This article is all about buying Costa Rica land - and more importantly, buying land for sale in the RIGHT location to boost your profits.

With as many as 1 million Americans expected to be living in Costa Rica by 2010, this is a great opportunity for real estate and land investors to get in early, and make a killing.

Location, Location, Location!

As with any investment in land and real estate - location is the key.

The average cost of property and land for sale in Costa Rica has risen by 300% in the last 10 years - but this is just the average - there are areas of Costa Rica that have seen bigger increases in value.

The trick is to look at the developing infrastructure - to see where the next “hot spot” might be.

The Comfort Factor

Why are people moving to Costa Rica? There are many reasons and they include:

· Reducing taxation liability

· The cheaper living costs, with everyday expenses up to 70% cheaper than in the US

· The stunning beaches and beautiful countryside

· The safety factor and slower pace of life

· The comfort factor and infrastructure

When people choose to live overseas, one of the first things they want to do is replace the comforts of the home they’ve just left - and this means looking at the comfort and convenience factor.

Here are three changes to the infrastructure, which could yield big gains for those investors buying land in Costa Rica. The trick is to buy before the facilities are completed - getting in ahead of the crowd, and then wait for the herd to follow and push up prices.

Consider the following changes, and think how you could take advantage of them - here are three real life examples, happening right now in Costa Rica:

1. New Motorway: Due to be completed shortly, this road will link the largest metropolitan cities to the Pacific Coast and allow greater mobility and ease of access.

2. New Marina: The largest marina in the country will soon be completed in the coastal town of Quepos.

3. New Airport: A new international airport is being planned and will be built near the town of Orotina with direct flights to the US.

Get in Ahead of the Crowd

Buying land that’s presently for sale in Costa Rica, near any of the three developments mentioned above, can help you out-perform average growth rates - which are already impressive.

Of course, there are plenty more examples in many different areas of Costa Rica, where land that’s currently for sale will increase in price – you simply need to do some research, and get in ahead of the crowd to make above average gains.

Costa Rican property and land for sale are steadily increasing in price, and there is no reason for this trend to end - in fact, the influx of overseas buyers is likely to accelerate price rises.

Not only are US nationals buying in ever increasing numbers, so too are other foreign nationals. The major corporations are also moving in - such as Intel, Microsoft, as well as Proctor and Gamble.

All these changes will see new developments in the infrastructure to support these new arrivals - and land that’s for sale in Costa Rica will make perceptive buyers big capital gains in the years ahead.

Unlike many of the new so-called hot markets, Costa Rica is stable, the infrastructure is good, and buying is easy. In addition, the foreign investors buying Costa Rican land have the same rights as Costa Rica citizens - making it a great investment opportunity.

Within hours of being offered on April 30, a diverse collection of buyers from the United States, Canada and Costa Rica purchased all 36 condominium
suites, generating US$16.3 million in sales.

“VIVA’s unique combination of a new, high-end resort condominium in a well-established Costa Rican community made it an attractive buy,” said Hal Wright
of Beach One Developments.

The new development will feature upscale amenities, onsite activities, and — true to the developer’s mission — will honor and emphasize the local culture.
The first release included one-, two- and three-bedroom properties that range from approximately 800 to more than 2,000 square feet. Prices began in the
$200,000s.

Punta Leona is located just north of Jacó on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, and is home to both locals and international residents alike.
The community is known for its two white sand beaches — one of which was recently awarded a “Four Star Blue Flag” designation for ecological preservation.

“VIVA Punta Leona’s real estate offering, and its setting with white sand beaches and lush jungle, really appealed to us,” said buyers
Liz Paez and Hal Marcus of Piedmont, California. “It’s an authentic Costa Rica experience with a family friendly atmosphere, plus the comforts
and luxuries of home.”

With the strong response to VIVA Punta Leona’s first offering, Beach One Developments will soon be releasing details of Phase Two.
Beach One Developments is a joint venture between Hal Wright and the Gordienko family, operators of Punta Leona since 1975. The partners
are committed to maintaining a socially responsible community and preservation of the natural ecology.

Hal Wright is also managing partner of Punta Dominical, the largest development company in Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific Zone. Hal has years
of expertise in the creation of exceptional family-friendly properties and master planned communities.

Union Costarricense de Camara de Industrias lists high-tech, tourism, PVC, textiles and retail as most affected sectors.

Cabinet Minister Rodrigo Arias said the emergency measure will allow the state-run ICE electricity institute to speedup allocations to replace the old deteriorated plants.

ICE union leader Fabio Chavez said successive neoliberal governments denied funds in order to ruin ICE and achieve its privatization.

The situation sparked national debate since Costa Rica signed, but has not confirmed, the US-sponsored CAFTA free trade agreement to end state monopoly on sectors like energy.

Our editors note that on a daily basis, we watch power going on and off throughout town.  Today, for example, we had to stop at 4 restaurants to find one that was open.   The rest were closed because they had no power…  what a pain!! Addionally, the restaurants with generators don’t keep their refriderators at the normal cold temperature, which is forcing me to drink less than ice-cold coronas.

This property has been re-designed inside and a pool has been added since it’s last feature in Estilos y Casas Magazine in June. Here is the information about the house, but please check the listing on our site for the latest PHOTOS and also the PHOTOS from the last Magazine shoot.

Listing: http://www.estaterealty.com/listman/listings/l0002.html
Magazine photo shoot: http://www.estaterealty.com/baantong/index.htm

Designed by architect Enrique Barascout, the Baan Tong House interprets and adapts traditional Thai architecture for modern times by including such features as:
- resting the house on pylons, which make it appear lighter; having wooden columns wider at the base than at the top; and using wood extensively throughout the home. Iron railings in unusual colors woven like a typical Balinese basket provide protection on balconies and terraces, as well as make an artistic statement.

The escazu mansion home is entered through an impressive three meter high bronze door, giving it an unquestionable Thai feel and inspiring the name “Baan Tong,” which means “House of Gold.”

The heart of the home is the living room with its soaring ceiling – up to almost 30 feet high. Twelve foot French doors lead to an airy interior courtyard with a soothing stone fountain.

With an abundance of windows and glass doors, this exceptional home basks in natural light, surrounds itself with spectacular vistas, and interacts peacefully with the bounty of nature outside its walls.

Here are some specs:
-Property: 7550 m² (1.86 acres)
-Construction: 540 m² (5812 SF)
-4 bedrooms
-3½ baths
-Master bath with Carrara marble
-Kitchen done by Poggenpohl
-Library
-42 m² (452 SF) court yard
-4 phone lines
-Satellite TV
-Alarm
-Infinity edge pool and jacuzzi
-2 car garage with electric opener
-Gymnasium with shower and kitchenette
-Heat pump
-Mountain and valley views
-Serious security of the property, including a guard house at the gate of the property.

BY CHRONICLE STAFF

Despite a rise in real estate prices and an explosion in hotel rooms, Costa Rica’s real estate market - already one of the fastest-growing in Latin America - has a bright outlook, experts say.“The perception of Costa Rica as a safe place is one of the reasons why the real estate market has been so vibrant in the past and will continue to be in future,” says Rogerio Basso, a Miami-based Latin America analyst with Ernst & Young’s hospitality and real estate practice. Despite a rise in real estate prices and an explosion in hotel rooms, Costa Rica’s real estate market - already one of the fastest-growing in Latin America - has a bright outlook, experts say.And despite the price increase, Costa Rican real estate is still less expensive compared to the United States, the origin for most of its residential real estate investment, he points out. “Today Costa Rica is still a value proposition compared to the United States,” Basso says.