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BY HOWLER s i n c e 1 9 9 6 a p r i l 2 0 2 1
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EDITORIAL Success is note the key t o h a p p i n e s s . H a p p i n e s s i s t h e key to success. I f yo u l ove w h a t yo u a r e d o i n g , yo u w i l l b e successful. -Herman Cain
— JOHN C. MAXWELL
Tania@howlermag.com
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Contact Kelly today! (506)8364 5376 kelly@howlermag.com Publisher / Editor-in-Chief John B. Quam CR Office: (506) 4701-5942 Sales and Marketing Manager Terry Carlile, Kelly Norris & Tania Guevara Graphic Design, Art Director & Rock Star Terry Carlile The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Howler organization or its advertisers. The Howler Magazine does not assume responsibility for the content of its advertisements.
Images not credited are acquired from stock photography services. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests write to: info@howlermag.com. Copyright © 2021 The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Copyright © 2021 Howler Media Holding, Inc. Panama The Howler Gold Coast CR S.A. Ced. Juridica: 3-101-725213
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Story and photos by David Karr
REAL ESTATE
J A C Ó A R E A R E M A I N S I N C R E A S I N G L Y P O P U L A R
T
Beach Life Has Wide Appeal
he Central Pacific region of Costa Rica remains one of the most sought-out areas for seeking vacation properties, second homes, and/ or a full-time residence. While Jacó and the Los Sueños Resort and Marina get their share of attention, it is the diverse mix of communities and centralized amenities that make the region a popular fit for many.
REAL ESTATE 101
Die-hard surfers and those seeking Costa Rica of old might love Hermosa, or local Tico families might still be drawn to the white sands of Punta Leona. A melting pot of cultures, along with many San José-area residents, are fueling the growth: from the best that luxury living has to offer in the Los Sueños Resort to the quiet rural Esterillos setting, or maybe the more active pace in Jacó, where you can enjoy fee-simple-titled beachfront ownership. It was only about 16 years ago that we started to see Jacó develop, and just 10 years ago that this now-bustling beach town became a 2.5-hour drive from the San José capital and airport. The world has seen some changes in trends and behaviors demonstrating how the Jacó market could quickly be changing. Here are a few trends we are seeing in the Central Pacific.
Cities all over the world have seen the urban escape trend. 6
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The remote worker Most North Americans have limited vacation time, and can find it challenging to travel as much as they would like during work breaks. As more employers look at shifting to more flexible workplace options, including allowing employees to work remotely on a permanent basis, many are taking advantage. Especially for those facing cold winters up north, coming down to live and work in Costa Rica for two or three months every year can justify buying a property here. I expect more and more home buyers to fall into this remote worker category, likely younger professionals from all over the world. The urban escape Cities all over the world have seen the urban escape trend. The constraints of small residential apartments in many instances, with almost no outdoor space and pandemic-related restrictions on the perks of city life, has pushed many to seek a more rural setting. Here in Costa Rica, it has been no different. Pandemic lockdown measures early on saw many residents from the San José area looking to rent or buy properties at the beach, where they could escape from the city. This is something I have always expected would become popular, even in normal nonpandemic circumstances: people relocating from the San José area to live near the beach full-time and just commute to San Joseé once or twice a week if necessary. Working emotely will accelerate that trend.
The Jaco area still presents tremendous value, but the market is trending up and many of the best opportunities on the beach have been snatched up over the past few months.
The Central Pacific region continues to merge more with the Central Valley, as more and more Ticos are seeking to move to this area full time.
The end-user The Jacó market has always attracted a large number of buyers who seek to use their property for six to 10 weeks each year and then rent it out the rest of the time. But over the past year, we have seen a shift; more people like the idea of spending more time here, and in many cases show no desire to rent out their property when not here. Real estate all over the country is in hot demand and the Central Pacific is no exception. I anticipate interest and demand will continue for some time, and encourage anyone interested to act sooner than later.
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by Rick Philps
UNDERSTANDING THE COSTA RICA REAL ESTATE MARKET
I
have over 30 years of combined experience as primarily a real estate attorney, in both Canada and Costa Rica, and also a law degree from each jurisdiction (English common law and Roman civil law, respectively), and a notary and registry degree from Costa Rica. During my time practicing law in Costa Rica, I have seen several real estate market cycles completed.
REAL ESTATE 101
U.S. economic effect From a residential and commercial real estate point of view, these real Estate market cycles are largely driven by the state of the U.S. economy at any given time. There is a lag-time of approximately 18 months to have an effect on the real estate market in Costa Rica. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly its impact on travel, Costa Rica’s real estate market has been slow for property sales, making it a buyer’s market price-wise. However, there is evidence of a market uptick, as travel becomes more accessible again. 10
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There are also a number of properties available where owners have been forced to sell for economic reasons at below market price. Effect of the U.S. presidential election There is habitually an exodus of U.S. citizens from the U.S., from the losing side, following any presidential election. I expect that following the 2020 election, a number of disgruntled Republican voters will be seeking greener pastures somewhere outside the U.S. I have witnessed this pattern previously following U.S. presidential elections, but expect it will be amplified this time around because the latest election was more emotionally charged and politically divisive. Buyer beware Expats considering a real estate purchase in Costa Rica must be aware that this country’s legal system is different. Roman civil law applies here, not the English common law system that is dominant in the U.S., Canada and British Commonwealth countries.
My prediction is that the Costa Rica real estate market is on the cusp of changing into a seller’s market.
Many requirements differ between the two legal systems. Also, there is no regulation of the real estate industry in Costa Rica and no formal MLS system to provide information on both the availability of properties or market price comparisons. Accordingly, it’s very important to choose a realtor with good credentials and references, and good local knowledge of the area where you wish to purchase property. Choosing a knowledgeable and competent real estate attorney is equally important, to undertake the legal due diligence requirements necessary in a property purchase transaction.
My opinion Taking into account the U.S. economic lag-time factor, the expected availability of various COVID-19 vaccines and consequential economic recovery, along with the increase in travel over the next few months and U.S. election results aftermath, my prediction is that the Costa Rica real estate market is on the cusp of changing into a seller’s market, beginning in mid-2021. Accordingly, current property prices will most likely rise, due to the increased buyer demand, consistent with the seller’s market cycle arriving.
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SURF High
April 4
17:37 / 10.06 ft
23:50 / -1.04 ft
12:05 / -0.43 ft
18:26 / 9.53 ft
Sat
00:41 / -0.50 ft
06:58 / 8.47 ft
12:58 / 0.22 ft
19:20 / 8.84 ft
Apr 4
Sun
01:36 / 0.16 ft
07:58 / 7.87 ft
13:58 / 0.91 ft
20:23 / 8.13 ft
Apr 5
Mon
02:40 / 0.77 ft
09:07 / 7.40 ft
15:08 / 1.48 ft
21:34 / 7.57 ft
April 11
Apr 6
Tue
03:53 / 1.19 ft
10:22 / 7.22 ft
16:29 / 1.73 ft
22:50 / 7.34 ft
New Moon
Apr 7
Wed
05:09 / 1.29 ft
11:35 / 7.37 ft
17:46 / 1.60 ft
Apr 8
Thu
00:00 / 7.41 ft
06:16 / 1.13 ft
12:36 / 7.72 ft
18:49 / 1.25 ft
Apr 9
Fri
00:59 / 7.65 ft
07:10 / 0.87 ft
13:27 / 8.12 ft
19:40 / 0.85 ft
Apr 10 Sat
01:48 / 7.93 ft
07:55 / 0.61 ft
14:10 / 8.48 ft
20:22 / 0.49 ft
Apr 11 Sun
02:30 / 8.17 ft
08:33 / 0.41 ft
14:48 / 8.76 ft
20:59 / 0.22 ft
Apr 12 Mon 03:08 / 8.33 ft
09:08 / 0.30 ft
15:24 / 8.92 ft
21:34 / 0.04 ft
03:44 / 8.38 ft
09:42 / 0.29 ft
15:58 / 8.96 ft
22:07 / -0.03 ft
Apr 14 Wed 04:20 / 8.33 ft
10:15 / 0.39 ft
16:31 / 8.88 ft
22:41 / 0.04 ft
Apr 15 Thu
04:55 / 8.15 ft
10:48 / 0.60 ft
17:05 / 8.66 ft
23:15 / 0.23 ft
Apr 16 Fri
05:31 / 7.86 ft
11:23 / 0.91 ft
17:40 / 8.34 ft
23:52 / 0.53 ft
Apr 17 Sat
06:08 / 7.51 ft
12:00 / 1.29 ft
18:17 / 7.94 ft
Apr 18 Sun
00:31 / 0.90 ft
06:50 / 7.13 ft
12:40 / 1.68 ft
18:59 / 7.51 ft
Apr 19 Mon
01:15 / 1.29 ft
07:37 / 6.80 ft
13:28 / 2.04 ft
19:49 / 7.11 ft
Apr 20 Tue
02:05 / 1.63 ft
08:33 / 6.61 ft
14:26 / 2.26 ft
20:50 / 6.84 ft
Apr 21 Wed
03:04 / 1.82 ft
09:37 / 6.65 ft
15:34 / 2.25 ft
21:59 / 6.80 ft
Apr 22 Thu
04:09 / 1.77 ft
10:42 / 6.98 ft
16:44 / 1.92 ft
23:06 / 7.06 ft
Apr 23 Fri
05:12 / 1.46 ft
11:40 / 7.56 ft
17:48 / 1.33 ft
April 26 Full Moon
SUNRISE APRIL 1 APRIL 30
5:38 am 5:23 am
SUNSET APRIL 1 APRIL 30 |
5:52 pm 5:53 pm
Apr 1
Thu
05:17 / 9.44 ft
Apr 2
Fri
06:05 / 9.03 ft
Apr 3
Apr 13 Tue
Time/Height
High
11:17 / -0.91 ft
1st Quarter
Day Time/Height
Low
Time/Height
April 20
Date
High
Low
Time/Height
3rd Quarter
20
G
APRIL TIDE CHART
MOON PHASES
COSTA RICA
Apr 24 Sat
00:06 / 7.54 ft
06:08 / 0.95 ft
12:33 / 8.29 ft
18:43 / 0.58 ft
Apr 25 Sun
00:59 / 8.14 ft
07:00 / 0.36 ft
13:21 / 9.06 ft
19:33 / -0.17 ft
Apr 26 Mon 01:48 / 8.73 ft
07:48 / -0.20 ft
14:08 / 9.74 ft
20:21 / -0.82 ft
02:36 / 9.23 ft
08:35 / -0.65 ft
14:54 / 10.24 ft
21:08 / -1.27 ft
Apr 28 Wed 03:23 / 9.54 ft
09:22 / -0.89 ft
15:40 / 10.48 ft
21:55 / -1.45 ft
Apr 29 Thu
04:10 / 9.63 ft
10:09 / -0.88 ft
16:28 / 10.41 ft
22:43 / -1.35 ft
Apr 30 Fri
04:59 / 9.49 ft
10:59 / -0.62 ft
17:17 / 10.06 ft
23:32 / -1.00 ft
Apr 27 Tue
Time/Height
Read MORE surfing articles CLICK HERE
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SURF
G
COSTA RICA
LEARN TO CATCH
THE PERFECT WAVE B E G I N N E R
T I P S
by Gina Conejo
B
eing a Costa Rican city girl from San José, not one of those Ticos who grow up on the beach or head there as often as they can, I had never surfed a day in my life until a few months ago. I enjoy traveling, lived in the Big Apple for a while and then moved to Florida. I would constantly get the typical remark, “Oh, so you are from Costa Rica … the surfing there is great!” Yet in truth, I knew nothing about it firsthand. Having recently moved to the beach, I took it upon myself to learn to surf like a pro — well, maybe just learn to surf for starters. Now, after exploring the surf world for a few months, I am ready to share all my insider tips with you. LO NG RUN OR SH ORT SNA P? Now you need to ask yourself the following question: are you in it for the long run or just for a weekend vacation? For me, this is a long-term commitment.
SURF 101
Q UA LITY COUN TS Many surf instructors are used to the one-time lesson tourists who just want to feel excited about getting on a board. This makes it hard if you are a serious beginner looking to learn good technique.
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GE AR I NG UP Make sure you have the right gear. Surfing does not require much, but it has to serve the right purpose. If you're a lady you definitely need a swimsuit made for the action. There are many local swimsuit designers with practical designs as well as fashion. Many cute styles and patterns are available. If you are a guy, as proud as you may be of your sixpack, to avoid getting all scratched up by the foam top boards, get a rash guard. Or just ask your instructor to rent you one if you are doing the one-off lesson. AP P FO R T HAT When to surf? Lucky for you, your instructor will tell you and this is part of learning to surf. Become a surfer, don’t be a “Barney” (watch the surf classic film “North Shore”). But if you want to get ahead, continue reading Howler’s surf section and all the back issues online. Also download an app like MSW (MagicSeaWeed). It has surf cams and allows users to upload reports and photos — sort of like the Waze of waves. Beginner tip: Don’t surf big waves; stay away from them and the crowd! Your first lesson should be 60 percent on land, learning technique, stretching and paddling, and getting practice standing up on the board.
d! ou starte y t e g d l That shou ight age, it m r u o y t a wh r surfing No matter u o y t e g me” to Surf on! . a be “ go ti d i v a r in pu feet wet
Photos : Shaka Media. TO LEARN MORE SCAN THE QR CODE
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