Which Area in Costa Rica is Best for You? (2024) | Matt's V-Book | Real Estate Advice

[@paulabeacom8557]

Great speil! Concise and informative.

[@CostaRicaMatt]

Thank you very much for watching and for the positive feedback! I appreciate it.

[@terrellmiller7361]

Great info, thx! Couple questions: * for the pensionado visa, do you have to have a defined monthly pension, or does an IRA work just as well? * for the dry season, what are the climate differences between Guanacaste and Atenas? * how's the golfing in both areas?

[@TobinOsusky]

great video Matt! So insightful always, and if you ever want to help with some properties near Parrita on the central pacific coast, beaches farm and mountain, I have a ton of connections to land owners who usually only try to sell by word of mouth without realtors or listings, but could surely use the help and guidance. I would be more than happy to facilitate connections for the benefit of all parties involved

[@CostaRicaMatt]

Thanks very much for this and I appreciate your willingness to help - when it boils down to it I am happiest by focusing my business, I strictly only give guidance where I can understand the market and therefore I’m focused on my range now and in perpetuity, until further notice! :) I do have connections to a realtor in Jaco, another in Manuel Antonio etc to help people there.

[@TobinOsusky]

Completely understand!@@CostaRicaMatt

[@annab5090]

I lived in Playa Chiquita, 10 minutes south of Puerto Viejo. It is a wonderful place, amazing nature and the best beaches in CR.

[@TruthInspector]

I'm moving to Costa Rica with my dog all I care about is my dog and him having a good place to run around. Do you recommend the Caribbean side or the Pacific. And I want a great expat Community with lots of opportunities to make new friends and a certain amount of amenities with a community feel

[@garyji]

My wife and I are actively researching CR for possible retirement. We are sorting through all the info about cost of living relative to different areas. I will look to see if you have a video that addresses this issue. We are thinking to rent for 6 - 12 months just to make sure wherever we land is a good fit for our lifestyle. You've brought out some really important points here. Thanks.

[@SuperThunder911]

Nice job Matt ✌️

[@CostaRicaMatt]

Thanks, glad you liked it and appreciate you watching!

[@Mackscabin]

Excellent presentation, very helpful.

[@ydrjuliolara9601]

Question, I’ve been an agent in Texas for 8 years. I’m 30 now. I’m considering moving over there to sell real estate. My question is how long have you been living there and how long have you been an agent? I’m bilingual and always did door knocking and cold calling to get my business

[@daviddride-costarica4331]

Hey Matt, do you have any recommendations for real state websites to look for properties?

[@noraallen2610]

That’s the one !!

[@febsign6110]

We will be looking soon now that my wife is finished work,but thinking Atenas as a place to retire and rent 1st

[@CostaRicaMatt]

Atenas is gorgeous; I am sorry I hadn't responded yet! When are you headed to Costa Rica?

[@febsign6110]

@@CostaRicaMatt , while we are looking for mid January or February. We be interested in staying at a apt and not a resort so we can get a feel for the place and is it for us.

[@carenlugo1775]

Mas información en como conseguir una propiedad

[@naiaraailen779]

Hey Matt, I was just wondering why you make such an emphasis on private schools, what is wrong with the public ones? I thought the public school system was great and had amazing english levels, so im just wondering

[@CostaRicaMatt]

Thanks very much for your question; I appreciate it! Yes, Costa Rica has a great public school system relative to the rest of Central America - but like the U.S. school systems, the quality offered can vary greatly depending on where in Costa Rica the school's located. The central valley, where a huge % of the national population and wealth is concentrated, has many public schools where high school graduates have English fluency, computer skills and a range of other impressive credentials. Guanacaste is a poorer province where some public school systems suffer from chronic problems you'd see in underfunded districts in the U.S. - teachers are stretched far too thin, there aren't enough resources for schools and as many as six grades may be taught by a single teacher. So in Guanacaste, many foreigners find that the public school system specifically in this area isn't adequate for what them; I meet very few foreigners who are willing to send their kids to public schools here once they've reviewed the options unfortunately.

[@johnnydee123]

No specific mention of TAMARINDO as an American hub? 🤔

[@CostaRicaMatt]

Hah, if I didn't it was simply an oversight. But yes, Tamarindo is one of the few places in Guanacaste where you have an expat community you'd feel is strong enough to have a vibrant social life w/foreigners.

[@johnnydee123]

C’mon Matt! 🏖️

[@WilliamNeish]

What’s the putain situation down there?

[@douglacoursiere2269]

Hey Matt, what is your problem with the Nicoya Penninsula area? You seem to avoid it like a crazy ex-wife!

[@CostaRicaMatt]

Guanacaste makes up ~90% of the Nicoya Peninsula and so when I refer to Guanacaste, I'm loosely talking about most of the areas on the Peninsula, save three districts at the very southern end of the Peninsula that are actually a part of Puntarenas.

[@douglacoursiere2269]

What are your thoughts then, on the Tambor- Montezuma- Santa Theresa area? I have a house in the middle of this triangle, that is popular to the expat community.

[@CostaRicaMatt]

I'm sorry I didn't mention Tambor, I have actually been there and ABSOLUTELY loved that beach. Our family will go back, because it was awesome to have a town with such good access, with relatively little development. While we were there, Los Delfines was almost empty (perhaps due to the time of year?). I cannot speak to Montezuma/Santa Teresa and do plan on heading there eventually. To my knowledge S.T. has become similar to Nosara in that there are some pretty high-end luxury homes available, the surf is a huge draw and there's now a level of amenities that expats might want, correct? What's Montezuma like?

[@douglacoursiere2269]

Yes, Santa Theresa has become a higher price town from all the expats living and that have homes there. Tom Brady's ex, has a mansion there. Montezuma is a very laid back besch town. Reggie meets Hippie Ville! Alot of unique hotels and shops. A few bars and restaurants. The beaches are sand with rocky outcropping, but there is a few spots for surfing. It is facing the Gulf of Nicoya, so you don't get the spectacular sunsets like in ST, but the Sunrises are great. Well worth checking out for a day. We normally side by side from our house in VDL to Montezuma, then to Cabuya, then across to Santa Theresa.

[@jasodabeharry6557]

Husba❤nd and wife retirees wish to move to costa rica permanently, with daughter, need a flat two bedroom, cheap home near shap, market, farm, mountain and geach, five hundred dollars rental, monthly

[@JoemarkCambronero]

you waiting i going there.

[@CostaRicaMatt]

You’ll be visiting Costa Rica soon?

[@RexPonder-y6b]

So much nicer than Mexico. Much cheaper and safer.

[@fredsnit5699]

The beach is hot af. Too hot to live. The higher elevations are stinky with raw sewage running in ditches next to the road.

[@CostaRicaMatt]

I can't argue that the beach is definitely hot, though a lot of folks find it fine to live. The key is avoiding being in the sun when it's the wrong time of day; we also have just planted as much shade as possible around our house, while living in a forested spot vs. an open area. It helps a ton and the breezes keep things pretty cool. Now the sewage ditches... that's obviously not the case in vast spaces outside of the towns and urban areas.... Yes I wouldn't deny there are a few smelly drain ditches in CR, especially when you get around a ton of people. Outside of those few spots though, rural areas aren't going to have this problem.

[@carynschmitt7134]

Typical downgrading comments about the Caribbean coast. It is so mu h more tha Puerto Viejo, whi h iz at the farthest end of the Province. There is crime and drugs throughout C.R. It is interesting that the folks who put down the area ,. are Real Estate salesmen on the Pacific.