by Ivo Henfling

Who would not want to retire in the country where the happiest people on earth live? Costa Rica scores for the 2nd consecutive year # 1 on the Happy Planet Index with a score of 64 points of 151 countries analyzed. Costa Rica's HPI score indicates high life expectancy and high level of experienced well-being.

What is the Happy Planet?

The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is the leading global benchmark for sustainable well-being.
The HPI measures what matters: the extent to which countries long, happy and sustainable life for the people deliver.

by Michael Newhouse

An exclusive gated community in Ciudad Colon

Cerro Colon means "Colon mountain". Cerro Colon is a very upscale condominium - residential gated community located in the Ciudad Colon foothills only 3 blocks from downtown. Cerro Colon was developed in 2006 by Inmobiliaria Lauca, where they subdivided the 57 acres in a low density community, allowing only for building lots of over ¼ acre (1,000m2). Cerro Colon real estate for sale by GoDutch Realty.

Cerro Colon condominium consists of a total of 81 lots in three phases with high quality services and amenities, starting with a very elegant entrance and roads with pavers and nice sidewalks. The building lots were subdivided in such way that all have sweeping views of the valley and surrounding mountains. In 2012 there are about 15 luxury homes built in the community and more under way.

by Ivo Henfling

Why run the risk of losing your money

You want to purchase Costa Rica property and you have your money still in your own country. Your GoDutch Realty agent has found you the right property and your offer has been accepted by the seller. Congratulations, you are on the way of acquiring a beautiful property in Costa Rica but might be a long way. 

A Costa Rica real estate closing can be very smooth, if you allow a professional handle it. But the real estate closing can be full of obstacles too. Stay away from those obstacles and use Costa Rica escrow.

Your real estate agent sent the accepted offer to your attorney to have the option to purchase – sale agreement to be drafted. At signature of this agreement, you will have to make an earnest deposit of 10% (this is customary but negotiable) of the purchase price.

by Isabelle Jones in Atenas

A fine Atenas luxury gated community

Roca Verde gated community in Atenas is a fine luxury gated community. Homes in Roca Verde start as low as $250,000 and luxury homes start at $500K and go all the way up to almost $1M, depending on the views, the size of the home and the quality of the finishes. This beautiful gated community offers the best views in town and was developed in 2004 by master developer Jean Luc Sauvé and his partner Normand Bastien.

Roca Verde is located only two miles out of Atenas, where you have all the amenities and services you will be looking for when you move to Costa Rica. Located on an Atenas mountain range of 2,200 to 2,500 feet elevation, this community offers 75 home sites with lots varying from ¼ acre to 1 ¾ acres, in 3 phases. The community is not a condominium and there are no CC & R's but is legally a subdivision.

By Ivo Henfling

Working in shorts and on flip flops in Costa Rica

I just received some very cold looking photos of snowcovered roads full and roof tops and cars covered in snow from a friend and I am sitting here at my desk, looking over my computer monitor at the beautiful Escazu mountains on one side and the Heredia mountains on the other, with the sun shining in the palm tree in my neighbor’s yard. And I am sitting in shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops, enjoying the Costa Rica weather and the 78ºF temperatures that we have almost year round.

Don’t you just hate me now? I bet you do! Be smarter than that, move to Costa Rica just as I did many years ago and buy a property in Costa Rica from me. That way I can keep working in shorts and flip-flops. I still think it was the best decision I took in my life. God, I always hated the cold and I bet many of you do too. If you are still dreaming about moving to the tropics and get your taste of Costa Rica weather, keep reading. If you already did, read on and enjoy the fact of having taken the right decision by moving to Costa Rica.

By Ivo Henfling

Serious Costa Rica real estate agents will write up an offer to purchase – sale agreement on the Costa Rica property for sale, showing what the buyer and the seller agreed on like sales price, closing date, home inspection, who will pay the legal fees, the real estate commission and any other occurrences from both sides of the negotiations.

All GoDutch Realty agents do it this way, so there won’t be any surprises and you can have a smooth real estate closing.

Once there is an agreement between buyer and seller, the offer should be sent by the real estate agent representing the buyer to the buyer’s attorney who will write up the option to purchase –sale agreement, to make it official, and when signed by both parties the buyer will usually put earnest money in escrow with his/her attorney or with a title company. The earnest money is usually 10% of the agreed on sales price but percentage depends on the negotiations.