Many have decided that it is time to examine the real estate market in other countries,
and to start looking for a good place to vacation or retire. This article examines the
booming real estate market in Costa Rica, which is often called the “Jewel of Central
America “.
Costa Rica seems to have everything anyone could want in solid real estate.
market, a good stable economy, excellent climate, welcoming people, security of
felony crime, beach and mountain areas to choose from, and a low cost of living,
along with the fact that it is only a few hours flight from the United States.
Starting in the upper area of the Nicoya Peninsula where a large part of the building
and construction is happening, you will find nice sandy beaches around Playa Hermosa,
Flamingo, and a few others, with many luxury hotels and resorts. The proximity
to Liberia International Airport is one of the main drivers of the rapid growth of
this area.
Further down the peninsula, almost halfway, is Playa Samara, where the growth is now
starting to happen in earnest. From Samara to Mal País in the lower part
peninsula, growth is not occurring rapidly due to the lack of good roads.
However, in the lower part of the peninsula there is a ferry that leaves from Puntarenas in the
mainland to Paquera that allows access to the low beaches around Tambor,
Montezuma and Mal País, who have encountered many world-class surfers.
Land values have skyrocketed in these areas in recent years, and it is
now it is difficult to find land near the ocean at a reasonable price compared to the
rest of the country. The coastal areas of the Caribbean, although not as popular as the
The Pacific areas are also gaining popularity. The difficulty of traveling to this side
of the country, the floods of the hurricanes and the difference in the composition
the social structure that occupies these coastal areas has hampered the rapid
development of the area, but now there are some beginnings.
There are two international airports in Costa Rica, one near San José the Capital,
the other in Liberia. The proximity to these international airports makes these two
most popular areas. The southern region of Costa Rica is difficult to access because
bad road systems that take a long time to negotiate, and the lack of a
international Airport. There is talk of building an airport somewhere near
the Osa Peninsula on the Pacific coast, but there are no definitive plans yet
far as I know.
The difficult journey to this area prevents the rapid development of the southern region.
that is happening in other parts of Costa Rica. Although there are some very nice
areas around San Isidro de General, Tinamaste and further south that have been
populated by some Americans, poor road systems, distance from the international
airport, and other factors have limited growth in this area.
Along the coastal areas from Jaco to Quepos there has been a lot of activity.
in the building and construction of hotels, resorts and communities, and there is a new
Road already under construction directly from San José to the coast. Below
Around Quepos there are also many tourist complexes and hotels mainly due to the proximity of
Manuel Antonio Park, which is a great tourist attraction.
Those who desire coastal property will find that the best access to the
The beach areas will be on the upper Nicoya peninsula near the international airport.
in Liberia. However, expect to pay premium prices for these properties and suffer
the consequences of excessive development of the area for a considerable time, because
Building and construction have invaded the infrastructure with limited water and
Electric in the area.
The beach areas along the central Pacific coast also offer many possibilities in a
lower cost than the upper peninsula and may remain so until
The highway from San José to the coast is finished, which will bring the international
airport near San José much closer to the coast in terms of travel time.
One of the most popular regions of Costa Rica for some Americans is downtown
valley around San José, including Escazú, Heredia and Alajuela, which expires in
largely due to proximity to the cultural areas of San José, the international center
airport, gated communities and condominiums, and business districts.
Further north and west of San José you will find Grecia, Sarchi and Naranjo, and
further afield in the western central valley, the towns of Palmares and San Ramón
it has a great climate and a growing community of Americans.
For those who like to be fresh all year round, there is Zarcero which is to the north, northwest of
San José, which is sometimes called “little Switzerland” because of the freshness
climate, large numbers of dairy cattle and mountainous areas.
So what about the prospects for safe investment in real estate in Costa Rica? Many believe
that Costa Rica represents one of, if not the best, of all investments in Central America
due to the cultural nature of the people, security, a strong democratic government,
and a stable economy. There are currently more than 60,000 foreign families, most of them
American now retired in Costa Rica and there are strong ties between the US and
Costa Rica, with a free trade agreement on the horizon.
With all this, is it any wonder that so many members of the baby boom generation are now
investing and choosing to make your vacations and retirement homes in Costa Rica.
As said, you only have to visit it once and you will fall in love.