Why Costa Rica is the Destination of Choice for New Retirees

costadevelopers.com

Expats have long been attracted to Costa Rica for many reasons; accessibility, safety, low cost of living, beautiful beaches, modern inexpensive health care, some of the best real estate opportunities in Central America, good infrastructure, lush tropical rainforests, ocean, mountain and valley views, weather unparalleled, theaters, art galleries, and so much more.

Currently by some estimates there are more than 150,000 expatriates living full time or part time in Costa Rica and in many of established expat communities throughout the country.

These numerous and growing expat communities have been a major factor in the growth of the Costa Rica real estate market especially in the past 10 years.

In Costa Rica you will find rich coastal areas along both the Central Pacific and Caribbean, metropolitan lifestyle in the Central valley, adventure and biodiversity National Geographic calls the richest in the world.

Costa Rica is a nature-lover’s dream. The country has a very pro-active philosophy towards conservation and its extensive bio-reserves, ensuring that its jungles, with their renowned biodiversity, continue to be home to a truly stunning assortment of species, from birds to butterflies, monkeys to wild cats, and spectacular flora.

The marine sanctuaries of the Caribbean and Pacific oceans and the rich “bio-corridor” of Costa Rica although being a very small country packs in 5% of the world’s biodiversity.

Costa Rica the largest middle class of all the Central American countries and as well the fastest developing economy, with a long standing tradition of democracy; this could be the biggest driving factor in the Costa Rica real estate market being consistently attractive for the past 2 decades.

Expatriates from all over the world already living in Costa Rica, enjoy one of the most diverse environments and highest standards of living in Central America.

The Costa Rica life expectancy at birth is one of the world’s highest, topping both the U.S. and the U.K.

Tourist services are extensive and with English as a second language, Costa Ricans consider themselves “cultural cousins” to the USA, making the country very visitor-friendly.

The expat population is expected to see tremendous growth over the coming decade with 10,000 baby boomers retiring per day in North America; many are looking to Costa Rica, “The Jewel of Central America” as a place to call home.

Posted by Costa Developers

Construction finished as San José’s Avenida 10 reopens

costadevelopers.com

After 10 months of repairs, a major thoroughfare in downtown San José has reopened to traffic.

San José mayor Johnny Araya and members of the construction company CEMEX inaugurated the revamped Avenida 10 Thursday morning.

San José municipal officials on Thursday inaugurated a newly paved 10-block stretch of Avenida 10, one of the main east-west routes through the city.

Repairs were made between calles 8 and 11 by the company CEMEX and included 8,000 square meters of concrete pavement. Workers also installed 4,000 square meters of new sidewalk. The total cost of the project was $1.2 million.

“We know this project caused a lot of inconvenience for several months,” San José Mayor Johnny Araya said. “The reconstruction of Avenida 10 was carried out in six phases to make it as orderly as possible.”

“Not only does this project beautify the city, but it also provides additional benefits such as a longer life for the road because it’s made of concrete,” Roberto Pongutá, director of CEMEX Costa Rica, said.

The Avenida 10 project is part of a plan to rebuild 38 city blocks.

Posted by Costa Developers

Foreign direct investment from high-tech companies expected to reach $574 million

costadevelopers.com

Technology services and medical supplies firms are the most important.

Foreign firms from the high-technology sector in Costa Rica generated some $574 million and created 8,236 direct jobs in 2012.

The previous year, high-tech FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) was $470 million, and 7,728 new jobs were created.

One of the factors that helped achieve the record was the arrival of 40 new high-tech investment projects that set up operations in Costa Rica.

The new firms belong to the Technology Services, Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Technologies sectors.

Most of them come from the United States, India, Korea, Japan, Germany, Spain, England and Colombia.

Posted by Costa Developers

In 2013 San Jose plans the Central American Games

costadevelopers.com

International experts meet to discuss security at the upcoming sporting event.

The Security Commission for the Central American Games meets this week for a second workshop in preparation for security at next year’s Central American Games.

The event, slotted for March 2013, will be the largest multisport tournament ever held in Costa Rica, and will require significant security coordination within San José.

“As we get closer to the start of the games, we are focused on providing tight security for one of the most important aspects of the event,” said Jorge Villalobos, secretary general of the event. “Security plays a fundamental role for the athletes and others participating in this sporting celebration.” 

The workshop’s participants include experts in event security and terrorism prevention from the United Nations, Canada and Nicaragua, among others.  Two of the workshop’s guests, Brian Powrie, from the U.N.’s Inter-regional Crime and Justice Research Institute, and Brendan Heffernan, from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, will stick around for the weekend to observe security at Saturday’s Festival de la Luz.

By the end of the workshop, the commission plans to have six possible security plans, one of which will be selected and implemented a month before the start of the games.

“Our goal is to share our concerns with these security experts for massive international events in order to gain insight into the results of their previous experiences,” said Marcelo Solano, with the Security Commission. “By the end of the seminar we will have something from which to base our suggestions to improve the final national security plan for the games, which we plan to have ready in January, prior to the start of the torch relay.”

The Official Song of San Jose American Games...

 

Posted By Costa Developers

Festival Of Lights in San Jose Today.

costadevelopers.com

The Christmas Season Begins in Costa Rica

The Festival of Lights or as it is known as Festival de la Luz in San Jose is the kickoff to the Christmas season in Costa Rica. With over a million people attending on a yearly basis, the festival is a combination of lights, culture, music and costumes that is held on the second Saturday of December. The festival is a reminder of the significance of friends and family during the holiday season and hope for the new year.

The festival includes a parade complete with floats, street dancers and music which will make its way from Paseo Colon to El Parque de la Democracia. Each year there is also a grand marshall who is chosen to lead the parade. The choice of the grand marshall is a reflection of the contribution of one Costa Rican to the country. Past marshalls have included famous Ticos Claudia Paul, an Olympic Costa Rican swimmer and up and coming talent Maria Jose Castillo.

Costa Ricans will begin to stake out their spots along the parade route in the early afternoon to ensure they don’t miss any of the festivities. There will also be prizes for categories such as the best float and best performing band. The parade is truly spectacular and features elaborate floats that reflect Costa Rican culture and the holiday season.

Music bands are also a highlight of the parade. Bands from high schools and primary schools prepare for the parade a year in advance hoping to capture the coveted prize of being the best band in the parade. Costumes and music and performance are judged to determine the ultimate band. This is a competition that is taken seriously by its partipants. It is also a great way to experience the young talent Costa Rica has.

You don’t want to miss this event if you are in Costa Rica. The Festival de la Luz has received international attention with coverage on newscasts worldwide. It is truly an opportunity to see some of the best culture, music and costumes Costa Rica is known for. The evening will be capped off with a fireworks display and if you are on a Costa Rica vacation right now, drop everything and head to San Jose. You won’t be disappointed!

Posted By Costa Developers

Costa Rican economy grows more than regional average in 2012

The Costa Rican economy will finish the year with 5 percent growth, a figure that is above the 3.2 percent average for Latin America, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The most dynamic sectors are transport, storage and telecommunications services, financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and manufacturing.

The study also says the government fiscal deficit will close at 4.5 percent. The fiscal deficit in November was 4 percent.

ECLAC predicted the country’s growth will drop to 3.5 percent next year.

In August, Costa Rica’s Central Bank predicted growth of 4.8 percent in 2012.

Posted By Costa Developers

Costa Rica’s tallest building is completely sold out

costadevelopers.com

A new building, 97 meters high, has taken its place.

The building, part of the project “Torres del Paseo Colon,” is located in Paseo Colon, With its 27 floors, consisting of residential condominiums, plus offices and retail spaces, it is no the tallest building in Costa Rica – and has been completely sold out.

Prices began at $155,000, depending on the size and floor of the condominium.

Construction on a second tower will begin in March 2013.

The building features a jacuzzi, gym, swimming pool, and even an indoor running track.

The total investment made in the project was approximately $30 million.

The second tower will have 127 condominiums, of which 56 have already been sold.

La Sabana, Rohrmoser, Paseo Colon and La Uruca have become attractive areas for these types of projects, which are marketed primarily at the upper class.

However, the Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements (Mivah, in Spanish) also has plans to build such high-rise buildings for middle class families.

Posted by Costa Developers

Costa Rica exports buses for the first time

A Korean-owned company Daewoo expects to sell 100 buses in the next two years.

Korean company Daewoo Bus Costa Rica Co. this week is sending the first six buses built in the country to El Salvador. That nation bought a total of 12 buses at a cost of $2 million. The other six will be shipped in January.

Last year, Costa Rica exported $280 million worth of auto parts, but this is the first time the country exports entire vehicles.

The Daewoo plant in Santa Ana, southwest of the capital, has a production capacity of some 300 units per year. Daewoo also is the leading brand of buses in the country, with nearly 36 percent of the local market.

This company is an example of how foreign direct investment contributes to the dynamism in the economy, the development of local suppliers and the transfer of technology and knowledge.

Posted by Costa Developers

Traditional christmas lighting of building San José’s Children’s Museum.

Seven blocks on Calle 4 are closed for the museum’s annual holiday lighting ceremonies.

The official lighting of approximately 4,000 Christmas lights, concerts and other events are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Some 100 police officers will close streets and regulate traffic near the Children’s Museum, north of San José, Wednesday afternoon and into the evening, to provide a route for participants in annual holiday festivities at the museum.

Calle 4, which heads south from the museum, will be completely closed to automobile traffic and will become what authorities call the “safe route” for people attending the event.

Seven blocks of this street will be closed to traffic and are set to host various activities starting at 2 p.m.

Posted by Costa Developers

CHRISTMAS IN COSTA RICA 14 BANDS CONFIRMED FOR THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

costadevelopers.com

The preparations for the Christmas holidays in Costa Rica has begin.  Starting around December 20th almost everything will shit down in Costa Rica expect for businesses in the service industry.

Music from a total of 14 bands will fill the streets of San Jose on the 15th of December at the Festival of Lights.

The City of San Jose, the organizer of the activity, announced yesterday the bands that have been selected.

Among the selection are the talented bands like the HIGA Band of Guatemala and the Orotina Community Band, which has been awarded top prizes in previous festivals.

The list includes the following: the San Jose Municipal Band, Banda School of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Banda Municipal de Acosta, Zarcero Municipal Band, Band Liceo de San Carlos , Palmares Youth Band, Band Guanacasteca Union, Cantonal Youth Band Limon, Banda Communal Fortune, Sinem Marching Band Nicoya, Francisco J. Youth Band Band Sarchí Orlich and Cedes Don Bosco.

These are all marching bands and practice for months prepping for this event.

If you are looking for activities to do when living or visiting Costa Rica this December…..the Festival of Lights is a must see.

Posted By Costa Developers