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Your BEST
Investment
South of
the Border !
Inside:
Learn why
Canadians are
flocking to
COSTA RICA...
AND How YOU Can Too!

Adventure :
Keeping up with
The Jones’.
Spring 2008
 ‘Come Fly with Me!’

Why Costa Rica? Why Not!

If you haven’t had a chance to go to Costa Rica or haven’t
thought about it yet, you probably know someone who has...or is on their
way! Canadians now make up one of the largest vacationing groups
and excited new investors in “The
Golden Destination”...and Costa
Rica couldn’t be more pleased! In
under 7 hours you could be lying
C o n Page
t e n3 t- s :
on the beach in a paradise where
amazing adventures await, many Costa Rican
investment opportunities are still to History:
be found, and the food could not More than just a
be more fresh (try the papaya!) ‘hill of beans.’
Today’s growth and interest in
Costa Rica is akin to the
Page 4 5-
&
excitement Hawaii enjoyed Costa Rica
during the 1980´s and with Real Estate:
the strength of the Loonie as
A Solid Investment.
it is right now, there’s never
been a better time to
DISCOVER COSTA RICA!
Page 6 -
What Canadians
are saying about
Costa Rica!
Did you
know:
Page 7 -
Foreigners enjoy Adventure
equal land purchasing Tours:
Ready for the
rights as native Time of Your Life?
Costa Ricans by law!
Lisa Jo - Editor
Lisa@ 2008CostaRica.com
Thomas Ryan Ward - Copy and Design
Ryan@ 2008CostaRica.com
1-888-502-6519 or www.2008CostaRica.com
 :
More than Just a Hill of Beans.
Costa Rica is a democratic Central American
country bordered to the north by Nicaragua,
Panama to the south, and cradled between
the mighty Pacific Ocean and
the majestic Caribbean. The
Nicoya Peninsula, which
extends like the thumb of
a mitten on the country’s
west coast, was the last
area explored by the
Spanish conquistadores
in the sixteenth century.
Christopher Columbus vis-
ited Costa Rica on his fourth
and final voyage to “The New
World” in 1502 and gave the
country its modern name,
mistakenly believing it
was rich with precious
metals. Thankfully Costa
Rica’s location afforded
it relative isolation from
control by the Spanish
Crown and saved its peo-
ple from the slave labor
experienced by many of its
northern neighbors. Ticos and
Ticas, terms the native peoples
proudly refer to themselves as,
deriving from unique linguis-
tic twists to their Spanish
(Costa Ricans might say
‘momentico’ instead of
‘momentito’, etc.), learned
to work their lands, and
over time, developed
a “rural democracy”. In
1821 Costa Rica officially
proclaimed itself sovereign,
breaking from Spain, and moved
their capital city to San José.
Costa Rica boasts a rich
melting pot of cultures
thanks to its peoples’ inviting
and care-free attitude which
can be summed up in a pop-
ular phrase, ‘Pura Vida!’, liter-
ally meaning, ‘Pure Life’. Many
Canadians, Americans, Europe-
ans and other peoples have flocked
to Costa Rica over the past fifty
years, making life in “The Gold-
en Destination” comfortable
no matter where you come
from. Costa Ricans moved
directly from an agrarian
society to a service oriented
society- this societal jump
may have actually saved
their precious ecological and
biological environments from
the ravages experienced by many
industrialized nations while their
economy enjoyed a boost from
an influx of foreign monies.
Today Costa Rica enjoys
even further successes,
attracting companies such as
Intel and Hewlett Packard,
ensuring its place as the best
investment South of the Border.
Costa Rica Real Estate:
A Solid Investment.
-Robert Irvin, investment specialist / developer
People who have never visited Costa Rica always ask me the same three
questions. Is it safe? How is the medical care? Is the real estate market going up?
On December 14th of 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported on a phenomenon that
Canadians and Americans also are beginning to discover. According to the article: “The
housing slump has sent many Americans shopping south of the border. Existing-home
prices... are still climbing in much of Latin America and the Caribbean. In San Pedro,
Belize, the average price of a 2,200-square-foot home was $697,500 in September,
up 18.6% from a year ago, according to a study by Coldwell Banker; the price of a
similar property in San Jose, Costa Rica, was up 20.7%, to $389,900, the study said.

Costa Rica has been popular for years because of its stable democracy, friendly people,
beautiful beaches and stunning biodiversity. Starting with the 2003 opening of The Four
Season Resort in Guanacaste, along the Pacific Northwest coast, direct international
flights to the Pacific Northwest have increased exponentially, driving an investment boom.
Available airline seats are up 26% over last year. What is new in 2008 is a policy change
that looks to drive real estate values up even further. Real estate deals are transacted in
U.S. dollars. Inflation in Costa Rica traditionally has been high when measured in the local
currency, the colon, but low when measured in U.S. dollars. In 2007, according to official
government statistics, www.inec.go.cr, Costa Rica’s general price inflation was 10.81%.
Construction cost inflation (for construction of houses) was slightly higher, at 11.48%. The
main newspaper, La Nacion, calls for 15% construction price inflation this year, in colones.

U.S. dollar price inflation was historically low because of a creeping devaluation of the
colon against the dollar. This devaluation ended in 2007; from January through November
the colon was virtually unchanged against the dollar. On November 23, the dollar lost
almost 4% of its value against the colon. Since then, the dollar has gained back most, but
not all of the loss, remaining about 1% below where it was late last year. What does
this mean for a buyer who pays U.S. dollars? Just this. In order to purchase the same
construction one year from now, it is prudent to count on annual construction cost inflation of
15%, plus or minus, measured in dollars. What does this mean for a developer?It is equally
prudent to raise prices by 15%, more or less, during 2008, just to stay even. And this does
not take into account inflation in land prices, driven by the same forces, plus supply and
demand. No wonder, then, that prices were up 20% in 2007, according to the WSJ article.

Does this make sense? If you are my age, you have been there before. When
inflation was roaring in the United States in the 1970s, real estate was your refuge. The
consumer price index was going up in double digits annually, and real estate was
going up even more. In inflationary times, you want to own hard assets. Like real estate.
And since real estate prices move in long cycles, you don’t want to bargain hunt in a falling
market (trying to catch a falling knife), you want to buy in a rising market, with the wind in
your sails. What about a buyer who pays Canadian dollars? Economic Nirvana. A Perfect
Storm. The Loonie has risen by about 50% against the U.S. dollar over the past five years,
from 65 cents to parity, making this an interesting time to buy Costa Rica real estate- priced in
U.S. dollars. Combine this with no capital gains taxes and a ridiculously low ¼ of 1% annual
real estate tax rate, and the Canadian investor’s stage is set. Now mix in a price of around
$200 per square foot, compared to Canadian prices of around $500 per square foot. If you
haven’t planned your exploratory trip, maybe you should. NEXT TIME: MEDICAL

Learn more about investing in Costa Rica and Robert’s

development at www.TheOaksTamarindo.com
 What Canadians are saying about Costa Rica:
I am the owner of two small businesses, a fishing lodge in Port Renfrew and
a Bed & Breakfast (www.arbutuscoveguesthouse.com) in Sooke, B.C. On
the advice of some friends who have a club in Canada and own a resort at
the tip of Costa Rica, my wife, young son, and I traveled to Tamarindo, Costa
Rica recently and discovered the beautiful Oaks development. It was a great
place to get away during the colder months. We left for Costa Rica at just
the right time to enjoy their dry weather in November while we are having
wet weather here in B.C. While in Tamarindo, we met many interesting,
international people and enjoyed the local estuary tour, zip-lining in the
canopy, and snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean. I would suggest Costa Rica to
any fellow Canadian interested in travel or investment, especially The Oaks
because of the high caliber management and the property itself. It’s a great
holiday location.
- Mike Hicks, business owner

Six months in Canada, Six months in Costa Rica... it’s a no brainer!

- Ken Shew / Drayton Valley, Alberta

I love it in Costa Rica! There are some many things to see and do.
- Kathy H. / Vancouver Island, B.C.

Being in Costa Rica is like stepping into a postcard, you are surrounded by
eye-popping beauty and some of the friendliest people in the world. I can’t
wait to go back when the weather gets cold again!
- Thomas W. / Calgary, Alberta

Ah, fresh papaya, mangos, bananas, the local favorite ‘Shrimp in Avocado’,
and monkeys...lots and lots of Monkeys!
- Cassie S. / Edmonton, Alberta

My husband and I went to Costa Rica this past winter and had the time of
our lives! The trip into Liberia airport from Edmonton was a quick and easy 5
hours with no stops, the food was some of the freshest and most delicious we
have ever tried (even foods I had never had before), and the people couldn’t
have been more friendly and helpful! We’re glad we invested in Costa Rica in
our retirement and can come back any time we like! I never thought I would
be traveling on white-water rapids or repelling down waterfalls at my age!
- Judi F. / Edmonton, Alberta
ADVENTURE...
Included!
Where can you see lush tropical rainforests
and white sandy beaches, active volcanoes
and natural hot springs, enjoy zip-lining
through tree canopies then do a night out on
the town with fine cuisines from nearly every
culture without leaving a few kilometers from
your doorstep? Costa Rica of course!

It’s true. For those looking for the unforgetta-

ble adventure of a lifetime (the kind most can
only see in a movie theatre) without fear of
breaking the bank, Costa Rica is THE spot for
you. Here are some incredible images of the
many adventure opportunities you will enjoy
when you come to Costa Rica!

If you’d like to learn more or book a

tour, call us at 1-888-502-6519.

Did you
know:
Costa Rica, only
51100 sq. km large,
holds just over 4%
of the Planet’s
Biodiversity!
World Class... Diving

Golf

Sunsets

Natural Wonder

Rentals & Investments

And much more...

Let us be your guide.
GreenSealRealty.com
1-888-502-6519