Most people who fall in love with Costa Rica dream of living on the beach or near the beach but actually one of the best places to live is the San Jose central valley area offering all the shopping, restaurants, and other conveniences of modern life. Many fine upscale neighborhoods offer gorgeous homes and expensive restaurants. And of course there is a home for every budget.

One of my friends has been living and working in the San Jose real estate market for over a decade and I can highly recommend Mark of Isthmus Realty to work with you in finding your dream home in Costa Rica.

The end of the calendar brings us to thoughts of past, present and the future. What we have accomplished, who we are and what will become of us and the world around us. Reflections on the state of Real Estate sales in Costa Rica are part of this thought process for those of us who work in marketing and sales and this year has been an especially difficult year in Costa Rica and the world. The year just past has seen sales of real estate but at lower prices and lower numbers then in previous years.

Recently I was privileged to spend a few days at the guest house of Lomas del Mar in Costa Rica. LDM overlooks the beautiful Playas del Coco and is very near the brand new upscale all inclusive resort hotel RIU Guanacaste. The home I stayed in was two stories with four bedrooms each with it's own bathroom, a large modern kitchen and big family room off the main patio near the infinity swimming pool. The views were outstanding and every day was perfect weather.

Life in Costa Rica is like a Mango on a plate - easy on they eyes and sweet on the lips.

What does that mean? Hell if I know but it sounds good !

I just spent four days at Lomas del Mar in one of the awesome rental homes with tremendous views down to Playas del Coco and beyond. Normally i stay in the mountains because of work but I am very glad that I took the opportunity to stay in my friend's home where the weather was perfect and the scenery outstanding. From this four bedroom five bath home with swimming pool we explored the area. Nearby, less then ten minutes away was a near deserted beach with just a few hundred European tourists staying, many of the women topless as is the style on the continent.

This year Costa Rica property taxes are re-assessed by two entities, the municipalidad where your property resides, and the central government for their luxury home tax application. We hear stories about prices being increased outrageously on some homes, especially in places like Escazu or the playas in guanacaste, but here in Tilaran I was not at all surprised with the new assessment of my small real estate. The muni seems very efficient and they have a new engineer assigned to the property department.

I was sitting with several real estate agents in Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica, yesterday discussing the state of property buying and selling around lake arenal. Terry Moran stated that he was showing half a dozen clients around this week and that he expected to sell at least one of them a home as they are all very interested in owning real estate in Arenal. James said he was answering quite a bit more email inquiries then he has been for the past six months and Muriel believes that the slow period is over.

Life in paradise is mostly too easy. Laid back, low stress, very little pressure to complete demands from outside forces like governments or work. Life resembles a day under a coconut palm, where one sleeps in the shade and drinks of the fruit of the tree and makes love under the moon. Monkeys toss mangos and then guide you to their grove of trees bursting with green plump fruit, free for the picking. Ah yes life is good in Costa Rica, the tropical paradise in central america.

I live on Lake Arenal in Costa Rica because of all the places I have visited and lived in this beautiful central american country, Arenal provides great recreation, wide open space, moderate weather, plenty of rain to keep things green, and an interesting and expanding expat community for interaction. There is really no other spot in Costa Rica quite like Arenal.

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