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13 Unexpected costs first-time vacation condo buyers should consider

You have now decided to buy that vacation condo in Costa Rica that you fell in love with. Isn’t it awesome! But before you sign the Reciprocal Option to Buy / Sell, you want to know what costs are involved. Can you afford that vacation condo? Can you afford the extra things that are involved?…

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Why is selling a rented house in Costa Rica a mission impossible?

Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Did you know that selling a rented house is almost impossible? Just getting a real estate listing agreement on a house in Costa Rica is easy, but getting a good listing is much harder. Now guess what a good listing that is rented is? You got it, it’s a mission…

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Before moving to Costa Rica – consider the people location

How important is to consider the location before moving to Costa Rica? Everybody knows that buying a house, it is all about location. The physical location is most vital, but what about the “people location”? If you are considering moving to Costa Rica, it is critical to plan. There are people who “stick a pin…

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Design a bar and outdoor kitchen for your house in Costa Rica

Estimated Reading Time: 13 Minutes Would you like an outdoor kitchen or a bar in your home in Costa Rica? If you haven’t already bought a house in Costa Rica through a GoDutch Realty agent, I’m sure you will as soon as you learn how to design the coolest bar in the neighborhood! Now, I’m…

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Think hard before your rent on VRBO in Costa Rica

Looking to rent on VRBO? Are you sure? Really? Then read this: Late on a Saturday afternoon, my office phone is ringing while I’m on my cell phone with a lawyer discussing some details on a real estate closing. I’m alone in the office and the office phone is ringing off the hook. I first…

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16 Stupid Things Gringos living in Costa Rica do all the time

Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes Is it true that gringos living in Costa Rica do stupid things? Hey, I found 16 stupid things. Maybe you’ll come up with a few more. Post them in the comment box, please. The first thing that I should do, in case someone misunderstands the term “gringo”, is to explain…

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Looking for privacy on your property in Santa Ana, is it possible?

Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes My neighbors are looking at me all the time, I want privacy! I also want security because I travel a lot. This is typically a request we get a lot. Last week I showed prospective buyers a half-acre property in Santa Ana with a small house on it. The buyers…

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How to retire for less in Costa Rica and still be happy

Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Did you know that you can retire for less in Costa Rica? Until now you thought you can’t afford to retire abroad? You’ve probably been reading on forums and news sites that Costa Rica has become more expensive than it was before. So now you’re afraid you will not be…

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Are Costa Ricans proactive or not?

One of the most difficult things for me adapting to the Costa Rican culture has been the fact that Ticos are not really proactive.  Of course, there are those who are, but they are an exception. Most are pretty reactive. If you wonder, yes I am still trying to adapt to a different culture after…

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Mal Pais and Santa Teresa are booming beaches in Costa Rica

Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Have you ever been to Mal Pais and Santa Teresa? I went surfing. In my case, that means looking at how kids grab their surfboards, run into the ocean and jump on a surfboard to ride the waves for hours. It’s amazing what they do. I just watch. The last…

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