Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
JASON HOLLAND
ParticipantHi Michael,
Costa Rica does have high quality/low cost dental care available throughout the country. But the best clinics are considered to be in San Jose, the capital, and its suburbs like Escazu. I haven’t used these offices personally but they get high marks from patients:
If you contact them, they should be able to answer any questions you might have about specific procedures and cost estimates for treatment.
ParticipantHi Patrick,
I’ll chime in. There are a few places that fit the bill as far as proximity to beach and higher elevation/cooler weather around Jaco, as well as Quepos/Manuel Antonio. A bit further north you also have Miramar, a small town. You might contact this real estate office about possible Jaco and Quepos properties: http://www.remax-oceansiderealty.com
ParticipantHi Scott,
You might try asking some local real estate agents. They probably have a Rolodex for this type of thing for clients who build homes. GoDutchRealty.com and American-European.net have agents based in Grecia, I believe.
I also found this Yellow Pages listing for septic tank services in the Central Valley. Most are septic tank cleaners but some seem to also construct them. But one of these might be able to point you to the engineer you need.
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/Telefonica-Amarilla/gam2012/2012060402/200.html#200
ParticipantI think Mailboxes etc would probably still be able to help you out as they work internationally with FedEx and UPS. And I think it’s worth contacting the place in Playa Herradura to see if they might be able to help.
You could always have the item shipped regular mail to the Costa Rican post office in Jaco. But that might be a lengthy process.
Keep in mind that many airlines also ship cargo, including AirCanada.
One last thing… you might try contacting FedEx and UPS directly and explaining your situation. Perhaps they have a drop off location in Jaco or can arrange something for you.
November 26, 2014 at 10:33 am in reply to: Buying a house or a lot without being permanent resident in Costa Rica #593343ParticipantHi Christian,
There’s no need to be a resident of Costa Rica at all to buy a home or lot here… or to own a business either. And you don’t need a local bank account.
You can buy property on a tourist visa no problem. There are no restrictions on foreign ownership. (If the property is worth $200,000 or more you would qualify for inversionista residency – a temporary residency category – by the way.)
How to do it? That’s a big question. But basically, it’s a lot like buying real estate anywhere. You have to find a region that you like, property that you like, and all that. You should work with an attorney experienced in real estate, as well as a trusted local real estate agent. Do your due diligence on the property – check that the title is clear, the proper permits are in place if it’s a new development, etc., which your attorney can do. Keep in mind that most deals are cash, some are owner / developer financing, and mortgages are for residents only and even then hard to qualify for.
You can find out more about real estate in CR here: https://internationalliving.com/real-estate/costa-rica/
November 26, 2014 at 9:59 am in reply to: Travel to and from CR and other countries in Central America #593330ParticipantYes, it’s easy to travel to other Central American countries with a U.S. passport. All those countries offer tourist visas without any prior arrangements. You get your stamp at the border. But you’ll probably need some sort of proof of travel back to the U.S. or other country, say a plane ticket back to the U.S. or a bus ticket out of the country you’re entering.
You have some options:
TransNica can get you to and from Nicaragua (Granada, San Juan del Sur, Managua) (http://transnica.com)
TicaBus can get you to Panama, Nica, Mexico, and other countries (http://www.ticabus.com/esp/)
Getting to Belize would probably require changing buses somewhere. It’d be a long trip.
Both of these companies have very modern, air con buses. Very comfortable. You don’t have to change buses at the border and the “crew” take care of getting your passport stamped and such at the border. As far as time, I’m not sure the calculation. But you can find out how long each route would take.
There are also lower cost bus lines in CR (Like Central Line, which has a station in downtown San Jose) that will get you to the border with either Nica or Panama. Then you have to switch buses after you cross the border.
I’ve always felt safe traveling along in Costa Rica, Belize, and Nicaragua. I know Panama and most of Guatemala is safe too. But I think parts of Honduras and El Salvador are iffy. I would consult guidebooks or online forums for tips on those countries.
ParticipantSounds like a great trip. I explored the Nicoya back in January. Some tips for the car ferry.. get there a couple of hours prior to scheduled departure to ensure you get a spot on your desired ferry. Watch for the guys directing traffic. They’ll direct you where to get in line for boarding the ferry. Then they will give you a voucher. You have to take that to the ferry ticket office and buy your car’s ticket, as well for any passengers. Then head back to your car and wait for the signal to board. It’s a very smooth process.
As far as driving on the Nicoya Peninsula, it’s dry season so the road conditions should be pretty good. Highway 21 is paved, although the smaller roads will be a mix of pavement and dirt. I would recommend a 4WD SUV as some of the roads on your route could be rough (still passable) and it’s possible (especially if you get turned around) you might have to cross some rivers or creeks without bridges. (Ask your rental company if this is permitted.) Also, definitely get the GPS and rent a cell phone.
This time of year it’s also possible to drive all the way up the coast on Highway 160. Although always ask locals about road conditions before setting out. You’ll see some beautiful stretches of coast here and can easily pop in to check out Samara, Nosara, Malpais and other beach towns. It’s probably advisable to stop for the night in one of those towns so you’re not on the road after dark. Sunset is at 530 approx. This route does feature all dirt roads, some rough patches, and you definitely have to cross multiple rivers, some knee deep. It’s an adventure for sure.
ParticipantUnfortunately, they do not offer baggage lockers/storage at the airport. And there aren’t really any nearby offsite services like that either.
I think your best bit is to leave your bags at your San Jose hotel while you travel. If you’re not staying overnight in San Jose prior to traveling, you might ask a nearby hotel if they could keep your bags for a fee. There is a Courtyard Marriott right across the highway from the airport.
ParticipantSome further information on this issue:
My contact confirmed that Caja will start accepting applications from same sex couples, just as they do hetero couples. This will apply to both Costa Ricans and foreign residents.
One partner will submit their income to Caja, they will have their monthly payment (7-11%) based on that income, and the other partner will be covered under that same payment as the dependent.
For further help on this issue, or help when applying for residence, you can get in touch with the law firm of Petersen and Philps here: http://www.plawcr.com.
As far as accepting joint residence applications from same sex couples, that is still uncharted territory.
ParticipantHi Jon,
Technically, the flight can show any “onward travel” out of Costa Rica. So it could be to Panama or another country, as long as it’s within 90 days.
If you plan to stay for longer than 90 days, say on a scouting trip, there are a couple of ways to handle this issue.
1. By a refundable ticket and change the date once you arrive. This can be pricey.
2. By a one way ticket to Costa Rica. And then right before you fly buy a ticket out of Costa Rica and then cancel it when you get there. Airlines are required to give a full refund, even on “nonrefundable” tickets, if you cancel within 24 hours.
But keep in mind you can NEVER stay in the country more than 90 days. You don’t have to fly out. You can cross the land border in Nicaragua or Panama and re-enter to get another 90 day tourist visa. But when you re-enter you have to show a ticket out of Costa Rica within 90 days. It’s best to have a plane ticket out although at the border with Nicaragua the officials will often accept a bus ticket out of Costa Rica as proof of onward travel. For this reason many expats who want to stay longer than 90 days make quick trips to Nica to renew their visas. You can buy these bus tickets at an office at the border. In Panama they are stricter and usually require a plane ticket to your home country. Panama also wants to see proof of $500 or more in your bank account to be allowed to enter – an ATM receipt is okay.
I know it all sounds very confusing. It is and the situation is always changing. That’s why it’s best to seek residency so you don’t have to go through all this hassle.
ParticipantHi Len,
I got word that IL Customer Service had been in touch with you. Hopefully everything is resolved. Please let me know if you have any further issues.
Jason
ParticipantHi James,
I was reading some local publications and ran across this article about a recent rule change with the Costa Rican national health system, aka Caja. Apparently now those who have Caja can share their coverage with a same sex partner, just as people were previously allowed to do with spouses or other family members. I’m not sure that it would have an effect on foreigners applying for residency.
But I will keep an eye on this issue and also ask some of my sources for further info. You can see the article here:
ParticipantHi Len,
I will get in touch with International Living customer service about this and they should be in touch with you directly.
Jason
ParticipantHi Steve,
While you can find used car prices galore online for Costa Rica, the new car dealerships (almost all of which are in San Jose, the capital) don’t really publish the prices online in most cases. The only one I’ve found is Toyota, through the Purdy Motors dealership: http://www.toyotacr.com
For other makes, I think you’ll have to contact the dealership directly or visit them. Here’s contact info for Nissan and Suzuki:
http://www.nissancr.com/sp/web/header/header_10681.htm http://www.suzuki.cr/sucursales.php?suc=uruca
As far as hybrids, there is a duty – it’s 10%. Fully electric vehicles can be brought in duty free.
The thing about hybrids is they are very rare. I read an article last year that reported that less than 200 hybrid vehicles had been sold in the country since 2008.Depending on the model you might need to special order it. A Chinese automaker called BYD started selling a hybrid vehicle in CR last year. And I’ve heard that the Prius is also available at the Toyota dealer.
The cost of a new hybrid is still more than the U.S. but not as significant a jump as with regular cars. New hybrids average about $40,000.
ParticipantSo here’s the scoop…
The amount the CR government looks at as far fulfilling pensionado requirements is the gross Social Security, before the Medicare payment is taken out. So you should be fine.
I wanted to let you know about a great resource as you get closer to filing for residence. The law firm of Petersen and Philps, located in San Jose, specialize in helping expats with matters of residence, buying property, etc. They speak at IL events.
-
AuthorPosts