Stay in the Boat

We just got back from mixing a little business with pleasure in beautiful Northern Guanacaste. The highlight of the trip was the wedding of some very dear friends of ours. Along with the extraordinary event, we enjoyed several days of relaxing on the beach and some great conversations with everyone who had come for the wedding. The entire group fell in love with Costa Rica.

Of course there were lots of questions about our lives in a foreign country, including what advice we would offer to someone wanting to move here. I kept my answer light, "Rent first to make sure that what so many perceive as paradise is really your cup of tea." Had I thought for a moment that any of the guests were seriously considering a move, I would have been much more detailed with my reply. Too often, the reason that people leave this beautiful country goes way beyond the bad roads and cultural differences. They leave because of the sharks.

The arrival to a place that seems like paradise, creates a desire to dive into it just as quickly as possible. Sadly, many, including ourselves, never saw the sharks until we were in the water. These big fish take on many disguises: tour guides, real estate agents, inn keepers, lawyers, builders and more. Their friendly faces and welcoming arms are tempting to trust, but too often they have an underlying agenda to keep their prey in a tight circle in which everyone gets their own cut of your cash. They are so reassuring that their advice is openly accepted without one ever seeking a second opinion. Before you know it you have been eaten alive, financially.

In the midst of everything new, one wants to believe that their first contact to a new beginning is the golden door to paradise. It can be hard to sort out the weeds from the flowers, after all, there are good people doing honest business as well. So my advice for people making the plunge is to simply stay in the boat, stay in control. Be aggressive, and don't be afraid to find your own way. Remember that the buyer is the boss, and all transactions should be completely transparent. Talk directly to the person who is actually selling what you are buying whether is land, a house, a roof, a car or a lawn. Language should not discourage you, numbers are universal and can be written down. The local people are friendly and open to negotiation. This way you will cut out the risk of spending thousands of dollars on advice you thought was free. There is a lot less control in Costa Rica, and things work much differently. No stranger deserves your trust, business is business and you should be involved of every single part of it. The extra effort involved in the navigation will pay off in the end.

Here are some resources for getting started in Costa Rica:

Costa Rica Expertise LLC
Costa Rica Living
ARCR The Association of Residents of Costa Rica
Casa Canada