YOUR MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

I’ve been answering a lot of questions in my blog about Jaco, Costa Rica, but haven’t yet answered the most frequently asked question of all….”what’s the real estate market like in Jaco?”.  First of all, we’ve been blessed by not having a lot of “over-mortgaged” properties and foreclosures here in the Jaco Beach area.  Secondly, as buyers have come to realize, the global economic meltdown has had a lesser effect here in Costa Rica than in lots of other places.  They are buying now rather than waiting for the prices to rise.  Some sellers have priced their properties rather high, and they will wait for an unknowledgeable buyer with an unscrupulous real estate agent to pay “above market” prices.  They will probably be on the current market for a long while.

People walk into our REMAX office every day and ask “where are the hot buys?”, or “what are your fire sale deals?  When sellers are serious, their property usually attracts serious buyers and we schedule a closing date.

Currently, there are some “great buys” in the Jaco area…from beachfront condos to rainforest retreats to small ranches to typical housing.  We even have a gorgeous estate-like home, that features the most panoramic ocean views I’ve ever seen, and contains just about every amenity necessary for the discriminating buyer.  Bring your toothbrush and your fire extinguisher…this property is “fire sale” priced at $550,000 and comes fully furnished.

I’m supposed to be retired, but I love talking to people about this place called Jaco (pronounced hock-O), so contact me if you have additional questions.

Yours truly, Evil Kneival

My friend Larry is a retired entrepreneur from Florida.  He’s lived here in Jaco Beach for about six years,  owns a lovely townhome near Los Suenos, and thoroughly enjoys his lifestyle here in Costa Rica.  We ride our motorcycles on adventure journeys, but Larry, being retired, gets to take more jaunts than I do.  One of my favorite treks is to a mountain town called Puriscal.  It’s about a 90 minute ride, through some of the most exquisite scenery you could imagine.  Mango groves, quaint little villages, avoiding iguanas crossing the road…natural beauty abounds as we putt-putt through rainforests into Puriscal.  It’s a vibrant little town, home to Vegas de Santiago, a cigar factory that rolls some of the best puros I’ve ever puffed on.  Picture, if you will, a wine-tasting at a fine vintner….only change it to cigars.  I purchase enough to fill my humidor, then we head down the street for a Chinese lunch, walk around town for a bit, jump on the bikes and head back to Jaco.  What a day!  I have no idea what I’m going to do for vacation, for it feels like vacation here every day.  My next blog will talk about meat.  Hasta luego from your friend in real estate in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica.  

What’s going on in Jaco, Costa Rica?

I am often asked the questions, “What’s going on in Jaco, Costa Rica?”, and “Why are Americans and Canadians buying real estate in Costa Rica?”.  So I’m now going to learn how to blog answers to these questions on a regular basis.  For those planning a visit to Costa Rica, I hope you’ll find some helpful tips on my blog.  For those wondering “what ever happened to Gary Aptaker?”, your question may be answered on my blog, too.  So, for those of you who believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, I’m getting some technology tutoring from my younger friends and will be up to speed on Blogger.com real soon.  Oh, and I’m going to learn salsa and meringue dancing Saturday evening. 

Hasta luego from Jaco Beach, Costa Rica.

Gary Aptaker