Buying Property In Costa Rica...Continued

After several months of looking at properties that made me want to swoon because of the views I continued to find problems with availability of water, electric or price. I had actually looked around for about 6 months before this just seeing what might be out there, but really just dreaming. I had my area pinned down to where I absolutely wanted to be, but was having a hard time. Then one day I took my friend, George Lundquest, and my architect, Laura, to look at a property. When it was determined it was not going to work George mentioned a property in Galavista in Grifo Alto. I had friends that all lived there, which was why I was looking in the area in the first place, but never imagined I could afford a lot up there. The developer was wanting to sell it to get money to do some improvements to the area. I stepped foot on the lot, looked back at George, and asked him again how much the lot was and just simply said, "SOLD!"

Believe me when I say I bought this lot on faith that it really did have the view George and Laura told me it had. It was overcast that day and every day I went up there until I purchased it. They told me it had a lovely view of the Bay of Nacoya and the mountains on the three sides of the lot. I could see the mountains, which I was thrilled about, but just had my fingers crossed I'd have a peek of the bay. Mind you, I took George's word since I met him when I was 17 years old. He worked for my father at Haggar Slacks Company, and they remain friends to this day.

I actually still have not seen the view in person. They needed to finish the cement road going to my lot, and I just had not been going up there because of everything else I needed to do like actually purchase it, find a builder, work with my architect on the style and layout I wanted for my home, etc. Then one day my friend, Kristi, who lives right down the street from my lot walked down and took this picture of my view. It was still a little cloudy, but wowzers! The bright shiny part just above the mountain all the way to the horizon is the bay.

Normally, in Costa Rica, the seller pays for the contract. But in this case, he gave me a much reduced price, I was to handle the extra costs. My attorney, Gerardo Madrigal Acuna, drew up the contract in the name of my new corporation. And yes, I had to wait several weeks for my corporation to be registered before we could do the contract. From there it was easy sailing. We got the contract, all the legal descriptions and papers from the county, the Uso de Suelo, and my money cleared the transfer into my Costa Rica bank account with no problems. That alone was a miracle. We met the seller at the bank in San Jose and closed the deal.

From that point it has not been so easy. Everything is done on Tico time. Not a slam to Tico time. Things are just so laid back in the country, and tomorrow usually means yes, some day.

I will continue the trials and tribulations on the new money transfer laws and other fun things in my next blog. It's really not all bad. Things always work out in the end. It's just getting there sometimes.

Pura Vida!