August 26, 2009 -  Buying Costa Rica real estate has always been a hot topic of discussion amongst tourists and retirees for several reasons.  So why should you buy Costa Rica Real Estate?

The main reasons are the mild temperate climate and the low cost of living.  However, the New Economic Foundation last month gave those thinking about buying Costa Rica real estate a new reason.  It is officially the happiest place on earth.   According to the report, Costa Rica just beat the Dominican Republic in being the happiest place on earh after surveying he inhabitants of the country.

February 10, 2009 – Costa Rica real estate brokers, pensionados and rentistas alike have been carefully monitoring the situation with the proposed new immigration bill in Costa Rica.  If the proposed bill was to pass, it could mean some tough time ahead for the for the real estate industry in Costa Rica.

One of the reasons the real estate industry is booming in Costa Rica is that it is a place where a foreigner can afford to live in year round warm weather and lead a semi-luxurious lifestyle at an affordable price.  This is in part due to the strong value of the dollar and the cost of living in Costa Rica which is around $350 a month for a regular Costa Rican.

Of late, the Costa Rican government has been trying to pass a new immigration bill where the main issue in question is raising the minimum monthly income requirement for pensionados and rentistas.  For a pensionado (a retired person), it would mean a raise from $600 to $1,400 a month and for a rentista (a renter) from $2,000 a month to $5,000 a month.