“The Times, The Are A Changin”

Next year, the first of the 79 million Baby Boomers will turn 65, an age which is generally considered to be ‘retirement age.’ Many Baby Boomers thought they would be able to retire comfortably, but in the sobering economic downturn of the past three years, they have now faced the hard-cold-fact that they may not be able to retire at all, in the US.

But Boomers will not settle for just a ‘cheaper place to live,’ they want to live in a safe and stable country (Costa Rica is a politically neutral democracy), live in a supportive community, have excellent and inexpensive healthcare, and be able to hire affordable household ‘help,’ which many cannot do in the US.

Many Boomers also want to start, or own a new business after retirement, pay lower taxes, and as importantly, they want to eat fresh, healthy, affordable and locally-grown fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood. Costa Rica is the resounding solution to all of their needs for a glorious lifestyle that is rich with all the things that are simply not available to them back in the States.

The Times, They Are a Changin’

– by Bob Dylan

“Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times, they are a-changin’.”

It’s no wonder that tourism has DOUBLED in Costa Rica over the last three years and that something exciting is happening that has created attention about Costa Rica on the world’s stage.

• Could it be the year-round water temperature of 80 degrees F and tropical conditions?
• Or, affordable health care in a health care system that is rated in the top 20 nations of the world?
• Maybe it’s because the cost of living is less than half that of the US,
• And, maybe it’s because Costa Rica is out of the hurricane zone,
• Or, that taxes are incredibly low compared to the US.

Costa Rica is considered one of the world’s most desirable retirement destinations and enjoys one of the highest standards of living in all of Latin America. The country is a stable democracy with a 95% literacy rate. The Happy Planet Index (HPI) reports that Costa Rica has one of the longest life-expectancy rates in the world of 77 years.

There are a variety of health care options available in Costa Rica for residents:

• Private medical insurance costs about $50-$100/month per person
• Subscription to the CCSS (Costa Rican Social Security)
• Or a combination of the two.

In the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica there is a growing community of Americans, Canadians and Europeans in an area called Pacific Lots that is the largest International Residential development in the country for Costa Rica properties.

For the past 21 years, Pacific Lots has continued to develop an expat’s paradise-on-earth in the town of Ojochal, Costa Rica, by becoming the largest builder of single family homes in the entire country of Costa Rica and employing over 500 full-time employees. Currently, they are in their 19^th phase of their development and they clearly understand the needs of their clients by offering them custom-built homes at a reasonable price. Pacific Lots is one of the oldest, largest and lowest density residential projects of the Southern Pacific region, and yet, there is a growing availability to modern conveniences and services.

Because of rising tourism and the massive influx of new residents into Costa Rica:

• New highways are opening.
• A new International airport is being built within 30 minutes of Pacific Lots.
• A new hospital has been built nearby the Pacific Lots development that provides world-class health care to local residents.
• The area has attracted 35 restaurants and 11 hotels.

Question: What is the price for a home at Pacific Lots:

Custom homes are built for $100 per square foot with a minimum size of 1,000 sq ft. This price includes architecture, design, engineering, septic design and installation, custom lighting fixtures, tile choices, custom hardwood cabinets, vaulted ceilings, custom windows and doors and quality craftsmanship. The approximate cost for building a small custom home in Pacific Lots is around $150,000 which includes the cost of the land.

Question: How is the title of the property held?

Owning property in Costa Rica is similar to owning property in the US. The buyer owns the property which is deeded and fee simple, with title insurance available through major American title insurance companies.

Question: Can I purchase a lot and then hire my own builder?

Yes, you can hire your own builder; the lots are complete with road access, artesian well water piped to the lot, and electric service to the lot line.

What is the weather like in the area of the Pacific Lots Development?

The area’s unique topography brings Pacific breezes and cool mountain air minimizing the need for air conditioning. The southern region of Costa Rica is a true tropical rain forest with many rivers and no water shortages common to other areas of Latin America. The average temperatures range in the mid-70’s F to mid-80’s F.

Pacific Lots is now offering EscapeArtist readers a four-day tour of their properties including guest-house lodging and seven full meals during their stay for only $250 per person. Pacific Lots will apply the total cost of the Discovery Tour to any property purchase, plus an additional $1,000 credit for airfare.

Information About The Discovery Tour:

• Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted at the airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, and taken to the Resort Hotel Martino for an overnight stay.

• The next morning, you’ll be picked up and taken on a scenic coastal tour to the Pacific Lots development.
• You’ll be assigned a room for your stay in their large 8-room guest house.
• After a delicious lunch, you’ll be taken to see some of their custom homes in the development.
• The following morning, you’ll tour both mountain and ocean view home sites and see the new hospital nearby. You’ll also visit Pacific Lots’ large workshop where they make all their own windows, doors, counters, custom cabinets, and wrought iron work. You’ll also see the new 18-hole golf course next door.
• During the afternoon, you’ll have time to explore some of the local shops and restaurants, swim at a local beach, visit a gift shop and check out the commercial town of Uvita, to the north.
• There are no sales presentations during your Discovery Tour, but they do discuss various pertinent topics such as residency, banking, home ownership, taxes, insurance, etc.
• On the following day, you will begin your trip back to the airport in San Jose.

A report recently released by Met Life has revealed that younger Baby Boomers haven’t saved enough and they fear outliving their savings. Instead of worrying and living with fear, go ahead and retire and be happy! Quit worrying about government intrusion into your life or whether you’ll have enough money to buy food, receive quality medical care or good drugs. Don’t put energy into fearing whether you’ll be able to live in a nice place, feel safe in your own neighborhood, or not have enough money for the ‘basics’ of life. YOU DO HAVE OPTIONS – - in Costa Rica. It’s true that your grandkids won’t be able to visit quite as often as they do now, but Costa Rica is only a two-to-three hour flight from the Southern US, and you WILL see them again.

Come join us for a Discovery Tour and see for yourself that retirement can mean luxury living in beautiful Costa Rica’s Pacific Lots.

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