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Angela Jimenez with film crew of
House Hunters
HGTV
House Hunters asked around for a buyers broker in Costa Rica and sent this
crew and director down to film Angela at 3 locations (Avalon, Vivicon at
Lilia, and Prados Oeste)
Angela uses her experience of 22 years to make sure the buyer understands
the market in Costa Rica and does not overpay
COSTA RICA REAL ESTATE MULTI
LISTING BY OWNERS
DIRECT TO THE PUBLIC
There are a hundred
things to think about in making a decision to buy or rent real estate
in a foreign country.
When I first came to Costa Rica in 1994. I knew I did not understand the
market and sought out real estate agents. At that time no service like
Orbit existed where you could see photos and prices before arrival. Just
like in the first world real estate agents represent the seller not you
the buyer. In Costa Rica it is more difficult to work with one agent who
can present the entire market because there is no real multi list system
such as you probably are used to in the United States or others first
world countries.
Therefore your agent may show you only those properties he or she has
listed since the level of cooperation between agents is more limited here
than the U.S for example. You may not see a good overview of the market.
Secondly many agents tend to concentrate in the western suburbs of San
Jose which although nice enough are not representative of the whole central
valley where the majority of people live in Costa Rica.
The possibility exists that you will only gloss over many of the different
systems that exist for buying and maintaining properties here in this
paradise that we know exists. Many of the best values and great houses
are not listed with agents or advertised in the papers. Many owners in
Costa Rica do not want to work with agents and many want to avoid paying
the agents commissions. Therefore many properties that might fit your
needs might never be presented to you. The cost of advertising in the
newspapers here in quite high so many properties do not get advertised
but rely on word of mouth to sell them. As a stranger to the country you
are not likely to hear about them. The importance of understanding that
property tax here has much to do with what you declare its value to instead
of a standardized appraisal system by the government is vital for you
to know. You also need to understand that the street tax for garbage pickup
is not included in the property tax and you must pay it. If you were like
me, and no one ever told you that a bill does not come to your house,
you will be surprised. You much search out where to pay it otherwise eventually
you will get a summons. Costa Rican's tend to hold the property in the
name of companies whose owners are the persons holding the bearer shares
so you really need a good lawyer to check up on things for you. Also there
is generally so such thing as title insurance as you know it back home.
With all the pitfalls
we just pointed out, why is Costa Rica so popular that thousands of North
Americans and Europeans are moving here? The best climate in the world,
a safer environment to retire in or raise the kids, no gangs or noticeable
drug culture, no drive by shootings and liquor store holdups, great food
and restaurant, friendly people, equal construction quality to the developed
world, reasonable prices, no need to pay heating or cooling bills, no
racial clashes, more or less this is a tax free country if you know what
to do, and a government that is laid back although the bureaucracy is
sometimes frustrating.
Orbit does the one
important thing that you as a buyer need.
We introduce you to the properties owners directly so you and the seller
have a better chance of coming to terms without the typical real state
commission thrown in.
THE
REAL SECRET TO BUYING PROPERTY IN COSTA RICA IS TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO REALLY
UNDERSTANDS THE VALUES WHO IS NOT INVOLVED IN RECEIVING A COMMISSION ON
THE PROPERTY YOU INTEND TO BUY. WE RECEIVE NO COMMISSION ON ANY OF THE
PROPERTIES ADVERTISED LISTED HERE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TWO. WE DO OFFER
AN ADVISORY SERVICE FOR A FLAT $500. THIS INCLUDES THE MOST IMPORTANT
ADVICE YOU WILL EVER RECEIVE IN COSTA RICA WHICH IS HOW TO ESTABLISH A
LEGAL PRESENCE IN COSTA RICA. OUR EXPERIENCE SINCE 1994 IS THE ALMOST
ALL PROPERTIES LISTED WITH A REAL ESTATE BROKER ARE OVER PRICED.
WE
ADVISE YOU TO TALK TO US ON ARRIVAL SO THAT WE CAN REFER YOU TO A RELIABLE
ATTORNEY THAT SPEAKS ENGLISH WELL AND THAT WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VARIOUS AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. ALSO WE CAN ARRANGE
A SHORT TERM APARTMENT LEASE FOR YOU WHILE YOU LOOK AROUND.
Come and visit us.
It is a country that is truly fascinating and enjoyable and safe. Best
of all look over the direct to buyers offerings without leaving your seat
now and dream about living in a tropical paradise where outside your door
the fruits of paradise grow without any effort on your part.
CLICK HERE TO SEE
OUR LISTINGS
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References
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From:
James Miller <miller@buphy.bu.edu>
To: harold <mail@orbitcostarica.com>
Cc: <miller@bu.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 7:46 PM
Subject: thanks for your help
Dear Harold,
Many thanks
for your help in arranging a rental car and a place to stay on
my first trip to your beautiful country. The car was brand new and
the price
was good. All in all, a great vacation, and everthing went smoothly-
no
surprises!
And especially,
thanks for your indispensible advice conerning property
purchase in Costa Rica. You gave me a boat load of information on
where (and
where not) to look for property and the three days of tours around
the
central valley taught me more about the market there than I could
have
learned in months on my own. And thanks for putting me in contact
with
excellent professional help (notary and
engineer). With the many surprising ins and outs of dealing in real
estate
in Costa Rica, I would strongly recommend your program as essential
to
anyone seriously interested in investing in property there.
I'll be back!
Thanks again,
James Miller
Professor of Physics
miller@bu.edu
Lexington, Massachusetts
ORBIT NOTE:
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF DR. MILLER'S DISCOVERY OF A NEW KIND OF
PARTICLE OF MATTER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO READ THE NEW YORK TIMES
JULY 31,
2002 ARTICLE AND WERE HONORED TO HAVE HIM VISIT WITH US AND WERE
OVERJOYED
TO LISTEN TO HIS STORIES ABOUT STEPHEN HAWKING THE WORLD REKNOWNED
PHYSICS
PROFESSOR.
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E-mail: mail@orbitcostarica.com
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Rica Travel by Orbit
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