| Sometimes it appears that everybody has been | | | | and high human development indices, many other |
| harmed by the recent recession. Certainly, Costa | | | | people like to have a second home there, too. |
| Rica has not been immune from the severe | | | | What parts of Costa Rica have been the most |
| recession in America and Europe. Real estate sales | | | | popular for buyers or investors of Costa Rica real |
| of condominiums and single family homes for | | | | estate? |
| expats or as second homes have slowed | | | | The north and central parts of the Pacific coast, in |
| dramatically and in some areas along the Pacific | | | | particular, with great weather and many |
| coast cash-strapped Americans are selling their | | | | attractions, has been the most popular area for |
| tropical homes at steep discounts. | | | | Costa Rica vacation tourists for a number of |
| Why was real estate there so popular in the first | | | | years. The need for developed property meeting |
| place? | | | | the needs of the growing influx of vacationers |
| One of the smallest countries on the planet, this | | | | and expat community has led to a substanial rise |
| Latin America country is popular because of its | | | | in prices of real estate there. Hotels, resorts, |
| tropical beaches, picturesque coastal landscape, | | | | restaurants, bars, and places for adult and family |
| and its extraordinarily diverse fauna and flora. | | | | oriented fun have sprung up dramatically. This has |
| Indeed, though it is only about the size of West | | | | led to an acute shortage of land in some places |
| Virginia, nearly one of every five plant and animal | | | | that has brought increased upward pressure on |
| species on earth are found in that Central | | | | property prices. |
| American country. | | | | San Jose and environs have also been popular |
| Additionally, with the Atlantic and Pacific oceans | | | | places because of the many conveniences like |
| bordering its east and west coasts, there is world | | | | great malls, shopping, and terrific weather. About |
| famous Costa Rica fishing, diving, surfing, and | | | | 40% of the country's population centered near its |
| sunsets, not to mention great parks and | | | | capitol city, and increasingly short supplies of land, |
| volcanoes. | | | | property values have been less adversely |
| Tourists flock to it in droves annually for Costa | | | | affected than the Pacific Coast. |
| Rica vacations, making it one of the most popular | | | | What are the future prospects? |
| tourist destinations in Latin America. Most visitors | | | | Despite today's uncertain economic climate in the |
| are from America and Canada, of course, but | | | | West, the general perception is that there will be |
| there are also thousands of European travelers. | | | | a substantial turn around in Costa Rica real estate. |
| To help it serve the booming eco tourism, medical | | | | Why? One reason is that, compared to North |
| tourism, and vacation industries, tourist amenities | | | | America and Europe, real estate prices, particularly |
| have popped up on both coasts. This led to a | | | | on sunny, tropical coastlines, are not yet out of |
| sharp rise in Costa Rica real estate value over the | | | | this world, just a fraction of the cost elsewhere. |
| last decade or so since land is one commodity | | | | Second, the country has long been favored by |
| that is not plentiful there. | | | | foreign countries and investors. America and |
| There is more, Costa Rica was one of the world's | | | | Europe have long been important business |
| first countries to understand the importance of | | | | partnersand many international companies have |
| sustainable development. That appeals to many | | | | substantial and growing there. Intel has large |
| tourists. The country has adapted to its tourist | | | | computer chip plants that now produce more |
| patronage by developing and welcoming the | | | | revenue for Costa Rica than any other source. |
| international community. Condo construction, single | | | | Walmart owns nearly every grocery chain in the |
| family homes, and subdivisions catering to expats | | | | country and is building large stores in many places. |
| accelerated dramatically in the last several along | | | | Hewlett Packard has a large presence. And |
| the Gold Coast. With that boom came increased | | | | dozens of other world class companies, as well. |
| land prices. | | | | Many of these companies have been substantially |
| Additionally, more and more Americans, | | | | increasing their work forces in Costa Rica even as |
| Canadians, and Europeans see it as the perfect | | | | they are reducing their American and European |
| place to spend their retirement years. With lots of | | | | employees. |
| sunny and sandy beaches, nearly 800 miles of | | | | Not to mention China. Its presence is increasing |
| coastline, beautiful mountains always close at | | | | substantially, as well. It has taken advantage of |
| hand, year round great weather, a stable and | | | | the softening of Costa Rica real estate prices and |
| democratic political system, low crime rates, | | | | investing. There are now thousands and |
| excellent medical and dental providers and facilities, | | | | thousands of Chinese living in this little country. |