We are approaching the end of rainy season here. Its funny but I was thinking how long it took me living here to even key into the changing seasons, its so obvious now. We are in early November of 2007, and the rainy season seems to be trying to go out with a bang. This morning I drove down from Escaleras in a downpour. The roads are deeply rutted from the rains, and out on the costanera (coastal highway) there were trees down from the saturated earth being rained on so heavily. We definitely live in the rain forest here in the Uvita area of Costa Rica.
Along with the seasons there is a constant and rather rapid progress of change in the human sector as well. I really enjoyed the read of John Marañon “Gringos Hawk”, which is the account of a Gringo coming to the Uvita area in the early ‘70s and cataloging his experiences. The book gives us a peek at the way it was here just 30 years ago, and now to look around and see the growth. Uvita is in the middle of a white hot explosion of growth and development.
The Uvita area is shaped kinda like a diamond. The coastal mountain range runs down from Dominical, pretty much parallel to the ocean. When it gets to Uvita, it takes a sharp turn inland to a point, then it heads back out towards the beach, causing a diamond shaped plain that is rimmed by a bowl of mountainside that is full of rivers, waterfalls, jungle and rain forest wildlife. It is an amazing place that is surely destined for being the center of community in this area of the coastline. It’s up in this rim that there has been a tremendous amount of residential buying of real estate. Down on the diamond shaped plain, and all around the coastal highway that runs through it, there is a lot of commercial development going on.
I get asked on a regular basis, “howzit going down there in Uvita” or “what’s going on there in Uvita?”, well I’ll tell ya.
Uvita has been the primary area that I have done business in, even though my first few years in real estate, my office was in Dominical. Now I am situated in the commercial center of Uvita. As I looked around my office the other day, I noticed a rather recent phenomenon was taking place. I had clients in my office that actually now live here. How many times I have heard the question: “who are your clients”. There is no real demographic here that is constant enough to actually help a market “target” the buyers here. People come here and buy land here for a number of different reasons. Some are simply looking for a good investment and don’t have any interest in living here. The simplest form of investment here is to land-bank: just buy a piece of raw land and let it sit for a few years and then sell it. The next would be to develop the land, build a structure on it that will then generate income. This can be a commercial, but is more often a vacation rental home or cabinas. This can serve to generate income and provide a vacation home for the owner while there is the substantial asset appreciation that Costa Rica land is currently experiencing. Then there are those that simply want to relocate to Costa Rica. Perhaps they are retiring and want to go where their fixed income dollars will go a bit further, or they may have an ideological reason for wanting to get to the jungles of Costa Rica.
I used to say that most of my re-locators were going to come down in 3 – 7 years. Well, I guess that some of those years have gone by and so now… here they are. Life here as we know it is changing.
Construction is going on now. There is lots of building going on, and its for this reason that this blog will be dealing a lot with that topic. I’ll be posting resources and info to the blog on a regular basis.
As for land, well there are some interesting things going on all around us. Up in what I like to call the “Gold Zone”, between Dominical and Uvita, there has been limited inventory over the last couple years. I’ve got some very lovely pieces up there. Nothing inexpensive mind you, but really nice stuff. Although, there is one piece up in Escaleras, about 3 acres for $235,000, with a big northerly view up to Manuel Antonio. The lot is sloped, so it would need some tractor work to make it build-able. Or, you could do the other way of building and do a pier type thing. This is where you pier up to the floor, leaving a space under the living area. Anyway, I think that it’s quite a good value. Since it is in the Escaleras area, there just isn’t much there and when there is, it’s expensive. Lots of vacation rentals around up there.
Also, there is the Big Screaming Development up at the top of the Escaleras development. Lots range from non-ocean view, but great valley and waterfall view properties starting at around $195,000 for good sized (5 acres) lots, up to $800,000 for mind-blowing, life-altering, Pacific Ocean view lots. This is by a long time resident of Costa Rica’s southern zone who is likely the best around, very conscientious and knowledgeable. (links to come)
Also, right here in Uvita we’ve got some very interesting ocean view villas that are beautifully designed and are, to my way of thinking, rather low priced. (links to come)
I’ve got a couple of pre-development projects in and around Uvita as well. One is just to the south of Uvita on the ocean side of the highway. It is in the flats there. There will be a commercial area and about a 30 villa complex with an easy walk to a gorgeous, in fact it is the Marina Ballena National Park beach. I will have the master plan to this shortly. If you want to get in on an early deal right there near the beach, drop me a line. (links to come)
I have just received an exclusive listing. This one was/is really cool since it is the construct that I live for in a business deal. The seller is a long time resident of the Dominical area. I have handled some of his property in the past and so can vouch for his conscientious and gentle nature. He had the foresight to buy in the maritime zone some years ago. It has taken the passing years to get the paper and legal work in order to make the property ready for market. He has approached me about marketing these properties in a non-rushed, lets just do it right, kinda way. He got in early enough to where there is plenty of profit in it for him to go the extra mile. This is a community of 15 lots, all within 200 yards of the ocean. There is water, electric, super-easy access, and even though the property is right on the ocean, the property rises immediately from the ocean, so it is up in the breeze yet still right there on the ocean. Anyway, this also is an early buy-in opportunity. They should start at around $500k for the first few. This is for a house on the property.(links to come)
Oh, I almost forgot, Whale’s Tail Estates. This is what will no doubt be the last of its kind in Uvita. Large, multi-acre lots, huge Whale’s Tail views (see photo to the left), and access down to a gorgeous stream (see photo to the right) complete with cascades and waterfalls. There are 6 single family raw lots there available.(links to come)
Last but not least, you’ve got the golf course going in about 15 minutes south of Uvita. You can pick up a ½ acre lot there for around $50,000. 10 minutes to a gorgeous beach, and the golf course itself is shaping up to be pro-quality. Click here for more info.