Jennifer Cross asked:
Are you starting to plan your retirement and worrying about how the state of the economy will effect your life style after you turn 65?Are you watching your friends make plans to cash in their paper assets, move to a smaller home, and cut down on spending? This is what many people are doing in the face of a recession in the United States right now. But you imagined having a little money to travel, visit Paris maybe, or go on a cruise. Is all of that just a fantasy now?
Well some people have discovered out how to make the dream a reality and retire in style by living and investing in the heavenly paradise of Costa Rica! It all begins with the real estate market. Those who know say the real estate market in Costa Rica is one of the most stable in the world, and prices are easily comparable to US property or lower. You could easily find a beautiful beach house for $300,000 overlooking the ocean. Or buy a piece of land near the beach for $100,000 and build your dream home. Imagine spend your days walking on the beach, a drink on the terrace, watching the sunset, and socializing with new friends who share your enthusiasm for a good retirement!
You may think it sounds crazy, that people only go to Costa Rica on vacation, but that’s no longer true. More and more foreigners are retiring in Costa Rica, especially Americans but also Europeans and other foreigners. And they are all doing it the same way: investing in property which will only go up in value for years to come, while living their retirement in the sunshine. But how? you ask. The following are just a few examples of the things that make it so easy to live the dream and retire in Costa Rica:
ONLY 2 HOURS AWAY
Costa Rica is only 2 hours away from Florida and all the comforts of home. Take a log weekend in Miami and do some shopping, or grab a connector flight to visit your family, and have them come visit often! And be careful who you invite to come visit you, it is so easy to get to Costa Rica that they will certainly come!
ESPANGLISH
Maybe not everyone speaks English, but no matter where you are, there is probably someone around who will be able to translate. A large majority of the population can speak at least some English, and most of the private schools are English Immersion, so from a young age many of these kids are bilingual. And hey, why not take some Spanish lessons yourself? Stretch your brain a little and make some friends while you are at it.
COST OF LIVING
The cost of living is comparable to the US if not slightly lower. There are some items which are shockingly inexpensive, while others are what you are used to at home. Groceries, restaurants and shopping tend to be about what as you are used to, however workers such as a live in maid or gardener are much less expensive than in the US. During retirement, it can often be a great blessing to have people around to help you with the daily chores.
HEALTH CARE
Health Care in Costa Rica is known for its quality and inexpensive price tag. Many of the doctors are trained in the US or Europe, and hospitals are very modern with all the latest equipment and technologies. Not to gossip but Costa Rica is known for its movie star plastic surgery!
MEDICARE
Both the Costa Rican government and Medicare and are making it extremely easy for ex-patriots to receive their Medicare cheques in Costa Rica through a network of banks in now offering direct deposit to your Costa Rican bank account.
VISAS & LEGAL ISSUES
Do I need a visa, or how does it work? If you are 45 years or older you can apply to be part of a retirement program set up by the Costa Rican government to encourage foreigners to come to Costa Rica. Benefits include tax exemptions and incentives, but the greatest thing is that you don’t have to pay tax on your retirement income in Costa Rica!
CAN I OWN PROPETY IN COSTA RICA?
In Costa Rica foreigners are in no way penalized when purchasing property. Foreigners have the same rights as a Costa Rican and the law will treat them as an equal. You can also incorporate your own company and purchase the property through your company for additional tax breaks.
OF COURSE THE BEAUTY …
The words Cost Rica actually mean Rich Coast, a name Christopher Columbus bestowed on this country overflowing with natural beauty, lush rainforests, mountains, cloud forests, and sandy beaches. Costa Rica is world famous for its diverse natural habitat and beautiful sunsets.
So there you have it, not a bad list of reasons to rent out your house, cash in your paper assets, and retire to a beach house in Costa Rica! There may be a coming recession, but you don’t have to live in it, or let it spoil your long awaited liberation from the rat race.
Are you starting to plan your retirement and worrying about how the state of the economy will effect your life style after you turn 65?Are you watching your friends make plans to cash in their paper assets, move to a smaller home, and cut down on spending? This is what many people are doing in the face of a recession in the United States right now. But you imagined having a little money to travel, visit Paris maybe, or go on a cruise. Is all of that just a fantasy now?
Well some people have discovered out how to make the dream a reality and retire in style by living and investing in the heavenly paradise of Costa Rica! It all begins with the real estate market. Those who know say the real estate market in Costa Rica is one of the most stable in the world, and prices are easily comparable to US property or lower. You could easily find a beautiful beach house for $300,000 overlooking the ocean. Or buy a piece of land near the beach for $100,000 and build your dream home. Imagine spend your days walking on the beach, a drink on the terrace, watching the sunset, and socializing with new friends who share your enthusiasm for a good retirement!
You may think it sounds crazy, that people only go to Costa Rica on vacation, but that’s no longer true. More and more foreigners are retiring in Costa Rica, especially Americans but also Europeans and other foreigners. And they are all doing it the same way: investing in property which will only go up in value for years to come, while living their retirement in the sunshine. But how? you ask. The following are just a few examples of the things that make it so easy to live the dream and retire in Costa Rica:
ONLY 2 HOURS AWAY
Costa Rica is only 2 hours away from Florida and all the comforts of home. Take a log weekend in Miami and do some shopping, or grab a connector flight to visit your family, and have them come visit often! And be careful who you invite to come visit you, it is so easy to get to Costa Rica that they will certainly come!
ESPANGLISH
Maybe not everyone speaks English, but no matter where you are, there is probably someone around who will be able to translate. A large majority of the population can speak at least some English, and most of the private schools are English Immersion, so from a young age many of these kids are bilingual. And hey, why not take some Spanish lessons yourself? Stretch your brain a little and make some friends while you are at it.
COST OF LIVING
The cost of living is comparable to the US if not slightly lower. There are some items which are shockingly inexpensive, while others are what you are used to at home. Groceries, restaurants and shopping tend to be about what as you are used to, however workers such as a live in maid or gardener are much less expensive than in the US. During retirement, it can often be a great blessing to have people around to help you with the daily chores.
HEALTH CARE
Health Care in Costa Rica is known for its quality and inexpensive price tag. Many of the doctors are trained in the US or Europe, and hospitals are very modern with all the latest equipment and technologies. Not to gossip but Costa Rica is known for its movie star plastic surgery!
MEDICARE
Both the Costa Rican government and Medicare and are making it extremely easy for ex-patriots to receive their Medicare cheques in Costa Rica through a network of banks in now offering direct deposit to your Costa Rican bank account.
VISAS & LEGAL ISSUES
Do I need a visa, or how does it work? If you are 45 years or older you can apply to be part of a retirement program set up by the Costa Rican government to encourage foreigners to come to Costa Rica. Benefits include tax exemptions and incentives, but the greatest thing is that you don’t have to pay tax on your retirement income in Costa Rica!
CAN I OWN PROPETY IN COSTA RICA?
In Costa Rica foreigners are in no way penalized when purchasing property. Foreigners have the same rights as a Costa Rican and the law will treat them as an equal. You can also incorporate your own company and purchase the property through your company for additional tax breaks.
OF COURSE THE BEAUTY …
The words Cost Rica actually mean Rich Coast, a name Christopher Columbus bestowed on this country overflowing with natural beauty, lush rainforests, mountains, cloud forests, and sandy beaches. Costa Rica is world famous for its diverse natural habitat and beautiful sunsets.
So there you have it, not a bad list of reasons to rent out your house, cash in your paper assets, and retire to a beach house in Costa Rica! There may be a coming recession, but you don’t have to live in it, or let it spoil your long awaited liberation from the rat race.
Posted in: Costa Rican Real Estate by admin
09Oct
Scott Hughes asked:
Costa Rica has become a popular destination for vacations, weddings, honeymoons, and many other trips. Costa Rica has also become home to many resorts, conferences, and social gatherings. With so much hype about Costa Rica, you may consider retiring there. You are not alone. Many people from the United States and other English-speaking countries have retired in Costa Rica. There are many advantages of retiring in Costa Rica.
First of all, the lower cost-of-living in Costa Rica makes it a great retirement spot. Your savings and your retirement income will buy you more in Costa Rica than it will in the United States. If you lived and worked in Costa Rica, you would also receive a lower pay, which would balance out the lower cost-of-living. However, retirees have the advantage of receiving the same income no matter where they live. By retiring in Costa Rica, you can save a lot of money.
Another great thing about retiring in Costa Rica is that the local people are so polite. Politeness is a major part of Costa Rican culture. You will find that polite and helpful people come in especially handy when you have moved to a new place and do not know your way around that well.
You will also love the weather in Costa Rica. It is warm year-round. The only drawback is that Costa Rica does have a rainy season. If you really dislike the rain, Costa Rica may not be for you.
The wildlife in Costa Rica is amazing. There are all sorts of animals and plants. It is very green in Costa Rica, and the scenery is beautiful.
Costa Rica also has beautiful beaches on both sides of the country. If you really wanted, you could visit the Pacific beaches on one side of the country and the Caribbean beaches on the other side all in the same day. You can relax on the beaches, but you can also engage in various activities such as SCUBA diving or fishing.
Before retiring in Costa Rica, you want to think about it carefully. Research the country and the retirement laws. You do not want to make such a major decision on an emotional whim. If you have not visited Costa Rica, try visiting it a few times before deciding on retiring there. Also, remember that Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country, so you probably want to start learning some Spanish if you plan on moving there.
Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!
Costa Rica has become a popular destination for vacations, weddings, honeymoons, and many other trips. Costa Rica has also become home to many resorts, conferences, and social gatherings. With so much hype about Costa Rica, you may consider retiring there. You are not alone. Many people from the United States and other English-speaking countries have retired in Costa Rica. There are many advantages of retiring in Costa Rica.
First of all, the lower cost-of-living in Costa Rica makes it a great retirement spot. Your savings and your retirement income will buy you more in Costa Rica than it will in the United States. If you lived and worked in Costa Rica, you would also receive a lower pay, which would balance out the lower cost-of-living. However, retirees have the advantage of receiving the same income no matter where they live. By retiring in Costa Rica, you can save a lot of money.
Another great thing about retiring in Costa Rica is that the local people are so polite. Politeness is a major part of Costa Rican culture. You will find that polite and helpful people come in especially handy when you have moved to a new place and do not know your way around that well.
You will also love the weather in Costa Rica. It is warm year-round. The only drawback is that Costa Rica does have a rainy season. If you really dislike the rain, Costa Rica may not be for you.
The wildlife in Costa Rica is amazing. There are all sorts of animals and plants. It is very green in Costa Rica, and the scenery is beautiful.
Costa Rica also has beautiful beaches on both sides of the country. If you really wanted, you could visit the Pacific beaches on one side of the country and the Caribbean beaches on the other side all in the same day. You can relax on the beaches, but you can also engage in various activities such as SCUBA diving or fishing.
Before retiring in Costa Rica, you want to think about it carefully. Research the country and the retirement laws. You do not want to make such a major decision on an emotional whim. If you have not visited Costa Rica, try visiting it a few times before deciding on retiring there. Also, remember that Costa Rica is a Spanish-speaking country, so you probably want to start learning some Spanish if you plan on moving there.
Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!
Posted in: Costa Rican Real Estate by admin