July / August 2009

Costa Rica Progress Report.

The past 10 months have created a big shift in the real estate market. Thankfully Costa Rica is as beautiful as ever and it's not too hard to remove your mind from the global economic upset, even if just for a short while.

Interestingly enough, in the past 6 weeks we've seen renewed interest from developers wanting to move forward with new projects. I'll take this as a good sign that the 'wait and see' attitude is subsiding a little.

In the meantime, we've been traveling the country exploring new spots and visiting old favorites. Along the way we've found a couple of good real estate opportunities that may interest some of you. Contact us directly for information on these and other hot properties in Costa Rica.

1. South Jaco - surfer's dream (okay rich surfer's dream!). 200 feet to the beach. Small luxury development. Great neighbors (we have friends who live here). Deeply discounted. Brand new and ready to move-in. $220,000 US (Large 2-bedroom, best beachfront neighborhood in Jaco. Big community feeling at this end of the beach. More local residents than touristy feeling.)

South Jaco Deal

2. Jaco Beachfront - one of the most luxurious places in Jaco. Right on the beach and views that may just elevate Jaco Bay to spiritual levels. Large floorplan, designer furnishings included. $540,000 US (3-bedroom condo with 3 ensuite bathrooms + powder room, fully furnished, lock-off bedrooms for rental option, dramatic ocean views).

Jaco condo gourmet kitchen

Mmmmmmmm Coffee!

Earlier this year, I was invited by some friends on personal tour of a Coffee Farm in the Tarrazu Hills, near San Jose. (Coffee harvest season runs from November through February and so it's probably most interesting to visit a farm during this time.) Aside from the remarkable and surprisingly labor intensive process of harvesting, grading and drying the coffee beans, the fresh air and valley vistas are reason enough to visit.

coffee tour

Want to Improve Your Spanish?

While it's fairly easy to exist here without much Spanish, your world really opens up when you master a few of the basics or go even further and become fluent. (I've also heard that learning another language staves off dementia in your later years).

Ken Soto lives and teaches in Jaco and tailors his programs to individual needs. A trained linguist and translator who lived in Oregon & Japan for many years, Ken is unique in his training, in a country that has an abundance of Spanish "teachers" who are not always so qualified. That said, with a little research you can usually find a good teacher in whichever part of Costa Rica that you happen to visit.

In addition to private lessons, Ken is working on combining week-long yoga, surf and Spanish retreats. He also provides translation services for those doing business down here.
Email Ken Soto for information or to book your custom Spanish classes.

Local Foundation Helps Costa Rica's Animals.

Tina has been actively working with the McKee Project in Jaco. McKee's goal is to offer a chance at a better quality of life, to every animal that needs assistance.

Tina&Jack

They are a US non-profit group, with foundations in Costa Rica & Panama. McKee approaches the suffering of companion animals at the root, in the community. They do not use euthanasia, because it does not work, likewise, they do not spend limited community resources on shelters which do not solve the issue of overpopulation.

Recently, Tina helped organize a fund-raiser at Ganesha restaurant in Jaco, collecting donations over $1500 for the animals. For more information on how you can help please visit McKee Project.

Billabong World Surfing Games Costa Rica 2009

Very soon, the surf world's focus will be on Costa Rica. From July 31 - August 8, 2009 the world's best surfers will be in Playa Hermosa, Jacó's black-sanded southern neighbor.

The surfing competition will reportedly invest $2 million in the event while an estimated 80 million people worldwide will watch the Billabong World Surfing Games, drawing global attention to Costa Rican beaches and helping to increase the nation's reputation as a premier surfing destination. Costa Rica won out over other popular surf destinations like Brazil and South Africa, in order to host the event.
Costa Rica surfer

Noticeable improvements around Jaco, including a new park on the town's main drag and road repairs will hopefully help leave a good lasting impression for visitors. A new ad campaign touts Jaco as: "Land of Adventures and City of Surf". We like it!