What is the REAL truth about buying property in Nicaragua and Costa Rica?

Hello: Which development in the san juan del sur area do you feel is the best bang for ones buck. Are prices down? I was there in mid 2008 and it seemed that everyone was holding firm.. It seems these developments are asking too much for their land..especially in many cases when the in frastructure is minimal but then they go on to give this grand future vision. Even paying 20,000 for some of these properties seems real high..There is so much land in Nicaragua. So much future supply...how do these developers justify these prices? I realize that San juan has many eminities but still the prices seem ridiculous... I would like to hear your take on the above. Thanks
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Perhaps a great balance would be a SECTION here to advertise - A) - to me "advertising" is Sharing Information & B) I'd MUCH rather support someone from within the board than go through the yellow pages/pago amarillo!!

I'm curious if you know of any contacts in your area regarding long term permanent caretaking positions. My husband and I, in our 40's-50's have done long term jobs in the past in Mexico, but would like to try further south and only are interested in the long term 3-5 years +. We can do it all, have the highest standards, are not yet fluent in Spanish but get along quite well with the basics, we've even lived off the grid in Mexico, with excellent skills with pumps, electrical systems, water systems, the whole shabang. Besides this we are honest and live impeccably clean! A big advantage to anyone who has investment there they cannot watch over. If you know of ways to direct us to possible clients, please respond. Thankyou very much for your time and attention. Melissa

Maybe you could find somewhere reasonable to rent for a year or 2. Make sure you like the area and country, neighbors before you plunk down your cash. Also in the time of a couple years you might find a screaming bargain. But be careful as people will tell you what you want to hear. Until its too late. Ethics probably different than you're used to, locals and forgieners alike. I like it but its not easy.

...and anyone can write garbage like this about another person and signs Anonymous! I have lived in Managua since 2003 full time. I live in front of a BANK not behind a gas sation and you my sour puss friend are a coward for not letting anyone know who you are because you will be sued for slander. My pics are on Google earth my address AND NUMBERS ARE ON ALL MY EMAILS AND i FOR THE EXCEPTION OF YOU HAVE CLIENT REFERENCES,,, Fell free to contact anytime you'd like of come by and visit me in my office in Lindavista. On the main avnue infront of Banco ProCredit. I just posted this reply and will not waist anymore time on this wahoo in southern Georgia sitting in front of his laptop having a beer in his daddies overalls Regards and nice hearing from you Glenn Seavers....still bitter about [.. deleted by moderator --.]....take your nonesence somewhere else. . Jorge Giraldez-Benard Latin American Advisors Co. LTD Managua, Nicaragua C.A. Tel: 011 505 8825-8505 (C) 8773-3766 (MS)  Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. Albert Einstein

Hey can you contact me at chris.trunell@gmail.com I'd like to learn more from someone who has been through it. Planning a trip down there in late feb. Mucho Gracias Chris

Hi All,

Land has been taken by governments in Mexico, Costa Rica (To a huge extent!) and many central and south american countries in the past. - Nicaragua to of course as well.

We also get a lot of very stupid people coming to nicaragua who buy property of a family they meet, dont speak spanish, dont bother getting a lawyer, and just seem to trust someone they've known for a week enough to hand over money for some land - i personally think this is crazy and i wouldn't do it in the states like that, but they seem to think it is ok here???? and then they write about it in blogs and give bad press - people who have had normal or positive experiences as you would expect by doing things properly rarely bother to write about it! ha ha

there are a lot of checks which need to be carried out which if done properly, ensure the safetly of land ownership here - like a form stating that the property is free of any liens, a survey to make sure the land borders match what is held in the central registry so there is no confusion with who owns what, and a carta de no objections - this is most important and states that the property is able to to be sold and no one i the governemt ahs any objections or rights to it - it is ilegal to sell property now with out this but it still gets done like this if a transaction is not done correctly.

I will always use a real estate agent with an internationally recognized name when buying property in any country because this affords me some protection and if anything goes wrong, and can go after them in the States where the are registered - i also dont work with people like someone here mentioned who are young and just here to surf.... pick someone who has qualifications..they are there, its just that you may have to go into their offices to meet them as they are more likely to be there working rather than on the beach.
I would potentially consider buying a property from an owner in my own country where i know the property legal system very well, and it is my first language, and if i know the seller or at least have a very good lawyer. - you would never catch me doing that in any other country though/

I have bought many properties in Nicaragua, and am proud to call it my home here. I hope many of you can feel the same one day!

Google Jorge Giraldez http://www.nicaragua.com/forums/business-negocios/111-nicaragua-2.html who has been around for years making false claims, intimidating those who do not agree with him, his "office" in Managua is behind a gas station and he puts on a good front. He resides in Miami USA and has scammed relief workes, sold supplies intended for disaster relief. He strikes out in anger, like any con artit, if accused of any wrongdoing and of course the exprt scammer winds up making the victim or victims feel guilty. Avoid him. If looking to relocate travel to Nicaragua, make contacts with those who have resided some time in Nicaragua, and if planning to relocate at least rent for a while. [--- links deleted, please feel free to sign up to the website and create a new page with resources you find helpful about Nicaragua and we can include all of them, but it was too long a list for this context-- ] ANYONE IS ABLE TO PUT ANYTHING THEY WANT ABOUT THEMSELVES ON THE INTERNET, IF ANYONE HAS TO CONSTANTLY DEFEND THEMSELVES AND TELL YOU HOW "HONEST" THEY ARE STAY AWAY FROM THEM. JORGE GIRALDEZ BERNARD IS BAD NEWS, DO BUSINESS WITH HIM AT YOUR OWN RISK, LET ME KNOW VIA THIS THREAD. Saludos.

I bought on the pacific coast near Playa Gigante. Is it not possible that you have failure bias? I have not been in Nicaragua long. I don't pretend to know everything but I do know I am extremely happy with my purchase of land and building of a home. Nicaragua is not for everybody and many people struggle with the amount of freedom here. There is no one to baby sit your mistakes or protect you once they are made. You simply must take proper precautions and do what you feel is right. This was right for me. I wouldn't tell anyone it is right for them but I wouldn't discourage them from coming down and finding out.

Most of them seem like young guys who got into selling Real Estate in the last few years and I feel uncomfortable with merely relying upon the information they provide. Information is sadly lacking.

Hello: Which development in the san juan del sur area do you feel is the best bang for ones buck. Are prices down? I was there in mid 2008 and it seemed that everyone was holding firm.. It seems these developments are asking too much for their land..especially in many cases when the in frastructure is minimal but then they go on to give this grand future vision. Even paying 20,000 for some of these properties seems real high..There is so much land in Nicaragua. So much future supply...how do these developers justify these prices? I realize that San juan has many eminities but still the prices seem ridiculous... I would like to hear your take on the above. Thanks

www NicaraguaLifestyles info is what I would like ot do to help put people to work, to bring tourism, to stop the hunger children,

I plan to open a Red Door Kitchen/First Aid center in Esquipulas, to feed the hunger, before the end of the year. I am but one man,  the plan is simple, lease land, take seeds and plant food, open a fruit and vegetable stand and then cook the food for the red door kitcehn ot feed the kids .  I have made contact and have received a promise of food, but have to tranport it. so a link with an airline is needed.  THis process would teach people how to grow their food, how ot process it,  how ot cook, how to feed their kids.  

The building for the kitchen will also house a Medical station with an apartment upstairs or close. I plan to ask Doctors to promise 3 days a quarter.  Where they would come and see the people and help.   You see I still believe in mankind,

I am a real estate appraiser in Alabama USA. business is so slow here I have had to wait, and wait...

So while I can do nothing but wait , I ask for your ideas and suggestions to improve the plan.,

www Southlandappraisers com

To answer your question peterchristopher about what we are going to do with the land to preserve the ecology...

First of all, we have a small development by other's standards, approximately 100 acres.  The more important part is that this piece of land is in a key location, nestled between the Cosiguina volcano itself, the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by the Cosiguina Nature Reserve.  This piece of land was stripped down from the natural habitat to make a peanut (mani) farm years ago by the previous owner.  Although I have nothing against farming and grew up in the prairies of Canada in a farming community, I think it was unfortunate to have this tract of land be stripped to the dirt in an area where there are endangered species, one of which is the Great Green Macaw parrot which is not found in very many other places outside of this area.  Of course there are many other animal species as well as the protected hardwood trees, etc.

As I said in my previous post, my goal is to help not only the flora and fauna of the area but to help the local people too.  So through a combination of numerous things I hope to be able to accomplish both.

Firstly, we are going to reforest the bulk of the property with indigenous plants.  We are going to create an interpretive center for the Cosiguina hotspring volcano to help educate people about the local flora and fauna and this will include a rehabilitation center for injured or orphaned wildlife.  During the egg laying season of the turtles we will assist the government in protecting the beaches from poachers (which is a real problem).  This was done last year by several volunteers even before we have done any development on the property.  Of course all the buildings will be as low impact as possible and will be powered by wind and solar, composting toilets will be used, etc.

To help the locals improve their quality of life without impacting their culture we are going to create a small market area for the locals to sell their handicrafts, seafood, etc.  I am currently working with Canadian baseball clubs to provide us with baseball equipment and will be building a baseball field for the local kids to play on.  We are also making a "skills exchange" area where those who purchase in our development can teach skills to and learn skills from the locals.  We want to be a part of the community, not build walls around ourselves to keep out the community.

So you can see, our ideas are a mix of helping the environment and the people.  Perhaps I am naive and there are plenty of negative people who will make comments like "I hope Ortega doesn't take your land when you are done." but if all of us were like them, nothing would ever improve.

I do wish though that people who make comments like that would understand the history of land confiscation in the distant past.  I'm not taking political sides here but if you look at the past land issues from many Nicaraguan's perspective, you will find that the ruling party before Ortega's revolution in the 80's took land from poor farmers and gave it to their friends.  People don't revolt for no reason.  To a great deal of Nicaraguan's, Ortega is a hero, he took power away from the corrupt rulers and gave the land back to the people.  Of course the friends of the earlier regime didn't like that their land had been taken back and were very vocal about it.  So as North American's all we heard was Ortega was a mad man taking away land.  That was over 20 years ago, and as I said earlier, I'm not taking any political sides but many Nicaraguans feel that returning their land to them was the right thing to do.  Now some of them have chosen to sell and that is their right.

If you talk with Nicaraguans now they would laugh if you said you were afraid that the government will take your land.  Sure they are working on straightening out some title issues, but issues like overlapping lots because of poor surveying techniques in the past happen in the US and Canada too.  The overwhelming intent of the government is to attract investment to the country.  Last week I met with many top officials in the Nicaraguan government and without exception, all were very interested in making sure that our development is a success because it brings money and jobs while being eco-friendly.  Nicaragua has some of the most protected natural reserve land in Central America and if they can get help with continuing that while helping their economy through jobs and investment they are very keen on it.

Hi! My family is considering a move to Costa Rica.  Does anyone know what the laws are regarding schools and vaccines?  Can we live there, become citizens and still educate our children at home?  If our children are not enrolled in school - can they remain without vaccination?

Thanks! 

[WEBSITE MODERATOR ADDITION:  Please followup on this subject at the new discussion topic on homeschooling and vaccination requirements for Costa Rica schools as the post is out of place here. Thanks.]