Ivo’s Blog by Godutch Realty

a Costa Rica real estate blog

How to be the Perfect Home Seller

How to be the Perfect Home Seller

Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Last week, I showed clients of another agent a property I have recently listed and I found the perfect home seller. This was probably the first time in my real estate career that I meet a seller who really cares about her property, making the effort of wanting a buyer…

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6 Reasons for NOT paying household employees once a month

6 Reasons for NOT paying household employees once a month

Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Did you know that you’ll all be better off when you pay your household employees every week instead of by the month? Most of the time, I find new topics for my blogs while being with clients shopping for a home in Santa Ana. This time, my clients and I…

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Costa Rica English language churches and religious services

Costa Rica English language churches and religious services

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes There is a large population of English-spoken expats in Costa Rica looking for English-language churches and religious services. I was born and raised a Catholic and I believe in God, though I stopped going to church many years ago. But I learned to respect the beliefs of everyone else. So…

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Christmas traditions in Costa Rica

Christmas traditions in Costa Rica

Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Christmas traditions in Costa Rica are probably not what you are used to.  You can prevent culture shock by learning what Ticos do during the Christmas holidays and where they go. Christmas Eve in Spanish is Nochebuena. Adjusting to another culture is one of the most challenging things to do…

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28 Solutions to Cons of Living in Costa Rica

28 Solutions to Cons of Living in Costa Rica

Estimated Reading Time: 12 Minutes I always see blogs from realtors about all the great and positive things. Most sugarcoat their reporting, but I see never one that shows the cons of living in Costa Rica. I am well known for giving it straight up, although some don’t like it. I think Costa Rica is…

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Costa Rican punctuality, also known as Tico Time

Costa Rican punctuality, also known as Tico Time

Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Costa Rican punctuality, or the so-called Tico Time, will be an essential part of your lifestyle as soon as you live in Costa Rica. Tico Time is being comfortable with NOT being on time for a date, a meeting, or an appointment. This means the person is taking the liberty…

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Why is treating Ticos like shit not right

Why is treating Ticos like shit not right

Amazingly, you’d be surprised how many “gringos” treat Ticos like shit. Because they’re stupid, they’re ignorant, they’re uneducated, dumb, or idiots. First, Ticos are not like that; even if they were, you should be ashamed of yourself if you’re one of the name-callers. I know I shouldn’t use bad language, and I apologize for the…

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10 Reasons to hire a realtor when you purchase Costa Rica real estate

10 Reasons to hire a realtor when you purchase Costa Rica real estate

Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Some buyers looking to buy a property in Costa Rica do not want to hire a realtor. Instead, they prefer to purchase FSBO, which is very understandable, but a mistake. First, it’s essential to know that this word is a registered trademark. Very few real estate agents can call themselves…

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How retirees in Costa Rica communicate with back home

How retirees in Costa Rica communicate with back home

Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes There are lots of retirees in Costa Rica, and in some way or another, they all communicate with their children, grandchildren, and friends back home. Technology changes faster than you want if you’re over 60 years old. I know because it drives me crazy already, and I’m computer savvy. My…

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15 Benefits of Urban Living in Escazu

Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes To make it easier for you to decide if urban living in Escazu is a better lifestyle choice for you than other parts of the country, I have come up with 15 benefits. When I moved to Costa Rica in 1980, Escazu was the most attractive community for expats. In…

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