Did you know that the Costa Rica Power Team’s weekly radio show is now heard live in the San Francisco Bay Area? That’s right! The Real Estate Power Hour, the Number One Rated Real Estate Investment Program in Phoenix, can now be heard in the “City By The Bay”! We broadcast live from the studios of KKNT 960AM in Phoenix at 11AM PDT every Sunday. You can also catch us in Northern California at 1220 on the AM dial on station KNTS.

Listening to Jason, Bill and Tim every week is a great way to stay on top of what’s happening in Costa Rica. The Real Estate Power Hour is your show too! Call in with your questions or comments and participate in the show’s “Tell Me A Story” about Costa Rica segment and win a free dinner for two at popular restaurants.

If you’re outside of the Phoenix or San Francisco listening area you can audio stream live at www.kknt960.com on the world wide web. Just make the adjustment for your time zone.

Costa Rica was recognized as one of the world’s best vacation sites at the International Tourism Trade Fair held recently in Spain. The award was presented to Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides. Mr. Benavides noted that the award is recognition of the effort the country has made to position itself as one of the best destinations within the international tourism markets.

“We are very proud of having been recognized in this category, primarily because the selection was made by prestigious members of the international tourist industry which recognizes the quality of the Costa Rica tourist product and our commitment to continue to improve in the future”, Mr. Benavides said.

The award is based on input provided by the 180,000 readers of Travel Weekly magazine, a trade publication read by travel agents, hotel owners, tour operators, suppliers and travel industry professionals.

This year represents the first year Costa Rica was the top selection. The country received runner-up honors in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

The Costa Rica Power Team believes that this award confirms what we’ve been saying since we became involved in the country in 2005. Costa Rica has it all!

Costa Rica ranks first in the Americas and fifth worldwide for its environmental concerns according to World Economic Forum’s Environmental Action Index for 2008. The index was assembled by a noted tem of environmentalists from Yale and Columbia Universities.

The Index based its ranking criteria on 25 indicators according to six standards such as environmental health, air pollution, water resources, habitat and biodiversity, natural resource products and climate change.

The designation of Costa Rica as the best in the Americas stems from its clear policies with respect to environmental conservation, according to President Oscar Arias.

“We are one of the few countries, by way of development, that have recovered forest area in the last twenty years, to the point that more than half of our territory is woodland”, he added.

Arias also highlighted the push toward sustainable tourism, eco-friendly production, and incentives for socially and environmentally companies. “All this because, as I’ve said many times, the future of Costa Rica will be green”.

The Costa Rica Power Team will once again be hosting a Costa Rica Informational Presentation about the beautiful country of Costa Rica and our fantastic property offering at the Hills of Miramar. The date we’ve selected is Saturday, July 12, 2008. The place is the conference room of State Mortgage/Hacienda Builders at the Southwest corner of the Loop 101 and Via de Ventura in Scottsdale. Registration is at 9:00AM and we will start promptly at 9:30AM. The seminar we had earlier this month was a tremendous success! We had more than 90 people in attendance and reserved more than 30 Hills of Miramar custom home sites.

If you’re thinking of buying your dream, ocean or mountain view custom home site at the Hills of Miramar don’t wait until July 12, however. Call us now as our pre-sales are rapidly approaching 50 and there are only 118 custom home sites in the first part of Phase One. Lot reservations are being taken on a first come-first served basis. Jason, Tim and I have all been on the land. We can help you pick your lot and reserve it for you.

Please call me at 480-246-3699, Jason at 602-369-4663 or Tim in Costa Rica at 949-340-2647 for more information and to reserve your custom home site. Pura Vida!

The Costa Rica Power Team is pleased to announce that we have teamed up with Entrust Financial Services to allow our Hills of Miramar buyers to purchase their custom home site using tax deferred retirement plan money. With a Self-Directed IRA administered by Entrust you have complete control over your investments even allowing for the purchase of residential real estate and land. Our Entrust representative is Kaaren Hall. She can be reached at 949-788-2970. Please give her a call to discuss all the details. Entrust’s website is www.theentrustgroup.com. “Pura Vida”

Ran across this gentleman’s article. Costa Rica

travel explained best. Enjoy!

CR Jason

Explore one of the world’s last natural beauty spots

May 7 2008 By Ross Hawkes

SEEING lava roll down the side of an active volcano, being watched inquisitively by wild monkeys, basking in sweltering sunshine and seeing some of the most spectacular storms you could ever witness.

They really weren’t joking when they said Costa Rica would be an experience holiday!

You always know you’re in for something different when you discover a country has disbanded its entire armed forces to ensure every village with at least ten children has a school.

The Central American country is one of First Choice’s newest destinations and offers a break which really does offer something for everyone.

Right from the moment we boarded our flight from Gatwick for the journey across the Atlantic, you could see that this was no ordinary destination. Just a look around the cabin showed you that the appeal of sun, nature and stunning scenery had proved too tempting a proposition for a variety of travellers.

“Pack clothes for all seasons,”

I’d been advised by someone more knowledgable on these things prior to my journey. As the rain battered the tin roof of the arrivals lounge at Liberia Airport, I soon understood why.

The first portion of our trip involved a four-day guided tour taking in some of Costa Rica’s treasures. And it wasn’t long until we caught our first glimpse of this country’s diverse landscape.

Driving into darkness we soon witnessed Arenal volcano exploding into life as orange lava tumbled down the side of this still-active natural beauty. But if the explosion was our first sight our second was truly phenomenal as we opened the curtains of our cabin the next morning to be greeted by the volcano on our doorstep!

But with so much to see, our exceptionally-knowledgeable guide Gustavo was soon rounding us up for a riverboat trip where our small group would be able to witness a galaxy of exotic animals. Even on an ordinary-looking road we were able to pull over and witness wild monkeys and their young dancing through the tree-tops.

“How do you follow a live volcano and beautiful wildlife?” was a question we all asked. Simple, you throw in a relaxing evening in natural hot springs, a guided rainforest walk and a dramatic cloudforest zipline adventure.

The hot springs was definitely one of those unforgettable experiences I’d been told to expect. A series of warm, natural pools, waterfalls and cool dip pools provided the sort of moments you only see in the movies.

Another thing you only tend to see in the movies is treetop rides with just a wire for company. Despite our initial doubts, the zipline adventure was something truly special.

Situated high in the mountains, we glided from tree to tree and were able to take in the spectacular landscapes from a seat usually reserved for the wild birds who soar above the beautiful scenery.

After experiencing the ‘hidden’ Costa Rica, we ventured out to the Papagayo region which is fast becoming a beach hotel hotspot. Leaving behind the unsettled weather you come to expect from rainforest areas, we soon hit the glorious sunshine as we winded our way down to the Occidental Allegro Papagayo.

Set on a secluded hillside, the hotel offers comfortable accomodation and a variety of food and drink on an all-inclusive basis. Although the hotel is set on a hill, there is a regular minibus service to ferry guests to and from all areas of the complex.

But after feasting on a variety of food from Tex-Mex to Italian and Costa Rican, the walk sometimes came in handy in the battle to keep off those extra pounds!

As well as a choice-laden buffet, the resort also offered two a-la-Carte restaurants with dishes to die for. Daytime diners weren’t disappointed either as a snack bar was on site complete with pizzas, burgers, nachos, hot dogs, salad and ice cream. Even though we’d left the rainforests of our earlier trip behind, you didn’t have to go far to spot wildlife.

A tree-lined walkway separating the hotel and the black volcanic beach was often a temporary thoroughfare for a family of monkeys. The black beach is right on the hotel, but for those who fancy the feel of traditional golden sand between their toes, there is a free boat to the hotel’s private beach club which lies just a five-minute ride across the bay. The Occidental Allegro Papagayo has an entertainment team who put on a range of daytime activities and evening events which allow those who feel like doing more than lounging in the sun and sipping cocktails to get involved.

But that really is the joy of Costa Rica - a trip there can be exactly what you want.

First Choice is the first UK package operator to offer the destination in its brochure and we were lucky enough to be among the first to take advantage.

I’m certain we won’t be the last to explore one of the world’s few remaining natural beauty spots.

More than 100 people were packed into our seminar room today for our informational presentation about Costa Rica and the Hills of Miramar Master Planned Community.  We pre-sold 20 custom home sites today!  That makes 29 in only the first two days.  With a net of only 120 homes sites available in the first part of Phase One that equals about 25% of the community already sold.

Our buyers were attracted to both our panoramic, ocean view home sites and our green mountain view home sites.  All of the properties available in the Hills of Miramar will be fully improved with roads, water, electric and cable. All are sold fee simple and deeded with optional title insurance available through Stewart Title or Chicago Title.

The Hills of Miramar is located a few minutes from the quaint village of Puntarenas.  The community is directly on the Pan American Highway and is minutes to the connection to the new Caldera Highway.  This central location assures future marketability.

If you’re thinking about taking an active step to secure your future and are considering an investment in your Hills of Miramar custom home site you are encouraged to contact me, Jason or Tim right away.  We have several more seminars planned and because of this we are expecting a fast sell out.  Please call us today.  I can be reached at 480-246-3699 or call me on my cell 602-448-5484.

Things You Should Know About

Buying Real Estate in Costa Rica!

Under the Costa Rica Constitution, non-Costa Ricans have the same rights as Costa Rica citizens to purchase, own, develop and transfer real estate.

All title deeds are registered on the National Property Registry Registro Nacional. This national registry serves the same purpose as town or county title records in the United States. You can check Costa Rica title registration records on-line at www.registronacional.go.cr. You will need the property’s Folio Real number. Unlike some of our competitors, all properties available through the Costa Rica Power Team have folio real numbers and are listed on the national registry.

As a registered property owner you are entitled to:

• Possession, which can be as an individual, jointly with two or more people, in trust or in the name of a corporation;
• Benefit from whatever the land can provide (farming, minerals, etc.);
• Alter or transfer your land;
• Defend your land from trespass;
• Claim restitution if your land is taken for a public purpose (eminent domain).

Most real estate transactions in Costa Rica utilize a corporation. There are several reasons for doing so:

• You remain anonymous;
• Your personal assets are protected;
• You can put the shares in the name of a spouse or children to avoid probate;
• The annual fee to register a corporation is only $3 to $25. There is no capital gains tax upon transfer or sale.

All property sold by the Costa Rica Power Team is registered and titled on the National Registry. As an added protection, title insurance is available on all property through U.S. title insurer Stewart Title.

We are always ready to answer your questions about your Costa Rica Real Estate investments. Please call us at 480-246-3699.

The easiest way to obtain Costa Rica health care is by working through the Association of Residents of Costa Rica (www.arcr.net).  You can join either as a current resident or as a potential resident.  The cost of membership as a “Provisional Member” is $100 per year and $50 per year if you have legal status in Costa Rica.  Check out their website for a list of all the benefits of membership.  If you intend to live in CR upon retirement you will want to join the Association.

The ARCR can help you obtain Permanent Residency status for a fee of $870 each for the primary applicant and spouse.  For your money you get the use of an attorney, translations, processing, etc.  Essentially the ARCR takes care of all the paperwork for you.

Through the ARCR you can also obtain the health care services offered in Costa Rica.  You can elect to join either the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) or Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).  The INS costs $46 for men under 60 years of age and $85 if you are over 60.  Women pay slightly less.  The INS plan pays 70% of all costs up to $17,500 per year but it does not cover pre-existing conditions.  You can, however, you the doctor of your choice.

The CCSS plan is the one most Ticos use.  This plan costs only $37 a month for a family where the primary insured is over 55 years of age.  ($58 if under 55).  The CCSS plan covers everything with no limits on pre-existing conditions.  Under CCSS you cannot select your doctor.  According to reports, lines for service can sometimes be long but the quality of care is excellent.

Many ex-pats sign up for both INS and CCSS and use whichever one more easily addresses the particular situation.  Many doctors in the private hospitals are CCSS physicians and can arrange billing through CCSS.

Costa Rica’s unparalleled beauty, political stability and economic growth, and investments in infrastructure are making this country a hot destination for both travel and real estate. Real estate values are just beginning to experience the inevitable collateral effects of this growth. Rapid appreciations are taking place in specific areas and will continue to occur. In some areas, property values are appreciating 25-30% year-on-year!! A very opportunistic real estate market exists for those that are able to take advantage of it.

Pura Vida