Political Stability
In the country where you intend to buy, there must be a stable government. Countries with possible civil wars or sudden changes of government must be absolutely avoided. Costa Rica has had a stable and democratic government for more than 150 years. The people started voting as early as 1848 and it is a country that has declared neutrality towards the rest of the world, with a widespread culture of peace.
Safety
The area must be socially safe. The Potrero — Flamingo area, where the Flor de Pacifico Villages were built, is particularly safe thanks to its widespread well-being. It is possible to go out freely at any time of the day or night without running into any kind of danger.
Convenience and Services
How far away are the most important services? Whether it's shopping or going to the nearest hospital for a health emergency, services must be accessible to everyone and convenient to reach. In Potrero, where the Flor de Pacifico Villages are located, there are beaches, restaurants, bars, supermarkets and schools. The nearest hospital is 15 minutes from the villages.
Quality and Costs of Health Care
Costa Rica has an excellent public health system, whose registration is mandatory for residents. As a resident, you pay an annual tax calculated based on income received in Costa Rica, ranging from 6 to 12%.
Purchase of Full Ownership
It is better to avoid countries that offer properties without full ownership (land and walls), with concessions for a certain number of years of the land underlying the building. In the Flor de Pacifico Villages, you buy the property and the underlying land, a full property like in Italy. Every property is registered and titled in a regular land registry.
Buying in a Company with a Local Citizen
Beware of those countries that allow you to invest in real estate only thanks to the establishment of a company with a local citizen. In Costa Rica, every private individual has the opportunity to buy real estate.
Value of the Property Over Time
It is important to consider the changes in value that the property will undergo over the years. To evaluate this aspect, it is necessary to take into account factors such as political stability, public spending allocated to the creation of services and infrastructure in the coming years, and the investments of businesses and individuals in the area. The annual real estate appreciation in the Guanacaste region, based on 20-year trends, is about 10%.
Ease of Rental
It is important to make sure that the property purchased is located in an area subject to excellent tourist flows, so that you can rent it without problems. In addition, it is advisable to make sure that the company from which you buy or the real estate agents in the area can manage the rent for you, perhaps with a guaranteed income contract. The Flamingo — Potrero area, where the Flor de Pacifico Villages are located, is an area of excellence for the tourism sector. As a company, we are committed to renting the property you purchased under an annual guaranteed income contract, with an income percentage of around 4.5%, calculated on the purchase price of the property.
Ease of Management
It is important to consider the ease of managing the property after sale. In the Flor de Pacifico Villages, we have an Italian staff, both in Italy and in Costa Rica, always available to carry out any maintenance work on your home in Costa Rica while you are in Italy, or to hand over the house keys to any tenants.
Experience of the Selling Company
It is important to ensure the reliability of the company from which you are buying, through its past history, the experience gained on the spot and the testimonies of those who have already had contacts. The company that built the Flor de Pacifico Villages, Mirica S.A., has been present in Costa Rica since 1993. In more than 31 years of activity, more than 1500 Italian families have purchased a home in Costa Rica. The testimonials of the Flor de Pacifico Villages are the same residents of our villages and it is possible to get to know them by taking a vacation with us, or by coming to our events.
The Culture of the Population
It is good to invest in a country that offers the opportunity to live in contact with a population in harmony with your human values, as is the case in Costa Rica.
Condominium Expenses and Real Estate Tax
The property tax must be paid to the Costa Rican state annually and is 0.25%, calculated on the value of the property. In the Flor de Pacifico Villages, condominium expenses are around 90€ per month and include condominium utilities, guards, gardeners and pool maintenance.
Spoken Language
Living in a country where you don't know the local language can be a problem. In the Flor de Pacifico Villages, all the staff, both Italian and Costa Rican, speaks Italian. Locals outside the villages speak Spanish, but they understand Italian. Generally, Italians who go to Costa Rica are able to understand Spanish after a month.
If you are interested in investing in a house in Costa Rica, in the Flor de Pacifico Villages, you will not have to face any of the problems mentioned above.