Uvita Costa Rica is Growing

We are in high season here in the southern pacific zone. The months of November through April are typically when there are more tourists here than during the rainy months. There is another type of “high season” happening right now as well. This has more to do with world conditions. I know, those from the … Read more

Good and Inconvenient Living in Costa Rica

A metaphor for life in Costa Rica

Living here in Costa Rica’s southern pacific zone, or “Costa Ballena” as it is called, has some interesting quirks. Quirks that, when considered as a list can make one wonder why this place is frequently referred to as “paradise” and achieving the “dream”. Here are some examples of what I mean:

  • You live on a “public road”, but you pay for your road care with your cooperative neighbors
  • The U. S. Government has worked it so that expat citizens must disclose their Costa Rica bank accounts to the Treasury Department on their tax returns. I hear mixed numbers about this, but I understand that there are only about 2 countries in the world that require annual tax filing from their expat citizens, the US being one of them.
  • Ditto for disclosing your Costa Rica corporations
  • Emergency medical care can take a while to get to you, like when you are lying on the side of the road, waiting for an ambulance
  • You hear prowlers outside of your gorgeous ocean view home – the police have no gas for their vehicle, so you call your neighbors
  • You bring a book with you to the bank so you can pass the time waiting for the next available teller
  • Un-cared for domestic animals
  • Rip tides
  • Sun
A metaphor for life in Costa Rica
A little rough on the outside, but sweet and healthy on the inside.
OK, so I got carried away there with my list of inconveniences that accompany living in Costa Rica. Maybe I’ll do one of those “You know you live in Costa Rica when…” lists.
I suspect that life in Costa Rica is much like life elsewhere and that all of us members of the human species like to gripe about various aspects of life, wherever we are.  The above list is, for the most part, meant to be informative to those that don’t live here. This list could easily have been extrapolated from conversations overheard at the neighborhood soda (Costa Rican restaurant).

However, I contend that…

the lack of such services here in The Zone, may have something to do with

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New Office, New Ideas in Costa Rica

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Yes, we moved… from our office in Uvita to a new, larger space in Ballena, just a quick drive down the Costanera Highway. Ballena and Uvita are both home to the Marino Ballena National Park, an area that is vibrant with wildlife, as well as, electric green and blue hues. Ballena is only 7 kilometers … Read more

Living Off The Grid In Costa Rica

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My business partner Ben likes to call them the “End of the World-ers”. People who have reason to believe there will be major global changes in the near future. They are interested in buying land and living off the grid in Costa Rica. By off the grid I’m referring to not being connected to the … Read more

Talk Show 20 – A Good Time To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate

  The Guys In The Zone discuss the state of the Costa Rica real estate market in Uvita. What does an abundance of property options–lots, large parcels, houses, and commercial–mean for buyers? Why are so many families and retirees relocating to Costa Rica? Drawing on nearly 15 years of experience, Ben and Rod answer these … Read more

The Latest News for Uvita, Costa Rica

Uvita gives all indicators of being the area where commercial, social and cultural happenings will be centered in the future. This is important to the topic of real estate and investment concerns. Early recognition of a trend can help to position oneself well for future payoffs. From where Rod & I sit in our front row office, Uvita could be one of the most beautiful little coastal hamlets in the world. Everything grows here, especially the truly exotic varieties of flora that the Earth has to offer. Why the town resembles more of a strip mall than an exotic tropical oasis is a bit difficult to understand.
We are happy to discover that other Zone residents feel the same way. We received a request to post this announcement in our front window: “United We Can Achieve” – The Development Association of Uvita. This newly organized group of residents is pulling together a new idea they call, “The Boulevard” project.