By moving abroad to a country like Costa Rica you can completely start over in a new place. Relocating to a foreign country to retire can also lower your cost of living, housing, medical care and you can enjoy the luxuries that would never be possible back home.

The main reason many people considering retirement in another country is the chance to get more for their money. In Costa Rica it is possible to live comfortably on as little as $1,800 to $3,000 as a couple and $1500 as a single monthly. For the retirees living on a shoestring, moving here can afford you a comfortable lifestyle.

The cost of medical care is a fraction of what it is back home. Medical tourism has become a big business in Costa Rica. People flock here for cosmetic surgery, dental work and joint replacement. Medical procedures generally cost half as much or less, compared with the United States. The hospitals are often staffed with English-speaking doctors trained at U.S. medical schools, making Costa Rica the top choices for retirees with ongoing health concerns.

Housing costs are usually the biggest part of any retirement budget. The good news is that in Costa Rica you can reduce housing expenses considerably, especially if you are a renter.

When retiring anywhere in the United States, retirees are compelled to cutting back their lifestyle. In Costa Rica, you can improve your standard of living during retirement.

As a retiree in Costa Rica, might not have to do a household chore again. You can afford not only part or full-time help around the house but also a driver, a gardener and dine out regularly. Full-time household costs a couple of hundred dollars per month.

For most people, the main reason for considering retirement in another country is the cost of living, housing and the chance to start over. But a greatly reduced cost of living could be only the beginning of the payoff from retiring someplace new and foreign. The other big, and possibly bigger, benefit may be the chance to start over in your life.

Health insurance and medical costs are usually a large part of an American retiree’s budget. In Costa Rica, private medical coverage costs as little as $100 a month or less, which for many people is less than the cost of Medicare premiums. Those who use the public system or caja pay less than $60 per month.

If you live in an area that has major snowfalls, extreme seasonal changes or dangerous weather such as hurricanes,you’ll love Costa Rica’s weather. The country’s year-round spring-like climate in the Central Valley is one of the best in the world.

I just concluded my April relocation/retirement tour. Everyone of the 14 guests thanked me for the quality of the tour and felt they got what the paid for and more. I even received a thunderous ovation when we headed back to our hotel for the last time.

It is truly gratifying to make people happy, help them change their lives and to know that they have all of the contacts and information to retire or live in Costa Rica. Everyone on the tour bonded and became good friends in less than a week. On the last day of the tour the whole group went off on their own for a group breakfast before the tour started. They exchanged e-mails and phone numbers so that they could stay in touch when the returned home.

The tour group was composed of people from different areas in the U.S. and Canada. The Canadian couple was from Vancouver, British Colombia. They said that they wanted to move here because they were sick and tired of the cold and rainy weather. I had two couples from the Pacific Northwest who echoed the sentiments of the Canadians. A single gentleman from Louisiana, a couple from Texas and another from Florida had the opposite problem. They were sick of the hot summers and wanted to live in Costa Rica’s Central Valley because of its year-round spring-like climate.

In short I want to thank, Richard, Tom, Roger and Cindy, Warren and Nancy, David and Dawn, Otis and Rebecca, Donald and Linda and Gerhard and Krystyna for taking my April tour.

The decisions you make in Costa Rica can be the difference between success and failure. With the popularity of Costa Rica as an expat retirement haven there has been a proliferation of expat websites with advice about moving here. One of the first things some neophytes do, who have some knowledge of how a website works, is to to build one about living in Costa Rica. Some sites are just simply blogs where newcomers share their experiences. While others are more sophisticated and dole out information about living here. Many of the latter have videos showing people’s experiences when moving to the country in an effort to help others who are lower on the retirement food chain.

Although much of the information is valuable some of it has to be taken with a “grain of salt” because the people who gathered it really have not lived here long enough to understand how the country works nor do they understand the local culture or speak Spanish. Taking their advice can get you into real trouble.

There are a few neophyte websites which tell you how to live cheaply in Costa Rica. Yes, many of these tips can save you money but might also cost you money because the information is incorrect. Usually expats who are really money conscious are those who were never really successful in their home country or knew absolutely nothing about financial planning. Consequently, they are forced to live on a shoestring in Costa Rica.

If they didn’t have the intelligence or know-how to do well in their original country, What makes you think they suddenly became financial geniuses just by moving to Costa Rica? Knowledge is usually based on experience in a particular field and requires a lot of time and effort. Obviously the people behind these websites may have opinions about living here but most are NOT qualified to give good advice.

It is funny how most Americans who move here after one year think they know everything. I have witnessed this situation over and over again. I guess it is called the “the know-it-all syndrome after one year.”

I don’t mean do denigrate anyone but want those thinking of moving here to have the most reliable, correct, time-tested and objective information to ensure their success and reduce the possibility of failure. The bottom line is to look for time-tested experts and information to avoid headaches and not rely on the Internet forums and neophyte websites. If you have a major medical issue I am quite sure you will seek out a doctor with many years of experience in his field. Use the same logic when thinking about living in Costa Rica.

I just published my new eBook “The Official Guide to Costa Rica’s Legal System for Tontos (dumbells)”. This 300-page book covers a variety of basic topics for the layman. The material in it was reviewed by a several Bilingual Costa Rican attorneys and every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information. However, as suggested in the book, readers should consult a competent Costa Rican attorney for any legal concerns they may have.

You may order this eBook with Pay Pal at www.costaricabooks.com.

Here is the table of contents.

1. Costa Rica’s Government and Legal System in Brief

Costa Rica’s Constitution
Structure of Costa Rica’s Government
Political divisions
What is the difference between our legal system and the one Costa Rica uses?
Napoleonic Code v. Common Law
Civil lawsuits
Criminal proceedings
An example of How the Justice System Works
in Costa Rica

2. How to Find a Lawyer
A list of bilingual Lawyers
Lawyers and Powers of Attorney in Costa Rica

3. An Explanation of How Costa Rican Corporations Work
Different types of Corporations
Sociedad anónima, or SA.
Sociedad de responsibilidad limitada, or SRL

4. What are your Property Rights in Costa Rica?
Maritime Zone Regulations
Squatter’s Rights
Environmental Laws
Rental Law and Renter’s Rights

5. Who Enforces the Law?
Costa Rica’s different types of police

6. Crime and Safety in Costa Rica
A word about crime
Crimes to watch out for
Foreigners and Criminal Penalties
What are Costa Rica’s Drinking and Drug Laws
Owning a handgun and using it in self-defense

7. Buying a Car and the Legalities Involved
Buying a car here
Importing a car
Costs and calculations of vehicle taxes
Registration and License Plates Inspection (RITEVE)
Buying or selling a car in Costa Rica

8. Costa Rica’s Traffic Laws
What do I need to drive legally in Costa Rica?
A brief summary of Costa Rica’s traffic laws and some advice
New Law and Fines

9. How to Obtain Residency in Costa Rica?
Different types of residency
Pensionado
Rentista
Inversionista
Representante Residency Program
Required Costa Rica Residency Documents
Tourist’s rights
The New Immigration Law
Costa Rican Citizenship

10. Labor Law
Worker’s rights
Work permits in Costa Rica – When and how to apply for them
What are the penalties for working illegally in the country?

11. Estate Planning in Costa Rica
Wills and Testamentos in Costa Rica
Death of a friend or loved one overseas

12. Marriage, Divorce, Children and Alimony
Getting Married
Common Law Marriages
Getting Divorced
Can Foreigners divorce in Costa Rica?
Entry and Exit Requirements for Minors in General
Entry and Exit Requirements for Dual U.S./Costa Rican Citizens Minors
Child Custody Laws of Costa Rica
Adoption
Paternity Cases

13. TAXES IN COSTA RICA
Income Tax
Deductions
Other taxes in Costa Rica
Cooperation with U.S. Tax Authorities

14. Resources
Legal Terms
Frequently used legal terms in Spanish
Business terms
Real estate terms
Vocabulary for rentals

On Sunday November 27, 2011 I finished my monthly relocation retirement tour and I am proud to announce it was a complete success. One only had to see the smile on my client’s faces at the end of the tour to know that everything went smoothly and that they received all of the necessary information, tools and contacts to relocate to Costa Rica successfully.

I had fifteen people on the tour. I usually don’t have that large of a group but business has really picked up lately and it seemed like everyone wanted to come in November.

One the first half of the tour we visited the beautiful Dominical-Uvita-Ojochal area on the southern Pacific Coast. That part of Costa Rica is reminiscent of California’s Big Sur where the mountains come down to the sea. My clients were really blown away by the area’s beauty. While there we visited a breathtaking rain forest and ocean view community called Portasol. It really has to be seen to believed.

Next we spent the night in the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area. My clients saw the sights, strolled on a white sand beach, toured the new marina, and witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime sunset from the Mariposa Hotel high above Manuel Antonio Beach.

On our last day at the beach we visited Esterillos Este, Playa Hermosa, Jacó Beach and the Los Sueños Marina.

Next we returned to San José on Wednesday and spent Thursday and Friday in a highly informative relocation seminar sponsored by the Association of Residents of Costa Rica (ARCR).

Finally, on Saturday and Sunday we toured the Central Valley. We visited San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Ciudad Colón, San Antonio de Belén, Heredia, Atenas, Grecia, San Ramón and Alajuela.

My clients thanked me for everything and I assured them that they were lifetime customers and to contact me if there was anything they needed.