Lisle Head Costa Rica Real Estate Costa Rica Real Estate Investments

Whether or not you have friends or heard through the grapevine that Costa Rica is a great place to invest in real estate the answer is yes. How you get here is different for everybody. Some people learn about Costa Rica from going on vacation, others get phone calls from sales people talking about their real estate development in Costa Rica. Still others learn about Costa Rica Real Estate from their financial advisor and this is because it is a wise investment for people in the age group of 30-45 years old.

The market here in Costa Rica for real estate has been booming along with the global increases as well. What has not happened is the fallout from the latest economic crisis has not affected the development or values of the properties here. The properties that are the hottest here is Costa Rica Condos and those that are being built in Jaco. The Jaco area is the hottest area in Costa Rica for development and the capacity for sustained tourism. Guanacaste is totally different and has been attracting its own sort of investors who are more speculative rather than actual users of their property purchase. The Guanacaste area requires people to drive long periods to get anywhere they want to go and it is not easy just to get on a bike and go riding. That is not the case here on the central pacific where you can walk most places and buses are abound with many routes where you can get to where you want with a few dollars and a watch.

Let's face it, more than a few foreigners come to Costa Rica with the idea that true love might be found here, far from the home shores.

Heaven knows it's easy enough to spot desirable potential candidates in a country where human pulchritude more than matches the beauty and drama of the lush tropical setting. But what happens when the passion points to something more permanent, when the magic leads to marriage?

Experts agree that even in this hyperglobal age, many are the challenges to bicultural couples. The cultural and linguistic setting into which one is born structures that person's very perception of reality, meaning that it's more than mere words that can get lost in translation.

The inimitably named "bi-cultural couples coach," Gudrun Kitten-Thong, identifies gender roles, the influence of in-laws, childrearing practices, and language as key areas where star-struck lovers' assumptions and expectations might not necessarily correspond across cultural lines.

Lisle and Anna go sight seeing in Panama

Lisle Head, the owner/broker of Coldwell Banker Vesta Group Jacó, wasn't considering any such issues when he saw the lovely young brunette across the restaurant in San Jose. He only thought how happy he would be if she would agree to have dinner with him. She declined. The moment passed. A month later, their paths again crossed, and this time she assented to go out with him. Last November, they married. Lisle is originally from California, while Ana, his wife, is from Colombia. Another long-term, bicultural adventure had begun.

To begin with, as is often the case, who Ana is as a person and many of the choices she made prior to meeting her husband defy certain stereotypes about Latin women, and help the young couple to mitigate some of the challenges they face. An only child from the Colombian countryside, Ana had come to Costa Rica alone as a young adult to make her own way in the world.

When she met Lisle, Ana was a 27-year-old woman working in office management who never expected to marry or to have children. Lisle was captivated by the fact that a woman could be so capable and independent without being bossy or demanding.

Most enchanting, however, was Ana's childlike sense of wonder about the world and new experiences. Having grown up with few of the conveniences that are standard in the United States, such as hot running water and dishwashers, much that was mundane to Lisle was a marvelous discovery to Ana.

Lisle loved that Ana retained an innocence that had not been jaded by excessive exposure to television or eroded by the relentless manipulation of modern consumer culture. He mentions a recent outing to a Central Valley petting zoo that delighted his wife to no end, thereby charming him.

As the sun goes down, they focus less on finding your dream property near the beach and more on each other.

Ironically, differing gender expectations are both a source of joy and concern to Lisle and Ana. Lisle is deeply gratified by Ana's profound preoccupation for his comfort and happiness, and impressed by her commitment to making their home a haven. "We have a full-time maid," he explains, "and Ana will be there cleaning up the house so it'll look better by the time the maid gets there.

Then, if we get home late after both of us working all day, and Ana hasn't had time to prepare any food for me, she gets upset. 'Look,' I say, 'we've both been working, let's just order out,' but she definitely wants to take care of me."

Ana's ingrained cultural expectations about men and their inevitable infidelity means that the green-eyed monster casts its shadow more frequently than Lisle has perhaps experienced in past relationships.

One solution has been for them to work together: Ana is the office manager at Coldwell Banker Jacó, which has her in close contact with her husband all day. "There's no way she could understand what I do, the hours I keep, without seeing it firsthand," says Lisle. "This way she knows how hard I work, that I'm not off blowing time." Even though they live in a Spanish-speaking setting, Lisle and Ana have resolved that English will be the principal language in their home, a practical decision given that her English is better than his Spanish. With both living as expatriates, the issue of how to manage extended family has not really come up, although it may once the couple starts having children (one says she, four says he).

Lisle admits that his family was initially concerned that his children be able to relate to his side of the family, but those concerns have eased as they have come to know and love his wife. He acknowledges, too, that they will likely bring her parents to live in Costa Rica once any children arrive.

In the meantime, their shared interests and experiences, beginning with that of living the expat life, helps to draw them together. But there are those moments when misunderstandings occur...

Noted marital communication researchers Patricia Noller and Mary Anne Fitzpatrick have identified the three most common types of marital conflict as constructive conflict, in which spouses engage in open discussions and arguments in order to resolve problems, conflict avoidance, when partners withdraw and retreat as a means of conflict avoidance and management, and destructive conflict when all hell breaks loose.

Guess who does what in the Head household? As might be expected from a cultural standpoint, Lisle is more oriented to engagement and rational discussion of the issues involved, while Ana is more apt to opt for silence and withdrawal. It is an impasse that may ease with time, as trust and understanding allow each to move beyond their own conflict paradigms.

Still, where there are sparks there's also fire, and the eternally elusive mysteriousness of a culturally different "other" can lead to long-lived passion in the bedroom. An added enhancement is Latin women's renowned attention to their appearance. "She takes unbelievable care of herself," says me. "Is that great for me? You bet!"

1- Location, Location, Location.

Costa Rica is among the most highly sought-after tourist destinations. Its strategic position in the heart of the Western Hemisphere, infrastructure, access to international

markets, labor quality and cost, as well as its government's positive attitude towards foreign investment, make Costa Rica an ideal setting for retiring, investing, or living. Costa Rica's natural and geographical diversity provides sound options for a wide range of luxury, retirement and Costa Rica vacation homes.

2- The view you were looking for.

Costa Rica covers 19,730 square miles (51,100 km2), and though it accounts for only 0.3 per cent of the world's land area, it contains 6 per cent of its biodiversity. Whether you

are looking for an ocean, city or mountain view, there is something for everyone in Costa Rica.

3- Ownership rights.

Unlike in Mexico and other countries, the Costa Rican government allows foreign investors to hold fee simple titles. Local banks make financing available to qualified

foreign buyers. Title insurance also is available.

4- Political stability =Safe investment.

Costa Rica has a long democratic and world renowned tradition, which has more than 115 years of history. Such respect for political and peace processes was evidenced by

the abolition of the military in 1948 and acknowledged internationally in 1987 when then-President of the Republic, Oscar Arias Sánchez, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

5- When the tourism industry grows, so does the real estate industry.

Leading brands such as Four Seasons, Saint Regis, and Marriott have chosen Costa Rica for its great potential to attract foreign investment. The U.S. is among the countries

most interested in investing in Costa Rica. Tourism is the main economic activity in Costa Rica. The country receives 1.6 million tourists annually, which generates $1.6 billion in earnings.

6- Strategic location.

(Three hours from the U.S.): Costa Rica is located in the center of the Americas, with two major airports providing excellent international access. Most citizens from the U.S.,

Canada and countries in Europe do not need a visa. Seventy-six per cent of passengers arriving at the Daniel Oduber Airport in Guanacaste are North American, providing the

primary market for developments in the area.

7- Competitive construction costs.

It's relatively easy to develop in Costa Rica. A good work force comes at a fairly low cost compared to that of the U.S. A home costing $100 per square foot to build in Costa

Rica could cost $250 per sq.ft. (Columbus), $350 per sq.ft. (Dallas or Atlanta), or even more than $500 per sq.ft. (San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Miami).

8- Low taxes.

Under Costa Rican tax law, you must declare the value of your home to the Costa Rican Municipal Government every five years. An annual flat rate of 0.25 percent is charged, calculated on the declared land and house value combined. Owners of homes within the Maritime Zone or of concessions near national parks pay property tax only on the value of the house, not the land itself. For example, property taxes on a home in Dominical outside the Maritime Zone, with a combined land and house value of $300,000,

would be approximately $750.

9- Excellent quality of life.

Stability and economic growth reflect relevant social achievements. Among them is the reduction of poverty from 40 per cent to 20 per cent over the last 20 years. In addition, Costa Rica has achieved the highest education and health levels in Latin America and has been able to provide the population with wide access to health services, social

security, potable water, and basic public services. Costa Rica's literacy rate of 95.8 percent is comparable even to those of highly developed countries, and the workforce is becoming increasingly bilingual.

10- You have a Perfect Partner in Costa Rica.

Coldwell Banker offices in the country can guide you with confidence to your dream investment in Costa Rica. Check our Jaco Real Estate Listings. We provide clients interested in Costa Rican real estate with the resources they need to insure that the process of investing in or purchasing land or a home runs as smoothly as it would in their home country.

"I was born and raised in a small coastal town in northern California called Fort Bragg. It is the largest town on the coast between San Francisco and Eureka and was a wonderful place to grow up because there were plenty of activities to keep me busy both mentally and physically.

Some of my favorite activities as a child have carried with me into adulthood including both football and golf. Oldest of two, my sister and I spent many days combing the beach and bird-watching and biking as well. My parents chose this town to raise us because of its charming appeal, family values and small town feel.

After graduating high school I attended University of California, Berkeley where I received a bachelor of science in law and economics. I then began a career in the gym industry. I worked for 24 Hour Fitness as a sales representative which gave me the foundation for success in sales as they had an excellent training program and I went on to utilize this knowledge and experience in opening up my own women's fitness boutique gym.

Costa Rica Realtor Lisle Head - Focuses on Jaco real estate

At this time, with a booming real estate market all around me, I became interested in the mortgage industry and as my knowledge of the mortgage and real estate industry grew I began personally investing in properties in northern California and was fortunate to experience good timing in my various endeavors. Then in 2005 I took a two week vacation to Jaco, Costa Rica that changed my life.

I had been invited down several times by old college friends but had never been able to find the time to get away. December 2005 was my window of opportunity for vacation and turned out to be the portal to much more than just a vacation.

Instantly I fell in love with the "Pura Vida" lifestyle and knew that I had found the place where I needed to be. The people were so friendly, the cuisine was excellent and it had the same small town values as those that I had grown up to embrace and later seek out. I knew that this was the place where I would like to get married and raise my family just as my folks had done in Fort Bragg. So I headed back to Sacramento, cashed out some of my investments and proceeded to settle down in Jaco, Costa Rica.

Easy to tell from the smile on their faces that Lisle and Ana Milena don't work all the time.

The planning involved in opening my own fitness franchise proved to be a fortuitous and indispensable education for me when I began evaluating numerous real estate franchises and then open my Coldwell Banker franchise here in Costa Rica. I like the reputation of the company, the marketing support and a truly professional network of brokers throughout the world.

It has now been nearly three since I moved to Jaco and just six months since we officially opened up a Coldwell Banker franchise. I am member of the National Association of Realtors, a Luxury Homes Specialist focused on Jaco real estate with ocean views, beach-front, and walking distance to the beach. We can also help our valued customers with real estate from Tarcoles to Bejuco Beach.

Q: What is your company's philosophy? "Find the client exactly what they are looking for to best suit their needs and exceed their expectations." And since Lisle has sold over 70 properties over the last twelve months, he is one of the most successful Costa Rica Realtors that we have come across...

A:"Coldwell Banker offices in the country can guide you with confidence to your dream investment in Costa Rica. We provide clients interested in Costa Rican real estate with the resources they need to insure that the process of investing in or purchasing land or a home runs as smoothly as it would in their home country."

Just another hum drum Jaco sunset ...

Q: What was the last real estate book you read?

A: Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller

Q: What is your favorite quotation?

A:"Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706-1790)

Costa Rica Realtor - Lisle Head's customer testimonials:

In an email received on Dec 12, 2007 5:54 PM: "I highly recommend Lisle Head, both as a great Costa Rica Realtor/Broker and just an all around great guy! I've known Lisle for some time now and we keep in touch regularly. Lisle was instrumental in helping my wife and I to navigate the sometimes murky waters of real estate investment in Costa Rica.

Lisle was our single point of contact for our initial trip to Costa Rica and helped get us in touch with the right people to make all of the travel and transportation arrangements. Once we arrived in Jaco, Lisle took great care to make sure that we were getting settled in at our hotel and had everything we needed.

From the first time we met Lisle, both my wife and I immediately felt comfortable and at home in dealing with him. He has such an easy-going and sincere personality. This was a big contrast to another Realtor I had contacted in Jaco, who was supposed to line up some properties for us to look at, but didn't even get back in touch with us as promised. Lisle showed us numerous properties that matched our criteria, and gave us helpful advice on which ones might better meet our needs. In the end, we ended up putting a deposit down on two different properties that Lisle introduced us to, and we have been very happy with our choice so far. In short, I have nothing but exceptional things to say about Lisle head. I would give him my whole-hearted endorsement and recommendation as one of the Top Realtors in Costa Rica!" Paul A. Barros.

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Dec 13, 2007 7:07 PM. "All thumb's up great talent, he's one of the main reasons I bought in Costa Rica." Marlon Redmond.

Marlon Redmond is just one of Lisle's happy customers!

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Lisle has been an invaluable asset to me through the whole process of finally deciding to buy property in Costa Rica. Lisle took the time to get to know me personally and to understand why I wanted to invest in Latin America. I knew I could trust Lisle when he talked me out of some deals (and out of his commission) because he felt if I just kept looking, I would find a better property that suited my needs. When you meet Lisle, it becomes apparent quickly that he knows the market and knows the "ins and outs" of investing in Costa Rica. The key is Lisle is a man of integrity and one that I have learned through my dealing with him, that I can trust.

It is a pleasure to write this recommendation. I do not do these things lightly... Only when deserved." Brian Dubin

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I want to thank you and your staff at Coldwell Banker for your professionalism on finding me my dream home and also my investment properties. I must say due to your knowledge of the area and your insite to know the increasing values of the Costa Rica real estate market you have been able to answer all of my question without hesitance.You have made my buying experience in Costa Rica very easy from airport pick-up, Purchase to Closing and the handling of all documents. I have dealt with many Realtors in my state of Florida and would like to say I wish they would visit your office in Jaco Beach Costa Rica and see how a real estate office should be run. I have recommended your office to my friends and family for there Costa Rica investments." Joseph J. Scrivo, Boynton Beach. Florida.

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Just recently I got married to a beautiful Colombian woman named Ana Milena. She works at Coldwell Banker with me and I figured that any woman who could spend ten hours a day with me at work and still go home with me in the evenings with a smile on her face was a keeper. I look forward to building my legacy together with Ana Milena in Jaco, Costa Rica."