www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Suggestion: Look to rent in areas OUTSIDE OF SAN JOSE. My example for all is the city of San Ramon (hell, even Grecia is doable although the rents are lot more than what they should be; make your way into the REAL DEAL of Tico connections and you'll do much better....but that's another story.....), about 1 to 1.5 hour drive from San Jose? Advantages? Too many to list from my perspective.

WHENEVER you want the ghetto of P4P in San Jose....easy to get to either via your own car (not my suggestion) or via public transport.

Live in frescoville and slum in San Jose for a four day weekend or so; using the CRT discount at a sponsor outfit like Amistad or Castillo still is a deal.....AND....you can remove yourself from the filth of the City. Too, you won't wake up in the AM and wonder what you're to do with yourself so you end up at whoremonger bar and, well....you get my drift....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

CRAIGSLIST=GRINGO JACKED UP PRICES............AVOID

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Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

Hey Steven1, not sure what you mean? What are the advantages of living in places like San Ramon and Frescoville? Is it so the point of prices are higher in San Jose, and you don't want to live in the middle of all the whore houses?

Try

http://www.nacion.com/

http://www.diarioextra.com/

http://www.ticotimes.net/

http://escazunews.com/

We rented a 3BR furnished in a gated community in Rohrmoser. Novia loves it, bus stops right outside the condos though I usually rent a car when I visit once a month. Found it in Nacion which will typically be cheaper than the English-language options. Power & light is C6,000 a month (remember, no A/C). At night I sometimes start with the ceiling fan but turn it off when I get up to pee around one in the morning. Novia says if the fan is on she's wearing a T-shirt to bed. Easy compromise since that's all she's wearing... BTW - rent is $500 a month.

You'll need some Spanish or a bit of help to make the appt. by phone, though since the price is published there should be no gringo-pricing. From our condo it's between 20 - 45 minutes to the Gulch. Also have more options for dinner/lunch and Escazu is less than 10 minutes away (to the Hiper Mas, EPA & more dinner options) as well as the mall in Santa Ana.

We didn't find anything particularly good in the English-language options - too expensive. The problem with the Nacion & Diaro, once you learn the basic Spanish words, is there were too, too many options. Also, it helps to know where the barrios are & which ones are decent & which ones are muy peligroso.
/dddick

"3BR furnished in a gated community in Rohrmoser" for $500 is a pretty good deal. I am sure it is unfurnished. Furnishinig, particularly appliances, can be very expensive in CR. Comfortable chairs can be very difficult to find; they all seem to have straight backs which are at a 90° angle and a seat cushion that is made from lumpy potato sacks.

Mr. Diego -

Furnished, including appliances, bed, everything. And really, when we rented this one last November there were others that were similar in value. I think the key is to search where the locals search, and that ain't the Tico Times....

BTW - I printed out about 20 that seemed good from the Nacion & Diario just before I left home. As soon as we got to the Presidente (and after a little personal time ) she started calling. I had prepared a list of questions. Those that made the initial cut we started visiting. Only made it about a third of the way through the list; she was happy so I was happy. Probably took three days total to read, call, look, decide, pay & move in.

/dddick

[I didn't say I was thrilled about all the furniture but it's adequate. My novia, from a much poorer background, is absolutely thrilled.]

Wow. Don’t tell my tenants, they might want to Rohrmoser.

Outstanding information ... thanks!

I don't see the logic in buying for me because I'd like to live in 2 or 3 different countries throughout the year

wow
just found his
http://www.encuentra24.com/costa-rica-e ... tar/569566
much cheaper than most things i have seen on criagslist

Definitely rent for a while if you haven't already spent extended time in CR. If you want to buy, you won't find too many deals in the paper or online, most Ticos have a trepidation about listing things at a discount price if they need to sell because they don't want their neighbors to know they need the money or are desperate etc. It's best to ask a slew of cab drivers and let whatever local people you know in the area you want to buy in. Unless you are very fluent in Spanish and have a reputation for being "in touch" with how things work down there you'll likely get the gringo price if you ask yourself. Best to have a Tico representative do the inquiring for you.

I'd also recommend a small house as opposed to an apartment so you can avoid the homeowners association, monthly maintenance fees and problematic neighbors living right on top or below you.

I've bought and sold a small house in the gulch area and it was a good experience, feel free to pm if you want any more information.

I checked out the website and they seem to have a decent listing of available apartments: I do have a couple of questions that hopefully someone can answer:

1) Is it still necessary to have a 3rd party represent in order to avoid the dreaded Gringo Tax
2) Is a security deposit mandatory as I have heard the owner will often keep it regardless of the condition the place is left.

_________________
“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

Much as I have admired his more raconteurial expositions, this is mos' def' Greengo's best piece. Anybody have another example of his dead-simple advice, lucidly said? This is the good kinda challenge.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

The fact that you are asking these questions (good ones, but it sounds like you don't have a lot of experience w/ the r/e market, or CR, would be a fair statement) make it a MUCH smarter move to rent.

You may find that San Jose is not where you want to settle - you can take your time and look, but as a resident vs a dumb tourist ripe for the plucking - the market will not change in 6 months so that if you don't buy now, you will "miss out" - w/ the current economy, the deals might be better in 6 months

Really, it makes all the sense to rent first and then perhaps buy. No one has stated you should buy ASAP - everone posting can't be "wrong"