by Ivo Henfling

In all my years as a Costa Rica real estate agent, I have had very few clients ask for Costa Rica title insurance. North American buyers are used to take title insurance when they purchase a property but a European or Costarican client don’t even know what title insurance is.

When you purchase a home or land in Costa Rica, you should be purchasing land that is free and clear from any claims, debts or other impediments. Costa Rica's national registry operates under the Torrens system, so with the proper steps you can be certain that your title is free and clear. For sure you don't want the headache of a bad title, so make sure you are informed about your options.

By Ivo Henfling

I have been struggling with bad pain in my feet for years and no doctor could find what the problem was. Thank God for the internet (not of Facebook this time), that made it possible for me to find out that I have a neurological problem. A Costa Rica real estate agent who cannot walk is no good, so I decided to do something about it.

In Costa Rica, the advantage is that if you have a medical problem, you do not need to be referred by any doctor. You just find a doctor in the phone book and make the appointment.

That is how simple it was for me to make an appointment with a neurologist in CIMA hospital in Escazu, a private hospital in Costa Rica. The doctor had me do a neurological electrogram and confirmed that I have a painful neuropathy and I won’t bother you with the rest of the mile long name. What I had also found on the web was that my problem is something that is mostly suffered by diabetics and I am not one.

By Ivo Henfling

Lately I’m seeing a lot of the inside of Costa Rica hospitals. Since I quit smoking 3 years ago, I started going to the doctor. I haven’t seen any doctor in my life and now suddenly I need to see all kinds of doctors. Most doctors in Costa Rica hold office in the same private hospital they operate in. In Costa Rica you don’t need to be referred to a specialist, you just make an appointment.

I have never been in a US hospital and the last time I was in a hospital in Europe was like 40 years ago but I hear from many clients that the Costa Rica hospital services and are outstanding and that medical services here are on a very high level. Most doctors speak excellent English because many have specialized in the US or in the UK.

By Ivo Henfling

Nothing is better for business than a good service to your clients. In my business, Costa Rica real estate, I have always tried to excel in service as to my opinion it means the continuity of your business and it is a lot easier to keep an old client happy than making new clients. But mostly the larger business like banks and insurance companies have a hard time making their employees understand what good customer service is and end up with lots of frustrated clients. I am one of those who complain when service is bad. But I also think that when people do a good job, they deserve a pat on the shoulder.

This time it is don Isidro’s turn for a well-deserved pat on the shoulder. Who the heck is don Isidro some of you might say? Those who have asked me, after closing on their house, where to get their home insured and their car insurance, or a medical insurance, know who don Isidro is. Isidro gives an extraordinary service as an insurance agent for INS, learn how he keeps his clients happy.

By Ivo Henfling

When you move to Costa Rica, you will of course do so as legal as possible, which means, you will become a resident in Costa Rica while you keep your own countries’ passport.

This will give you a residency card, also called a cédula de residencia. To become a legal resident, you not only need to cut through all the red tape that becoming a resident in any country of the world will oblige you to, now you also need to become a member of the Costa Rica social security system, called Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social or CCSS.

You will, besides the CCSS, want to have a complementary medical insurance that I.N.S. (Instituto Nacional de Seguros) offers.

By Isabelle Jones

Last Thursday, our 20 year old son Taylor had a medical emergency in San Jose due to a seizure. That day, we found out that the medical emergency care in Costa Rica is very good and affordable, if you can get to the hospital in time.

A good friend needed help in getting his new ID number to reflect on his new drivers’ license, so even though we live in Atenas we were in San Jose for this diligence. Howard, my husband, Taylor and I were driving from the license office to a school in Heredia, an accident and protest on the highway to the airport made us go a different route than normal. Our son had complained of a severe headache that morning but he took a couple of Ibuprofen and wanting to make sure he ate well, we were just discussing stopping for lunch.

By Ivo Henfling

I received awesome health care attention by Urologist Dr. Carlos Calvosa Allegretti. Since most of our clients are over 50 years old, I though it well worth it to tell you about a great experience that I have had with my urologist.

After living 30 years in Costa Rica I still hate those doctors that love to fill up their waiting room and probably need to show us, their patients, that they are busy professionals. I am a busy real estate agent and there is nothing worse than sitting in a waiting room for more than 15 - 20 minutes. But Costa Rica health care has become a lot better than it used to me and you can get better medial services than in many 2nd world countries.

Actually, just this week, my Otorino had me again waiting for 1 1/2 hours in his waiting room, but I'll tell you more about that one another day. For now, let me give you the good news.

by Cristina Izquierdo for El Financiero on 23/11/2010

The construction of the Cima Hospital and Medical Center Guanacaste has begun on November 2^nd 2010, after many months of waiting. This will be  Cima's second medical center. The first opened in Escazu, San Jose early 2000.

The project will be developped over a total area of 220,000 square meters by Proyectos Exclusivos Proexa S.Aand will be built in several stages.

During the construction phase, 400 direct and indirect jobs will be created  and when finished will generate 275 more jobs.

By Juan Pablo Arias for La Nacion on 22/11/2010

Source: La Nacion

From the 1^st of December 2010, competition in the car insurance business will be more dynamic once Assa Insurance Company will have its debut in the market with its first product in this niche and will compete against Mapfre and the National Insurance Institute (INS).

"We received the approval of our policy just last Friday," said Rodrigo Peralta, commercial manager of Assa.

So, the payment of “the marchamo” and the proximity of December will be utilized by the three insurers to dispute the preference of car owners.

The INS initiated the pulse when made available to the public two complementary policies called "Civil Liability" and "Your life."