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home | Sample Articles | 12 Reasons Why The British Prefer Co . . .
 

Costa Rica Luxury Homes at Great Prices - In comparison Barcelona are 686% higher.
Costa Rica Luxury Homes at Great Prices - In comparison Barcelona are 686% higher.

12 Reasons Why The British Prefer Costa Rica To Spain - Free online video
Scott Oliver - Author
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And it's easy to see why Brits love Costa Rica... Costa Rica is a place of stunning scenery, sunshine and smiles with spring-like weather all year round, no income taxes on foreign earned income, no capital gains taxes, excellent world-class medical facilities, affordable medical plans and populated by the 'Ticos' who are an amiable and very attractive people.

start quoteWe bought a brand new, beautiful, enormous 3,228 square foot luxury home for only £155,512.end quote
Scott Oliver

January 2008 Scary 'Times' Newspaper Story About Brits in Spain:

  1. "Two British pensioners living in Spain have had their home demolished after being given two hours to pack their belongings - reviving fears among thousands of other expatriates that their own houses could be at risk.
  2. "We're devastated," Mr Prior said. "This has been our home for almost six years. To have it pulled down in front of you is painful beyond belief.
  3. "Many villagers watched in horror as the three-bedroom house, which had a swimming pool, was reduced to rubble."

Now you know why so many Brits are considering living in Costa Rica.

Great Surfing - Nearest Pacific and Atlantic coast beaches are 90 minutes away
   Great Surfing - Nearest Pacific and Atlantic coast beaches are 90 minutes away

Buenos dias mis amigos...

My name is Scott Oliver, born in 1960 in Glasgow, Scotland and eventually came to my senses and moved to Costa Rica in 1999 and I love living here so much I even wrote a book called How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and started this website www.WeLoveCostaRica.com

Costa Rica is located in Central America sandwiched between Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south just a couple of hours flying time from Miami, USA.

Here are just twelve compelling reasons why I love Costa Rica and why you might want to think about living and retiring here:

  1. Low Costa Rica Real Estate Prices: According to the Global Property Guide, in comparison with a brand new luxury home in our area, prices for a used home Barcelona are 686% higher. In Madrid they are 459% higher and prices in Sofia, Bulgaria are 62% higher
  2. Hundreds of Luxury Flats For Less Than £100,000: The brand new home that we built in one of the best, most exclusive gated communities in Santa Ana is a two floor 300M2 or 3,228 square feet with three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, dining room, spacious living room that leads out onto a very attractive terrace and the garden, a large kitchen, an office plus laundry room and a maids quarters with bathroom cost only £155,512.
  3. Zero Income Taxes: Unlike Spain, if you are living here and receiving income from outside of Costa Rica you will pay zero income taxes in Costa Rica.
  4. Zero Capital Gains Taxes: In January 2008 I personally sold a home that I designed and built, it was completed in May 2007 and we sold it for 50% more than we paid for it and paid zero capital gains taxes. Unlike Spain, even if you double your money selling your home, you will pay zero capital gains taxes.
  5. Zero VAT: Unlike Spain, there is zero VAT charged on the purchase of a home in Costa Rica.
  6. Costa Rica - A couple of hours from Miami, USA
       Costa Rica - A couple of hours from Miami, USA

  7. Affordable Cost of Living: In a recent newspaper column, they showed a comparison between the prices of fruits and vegetables purchased here in Costa Rica to the same one purchased in a California farmer's market. The same food that cost US$8.75 in Costa Rica, cost US$29.47 in California, USA. If you eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, a little fish, chicken or beef, you and your family will be healthier and you'll enjoy significant savings on food living in Costa Rica. But, if you prefer to eat highly-processed, imported food, you are going to pay a higher price for that and you are not going to be healthy.
  8. Property Taxes: When buying a home in Costa Rica, property taxes must be considered but thankfully property taxes are only 0.25%. This means that on a £250K home you are only paying £625 per year in property taxes.
  9. Costa Rica Is A Politically Stable Country: Unlike many countries in Central and Latin America, Costa Rica has been a stable and democratic country since it's independence in 1948. It has no army, and its citizens enjoy one of the highest life expectancy levels in the Western hemisphere and higher living standards than their war-torn neighbors. Costa Rica's perfect climate, laid back lifestyle, financial and political stability makes Costa Rica look like paradise on earth to many people.
  10. Business Opportunities: It's not just Brits hoping to retire that are visiting Costa Rica. We are also seeing younger entrepreneurs from the UK coming to Costa Rica with dreams of establishing their business here and raising their children in a more stable and secure environment.
  11. Affordable Healthcare: Patients from all over the world have discovered the excellent quality of the medical services in Costa Rica and they are invariably surprised at the affordability of these world-class professional services. You will find that the costs for qualified, professional medical and dental services are often a fraction of the cost that you would expect in the USA, and the local 'National Health Insurance' type care costs less than £25 per month for basic coverage.
  12. Comfortable Luxury Flats in Santa Ana - Nearing completion and less than £100,000
       Comfortable Luxury Flats in Santa Ana - Nearing completion and less than £100,000

  13. Costa Rica Crime: The level of violence in Costa Rica is a fraction of what it is in other Central American countries. Unlike El Salvador that has 47.7 murders per 100,000 people per year, Honduras = 46.2. Colombia = 38. Guatemala = 30. Belize = 15. Nicaragua = 13.5. Panama = 11.6. Costa Rica has a ratio of 7.8
  14. Climate in Costa Rica: At an average temperature of 72 degrees all year round in the Central valley area around San Jose, the climate in Costa Rica is just about perfect.

Scott Oliver - The author is the one on the right
   Scott Oliver - The author is the one on the right

Costa Rica Living Video Interview: To watch this short video with John and Sheelagh Richards, please click on the small white triangular Play button in the middle of the screen below and allow a few seconds for the video to begin.

Living in Costa Rica is not for everyone, but after living in ten countries and traveling to a dozen others, the Brit writing this honestly believes that the local people are amongst the nicest people I've come across and for me living here is a dream come true.

Written by Scott Oliver who was born in Glasgow, Scotland but went to school in 'sunny' Watford in Hertfordshire. Scott is the author of How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa and Costa Rica's Guide To Making Money Offshore and the founder of www.WeLoveCostaRica.com

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