Month: December 2021

Condominiums in Playa Hermosa

Condo living is easy living! The beauty of living in a condo is you have much less to worry about. HOA fees take care of things like landscaping, exterior building maintenance, and you often have various onsite amenities such as a pool or sports complex. Check out below all the wonderful condominiums for sale in Playa Hermosa!

Bella Vista offers some of the most spectacular ocean views in the area! These 2 condominium buildings only have 12 units between the both of them. The top four penthouse units have generous rooftops to enjoy the jaw dropping sunsets year round. Each building has its own pool and parking spaces. Inside, each unit enjoys stunning views from the kitchen and living room area as well as the master bedrooms. Bella Vista has 24/7 security, elevators, building insurance and storage units

Ocean Breeze has 20 spacious units and is only a short 7 minute walk from the beach. This aesthetic complex has 3 large saltwater pools and beautifully maintained grounds. You have the option of a 2 or 3 bedroom floorplan that can be on the first or second floor. Ocean Breeze is ideal for those looking to live in Costa Rica full time or have a great rental. The complex is fully gated, has 24/7 security, mature landscaping and secure parking.

El Cubil boasts a modern design and luxurious layout. Only 14 units occupy this sleek new age condominium including a spectacular penthouse with an ocean view! El Cubil enjoys 24 hour monitored surveillance security system, fire alarms, emergency stairs, a swimming pool for adults and children, a jacuzzi, a massive water reserve tank, a covered drop-off and entrance, ventilated facades, an elevator, an underground electrical system and storage closets for each unit.

El Oasis consists of 15 buildings that surround a charming pool and enchanting gardens. If you purchase an entire villa it can be lived in as 1 whole house or split into 2 studio apartments and a 1 bedroom unit. This condominium complex is only 350mts from the beach and you can hear the sounds of the ocean from your balcony! This gated community offers beautifully paved walkways, 24/7 security, ample parking and landscaping.

Mariners Point enjoys exquisite ocean views from spacious 1,900 sq ft units that are walking distance to the beach. You can choose from a 2 bedroom to a 3 bedroom condo with beautiful finishings and large kitchens. The balconies at Mariners Point are the ideal place to enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the fishing boats enter the bay. This condo complex is fully gated, has 24/7 security, covered parking, ocean view swimming pools and a shady gazebo.

Ocean View condos in Playa Hermosa

Sol y Mar is located only steps from the big blue Pacific ocean, this condominium sits right on the beach! Sol y Mar is made of 4 buildings that contain only 12 units in total, 9 of these units face the welcoming waves of Playa Hermosa. This luxury condominium has zero rivals, truly one of a kind in this area! At this condominium you enjoy 24/7 security, a gorgeous pool that looks out at the ocean, parking, well maintained grounds. Sol y Mar is a concession property.

Las Brisas contains 7 villas and 14 condos that are just a 100mts from the beach! This private oasis has 4 salt water pools and a few units that have ocean views. The grounds are landscaped with fruiting trees and a plethora of tropical flowers. Ideal for a rental property because your guests are only moments from the beach and can benefit from the amenities of the Condovac La Costa Hotel & Resort. Las Brisas has 24/7 security, is fully gated with an electric fence, ample parking and backup water tanks.

Guacimo Fiorito is a charming complex centrally located in Playa Hermosa. Only steps from the grocery store and a short walk away from the beach. This condominium is the perfect fit for those who want to be close to everything without breaking the bank! Guacimo Fiorito is a fully gated community. You will also enjoy a lovely pool with a waterfall, secure parking and nice landscaping.

Hermosa Del Mar offers all the perks of a lavish condominium complex! Two gorgeous towers containing 40 units look out over the green forest canopy of Playa Hermosa, with some units having a beautiful ocean view. Hermosa Del Mar features a semi-olympic sized swimming pool, as well as an additional pool, high-tech fitness facility, a yoga room, a BBQ area, a gazebo, a community room and a garden area to enjoy. Other perks include 24/7 security, covered parking, storage, full-service concierge, double elevators in each building.

Drone shot of pool at a condominium in Playa Hermosa

Interested in buying a condo or have additional questions? Feel free to contact me, I would be more than happy to assist you!

 

Residential Developments of Playa Hermosa

If you have decided on making Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica your new home, this is a great overview of all the single family residential developments we have in this area. With so many wonderful developments to choose from, having all the information is key!

View of Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica from a residential development

Residential Single Family Home Developments

Monte Paraiso consists of 38 ocean view single family homesites, it was actually the first ocean view residential lot development in Playa Hermosa! Majority of the homesites have already been built on and now contain beautiful custom homes that look out across the ocean. This is a gated community with 24/7 security, paved roads, utilities on site, and a HOA ($250 a month).

Mar Vista offers 5,000M² (1 ¼ Acre) lots with incredible views of the ocean or the lush mountain range. The large lots in this development give you plenty of privacy. Only about 25 homesites are located in this beautiful and spacious gated community. Mar Vista is a gated community with paved roads, a waterfall, utilities on site, and a HOA ($100 a month).

Hermosa Heights has 35 beautiful octagonal villas and over 53 single family homesites, many of which already have incredible custom ocean view homes! The amenities are endless at Hermosa Heights featuring a movie theater, mini golf course, common pool, water slides, jacuzzi, and so much more! This community is fully gated with 24/7 security, paved roads, utilities on site, and a HOA ($200-$266 a month depending on property type).

One of Playa Hermosa's residential developments

Alta Vista is a very exclusive community with only 9 residential lots! Only a few homes have been built on these large over an acre sized lots. An interlocking paver stone road leads to the entrance of each private lot. This development is gated and has a HOA ($200 a month).

Monte Bello is one of the most renowned single family developments in the area! This very well thought out gated community is over 50 acres and contains 42 single family lots. Each lot is approximately ⅔ of an acre and has sweeping ocean views. This prestigious community doesn’t have many lots left but there are many stunning custom homes. Fully gated, 24/7 security, underground utilities, paver stone streets, lovely landscape and a HOA ($432 a month) are all part of the package!

Palo Alto possesses 55 exquisite single family residential lots! The homesResidential development with a clubhouse and tennis court and homesites in this development are tastefully staggered up a terraced hillside to enjoy ocean and jungle views. Palo Alto is bordered by a protected forest area and has large parks at the base of the development. Enjoy lighted tennis and basketball courts, 24/7 security, ready utilities, a HOA ($326 a month), lots of green space and more in the wonderful gated community.

Graceland is actually named after Elvis Presly’s mansion in Tennessee, there is even a home inside the development inspired by it! This lovely community features 7 custom homes and is walking distance to the beach. The style of this community is very reminiscent of a luxury north american suburb. Graceland is fully gated, includes a paver stone road, and has a low HOA fees ($75 a month).

The Gardens only contains 11 homes and is divided by an east and west side, with two separate entrances. This quiet and private community has a large pool, a rustic rancho with an outdoor kitchen, as well as beautiful landscaping throughout. The Gardens may not have ocean views but it is located only 500 mts. from the beach! This is a gated community with 24/7 security, stone paver roads, and a HOA ($200 a month).

Hermosa Montana is situated on the southern end of Playa Hermosa. It is one of the few developments that is walking distance to the beach and has ocean views! All 16 homesites have beautiful views and you can hear the sounds of the ocean. Enjoy perfect tranquility in this fully gated community, with paver stone roads, utilities on site, and a HOA ($75 a month).

Gaviota del Sol offers a relaxing jungle setting only a few steps from the beach, only 200mts to be exact! This quiet gated community of only 15 homesites, many of which have already been built on, is nestled in the forest. Gaviota del Sol features paved roads, utilities on site, security and a HOA ($205 a month).

Villa Sol is a beach and hotel resort on the northern edge of Playa Hermosa as well as a single family villa community. These villas come in a variety of styles, some are 2 bedrooms, others are 3 bedrooms, some have pools, others have ocean views. The great part of having a villa in a resort community is they make fantastic rental properties and have many of the resort’s amenities. Such as direct beach access, restaurants onsite, huge community pool, internal shuttle service along with the usual perks like 24/7 security, paved roads, utilities on site and a HOA (price varies per villa).

View of Playa Hermosa from a hillside residential development

As always, the best way to make the decision is to visit Costa Rica and see these incredible residential developments with your very own eyes! If you are hoping to build your own custom home in one of these developments, make a move quickly, since not many lots are still available. If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to assist you!

Home Inspection in Costa Rica

Finally, you found your dream home…but is everything as it should be? The best way to find out is through a home inspection. Home inspection in Costa Rica is not exactly like the ones you are used to in the United States or Canada, so be prepared to adjust your expectations.

Home inspection in Costa Rica

What are the home inspection differences?

Home inspections are not a standardized process here in Costa Rica. Many Costa Ricans will not hire a home inspector simply because it is not a common practice. Although in the past few years they have become much more customary especially due to legally registered North American realtors in Costa Rica. This has put many buyers minds at ease and has helped create a smoother buying process.

Another huge difference is that we do not have licensed home inspectors in Costa Rica. The Professional Association of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica has yet to create a certification process or career in home inspections. In lieu of a licensed home inspector, a civil engineer or a builder is an excellent choice. We have a great selection of engineers, tradesmen, builders, or US certified home inspectors for clients to choose from.

Condo community in Costa Rica

Who is responsible for repairs after home inspection?

It all depends on what the contract states. My standard offer always states the following “Contingent upon the sole, complete satisfaction by the buyer of the condition of the property based upon a home inspection by the buyer”. You can use the home inspection for leveraging a better purchase price on the property and opt to do the repairs yourself. I usually suggest this option because you will know the repairs were done right. Or you can request to have the seller fix the issues prior to closing. However, and I must say this clause is not meant to be a FIX IT list for every item that may be found, such as a torn window screen as an example. The premise is to ensure that you are not purchasing a major problem.

What should the home inspection include?

  • Roof & Gutters
  • Septic & Drainage
  • Pool & Pool Equipment
  • Mold & Termites
  • Retaining Walls
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Air Conditioning
  • Structural

As well as a variety of “odds and ends” such as cracked tiles, missing caulk, bad hinges, malfunctioning appliances and so on.

Home undergoing a home inspection in Costa Rica

So how much does a home inspection cost?

A home inspection can cost anywhere between $300 – $1000 depending on the size of the property. For example, a 2 bedroom condo will cost $350 but a large 4-5 bedroom home can cost around $700. The inspection costs are always the buyer’s responsibility and are stated as such in the contract.

I always recommend doing a home inspection, they are a critical part in buying a new home and giving the buyer peace of mind. Please feel free to reach out, I am happy to answer any additional questions and provide any more information you may need.

Toys For Christmas!

UPDATED January, 3rd 2022

Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. I sure did, I was honored to receive a beautiful letter from the church I helped this holiday season. Along with plenty of pictures of the ecstatic kids enjoying their new treasures! I also want to thank each and everyone of you that sent a donation that allowed me to help fulfill the Christmas joy for so many children in our area. Thank You.

Letter from the Ministry of Social Work Mission Esperanza:

letter“A cordial greeting from our congregation and the Ministry of Social Work Mission Esperanza, we would like to express our sincere thanks for the collaboration and unconditional support given to the activity on December 24 of this year for the children of our congregation. As well as from the children of scarce resources from the Sardinal community and surrounding places. ​​Thanks to your support and contribution, it was possible to bring smiles to more than 200 children who needed it. Your help was critical to making this activity successful. This motivates us to continue to do our work with love and dedication as we have always done. On behalf of the entire Social Mission Esperanza team, we warmly thank you for your trust and support in our ministry.”

Giving back to this beautiful community I call home brings me so much joy! I look forward to another year in this paradise surrounded by a wonderful community that helps one another. Wishing everyone great health, prosperity, and plenty of happiness for 2022!

December 10th, 2021

It’s that beautiful time of the year again… Christmas in Costa Rica! Instead of snow and freezing temperatures, we have perfect beach day weather! The Christmas spirit is strong throughout Costa Rica, with many towns and homes decorated with lights, ornaments, and tinsel! There is plenty of warmth, kindness, and tamales to go around but we do lack one thing…

Joseph Emanuelli shopping for toys for children in Costa Rica

TOYS! Unfortunately, many children here do not always have the luxury of receiving a toy for the holidays… Each year, many expats from Playa del Coco, Playa Hermosa, and neighboring beaches come together to buy presents or donate money so that many local child can receive something special.

This year, I was contacted by a local church in Sardinal to sponsor gifts for 200 children. How could I say no?! The church has a Christmas celebration each year with food and drinks for all the kids in town that are members of the congregation and even for those that are not. Toys would make the celebration even more special! Especially after all the financial hardships that have been caused by Covid in the local communities.

After happily agreeing to the request, I headed over to Liberia and started shopping! I didn’t stop until I knew I wouldn’t be able to squeeze another toy into my car. The toys were delivered to the church and now I am counting down the days until the Christmas celebration. I cannot wait to hear about all the joy, laughter, and excitement. It truly is such a pleasure to give back to our local beautiful community. Just like when the community embraced me the first day I came over 14 years ago and still does to this day.

If you are interested in joining the fun and helping out, we are also collecting new and unwrapped toys in our 3 Tres Amigos Realty office locations – Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco and Playa Panama. Each year, we team up with the Guanacaste Veterans Association for the Toys for Tots program. For those who cannot bring the toys in person but still would like to participate please send your donations to Michael Simons the owner of Tres Amigos Realty Group, either through PayPal or Zelle account michael@tanktopsflipflops.com. Please make sure to put Toys for Tots in the payment description.

Toys for tots in Costa Rica