Guys In The Zone: Costa Rica Real Estate

Disclaimer:
This article will serve as an update to what is happening in the golf project here in The Zone. The name has been changed to protect the innocent. Guys In The Zone is a real estate agency. We make our money on commissions paid by sellers for sales that we broker. Buyers of land sometimes operate on the mistaken notion that if they go directly to the seller, they will get a lower price because of there not being a commission involved. Even though the price paid is the same either way, we still have to deal with this thought process. So I have changed the name of the golf resort to Guys In The Zone Links or GITZL, which has a nice ring to it anyway. This way, if buyers are intrigued by what they read here, and they do a Google search for the golf course, they’ll just come full circle back to us, and we can then broker the deal.  We make money, and they get our representation in their purchase of a  golf course property in Costa Rica’s southern zone. Everybody wins.

Yes, there is golf in Costa Rica's southern zone.

It could be that the Guys In The Zone Links (GITZL) is heading for one of those “critical mass” experiences. The resort has been there, going through the Costa Rica labyrinth of disorganized bureaucracy for the past three and a half years.  As GITZL emerges, we see other such projects in Costa Rica languishing in the throes of various obstacles:

• a global economic crisis
• conflicting philosophies among founders
• lack of funding
• a nearly impossible Latin American permitting process
• etc…

For the thirty-some land owners in GITZL, who bought untitled land years ago, the titles are almost in. I know what you’re thinking: “Haven’t I heard this before?” Hmmmm, yes, I believe you have heard this before. So, we’ll see. However, at this point, and this time around, all permissions, permits, signatures, departments, laundry lists and handshakes have been made, acquired, stamped and clamped. There is no logistical obstacle and they are now just simply waiting for the documents to be delivered.

GITZL has not paid one colon/cent under the table to achieve its current fully permitted status.

I used to be a shareholder in GITZL and I used to sit on the board of directors there. All of that changed when the GITZL Corporation was unable to make its mortgage payments. Instead of folding and hurting all those who put their belief in the words of dealers (such as yours truly), and bought untitled land there, the shareholders got together and prioritized… -(now prepare yourself. We are talking here about behind the scenes corporate maneuverings, in an effort to make vast sums of money) – the wellbeing of those who had bought land in the project. The shareholders, at personal expense, allowed the project to go to the primary shareholder without a struggle. This primary shareholder, of his own volition, felt that it was important to protect the land owners there, that their ownership would be recognized and guaranteed.

I know, you’re thinking that you have stumbled upon a science fiction account of life on another planet. But you haven’t, and this is not. What you are reading is a firsthand account of my observations over the past 4 or so years. I am also one of those shareholders who lost in excess of $100k in the process (but who knows? The fat lady has not yet sung.)

My recent re-involvement in the project was inspired by one of our unexpected leads that came to us looking for a hotel plot. These prospective buyers really want to be able to offer golf to their guests as well. Their idea was to purchase a piece of land that would accommodate not only the horizontal hotel layout, but also nine holes of golf. There really is no such property left here in Costa Rica’s southern pacific zone. Enter GITZL.

There is a piece of land in GITZL that is slated for a hotel. It has been thought that one of the big franchise hotel names might approach GITZL and ask if they can put one of their monolithic hotels on it. (This Costa Rica real estate blogger is hoping not, but that’s just me putting in my unsolicited, tree hugging two cents.) Lord knows it would be a financial coup for GITZL. But in keeping with its surroundings, and even the design of the project, a more intimate layout of free standing bungalow villas sprinkled around a central restaurant / lobby would be more appropriate.

Locations of hotel plot and finished model condominium - Click to enlarge

This all coincides nicely with what our European investor was/is looking for. His budget easily buys the land allotted for the hotel, valued at two million USD.

So, we’ll see what happens with that deal. Presentations are being made in various offices in London and Malaga, and so we wait. The point, however, isn’t to crow about The Guys good fortune to have such a prospect, (although we are certainly to be able to crow about such things.) But all of this is about re-connecting with this odd little golf project here in the nether reaches of Costa Rica’s southern pacific zone.

Paspalum is a fancy name for grass

The place is beautiful. The existing nine holes roll around gorgeous Costa Rican trees and fauna, and are vibrant with an amazing array of birds and, well, life. Look anywhere on the course and you feel like you are observing a contrived setting, staged for some international golf magazine, complete with white sand bunkers.

The paspalum grass is a marvel. I witnessed a small tractor pulling a liquid tank that was spraying a fairway. Expecting to be told that this was an herbicide, or some such chemical, I was told that it was salt water. Weeds die in a saline environment, Paspalum thrives. Hmmm, can we use the overused “green” handle here? If so, I imagine myself making a presentation there, standing alongside one of the holes, able to say “and this is a truly green green” – get it? Ok, I know. I should apologize – but really, what is the point of being alive if we aren’t going to live, verdad?

So the weeds are handled without chemicals, what about fertilizing and bugs? Enter the ultra-acid soil of Costa Rica. The antidote is lime, or calcium. Mix this into the soil and you manage your PH, while driving off any pests. The little blighters thrive in acid but not in a balanced PH environment. So yes, I believe we can call this project green.

As for the Critical Mass mentioned at the outset, I just wonder if, as the GITZL folks quietly go about their business out there, if one day the world doesn’t wake up and there is a mad dash to be part of this amazing project. They’ve got a show condo – 2 bedrooms, granite counter tops, all teak wood ceilings, cabinets and furniture for $219,000 – a price that would have been impossible to believe prior to the economic tumble.

I suppose this could come to be viewed as the upside of the downtime – (OK – sorry about that one.

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“Houses that produce rental income” has become an increasingly popular Costa Rica real estate strategy in The Zone. In this video, The Guys explain WHY this investment strategy is smart and how it can be achieved in a fertile rental market.  We moved out of the office and shot the video “on location” at such a property above Dominical, Costa Rica.

August begins a new Guys In The Zone tradition, the poll question. As some of you know, we have been increasingly active with the social marketing and networking lately. LinkedIn, in particular, has inspired many new connections and ideas. The Poll will be a regular addition to our Talk Show and articles, and who knows? It may even inspire youto submit your own poll question about Costa Rica real estate and life in the Southern Pacific Zone. If you have a LinkedIn account, thanks for voting!

This episode focuses on the most popular features people look for in Costa Rica real estate– the ocean view and proximity to a river/waterfalls. We explain how whether your desire is to buy an existing home or buy raw land & build, both of these quintessential property features add to the quality of life. If a picture is worth a thousand words, these video clips shot “on location” in two of the best developments in the area will speak volumes. Enjoy.

Episode14 by GuysInTheZone

This is our mid-year review of real estate in the Southern Pacific Zone of Costa Rica. With tourism numbers up 11% in Central America, Ben and Rod discuss how this trend points to a brighter future for The Zone.

Costa Rica Real Estate – Talk Show 13 by GuysInTheZone

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”  – Steve Jobs

I bet your wondering how that idea relates to real estate in Costa Rica?  Well, simply put… if there was ever a time for property owners and real estate agents in this marketplace to be “innovative,” it’s now.

We all need to think outside the box...

LISTING IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP

Here’s how listing a property usually unfolds in The Zone—

• Step One: Call up The Guys and set up an appointment to preview the property.
• Step Two: Determine if an Open Listing or a Modified Exclusive Listing is appropriate for you.
• Step Three: Wait for The Guys to bring you a buyer.

The problem is that Step Three is taking much longer than most Sellers anticipated.

LOOKING BEYOND PRICE

We all know reducing the list price is the easiest way to increase property showings, offers, and sales.  However, if your property is in the ballpark of current market value and it is being shown but not selling, there could be other reasons limiting the sale.

Here at the Guys office, we continue to ask ourselves what can we do to speed up the sales process?  At the risk of sounding trite, one answer is: “think outside the box.”  Here’s an example of how The Guys have applied this idea.

Ben started his Costa Rica blog in 2003 (before many of us knew what a blog was) Continue Reading

A look at 2011 Costa Rica real estate trends as perceived and shared by Ben Vaughn and Rod Martin, the Guys In The Zone.

Guys In The Zone Talk Show – Episode 11 by GuysInTheZone

This gorgeous natural swimming hole sits below one of the nicer homes in Uvita.

It’s one of the most popular questions we, the Guys In The Zone, field— “What’s been selling? We get this question from both buyers and sellers.  Generally speaking, the answer is— great deals.

PRICE

Price is the #1 determining factor for a great deal, but there is another factor that is equally important— the living experience.  Ben, my business partner in Costa Rica real estate, phrases it this way, “do any unique features of the property significantly affect the quality of the living experience?”

There are very few remaining places on the planet where things are (1) inexpensive and (2) incredible.  During the boom years of 2004-2008, Costa Rica real estate was inexpensive and incredible.  Large farms were purchased $1.00/meter squared and nice ocean view lots were under $100,000.

Three years after the peak of 2008, property values across the border came down between 40-50%.  Many houses are now selling for replacement cost or less.  Once again, we have large farms for $1.00/m2.  The obvious reason was the global economic downturn and continual 10:1 ratio of sellers to buyers.  Basic economics tells us that price, or in this case property value, had to come down.  Our listing database is now filled with good properties in every category—houses, land, large parcels and commercial.

THE LIVING EXPERIENCE

For most people, buying real estate in Costa Rica isn’t just about getting a great deal.  You can move to Orlando, Florida if that is your only goal.  It is about the unique features that significantly enrich the living experience.  When Ben and I get a new land or house listing that has an ocean view and a trail to a nearby river… Continue Reading

Have we hit bottom?

In the movie “Back to the Future” we saw an example of how beneficial it would be if we could tell the future. The character Biff Tannen gets his hands on printed results from some race track and other sporting events, before they happened, and went on to achieve phenomenal wealth.

In real world economics, the trick seems to be the ability to identify trends and accurately guess what is going to happen prior to it happening.  Here in Costa Rica, the real estate market is no different.  Discussion and speculation about the future run rampant.  Hints & clues are analyzed in a constant effort to make wise buying (and selling) decisions.

It caught my attention this morning when I received the following in an e-mail from an agent in one of the local real estate agencies. He was writing to update us on a client of ours that we had asked him to help with. Without trying, our associate provides a clue as to what the current state of the market is, and perhaps, where it is going.

*Hello [Guys],

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to assist you with the property interests of the Schmegerworgs (names changed to protect the innocent).

I feel it is of the utmost importance to give your potential buyers the Tico Times of today, Friday, Sept. 10 newspaper that explains in detail the past and current real estate market place that will back up exactly what I mentioned to them about the market picking up right now and that 2009 was a slower year (click here to read the article online). I feel it is important that the wife understands if we show them a property at a price point that makes sense and feels good in their heart, they need to move forward with a purchase as good deals are selling and we cannot always replace a fire sale or “perfect property” that one lets go by.

I truly feel our BOTTOM market has passed us and current activity with all us of can only prove that.

Whether we sell them something together or if you sell direct, that is all fine with me as I feel there is much business for all of us survivors right now.

Please take care and have a great weekend.

(Its noteworthy that this e-mail is from a “competitor”.  One of the really promising aspects of the real estate industry here in Costa Rica’s southern zone is the amount of cooperation between all the agencies.)

The ability to identify “bottom” is the hallmark of a successful investor.  It is extremely difficult to do, which explains why so many of us speak in terms of “would’a, should’a ,could’a” when talking about our investment history.

So how can we identify the bottom in the market now?

Indicators:

One of the more prominent factors are that there are less Fire Sale properties on the market now than there were before.  All the reports that we are getting from the other real estate agencies in the area are that they are busy.  This is not just under $100,000 ocean view lots.  It seems that the $300,000 home is a hot item now that won’t last long on the market.  There are also a number of larger, more removed parcels, selling.   Some of these have topped the $1,000,000 (USD) mark.  There is a growing interest in “off the grid” and “community-style” living.

We had one of our favorite developers approach us some months ago and indicate that the recession was finally affecting him, and that he really needed to sell some property.  Long story short, since that time he has sold a house and two lots, making him well.

All of the above activity was stimulated by the market ebb & flow.  The market was and is down.  The inherent quality of the properties that are available in Costa Rica’s southern pacific zone is compelling.  The low prices on these properties has caused enough action here to cause us to wonder what all this talk is about a recession – (well, not really, but almost :0)  Savvy buyers are here snapping up the deals.

No one knows what the future holds.  Things are changing on the global scale, some of which is unprecedented, causing insecurity.  We really have no idea what to expect in the future.  There is the unmanageable deficit in the U. S. There is China.  There is talk about the “double dip” recession.  There is global warming and other environmental concerns.

So have we seen the bottom?

Hard to say.  However, if you were a fly on the wall of the Guys In The Zone office (or any other real estate office in the zone), you’d hear conversations that would make it seem so.  We’ve had a number of folks come through during the down time that have found what they were looking for, but then felt that they had time to decide, to “think about it”. Or perhaps they think that prices will even come down a bit more.  Our feeling is that the time to buy has been here now for some time, and may well be passing.

What we do know is that we haven’t seen prices this low and on such a great selection for some years.  So, whether “bottom” is behind us, or lies yet ahead, we’re pretty confident that now is a decent time to buy a piece of property in Costa Rica.

Shameless Plug: Click here for all Guys In The Zone real estate listings

* Keith Schenkel of Costa Rica Real Estate Services

A longtime associate in Costa Rica real estate stopped by our office after being out of the country for an extended period.  One of his first questions was, “So, what’s going on with the international airport?”  My response was, “What airport?”  He found that amusing considering the broker he just spoke to was talking it up like the asphalt trucks were lined up and ready to pour the tarmac.  We both had a good laugh.

I’m not saying major infrastructure projects aren’t being completed here in Costa Rica.  There have been many projects completed in the past two years—

• San Jose-Caldera Highway
• Quepos-Dominical Highway (affectionately known as, “The Dirt Road”)
• Re-paving of the Dominical-San Isidro Highway
• The Bridge at San Buenaventura
• The Bridge at La Cusinga (almost)

From that list it is easy to see the progress and the progression.  What I mean by “progression” is the land routes need to be completed first before an international airport is built in The Zone.

International Airport In Paradise?

Rumors to Reality

The list of rumors regarding the southern zone Airport is long and varied— operational for international flights by 2010, moving to a new site in Sierpe, moving south closer to the border in a joint venture with the Panamanian Government… to name a few.  The reason I am sharing this news story released by La Nacion a few days ago and forwarded by a reputable broker in the area is it actually sounds like the government has a (more) realistic plan.

In summary, Costa Rica’s third international airport will be located in the same exact spot currently occupied by the Palmar Regional Airport.  To comply with Aviacion Civil (the FAA of Costa Rica) standards, the runway will be extended 400 meters and facilities for immigration, customs, and security will be constructed.  The “facilities” will include extra hangers, buildings, and even a terminal that will provide hangers and services for commercial shipments.  The price tag on this project is quoted at $25 million dollars, half the proposed cost of the mega-terminal in a new location.  They did not release a projected completion date, but I would be shocked if it was ready in two years.

One of the most interesting points in the announcement is the Minister of Tourism’s call for more hotels to be built in the area.  It is a similar point echoed by the longtime mayor of the Osa Canton, Alberto Cole.  It’s safe to say, major hotel projects are going to get the green light, moving forward.  One of the more interesting things to me is exactly how they are going to accomplish this with no Plan Regulador (e.g., zoning plan) for the area?  Where are these new hotel-resorts going to be located?

What Does It All Mean?

It means that at some point in the future there will be international flights landing in Palmar.  It means there will be more hotels, and the beaches will be alive with activity.  It also means there will be many, many more investors buying in the area.  People look at me funny when I say this area is poised for another b-o-o-m, but all of the regional signs—improved access from every direction and significantly lower property prices— point that way.

It means property in areas like Tres Rios and San Buenaventura, once thought of as “too far south of Dominical” will be a 15-minute taxi ride from the terminal.  Check out Tres Rios Estate and Tres Sandalo 17 as examples.  We only have a few listings in Palmar (see photo left), but I guarantee that number will double before the high season.

Most of the expats in The Zone have adopted the “I’ll believe it when I see it” philosophy.  We have also been surprised by the recent completion rate of infrastructure projects.  Safe to say, the completion of the 3rd International Airport in Palmar will be the crown jewel for the region.  If you are interested in buying Costa Rica real estate, this recent news bodes well for smart investors.