WE HAVE RENTALS AVAILABLE FOR THE CHRISTMAS/NEW YEARS HOLIDAY Copyright Better Homes Real Estate, Playas del Coco and Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica                July 2010   Bits and Pieces: The PDF file will open in a new window after you click. The News: Costa Rican exports up 13 percent in 2010   The first five months of 2010 have been good to Costa Rican exports, which have increased 13 percent overall in comparison with the same period last year. Thus far in 2010, Costa Rican exports have raked in over $4 billion, including revenues of more than $854 million in May, according to the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer).   The three major export sectors – industry, agriculture and fishing– all have reported significant gains over last year. Industrial exports, which include value-added food products and manufactured goods, have accounted for over 72 percent of total Costa Rican exports so far in 2010.    In the industrial sector, computer parts and microprocessors continue to be........ Click here to read more We Have Moved to a New Location! Our office has moved. We are now located in Downtown Playa Coco 100 meters from the beach above Boutique Sussy. More foreign companies to open operations in Costa Rica   As the economy recovers, more multinational companies are looking to invest in Costa Rica.   The latest was medical device manufacturing company Nitinol Devices & Components (NDC), whose decision to begin operations in the country was announced this week. Gabriela Llobet, the director general of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), estimated that approximately six more companies will break ground for or inaugurate new operations in........ Click here to read more Mural for oceans in Playas del Coco   For World Oceans Day, marine artist Carlos Hiller painted a new ocean-themed mural in Playas del Coco on a 100-foot long wall at a commercial center that also faces the main street.   The mural depicts both the surface and below with waves coming ashore the well-known local islands popular for diving, mahi mahi hunting sardines, and some meters beyond into the deep blue, several sailfish also.......... Click here to read more Featured Listings:  A true vacation home and a huge rental producer as well: Fully furnished ocean-view: Fully furnished Beachfront: Highest quality finishes $304,000 Reduced to $229,000: News stories continued: Continued: Cortos - Short News Stories More cheese in Turrialba   The second weekend of the Turrialba cheese festival takes place next Friday (July 9), Saturday and Sunday. The event is called Expoferia de Queso 2010 and features some 350 small firms that are involved in the production of a variety of cheeses and other milk products.   The location is in Santa Cruz de Turrialba. Organizers said that for next weekend they would use 1,500 liters of milk to create a 250-kilo cheese. Oil spill might bring more sports fishermen   The two-month long oil spill ravaging the Gulf of México and the southern U.S. coast may help a few struggling Pacific coast sports fishing operations.   At least five major tournaments have been canceled because of the oil leaking into the gulf, and individual sports fishermen are looking elsewhere to get their big game fishing fix. Costa Rica is a logical choice because the bulk of the fishing is in the Pacific, and the country has good infrastructure for this type of sport. CR Forecasts Increase In Coffee Harvest   Costa Rica slightly increased its estimate for the 2010/11 coffee harvest on Monday citing favorable weather and improved fertilization, the national coffee institute, Icafé, said. Luis Vindas is the New Costa Rica National Surf Champion   With South African Brandon Robert's win in this 7th date of the Circuit Nacional de Surf DayStar Quiksilver, Luis Vindas of Jacó needed to wait until the last minute for the 5-star points to be tallied to find out that he had indeed won the National Championship Title at La Curva in Playa Hermosa near Jacó. Certificates From The Registro Civil Can Now Be Ordered Online   Costa Rica's Obtaining a certified document from the Registro Civil (Civil Registry) is no simple thanks to a pilot program that allows users to search the registry and order the required document online.   The certified documents can then picked up at the Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) offices in San José at the courthouses in Cartago, Alajuela, Grecia, San Ramón, Heredia, Liberia and Limón.   Online users can request birth, death and marriage certificate(s) simply by entering the name or the cedula number and clicking on the desired search result.   The TSE promises that all requests made between 7am and 10am during weekdays (save holidays) can be picked up after the 3pm the same day. After 10am, the certificates will be ready the following day.   The TSE website is at: www.tse.go.cr. To access the certifications page directly go to: www.tse.go.cr/consulta_persona/menu.htm Some of our bargain listings: Listing: # 5102830 Brand New Playa Hermosa Condo Location: Playa Hermosa Bedrooms: 2  Baths: 2 Brand new, fully furnished 2BR/2BA condominium in Playa Hermosa. Ceramic tile floors throughout. Modern kitchens and baths with marble countertops and GE appliances. Stackable W/D. A/C throughout. 3 common swimming pools and a pool house in the development. Beautifully landscaped garden setting. The unit comes fully furnished. Located a three minute walk to the beach of Playa Hermosa. North American style financing available. Price: $275,000 reduced to $199,000 Click here for more details. A Vacation Rental Bargains Example: Listing: #5103011 Ocotal 2BR / 2 BA 70m2 Condo Location: Playa Ocotal Size: 70m2 / 753 sq ft 2 bed 2 baths 753sq ft. fully furnished condo, A/C in all bedrooms, cable, wireless internet and washer/dryer inside unit. Each bedroom has a queen bed and sofa bed at living room. Sleeps 5. This condo is located just 2 minutes from Playa Ocotal and 4 minutes from Playas del Coco. Price negotiable depending on weeks and availability Starting at $80 a night! Click here for more details. Listing #5102791 Casa Susan Location: Playa Ocotal Size: 750 sq. ft. Bedrooms: 2  Baths: 2 This nicely done 2 bedroom 2 bath condo is located a short walk from the beach in Playa Ocotal. It comes with all appliances, stacked washer/dryer, modern kitchen with granite counter tops. All rooms have AC and ceiling fans. Price: $98,500 reduced to $68,000 Financing Available Click here for more details. Costa Rican exports up 13 percent in 2010 The first five months of 2010 have been good to Costa Rican exports, which have increased 13 percent overall in comparison with the same period last year. Thus far in 2010, Costa Rican exports have raked in over $4 billion, including revenues of more than $854 million in May, according to the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer). The three major export sectors – industry, agriculture and fishing– all have reported significant gains over last year. Industrial exports, which include value-added food products and manufactured goods, have accounted for over 72 percent of total Costa Rican exports so far in 2010. In the industrial sector, computer parts and microprocessors continue to be Costa Rica's largest grossing exports, generating more than $627 million in sales through the first five months of the year. Export of computer parts and microprocessors, dominated by multinational technology giant Intel Corporation, accounted for over 15 percent of total national exports. Agricultural exports also started strong this year, accounting for more than 25 percent of total national exports. The improved overseas sale of agricultural products has been led by pineapple, which is up 62 percent compared to the same period in 2009. The export of bananas has increased 49 percent, while coffee exports are up 17 percent. Costa Rica is the world's leader in pineapple exports and third in banana exports. The U.S. remains the leading destination for Costa Rican products, accounting for 36 percent of all exports, or $1.45 billion so far this year. The Netherlands, Hong Kong, China and Panama round out the top five destinations for Costa Rica's exports, with the Netherlands being the only other country that receives over 5 percent of Costa Rica's exports (6.8 percent). Back to top   Continued: More foreign companies to open operations in Costa Rica As the economy recovers, more multinational companies are looking to invest in Costa Rica. The latest was medical device manufacturing company Nitinol Devices & Components (NDC), whose decision to begin operations in the country was announced this week. Gabriela Llobet, the director general of the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), estimated that approximately six more companies will break ground for or inaugurate new operations in the upcoming months. NDC manufactures medical guide wires used for non-invasive surgery. The company is negotiating to set up a facility in one of San José's free trade zones, which allow businesses to import materials and export goods without barriers such as quotas or tariffs (TT, Jan. 29). Llobet said the Fremont, Calif.-based NDC was a good fit for the country because of Costa Rica's close to its primary market, the United States. In addition, other medical device manufacturers are already having success in Costa Rica. “It's a strategic location,” Llobet said. “Just for the fact of already having all these companies operating here in this sector – it's a great indication for them that they can find the required human capital to not only to get established here, but continue growing (pursuant to) a long term strategy in Costa Rica.” NDC will invest $3.5 million in operations in the country, and plans to hire 30 employees by the end of the year. The long-term goal is to employ 200 people, Llobet said. She added that CINDE hopes to help bring in 29 multinational businesses this year. She said that an early estimate is that around 5,000 jobs could be created in the services, medical devices and advanced manufacturing sectors. 21 new operations moved to Costa Rica in 2009. The Central Bank estimates $1.3 billion of foreign direct investment for this year, while two sectors in particular appear to be leading Costa Rica's foreign investment landscape. “We're going to continue to see some medical device manufacturing companies and (companies) in the area of services as well,” Llobet said. “(Also) perhaps, in other areas as well. But I would pinpoint these two specific sectors as ones in which we have seen continuous growth in the past. And I believe we'll see the same in 2010.” Back to top Continued: Mural for oceans in Playas del Coco For World Oceans Day, marine artist Carlos Hiller painted a new ocean-themed mural in Playas del Coco on a 100-foot long wall at a commercial center that also faces the main street. The mural depicts both the surface and below with waves coming ashore the well-known local islands popular for diving, mahi mahi hunting sardines, and some meters beyond into the deep blue, several sailfish also hunting. The mural is a donation from the artist to the community, and during the eight days of work contributions for expenses were received from the community. In addition, a spontaneous beach cleaning was organized. This it is the third consecutive year that Hiller painted a public mural for the World Oceans Day, June 8. His permanent exhibit is at the Hidden Garden Art Gallery. Back to top Home | Who We Are | Listings | Where We Are | Links | Link Exchange | Contact Us Our Buying Property in Costa Rica Blog | Affiliate Plan | Our Newsletter