McDonald’s, KFC, Quiznos, Taco Bell and Wendy’s are going to open 29 restaurants this year. Costa Rica is prospering despite the world economic crisis. Furthermore, the government just announced that long-awaited highway to the Central Pacific will be inaugurated next week, four months ahead of schedule. People who have driven on the part of the highway that is completed say it is as nice as any highway in the U.S.

As you can see from the above Costa Rica continues to move forward and improve its infrastructure making it a good place to invest. Baby Boomers and retirees should feel perfectly safe buying property here.

The French company Teleperformance announced the opening of a call center in Costa Rica. A spokesman for the company said they would be hiring 400 Costa Ricans. This is another example of a foreign company outsourcing to Costa Rica because of the country’s highly qualified and educated workforce. Amazon.com and other multinationals have already established themselves here.

These companies realize that Costa Rica is the perfect place to invest now and in the future because of the country’s political climate, stellar international reputation and excellent business climate.

Small investors should have nothing to fear if they do their due diligence and invest in real estate or other local ventures. Many retirees have already realized this and profited from their investments.

Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica

SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA – For close to a decade, Costa Rica has been building a reputation as a reliable place to invest in property. In fact, in 2006 Costa Rica was one the hottest real estate markets in the world according to CNBC News.

The dollar is weak and will continue to spiral downward; the current world financial mess, wars, record deficits and more will keep the pressure on. Furthermore, the U.S. government will be staring at a colossal tax increase in just a few years to fund the bail out, social security, universal health coverage and Medicaid benefits for the flood of retirees. Some say that under under the current plan, federal income taxes will increase dramatically. New tax rate would possibly give the United States one of the highest tax rates among developed countries.

Where is the end of the huge financial burden the government is placing on every taxpayer? Diversifying out of a falling currency and into hard assets outside the U.S. just might be the only way to protect your hard-earned wealth—and enjoy and preserve the lifestyle you might consider. The super rich have been doing this for years to protect their wealth and educe liability. They safeguard their money and diversify their investment portfolio by investing in international assets. Now the average Joe can protect what he has left from the world economic fall out by using the same strategy.

But in these difficult economic times, those who invest in real estate anywhere in the world feel the need to do so safely.

That’s why Christopher Howard, author of many titles on living abroad, has published his latest tome, Christopher Howard’s Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica. At 544 pages, the book is the result of many years of research and personal experience, and the most comprehensive guide to the topic to date.

Written by professional journalists Lindsay Whip and Peter Krupa, the book includes carefully researched chapters on permitting, finding property, due diligence, and financing, among others. Another lengthy section gives an overview of the country’s various geographical regions and architectural styles, while a resource directory offers an extensive list of contacts, from lawyers and environmental engineers, to private bilingual schools.

“I wanted to make this book essential for one-time home buyers and developers alike,” Howard said. “Doing business in Costa Rica doesn’t have to be complicated and people should research things so they have the right questions to ask when they move forward.”

Howard stressed that co-authors Whip and Krupa wrote the book as professional journalists and are not involved in any aspect of the real estate business in Costa Rica. Whip has worked as a financial journalist for Bloomberg News and the Financial Times, while Krupa lives in Costa Rica and spent several years freelancing and working as the business and real estate reporter for English-language weekly the Tico Times.

The book is available through Amazon.com, in most bookstores through Baker & Taylor, and the eBook version from Escape Artist and review copies can be sent to members of the media. Both Howard and Krupa are available to comment to the media on the book. To request a review copy or set up an appointment for an interview, see the numbers above.

Costa Rica Books
Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica website
Call TOLL FREE 877-322-4690, 877-884-2502 or 800-365-2342 (afternoons)
E-mail to christopher@costaricabooks.com

As part of a massive urban renewal project and in an effort to bring more people back to downtown San Jose, a Chinatown will be created. The Barrio Chino or China Town will be located between avenidas (avenues) 2 and 14 and will be about two acres or 8,300 square meters in size when completed. It will also feature a pedestrian mall in place of the existing city street. The entrance to the area will feature a large oriental style arch.

The area already boasts a couple of oriental restaurants, supermarkets and other businesses.
Read more…

The (TREM) or Metropolitan Electric Train is expected to running between San José and Heredia by 2013.

The electric train will greatly reduce travel time in San José by reducing traffic congestion and reduce smog.

The cost of the project would be us$345 million dollars.

Miguel Carabaguíaz, presidente del Instituto Nacional de Ferrocarriles (INCOFER), said “we are taking a step towards modernization and what we are looking for is to offer better service to all Costa Ricans.”

Carabaguíaz said that the feasibility studies have already been done, which has already determined the routes and if all goes well, the electric train could be running by 2013.

The INCOFER has been running the diesel power train service between San Pedro and downtown San José and Pavas for some years. Last month it began operating between San José and Heredia route, using tracks that had been abandoned for more than a decade and purchasing locomotives and cars from Spain. Currently it is analyzing expanding the diesel train service between San José and Cartago.

The “urban train” as it is called currently only operates during mornings and afternoons on weekdays.