniper this past summer when he strayed onto the Mexican side of the lake. Authorities believe he was killed by members of a drug gang who mistook him for a rival gang member or law enforcement official. A U.S. Customs agent was also recently attacked and killed in a Mexican town along the Texas border.

In total, 68 people from the U.S. were killed in Mexico last year, most as a result of drug-related violence. Tens of thousands of Mexicans have been killed since authorities began using the army to crackdown on drug gangs. A recent spate of shootings in Juarez, one of Mexico’s most violent cities, lead to the deaths of three people associated with the U.S. Consulate. Recent bloody incidents in Cancun (including several be-headings blamed on cartel enforcers) probably inspired Texas decide to issue a country-wide warning rather than simply focusing on the border areas.

Of course, not everyone will heed the warnings. Cancun alone sees well over 100,000 college students annually during spring break. MTV still plans to continue its popular spring break events, which will be held in Acapulco this year. Mexico, which relies heavily on tourism for income, will undoubtedly be upping the security. However, that has not warded off violence in the past. Drug gangs have showed a willingness to have fire fights with police and army officials rather than avoiding them. Because of the many instances of violence, it almost seems inevitable that spring break revelers somewhere in Mexico will end up caught in the cross-fire. If you are traveling to Mexico for spring break or vacation this year, use common sense to protect yourself. Better yet, talk to local law enforcement about what you can do to stay safe.

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is it safe to travel to Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is the safest country in Central America. Wealth is distributed more evenly than in North American or European countries. Simple living is common, but education, health and welfare systems are very good and freely available, making abject poverty rare, reducing crime.

Costa Rica does not have a military, and has not suffered the history of civil wars and violence so common among its neighbors. Combined with the above observation that Ticos rarely live in severe poverty it's not surprising that political battles are fought in the media rather than by subversives and "terrorists" in the streets.



Drugs are not produced in quantity in Costa Rica, and it is not a convenient pipeline from South to North America or Europe.

The Internet and modern mass media have created a society where we are aware of every little event, especially the negative ones. This isn't to say there aren't dangers, just that they are overstated, and it isn't to say you shouldn't take precautions, just don't be paralyzed by fear. The dangers of travel anywhere can be minimized by simple common sense, awareness and precautions.