Are you planning on buying a vacation or retirement home in Costa Rica?  Then you owe it to yourself to check out our beach front single family homes in our Costa Real master planned community.  Starting at only $285,000, our homes in Costa Real are just a short four minute walk to the beach in Playa Bejuco.   Costa Real is only 20 minutes south of the popular resort town of Jaco.

All homes in Costa Real are sold fully furnished down to the knives and forks.  What’s more they are sold “deeded, fee simple” meaning you own it just like in the United States!  Title insurance is available through Stewart Title.  The homes range in size from 1,800 to 2,000 SF.  They all have three bedrooms, three baths, garage, clay tile roofs and are loaded with amenities.

Check out the “Beach Front” section of this website for more information and call Jason LaFlesch at 602-369-4663 to begin to realize your homeownership dreams.

Soon tourists will be able to relax on one of Costa Rica’s most traditional beaches; the Playa Doña Ana, in Puntarenas, is getting a face lift. Reconstruction work and maintenance, under the surveillance of the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism (ICT), began some weeks ago.

This is one of the many projects taken on by the ICT in an effort to recondition some abandoned tourist destinations, as well as some old beach spots that used to be Costa Rican favorites. The Minister of Tourism Carlos Ricardo Benavides said that he is happy with the way things are moving. The repairs to the infrastructure of the site mean that another weekend destination has been saved, not only for foreign tourists but for Costa Rican families as well.

Puntarenas is one of the closest and most convenient beaches to travel to if coming from San Jose. Once a busy port, it has now an air of abandon but its beaches have started to undergo rigorous clean-up programs, and it is not a bit too soon that the Playas Doña Ana get a helping hand. Playa Doña Ana represents the traditional family Sunday at the beach, and its clean up will allow the tradition to carry on.

The project was put on hold for a couple of months, and it was then decided to give it the go ahead. The Consultation and Construction P&S is in charge of supervising the project, which is expected to come to an end around the end of September of this year, in time for Doña Ana to receive warrented attention during dry season and Christmas break. Over 40 million colones (about $80,000) have been invested in the project. Work has already begun on the reconditioning of the picnic areas, beach access, administrative quarters, parking areas and the exterior lightning. According to the law, special facilities will be installed as well as access ramps for use by handicapped persons.

Next will come the installation of new bathrooms and showers complete with locker rooms, BBQ areas with wooden tables for picnics, and drinking water tanks. A new sewage system is also planned. The goal of the project is to offer a destination where tourists do not have to necessarily spend the night. Indeed, camping will not be allowed so as to preserve the cleanliness and beauty of this small beach.

We look forward to seeing you at our Costa Rica Informational Presentation on Saturday, July 12 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The seminar will be held at the office of State Mortgage located at the SW corner of the Loop 101 and Via de Ventura. Registration is at 9AM and we will start promptly at 9:30AM.

At this seminar you will learn all about the beautiful country of Costa Rica as well as our Colinas de Miramar master planned community.

Please call the Costa Rica Power Team at 480-246-3699 to reserve your seat at the seminar or if you have any questions.

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.