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Me again, I’m going to bring this back closer to the original post, where as I am trying to see how this proposed new set of immigration laws will effect us.
First off, a friend of mine, and ex pat there, made some inquires on my behalf with a legal team, they seem to thing that these new laws may take a little while to pass through legislation, however, there is no way to know at this point.
They also mentioned that the $5000 per month proposed for Rentista staus is accurate as the proposal is now written, and that one would need to show a TWO year amount of secured cash, rather then the present Five years at $1000 per year. Meaning that someone applying for Rentistra status will have to come up with $120,000 to demonstate this, rather then $60,000.
If this is the case, what happens after two years? If one were able to have this amount($120,000) just sit in a interest baring bank account, and not have to touch it, could this bank account serve the necessary purpose?
Also, if one were to just rely on perpetual tourist “status” and held a Costa Rican corporation, could they run there business there?
I am referring to our plan to own a home and have a separate very small retreat/spa for 2-4 people.
From the various posting ( and thanks for them) it doesn’t seem as if we will be going down the Invester route towards residency, So if Rentista can not be worked out, how legal is owning a business as a perpetual tourist?
This really SUCKS. We so did not see any of this coming, and we are lined up to start building early next year.
UGH.I’m sorry if this has been covered before, however, I’d like to know if someone out there can tell me if we might qualify ofr investor status.
I have written to the agency mentioned in an earlier post about this, but have not heard back yet.
We bought land a couple of years ago, and are in the middle of designing the building project.
We are planning to build a home as well as one or two “guest villas” where paying guests will stay, as well as receive spa treatments.
We now own and run a small spa here in Key West.
I am hoping that we have an option at looking at Investor as opposed to Rentista status if it will end up being to our advantage.
Any thoughts?Thanks for your thoughts, they’re very helpful.
I am aware of some of the needs that you outlined.
One of the architects I interviewed, but did not end up hiring, described one of his client”s projects and the very thorough contract that he had drawn up with his contractor.
Because it was, by his description, 2-3 inches thick, it included descriptions of every electric outlet, type and grade of wood used, etc etc…..
With that said, do you have an opinion on what may or may not make a particular contractor better or worse at presenting realistic costs, and as importantly, which one will be willing to continue on at a possible loss to themselves in order to see through their obligation?
I realize that contracts are just as binding in Costa Rica as the are in the States, but more then anything we just want both sides to be happy with the costs and final product so that all goes well in the end.
My question?
Is there a best method of picking a contractor?If you don’t mind me butting into your conversation, and asking, do contractors make bids in Costa Rica?
I ask because we are getting close to having our designs become engineered drawings, and our next step is to interview and choose a builder.
In many conversations I have heard, the fact that prices were skyrocketing, and the case that the cost of building will rise while we are in the middle of our project leads me to understand that most builders are working on a cost plus labor type of agreement.
Two questions:
1)If builders are giving quotes/bids, are they expected to keep true to them?Are there contracts that can be agreed upon that will guarantee there work?
2) If they are not giving bids that they are able to stick to, then what’s the point of a bid or an estimate?
I know that here in the states, either the bid is the bid, or you go with the contractor that you like and hope that they are charging you a fair price as work progresses.
So, what is the best way to assure that you are getting your home built for the best price AND by the best person?
Thanks,
And oh yea………..OBAMA ye haw!!!!!!!!!!My understanding with the possible link between stomach cancer and the domestic coffee, is that Tico’s have been roasting their coffee beans with sugar, and that when sugar is burnt, in oder to make the beans black and shiny, that the burnt sugar is considered a carcinogen.
Maybe we’re just lucky here in Manuel Antonio.
Well actually in Quepos. We can get alot of Asian products, mostly manufactured by “Roland”.
Last time I came down from the States, and brought fish sauce, sweet chili sauce and cans of red curry (Thai), and was thrilled to see that I can get all of these things in our local ” Super Marcado”.
Every week more items seem to appear, even some Indian curry mixes, asian noodles, toasted sesame oil etc.
Perhaps this is due to our local expat population asking for it. In any case, it is available to our local store, and it is not a very large one, so I say to start talking to your local stores, and seeing if they will check with their suppliers.
On the coconut oil issue, I had a friend visit the Carribean side and brink back some organic coconut oil, very expensive though in the small quantity that she brought back.
I will be offering Ayurvedic treatments at our retreat, once it’s built.
I’m on the hunt for gallons of good sesame oil, and coconut oil. Not the roasted sesame oil that you cook with, the plain type.
I use these here in our spa in Key West for Ayurvedic ( Indian ) treatments, and hope to find a supply in CR if anybody knows of any.
Getting ready here in The Keys for our soon to be hurricane Fey. Not fun anymore.
Can’t wait to be back in hurricane free CR!It’s been a snakey summer.
I’ve been down in Manuel Antonio for most of the past three months, and have been visiting CR for many years.
Maybe because it’s rainy season, but I’ve encountered more snakes then ever before, including venemous ones.
I agree that they seem to want to mind their own business, but you need to know that they are there.
I bought snake boots, not made from snakes mind you, but to protect from them.
MUCH more confidence when wearing them, especially when going off trail into the jungle.
I kid you not, that there is a web site http://www.snakeboots.com.
It’s all hunter oriented, which I am not, but there you have it.
As for electronic snake deterrents, I feel I need to state the most important element, and that is that this is their environment that we love to be in so much, so we better leave it as it is if we want to continue to enjoy it.
Sorry for the obvious rant, but if you get rid of the snakes, who’s next?
And if you do, I hope that you are a rat and mouse lover!
If the area you are in has “too many” snakes, then maybe something is out of balance in the enviroment, and perhaps helping to bring things back in to balance will be the best solution, usually is.
I say, get some protective gear, like most wild animals have, and get out there and enjoy it.I just paid $209 including taxes from Miami to San Jose on American.
You need to be quick, but I just got them.OH my god people………….
Two things……..Not all Jews are Iraelis, and not all Israelis are Jews.
Just like not all white people were running apartheid in South Africa, not all black people are ruling Zimbabwe, and not all Latino people are ruling Cuba.
I take offense, as a Jew (by heritage, not so much by religion) that many people in this thread are “telling” the rest of us what Jews are, what we are doing, and what is right or wrong with us.
Both sides are ridiculous, and I again take offense that either side feels like they are serving ANY kind of dialog that will bring about ANYTHING positive. If you are not trying to influence a positive result, as in having people agree with you and cause change towards what you feel is right, then why put all this energy, albeit hateful, into this?
Not only is this site not the place for this, but I will go so far to say that this world is not the place for such small mindedness.
Yes, the Israeli situation is a horrendous one, and there seems to be no side that has all, if any, of the answers that will end the nightmare that has surrounded the region, but again, if either side that we see in this thread really, and I mean REALLY cares enough about the subject, they wouldn’t just be slinging negative words around in discussion forums, they would be out there figuring out how to effect a positive change, and if a positive change is not what you are after, then I don’t see what use I, or anyone else, has for you at this time.This discussion can, and suspect will, go in many directions.
Specifically responding to the political aspect as well as the mention of El Salvador, I think that it is very important to point out that we, the USA, do not have a history of invading or covertly staging puppet governments or dictatorships in Costa Rica.
This “lack of history” is one of the main reasons I feel more comfortable in Costa Rica.
In El Salvador, Chile, or Nicaragua there is a good chance that the local you meet will have a relative who has been effected in a major way, be it torture or some other form of violence that was sponsored by the U.S.
Granted, with CAFTA, we will influencing Costa Rica in a big way, I just think that the lack of a violent history between our two countries is a huge plus.Thanks, I’ll try to do that. I was wondering, though, if anybody out there sees building with wood as a problem…longevity? Price? Durability? Craftspeople?
There’s a guy who I found somehow on the web, http://www.rarewoodproject who seems to have a pretty cool thing going who has been doing work in Costa Rica for a number of years. Has anybody worked with him? Or know of any other architects or builders who are doing great work with wood?On a less technical, more esthetic note,
Is there opinion out there as to weather or not it is worthwhile to consider building primarily using wood for esthetic reasons?
We wish to build, or import from Bali ( see othe post )wooden structures on our property in Manuel Antonio.
Everyone in the area has built concrete, and done some beautiful work, but we are much more interested in creating a natural feel for both the interior and exterior of our project.
We understand that engineering issues may have us use a combination of concrete, steel and wood. I primary hope is to have as much exposed wood as possible.
I realize that the elements are much harsher on wood,but is it possible that it would be cheaper to build this way, and to figure the savings into the inevidable upkeep down the road?
I keep imagining large open spaces with hand hewn beams….is this a fairy tale? Or a possible alternative to all of the modern approaches I’ve seen lately?
There is a sustainable building community that I plan to visit http://www.ranchomastadal.com
that looks like they are doing some cool stuff. A bit more “hippy” then we are after, but the have workshops and ongoing green building projects that use indigenous building practices.
If anybody out there has any major do’s or don’ts or interest in this, I’d love to hear from you.
MarkCute guys, I suppose that if one were to post ” Does anybody know where to get a good knish in this town?” it would take no ore then two responses to get something like: ” I don’t know where to get a knish, but you might try the this remote village that for some reason has a kosher section of its farmers market. It’s every other Tuesday, except for next week which I hear is National Flat Tire Week, and ofcourse the whole place shuts down. Anyway, I got a Quiche last week in Escazu, I put it in my safe room to cool down, in in less then five minutes it was stolen…gone. Mark, before you get your culinary dreams smashed, you might want to rethink your trip up into the highlands for that knish. Even food is not safe here in the land of Pura Vida.
I have to say though, that the people are lovely, and it is probably our fault for bringing in quiche and knishs in the first place”
Really, anybody out the that has any thoughts on the building, importing, and living in this type of home as opposed to building from scratch?
I PROMISE that if I get one, that I will regale you with stories of small children carrying it away piece by piece as I sit,obliviousl, with thier parents, my good friends by then, sipping guaro sours in the shade.
