Now is a great time to consider buying a great property here in paradise. The desire to purchase property in Costa Rica has not changed! The desire is based on the country itself:
- the people,
- the weather,
- the security offered to foreign purchasers of real estate,
- the great investment opportunities presently available.
International flights to Guanacaste International Airport have increased from 50 flights per week to over 40 flights per day in the high season November to April. The number of international flights during the slow or green season are still significant as more tourists realize a great time to visit Costa Rica is during the Green Season – May till November.
Though Costa Rica is a mere 0.003% of the world's land mass, it is home to over 5% of the world's plants and animals. Few countries in the world possess the extreme bio-diversity Costa Rica has, and many foreigners want this in their lives. Costa Ricans themselves are genuinely friendly people, and ready to lend a helping hand. There is no animosity towards foreigners here. To live and enjoy is the Costa Rican way - Pura Vida!
The laws of Costa Rica give foreigners equal rights to property ownership. Foreigners have the same property rights as a native Costa Rican. There is a public national registry that can be viewed online that publicly offers all legal and pertinent information to all titled land in Costa Rica. For more information on owning property in Costa Rica, please check out our section on Buying Property in Costa Rica.
Specifically, why is our area (the Papagayo region in the province of Guanacaste) one of the best markets to consider?
The Airport
Location, Location, Location! Guanacaste International Airport (refer to our Maps of Costa Rica and Liberia Airport links). LIR (airport code for Liberia) opened for direct commercial airline traffic from the US in December, 2002, starting with three direct flights a week from Atlanta with Delta Airlines. Within one year, there were 18 flights arriving, and today we have over 120 flights a week, with nearly all major US airlines providing services from the major hubs in the US directly to LIR. The airport underwent extensive renovations in 2012 and expansion of the airport continues with more improvements and expansion continuing. More and more people will be coming to Costa Rica. The beaches of Northwest Guanacaste (Playa Panama, Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, and Playa Ocotal) are the closest beaches to this international airport -- only 20-25 minutes away!
Excellent Health Care
Because of its proximity to the international airport of Liberia and the beaches of Guanacaste, it is anticipated that the Guanacaste Hospitals will attract a large number of foreign patients who are retiring here. San Rafael Hospital in Liberia provides great services. There are many private Doctor walk-in clinics in both Liberia and Playas del Coco. The cost for their services is very reasonable and you can usually meet with the Doctor without a long wait. Most Doctors speak English as well. So you have many options with regards to health care in paradise.
Projected Staggering Foreign Investment
Location is important but another significant consideration is to look at what the big investors are planning! Prior to the downward turn in the world wide real estate market, large amounts of money was invested in small to large scale projects up and down the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The areas to receive the majority of this investment are the beach communities closest to the airport -- Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, Playa Ocotal -- as well as their neighboring beach communities. Projects that have been completed in the past few years include the exclusive Four Seasons resort on the Papagayo Peninsula, the RIU International Hotels located on Playa Matapalo, El Mangroove Hotel in Playa Panama, Secrets Resort Playa Panama and the Andaz (Hyatt) Costa Rica Resort and Planet Hollywood Hotel also located on the Papagayo Peninsula. There are plans for more high end hotels to be built in the area pending financing and the availability of water. The water issues are being addressed as AyA, the Costa Rican water company, is in the process of building two large pipelines with associated tankage. This new system is estimated to handle water needs for our beach areas for the next 20 years and beyond.
