One of the tiniest countries in the world, Costa Rica is known throughout the world for its sandy beaches, picturesque coastal landscape, and its wonderful diversity of plants and animals. In fact, though it is only about the size of West Virginia, nearly twenty percent on the face of the globe are found in that little country. Tourists flock to it in droves annually making it one of the hottest tourist destinations in Latin America. The majority of tourists are from America and Canada, of course, but there are also thousands of travelers from South America, Europe, and the Far East. In order to cater to the booming tourism industry, resorts and hotels, restaurants, pubs, shopping malls, and other tourist attractions have popped up alongside beaches and other hot spots. This resulted in a sharp rise in Costa Rica real estate value over the last ten years since land is one commodity that is not plentiful in Costa Rica, a country with just one tenth of one percent of the world’s land mass.

This relative scarcity of available real estate in the face of development growing out of tourism has led to a boom in the real estate business along the coasts, in the mountains, and in urban areas.

Additionally, the large numbers retirees and folks who have elected to live in a tropical paradise and leave behind the pressures of day-to-day life has also contributed to the increase in property prices in some coastal areas. Plenty of investment has been coming into real estate from outside the country. The U.S. has led the way, of course, but there are lots of investors from Canada and Western Europe. China has been increasing its presence in Costa Rica dramatically over the last few years, too and today there are thousands of Chinese who live there. In addition to beach-front property, the main areas of investment are farms, called fincas, which are being developed into subdivisions, mountain properties, and vacation rentals. Real estate prices have soared along the Pacific coast and some other parts of the country because expatriates and people wanting second homes have realized just how cheap, relative to the U.S. and Europe, land is.

For many years now, Costa Rica has understood the importance of sustainability. The country has adapted to its tourist patronage by developing and welcoming the international community. Development of condominiums, single family homes, and subdivisions catering to expats accelerated dramatically in the last 10 years, particularly along the northern and central coasts of the Pacific. With that boom came increased land prices, though still far, far lower than in comparable areas in the United States and Europe.

The severe economic downturn in the States and Europe has impacted Costa Rica as well. Condo and subdivision development have slowed dramatically and in some parts along the Pacific coast, American second-home buyers, strapped for funds, are selling properties at very large discounts. One person’s challenge is another person’s opportunity.

Despite today’s uncertain economic climate in the States and Europe, the general perception is that there will be a large rebound in Costa Rica real estate. Why? One reason is the incessant flow of investments based upon the lucrative returns to be had from property development. Another is that, in comparison to the Unites States and Europe, real estate prices, particularly on sunny, tropical coastlines remain incredibly reasonable. Land prices along the coasts are still just a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Further, real estate investors have found extraordinary returns on their investments over the last decade.

The beach properties along the Pacific coast have seen, and will probably see, the largest increase in prices over time. The Caribbean coast remains relatively undeveloped. Certainly prices there, like all of Costa Rica, are rising but not nearly as much as on the other coast (which, of course, means that stress on prices have been less lately than on the Pacific side). And, as more and more Ticos move from the country into the big urban area around San Jose, available prime property has become increasingly scarce. Demand remains strong in the urban areas and, for more and more expats who live in Costa Rica, the amenities and climate around San Jose are proving irresistible.

The author, Victor Krumm, writes from spectacular Costa Rica and has a popular websiteCosta Rica Vacations. Check out the prettyCosta Rica Real Estate

categories: costa rica real estate,costa rica,costa rica homes,real estate,investment,houses,retirement,condominiums,land,tropical destinations,travel,tourism,beaches,family

St Pete Beach is one of the best beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida and is one of the best beaches for weddings and wedding receptions on the Gulf Coast of Florida. St Pete Beach is the beach next to this Beautiful Fort De Soto State Park, there are no homes or business on Fort De Soto Park, St Pete Beach is the nearest beach community. The barrier island of St Pete Beach is known for its sandy white beaches that stretch for miles under the glow of the Florida sun, bathed in the warmth of the Gulf of Mexico.

When many people think of Florida the first thoughts they have are sunshine and beaches. That’s because Florida has gorgeous sunshine year round and breathtaking white sandy beaches that attract residents and visitors year round. Some beaches are more well-known such as The Florida Keys, Miami’s South Beach. The east coast has Daytona and Cocoa Beach and on the west coast there is St. Pete and Clearwater Beach. Panama City has also become a popular spring break and summer getaway for younger beach goers who are looking for a great place to unwind and enjoy the sun. No matter which location you choose, you can’t go wrong. Most locations have taken great care in preserving their shorelines, placing boardwalks or piers to sight see from, and offer low priced and upscale hotels and condominiums to enjoy. Whether you are looking for a seasonal getaway or want to call one of these seaside locations home, you will not be disappointed. Florida is blessed with warm weather almost year round which makes it a great place to stroll in the sand, splash in the water, enjoy a sunset or take advantage of the beachside restaurants that provide lively entertainment and night life.

The Florida Keys is an ocean lovers paradise and popular for lobster catching, snorkeling or scuba diving. It has great live coral and the scenery is breathtaking. Florida is surrounded by great waterways to enjoy. You can charter a boat or Jet Ski to play on the water. A good captain will be able to help you catch snook, grouper or the many other types of fish in these waters! You can take sight seeing cruises where you can see dolphins, sea turtles or go to many small or remote islands off these coasts

Local restaurants and hotels have begun serving appetizers and drinks out on the patio areas and people have started to enjoy sitting by the ocean at night listing to the crashing waves. Now these beachside locations are some of the most popular in town! Recently, many beaches have started to expand to not just offer daytime activities but to really spice up their night life. Visitors were coming to this area and spending their days at the shore and their nights in larger cities nearby. These cities decided they wanted their visitors to stay nearby and have taken an interest in offering beachside entertainment such as bands, magicians, and street vendors.

Florida Real Estate has always been very popular on the water. Hotels are remodeling to attract more guests. Condominiums and town homes are undergoing renovations to update their facilities and offer more amenities to their owners. Waterfront property has never been more popular. If you are looking for a great place to vacation or live, don’t miss the Florida Beaches. These white sand beaches overlook some of the best water and sea life. View dolphins splashing in the water or go for a day of fishing and you will see why so many people come to Florida year round!