Costa Rica Lake Arenal Real Estate

Five Things to Do In Arenal

2011-11-10T06:26:00.000-08:00

It's a dramatically beautiful setting with lots to do... and low-priced properties

Dear Reader,
Arenal's a little hidden corner of Costa Rica, with a dramatically beautiful setting. Lush green hills and mountains curl around a wide,deep-blue lake. The show-stealer sits lakeside. It's a cone-shaped volcano, with smooth purple slopes rising skywards, its peak ringed by clouds. The scale of the views- the huge lake, the high volcano, the impressive mountains- contrasts sharply with the small towns and little farms scattered across the landscape.
It's not just the setting that draws a growing number of expats and property buyers to Arenal. The serene, placid, unhurried pace of life attracts them, too. Factor in low property prices, and Arenal's appeal becomes obvious.
More on the low property prices in a moment. But first, five things you'll enjoy if you visit Arenal...
#1, Water Sports. At 26 miles long, Lake Arenal will win over water sports fans. You can try swimming, water-skiing, sailing, kayaking, wind-surfing or fishing. Close by, you can swim in waterfalls, or try your hand at white-water rafting.
If you prefer dry land, you can explore the cloud forest and national parks that surround the lake...go hiking, horse riding, or bird watching (you can spot hundreds of bird species here).
With warm sunny weather and cooling lake breezes year-round, you can spend a lot of time outdoors in Arenal.
#2, See the Sights. Aside from the obvious lure of the lake and volcano...
You can check out the gigantic ceiba tree, that's around 500 years old and 197 feet high, at Ceiba Tree Lodge. Draped with ferns and orchids, and truly massive, this ceiba was Costa Rica's national tree in 2006.
It's a nature walk that will take some beating, and a must-see in Arenal: The Hanging Bridges. It offers 3 kilometers of walking trails, and six hanging bridges, suspended between towers. You'll see all kinds of wildlife as you walk through this tropical rainforest reserve.
If you prefer cool, dark, and underground, Venado Caves formed 15-20 million years ago. A ninety-minute tour will let you see limestone rock formations and marine fossils.
The Maleku indigenous village (thirty minutes from Arenal) gives you a glimpse of the traditional way of life of Costa Rica's smallest tribe. One tour option takes you into the forest to show you the medicinal plants used by the tribe.
#3, Thermal Springs. If relaxing is more your style, try soaking in thermal springs. La Fortuna, a town in Arenal, boasts a range of resorts and spas that make the most of the area's heated mineral water springs. The best resorts offer a selection of pools, with the water varying from cool to very hot. Some offer pampering massages, swim-up bars and cleansing volcanic mud treatments.
#4, Good Food. In the town of Nuevo Arenal, try fresh-baked bread from the German bakery. Or a recently opened steakhouse, with burgers, barbecue and wings on the menu. Little sodas offer low-cost, local plates...and there's a choice of pizzerias and cafes. Food gourmets should make a beeline for the Gingerbread restaurant. You won't find better food in Costa Rica.
#5, Good Company. Arenal's expat community is small, but friendly and active. They get together regularly, and support each other in a way I haven't seen elsewhere. It's a major factor cited by many of the expats who move to Arenal or buy a vacation home here.
Of course, Arenal's low property prices help make it an attractive location. Here's a sample:

Half-acre lake-view lots in a private community from $19,000
A two-bed two-bath riverfront home for $75,000
An 8.25-acre estate lot with volcano and lake views for $195,000
93 acres with forest, pasture and rivers for $93,000
A new, two-bed, two-bath home with lake views, furnished, for $125,000

If you want to check out Arenal for yourself...contact Terry Moran here. Terry is a real estate agent we work with in Arenal. He'll help you with your travel arrangements and accommodation. And he'll show you a customized selection of properties... based on your budget and requirements. You'll see what you want to see, when you want to see it.
This is the easiest way to get a feel for Costa Rica's lake country, and immerse yourself in its charms for a few days. Contact Terry today...and discover this hidden corner of Costa Rica.
Margaret Summerfield

International Living The Greatest Name in International Real Estate

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

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10 Reasons to Buy Property in Costa Rica

2011-10-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica is a popular tourist destination. More than two million tourists visit this small country each year. They love this country’s natural beauty….pretty beaches…and wildlife-packed forests. Many of these tourists put down roots here, as expats, retirees and second-home buyers. And if you’re looking for a second home destination, Costa Rica’s hard to beat. Here are ten reasons why Costa Rica is on the shortlist of savvy property buyers:

It’s a stable, democratic, peaceful country. In fact, it officially abolished its army in 1949. It’s the only Latin country listed in the 22 most steadily democratic countries since 1950.
It’s close to the US. A 2 hour 40 minute flight gets you here from Miami, and it’s only five hours from New York. With so many major airlines flying here, and budget groups like Spirit and LACSA, you can take advantage of low-cost fares to visit friends and family back home…or they can come visit you.
It has a growing economy, up by 3.6% in 2010. The total amount of foreign direct investment was second only to Panama in the Central American region in 2010. Last year was a record year for tourism, too, when more than two million tourists visited Costa Rica.
It’s stunningly beautiful.
Costa Rica has an abundance of natural wonders… volcanic peaks, a craggy spine of mountain ridges twisting its way through the center of the country, limpid lakes, thundering waterfalls, pristine beaches, and rich cloud and rain forests. 27% of the land lies in parks and reserves. One area, the immense Corcovado park in the Southern Zone (covering more than 100,000 acres), ranks as the most biologically intense place on the planet, according to National Geographic. Fluorescent frogs, scarlet macaws, secretive tapirs, sociable monkeys, gigantic butterflies…you can’t help but spot wildlife in this place
Medical care is top quality and highly affordable. In San Jose, the capital, hospitals like Clinica Biblica or CIMA provide world-class care, at a fraction of the cost you’d pay back home. Costa Rica is a popular choice for North American medical tourists looking to cut the cost of major procedures (dental treatments, joint replacements, eye surgery, etc.). Costa Rican residents pay a low monthly fee to join the national health care system (CCSS), and can use CCSS hospitals and clinics. Fees for private medical cover start from around $50 a month.
Costa Rica boasts a superb quality of life. Life expectancy is high, at 77.7 years on average. The country also regularly tops the Happiness Index. The index is a measure of health, life satisfaction, and environmental footprint. A score of 8.5 for life satisfaction places Costa Rica almost a full point ahead of its closest rival in this category. Costa Rica’s easygoing, friendly, family-centered, low-stress outdoors lifestyle plays a big factor in longer lifespans and feeling content with your lot.
The climate is warm year-round, outside the Central Valley (where temperatures hover in the 60s). You can wave goodbye to freezing winters, ice and snow. Temperatures average in the 70s and 80s, with no tornadoes or hurricanes. If you enjoy spending time outdoors…sport fishing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, zip lining, horse riding, hiking, wildlife watching…the climate in Costa Rica will allow you to enjoy these activities pretty much all year.
You have a choice of residency options. You can become a resident if you can prove income of $1,000 a month, for example.
Costa Rica is already home to an estimated 30,000-50,000 North American expats who own property in Costa Rica, or live here full or part time. They have a long-established association of residents with a bi-monthly newsletter, and they help newcomers get settled in.
It’s affordable. It’s not just the health care. Property taxes are low, at around 0.25% of the recorded or municipal-registered value of the property annually. That’s around $462 on a $185,000 property…annually. You can afford domestic help, too.

And despite the growing numbers of celebrities and wealthy businessmen who have purchased multi-million dollar homes in Costa Rica, you can still find low-priced properties here…and afford to custom build your dream home.

Moran Real Estate Over 55 years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at the best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat

SODAS IN COSTA RICA-SO MUCH MORE THAN “THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES”

2011-10-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

Ask most North American visitors to Costa Rica what a “soda” is, and you are liable to get a response concerning some kind of carbonated beverage. To those from the Southern U.S., the term “coke” applies to all carbonated drinks; in New England, they are called “tonics” (regardless of what flavor or brand) while on both East and West Coasts, “soda” is the term used. Mid-westerners call it “pop” or “soda pop” and some places just use “soft drink”. Yet, in the land of Pura Vida, a “soda” is much more than a thirst quencher.
Sodas are small, usually family-owned and operated, restaurants that can be found on roadsides, in major centers like San Jose, and everyplace in between. The term “soda” is generally translated as “diner”. To Ticos and non-Ticos alike, these ubiquitous eateries provide both satisfying and inexpensive meals and drinks. Additionally they allow patrons to share, if only for a meal, a true sample of Costa Rican life and hospitality in a way that larger restaurants and chains never can hope to equal.
You probably won’t find any menus at most sodas since the selections are fairly standard from one soda to the next. Comida tipica (native Costa Rican cuisine)iis the centerpiece and allure of their selections. Casados, fruit drinks, and, yes, sodas (the carbonated variety) are the main staples that are offered.
The casado is usually a fixed platter with a chosen meat, plantains or vegetables, and the ever-present beans and rice. The choice of meats can be large or small-depending on the owners of the soda, although you can usually find variations on the following

Carne en salsa-beef in a thick gravy, much like a pot roast type of dish
Pollo en salsa-a piece of chicken in a lighter gravy or sauce
Chuleta-a pork chop, maybe in sauce, maybe not
Pescado-fried fish
Pollo frito-fried chicken
The fruits drinks can be passion fruit, carrot, blackberry, oatmeal, mango, pineapple and more. Obviously, what is and isn’t available is dependent on seasonal availability, supply, and the preferences of the soda’s owners.
Again, as with any independent business, each soda has it’s own “special” that can vary from the Central Valley to Domincal and sometimes, even from day to day. You may find sodas that offer sandwiches and buffets, others might even have merchandise like a small convenience store-think in terms of a Tico version of a 7-11!! At night, some of these roadside locations even become clubs or discos (yes, disco lives in the land of Pura Vida!!).
While sodas are certainly an institution today throughout Costa Rica, many Ticos and non-Ticos alike are probably unaware that the concept of the “soda” actually began roughly ninety years ago. To many long time residents of San Jose, the “original” soda is El Chelles. Located on the central pedestrian walkway close to the Teatro Nacional., this culinary institution-at least to those who have been loyal customers for years- continues to sell the same tasty food, sandwiches, casados, breakfasts and beverages to one and all just as it has for nine decades. Whether you’re heading to work, or staggering in from a night of fun and frolic, El Chelles remains open around the clock to provide food, drink, and a place to people watch.
So the next time you pass one of these little shops, take some time to stop to and experience a tradition that has become an essential part of daily life in the land of Pura Vida.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing

Costa Rica: The Secret of a Healthy, Happy Life

2011-09-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Healthier and happier. We heard that over and over today at International Living's Live and Invest in Costa Rica Seminar.

I'm Suzan Haskins, reporting to you from the seminar here in San Jose, Costa Rica. This was a day of inspiration. Everyone here is pretty darn sure they made the right move when they decided to take an in-depth look at Costa Rica.

Of The 250 attendees that participated in the recent conference in San Jose Costa Rica, fully 25% came to look at Lake Arenal according to Terry Moran, a speaker at the event. Those that looked at the Lake 7 purchased property while they were on the pre and post conference tours and another 6 or more are in the process of analyzing the data and making offers on what they saw. All and all it was a tremendous success

All the attendees that came to the Lake said it was the most beautiful place they had seen in all of Costa Rica and 90% said they would be back.

A great time was had at the Gingerbread Dinners and many if not all said it was the best food in Costa Rica. Chef Eyal roasted an entire pig for each dinner and the guests raved.

Plans are underway now for next years event which will be even larger, more informative and organized to a tee.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Gingerbread - The best Restaurant In Central America

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Escaping it all for 'paradise' in Costa Rica

2011-08-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

Nadine Hays Pisani was desperately seeking a permanent vacation.
She and her husband, Rob, both chiropractors, had a comfortable life in York, Pennsylvania, but they were miserable. Both were working long hours, hated their jobs and felt burned-out.
So they came up with a bold plan: Sell everything and find a country with a warm climate where they could live for about $1,000 a month. They would stop working and live off their savings and interest.
They settled on Costa Rica.

The Pisanis put their home on the market and moved to the lush, verdant Central American country in 2007. (They were lucky; they sold everything just before the economy tanked.)
Pisani chronicles her adventures in the new book, "Happier Than a Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica & Living the Zero Hour Work Week."
She self-published the memoir after she noticed that her stories were attracting a growing audience on her blog.
Pisani and her husband now live near the beach in Tamarindo in a house that they rent for $150 a month. They have few possessions, but they spend much less to support themselves than they thought they would have to. They don't work but plan to find jobs eventually.
"It's paradise," Pisani said. "I wake up. I have a great cup of coffee. There are parrots outside my window. There are monkeys in the trees. It's such an exceptional way to live."
Pisani, 41, recently spoke with CNN about her adopted home. The following is an edited version of that interview.
CNN: Many people would love to do what you did. How long did you plan for this move?
Pisani: Just a year. It was very risky, and I wish I could tell people that there's a guarantee that, at the end, it's all going to work out.
But being in the health care industry, I realize there are two limiting factors in your life: health and age. And I realized you can't bank time.
If you look at life like that, then the risk doesn't seem so risky. It seemed like a good idea that when you're young and you want to do something, you say, "OK, it might not work out, but I believe in myself. And if I have to come back to the United States and start all over again, I know that I'll be able to do it."
CNN: You write that when you saw the film "Avatar," it reminded you a lot of Costa Rica. In what way?
Pisani: There was this beautiful animation in that movie of these sort of lit up fireflies, and it looked exactly like the landscape here. There are fireflies that are just like that (here).

Over 50 years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

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-- Katherine Graham

de Lux Property Management

2011-07-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

de Lux Property Management

Moran real estate is proud to announce our association with Robert Lux of de Lux Property Management. I have known Bob for over 25 years and can attest to his knowledge, integrity, honesty and experience in property management, all types of homes,apartments, pool, spa and yard maintainance. Bob worked with me in the U.S. Virgin Islands and later in Oregon and has a wealth of experience. He is headquartered in our office at Gingerbread Hotel. So for all your property needs please contact him at:

de LUX Property Management

LakeArenal, Costa Rica

Located at the offices of Moran Real Estate

Contact :Robert Lux

Phone: 506-8703-9383

In the US call: 305-307-0088

E-Mail: deluxpropertymanagement@gmail.com

Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure.
-- Joseph Sugarman

Costa Rica has Become an Excellent Dental Tourism Paradise

2011-06-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica has become lately a very favored medical tourism destination for patients from all over the world.
Besides being a country where there is high quality patient treatment possible, and where the doctors are highly skilled professionals, the country also offers several entertainment options for tourists.
Therefore, many choose to combine their medical needs with relaxation, and choose Costa Rica for this flexibility.
There are several tourism and retirement services available which help international travelers get the most advantageous quotes both for their vacationing packages and for their dental treatment needs. They basically find the most renowned dental professionals or cosmetic surgeons and then offer you a reasonable quote.
Patients are also redirected towards highly accredited and certified hospitals or clinics, so there is no danger of ending up under the hands of an unprofessional dentist.
Other services that are usually being offered by these medical tourism companies:

Free treatment consultations
They make arrangements ahead for lab testing for example
They also help you with information regarding accommodations
Transportation to-from the airports
Help accommodate people that have special needs
Take care of post-surgical appointments
Follow up assistance

As you can notice, these services are extremely advantageous, since there is not much running for you. They take care of all the important part of your medical trip, and all you have to do is let yourself guided, have a nice vacation and get all the medical care that you need.
People choose Costa Rica as a main Medical and Dental Tourism destination mainly because:

They are sick and tired already with the non responsive attitude of the insurance companies
They are also tired to wait for extremely long periods in order to be able to get an appointment (wehich in case of an emergency is not quite that comfortable!)
Increasing local costs for healthcare, especially in the fields of dentistry (such as cosmetic dentistry, which is not even covered by any standard insurance!)

In the not so distant future, there will be an even bigger rise in the number of patients who choose Costa Rica as their main Medical and dental tourism spot.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Yeras of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.
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Moran Real Estate Costa Rica Sells Paradise

2011-05-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

Heartly welcome to our travel blog Sunshine 24.com.

Sunshine24

Some Good Words From Sunshine Travel Blog

Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is also one of the places where many people are buying properties as an investment or to establish a vacation home. One of the most popular real estate companies that render professional and honest real estate services is managed by Terry Moran. The company is known as Moran Real Estate Costa Rica. It focuses on giving investors, retirees and prospective homeowners the opportunity to own a home and inexpensive real estate properties in the Lake Arenal area of Costa Rica.
Moran Real Estate Costa Rica is comprised of many professional real estate agents that will guide you in buying your property in Lake Arenal area. They are very much familiar with all the excellent places in Lake Arenal where you can develop your business or build your home. Some of the places recommended by Moran Real Estate Costa Rica agents include Fortuna, Nuevo Arenal, Tilaran, Tierra Morenas, as well as Tronadora.
You may also ask these agents about the areas located within the mountains, over-looking the whole paradise of Costa Rica. Unlike other real estate agents, they don’t push you to buy this or that property just because of their commission. Moran Real Estate is there to assist you in finding your perfect home or spot even if it means they have to search the whole of Costa Rica.
These professional real estate services are owned and managed by Terry Moran and has been recognized as one of the leading names when it comes to real estate industry, especially when it comes to properties in and around the Caribbean. For more than fifty years it has been selling tropical paradise properties. The main office of the company is located in Virgin Islands. And because of the success made by Terry Moran and his agents, there are now a lot of branches scattered all over the Caribbean. It was only a few years that they focused their attention on the Lake Arenal area.
Because of the efforts of Moran Real Estate, many five star hotels as well as restaurants are now affiliated with this real estate company. If you are one of their clients, you may avail special discounts and VIP treatments from the finest establishments in the paradise. Aside from the discounts, you may gain access to the exclusive art galleries where the paintings, sculptures, and other masterpieces of famous local artists in Costa Rica are exhibited and for sale at the same time.
So if you are in the market for a piece of paradise in Costa Rica then you should consider contacting Moran Real Estate Costa Rica. They have a reputation for providing great real estate services and will help you find you own piece of paradise.
James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the Inexpensive Costa Rica Vacation website at http://www.costa-rica-source.com, providing great information on vacations and travel in Costa Rica as well as information on buying a piece of paradise with Moran Real Estate Costa Rica.

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.

Ancient cultures and prehistoric discoveries in Costa Rica

2011-05-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Petroglyphs

To most Costa Ricans – Ticos and expats alike – Costa Rican history begins with the arrival of the Spanish in 1502. Recent developments and archeological finds are painting a far different picture however. In fact, there is increasing evidence that ancient cultures thrived in the land of Pura Vida long before European explorers cast covetous eyes upon its beauty and natural riches.
Three archeological sites in various parts of the country give an interesting glimpse into pre-Columbian life: Guayabo and La Montana complex in Turrialba, the footpaths of Lake Arenal, and . Each site offers a different window into who the ancient Costa Ricans were and how they lived.

Turrialba

The first, and probably the most notable, is Guayabo de Turrialba. This 540 acre – which is roughly 219 hectares – site can be found in Turrialba on the southern slope of the Turrialba Volcano.
The Guayabo National Park monument was established to preserve the ruins of the city even as archeologists continue to unearth details about the settlement and those who lived there. To date, it is estimated that Guayabo was established and inhabited somewhere around 1500 B.C. During the height of its existence, the city may have held between 10,000 and 25,000 people. For unknown reasons, the settlement seems to have been abandoned by 1400 A.D.-nearly a century before the Spanish arrived. Curiously, no record was left by the Spanish as to whether they had discovered the location and, if so, what condition it was in.
Though only about 10% of the site has been excavated, stone streets, various structures, water cisterns and numerous petroglyphs all provide evidence of a vibrant and thriving society. Scientists have also theorized from the drawings that there was a dual power structure-the political chief, known as Cacique and a religious/spiritual leader called Saman. Perhaps as you visit Guayabo, you may be the one to unlock its mysteries.
There is also a second location in Turrialba known as La Montana complex. Though not as extensive as the Guayabo settlement, pottery shards found there dated from 1500 to 300 B.C.; some archeologists feel that these samples must have been pre-dated by even earlier types of ceramic objects-perhaps as old as 2000 B.C.

Lake Arenal

Another location which is far more mysterious in origin can be found near the shores of Lake Arenal. Known for the majestic volcano that stands sentinel over the valley, Arenal became the focus of one Payson Sheets, an archeologist from the University of Colorado. Using NASA remote sensing technology, Sheets discovered the existence of remote footpaths both around and under the current Lake Arenal during these aerial surveys in 1985.
These footpaths, some dating back to 500 B.C., lifted a curtain on the life and culture of the ancients who used them as part of their daily existence. Sheets and other behavioral archeologists theorized that wandering bands may have lived around the volcano as early as 10,000 B.C. although a permanent settlement probably did not become established until around 2000 B.C.
These early settlers would move away during eruptions and then return to their crops and settlement when Arenal grew quiet. Much like the citizens of Guayabo, these lake residents vanished around 1400 B.C. The belief is that a plague, not the Volcano, is what ended their days.

Nicoya Peninsula

The last area which has revealed some pre-history of Costa Rica is the Nicoya peninsula. As science continues to pull back the layers of time, there is increasing evidence that the Olmecs and the earliest Ticos did interact. Ceramics found near Guanacaste, dating from 300 B.C. show this influence and, possibly, could be a prelude to finding a much stronger connection between the ancient MesoAmericans and the “pre-Ticos.”

So as you explore the wonders of this land of riches, know that you follow the footsteps of the ancients who, like you, were looking for their special place in paradise.

Indian Plaza

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkybUEuHFrQ

Lake Arenal Video

Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.

Extraordinary Home Complex and Tilapia Farm On 8 Acres of Verdant Land

2011-04-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

This extensive exotic private tilapia farm and home complex is a fire sale at the price they are asking and in perfect, like new condition, includes:

Here are some details about our property:
Main house – 2000 sq ft {1 large bedfoom 1 bath, study with fireplace}
Guest house – 750 sq ft {1 large bedroom, bath, kitchen, accomodates 4}
Pool house – 1015 sq ft
Pool – 31 ft x 11 ft, depth 4.5 to 5.5 ft
Garage - 680 sq ft
Greenhouse - 480 sq ft
Kennel
Barn
Cattle shelter
Wood shed
Garden

Fruit trees and other producing plants on the property:

Orange
Tangerine
Grapefruit
Lemon
Sweet Lemon
Mango
Coconut
Starfruit
Water Apple
Cashew
Fig
Cas
Avocado
Guavo
Guanabana
Banana
Coffee
Papaya
Pinapple

We have reforested approximately one half of the 3.5 hectares with 1,800 tree seedlings of 70 native tree species. La Reserva Forest Foundation organized, funded, and oversaw the project.
We planted a 44 tree fruit orchard in 2010.
We receive water by permit from MINAET from natural springs located within the Tenorio Forest Reserve.
We raise tilapia for personal use. The ponds currently support over 1,000 mature & maturing fish.
Electric bill averages approximately $75 / month
Telephone land line is approximately $12 / month
ICE wireless internet service costs $24 / month

The tilapia farm is presently for private use only but could easily be converted to a commercial facility. The property also lends itself to a B&B and has extensive fruit and vegetable gardens that are sufficient to feed several large families.

Family health problems force sale at way below cost

Price is firm at $350,000

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.
-- Amelia Earhart

Lomas Del Mar

2011-04-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

Lomas del Mar, in Costa Rica is an ecological community offering awesome views in one of the world's most beautiful destinations. Lomas del Mar (Hills of the Sea), a planned gated residential community where spectacular flora and exotic wildlife flourish just outside your door.

The views from Lomas del Mar are the best in Costa Rica. A bold statement. But true. Glorious sunsets over the Pacific. The white sand beach of Matapalo. Santa Rosa National Park. Boats bobbing in Coco Bay. Rolling hills and majestic mountains. Surreal volcanoes. It's like a new postcard with every blink of the eye.
We're only 35 minutes from Costa Rica's international airport in Liberia, serving the country's northwest beaches with direct flights from Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, Houston, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London.

Nestled upon 600 tropical acres of lush pasture, primary forest, and hills over looking the Pacific Ocean and the Papagayo Bay in peaceful Costa Rica. Valley and mountain views complement vistas of the North Pacific Coastline including Playas Matapalo, Ocotal, Coco, and Papagayo Bays. Our ecological residential community development is focused on providing property owner privacy and luxurious amenities while safeguarding local bio-diversity for which Costa Rica is famous.

Developer and Bank Financing Available - We'll Assist You

Costa Rica real estate including - ocean and mountain view lots ranging from 1.25 acres to over 4 acres and our new condominiums: Serendipity Residences. Imagine yourself residing on a spacious real estate property enjoying your Pacific ocean views in privacy and tranquility.

Fitness Center

Within minutes of your home, our top-of-the-line fitness center is fully equipped, featuring high quality strength and aerobic exercise equipment. We have more than a dozen stations to help you tone up, taking full advantage of the healthy lifestyle that is yours to enjoy at Serendipity Residences.

equestrian center

Haras del Mar Equestrian Center is located within 600 acres of ocean views and mountain trails in the Lomas del Mar planned ecological community.

We provide boarding in a brand new 14 stall Spanish-style stable with turnout paddocks. Our state of the art equestrian center offers professional instruction in equitation classes for jumping and dressage at our full-size Federation Arena. And we sponsor supervised trail rides to the idyllic beach of Matapalo.

With Lots beginning at $59,000 and built in financing these are the best located, most carefully developed land, homes and condos with the greatest amenities anywhere in Costa Rica.

Call Moran Real Estate at 506 2694 0088 or in the U.S. at 305 307 0088

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of Troipical Real Estate Excellence

One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.
-- Dale Carnegie

Moran Real Estate Unique Properties

2011-04-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

A Rare Hotspring on 25 acres of rolling pasture land 30 minutes west of the Lake. The hotspring is just a few feet from the springs that make up the pure clean large Rio Corobici, and the hot spring is accessed from a hanging bridge across the river.

The property also includes a former bar and restaurant next to the Hotspring Pool and a beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home, which is connected but can be utilized as 2 living units. The property is totally off the grid, having their own well and solar and hydro-electric power system.

The views from the property are spectacular, including 5 volcanos and on clear days all the way to the Pacific Coast. Just one hour from the Liberia International Airport which you can see lit up at night far in the distance.

This property offers a myriad of possibilities but in my opinion it is an ecological resort waiting to happen, with horse trails going in every direction for miles and miles and the peace and quiet of the country side.

This property is offered at $685,000, call us and take a look, the photos don't do justice to this unique beautiful property.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Buy land. They've stopped making it.
Mark Twain

Lake Arenal Housing Demand Way Up

2011-03-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

In spite of the worsening economy and real estate market in the United States, from which over 85% of our buyers originate, Lake Arenal is experiencing somewhat of a boom. Even compared to the rest of Costa Rica, Lake Arenal continues to grow and be discovered and recognized as one of the premier expat and retirement favorites in all of Central America.

This has caused a lack of available homes for sale and in turn caused many of the developers to begin spec homes to fill this void. The few fire sale homes that were on the market because of owners pressured by the economy in the U.S. were quickly sold. The current demand is in the $125,000 to $275,000 range in which there are few relatively new homes on the market, and has caused prospective home buyers into buying land and building, which offers a good option with a good builder and in which you can sometimes obtain a superior value result, aside from the fact that you are getting a brand new home to your specifications in the exact location you want.

We have worked with Luc Charette, a Canadian builder for over 10 years and he has built dozens of homes for our clients, all of which are satisfied customers. The current cost for building a home, depending on design and location is between $60 and $80 per square foot and Luc has many examples of his work he can show.

We here at Moran Real Estate are not only working with the developers to fill this void, but have sold much of the land to the developers initially. In most cases they offer the plans for the spec homes to us for comment before commencing construction in order to fill the exact void and end product desired.

Contact us for those homes under construction at this time, on the drawing board or in the permit process for an up date on what is coming up.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

Lake Arenal Homes of Distinction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym-HG6QGxQo

Lake Arenal Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkybUEuHFrQ

The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
-- Allan K. Chalmers

Bella Vista Estates - The Ultimate Eco Community

2011-03-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

Bella Vista Estates, A gated Jewel, just 6 miles from the town of Nuevo Arenal features a unique concept of residential development.

These extra large estate lots ranging in size from 2 acres to over 13 acres with prices starting at just $70,000, were carefully master planned with one purpose in mind. They are the ultimate safe haven with individual wells already drilled on each lot, rich black soil, ample rainfall, great views and aa alternate power system planned for the entire project. This will give the owner the option of going completely off the grid, being able to grow your own food, as many of the current owners are doing, and be self sufficient on your own land.

The United Nations, in a recent study determined that one hectar or 2.5 acres of land in a proper climate, with good soil and ample rainfall can support a family of 4. This is the idea behind Bella Vista. When worse comes to worse, peak oil, political turmoil, war, terrorism, wothrless dollars, radiation scares become more and more of a problem, Bella Vista Is the place to be, there is no better insurance policy for you and your family anywhere.

Remember Costa Rica has no army, no enemies, produces over 95% of its own power and the people are friendly, food exporters.

Bella Vista is also building a number of modern well designed and constructed spec homes starting at 2 bedroom 2 bath at just $179,000, fully furnished and ready to move in to.

To See more of the most beautiful properties and best values in all of Central America go to moranlakearenal.com, or call 506 2694 0088, in the U.S. 305 307 0088

Moran Real Estate over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvnrGyOz78E - Bella Vista Video

If I have been fortunate enough in my life to prosper in my work, to meet and be endowed with great friends, a loving partner and family and a healthy life, I do not attribute this to being in the right place at the right time, to luck or good fortune, but to being blessed with these things for which I thank God every day of my life - Terry Moran

Fantastic Lake And Volcano View Land With No Money Down

2011-03-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

THE PRESERVE AT LAKE ARENAL, Just 40 ecologically sensitive lots on 85 gated pristine acres of tremendous lake and volcano view land, crisscrossed with rivers and springs, rolling pasture land and primary forests, with half acre lots beginning at just $14,900, with terms as low as no money down and up to 15 years to pay, with low interest. Two lots on the main public Lakeshore Road ideal for commercial utility with almost half of all the tourists that come to Costa Rica passing right in front on these lots. One with a Nice Tico House. The Preserve has access to a nearby marina for the owners. Just minutes to Arenal Town and the Lake. A jewel of a property

Townhouses now being planned with spectacular Lake Views, coming soon, club house under construction right now

To see more of the most beautiful properties and best values in all of Costa Rica go to moranlakearenal.com, or call 506 2694 0088 from the U.S. 305 307 0088

Many more listings, way more sales, decades more experience and much more professional dedication than anyone at the lake by far

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mw5S5PGIIY

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.
-- Mary Anne Radmacher

Renting A Car In Costa Rica

2011-03-10T11:35:00.000-08:00

There are many reasons, and most are good, why you may want to stay away from cars when visiting Costa Rica, and use the public transports; For a starts, it is greener, and secondly, driving in Costa Rica may be a shock to you, and to your passengers! If however you are an independent globe trotter and like to explore the unbeaten path, you will need a car, and a 4×4 at that! This will give you an almost unlimited freedom and movement, as the best parts of the country are often hidden away: here are some basics points that might help you make up your mind:
Fast and Easy
As long as the roads are in condition and the traffic is down to a minimum, you stand a chance to make it on time and to actually reach your destination on time, however, bare in mind that speed is rare here, and most definitely hazardous. Roads are sinuous and narrow, making their way through steep volcanic landscape. Pots holes are legendary in Costa Rica, so are the endless queues. Patience and good humour are the key. Tarmac is of poor quality so repairs as they close down half the road to fill up the pots holes will often cause delays. If you happen to travel when it rains heavily, be careful; I have had to stop the car altogether as I could not even see the road anymore! An average of 45kph is a realistic expectation, however, anything can happen!

Versatile
The hotel you have chosen, the beach you want to find, they many not be so easy to reach if you are traveling by bus. Or you may find this beautiful and breathtaking spot you would have missed if you had not been driving. The hotel you reserved is not up to your expectations? Never mind, you can hop in the car and drive back to this cute B&B you passed a while back. If you are travelling by bus, once it drops you, you are on foot and you may find you are in the middle of nowhere!
Cost
While a rental car may be costly if you are on your own, it cuts down the price if you are sharing it with a bunch of people. For example, a cheaper sedan can go for $250 a week, with unlimited mileage, tax and mandatory insurance included. The cost of Super currently cost ¢621 and Diesel ¢544.
Road Signs
A lot better than back in 1990 when I first got here, but don’t count on them too much, they are still, basically, non existent! You may drive miles in this country without passing any kind of road signs. Asking the locals is good some times, and very bad at others. The Latin mentality likes to help, and they will help you, even if they do not know; this gives way to long drives, lost in some small unpaved road under the rain, bringing in arguments most likely due to exhaustion and stress. Of course, we are talking here of an extreme case! Make sure you have a good road map!
Transit Police
Do not under any circumstance try to bribe the police if they stop you. This is highly illegal and will end up with a higher fine, if you are lucky. Speeding, passing the yellow line, driving under the influence of alcohol, children not using proper equipment, all these are strictly forbidden. The laws have changed recently and now you risk not only getting a very heavy fine, but your driver’s licence and the car may be taken away from you: Beware!
Unattended Objects in the Car
Do not leave anything in the car if and when it is unattended. Do not park your car in unsafe areas. You will notice how many parking lots there are in San Jose for example, and the guardas are plentiful, looking after your vehicle in return of a small fee. Just use common sense!
After over 20 years of driving in this country, I have only one thing to say: It is a sport, but I love it. I love driving along the coffee plantations, discovering a new inn, a new lake, a new vision. I love exploring the “unexplorable”, I love to get up and go and Costa Rica is perfect for this.
I have however used public transports as well, and they are economical and plentiful, they run on time and get you from A to Z….This is a question of choice and taste. It depends on what you are doing, on what you have in mind, and on where you are going. Wherever you go and however you get there, you are bound to have a marvellous time. Enjoy your Trip!

Lake Arenal - The Secret Jewel Of Central America

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate excellence

Beauty, truth, friendship, love, creation – these are the great values of life. We can't prove them, or explain them, yet they are the most stable things in our lives.
-- Jesse Herman Holmes

Costa Rica Retirement: Lower Costs, Higher Lifestyle

2011-02-24T05:53:00.000-08:00

So let’s talk money. Just how much can you save by living as a pensionado here in Costa Rica? For Baby Boomers facing the end of regular earnings, the question of how to stretch retirement income is a very real issue. With limited savings, reduced home equity (if they can sell at all) and an average Social Security benefit of around $1200 per month for an individual and $1750 for a couple [1], most retirees will have to cut expenses one way or another. Even at the maximum benefit amount of $2,346 [2], a mere $28,152 per year before taxes, those of us who have enjoyed the advantages of a moderate income will undoubtedly have to find ways either to increase that income or minimize expenditures.
At first glance, these are not pleasant prospects for most of us. Accustomed to the good things in life, it may be difficult to face up to a lower standard of living. But the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau statistics on Income and Earnings by Age of Householder [3] reveals the stark realities: According to their report entitled “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008,” measuring all sources of money income, we find that the median income for 45 to 54 year old householders was $64,349; for the next age group, 55 to 64 year olds, the median figure drops slightly to $57,265; but for the over 65 year old group, the slide is precipitous, to $29,744. The message is clear. After retirement, you can expect a negative change in your financial situation.
But here’s the good news! With retirement comes a unique opportunity to make some important changes in your life — to simplify, downsize, reduce the clutter, re-prioritize and finally do some of the things that full-time work has prevented you from doing. Volunteer work, enjoying a hobby, traveling, getting more exercise, experiencing less stress – whatever it is, we all hope our Golden Years offer the time and space to pursue those dreams. And they can if you consider the advantages of retirement in Costa Rica, where your limited income fits nicely with the lower cost of living.
The most obvious ways that expats save money here is in housing costs. In many parts of Costa Rica, you can rent a comfortable Tico-style home for less than $500 per month, including most utilities. In outlying rural areas, it can be even less. You can also find a well appointed, 2500 square foot American-style home for $1200 to $1500 per month, if your budget allows. You can spend considerably more but if you can see the advantages of a somewhat modest home with a lower overhead, you can certainly find such a place. In addition, in the Central Valley where most people live, you will have no need for heating or air conditioning, as the climate is temperate all year round. Even in the higher elevations or at the ocean, where temperatures range lower and higher, the need for climate control is minimal. For most Americans, that would represent another huge savings in monthly expenses.
And if you choose to buy property and build a home, as many expats do, that is also a bargain in most areas. For instance, we know a transplanted Texan contractor in the Orosi Valley, east of Cartago, who can construct a beautifully detailed 900 square foot home for less than $100,000. Since so much of life is lived out of doors here, the interior of a home, which costs the most to build, can be smaller because your living space is supplemented by covered patios and detached ranchos where you will enjoy warm evenings watching a tropical sunset, sipping your favorite cocktail. Who needs a big house? It’s just that much more to clean.
And speaking of cleaning, our housekeeper costs us $10 per week for about four hours of work. And that’s actually on the higher end of such costs, we’re told. She does an excellent job, too, including the windows, floors, patios, shower walls. She even rakes the leaves in the back yard! In fact, all labor costs are lower here, which means services such as gardening, household repairs, remodeling, bicycle repair, haircuts and massage are dirt cheap in comparison to the U.S. To give a couple of examples, I had my hair dryer repaired for only $4; a recent very good haircut cost me $6. When visiting a friend recently near Turrialba, she had a plumber come out to replace her on-demand water heater. Although he had to drive quite a ways over terrible roads to near the top of a mountain, the total tab was $10 for about an hour of work.
Another area of savings for us living in Costa Rica is transportation. The latest U.S. Department of Labor survey [4] indicates that Americans spend more than 15 percent of their income on transportation costs; based on a household income of $63,000, that’s a whopping $7,658! For expats living in Costa Rica, the availability of inexpensive taxis and convenient bus service makes that look extravagant. Based on four round-trips to town by taxi each week at about $4 each (most of the time we walk), and two or three bus trips into San Jose per month, we probably spend no more than $70-$80 per month on transportation, leaving the rest of that money in our bank account. And as we hop on that bus, we smugly think to ourselves just how much we are cutting our carbon footprint!
Here in Atenas on the edge of the Central Valley, we live in a modern apartment with utilities paid, including broadband, surrounded by beautiful jungle with toucans and monkeys as visitors, a swimming pool and a rancho with a gas grill just up the hill, all for about $650 per month. We enjoy good wine and dinners out, buy household supplies as needed and live comfortably here on our two Social Securities. Back in California our overhead still includes some $250 a month for the care of my retired horse, plus the cost of a property manager and any needed maintenance on our leased horse property there. Here, we save money in so many ways — local fruits and vegetables, medical care and health insurance, entertainment. But we also know that if the need arose, we could cut our costs even further. For now, we are grateful we can enjoy the pleasures of Pura Vida. Clearly, for a laid-back lifestyle with a lower cost of living, it’s hard to beat retirement in Costa Rica.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, and at the end of the day you don't look at it and wish you had painted something different.

Leap Of Faith

2011-02-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

An Incredible True Story, of a Dream, Trust, Teamwork, Achievement, Happiness and Gratitude

Over one year ago a Doctor from Chicago surfing the web for information on Real Estate In Costa Rica came upon our web site moranlakearenal.com and was enthralled by what he saw. We began to correspond, him doing his due dilligence asking a million questions, especially since he had never been to Costa Rica. The real estate questions I answered as completely and thoroughly as possible. When the questions regarded legal I introduced him to our super attorney Gonzalo Viquez (Junior), for construction to Luc Charette. All responded quickly and efficiently to his every inquiry. He was drawn to the Real Estate development Turtle Cove Yacht Club. He asked my opinion as to what lot I thought was the best buy. I responded and he bought it cash sight unseen.
He then asked Luc Charette to recommend an architect to design a home for the lot. Luc gave him a name and a plan was created, with Luc,s input about the site, topography and the views. The Doctor approved the plans and construction commenced. He had still never come to Costa Rica. As the construction progressed Luc would send him regular photos and comments, questions about the construction. He would call me regularly to ask my opinion about colors, tiles, windows. The house was completed just a month ago and is now being furnished by Luc. The Doctor has still to this day never stepped foot on Costa Rica and I would like to include an e mail I just received from him today as a testament to our team work, trust and professionalism.

Hi Terry, Just wanted to let you know how much I like the house, and how much I appreciate all the help you and Luc and Jr. have been. I am just starting to work with Luc on the furniture and look forward to seeing it finished. But most of all I want to say thank you and wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Talk to you in 2010. Regards, John

Moran Real Estate Lake Arenal Costa Rica

Lake Arenal Construction

Lake Arenal Costa Rica Development

Lake Arenal Costa Rica management

Call Moran Real Estate at 506 2694 0088 or Cell 506 8880 8888 or in the U.S. 305 307 0088 24/7

Costa Rican episode of 'The Bachelor' airs Monday

2011-02-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

An episode of the hit television series "The Bachelor" filmed in La Fortuna and Arenal last October is expected to draw millions of U.S. viewers.

A Costa Rican episode of the popular U.S. reality TV show "The Bachelor" will air Monday at 7 p.m. on ABC.

Last October, bachelor Brad Womack and six bachelorettes traveled to Costa Rica and filmed an episode of the show while visiting the La Fortuna and Arenal area. The cast and crew stayed at The Springs Resort & Spa, in Arenal, and participated in a group date doing a canyoning tour with a local outdoor expedition company, Pure Trek Costa Rica.

“(Womack) did the group date with me and Pure Trek,” said Pure Trek owner Cynthia Crummer. “He and six girls and a film crew shot the entire thing. I’d never worked with reality television before so the whole thing was a pretty funny experience,” Crummer said.

"The Bachelor" is in its 15th season, and true to the famed format of the show, the season began with 25 women vying to win the heart of a "bachelor.." As the show progresses, young hearts are shattered as Womack whittles the contestants down to one. At the end of each episode, Womack presents a rose to the girls he intends to keep around, while disappointment overtakes the others.

In the final episode of each season, the bachelor is expected to drop to a knee and ask his chosen bachelorette for her hand in marriage. Womack, however, is famed for his 2007 decision to propose to neither of the two finalists, which resulted in seismic chaos throughout the reality television world.

At the end of the episode in Costa Rica, Womack holds the ominous rose ceremony. He selects some of the women to go with him on his next adventure, while sending others home devoid of love although, one imagines, full of 'pura vida.'

“Brad Womack is a really nice guy. Really, he is a sweetheart,” Crummer said. “But in the end he dumps a couple of them and they move on. That's just how the show works.”

The show's viewer ratings usually top the U.S. television charts on Monday nights. So far this season, the average weekly audience tuning in has been 8-9 million.

“The solid rating of 'The Bachelor' – more than nine million people in U.S. alone – makes this an important opportunity to show the natural attractions of Costa Rica on one of the principal entertainment channels in our primary market,” said Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides.

The show begins at 7 p.m. local time and runs for two hours. Through the show's first 14 seasons, only one of the couples remains together today.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
-- Helen Keller

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Top Six Reasons to Retire in Costa Rica

2011-01-26T09:31:00.000-08:00

Retiring comfortably and in a nice locale in the U.S. these days just isn’t as easy or inexpensive as it used to be in the past, particularly for attractive beach areas. Many people who would never think of leaving the country and moving elsewhere are now considering just about EVERY possibility and this is how locations like Costa Rica have become a hot topic among the soon-to-retire baby boomers and others thinking about retirement.
The top six reasons for looking at Costa Rica as an affordable alternative to what most folks in the U.S. desire or need for retirement:

Cost of living. With a little research and a lot of help from an experienced professional, it is still possible to find an attractive, safe and low-cost place to retire here in Costa Rica. Live like a local, pay like a local.
Climate. Traditionally, those newly minted retirees from cold climates are most likely to desire temperate climates and beautiful natural settings in which to settle. Year round warm weather and distinct lack of hurricanes, tornadoes, tidal waves and dramatic temperature changes draw many of these way-too-cold folks to Costa Rica.

Medical care. The quality of health care here in Costa Rica has improved to the point that it has actually become a top location in the world for medical, dental and plastic surgery tourism, along with all types of corporal, aesthetic, drug and alcohol detox programs. The success of this type of medical tourism has not only proved the quality and validity of today’s medical experts in this country, it has also demonstrated the viability in cost for middle class visitors and retirees. The fear of poor medical care is disappearing and incentives in the form of good care at a reasonable cost are simply driving many retirees to Costa Rica as the intelligent and affordable alternative.
Access to family and friends. For those committed to being at arm’s-length distance to friends and relatives, living overseas just isn’t practical, but for the rest it may very well be that the globalization of the earth is playing right to your requirements. The penetration of quality high-speed internet, the use of VOIP international telephones, digital cameras and all of the other modern technical gadgets make keeping in contact a breeze. The world is a much smaller place with these types of communication and sometimes we find ourselves closer to our loved ones living outside of the country than to those that are living down the street! Plus, every year sees additional, affordable flights from the U.S. to Costa Rica, making regular visits increasingly easy. Who wouldn’t want to visit someone in beautiful and exotic Costa Rica?
Foreign culture. There was a time not so long ago where American expats felt continually out of place in any other country. Globalization, regular uses of foreign languages (particularly Spanish), understanding of foreign cultures and more have all created a level playing field where Americans actually have a place to fit in and to belong. Again, the internet and information technology has taken out a lot of the guesswork about local knowledge. Internet chat groups for North American expats exist in virtually every country on the planet, sharing all types of information, recommendations and personal friendships, and allowing just about anyone to not only exist, but to thrive in their new surroundings with some honest effort and some new friends! Don’t forget that amazing new language programs like Rosetta Stone give almost everyone the ability to get the basics of the local language and culture.
Retiree friendly. If you think the U.S. and its’ Baby Boomers are getting older, remember that the rest of the world is already older, especially in Europe and in other industrialized countries. These places have been preparing for the retirees, including Costa Rica with its’ popular socialized medical program that costs pennies in comparison to similar facilities in the U.S. One more thing to remember is that Costa Ricans by far tend to be much more respectful to their elders than just about anywhere else on the planet. It is not unusual to see youngsters and teens spending quality time with grandparents, and the entire family takes on the responsibilities of assisting grandparents in their daily lives.

Those are six great reasons to retire in Costa Rica. What do you think? If you can think of more reasons to retire (or not!) in Costa Rica, please leave a comment and let everyone know!

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
-- Mark Twain

http://moranlakearenal.com/ - MORAN REAL ESTATE

The greatest Name in Costa Rican Real Estate

The Switzerland Of Central America

2011-01-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

Your day starts with a strong coffee, and the delicate layers of a crisp pastry. The smooth surface of the lake beneath your terrace mirrors the blue sky overhead. Rich green mountain scenery surrounds you...revealing a tiny pointed church spire and a handful of chalets...
But you're not in Switzerland, or Austria. You're not even in Europe. You're in a little secret corner of Costa Rica, called Arenal.
And while the gorgeous lake landscape might remind you of Europe, the property prices certainly won't.
You can buy two and a half acres here, with fruit trees, your own private lake, a main house and a lake cottage, for $159,000...
Today's draw could win you a free tour of Arenal's hidden real estate gems...a boat ride on the lake...and a couple of nights accommodation and breakfast. It's an opportunity to scope out the area before the mainstream catches on. Click here to enter the draw...and read on below to find out more about Costa Rica's best-kept secret.
It was Costa Rica's best-kept secret. I first scouted here three years ago. I fell in love with the setting, and the scenery. I enjoyed good food, and good company. It reminded me of lake country in Europe...from the dramatic, rich green landscape, the warm bread and crisp pastries in the little Austrian bakery, to the mini Swiss village on one side of the lake.
I couldn't believe just how affordable property was here, either. Only a handful of expats had discovered this location, and they preferred to keep it to themselves. But word is starting to get out slowly about this hidden gem...
At International Living's conference in Costa Rica in August 2010, this place stole the show. Some attendees toured the area before the conference. They liked what they saw...and they couldn't keep it to themselves. We should have had two small tours of the area, one before the conference and one afterwards. That soon turned into four bigger tours...and a lot of excitement. There's something special about this location...

We're talking about Arenal, in north central Costa Rica. It's Costa Rica's lake country, and it ticks all the right boxes for a growing number of expats and retirees. The weather hovers in the high-70s year round. There's enough rain to keep the landscape fresh and green.
Arenal often reminds visitors of Lake Tahoe...without the crowds. If you love hiking, swimming, windsurfing, fishing, boating, bird watching, horse riding, or kayaking...this place is paradise. It's a secret part of Costa Rica, where you'll find gourmet food, good company, and property prices that seem to belong in a history book.
But the secret's slowly getting out...as more expats, retirees and property buyers uncover this hidden corner of Costa Rica.
Lakes, Rivers, Waterfalls, and Hot Springs
Let's start with the natural beauty. It's easy when you have the right ingredients: the country's largest lake (33 square miles), a lush landscape of soft rolling hills, lofty mountains, and a towering volcano. For much of the year, only fishermen and sailors break Lake Arenal's mirror-smooth surface; for a few months, stronger lake breezes bring in windsurfers.
The sharply pointed cone of the volcano reaches 5300 feet. It's live. That means a spectacular fiery display most evenings...and hot springs. Resorts offer a choice of outdoor pools, with different water temperatures, swim-up bars, and spa treatments--a perfect way to unwind at the end of a long day.

The volcano, the lake, and hot springs are major tourist attractions
The thermal water has reputed healing powers, and the volcanic mud is great for deep cleansing. There are a number of hotels that offer a variety of treatments...or you can simply soak contentedly outdoors in the heated water and relax.
Throw in crashing waterfalls, deep caverns, and misty cloud forests...and a total of 790 square miles of conservation area, parks and reserves...and "unspoiled paradise" sums this place up.
A Warm Welcome is Waiting...
The expat group in Arenal is small, but very active, and welcoming to newcomers. They meet regularly, often at the Gingerbread Hotel. Once you've dined here, you'll know why. The chef, Eyal, serves delicious, fresh, gourmet food. He prefers to use locally sourced products. On the taste front, his food ranks alongside the top restaurants in Europe or the US...and at much more wallet-friendly prices. It's by far the best food in Costa Rica.

The bargain-basement real estate is as mouth-watering as the food. Local-style three bed homes start at $55,000. For $179,000, you get fifteen acres of jungle, rivers, pasture, and a small house. A well-maintained 2-bed home in a private community is on the market for $89,000. A home with its own private lake set in two and a half acres is $159,000...
I could go on and on, but you get the idea. This overlooked area boasts a wide range of properties, from local "Tico" homes, to lake-view or volcano-view home sites, to US-style condos with a private marina overlooking the lake. They all have one thing in common: affordability.
If you want to check out Arenal for yourself...and see what's getting so many people buzzing about this place...then you

should enter today's prize draw.
Terry Moran is a real estate broker we work with in Arenal, and he's offering a free tour, two nights accommodation at the Gingerbread Hotel, including breakfast, and a boat ride on the lake.
He'll also show you a selection of properties in Arenal, based on your preferences...whether it's farmland, a second home, or a lake-view lot.
You'll meet other expats, who'll share why they chose this spot as their piece of paradise...
And you'll see just how far your real estate dollars will stretch here.
If you want to get a feel for Costa Rica's lake country, and immerse yourself in its charms for a few days, this is the easiest way to do it. Enter the prize draw today ...and discover this hidden corner of Costa Rica...before the mainstream catches on.
Margaret Summerfield
Pathfinder - International Living

http://internationalliving.com/ international Living - The greatest Name In World Real Estate Values

http://moranlakearenal.com/ Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

http://gingerbreadarenal.com/ Gingerbread The absolute finest restaurant and boutique hotel in Costa Rica

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.
-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

7000 New Hig Tech Jobs Created In Costa Rica

2010-12-21T05:38:00.000-08:00

An investment of more than $434 million and the eventual creation of more than 7,000 new jobs will result from foreign direct investment in high-tech industries announced in 2010, according to the Ministerio de Ccomercio Exterior.

The new jobs are roughly split amongst three categories, services (call centers), tech manufacturing, and life sciences.

The latter is usually referred to as medical instruments because that’s what has been the bulk of investment in Costa Rica, but the export promotion agencies are hopeful of attracting biomedical research as well.

Call centers provide more than 30,000 jobs to mostly

young people with English skills, though much Spanish- language support for large telecom companies in the United States is moving here. About 100 call center operators are now in the country, mostly in tax exempt free zones in Heredia. New companies include Teleperformance and National Instruments.

Medical instruments like heart stents and catheters are the main products associated with new entrants. Abbott Vascular recently announced a large investment. General Microcircuits is joining giant Intel in moving production here.

In 2011 a joint effort between the ministry and the private sector export promotion agency CINDE will take effect, with plans to seek investment from North America, Europe, and Asia.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
-- Henry David Thoreau

International Living Continues toTout Costa Rica

2010-12-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

So why should you consider Costa Rica? It just makes sense for so many reasons.
After all, Costa Rica attracts more than one million visitors every year. Many already consider it to be the most attractive and diverse nation in Latin America. It's easy to get to and direct flights leave major airports in the U.S. every day.
Costa Rica has been the buzzword for overseas retirement and eco-travel for almost 20 years. It's a small, peaceful oasis of staggering beauty... a mysterious world of volcanoes and rare creatures found nowhere else on earth.
The cost of living is low (you can still live comfortably on as little as $1,500 a month)… you can enjoy warm, sunny, tropical weather all year… take advantage of a simple, straightforward residency program… and live among the best-preserved, most-spectacular scenery on the planet.
Costa Rica enjoys a stable government, plenty of foreign investment, a well-educated populace, first-rate (affordable) health care, and a thriving tourism industry. Many expats have started profitable businesses while living in this beautiful paradise.
It's no surprise when you consider the government support in these areas...

Continued Government-Supported Growth
“North Americans and Europeans are flocking to Costa Rica because of its biodiversity, peaceful lifestyle, democratic government, and growing economy. And, of course, there’s the climate... Many retirees we met are financing their retirement and keeping busy by starting businesses based on the booming real estate market... A property can net $20,000 to $100,000 a year in rental income, depending on housing type, style, and location.” ~ Kiplinger’s

With space running out in the most popular towns, the government is working furiously to open up previously inaccessible areas. But that’s not all they’ve been doing ...
Costa Rica now ranks as the most technologically developed country in all of Central America. The government has attracted several high-tech companies by offering tax holidays of up to 20 years. There are also many incentives for tourism companies.
The workforce is well educated and English fluency isn’t even an issue. Costa Rica offers investors and relocated businesses plenty of advantages. Among the companies to open branches there are Acer America, Baxter Healthcare, Intel, Panasonic, and many more.
The presence of offshore banks has grown exponentially in recent years. Within the last three years, the total amount of funds these banks have attracted has increased by 65%.
Yes, business is booming in Costa Rica, and there are several ways that you can profit from this boom—especially in the tourism sector.
You could:
Build and rent out your own eco-cabin: Because Costa Rica has become such a popular tourism destination, it’s desperately short of hotel rooms. So you could build your own rental cabin for as little as $5,000… and then rent it out for as much as $100 a day.
Some people have been reporting a 98% occupancy rate. At such levels as this it means your $5,000 investment could be making you $35,700 per year!
Build or buy two homes: Let’s say you build two houses – a large house and a small house. You could then offer to rent both houses out… and live in the house that isn’t rented. Since living expenses in Costa Rica are low – and rental prices are relatively high – with the right marketing strategy, you could easily make enough to live on... all while living in warm, tropical, beautiful Costa Rica full-time.
Build and sell properties: Because of the rapidly increasing land values throughout Costa Rica, you could buy a piece of land that’s large enough to subdivide, build a house on it, and sell the property for a good profit.
And, if that isn’t enough, it’s one of the few places where the dollar has actually risen in value in recent years! Americans now have about a third more buying power than they did five years ago. A dollar equals around 500 Costa Rican colones today compared to 360 back then.
Costa Rica could well be the most biologically diverse region on the entire planet. Every year more than one million tourists visit to explore some of the last unspoiled natural habitats in the world.
Covering only 1/10,000th of the world’s surface, it is home to more than 500,000 different species of plants and animals... including more than 850 bird species …160 known amphibians… 220 reptiles… and 10% of all known butterflies.

You’ll find high-elevation forests where clouds meander over the treetops … deserted black-sand beaches… lowland rain forests… mysterious mangrove swamps… protected coral reefs … expansive wetlands… and just about everything between.
And there are many exhilarating ways to explore its outstanding natural beauty:
Hike through a lush green coastal rainforest—and one of Costa Rica’s best places to spot wildlife. Keep your eye out for parrots, crocodiles, caimans, toucans, kingfishers, iguanas, and lizards…
Scuba dive or snorkel among thousands of colorful tropical fish and vivid coral reefs
Explore Costa Rica’s premiere ecotourism destination. Here you can find palm trees, orchids, primitive ferns, and an incredible variety of birdlife…
White-water raft down the exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping rivers…
Kayak down the Sarapiqui River, in the Pacific Ocean, or in the Caribbean Sea…
Surf world-class waves at one of the best breaks in the country and a draw for some of the best surfers in the world.
Enjoy horseback riding on the beach at sunset in Samara, Montezuma, or many other ideal places for horseback riding in Costa Rica…
Go sport-fishing for marlin, swordfish, snook, and tarpon in blue waters under blue skies.
Bird-watch and spot hummingbirds, scarlet macaws, toucans, kingfishers, trogons, and even the resplendent quetzal…
Mountain bike in a pristine nature reserve on the Nicoya Peninsula…
So remember to bring your digital camera, your sunscreen, your hiking shoes, your swimsuit, and your sense of adventure.

Quality Of Life... And Keep An Eye Out For The Rich And Famous
You might think that living in a country with all the advantages that Costa Rica offers would be expensive.
It isn’t!
The leading expatriate organization, the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, estimates that if a couple owns a house and a car they can live well on $1,500 to $2,500 a month.
When you shop at a supermarket in Costa Rica, you can expect to spend less than half of what you would in the U.S. The savings are similar at the country’s restaurants, nearly all of which serve food fit for royalty.
Taxes are low too. When you live in Costa Rica, there’s no tax on money made outside the country, and the highest income tax rate is 15%.
Annual property taxes are low, too. You’ll pay on a sliding scale from .25% to .55% of the value of your home or condo. And you pay only on the construction value…not the land value. According to a leading real estate company, if you pay $150,000 for a house, your taxes are likely to be just a few hundred dollars a year.
Best of all, when you go to sell your home in Costa Rica, you won’t pay a dime in capital gains tax. Zero, zip, zilch.
Plus, Costa Ricans readily boast that their country is so safe it has no need for an army. The country is so peaceful that schoolchildren oversee election parades, and there are more doctors here than there are police.
In fact, Microsoft founder and one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, vacations here with his family. Most recently, he and his family arrived aboard a private jet and stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Guanacaste for a week.
And that's not even the best part of living in Costa Rica...
Where Doctors Still Make House Calls!
Costa Rica’s health care is first-rate… yet shockingly inexpensive—on average about a third of what you’d pay in the U.S.

The leading expatriate organization, the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, estimates that if a couple owns a house and a car they can live well on $1,500 to $2,500 a month.
When you shop at a supermarket in Costa Rica, you can expect to spend less than half of what you would in the U.S. The savings are similar at the country’s restaurants, nearly all of which serve food fit for royalty.
Taxes are low too. When you live in Costa Rica, there’s no tax on money made outside the country, and the highest income tax rate is 15%.
Annual property taxes are low, too. You’ll pay on a sliding scale from .25% to .55% of the value of your home or condo. And you pay only on the construction value…not the land value. According to a leading real estate company, if you pay $150,000 for a house, your taxes are likely to be just a few hundred dollars a year.
Best of all, when you go to sell your home in Costa Rica, you won’t pay a dime in capital gains tax. Zero, zip, zilch.
Plus, Costa Ricans readily boast that their country is so safe it has no need for an army. The country is so peaceful that schoolchildren oversee election parades, and there are more doctors here than there are police.
In fact, Microsoft founder and one of the world’s richest men, Bill Gates, vacations here with his family. Most recently, he and his family arrived aboard a private jet and stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Guanacaste for a week.
And that's not even the best part of living in Costa Rica...
Where Doctors Still Make House Calls!
Costa Rica’s health care is first-rate… yet shockingly inexpensive—on average about a third of what you’d pay in the U.S.
World-Class, Affordable
Health Care
Hands down, Costa Rica’s universal health care system is one of the best in Latin America and, indeed, among the best in the world. Once you obtain legal residency in Costa Rica, foreigners are eligible (required, in fact) to participate in Costa Rica’s universal health care system, CAJA. It’s affiliated with ten major public hospitals in the country and many small clinics in almost every community.
You can also buy private insurance—most plans cover dental work, optometry, and cosmetic surgery in the case of an accident. Prescription drugs, certain medical exams, sick visits, and hospitalization are covered at 70% cost, and surgeon and anesthesiologist costs are covered at full cost. Private medical insurance in Costa Rica currently costs about $50-$100 a month per person, depending on age, gender and other factors.
And don’t worry about language issues—many doctors speak English and have received training in Europe, Canada, or the U.S.

The doctors, many of them U.S. educated and trained, rarely charge more than $50 a visit… and most of them charge less, even for house calls. That’s right! Many doctors in Costa Rica still make house calls!
Costa Rica has been named one of the top 5 destinations for health tourism worldwide. Thousands of people are now traveling to Costa Rica to have cosmetic surgery that is too costly back home.
“Patients can save as much as 80% on procedures done by medical professionals often educated and trained in the United States at hospitals increasingly accredited for meeting U.S.-like standards.” ~ Fresno Bee
Prescription drugs are also much cheaper in Costa Rica, especially at pharmacies outside the touristy areas of San José. And it’s good to know that you don’t have to worry about a prescription. Pharmacies don’t usually require them, except for strong painkillers that could become addictive.
Costa Rica’s health care isn’t just inexpensive... the quality is exceptional.
In fact, a recent study by the World Health Organization even ranked Costa Rica’s health services ABOVE the U.S.

Low taxes, high-quality low-cost health care, and booming property prices... Costa Rica is a land where dreams can still come true.

International Living The Greatest name In World Real Estate

Moran Real Estate almost 60 Years of Troipical Real Estate Excellence

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
-- Oprah Winfrey

Expats on the move: Establishing residency in Costa Rica

2010-12-03T06:24:00.000-08:00

Expats on the move: Establishing residency in Costa Rica

While health care debates, social security reform and higher taxes take center stage in Washington, D.C., more and more Americans seem to be seeking residency elsewhere in the world and the number one destination appears to be Costa Rica.
“We’ve seen a lot of passive inquiries about moving to Costa Rica and establishing residency there since starting our project,” commented Hacienda Matapalo Executive Vice President Brian Albury, whose company is building a 665-acre master planned gated community on the country’s South Pacific Coast. “But lately we’ve seen a dramatic upswing in serious interest – more so than any other time during this phase of our development.”
According to Christopher Howard, an authoritarian on Costa Rica and author of the recently released book "The New Golden Door To Retirement and Living in Costa Rica," there are more Americans living in Costa Rica per capita than any other country in the world. In an article on the Web site Costa Rica Outdoors, Howard wrote that Americans tend to feel more at home in Costa Rica than other Latin American country citing several reasons including health care, business opportunities, high yielding investments, tax breaks, real estate costs and security concerns.
There is much to know about establishing residency in Costa Rica. “For example, just like in the U.S. where there are several types of residency statuses, the same holds true for Costa Rica and whether we’re talking about a pensionado (retiree), rentista (legal resident), inversionista (investor), vinculo (relation to citizen) or any other classification, each has its own set of criteria.”

For this reason we recommend a good attorney to guide you through the process. We have used and recommended the same attorney for real estate and residency in Costa Rica for over 10 years, Gonzalo Viqyez {everyone knows him as Junior} and in all my years of doing business here I have not found anyone close to his efficiency, knowledge and attention to detail. You can reach him by phone at 506 8816 1681 or e mail at costaricanlegaladvice@gmail.com

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Costa Rica 4th Most Competitive Tourist Destination

2010-11-17T06:21:00.000-08:00

A recent study by the World Economic Forum has ranked Costa Rica as the fourth most competitive tourism location in the Americas. Canada, the U.S. and Barbados in the Caribbean are the top 3. Analyzing 14 areas of tourism and travel, the study ranked 133 countries of the world on a 6-point scale to create the “travel and tourism competitiveness index”. Costa Rica was given an overall score of 4.42, ranking 42nd in the world and 4th in the Americas.

The 14 areas of travel and tourism rated included environmental sustainability, safety and security, health and hygiene, infrastructure, natural resources and human resources. According to the World Economic Forum, Costa Rica ranks sixth in the world in the category of natural resources and 27th overall for environmental sustainability. The study applauded Costa Rica for its high percentage of nationally protected areas and its diverse fauna.

“Costa Rica counts on a large amount of natural spaces, which attracts many tourists who are hoping to travel to destinations that are developing methods to contribute to the protection of the environment,” said Juan Carlos Ramos, the President of CANATUR. “The results of this study confirm that the commitment to maintaining the environment should be a strategy for the country to continue to work to become a sustainable destination, making Costa Rica an attractive destination for people from around the world.”

On the other end of the scale, Costa Rica ranked 72nd in the safety and security of travelers and 103rd in ground transportation, including roads and ports. The study referred to ground transportation in Costa Rica as “somewhat difficult.”

“Without security, we cannot develop tourism,” Ramos said. “The government should think about and implement actions that will allow the country to be considered in the future as not only a destination that focuses on sustainability, but also a place where vacationers can have a peaceful stay.”

According to CANATUR, in 2009 Costa Rica welcomed over 1,922 million tourists, who generated over $2 billion for the local economy.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Find your passion and make it your profession ... and you'll never work again.

Living and Working Part-time in Costa Rica…and Loving It

2010-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Living and Working Part-time in Costa Rica…and Loving It
By Rita Lucas

I first came to Costa Rica 11 years ago for my 25th wedding anniversary…and I fell in love with everything I experienced here.

I would leave the resort I was staying at, and wander the beaches to small villages to find great coffee and wonderful food. I loved the rural, simple, slower pace of life. And I loved the safety of being able to tour around and feel as safe as I do in Canada. Other things that suited me were the temperate climate, the friendly, helpful people, and the great “café con leche” (coffee with hot steamed milk).

When we got back to Canada, and into the cold dark days of winter…I decided "enough!" and purchased a lot near the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica near the village of Ojochal. I built a house as a B&B in the mountains up from the village.

I now spend at least six months a year in the wonderful rural area of Ojochal, leaving behind the cold winters of Alberta. Instead of the high pace of life and the high costs of winter…I wake up to the sounds of monkey, toucans and parrots in the trees and step outside to see blue morpho butterflies soaring through my rancho.

Getting around is easy on my quad—I use it most days to run errands, or to attend a Spanish or yoga class.

After spending a lot of time in Costa Rica over the past 10 years, I have found that you need to have a large amount of patience—things move slower than in North America. It is part of the charm…but can also cause us North Americans to get stressed when trying to get things done! I've learned how to stand in long lines and enjoy the people-watching that this can offer…and I've learned that proxima semana (next week) can mean anytime from a couple of days to a month, and be okay with that.

If I was living in Canada 12 months of the year I would have to work a lot more than I do now...I find that it is 1/3 of the cost to live in Costa Rica, allowing me to have more free time, to be semi- retired and have a flexible life.

I never forget that I'm living a dream that I used to only ever experience on vacation. It truly is the good life.

International Living - The Greatest Name in Retirement Living

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create.

Costa Ricas's Lake District Is Causing Quite A Stir

2010-10-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

It's no wonder—spectacular views, the best food in the country, and seriously affordable property

Costa Rica's Best-Kept Secret
By Margaret Summerfield

It's Costa Rica's best-kept secret—and it caused quite a stir at a recent IL conference. Some attendees had been there before and couldn't wait to share what they'd found. Word is slowly getting out about this hidden hot spot...

I'm talking about Arenal, in north central Costa Rica. It's Costa Rica's lake country, and it ticks all the right boxes for a growing number of expats and retirees.

The weather hovers in the high 70s year-round. There's enough rain to keep the landscape fresh and green. Then there's the beauty of this place...the friendly expats...the gourmet food...and the bargain-basement property prices.

Arenal often reminds visitors of Lake Tahoe...without the crowds. If you love hiking, swimming, windsurfing, fishing, boating, bird watching, horse riding, or kayaking...this place is paradise. It's a secret part of Costa Rica, where you'll find gourmet food, good company, and property prices that seem to belong in a history book.

Let's start with the natural beauty. It's easy when you have the right ingredients: the country's largest lake (33 square miles), a lush landscape of soft rolling hills, lofty mountains, and a towering volcano. For much of the year, only fishermen and sailors break Lake Arenal's mirror-smooth surface; for a few months, stronger lake breezes bring in windsurfers.

The sharply pointed cone of the volcano reaches 5,300 feet. Yes, it's "live". That means a fiery display most evenings...and hot springs. Resorts offer a choice of outdoor pools, with different water temperatures, swim-up bars, and spa treatments—a perfect way to unwind at the end of a long day.

Throw in crashing waterfalls, deep caverns, and misty cloud forests...and a total of 790 square miles of conservation area, parks and reserves...and "unspoiled paradise" sums this place up.

The expat group is small, but very active, and welcoming to newcomers. They meet regularly, often at the Gingerbread Hotel. Once you've dined here, you'll know why. The chef, Eyal, serves delicious, fresh, gourmet food. He prefers to use locally sourced products. On the taste front, his food ranks alongside the top restaurants in Europe or the U.S.—and at much more wallet-friendly prices. It's by far the best food in Costa Rica.

The bargain-basement real estate is as mouth-watering as the food—homes start at less than $60,000.

This overlooked area boasts a wide range of properties, from local "Tico" homes, to lake-view or volcano-view home sites, to U.S.-style condos with a private marina overlooking the lake. They all have one thing in common: affordability.

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International Living - The Greatest Name In Real Estate Values

Failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.

Lazy Days On Lake Arenal Costa Rica

2010-10-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

I envied Jeff in his sleek wooden kayak, carefully handcrafted from fine Costa Rican laurel. What a talent and luxury of time to be able to build such a thing! Jeff's wife, Beth, floated languorously ahead and my husband, Dan, slowly tailed along behind. It was my coercion (albeit slight) that had convinced Dan to come, and I was glad to see how much he was enjoying himself. Plus, he cut a handsome figure with the volcano looming behind him.

Volcán Arenal is a picture-perfectly shaped volcano that looms almost 5,500 feet high. One of the world's youngest volcanoes (less than 7,000 years old), it is also one of the world's most active. It is not uncommon to feel or hear its rumbling and see its glowing spectacle of lights as it shoots orange-hot boulders into the night.

Scientists have established a safety perimeter beyond which it is safe to explore. You'll find many hotels and lodges just at the volcano's base from which to set off on foot or by horseback. Afterward, you can soothe aching muscles with a peaceful soak in thermal water pools.

Perhaps it's this sense of adventure, combined with the otherworldly beauty of the area that draws so many tourists here. And why so many of them choose to stay.

A small, friendly group of expats is now settling happily on the periphery of nearby Lake Arenal, formed by damming the river that flows around the bottom of the volcano. Most choose to live high on the mountaintops that afford impressive views of the shimmering lake and the volcano, safely off in the distance.

The 33-square-mile Lake Arenal is about as pretty as a lake can be. The Lake Arenal expats we spoke with say they came to Costa Rica in search of beach living, but after dealing with the heat, humidity and corrosive salt air of the beach, they headed for the mountains. And once they got to Arenal, there was no going any farther.

"This place is special," says Eyal Ben-Menachem, a transplant from Israel, by way of Chicago, who runs the famous Hotel Gingerbread near the town of Arenal and is a top-notch chef beyond compare. "I never want to live anywhere else."

Indeed, some say that the area is a very potent spiritual energy site with "ghost spirit path roads" running through the mountains to an ancient burial mound. There have been many reported UFO sightings in the area, including one as recently as October 6, 2006. A famous photograph purportedly shows a UFO entering nearby Lake Cote. (Do an internet search for all the mysterious details.)

The expats we met at Lake Arenal don't put much stock in these kinds of things. The area is special, yes, they say. But that's because of the perfect weather, the glorious scenery, and the nice, "no frills" kind of people who live here.

After an idyllic Sunday morning spent under the volcano with Beth and Jeff, floating effortlessly on the still waters of Lake Arenal, we understand perfectly.

If you go: Check out Hotel Gingerbread for accommodation and the finest food in all Costa Rica (according to multiple travel guides and our expanding waistlines): http://gingerbreadarenal.com. And be sure to save some time for floating with Beth and Jeff: http://arenalkayaks.com

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

International Living - The Greatest Name in Retirement Real Estate

Direct Flights From London To Liberia Starting Soon

2010-10-04T05:31:00.000-07:00

The British travel wholesaler via its Thomson Airlines will begin operations between London's Gatewick Airport and Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia Nov. 2.

The flights on Tuesday will be with a Boeing 767. The direct flight takes 11 hours, and the plane has a capacity of 258 passengers.

The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo said that the flights will generate an increase in British tourists.

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To accomplish great things we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe.

Coming Soon Direct Flights Chicago To Liberia Airport

2010-09-25T05:47:00.000-07:00

Major vacation tour operator plans direct flight

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Apple Vacations, one of the biggest U.S. wholesalers, is putting on a direct Chicago to Liberia flight starting Jan. 14. The flight will bring 190 vacationers to Guanacaste every week.

This is the first time that the company has had a direct flight from Chicago, Illinois. The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo said that the flight is directed to middle- and upper-income vacationers

who will spend $150 or more per night. The company promotes these three Guanacaste hotels on its Web site: Riu Guanacaste, JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa and Paradisus Playa Conchal. It also lists other hotels and also escorted tours and tours to San José.

The company also is offering three- and four-night tours of La Fortuna and Monteverde, the institute said. The company also has tours to Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero and Turrialba.

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If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.

The Growth and Expansion Of Nuevo Arenal

2010-09-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Banco Nacional, One of Costa Ricas oldest and largest banks has been a fixture in Nuevo Arenal for many many years and just recently completely renovated and expanded to meeti the growing business and population expansion. Great service from this branch.

The Arenal Soccer field and Catholic Church in the back ground. Almost every small town in Costa Rica has a soccer field. To the left of the church is part of the public school.

The new Arenal Gym, just opened and a real plus to a town this size has been a great success and an asset for all those who wish to stay in shape of all ages

Many small towns in Costa Rica have old fashioned meat markets. This is ours owned by the Sibaja Brothers who have been there for many many years and offer a variety of good fresh meats and will cut a particular cut to your specifications with pleasure

Muswanni, Arenal's newest addition, just opened and is part of a national chain of bakeries. The breads and pastries are excellent and although dieters beware, it is great to have them here

Banco Costa Rica just opened in Arenal Town. Reinforcing the conclussion that Nuevo Arenal and the Lake is on a fast track path for growth, discovery and expansion

Arenal Fruits and Vegetables, one of two fruit and vegetable markets in Arenal town that off a wide variety of fresh, inexpensive produce some of which is organic and a must for every food shopper several times a week

Super Compro, our recently expanded supermarket, offering a pretty good selection of products for a town this size and reflecting the expats here by offering products not normally offered in a local town.

Also rumored that PALI, a large supermarket chain is coming to Arenal town directly across the street from Super Compro, which will be a boon for competition and the variety of foods available here

Colono Hardware, also recently expanded to serve the booming construction trade at the Lake. Pretty good selection, part of a chain and what they don't have they can order for you

Moyas Restaurant and Video Rental Store. Moyas is a great place for a pizza or a wrap and has a great outdoor cafe feel to it. Reasonably priced and conveniently located. Video store is well stocked.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of tTopical Real Estate Excellence

After twelve years of therapy my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said, "No hablo ingles."

Frontier Airlines Joins The Rush To Costa Rica

2010-09-01T05:40:00.000-07:00

Frontier Airlines Announces New Costa Rica Route

Posted on: August 31st, 2010 by Charlie Mills

It now appears that Frontier Airlines is the first of many airlines that will be launching new routes to Costa Rica. Apparently the carrier is planning on running this as a seasonal service, which will run as of February 13 next year and will service Liberia, Costa Rica.
For those that do not know, Liberia is about four hours northwest of the capital, San Jose, when traveling by bus. It is one of the major jumping off points for beach resorts on the West Cost. Frontier Airlines, which is a unit of Republic Airways Holdings, said that it will operate weekly nonstop flights to and from its hub at Denver International Airport.
As of right now the airline already runs flights to San Jose. After this information was released, Republic Airways saw its shares rise 2 cents to $7.01 in morning trading at the start of this week.
So why are airlines now starting to add more routes to Costa Rica? Why are experts suggesting that more airlines will now start looking into offering Cost Rica routes? A lot of this has to do with the fact that the United States government is starting to relax travel restrictions to Costa Rica. This could mean that routes to the country could now be profitable for airlines to fly.
However, it is not yet know just how popular these flights will be. Most experts assume that they will be pretty popular, though. Apparently people have been asking airlines for a long time to add these kinds of flights and asking the government to relax its travel restrictions.

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Expats Rate Public Hospital Calderon Guardia As First Class

2010-08-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

I have lived in Costa Rica for almost 20 years, and I had to use the facility of Hospital Calderón Guardia only three times, twice in the emergency room and just a few days ago for a four-day stay.

I had never been beyond the emergency room facility until this particular time, so therefore I wasn’t really familiar with any other part of the hospital except the emergency facility. My wife, Blanca, had three serious operations in this hospital on three different occasions and she always assured me that it's a top-rated hospital.

My opinion of this hospital now having a first-hand experience is the following.

It would rival any first-class rated hospital in the U.S., and I mean every word I am about to say. I was diagnosed with pancreatitis which can be very severe, and the pain, on a scale of one to ten, one being slight, ten being excruciating, was definitely a ten.

While in the emergency room facility, I was sent for several different tests, five x-rays, sonogram and several blood tests. It was determined that it was indeed pancreatitis and that I would be required to spend some time in the hospital for treatment and further testing.

I was admitted and brought up to the fourth floor in a large room shared with six other patients and an ample size bath facility and shower. Part of the patient’s room was shared with a duty nurse who occupies a desk and devices to perform her/his duties and still be able to monitor the patients.

The meal schedule is incredible. The breakfast is served and then a few hours later a light snack and beverage and then lunch is delivered around noon and then an afternoon snack and beverage, the evening meal is of course next and then a beverage before bedtime.

The staff which includes doctors, nurses, technicians, kitchen staff, cleaning crews, maintenance crew are extremely well organized, compassionate, intelligent, professional, and energetic beyond anything I have witnessed here in Costa Rica or the U.S. and would definitely rival anything in the States.

It was a pleasant surprise to me because as I have mentioned I had never been beyond the emergency facility and as all emergency and trauma facilities go anywhere in the world they are a bit chaotic and of course overtaxed with emergency treatment.

I would rate the doctors and the nursing staff and all the support staff as excellent and very professional and
dedicated far beyond anything I have seen in the States and others countries where I have lived. It almost seems that practicing virtues is part of their curriculum. I have never witnessed such compassion to all the patients suffering from every conceivable ailment or disease.

This hospital is, of course, part of the socialized medicine system which Costa Rica has demonstrated works with great proficiency both economically and socially. They could be a great lesson to the U.S. and other countries of the world. But of course most countries because of their own ego problems wouldn’t consider using a smaller country as a model to their own health care systems.

The first doctor who saw me said that it would take about 48 hours of no food for the body to heal my condition. He went on to say that the human body has wonderful capabilities to heal itself and that all they need to do is diagnose the problem and assist in the healing process, through proper medications, therapy, and or surgery.

A team of doctors would visit me at the foot of my bed, all eight of them, and ask me questions relevant to my case and then confer between themselves and make a group decision. It reminds me of the very popular TV show “Dr. House.” Only this is real life. Their diagnostic skills are world class and they would rival the fictional character Dr. House himself.

It is so incredible that a staff of doctors, nurses, and all the support staff can have such energy, dedication, caring mindset, compassion, all while maintaining very professional work ethics and still manage to have nice broad smiles on their face when you come in eye contact.

All I have to say is that Costa Rica is fortunate to have this wonderful hospital and its incredible staff from the administrator, doctors, nurses, technicians to the support personnel which makes this hospital run like a fine tuned and well oiled machine, and I hope the Costa Rica citizens as well as foreign visitors are very thankful for that. God bless the entire staff at Calderón hospital.
By Alan Charles Johnson*
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway

What Is The Richest Country on Earth

2010-08-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica is the "richest country on earth." That's the conclusion we've reached over the last three days of discussion here at the 2010 International Living Live & Invest in Costa Rica Seminar.

Nowhere else can you live as well, as long, or as happily... for as little money. Today was especially eye opening.

I'm Suzan Haskins, reporting to you from San Jose, Costa Rica, where the conference is taking place.

Over coffee this morning, I found myself talking to Geraldo and his wife, Carolyne, from Decatur, Georgia.

He's a former attorney and educator, easing his way into retirement. He's also a diabetic. And a few years ago, he had open-heart surgery. Today, he's fit and trim and raring to go. Go south, that is...to Costa Rica.

It's not health issues that are killing him, he says, it's health care costs in the U.S.

At home in the States, he's covered by Medicare. And that's not all bad. "But every time I go see a doctor, I have a co-pay," he says. "And I have to pay partial costs for the tests they're always doing. It ends up costing me at least $170 every time."

And if something major were to happen, it would be a big bite financially. After his heart surgery, for example, he had a bill of several thousand dollars.

So he's looking to move to Costa Rica, where his overall cost of living will be less...especially when it comes to health care.

At age 72, Geraldo isn't eligible for private insurance in Costa Rica. But he learned at the conference this week that if he becomes a resident here, he automatically qualifies for CAJA, Costa Rica's public health insurance system.

"I'll pay out of pocket to see the very best doctors in this country," Geraldo says. "And I'll save at least 1/3 over what I'm paying in the States."

And if anything catastrophic happens, Geraldo's medical care in Costa Rica will be 100% covered through CAJA.

Geraldo has already done the research on the quality of the medical care available here. And what he learned at the conference this week only made him more certain that he and Carolyne are making the right decision. (Several speakers mentioned that the World Health Organization has ranked the quality of health care in Costa Rica as higher than that of the U.S.!)

Geraldo and Carolyne were all smiles as they discussed their plans for the future. They have kids in Miami...and Costa Rica is a quick (just two hours) and inexpensive flight from there. Geraldo wants to buy some land and build a house here...maybe a big enough property where they can do a little farming.

"The cost of labor is low here," he said, "so I figure we can easily afford to hire

some helpers...both inside and outside the house."

Before they buy any property, though, Geraldo and Carolyne will "try the country out" for a while. They plan to come down and rent for three months or so.

For $600 a month, there are lots of rental options for quality living in Costa Rica, we learned this week. We heard from expats here who paid $600 a month to rent a brand-new, fully furnished three-bedroom home – with lawn service and internet included. They've now moved to the beach where they pay $1,000 a month for a home with a swimming pool and a big yard for their dogs.

In the last three days of this conference, we've learned exactly where and how to find the very best rental deals. Or, for that matter, where the best markets are to buy an income-producing rental property.

But to get back to where I started... if prices are so low and labor is so inexpensive, why do those of us in the audience at the Live & Invest in Costa Rica Seminar agree that this may very well be the "richest" country on earth?

Here's what the experts say...

5 Things That Contribute to a "Rich" Life in Costa Rica:

This country is rich in biodiversity, which means GREAT weather. It offers just about every landscape, temperature, and topography (except snowscapes and who wants that?). From the cool temperate climate of the capital city and suburbs of San Jose to mountain cloud forests, pristine volcanic lakes, lush rainforests, and the world's most beautiful beaches...you'll find it all in Costa Rica.

It's one of the "greenest, cleanest" countries in the world with little pollution and lots of clean water and fresh air. (Costa Rica is one of the only countries in the world to actually reverse deforestation!) You will be healthier here, I can practically guarantee it.

A staggering 99% of Costa Rica's energy comes from renewable sources. I don't have to tell you what that means in terms of dollars...and sense!

Costa Ricans are rich with happiness. According to sociologists, Ticos are the happiest people on the planet. The Happy Planet Index, an independent think tank founded to study environmental impact and human well-being, says: "Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world and have the second-highest average life expectancy of the Americas (second only to Canada)."

Maybe Costa Ricans are so happy because they have all the modern amenities anyone could want or need -- modern shopping malls, world-class hospitals, reliable high-speed Internet, you name it...

And, importantly... despite the fact that this is one of the world's most peaceful countries, with one of the world's longest-standing and most stable democracies, Costa Rica has no military. Instead of spending money on wars and armies, they spend it on education (adult literacy is practically 100%) and on universal health care, which, as I mentioned, every resident qualifies for. (Free health care is provided to 86.8% of the population!)

But, of course, there's more. Costa Rica (which literally means the "rich coast") isn't called one of the world's richest countries in the world for just these reasons. Despite all the fortune of Costa Rica's land, culture, and people, it may just be a place that allows you to live a fuller, richer life...on so many levels.

4 MORE Things That Will Contribute to Your Own Personal Richer Life in Costa Rica:

Low taxes. Costa Rica assesses no (zero) income taxes on foreign-earned income... and annual property taxes are laughably low...no more than a few hundred dollars in most cases. And there's no capital gains tax!

Affordable real estate. Despite what you may think... real estate prices in Costa Rica are low -- just as low, in fact, as in Mexico and other popular Central American countries like Belize and Panama. You can still find properties with an ocean view, for instance, for one-half to 1/10th what you'd pay for a similar property at home.

A low cost of living. Most expats report that they live quite happily and without sacrifices on a monthly budget of $1,500 to $2,500.

It's easy to start a business here. So said speaker after speaker today at the Live & Invest in Costa Rica Seminar.

Starting a business in Costa Rica was one of our important topics today. Two expert speakers addressed that very issue.

John Collins, an expat from California, told us why he thinks Costa Rica is one of the best places in Latin America (if not the world) to start a business right now. He's successfully done just that...on Costa Rica's emerging southern coast.

In his presentation, he offered up seven "must-do" steps for starting a business in Costa Rica. These aren't legal things...they're tips John learned along the way. (Experience is everything, after all, and John was generous in sharing his.)

He also shared his top 10 ways to promote your business -- both locally and internationally. (Don't start a business anywhere today without understanding all this...like how to use new social media to your advantage.)

Juan Sostheim also shared his experiences. I have to say, this man is my hero. He's created an intentional, self-sustainable community in Costa Rica that has become a new world standard. If you don't know what that means, you need to listen to Juan explain his vision. I so wanted to speak to him after his presentation and congratulate him on what he's doing, but he had a huge crowd around him. Everybody, it seems, wanted to pick his brain.

But no worries, I have his contact info... And you can have it, too, by the way...along with contact details for every single speaker at this historic conference. And every single presentation, for that matter.

Today, for example, we learned more about the property-purchase process in Costa Rica. We learned about our options for moving our household goods here. We received a tutorial on all the little details that sometimes slip though the cracks...like traveling with our pets, how to best maintain daily communications with our family back home, how to handle paying our credit card bills, getting our mail...

International Living - The World Leader in Real Estate Values

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Pray that success will not come any faster than you are able to endure it.

Costa Rican President Calls Costa Rica an "Economic Miracle"

2010-08-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Chinchilla sets financial goals,
calls Costa Rica an ‘economic miracle'

By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net

The Chinchilla administration on Monday announced financial goals for the next four years, saying it aims to achieve $9 billion in foreign investment and $17 billion in exports.

“Costa Rica has been one of the most successful countries in Latin America in terms of foreign investment,” said President Laura Chinchilla, calling her country an “economic miracle.”

Chinchilla said that for each million dollars of foreign investment, at least 17 direct jobs are created.

“We have to understand that a united platform in favor of foreign investment and production of exports gives us not only access to markets, but also better levels of competition and higher economic welfare,” she said.

Foreign investment has increased an average of 12 percent each year since 1990, but fell by 34 percent during the crisis year of 2009. Former President Oscar Arias is credited with a 132 percent overall increase in foreign investment during his second four-year term, which ended this year.

Foreign Trade Minister Anabel Gonzaléz pointed to the telecommunications, tourism and energy sectors as some of the most promising target areas for investment.

Not only is Chinchilla looking to attract more money into Costa Rica, but she is also working to increase the country's exports by 22 percent during her term. For each percentage-point increase in exports, she said, 7,500 jobs are created.

Chinchilla said her administration will focus on improving infrastructure, streamlining regulations and continuing to educate the labor force to meet the target goal, which she stressed has been brought closer into reach by the recently signed trade agreements with Europe, China and the United States.

Direct foreign investment has increased an average of 12 percent each year since 1990, but fell 34 percent in 2009.

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit

Who Should Not Move To Costa Rica

2010-08-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

Who Should Not Move To Costa Rica?
By Christopher Howard, Liveincostarica.com
After helping thousands of Americans and Canadians move to Costa Rica over the last thirty years through my books and monthly retirement and relocation tours, I have observed who are the best candidates for living successfully in the country.

Don’t move to Costa Rica if….

(1) you expect everything to be like the U.S.
(2) you think the locals should change and do everything like we do.
(3) you don’t like warm weather or rain.
(4) you have breathing problems due to high altitudes or have allergies
(5) you expect to every product from the United States.
(6) you are insensitive to the local culture.
(7) you a smart ass, self-righteous and know-it-all “Ugly American.”
(8) you are going to refuse to use Spanish and think the locals should speak English.
(9) you are running away from the law in the U.S. You will be found sooner or later.
(10) you want to get rich overnight.
(11) you want to find a Latina woman for a low price tag and exploit her or if you have serious problems with the opposite sex.
(12) you want to avoid paying taxes.
(13) you want to work illegally under the table here.
(14) you don’t want to go through the process of obtaining residency.
(14) you want free medical care.
(15) you want scam people.
(16) you have a serious drug or alcohol problem.
(17) you expect all of your emotional baggage and problems to go away just because you move here.
(18) you are smarter than the locals and can beat the system.
(19) you think you can become an expert on the country overnight.
(20) you think it is easy to set up a business.
(21) you can’t stand your fellow Americans. We have more and more coming here every day.
(22) you think you are the savor of the locals and will civilize them. You should leave the Second Coming of Columbus Syndrome at home.
(23) you are type of person who will give foreigners a bad name.
(24) you think a younger woman will be attracted for your good looks and not your money.
(25) you feel just because you are an American you should be entitled to something.
(26) you have no sense of humor.
(27) you don’t want to experience the country’s culture and people.
(28) you don’t have a sense of adventure.
(29) you don’t realize you are guest here.
(30) both you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye about moving here.
(31) you really don’t have enough money to live here.
(32) have no goals.
(33) don’t want to affiliate with groups like clubs, church groups, volunteer etc.
(34) suffer from the “hammock syndrome” with nothing to do. You’ll end up tipping the bottle and get real bored quickly.
(35) are a negative person who likes to complain about everything and everyone.
(36) you have never traveled or lived abroad.

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.

More Kudos On Lake Arenal From International Living

2010-08-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica’s Lakeside Hideaway—From $33,500
International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010

There’s more to Costa Rica than beautiful beachfront.

As Dan Prescher reports here, there’s a freshwater world of wonders where you can still find some great bargain real estate.

Costa Rica’s Lakeside Bargains—A Real Opportunity
By Dan Prescher

Mention Costa Rica, and most people picture surf crashing on miles of beautiful, sandy beaches or jewel-bright birds darting through mist-shrouded rainforest canopies. They don’t picture a deep, clear, 20-mile-long lake ringed by lush green hillsides and towering mountains, including the perfect cone of a 5,000-foot active Volcano

***********************************************************

Lake Arenal is one of Costa Rica’s best-kept retirement and real-estate investment secrets. You can find tidy homes, magnificent lake-view lots, and mature, well-managed gated communities surrounding this beautiful lake. Yet on any given day a kayaker can share the glass-smooth, 50-square-mile surface of this idyllic body of water with only four or five others…plus a few onshore fishermen hand-lining for the plentiful and tasty guapote and other game fish.

If this lake were in the U.S. or Canada, you’d have to fight for a place in line at docks, lakefront restaurants and bars any day of the week. But depending on your point of view, Lake Arenal is either blessed or cursed by being three hours from the airport at San Jose, two hours from the airport in Liberia, and two-and-a-half hours from the beaches of Guanacaste.

This means you have to want to get to Lake Arenal, and you have to drive to get there. But once you do, you may never want to leave.

Aside from being a stunningly beautiful region, real estate around the lake goes for a fraction of the cost it commands elsewhere in Costa Rica. And at 1,500 feet above sea level, with an average temperature of 78˚ F, Lake Arenal is, if anything, even more comfortable all year round than many other popular Costa Rican destinations.

Traveling to Lake Arenal from the east, you’ll pass through the tourist-oriented community of La Fortuna, where you’ll find countless spas and hotels with thermal springs and pools, all heated by the volcano’s deep, fiery core. Once past the volcano and over the dam (the lake was formed as part of a hydroelectric project), the road takes you along the lake shore of steep wooded hillsides on one side and sweeping lake vistas on the other.

Ten years ago this road was a challenge for a faint-hearted driver due to potholes and washouts. But it’s now well-paved and maintained, and along the road you’ll find a number of charming boutique hotels. You’ll also find a surprising variety of restaurants, including some that could give gourmet operations in New York and Paris a run for their money.

There are definitely real estate bargains at Lake Arenal. Small, Tico-style houses near the several lakeside villages can be found starting at around $45,000. New construction averages $50 to $80 per square foot. Gated developments are perched on the steep hillsides all around the lake, and you can find excellent lake-view lots of nearly an acre in size from $33,500.

What draws attention around Lake Arenal, especially for anyone familiar with lake developments in the U.S. like those around Lake Tahoe or Lake of the Ozarks, is the lack of condo projects. This presents an opportunity; managed, lock-and-leave lakeside condo properties are a niche just begging to be filled.

International Living The Greatest Name In World Real Estate Values

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

It's true that we S"Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned."

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives

t until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives

Costa Rica Becomes A World Leader In Space Travel Technology

2010-07-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

***********************************************

Thanks to the presence of some of the most innovative companies in the world today Costa Rica
has become a major player in high-technology manufacturing, medical technology manufacturing,
professional services and believe it or not, the development of advanced plasma rocket
propulsion technology for space travel!

Since the year 2000 the number of companies in Costa Rica's manufacturing sector has increased
by 83%, Costa Rica's medical devices sector has increased by 288% and the services sector has
increased by 1,760%

Ad Astra is a rocket propulsion company dedicated to the development of advanced plasma rocket
propulsion technology. It was started by Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz a Costa Rican-American
engineer, physicist and former NASA astronaut who is a veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions.
His ambitious goal is to revolutionize space transportation and exploration, through the
development and commercialization of the VASIMR® engine and related technologies.

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics named the Variable Specific Impulse
Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) among the top 10 emerging aerospace technologies of 2009 and
aerospace experts believe that a 200 Mega Watt VASIMR® powered space ship could make the trip
to Mars in as few as 39 days.

In an effort to help bolster this new industry, Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla is
seeking to attract more investment from aerospace companies and this week signed a decree
creating the National Council of Aerospace Industry which will be chaired by Clotilde Fonseca,
Minister of Science and Technology.

In an interview this week, the World Bank Director for Central America Laura Frigenti was
asked about the the prospects for Costa Rica this year, she answered: "They are very good.
We at the World Bank, look at Costa Rica with a lot of admiration. It is a country that has
much to offer the world in terms of good policies, results, particularly in the areas of
social policy, debt and openness to foreign direct investment."

And you saw in the news this week that out of 65 countries, a young Tico - Rafael Angel
Rodríguez Arguedas - just won the Gold medal in the World Olympics for Chemistry? He beat
other very talented contenders from countries that have typically performed well in this
field including the USA, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.

Good things are happening in Costa Rica, come be a part of it!

If you enjoy our newsletter and website, please feel free to forward this onto someone you love...

Scott Oliver - Founder of WeLoveCostaRica.com

We Love Costa Rica

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Start by doing what's necessary;
then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible

With Clinica Biblica's New Sun Ranch Medical Center, Guancaste Will Become the Medical Center of Central America

2010-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

SUN RANCH HOSPITAL, RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, GOLF COURSE, HOTEL, CONDOMINIUMS

In the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, lies a real estate / medical tourism / leisure development like none other in Central America. The project combines many important components such as world class accredited hospital, assisted living and long term care, airport/medical hotel and suites, commercial area, residential component and retirement communities, as well as championship golf course with branded luxury hotel, and plenty of area for an endless number of other complimentary components. If you have experience in building and managing the different components mentioned above, Contact Us Today!

The real estate development is situated on 2,350 acres (950 hectares) a mere 2 kms from the entrance of the Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport, which is in the midst of a $35 Million expansion.

Some of the project’s components include:

50 acres destined for the state of the art Clinica Biblica Hospital with assisted living and long term care.- $40 million accredited world class hospital
- First hospital in Central America to obtain Joint Commission International Certification
- 80 yr old Non profit organization

15 acres for the branded airport/medical hotel - 200 rooms, with one wing specially designed for after care / post operative recovery
- Casino, restaurants, and convention center
- Spa, wellness center, pools and other first class amenities

500 acres for the Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed championship golf course with luxury hotels and residential development. - Par 72 championship golf course
- Luxury hotel and resort
- Condo, town home and private estate lots scattered throughout the golf course and canyon area

15 acres 1st phase of commercial area- supermarket, restaurants, offices, services, retail among others.

85 acres protected private reserve- waterfalls, 6km riverfront, rich in flora and fauna
- other green areas and natural areas to be preserved as well

Another important factor: one of only five blue zones in the world have been identified in Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Wikipedia defines a Blue Zone as: a region of the world where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years. Scientists and demographers have classified these longevity hot-spots by their inhabitants' ability to live longer, on average, than anyone else in the world.)

These major components combined with the proximity to the International airport, Papagayo Marina, pristine beaches, Guanacaste’s infrastructure, picturesque landscapes, and ideal climate provide a unique canvas for this visionary project.

Sun Ranch Medical Center

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

We must never be afraid to go too far, for success lies just beyond.

Costa Rican Tourism Looks Ahead To Growth

2010-07-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica currently receives the majority of their tourist arrivals from the Americas, with the top three nationalities visiting the country being from the US, Nicaragua and Canada. Tourism arrivals, after increasing from 1.72mn in 2006 to 2.15mn in 2008, dipped to 1.93mn in 2009. Arrival numbers are forecast by BMI to pick up in 2010 and grow at an average rate of 8% until the end of our forecast period in 2014.
Health tourism also brings visitors to the country and it is an area where Costa Rica can continue to develop its infrastructure to tap further into this growing market. Already known as a destination for medical tourists, Costa Rica is now competing with newer destinations, such as Puerto Rico, for the millions of Americans, and other nationalities, who travel abroad for medical care.
In the same vein as health tourism, Costa Rica is making retirement communities a priority to keep visitor numbers up. The country is targeting North American pensioners and is doing away with the red tape of residence permits, especially for those in good health. Tax exemptions on real estate and vehicles are also being offered. The campaign is being run by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism. Meanwhile, the competitiveness ministry has already identified eight locations for retirement communities, focussing on areas with natural beauty, tourist attractions and in proximity to hospitals
Another tourism draw to Costa Rica is spa and well-being vacations. Costa Rica has been recognised by TripAdvisor users as one of the best places in Central and South America to enjoy spa getaways. Some areas that well-being tourists are targeting are the hot springs near the Arenal Volcano, the beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula (home of yoga retreats) and the back to nature setting of the Central Valley region. The planned regeneration of the province of Limon, on the less frequently visited Caribbean coast, has the potential to put upward pressure on inbound tourism numbers. Puerto Limon was once the town of the United Fruit Company and the province has two national parks. The parks have the potential to be a large tourism driver, with a tour by one company, Wildland Adventures, having recently been named one of the '25 Best New Trips for 2010' by National Geographic Adventure magazine. In our view, developing the tourism infrastructure in the region will likely unlock great potential.
In early 2010, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved grants of US$1.1mn and US$1.5mn to support two parts of the Mesoamerica Pacific Corridor Project. The corridor runs through seven countries from Mexico to Panama. The Optimization of Border Crossings Pacific Corridor grant will be used to improve passage over borders and the Adjustment, Maintenance and Operation of the Pacific Corridor grant will improve road infrastructure over 2015-2030. The project aims to develop a quicker route between Mexico and Panama. BMI believes that as well as fostering trade in the region, the development of infrastructure has the potential to increase tourism as travel will be much more feasible

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.

Costa Rica Is Among Latin Americas 3 Safest Countries

2010-07-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

According to the FTI International Consulting Company, Costa Rica, Chile and Uruguay are three safest countries in Latin America. On the other hand, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela and Haiti are considered the most dangerous countries in the region. Venezuela is riddled with crime as things it spin out of control and progressively deteriorate. In 2009 alone over 15,000 Venezuelans died violently.

México, once considered a retirement haven for Americans, isn’t far behind because of the violence generated by the war on drugs.

Although the homicide rate has risen slightly, this should not keep you from moving to Costa Rica. Compared with the rest of the countries in the region Costa Rica is still paradise and Latin America’s #1 retirement haven.

Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Never be afraid to do something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the titanic

Costa Rica - Safe Haven for Gulf Fishermen

2010-06-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

As the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history continues to impact residents who live along the gulf coast, some residents are fleeing the polluted waters of the Gulf of Mexico and heading to Central America, where the waters are pristine.
Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) June 28, 2010 -- As the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history continues to impact residents who live along the gulf coast, some residents are fleeing the polluted waters of the Gulf of Mexico and heading to Central America, where the waters are pristine.
“The only oil you’ll find on the beaches of Costa Rica is suntan oil, “And that’s the type of oil you don’t mind seeing.”

“When the oil spill in the gulf began making news, we saw an increased interest in Costa Rica, As people have begun to realize that this environmental disaster will have more of a long term effect on the region, we’ve seen those inquiries become more pressing. Fishermen and boaters who make their living in the Gulf States are now looking at options to sustain their way of life.”

t’s no secret the gulf oil spill has affected the fishing and boating industries of the region and prompted one Louisiana native to look toward Costa Rica as a place where he could continue his trade.
“I simply can’t make a living here anymore,” wrote fisherman Thomas Michaels from Grand Isle, La. in an email to Matluck as part of his inquiry on Costa Rica. “They used to call this area ‘The Sportsman's Paradise’ – now it’s simply a nightmare for people like me. That’s why I’m looking at alternatives.”
In Costa Rica, Captain Bobby McGuiness, chosen as the world’s top captain by the authoritative IGFA in 2006 and among the top ten IGFA record setters in 2008, confirmed he too has seen a rise in the number of people who formerly fished the gulf looking at alternatives. “I have 15 to 20 anglers who are considering Costa Rica as an option,” he said, agreeing that the oil spill has had an impact on the number of fishermen heading to the area.
Unfortunately, stories like this are becoming all too commonplace. What’s even more disturbing, however, is that some captains are not even considering their alternatives and are taking extreme measures. On June 23 the gulf oil spill might have been directly responsible for one boat captain committing suicide.
According to Stan Vinson, coroner for Baldwin County Alabama, the 55-year-old captain from Foley, Ala. had been quite despondent about the oil crisis. “All the waters are closed. There’s no charter business anymore. You go out on some of the beaches now, with the oil, you can’t even get in the water,” Vinson was quoted by the Los Angeles Times. “It’s really crippled the tourism and fishing industries here.”
Matluck, a longtime boater and fisherman, is quite concerned by what he’s seeing happening in the area and is committed to doing what he can to help gulf fisherman establish a base of operations in Costa Rica if that’s what they desire.

“No captain should ever have to choose between his life and his livelihood,” Matluck said. “We understand the stress these people are under and we’ll do everything we can to work with any individual who wants to consider the viable alternatives we offer.”

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

International Living - Moving To Costa Rica, If I can Do It Anyone Can

2010-06-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

I just had my first taste of living abroad in Costa Rica and have been given an opportunity to experience life in a hundred new ways. You can try exotic foods, discover new cultures, customs, and holidays. You can learn a different language, teach others some English, and find new and lasting friendships.

It started when my son Jeff told me he was moving to Costa Rica for a while. After the initial surprise, I started thinking "When can I go to Costa Rica, too?"

That began my investigation into, for me, a relatively unknown country. Plus, after four debilitating snowstorms and nor'easters, there were multitudes of grumpy people here in the Northeast, lamenting, "There's gotta be a better place to live."

I am newly retired and trying to decide where to spend a few cold months a year. Could I do this? Can't hurt to try, so I packed my bags and jumped on a plane to Costa Rica. Discoveries and surprises were in store as I traveled to Playa Grande, on the Pacific Northwest coast.

First, the language. You don't have to know a lot of Spanish. Un pequeno (a little) is enough to get by—with hand signals and a Guide to Costa Rican Spanish in your pocket. Jeff, who refreshed his high school Spanish with private lessons, was able to understand a lot and converse a little. Ticos are very patient in helping you learn their language and seemed to appreciate the effort. They are so friendly, helpful, and gracious. Jeff however became fluent in "mechanic Spanish" because he was forced to talk to lots of people about what went wrong with his truck—it broke down on a regular basis because of the crazy road conditions.

The Costa Rican roads in some parts of the country take some getting used to. Some are old two-lane winding, narrow, asphalt ribbons that meandered through small towns, past farms and ranches with skinny cattle and horses. Others were graveled dirt roads, "smoothed" over by a bulldozer leaving those bump-bump-bump teeth rattling ruts that make you pray to get out of the car soon. Tough on a car. Even tougher on this old body, but I only hit my head on the ceiling a few times.

But the slowed-down lifestyle and the "kick back, put your feet up, and smell the fuchsia flowers" way of living just seeped into my bones within a few hours. My trip brought me unexpected riches that changed my life. A Jersey Shore girl from birth, the Costa Rican beach break on the northern Pacific coastline made my heart pound in excitement. Panoramic views of lofty mountains, thick jungle vegetation, and peaceful sandy crescents extended as far as the eye could see.

There were mornings that I was the ONLY person on the beach for miles. Warm seawater still refreshed since the air temperature hovered in the mid 90's (much cooler, Jeff said, since some rain had started). Excellent surfing waves rushed in, one right after another. Deep blue-green water, azure sky, toasty sand....mmm—just plant me here and leave me to blossom.

"Hola" is on everyone's lips as they pass you strolling to catch some waves. Friendly "coconut men" slice open the ice-cold pods, stick a straw in, and offer this tasty, nutritious coconut "milk" to drink and its firm flesh to eat—for a dollar! Tiny "cafés" line the street, for a quick snack or hearty meal. This is my "try-out," my practice life abroad, and I am sucked wholeheartedly into its spell.

The time was way too short. I just started my Costa Rica life. I am finagling to get back soon, for a much longer stay among the nicest people I ever met.

International Living - The Greatest Name In Retirement Living

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it

Costa Rica Ranks Third As Cleanest Countries in The World

2010-06-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

According to researchers at Yale and Columbia University, among 163 countries that were included in their 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), Costa Rica ranks third in cleanliness, preceded only by Iceland in the first place and Switzerland in second.

The countries were ranked based on 25 indicators, including water and air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and the impact of the environment on its people’s health.

The index is influenced by metrics that track how the governments are doing in relation to environmental policy goals like access to good sanitation and water, habitat protection, and industrial emissions.

A country may achieve a top EPI position in two ways:

1. It could be gifted with a rich legacy of clean water and diverse biology that hasn’t been violated by uncontrolled industrialism.

2. It could have industrialized and polluted its environment but got rich enough to begin the clean up.

Costa Rica got to the third place the first way, while the countries that made the top of the list achieved it the second way.

The perfect score is 100. Costa Rica scored 86.4, with a GDP per capita of $9,600 and a population of 4.5 million.

According to the index,“That such a relatively poor and developing country ranks third in the EPI is testament to the natural endowments of Costa Rica, with dense forests, plentiful water and abundant wildlife. With smart development, Costa Rica can avoid the standard path that growing nations take of polluting their environment, only to clean it up again once they become wealthy. Costa Rica touts its EPI ranking in ads for its tourism sector.”

In the past, Costa Rica was recognized as the best country regarding rainforest conservation efforts, and is one of the originators of REDD, Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation project. In this sense, it is not a surprise that this small country was able to achieve such a meaningful position worldwide.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

I told my wife that a husband is like a fine wine, it gets better with age, The next day she locked me in the cellar

I told my wife that a husband is like a fine wine; he gets better with age. The next day, she locked me in the cellarI told my wife that a husband is like a fine ets better with age. The next day, she locked me in the cell

Liberias Daniel Oduber International Airport Expansion

2010-06-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Liberia Airport Expansion Will Offer Space for 600 More Passengers at a Time.

Just a few months ago, the Houston Airport System (HASDC) took over administration of San José’s Juan Santamaria International Airport. The switch was made in the wake of many mistakes, delays and mismanagement, forcing Alterra Partners, the previous administrator, to step down from their managing position. Now, in light of HASDC’s successes at the San José airport, the company will take over administration of Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport expansions.

HASDC operates out of Houston International Airport, which saw more than 43 million passengers in 2007. In comparison, Juan Santamaria welcomed only four million, and Daniel Oduber only saw 400,000. Keeping these numbers in mind, the Alterra believed that HASDC could manage the country’s largest airport and therefore sold the Houston-based company their renovation contract. With only a few months’ track record, it seems that things are looking up – extra money has been generated, improvements have been made and renovation seems to be an achievable goal. With this success, the U.S. company earned its second Costa Rica airport contract, and they will soon start expansion management in Liberia.

According to Karla González, minister of Public Works and Transportation, Liberia airport’s expansions will receive an initial $35 million investment. A new terminal must be built, though the General Comptroller for the Republic must first approve the project and its allotted funds. González also added that the airport will receive a 20-year concession for almost 5.7 extra acres of Guanacaste land. After approval, the projected construction period will last approximately six months, though several requirements must first be met. Most importantly, HASDC must secure all municipal permits necessary for the construction, a process which should be completed by December 2009.

The new airport terminal will be two stories high. The first floor will measure almost 190,000 square feet, and will house immigration, customs, baggage claim services, passenger check-in and welcome areas for arriving passengers. Airline and airport administration offices will also be a part of the new building’s first floor. The second level will measure almost 60,000 square feet, and will house waiting areas, airport entertainment areas, four boarding gates and both governmental and airline offices.

Changes and improvements come at an opportune time, since Liberia and Guanacaste province have seen a significant rise in Flights to Costa Rica, and therefore passenger traffic and area tourism. In 2008’s first trimester, the airport welcomed 156,000 passengers, putting it on track to increase this year’s traffic by more than 50,000 passenger, a 12.5% increase. Larger, more modern facilities will help the airport to better serve its customers and handle any addition traffic flows, as regional tourism continues to increase.

It’s safe to say that no one is counting on fast renovations, however. The Costa Rican system is notorious for its inflated bureaucracy, and legal processes often take much longer than planned (or desired). If all goes well, Karla González believes that Liberia’s airport terminal should be completed by July of 2010. At that time, the airport will be capable of handling 1,500 passengers at a time, 600 more than is currently possible.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

The journey is the reward.

Paradise Adventures Costa Rica Votes Gingerbread Restaurant Best In Costa Rica

2010-06-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

Paradise Adventures Costa Rica Gingerbread voted best food & entertainment by:
International Living, Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor and PACR

Gingerbread Restaurant is one of the have to’s when visiting Costa Rica.

Do yourself and your taste buds a favor and make your reservation at Costa Rica's number one dining experiences.

Gingerbread is located on the shores of Lake Arenal, neighboring Neuvo Arenal and 40 minutes from La Fortuna.

The setting is one of comfort; enjoy the lake view and tropical gardens from the patio, here one can take in the Pura Vida while enjoying the Pura Comida.

Inside you will find one of the most beautiful fully stocked bars in the country and behind it the best staff a restaurant and bar owner could ask for.

Bar is lined with comfortable bar stools and dining room is equipped with sofas and TV for folks wanting to catch the latest sports broadcast and news via satellite.

Fridges are full of ice cold national and international beers, great selections of wines to complement the food and spirits of your choice.

The local art hanging on the walls combined with comfortable booths and positive energy creates an ambiance one can describe as bliss.

Gingerbread Restaurant provides a comfortable sit down environment, where guest feel like family and not visitors.

The man responsible for this one of kind dining experiences is Eyal Ben-Menachem, his culinary expertise started at the age of 21, His love for food and the sport of Rugby landed him on the road where he acquired even more culinary skills.

He later refined his skills in Chicago at Kendall College where he obtained culinary degree.

Years later Eyal found himself wanting to use his skills somewhere he could work at his own pace, somewhere that allowed him to enjoy the creation of his masterpiece; International Fusion.

The international Fusion consists of a variety of showcases that are changed daily.

The changes are made based on the availability of the
freshest ingredients, Local beef, pork, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Red Snapper, Sea Bass, Jumbo Shrimp calamari and even Octopus.

Costa Rica ingredients, influenced by Mediterranean, French and Californian recipes make for a diverse menu, full of flavors and textures. Customers leave with a full belly and a smile on their face every time.

Thank you Eyal for making your dream a reality, it is a dream that gives so much to others, your food and energy is a great addition to the experience of Costa Rica.

To take part in this one of a kind experience Call 506-2694-0039 for reservation Restaurant
hours: 5pm till 9pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays

Gingerbread Fine Restaurant and Boutique Hotel

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure."

Mega Pacific Plaza CIMA Hospital And Retired residential Community Begins Construction

2010-06-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

Mega Pacific Plaza will inject new resources

BUZZ | COZTA RICA | AUGUST 14, 2009 AT 10:25 AM

Investment of $ 15 million complex that will come into implementation phase.

Private equity fund Emerge joined work located in Guanacaste with a 30%.

Pacific Plaza, a complex where the facilities are located in the Guanacaste Cima Hospital will cease to be a project on paper to be running after the addition of new partners.

The Fund Emerge from the fund manager of Aureus Capital investment into the project as a shareholder with a stake of 30%. Ignacio Esquivel also joined as a shareholder.

These resources will be used in a first phase for developing a master plan, identifying and obtaining all environmental impact studies, municipal permits and construction drawings and design. This phase will take an investment of $ 15 million is.

Once ready to begin works, E3-Corp, which is responsible for signing the financial structuring of complex banking seek resources for the commencement of the works is estimated to earthwork will start in March next year.

This will start the first phase of this project include development of a hospital administered by the Consortium under the International Hospital CIMA Guanacaste, and a tower with a shopping mall doctors in their first floor. It will include the infrastructure and landscaping.

Pacific Plaza Costa Rica is a joint campus that will involve hospital, residential facility for retired trade. Be raised in an area measuring 22.2 hectares, with the signing Proexsa led by Lou Aguilera.

Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance

http://www.moranlakearenal.com/ Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

International Living - Is Costa Rica Too Good To Be True

2010-05-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

- Paula says: "I will be vacationing in Costa Rica next year to check out some of these deals you have sent me. I'm the type of person that has to see it to believe it. We are thinking about retiring their. You have opened up my eyes to some great deals I never thought existed. Thank you very much."

Jim and Jenny ask: "Hi, we would like to know about renting (long term) in Costa Rica's Southern Zone. Just how far away are trout streams?"

This from Terry: "I need to know more retiring to Costa Rica…how tough is it for expats to get on their health care system? Can a couple live on social security of $1,800 a month? Will we be welcomed by the local population?"

I have dozens of e-mails just like these. Reading between the lines, I think what everyone's really asking is:

Is Costa Rica too good to be true?

That's a fair question. The benefits of Costa Rica are well known. North Americans have flocked to the beaches for decades. It's one of the top five medical tourism destinations for Americans. And scientists have declared it to contain one of the world's longest-living zones, where people live well into their 100s.

For the past 20 years, this country has had two black marks against it—bad roads and high prices.

Three months ago the Southern Zone's coastal road finally opened. This is a big beautiful highway that makes a pleasure of a road trip that used to be an ordeal. In fact, our own Suzan Haskins and Dan Prescher are making this road trip as I write…Suzan just sent in some video of the new highway; I'll upload it and send you the link next week.

Costa Rica's prices rose higher and faster than anywhere else in Latin America—20 years ago. Since then, every other country has gradually moved in line. Today Costa Rica is a relative bargain (especially for real estate), although you may not be aware of that reading travel and real estate supplements in the U.S. newspapers.

Back to your question: Is Costa Rica too good to be true?

Absolutely not. In fact, the recent coverage in these Postcards and ILmagazine…and early reports from Dan's and Suzan's road trip…is only the beginning of what you can do in Costa Rica.

That's why the Live and Invest in Costa Rica Seminar in August is more than half sold-out. I've been telling you for the past few weeks that there's no rush…you have plenty of time to sign-up. I'm not so confident now. I've seen IL events this year go from half-sold to sold out in less than a week. If you're interested in Costa Rica, register your interest for this event, while the biggest discounts still apply.

International Living - The Greatest Name In Real Estate Values

Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.

International Living - More Dreams Come True In Costa Rica

2010-05-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

Andy and Fran Browne were living the American dream.

They had a gorgeous home in the suburbs,

drove nice new cars, owned all the latest toys

and high-tech gadgets, and could afford to travel at whim.

Then in August of 2008, they both lost their jobs.

Too young to collect Social Security or Medicare,
they knew it would be impossible to retire
and maintain the lifestyle they'd worked so hard for Two years later they're still not working.

But they're living better than ever—in Costa Rica.

Andy and Fran Browne are the all-American couple—they both grew up in Miami and married in 1973. They raised two sons and have a couple of grandkids.

Andy worked his way up to vice-president of technology for a large North Carolina bank and Fran to marketing manager for a printing company. They were living the good life. They drove new cars, had all the latest high-tech gadgets and a beautiful home full of nice furniture and souvenirs they picked up on their world travels.

In 2008 they were happily riding this wave of prosperity. Until August, when both of them lost their jobs.

Andy and Fran (both age 58) were told by their employers that their "services were no longer needed."
What to do now? "Buy more wine, for one thing," laughs Andy.
And, he says, the more wine they sipped and the more they talked, an idea began to take hold.

"We're too young to collect Social Security and too young for Medicare. The one thing we were certain of was that we were tired of working," Andy says.

As they studied their finances, they realized that it was "impossible to retire now, at our age, in the country of our birth!"

"We needed a strategy that would allow us to stretch our retirement dollar while at the same time not feel that we have to take a vow of poverty in order to live a contented life."

For years, Andy and Fran had fantasized about retiring to Costa Rica. Nearly a decade before, on a winter holiday, they'd fallen in love with the little Central American country.

They made a checklist of everything they were looking for in a retirement destination. And within days of being laid off from their jobs, they were on a plane to Costa Rica to see if retiring there made sense.

Costa Rica, they found, ticks almost all the boxes on any retirement checklist:

Conveniently close to home—With many direct flights to two international airports (with a third soon to open), it's conveniently close to the U.S. and Canada (less than three hours from Miami).
Excellent weather—From the Central Valley and its cool, lush mountain forests to the beautiful unspoiled beaches of both Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, there's a climate for everyone.
Top-quality health care—The World Health Organization praises Costa Rica for its exceptional government-run health care system, and has ranked it better than the U.S., despite spending 87% less on health care per capita. (I'll tell you more about health care in Costa Rica in just a bit. Importantly, it gets these great health care marks despite providing free care to 86.8% of the population!)
The most stable democracy in Latin America—No other country has the peaceful history and democratic stability of Costa Rica (and no army)!
- All the comforts of home—The centrally located capital city of San Jose boasts modern shopping malls and world-class hospitals. And reliable high-speed Internet is available just about everywhere.
- Low, low taxes—You'll pay zero income taxes on your foreign-earned income...very good news. And if you buy a home in Costa Rica, your annual property taxes will be laughably low...no more than $100-$200 in most cases. And there's no capital gains tax!
And although it has one of the lowest poverty indexes in the world—which means Costa Ricans have a high standard of living—it's surprisingly affordable, with a low low cost of living.
Sure, some of the things I've just mentioned are also true of many Latin American countries. All of them are more affordable than the U.S., and some are even closer geographically (but not by much). Many have democratically elected governments, although few with as longstanding a history as Costa Rica.
But as Andy and Fran learned, there are many advantages unique to Costa Rica that most of us aren't aware of:
There's a built-in community of English-speaking locals and expats—some accounts say that more than 11,000 U.S. retirees currently live in Costa Rica.
It's healthy...as one of the 'greenest, cleanest' countries in the worldwith little pollution and lots of clean water and fresh air. (Costa Rica is one of the only countries in the world to actually reverse deforestation!)
A staggering 99% of its energy comes from renewable sources. I don't have to tell you what that means in terms of dollars...and sense!
Adult literacy is practically 100%. People are well-educated and well-informed. (Many international companies have established international offices, factories, and call centers here for this reason—contributing to a strong and stable economy.)
Sociologists say Costa Ricans are the happiest people on the planet. This is according to the Happy Planet Index, an independent think tank founded to study environmental impact and human well-being. They say: "Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world and have the second-highest average life expectancy of the Americas (second only to Canada)
Costa Rica, the surer they became that this was the right move.
Today they're living the good life once again...in Costa Rica
They've happily adjusted to "life after work," they say. They spend their days doing "fun things"—playing with the dog, hanging out with friends, and volunteering whenever possible.
And, they say, a pleasant side affect of the retirement in Costa Rica is they've each lost 25 pounds...without dieting. "We attribute this to better eating habits and no fast food," Andy says.
Even though their primary motivation to move to Costa Rica was to reduce expenses, Andy and Fran say they've benefited far more than just financially.
"We love it here," they say, "Costa Rica is our new home."

In Costa Rica, you very well
may live longer!
Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula is one of the world's "Blue Zones," where scientists have studied and proven that locals have the longest life expectancy of anyone in the world, regularly living well into their 90s.
Overall, according to the World Health Organization, life expectancy at birth for Costa Ricans is 78.8 years, among the top country rankings in the world and nearly a year ahead of the United States—even though the per-capita income of Costa Ricans is about one-tenth that of the U.S. Arguably, one reason for this is the slower pace of living and the warm, welcoming climate in Costa Rica. And, of course, you'll eat healthy, fresh foods...without preservatives and chemicals in them. Costa Rica is a healthy place to live.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

International Living - The Greatest Name In Wordldwide Real Estate

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.

International Living - Live And Invest In Costa Rica

2010-05-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

How crazy was it to move our family with two young daughters from a comfortable home in Colorado Springs to the unknowns of Costa Rica?
Well, I thought it was nuts when my husband suggested we do just that for his five-month sabbatical. Now that we’ve been in Monteverde for six weeks, the only crazy part is that we hesitated at all.

The more we looked at Costa Rica, the more appealing it became—drinkable water, no military, Spanish and English, lots of amazing plants and animals in the rainforest…

When my husband was searching online and stumbled upon the CEC School in Monteverde with its focus on bilingual education and environmental science, we decided to go for it.

We found a comfortable house to rent for $500 a month, and relished the thought of a home without a TV, car, or Internet. We really like making a conscious effort to connect to the world via a walk to one of many nearby Internet cafes (Café Cabure is one of our favorites with its amazing Argentine cuisine and high-speed wireless Internet).

Our fears of the unknown were quickly vanquished by the pleasant realities. We do have hot water; our girls are befriending Tico children; it doesn’t rain all the time. Without the static of modern-day life, we can hear the croaking toucans in the mornings and the chirping crickets at night. We haven’t tired of the howler monkeys bellowing their dominance even when it is at 5.30 in the morning.

With our purposeful pace of life, we take the time to focus on what matters the most to us, and we are laughing and enjoying life more as a family. Instead of turning on “60 Minutes” we talk with our daughters about the capuchin monkeys that swung across their campus or watch our girls proudly twirl their hand-made batons for the upcoming parade.

To see a blue morpho butterfly float drunkenly across your path…or to taste fresh cow’s milk from a spigot on the wall rather than a plastic carton is indescribable. We relish walking two miles to the feria every Saturday morning to purchase our week’s supply of fresh cilantro, tomatoes, mangoes and watermelon.

Our daughters no longer ask when we’re going to get there but rather eagerly pace us with hopes the homemade donuts won’t sell out.

Removing ourselves from the noise of routine is extremely satisfying. How can another gymnastics class compare to spotting a resplendent quetzal with your children in the rainforest? It’s hard to believe it took leaving the familiar to find our family’s pulse.

Americans often pity those living in small houses with tin roofs, but the Costa Ricans and ex-pats we’ve met are some of the happiest and most genuine people we know. In less than two months we’ve met people we plan to connect with for the rest of our lives.

Our concern now is: How will we return to the frenetic pace in America and preserve the simple calm and happiness we discovered here in the green mountains of the cloud forest?

International Living - The Best In World Real Estate Values

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

International Living On Medical Tourism In Costa Rica

2010-05-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

Most Americans Go to Costa Rica For…

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, May 10, 2010

Dear International Living Reader,

Josef Woodman, IL's health editor, spent more than five years touring 100 medical facilities in 14 countries, researching contemporary medical tourism.

When Josef wanted to save 20% on his own dentist's quote for treatment…there was only one country he wanted to visit—Costa Rica. Find out why below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

Save Up To 60%: Fix Your Smile in Costa Rica
By Josef Woodman

Around midway through my research for the first edition of my book, Patients Beyond Borders, an old root canal became infected and I needed an extraction and implant. When my specialist in North Carolina quoted $4,100 for the procedures, I knew it was time to “walk the medical tourism talk” and head overseas for care.

--Recommended By IL--
Live Well and Invest Profitably in Beautiful Costa Rica

For the first time in 3 years, International Living is going back to Costa Rica for this year’s only Live and Invest in Costa Rica Seminar.

Join us, and you’ll see all sides of Costa Rica. From luxury living to a comfortable and enjoyable way of life that you can manage on a Social Security check. From the lush green mountains to the dazzling beaches and everything in between.

You’ll find that this conference will bring you up to speed on affordable lifestyles that you didn’t know about before.
Live and Invest in Costa Rica Seminar
August 11-13, 2010 ~ San Jose, Costa Rica
And don't miss the Lake Arenal Tour With Moran Real Estate to be announced

****************************** ****************************

I chose Costa Rica, one of the five countries in the world most visited by Americans for medical treatment; in the Western Hemisphere, only Mexico receives more medical tourists.

Medical tourists can choose from a wide range of specialties, including orthopedics, heart surgery, bariatrics and obesity management, and cosmetic surgery. But Costa Rica attracts more patients for dentistry than for any other specialty, numbering in the tens of thousands of U.S. patients annually. Most of the work is done in San José and its affluent and highly Americanized suburb of Escazú, where I went for my dental work.

Each time I returned to Costa Rica for treatment (I’ve been back four times now), the waiting lobbies were increasingly crowded with American and European visitors who had come primarily to take advantage of the 30% to 60% savings—and, perhaps, to recover in a lush, tropical, pampering environment. I saved around $800, which included costs for my airfare, hotel, transportation and meals.

My dentist, a certified implantologist, worked diligently on a number of challenges surrounding my procedure. He and his staff were always courteous, informative and empathetic. All the equipment was state-of-the-art, and I was most appreciative to see that the lab and panoramic X-ray equipment were all on location (true of all the top dental clinics I visited when researching my book)…

International Living - The Best In International Real Estate
Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence
When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."

CIMA Hospital Coming To Guanacaste

2010-05-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

CIMA Hospital (Owned by Baylor University) and one of the top Hospitals in Central America

Hospital CIMA announces

big Guanacaste project

Hospital CIMA kicked off the construction of a $125 million project in Carrillo, Guanacaste, that will include a Hospital CIMA there.

The project is called Pacific Plaza, seen as an integrated medical services and residential center. The project will be built out in seven steps, said the hospital. The first is scheduled to be ready in 2011. This will be the new hospital with a heliport, a three-story tower with 42 medical offices, six commercial spaces, a pharmacy and a food court.

The second and third steps are condos, followed by adult housing including facilities for Alzheimer patients, said the hospital. The sixth and seventh steps are a hotel and community recreational center, said the hospital.

The location is near Daniel Oduber airport in Liberia., which is les than an hour and a half from Lake Arenal. The present hospital is in Escazú.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

CIMA Hospital - The Best In Central America

Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.

INTERNATIONAL LIVING Endorsement of Costa Rica Continues

2010-03-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

Think It's Too Late to "Get in Early" in Costa Rica?

Think Again.

History is About to Repeat Itself.

25 years ago, Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast boomed as the country became the world's # 1 eco-tourism destination. The folks who got in early watched their property values skyrocket.

It's about to happen again. Another perfect stretch of sun-drenched coast is just now opening up.
This is your chance to get there first...

Today more Americans per capita live in Costa Rica than any other country out side the U.S.

Among second-home buyers, vacationers, and retirees with an eye overseas, Costa Rica is a household name.
It wasn't always like that of course.

In the mid-1980s, when we first told readers to head to Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast, it was hard to get to. And, as a result, property prices were low.

But then, as more and more people learned about the region, prices steadily began to rise. When an international airport opened there in 2002, property values skyrocketed. And this area earned its label: The Gold Coast.

Frankly, we stopped recommending it to readers because of that. It just cost too much to buy.

But today Costa Rica is back on our "Go There Now" list. And here's why:

We're about to see that "Gold Coast scenario" play out again. And if you're looking for a place to retire outside the States, you don't want to miss this opportunity to stake your claim on the cheap.

Because the truth is: Costa Rica today is arguably the easiest place in Latin America to live.

You see, nearly three decades of American and European visitors and residents has "westernized" this place for lack of a better term. In other words: It works... and at a standard you won't find anywhere else in this region. While it may not be quite "First World"... it is certainly no longer "Third World" either.

That's a big benefit. And it comes with the gorgeous rain forests, beaches, and highland valleys Costa Rica is famous for. Plus this country is stable and democratic (with no standing army and a 95% literacy rate). It's affordable. You could certainly get by on $1,500 a month -- for $2,500 you'll be living the high life. The medical care is excellent and costs a fraction of what we pay up north.

And now, for the first time in 25 years, it's about to offer you rock-bottom coastal real estate, too.

History is about to repeat itself. A boom like the one that played out up north is going to unfold in a new, beach-strewn area just now opening up to visitors and retirees.

This is your chance -- probably the last chance you'll have in this lifetime -- to claim a foothold in Costa Rica for pennies on the dollar.

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Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly.

What On Earth Are You Waiting For

2010-03-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

Tired of the rat race, shoveling snow, traffic jams, stress, higher taxes, more government rules and regulations?
Imagine yourself in the hammock on the back porch of this cute Caribbean style country cottage with a great book in one hand and an ice cold Imperial beer in the other. For $59,000 you can live this dream in this great 2 bedroom cottage in a small village just 30 minutes from the Lake and walking distance to all the basic conveniences.

If your home and your car is paid for, you and your wife can live very comfortably for just $1000 per month. And remember total and complete health care for you both is just $40 per month. The freshest, cleanest air you will ever breath, the cleanest water you will ever drink, in a country that has one of the longest longevities in the world, where a traffic
jam is 5 cows in the road, where real estate taxes are $100, not thousands, Where you never need heat or air conditioning. Where your gardner or maid costs $1.50 an hour, where the soil is so rich and the rainfall so ample that you'll discover a green thumb you thought you never had,

Where your neighbors are friendly and invite you in for coffee every time you walk past their door, where you can walk down to a cool, spring fed mountain river for a swim, where the monkeys, toucans, parrots and a thousand other birds and animals come right up to your porch.

Where your friends and family will have to make reservations to come visit you, Where life is sweeter, more relaxed, more full filling than you had ever imagined possible. It is all within your reach, and its not expensive, its waiting for you, this is the time, this is the place, do it now.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And Today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.

Famous People Living At Lake Arenal Costa Rica

2010-03-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

Few People here at the Lake know it but the owner of The Lake House, Loren Salazar is also a very famous artist.

Loren Salazar was born in California in 1951. Graduated with Honors in 1973 from Central Washington State University with a degree in Arts and Sciences. Salazar has painted and exhibited extensively in the western states of Washington, California, and Alaska. His work has been exhibited across the country and his published images are found internationally. Currently calling Cost Rica home, Salazar continues to paint image locations from Italy to South America.

His paintings were honed and effected by the end of the turbulent 1960’s. His exploration of art professionally coincided with an explosion of new music and social change. Salazar’s early art paralleled a wave of new progressive rock music and a common direction brought contacts with the music industry and with rock artists. These associations resulted in numerous album covers and music industry designs. By 1977 reproductions and cards of Salazar’s paintings were being distributed on an international basis by a California publisher.

His painting technique set him apart as one of the early practitioners of the air brush as a fine art tool. His mastery of that technique resulted in paintings the were included in the Seattle Art Museum’s Northwest Annual Fine Arts Competition. While on display at the Museum his works were singled out b y the Seattle Times for individual praise. These early works were so convincing that his paintings were at times mistaken for photography.

Salazar’s photorealistic technique developed into a long series of works based on visual memory. This involved numerous images and places occupying the same picture plane. These images dissolved in and out of one another in long horizontal compositions. Salazar had developed a technique and imagery that proceeded computer art but was essentially “Photoshop” by hand before Photoshop was available. At this point the artist’s works in the early 1990’s were being mistaken at times for sophisticated works created on computers using Photoshop.

With a desire to distance himself from what he saw as a coming concern, (digital art), the artist moved onto a technique and media that could not be mistaken for anything digital. With the encouragement of close friend and mentor Andreas Nottebohm, Salazar set fourth on a 4 year series of works on etched aluminum, a technique pioneered by San Francisco artist Nottebohm. While living near Lake Arenal in Costa Rica, Salazar’s nights were consumed creating a series of paintings based on “The "Northern Lights” or “Aurora Borealis”. This series was painted in layers of transparent acrylic on etched aluminum. From Arenal, Salazar shipped the Northern Light Series to galleries in Alaska, Washington, and California.

Since 2004, Salazar has gone full circle and has concentrated his new works to painting on a new type of canvas. A recently developed “Watercolor Canvas” has allowed the artist to draw upon various techniques he developed over the years and apply them to a common surface. The resulting works are classic images from sites world-wide. Salazar’s latest paintings are a dream like sequence titled "Light Sleeper Series". This series is in progress for 2007 and the first three paintings are shown on this site listed in "Current".

Seth Landau

To see more about Loren and his work go to Loren Salazar

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

A Bird Does Not Sing Because It has An Answer, It Sings Because It has a Song

More Good News For Retirement In Costa Rica

2010-02-24T06:41:00.000-08:00

"The President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias is expected to sign an Executive Decree which will make

the attraction of foreign retirees to Costa Rica a National Priority.

By implementing this policy the government can then provide incentives to the baby boomers that

want to retire in Costa Rica. The government will also be able to provide incentives and

streamline the permitting process for companies that build retirement communities for the Baby

Boomers.

In 1971 Costa Rica was at the forefront in legislation attracting foreign retirees. In that year

Costa Rica passed the Pensionado-Rentista program which at the time was administered by the Costa

Rican Tourism Board. The program was very successful and instrumental in attracting retirees and

investors to Costa Rica for many years.

The program provided several tax incentives to retirees that would settle in Costa Rica including

duty free importation of an automobile and tax exemption on household furnishings brought into

the country by the retiree.

Decisions of previous governmental administrations eliminated all the tax exemptions making the

program just another immigration category with no incentives at all.

The personalized treatment previously offered to applicants by the Costa Rican Tourism Board was

eliminated and the processing was turned over to the general processing window at the Department

of Immigration.

While Costa Rica minimized the Retiree program other countries in Latin America such as Panama,

Nicaragua, Ecuador, Uruguay, Belize and Mexico implemented and strengthened retiree programs of

their own. By signing this decree it now appears that Costa Rica wants to once again take the

lead in attracting retirees. After all it is estimated that in the United States alone there are

more than 70 million "baby boomers".

For Baby Boomers interested in Costa Rica this means that you will be offered tax breaks and

incentives for settling in Costa Rica. Another benefit which is surely welcome is that Retirees

will have a special processing window at the Department of Immigration to handle their

immigration applications.

We won't know the extent of those incentives until the Executive Decree is signed and published."

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

The Night Is Long and the Pain weighs Heavy, But God Will Hold His World above Dispair

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The Day shall Yet be fair

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