Readers of this newsletter know that Rhonda and I had gone on a cruise last week with my parents, both of whom are in their mid 80s. And while it is always ( or at least, almost always…) good to spend time with family, the time away from our home always reinforces how attached we have really grown to Costa Rica. It was good to come home.
It is especially gratifying to come home during the Christmas season because it is the Christmas holidays here that really reinforce again the real reasons why we moved to Costa Rica and why we continue to love it here. December is a month when the country virtually shuts down for the holidays…schools are closed nearly the entire four plus weeks and businesses for at least a week…with almost no exceptions. Even if you are a driven type A here you simply cannot work as almost everything is closed….there are parades, concerts and presentations here in the Central Park in Grecia ( yes, by the big red metal church ) almost every night and the square is jammed. Christmas trees have been up now for well over a month in nearly every home and nearly every home has decorations and lights as well.
But aside from the commercial aspect of Christmas here , most importantly it is time for family. Children are not left alone to play with each other and many accompany their parents to work or time is spent with relatives or grandparents. And the message around Christmas time, unlike most places in the States, is : family is the most important thing in your life…not money, politics, fame…life is nothing without family. Children receive presents in Costa Rica…but it is the thought that counts, not the money spent. Even the upper class families here spend relatively small amounts of money of presents BUT spent their free time together. Remember the nostalgic scenes from the 50s back home?,,,,where families sat together on their front porches and were friends with their surrounding neighbors?….it is still that way in Costa Rica…every Sunday , without fail, almost all extended families meet and simply spend time together…not partying or drinking…just simply enjoying each other. I have always likened it to a Spanish “leave it to Beaver” rerun…because Costa Rica has really come to represent many values that we thought were long gone in our lives.

Other comments:
Since our return I have taken three separate groups out to see our properties and the home we just moved into and the comments have been “ You can build this for WHAT?”…or…. “why are your properties so much less than neighboring towns or your competition?” Those of you that read our site and newsletters know the answers to these questions but it is still gratifying to know that many people do actually realize what we try to convey AND what the goal of CR Home really is. We fully admit that we do not have a property for everyone and admit that we cannot satisfy every type of buyer that visits Costa Rica. But…if nothing else…we want to raise awareness of what CAN be accomplished here and how much things REALLY cost here.
The ad that we are still running ( two weeks now! ) in www.amcostarica.com on the first page …the “worst realtor in Costa Rica” ad…generated some really interesting responses ( as you would guess ). If you havent seen it…take a look…bottom of the first page. Be sure to click on it otherwise you will be just stuck with an ugly guy with an X through his face. Responses: “you must have the world’s biggest ego”…. “ will definitely be doing business with you as it is refreshing to see honesty”…”I know Randy and he really isn’t that bad” ( apparently didn’t read the landing page and click thru )…. Other realtors’ responses were pretty caustic: “you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about”…to a phone call that said “ how much will it take to get you to recommend our project?” with the overall response being both defensive and derisive. People that live here generally were very complimentary because they know precisely what developments ( many of them ) are really doing.
Honestly…it still bothers me that anyone can be that swayed by the beauty of Costa Rica that they will literally plop down money sight unseen or just simply believe a salesman’s glib promises without doing any due diligence whatsoever. And FYI: one of the many reasons you don’t hear more about specific developers or realtors is that Costa Rica has very very strict libel and slander laws. And these developers know how to use them. So …please don’t ask me for specific recommendations…because I have stopped giving them.
We have changed the name of our property in San Mateo to Ventanas San Mateo because there is another development further south that had the same name and had a pretty poor reputation. Roads are cut on the first phase and water drainage is being installed. We are also putting a retaining wall in two portions of the road. Pads and drive ways have been put into each property in phase one. ALL have huge panoramic views and the end results have exceeded our expectations. We will be beginning phase two , which will be seven smaller lots but have ocean views as well. Construction of the pool and clubhouse will begin in January. Check our website for details: www.ventanasdelpacifico.com Also click here for a link for additional new pictures:

Las Brisas is complete and ready for sales. We anticipate that the balance of the lots will be sold quickly. For those of you not familiar with Brisas, click here: www.lasbrisascostarica.net .
Properties which we feel are best buys and will go quickly:

New offerings in the area:

1. Our Bajamar “fixer upper”….this is mentioned by number in our last newsletter and we had a verbal commitment on it, but no follow through. This property is an architectural jewel which was built by a wealthy family from San Jose who have since scattered to all points on the globe. The property is one acre in size with half being a mango orchard and containing a caretakers house…and the second half containing the main house , a guest home accessible by bridge, a gorgeous pool, and a large rancho/BBQ area with several showers and changing rooms. Oh, the property is about 100 meters from the pacific where you can walk along the beaches for literally miles and encounter almost no one. AND it is titled.
The area is tranquil and quiet and located only about and hour and a half from San Jose ( soon to be reduced to 45 minutes when the new highway is complete…and which has been funded and already started!) …macaws, parrots and monkeys abound here!
This home has huge huge potential and is easily our best beach recommendation…for value AND for appreciation potential. The home contains 4-5 BR, 2-3 baths, gorgeous views, large kitchen and open living area and it well landscaped. BUT…it need probably $15-20,000 to bring it back to its former glory. None of the repairs are structural in nature and all are cosmetic. And none are major. Recommendations of contractors will gladly be given as well as specific recommendations for design improvements on the interior. We have already remodeled one home in the area and know the area and love it.
This house is offered well below market at $150,000. Hurry as it has already received a large amount of interest and many have asked to see it during upcoming visits.

2. 11,000 sq. meters ( almost three acres ) of gorgeous land in Grecia….this property is unlike anything we have offered here before….a gorgeous waterfall, swimming hole AND two rivers….along with a valley bottom containing fruit trees , gorgeous green mountain views AND a superb hill containing an unbelievable building area. We believe that this area could contain a superb family compound ….totally private with everything you could desire. It is on a public road but still 200 meters from water and electric. Fantastic property. We think it is a little high at $80,000 but we think that the owner will take less. You have to see to believe.

3. 8000 sq. meters ( two acres ) of coffee property in San Isidro de Grecia. This property , a rare find in this area of Grecia, is bordered by a river and only a stone’s throw away from a property that we personally wanted to buy five months ago but missed out on. It is steep in parts but easy to put a road in and near the top is a gorgeous view of mountains and valleys all the way to Grecia centro. This property is private and almost unknown and yet only 200 meters from a public, well known road. Comparable properties are 2-3 times as expensive….only $47,500.

4. The cabina we mentioned in last newsletter is nearing completion….and it is easily the best constructed we have done so far. With Rhonda in charge of the designs and modifications it is more than just a cabina…it is definitely a home with style. Call for details or plan to see on your next visit. Offers around $80,000

5. Those of you who have seen or admired our first home, Dos Vistas and our present home….you should be aware that Rhonda is designing and building another just up the hill from our new home which she swears will have more pizazz than even our new home. Set on a gorgeous smaller property of over half an acre, the view here MAY even surpass Dos Vistas. If any of you have an interest in a “one of a kind/top of the line” home in Grecia which will still be priced below competition…please call or email. It will definitely be sold before completion which will probably start within 45 days.

That’s it for this months real estate “stuff”….for those of you interested, the market here is stronger than last year and , at least in this area, we do expect prices to continue to move up.

Happy holidays….from all of us at CR Home….

Randy and Rhonda, Steve and Marzena, Rodrigo and Char, Dolan and Logan, Liffer and Yolanda and their two little ones and of course, the Woodpecker.

p.s. one last anecdote just heard today… and only Costa Rica could provide it: our new backhoe operator ( Ventanas property ) owns the local bunge jump ( about 150 yards from an old bridge to the bottom ) ….he just participated in the last X Games where he placed 12th in the world….this ranks right up there with our story about Donald Trump’s one armed gardner! ( check the past newsletter for details ).
Oh, and don’t forget the second annual CR Home pigroast on January 12.…we have 14 people flying in from the States and more people than ever have committed…we expect the mayor of Grecia and at least one cabinet minister ( Minister of Finance ) …we expect Rodrigo to sing better than last year and we have also hired a cook who has just taken a job at Los Suenos ( a relative at Los Suenos)….if you can get away….reservations not needed.