I wanted to get this newsletter out before Thanksgiving because Thanksgiving for Rhonda and I in
Costa Rica truly has a special meaning for us.   It is not only a time to remember the past but it , at least for us, is a time to give thanks for our “new life” in Costa Rica and all that it has come to mean.
We generally have 25 -30 people over and they are usually people  that are settled here that would probably NOT have the opportunity to have a Thanksgiving meal nor anyone to celebrate it
with….Ticos and gringos.   And yes, we usually have one or two turkeys with “almost” all of the trimmings…including , after a 4 year hiatus, cranberries!   Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Costa
Rica as an official holiday but it helps all of us here to remember where we came from AND what we are thankful for now.  

We are currently working with our new marketing firm and one of the things we have been trying to define is what really differentiates CR Home from our competitors.   And yesterday, we were interviewed by www.amcostarica.com and were also asked a lot of questions which made us think again of those differences.   So , why do I even mention this?  Because I think that it really ties into Thanksgiving and exactly how we are coming to define ourselves. 
We have also been interviewing new people and that too, has made us look at the type of people that we want to hire or that we want working for us. 
And …without sounding “corny” or trite…all of us feel strongly that the most important things for us are:  
full disclosure of the good, bad, and ugly in Costa Rica …. We want everyone to know exactly what to expect when they move here, I.e., no surprises;   we are who we are and make no apologies for our feelings about Costa  Rica , or anything else for that matter…we will never be the types of people that sell million dollar homes in Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio…or condos in Jaco…what we sell and strive to sell is “the real Costa Rica”… we feel that there is a great deal of misinformation about Costa Rica that is out there and it is our job to peel back that top layer and show visitors exactly what life is like here.
We have friends who have settled in Grecia who initially ended up in Escazu and Santa Ana because they read on the internet that these were the areas “where Gringos lived”.   Bottom line:  they couldn’t afford the average cost of over $250,000 for an average home there.  And , as it turns out, Grecia was precisely what they were seeking.  And we believe that MOST, not all, people want to experience the “real” Costa Rica…not the artificiality of Los Suenos, Columbus Heights, or other gated areas which put a wall between you and Costa Rica.  And please understand that we are not talking about security here, we are talking about learning what Costa Rica is all about and experiencing what it has to offer.   We believe that, without those things, that Costa Rica is just “ another pretty place to visit”. 
Our new tagline will most likely be “Real estate, Real people, the Real Costa Rica”.  

My last newsletter received a great many positive responses as did the “investment” newsletter. 
However, one negative which came up I think needs clarification:
…the comment was that I seemed to have gotten more “hard sell” about properties in the past few months than I was previously and that I was definitely not a “laid back, Midwest” kind of guy any longer.   

Well, for clarification, my sole concern in mentioning prices in this area and stressing the “consider
purchasing sooner rather than later” is simple… Rhonda and I could probably not have afforded to buy land and build the type of house we did five years ago if we moved here today.    We had a budget and were able to stay within it…prices of land and building have escalated, not only here but in many places as well.  
Costa Rica is still inexpensive by comparison to most places in the States and Canada and it is possible to live well here on even a Social Security pension …whereas it is pretty tough to do that “back home”.  
That is precisely why I sound a little shrill sometimes.   Without going into another diatribe ,
because of Rhonda and my experiences here, I feel very strongly that ALL seniors or those considering “early” retirement should think seriously about Costa Rica.  And whether or not that means buying or renting is a secondary point….but the alternative is a strong one. And Costa Rica is NOT the other side of the world OR in a different dimension…it is a short plane ride away
and is probably now not much different than a great many parts of the States in terms of surroundings…but in life…it resembles a Spanish “leave it to Beaver” movie set.   It is almost like stepping back to the 50s.    In an age where so many of us wish for a simpler life…Costa Rica ( at least for Rhonda and I and all of us at CR Home ) represents that life.  

So….consider the alternatives.

Lastly, our last “investment” newsletter was very well received.  Those of you who have an interest in investments in Costa Rica and still wish to learn more,  drop us a line or call.    With the real estate mess back home and the stock market looking more and more shaky, Costa Rica should definitely be something to consider. 

We will be entering the construction field shortly.  More and more people want a turnkey package which includes land AND a house…a complete package.   Our packages will feature homes and locales which are different and distinctive and not yet expensive….similar to the home we just built.  Watch for details on the website in coming weeks.

And those of you who have not yet visited Costa Rica and seen typical homes here…please understand that these homes are definitely not like homes “back home.” Typically there is no heat or air conditioning ( at least in the mountains )…craftsmanship , while excellent, is definitely not perfect…everything is made by hand and there are no ready mix concrete trucks and everything is wood, block and rebar and everything is done by hand….all of the doors, the windows, the cabinets…all custom.   The difference is:
it is well built and made to last AND it is not perfect but normally the imperfections are so minor as
to be almost unnoticeable.   You make the decision if it is good enough for you.    What we have seen  it that  99% of people that visit and see samples of our construction are impressed with the quality.   We prefer not to deal with the very few people who insist ( as an example ) that all light plates be precisely 12 inches from the floor.  They can pay twice as much for perfection!

We are featuring here a few examples of properties a little further out…near the Naranjo and Zarcero areas. For those who are not familiar…Naranjo is a sleepy coffee town which sees maybe five gringos a day in town…Zarcero is one of the most picturesque places in the entire country….it is located at an altitude of over 5000 feet and the short drive there will remind you of Switzerland or Austria…and the center of town features a magnificent topiary which attracts visitors from all over the world.   Legend has it that the caretaker , Evangelisto Blanco , has been offered work with Disney and others but chooses to remain at his birthplace…where he continues to work 7 days a week on his creations. 
Land in this area is not cheap and very little is for sale.   It is perhaps 1 ½ hours from the airport but
offers almost everything for those settling in the area.  If nothing else, next time you visit Costa
Rica, plan a trip to visit Zarcero. 

Here are a few of our latest offerings:

1. House of over 1500 sq. feet, 3 BR, one bath …even a smaller rental house…fantastic views toward San Ramon and the entire central valley…one manzana planted in coffee…only ten minutes to San Ramon…on a paved road…

Only  $45,000

2.  House of over  2200 sf, four BR, two baths, large kitchen and LR…several outbuildings… phenomenal view of Central Valley…15 minutes to San Ramon or Naranjo… 8 manzanas of land, coffee, jungle, trees with river…




asking $200,000

3.  Dollhouse of over 1000 sf, decent shape….view toward San Ramon… the owner swears that the ocean can be seen on a clear day! ( we can’t verify it )…350 s. meters of land,  house is block construction…on a rarely traveled road…  midway between Naranjo and San Ramon… 

Only $24,000

4.  10 manzanas of property less than three kilometers outside of Zarcero…views are stupendous and very upscale area ( you will think you are in Austria or Switzerland…farming and dairy cattle )…great farm with two rivers, jungle and pasture.

                      
Great buy at only  $130,000

5.  Two separate properties…one of 5000 sq meters of and acre and a quarter…the other of nearly two acres…these are not cheap but the views are unbelievable ,  among the best we’ve ever seen…private entrance with towering cypress…  each piece if priced at  $10 per sq. meter…electricity and water about 250 yards from the property.   Near Zarcero. 

6. One manzana , almost two acres, in Naranjo. Great view through green valleys to San Ramon…gently sloping ….coffee and trees, private and great location….

Check this price.                         
Only  $21,000 

We will be offering more properties in these areas in the near future, particularly in and around Zarcero.  If at all possible , on your next visit, make a special effort to visit the area.   It is well worth the trip. 

Happy thanksgiving to all …

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

p.s.  Rhonda and I will be away from Dec. 2 until the 10th….Steve, Rodrigo or anyone else will be taking calls and appointments.    My parents, who are in their mid 80s, could not be persuaded to visit Costa Rica again, so we are spending time with them on a cruise.   Sure have a different take on a cruise to the Caribbean when you live in Costa Rica!