Real estate in the immediate areas of the new highway San Jose - Caldera is of course affected. For 30 years, everyone in Costa Rica has been talking about the famous new highway San Jose - Caldera. Many governments during those 30 years started doing something on the highway and ran out of money. An old 3rd world problem: money. During the Miguel Angel Rodriguez administration (1998 - 2002) some bridges were built but during the next administration whatever could be demolished and stolen just disappeared.

Originally, this highway was designed as a two-lane road and by the time the Arias administration decided to go ahead and try to finish the famous highway, the amount of traffic had risen tremendously.

President Oscar Arias (2006 - 2010) finally took the long needed decision to give the concession to Autopistas del Sol to finish what was started so many years ago. Oscar Arias, who was President of Costa Rica a first time from 1986 - 1990 received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987for his efforts to end the civil wars throughout Central America.

Though I am not a political person and foreign residents in Costa Rica are not allowed to get involved in local politics, I must say that the decision of opening up that highway was worth as much to the country as his Nobel Prize was the first time.

 

Bali style home in Atenas

In 1987, Don Oscar put Costa Rica on the world map by receiving the Noble Prize for Peace. This was what started tourism in Costa Rica and since then, Costa Rica has been a major destination for travelers, especially the nature lovers. In May 2009, the first part of a total of 77 kilometers of highway was inaugurated. That day was also a winner for Costa Rica real estate and new areas of Costa Rica were opened up.

Autopistas del Sol has had some major setbacks, and costly ones, because of landslides. They had long planned to open up the “radial” Atenas, a road about a mile long that runs from the highway straight into Atenas, which was also closed because of landslides and bad planning by the government. But the highway still definitely shortened the drive from Atenas to the Escazu malls by at least 30 minutes. Atenas real estate has always been stable but now with the highway open, access to hospitals and shopping is incredibly better and of course this will make Atenas an even more interesting place to live.

Highway from Santa Ana to San Jose

The off ramp and on ramp at La Guacima de Alajuela, which gives access to Hacienda Los Reyes, was finally opened up some weeks ago. Hacienda Los Reyes, a very nice country club that offers golf, tennis, polo and other sports and has a large community of beautiful homes. For the golf lovers, Hacienda Los Reyes is another option to buy a home instead of the Cariari Country Club and Los Arcos. There are lots of people who built a home 25 years ago in the Los Reyes community because they thought the highway would be built soon. Now, with the new access in, the drive to Escazu is about 10 minutes. Without the access, the drive takes about 40 minutes.  For years, I would have a listing here and there in Los Reyes and the immediate areas of La Guacima. I am sure property will sell a lot easier there now and due to the golf course and club amenities, we'll soon have more people asking about it. Now I need to find an agent who lives in that area.

Some homes in Hacienda Los Reyes

Prices in both these areas where already for years like the highway was already open. The importance the highway has is that real estate in those immediate areas of the highway will not become more expensive (though sellers might think it will) but will become more stable and better organized. In another blog, in the near future, I will tell you what the highway will do for the Orotina, Central Pacific, Jaco Beach and surrounding beach areas.

Hacienda Los Reyes country clubs' swimming pool

From now on it is possible, for those who work in San Jose, to live in Atenas or in Hacienda Los Reyes and be at work faster than those who have a home in Ciudad Colon.

If you have any comments on my opinions, they are very much appreciated, feel free to post them on this blog.

By Ivo Henfling, the guy you need to ask about living in Escazu and Santa Ana.