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FAQ Categories
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- How do I get to Hidden Coast's Tamarindo Office?
Hidden Coast Realty actually has three offices in Tamarindo. The sales office is located next to Supermercado 2001 on the road to Langosta. To get to our office from Tamarindo, one goes towards the circle and turns left just before Zullymar Hotel following the signs to the Barcelo Hotel. Once you pass High Tide Surf Shop on your left (a green building with lots of advertising), you should see Plaza Tamarindo on your left as well. Hidden Coast's development office is on the back corner closer to the beach. The administrative office with the meeting area is located on the second floor of Plaza Tamarindo just in front of the stairs. To get to the sales office, turn right at Plaza Tamarindo and look on your left immediately after the pizza parlor. Coming from Langosta, one simply has to drive back towards Tamarindo, and you will see our office next to Supermercado 2001 on the right.
Read more...88,89% of 9 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ  useful  not useful - How do I get to Hidden Coast's Puerto Coyote Office?
Hidden Coast Realty's Coyote Office is located in Finca Coyote. Coming south from Samara, you pass through Carrillo, Camaronal, Islita, and Bejuco. When you arrive in San Francisco de Coyote, you turn right just past the supermarket (you should be following signs to Caletas). You will cross a small stream and then see signs on your left for our office. Turn in and go up the hill. Our office is located in a yellow house that is the first right. Coming north from Santa Teresa, you simply follow the signs for San Francisco de Coyote, and you will have to pass by our office on your right hand side. Read more...66,67% of 3 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What Do Recent Clients Have to Say About HCR?
Joost,
I just wanted to say thank you for your help buying
this land. You have made the process of buying property in Costa Rica
go very smoothly. I
really appreciate your professionalism, knowledge of the process and quick responses to all my questions. I will be sure to recommend your services to anyone I talk to who is
interested in buying property in Costa Rica.
Thank You,
Trevor L.
Eddie,
Thanks for all your help. We
will definitely contact you in the future if we buy again. Thanks also
for recommending Juan (Juan Manuel of Facio Abogados). He was excellent to work with. You guys were
fantastic!
Being hundreds of miles away, it made all
the difference that you were so on top of things and responded to all
of my emails quickly. Thanks for your prompt attention to every detail
and for following through on everything you promised. You made our
out-of-country transaction smoother and less stressful.
Thanks,
Josh M.Read more...100,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful
- Why Do People Buy Costa Rica Real Estate?
Costa Rica was first discovered by the Spanish in 1502 and given its name which literally means “rich coast.” What the Spanish didn’t fully understand at the time was that instead of riches in minerals and gold, Costa Rica’s real wealth existed in its biodiversity, wildlife, friendly people, beautiful beaches and endless recreational activities. In fact, Costa Rica is so beautiful that the only real danger is not wanting to leave.
Pride is a common characteristic of any Costa Rican or “Tico,” and you will hear it as they sing their national anthem in their local soccer stadiums proclaiming their profound love for their country. The anthem proudly states, “Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz” which means “May work and peace live forever.” You too will feel inspired to be a part of something so wholesome as well as a part of a people who work so hard to achieve all that they have. And who would not be proud to live in the most prosperous country in Central America?
Since Costa Rica has eliminated its national army, it spends 23% of the national budget on education and is currently the only country to have an amusement park that donates all of its profits to the children’s hospital. Another wonderful aspect of the country is the socialized health care, which means that a “Tico” never has to worry about expensive health care because the government will take care of the bill and will never turn anyone away.
Costa Rica also has a strong democracy and is currently being lead by President Oscar Arias, a former Nobel Peace Prize winner. He has recently made huge steps to improve the country’s infrastructure in order to accommodate and promote the growing number of visitors that arrive each year.
Costa Rica’s economy has grown especially in the sector of tourism, whereas main exports such as coffee, bananas and timber have taken a back seat. Microchips are another large industry with Intel calling Costa Rica home to one of its factories. However, tourism seems to be growing the most. Over 1.6 million tourists visit per year, which is quite a lot considering Costa Rica’s population is roughly 4 million. Much of this growth in tourism has occurred since the opening of the second international airport in the country in Guanacaste. Located in the town of Liberia, Daniel Oduber International Airport has recently expanded with new terminals giving more airlines direct access to this paradise, and more are on the way.
Temperatures average temperatures vary between 90° and 63° Fahrenheit and 32° and 23° Celsius, which is an ideal range for many outdoor activities, such as sunbathing on one of many beautiful beaches, surfing, sport fishing, whitewater rafting, ATV and Canopy Jungle tours and relaxing at the hot springs at the base of the Volcano.
Another one of the unique tourism experiences that Costa Rica has to offer is ecotourism, now a common term globally that was basically invented in Costa Rica. In 1998 Costa Rica passed an exclusive biodiversity law which regulates the use and protection of Costa Rica’s natural resources, protects many areas, and encourages environmental education. Ticos recognize that the land they have inherited should be protected as it continues to support them in its natural state. Costa Rica’s national parks and preserves comprise more than 25% of the country’s total land area and are home to 6% of the Earth’s biodiversity, including more than 10,000 plant species. These are just some of the reasons tourists keep returning and also why a good number of them eventually make it their second or permanent home.
For the reasons mentioned above, Costa Rica is an ideal place to invest money in a residence or business venture. It is known for being one of the safest countries for foreign investment in all of Central and South America. The government and financial institutions remain actively pro-U.S. mainly in an attempt to build on earlier successes such as attracting U.S. chip-manufacturer Intel who opened their large processing plant in San Jose in the late 1990’s. Since then many U.S. based companies have followed in their footsteps such as Acer, GE, Microsoft and Continental Airways in order to take advantage of Costa Rica’s workforce, which is the most educated, hardworking, and computer literate in Central America.
As well as being investment friendly, Costa Rica is also property-owner friendly. All individuals and private companies, local or foreign can own land or property in Costa Rica. The Pacific and Caribbean coastlines are absolutely full of buyer opportunities. Beachfront and ocean views are obviously the most popular especially since the vast majority of Costa Rica’s beaches are given yearly awards for being extremely clean and well kept. This stems mainly from the local and foreign residents who take special interest in maintaining the beaches in their natural pristine form. Because of the great climate and peaceful surroundings, Costa Rica has also become a retirement buyer’s magnet. Retirees make up a large portion of the national population and find it easy to get help with either temporary or permanent residency status through lawyers and/or the government.
With all the great things that Costa Rica has going for them such as their own unique culture, incredible biodiversity, great year-round climate, beautiful beaches, myriad activities, opportunities for investment, it is no surprise that many foreigners are already looking for vacation homes, second homes, or retirement homes.
So now the question is when are you going to put “Pura Vida” in your vocabulary?
Read more...50,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What are the Steps of Purchasing Real Estate in Costa Rica?
So you have found that perfect piece of property… Step one of a typical real estate transaction in Costa Rica normally entails making an earnest money offer to the seller. The buyer makes an offer based on the seller’s asking price, and in order to get the ball rolling, a deposit is put in escrow as a show of good will and as motivation for the seller to take the property off the market. This escrow deposit can be held with the purchaser’s attorney, with seller’s attorney, or with an escrow agent such as Stewart Title. Read more...100,00% of 4 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - So What about Special Circumstances?
Houses:
Houses near the beach are very often
sold furnished. Often only a few personal items leave the house with
the seller. When a home is sold "furnished," an inventory list is
prepared during the escrow period and approved by both parties prior to
closing. Pre-Sale Homes, Condos, etc.
Purchases
of properties planned for the future or under construction usually call
for a deposit and then payments based on a schedule that should be
outlined in the Earnest Money Deposit Agreement. The deposit is often
held in escrow until groundbreaking, but payment schedules vary from
project to project. Selling your Property Listing
your property with Hidden Coast Realty is a great decision. We
work for you. We strive to put together a marketing plan that will get
your property the attention it deserves and then to close the sale
smoothly and efficiently. We happily distribute our listings to other
areas brokers because we know that cooperation makes deals happen in
Costa Rica. We think you will find our website to be one of the most
thorough on the web. In addition, we advertise in print and other
online forums. Contact us immediately to list your property: (506) 653-0708, Selling Property. Read more...50,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful
- Can Foreigners Own Real Estate/What is the Likelihood of the Government Nationalizing Foreign Property Here?
These questions are usually grounded in horror stories from other Latin American countries. The government of Costa Rica is very interested in promoting foreign investment in this country, and this trend will only continue with the election of Oscar Arias, the former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Although the country has always encouraged foreign investment, Arias intends to liberalize many of the state-granted monopolies and considers tourism as a major factor in the country’s long term viability. Read more...100,00% of 3 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What is the economy like?
Since 1993 tourism has been Costa Rica’s leading earner of foreign currency, followed closely by textiles, bananas and coffee. However, with the Mammoth New Intel Plant build in 1996, microships have outtake tourism as the number one earner. Inflation averages around 13% and foreigners who keep bank accounts in Costa Rica are wise to denominate their accounts in dollars. Dollars are as commonly used in commercial establishment as are Colones the national currency. Read more...100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What are the best surf spots in Guanacaste?
- What is the status of the coast line in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica’s coastline is all public by law of the first 50 meters above the mean high tide line, defined by what is known as the 50 meter line. No one can restrict access or have a totally private beach. Maritime-terrestrial zone on 80 to 85% of the coast, the 150 meters following the 50 meter line is government lease land, also known as the Maritime Zone. Within the zone foreigners must establish five years residency to own 49% of the rights to a lease. Two loopholes include, holding a lease with a corporation that is wholey owned by another corporation that is wholey owned by a foreigner, or by having a Costa Rican hold 50% of the lease and name only. Read more...100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Can I have a Bank Account in Costa Rica? In dollars?
Foreigners can open bank accounts in Costa Rica in either a personal name or in the name of a corporation. These accounts can be in US Dollars, Costa Rican Colones, or Euros. It is generally advisable to have them in either foreign currency since the colon continues to lose value win comparison to both other currencies. To open a bank account, typically a proof of some sort of interest in the country is necessary along with a passport. This proof could be something as simple as the electricity bill for the place you are staying. A letter from an attorney on your behalf can also aid in obtaining a bank account. Your passport number serves as your identifying number in the same way a social security number would work in the states. Read more...100,00% of 3 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Am I moving to the jungle?
 Many foreigners ask about the incidence of infectious disease in Costa Rica. Although it is not unheard of, Malaria is extremely rare in this country because the country can afford to combat it. Even poorer parts of Costa Rica are still much more well off than the poorer parts of countries north of here such as Nicaragua and Honduras.
Read more...66,67% of 3 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How Often do People Die of Poisonous Snake Bites?
This question generally comes from those that have never visited Guanacaste and imagine it as a teeming jungle. Although the rain and cloud forests can be reached by car within a few hours, Guanacaste is an arid region and even the wooded areas are not nearly as dense as in other areas. We do not encounter deadly snakes or spiders in daily life here. Read more...50,00% of 6 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How is Health Care in Costa Rica?
Although Costa Rica is relatively small and located in Central America, the health care system here is quite good. Health insurance for foreigners can be purchased through the INS (National Insurance Institute), which is the only option available since insurance is a state-granted monopoly here. It covers much of the same things that a policy would in another country, although the policies are generally much cheaper. Read more...100,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What is the climate of Guanacaste like?
 Located about 10 degrees north of the equator, the climate of Costa Rica is tropical. There are only two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season or verano (summer) is from December through April. The days are warm and sunny, with clear nights. The rainy season or invierno (winter) is from mid-May to November.
In Guanacaste, the rainy season is generally less dramatic. Many days start off sunny and then change into mild showers during the afternoon with the clouds drifting out to sea. This makes some for some of the most beautiful sunsets on the planet. The foliage during rainy season is very lush and grows rapidly. All of the pastures turn green. Read more...100,00% of 6 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How are the phone systems in Costa Rica?
International cards may be made from public telephones by calling collect, using your international calling card, or using Costa Rica’s new chip cards. Read more...100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What is restaurant etiquette like?
Waiters – A 10% service charge is always included in the bill at restaurants, hotels and clubs. If you wish to leave an extra tip, it is acceptable to do so. It is fairly common practice for Ticos to not bring the bill until asked to do so. In addition, meals are often delivered in parts. Be patient. 100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Can I bring pets into the country?
You can bring your pets into the country, however, paperwork is involved as well as a fee and some patience. You must have a certification from a veterinarian stating that your pet is free of internal and external parasites. Your pets vaccinations must be up to date against rabies, distemper, leptospirosis, hepatitis and paro virus. The rabies vaccination must not be older than three years. 100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What is television like?
You will feel like you are back at home and watching the variety of English television channels available with satellite or cable. At this time, both cable companies along the northern pacific offer CNN, ESPN, and TNT in Spanish and in English. In addition, we receive HBO, Cinemax, and Cinecanal in English. The major US networks are available as well. 0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Can I Get Around Tamarindo Without a Car?
Is it possible to live in Tamarindo without a car? Yes, and many would
say it is preferable not having to worry about your car. Tamarindo is so
compact that no matter where you live you are never more than a fifteen
minute walk from where you are going. In the US it is almost
inconceivable to be living right next to everything you need: grocery
stores, all kinds of restaurants, banks, the beach, the gym, but here
that is how it is! And by not owning a car you will save money, get more
exercise, and meet more people. So give it a shot, and take life a
little bit slower.
Read more...100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful
- What is Costa Rica Like?
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The top revenue generator in the Costa Rican economy is tourism. In 1999 more than a million visitors entered Costa Rica. Costa Rica is the birthplace of the term eco-tourism. Tourists come to Costa Rica to surf, bird watch, fish for big game fish such as sailfish or blue or black marlin, snorkel around coral reefs, track up the slopes of active volcanoes, go white water rafting, watch nesting turtles, go on jungle canopy tours, go horseback riding through trails in national parks or go four-wheeling on secluded dirt roads. Read more...100,00% of 17 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How does insurance work in Costa Rica? (From a Costa Rican Insurance Expert)
The insurance in Costa Rica is governed by a monopoly of the State, since 1924 the insurance company is The Instituto Nacional de Seguros, http://www.ins-cr.com carries all lines of insurance covering, property, casualty and personal, life & health. The purchase of insurance can be done directly to the insurance company or with brokers or agents that can assist you to procure cover and conduct the relation with the Insurance company with no variations in the rate charged. Read more...100,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Links to helpful sites on real estate and Costa Rica
Usefull links about Costa Rica Read more...50,00% of 2 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful
- What type of management services does HCRPM offer?
As
property managers, we oversee income producing residential properties. Our goal is to make your property here hassle
free, so that you just have to enjoy it. We do all of the stressful work required to
maintain your property and keep you informed of what we are doing. We carefully maintain your property with a
professional service so that you are happy and stress free and people that rent
through us are as well. If you will let
us, we will provide you with great service and minimum headache.
We will do an evaluation of your property and provide the following services for a
flat fee:
• Regular property inspections
• Cleaning (at least once per week)
• Stocking of household supplies
• Preventative maintenance and simple repairs
• Payment of utilities and services
• Periodic status reports to you
• E-mail for easy communication
• Promotion for rentals
• Be on-call for anything that comes up with your property
Read more...0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What type of rental service does HCRPM offer?
HCRPM provides a variety of rental services to their
guests. These services include:
• Inventory control – compiling a list of the contents and inspecting the house upon the guests’ departure for damage or breakage
• Reservation processing and confirmation
• Follow up with tenants to help them finish all of the details of their trip
• Check-in & check-out
•Pre and post cleaning of the house
• 24 hour emergency contact for guests
• Fulfillment of guests requests during their stay
• Providing a welcome package to our guests with information including a map of the area and a telephone directory with restaurants, doctors, pharmacy, and amenities in and around (Playa Negra/Tamarindo)
• Collection of deposit and rental payments
• If desired, other fee-based services provided to the guests and owners during their stay include: grocery stocking, maid service, cook service and catering service.
• Making the guest experience excellent, so they come back to rent your property again
Read more...0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How will HCRPM be marketing my property?
HCRPM's websites includes a section on properties for rent and
each rental property is represented via its own link. This link includes:
• Photos of the house – exterior and interior
• Description of the house including configuration of beds and bathrooms
• Special features such as ocean or valley views, beachfront, swimming pool, etc.
• Owner preferences such as no smoking or no pets.
In addition, HCRPM advertises rental properties in various other websites, print publications, with signs and continues to expand its marketing efforts.
Read more...0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How does rental commission work?
HCRPM's rental fee is 20% of the net rate collected for
services listed in section 2 for short term rentals, and the first month of any rental 6 months or longer. The first month will be billed again for leases of one year or longer.
Read more...0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What if I find my own renters? Will you charge me a commission?
You are welcome to find your own tenants, and we
will take care of the services listed in section 2. We charge a discounted
management fee of 10% when you find your own guests. Just inform us with all
the details of the reservation, and we will provide the same high quality service as we would had we found the tenants ourselves. Read more...100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - How will rental income and expenses be documented?
HCRPM documents expenses and revenue associated with your
individual unit in our accounting system. On a quarterly basis, statements are sent to each property owner. Since we constantly update our books, we will be happy to send statements via request as well.
In order to start our services, we require an opening balance equivalent to 3 months of bills or your property unoccupied. From that point forward, we will send your balance above what we need to keep in reserve whenever you request it, and your entire balance at the termination of your services.
Read more...0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What will HCRPM do if guests are not taking care of my property as they should, or discover unauthorized pets?
HCRPM gives the tenant an opportunity to correct the situation
and usually they will. If a problem
persists, we will make a decision based on that specific situation
Read more...0% of 0 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - What am I responsible for as an owner?
The biggest thing you are responsible for is
making sure that we are aware of when you want to use your property. That way
we can be sure that we will never double-book it. When you visit your property
from time to time, please give us your feedback. Read more...100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful - Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
Fernando Gómez is the director of property management and runs the Tamarindo Area and Karina and Maria
José Flecha run the Playa Negra Area.
Their respective contact information is as follows:
Main Office
(506) 653-0708
1 800 385-5513
Karina Flecha
(506) 843-7923
karina@hiddencoastrealty.com
Maria José Flecha
(506) 652-9150
(506) 886-9429
mariajose@hiddencoastrealty.com
Fernando Gómez
(506) 845-1764
fernando@hiddencoastrealty.com
Read more...100,00% of 1 voters found this FAQ useful, I found this FAQ useful not useful
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