Properties in Costa Rica Blog

Thanksgiving has arrived and for many decades, it has been a holiday that has been celebrated greatly in Costa Rica given the large number of ex-pats living over here. Slowly but surely, the essence of the autumn harvest has been incorporated in many ‘Tico’s’ home but in a rather tropicalized fashion (fresh fruits & vegetables of the season).

If you are planning a visit to Costa Rica around these dates, we got you covered because there are many traditional Thanksgiving activities you can do. In the capital, San José, or popular beach towns like Jacó or Tamarindo, several restaurants have made it easy to enjoy a typical Thanksgiving dinner for example.

Roast turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and of course, amazing apple pie is just a few of the staples that you will find for just about 20 US dollars. Some people even opt for a cheaper ‘Costa Rican’ version of the Thursday dinner if you will by substituting the turkey for chicken and buying some fresh sweet potatoes and herbs from the

farmer’s market to make a delightful stuffing. Also, another pro-tip if you are wanting to keep your costs on the low is to switch pumpkin pie for ‘ayote’, which is basically a squash that is similar to pumpkin in both flavor and color.

This November period is also great in terms of weather, with the rainy season coming to an end and the start of one of the lowest temperatures of the year (ranging from high 70s to low 80s). The breeze from the ocean and the beautiful food is just a perfect combination to enhance the celebration of the holiday with family and friends.

It’s important to remember that even though it is a national day in the US, it is not a paid holiday here in Costa Rica.

Undoubtably, with the amazing food experience, remember to keep an eye for online and store discounts for Black Friday and the shipping deals and discounts from Aerocasillas and Mailboxes in case you feel like buying something from US retailers.

Whether you want to spend November 24 th relaxed on the beach or zip-lining through the forest, there are plenty of options available to help you make of this day an unforgettable experience filled with thankfulness and appreciation.

As always, thank you for reading,

Properties in Costa Rica 🇨🇷

The current United States and global economic market is having a rough time after the Covid pandemic and more importantly the increasing pressure of inflation and interest spikes. Needless to say, the housing market has also been affected by this context, with rising mortgages and inventory shortages making it truly hard to invest in a home in the United States.

Pros on the subject insist on the fact that elevated home prices are here to stay because of the combination of high demand and elevated mortgage rates, resulting in dreadful scenario for potential buyers.

The good news is that there are other investment options out there, more specially located abroad, in Central America.

We all know that this small country has a high touristic attraction but what about its housing options? Given the uncertainty and unrest regarding home investment in the US, Costa Rica has now become a more viable option, with places such as Guanacaste, Jacó, Atenas, Grecia and Dominical gaining lots of attraction as places for retiring comfortably at a discounted price (as low as USD $50,000 for a decent home in certain areas). Additionally, a huge plus for those looking to swoop a house in the Guanacaste region is the recently renovated Liberia airport, which allows travelers a more direct access to these locations. The key takeaway here is that buyers are now comparing similar beachfront estates in California and Costa Rica and are seeing a drastic difference in value, resulting in a noticeable shift towards investment in the Central America gem.

Also, quality of life here in Costa Rica is known to be a guarantee. With impeccable all year-round breezy climate, kind and loving people, lower home taxes, and of course, stupendous beaches only 45 minutes away from the capital, you won’t miss a thing once you arrive and settle up.

As always, thank you for reading, catch you guys in the next one.

Properties in Costa Rica 🏡🇨🇷

References:

1. Delmendo, Lalaine. (09/11/2019). Costa Rica’s thriving housing market. Retrieved 10/07/2022, from:  https://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Latin-America/Costa-Rica/Price-History
2. Popescu, Roxana. (03/20/2022). House Hunting in Costa Rica: Pools, Ponds and a Glassy Heart Near San José. 10/07/2022, from:   https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/realestate/costa-rica-house-hunting.html