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February 2010 Newsletter |
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“do you have what it takes to live in Costa Rica?”
Many of you who have been coming to Costa Rica or studying about the country think you know what life is “really” like here. You have been here perhaps 3-4 times, have driven all around the country, have spent time with Ticos and consider some of them your close friends. Maybe some of you have even bought property here and are looking forward to ultimately retiring here or building a vacation home. So obviously you know the country pretty well, right?
Guess again.
Until you have actually lived here for an extended period you will have no truly accurate picture of life here.
When Rhonda and I first moved here we heard “stories” about life here that were simply too difficult to swallow…things like:
1. Ticos will tell you what they “think” you want to hear. NOT
lies, mind you, but simply the answer that they
2. Almost all American products in Costa Rica like appliances are “seconds”. Another “preposterous” you say. Well, guess what…this is another statement that I laughed at but which has turned out to be true. Because there are fewer regulations and requirements such as exist in the States, things such as appliances are made cheaper because they cost less to make. It is all about money.
3. There are standard jokes about “Tico time”…the fact that Ticos operate on different clocks and standards than gringos. Get used to it. If you cannot accept the fact that your Costa Rican friends will always be late…then you will have problems adjusting. It is part of the culture and it will not change…for you or for anyone else.
5. Ticos truly have the misconception , nearly all of them, that “gringos” are rich. No matter what is said, the “gringos all have money trees back home.”
6. Ticos are, for the most part, very passive. They are not
aggressive …and this is one of the many features
7. There IS crime in Costa Rica…and it has gotten worse in the past few years. Is it worse than many other places? Probably not. But many gringos who live here and remember a virtually crime free country from just a few years ago…are horrified that the crime rate has increased. It is probably much better than most other places in the world…but it does exist.
8. Ticos speak Spanish. Stupid thing to say, no? Well, in reality, many people simply cannot adapt to the fact that Spanish is spoken by everyone. I personally am hard of hearing so becoming fluent in Spanish is extremely difficult for me. But I have seen people that simply could not accept the fact that the language and the culture is completely different and that they would never be a total part of it. And this person was one who had literally studied Costa Rica and had dreamed of living here all of his life.
Can you adapt? I have been amazed at the number of people who do and amazed at the number of people that I would have bet heavy money on… who have not. I wish that there was an aptitude test to take to predict whether or not one could be “happy” or content in Costa Rica… and I have actually seen such questionnaires. I remember that I failed it.
In my opinion, the essential qualities for success here are simple: a sense of adventure is crucial, patience, and more than anything a willingness to accept that which is different or new…and tolerance. If you have these qualities, you will do well here.
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Our last postcard featured one property of half an acre in Bajamar…ocean view. ( there were actually two, side by side ). We were overwhelmed and both properties have been verbally committed for. We are looking for more similar properties. (Click for enlarge)
We are commencing work on our Isla Chira property. The road to the mountaintop proved to be more difficult than we thought. But it is now complete. The work crew is now there… trees are being cut and the topographer (surveyer) is finishing up his map of the area …( yeah, he was behind schedule too ). Feedback from visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. We have been in no hurry to sell and have only taken a couple of deposits but we understand that most of you want to see a completed home first. BUT…if you are here…and Chira intrigues you… talk to us. See the island and you will really understand why we love it. I keep telling Rhonda that if we lose everything we have and I have to live on Social Security we can live on Chira…hey, we could fish for our food. It really is magic.
We will be expanding there in the near future…yes, we are going slow, just in a different area of the island. We are excited , very excited about the future here…if you wish to receive specifics about expansion please click below for more information. This is a fun, fun project. Join us. (Click for enlarge)
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Other listings:
1. We have a listing in Ventanas San Mateo which is half an acre…original listing price was $65,000… owner says sell at $50,000. Gorgeous ocean view, spectacular jungle setting, and best of all…there are already other living there …so you can ask them their opinion of the area and of Ventanas itself. This is a great opportunity. The people who live here love it (I don’t know if Rhonda and I building there is a selling point or not…but you can bet your bottom dollar that the development will be taken care of!) www.crventanas.com (Click for enlarge)
2. When we moved to Grecia, it was a sleepy little coffee town. Now it is becoming “the” place to be soon to be known as the Escazu of the northwest. People are moving here in droves and driving property values through the roof. We have finally received final water stamps on our Las Brisas development ( we always had approval from the national water board but not from the local association ). We have one lot in Las Brisas which is being “fire saled”… it is easily 50% below market, especially given what is happening here. Lot #1 is being offered at a $30,000 discount at only $55,000. Given what is happening here in Grecia, this is an absolute steal. Lots of trees here and fantastic views…and don’t forget the river at the bottom of the property. See it here: www.lasbrisascostarica.net (Click for enlarge)
3. House and land just outside of San Ramon… small amount of land, house almost brand spanking new. About to be taken back by the bank. Approximately 1200 sq. feet, 3 BR, two baths…this is a fantastic buy and has just been reduced again …down to $38,000. Hurry before the bank grabs it! (Click for enlarge)
4. If you are thinking of moving to Costa Rica and want to test drive the country first…but still want a home of your own…this might be for you…almost half an acre… in the mountains of Grecia…well over 1000 sq. feet of home…great location 04, fantastic views…only $59,000 (Click for enlarge)
5. Half an acre of ocean view… almost all buildable… located in Bajamar… very private and about 700 yards to a great beach. Fantastic area… we have come up with three properties in this area, have sold two immediately and now here is a third: only $30,000 … Will move quickly. (Click for enlarge)
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Watch for new videos very soon of Isla Chira…and a new website for Pueblo Escondido at Playa Azul.
Thanks for reading and yes, there still is time to visit us this high season!
Randy, Rhonda and all of us at CR Home…
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More pics of our home in Ventanas… (Click for enlarge)
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think will please you the most. “this is preposterous” you say.
Well, I agree because I said it too. Trouble is, there is a lot of
truth to it. 
4.
You have heard the jokes about the long lines and the bureaucracies
being almost maddening…well, they are true. I personally have a
horrible time with lines and simply send someone else so that I will
not put myself in a situation which I know (for me) is almost
intolerable. It is totally illogical to me that a bank will make
a potential depositor wait in line for six hours to open an account…but
it happens almost every time. It is illogical that you cannot get
a cell phone unless you follow very specific, totally nonsensical
directions ( by the way, even Ticos will agree that these “rules”
make no sense) and have to wait for hours and sometimes even days to
get a cell phone or number. For me, this is one of the more
difficult areas of Costa Rica to accept and the hardest to adjust to.
Ticos? I have seen Ticos standing in line for literally hours and
show no signs whatsoever of impatience. Are Ticos different? In
this regard , yes. But remember, this is one of the reasons that
so many of us move down… to slow down. But man, it is hard
sometimes.
that so many of us love about Costa Ricans. BUT watch out when on
the roads…Ticos are absolutely horrible drivers…the meekest Tico
will become a Mario Andretti behind the wheel and not only pass on
blind curves but put everyone else at risk on the road as well.
Defensive driving here is a must. 
9.
Despite the apparent similarities between Ticos and gringos…and most
will say that there are very little differences ( at first
comparison ) …the differences are HUGE. Cultures are very
different and, even though there are a great many things in common,
there are huge differences as well. This absolutely has to be
accepted … and for clarification, ask any gringo who has lived in
Costa Rica for at least five years…You will have trouble getting
them to shut up with the diatribe. 
