Congratulations to our winners

Congratulations to the winners of our wine voucher competition:

J. Allen, London.

P. Van Der Wycke, London

S. Williams, Slough

M. Peters, Manchester

K. Gallagher, Barnsley

Your vouchers have been posted and enjoy your wine.

Happy Holidays to all our Friends

Happy New Year to all of our Friends.

And may 2009 be everything you wish it to be,

Our office will reopen on the 5th of January 9:00am

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

We are delighted that so many investors have recognised the tremendous investment opportunity that is Di Pacifico Dos and all of our 1,000 square metre plots are now sold out.

However,don't worry, we do have other larger plots from 2,000 square metres and upwards remaining.

In particular we have a very attractive group of sea view plots which have just come back on the market.

One of our clients had contracted to purchase a group of 14 sea view plots.

Unfortunately due to a change in circumstance he cannot now complete within the contract. It is our policy to always work with our clients and try to facilitate our clients wherever possible. But in this case, in defference to the demand from our other clients, and after long discussion and in agreement with our original client we have cancelled the contract and can now reoffer these attractive sea view plots.

These plots start at 2,500 square meters and are all priced at our standard price of €7.68 per square metre for teak, land and sea views. They occupy one of the highest areas in the estate and some back onto preserved forest.

Whilst we are very dissapointed for our client, every cloud has a silver lining and if you like to know more about these plots just drop us an e mail or give us a call on +353 1 272 4184

NEWSFLASH :In fact despite these plots just coming back on the market 2 weeks ago and over the Christmas period 3 plots have already sold.

Short (9 min) presentation on Di Pacifico Dos

Please click on the player below if you would like to see a short presentation on Di Pacifico Dos.



ps. my pohoto did me no favours - I am not really that fat!

Costa Rica second most globalized nation in Latin America

Most Latin American countries increased their roles in the world economy through trade, foreign investment, Internet penetration and other measures in 2007, according to a new report released by Miami-based Latin Business Chronicle.

In the Latin Globalization Index, which analyzed 18 countries, Panama was ranked as the most globalized nation in the region, followed by Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Chile and Paraguay.

Latin America's two largest economies, Brazil and Mexico, were ranked last and in 10th place, respectively, but both improved from last year's ratings.

The globalization index uses six elements to measure a county's globalization level: exports, imports, foreign direct investment, tourism receipts, remittances and Internet penetration. All factors except Internet penetration are calculated as a percent of Gross Domestic Product.

The index also measures the biggest winners and losers in foreign direct investment. Those showing the best gains in foreign investment were Panama, Chile, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Honduras.

The biggest losers were Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay and Guatemala.

Y0u can read the full Miami Herald report, By JOE MANN here

International news about forestry investment

Savills one of the UK's leading estate agencies has just released it's Forest Market report. Whilst the report focuses on UK forestry the message is clear:

Woodland and Forestry bucks the downward trend

The main points of the report are as follows:

1. Forestry prices have outperformed Equities by more than 50% over the past two years.
2. Since 1976, Rural Estates have also outperformed Equities year-on-year with Rural Estates up by nearly 30 per cent against Equities, currently down by more than 30 per cent at the latest count. See the graph here
3. Over a three year period, Forestry has outperformed both Farming's Top 25% and Rural Estates. See the graph here
4. Against a current backdrop of sharply declining investment assets across a broad spectrum, an investment in commercial woods has provided a positive return over the past six years.

You can download the full report here.

The news for forestry investment is good.

Teak has outperformed softwood foresty and timber, combine an investment in teak with development land and you may have the "perfect investment".

Combine that forestry investment with development land in Costa Rica and you have the perfect investment.

More great news about trees!

We already know that trees are good for the environment - they remove carbon from the atmosphere, helping to reduce global warming.

It now turns out they are even better for the environment than we thought!

COFORD , the National Council of Forest Research and Development (Ireland) have recently announced in their Forestry and Wood December update 2008 that a chemical released by trees can help to cool the planet.

Scientists from the UK (Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science at Leeds University) and Germany have discovered that trees release a chemical that thickens clouds above them, thereby reflecting more sunlight and cooling the Earth.

One of the scientists, Dominick Spracklen said ""We think this could have quite a significant effect. You can think of forests as climate air conditioners."

The chemicals are Terpenes (which give pine forests their distinctive smell) and there release had puzzled scientists for years, with some believing that the trees released them to communicate, while others say they could offer protection from air pollution.

The research team found the terpenes react in the air to form tiny particles called aerosols. The particles help turn water vapour in the atmosphere into clouds. Spracklen said the team's computer models showed that the pine particles doubled the thickness of clouds some 1,000 m above the forests, and would reflect an extra 5% sunlight back into space.

He said: "It might not sound a lot, but that is quite a strong cooling effect. The climate is such a finely balanced system that we think this effect is large enough to reduce temperatures over quite large areas. It gives us another reason to preserve forests."

Because trees release more terpenes in warmer weather, the discovery suggests that forests could act as a negative feedback on climate, to dampen future temperature rise. The team looked at forests of mainly pine and spruce trees, but Spracklen said other trees also produce terpenes so the cooling effect should be found in other regions, including tropical rainforests.

So trees not only remove Carbon from the atmosphere but also thicken the clouds above them, helping to further reduce global warming.

Read the full COFORD document here

What are others saying about the investment opportunities in Costa Rica

Low Risk Investments

Investments can be a big decision, and only worth it if they provide a high return. This is why so many people ask if it is possible to get a low risk investment, and the answer is yes!

By John Nolan

Copyright (c) 2008 John Nolan

Investments can be a big decision, and only worth it if they provide a high return. This is why so many people ask if it is possible to get a low risk investment, and the answer is yes!

Property has always been a high return investment with low risk if you know where to buy and find something affordable. There are now many Americans investing in properties in Costa Rica due to the fact that there are large growth rates as well as a low entry cost from around $30,000-$60,000.

You might be unsure, but here are a few reasons why this is such a low risk investment. Firstly, the growth rates of the last ten years have stood at around 300% on average. This means that many people have been able to double their money. Not only this, but the properties of Costa Rica cost up to 70% less than properties on the south coast of America.

Another great reason why you might choose this as your investment is due to the fact that you can really enjoy it, using your property as a holiday home if you wish, or renting it out whenever it is not in use. Costa Rice itself is a beautiful location, cheap to live in as well as containing some great tax advantages, scenic places of interest, educational institutions and much more!

A big question that many are starting to ask is will prices continue to increase? All evidence shows that yes they will, and there is huge demand making more and more Americans jump on board this unique investment opportunity.

The best investment opportunities at the moment include locations near the freeway to the major cities, around the general location of a new international airport that is being built, or next to the largest marina of the country. Choose an area such as this and you can get your investment before everyone else learns of the great opportunity.

Location really is the most important factor here, so choose wisely to get the most out of your investment as you possibly can. This is a solid low risk investment opportunity but does require you to do some research before you take the plunge. However, this could be the opportunity that you have always dreamed of so start thinking now about how you could use that dream home in Costa Rica and what you might do with the money that you make when you eventually sell this property on.

If this sounds like a great opportunity then you can either choose to go it alone or get some advice on your investment, such as where to buy, how much to invest and so on. Do a simple internet search and you can learn about those willing to help, as well as learning about the local area itself. This is not like investing in stocks or mutual funds, this really is an investment that you can enjoy without all of the associated risks!

What's great about our investment?

What's great about our investment?

Trees don't know about credit crunches and banking crises!

They continue to grow regardless.

Better still you they are a real investment: you can see your trees, touch your trees, hold on to your trees.

They don't dissapear into the night like stock prices, securities and bonds!

Demand for Teak continues to rise, supply continues to fall - leading to continuing price rises

Combine your teak trees with development land in Costa Rica and you have what we modestly believe to be the "perfect investment"

Remember you own the land, you own the trees, you are in control

Have a look at our website http://www.costaricainvest.ie/, send us an e mail or give us a call +353 1 272 4184 and speak with one of our consultants and see how we can make your investment dreams come true.

What is the recipe for our investment?

As many people are now discovering an investment in stocks, bonds, securities (and pensions) is not as secure as they may have thought.

The ingredients of our investment recipe are:

1. Take an investment in timber (the basic ingredients).

2. Combine that investment with a spoonfull of development land (the yeast to make the investment rise)

3. Add in Costa Rica (the icing on your investment cake)

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And what have you got

The recipe for the "perfect investment"

COMPETITION!

We have 5 wine vouchers (UK only sorry!) to give away: £60 vouchers, £50 vouchers and £25 vouchers.

If you would like to win a voucher identify the frog shown above (the common name or scientific name)

Hint: it was thought extinct but was recently rediscovered by a goup of researchers in Costa Rica.

Hint number two: the eye colour is important.

Hint number three: have a look here (ok this is a fairly broad hint)

e mail us with your answer, name and address and the first correct entries will receive a voucher.

Competition closes on the 18th of December.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM COSTA RICA INVEST

Costa Rica Carbon Neutral by 2021

Costa Rica aims to be fully carbon neutral by 2021 when it celebrates 200 years of independance.

The strategy will build on Costa Rica’s decision to tax fossil fuels in 1996 with the money raised allocated to the National Forestry Financing Fund. This 3.5% tax on gasoline in the country is used for payments to compensate landowners for growing trees and protecting forests and its government is making further plans for reducing emissions from transport, farming and industry.

These are part of a ‘payment for environmental services’ programme that pays landowners who manage forests for their carbon sequestration and storage alongside management for water production, biodiversity and scenic beauty.

In 2007 Costa Rica planted more than five million trees or 1.25 per person making it the highest per capita planting in the world. Various industries are supporting the initiative including a C-neutral plan by Costa Rica’s banana sector.

Other elements of the strategy include increasing the percentage of renewable energy generation to well over 90 per cent and action on energy efficiency including energy saving appliances. In 2004, 46.7% of Costa Rica's primary energy came from renewable sources while 94% of its electricity was generated from hydroelectric power, wind farms and geothermal energy in 2006.

What does mean for investors in land in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica's plans to become carbon neutral will require the encouragement of exiisting initiatives and a range of further initiatives.

Those initiatives include incentivising the further planting of trees and further preservation of land. These incentives will, by definition, reduce the amount of developable land. This in turn will push up land prices.

From a macroeconomic standpoint there has never been a better time to invest in development land in Costa Rica.

Combine a development land investment with the security of teak growing on your land and you have the "perfect investment".

To see more about this opportunity to invest in land and teak in Costa Rica call us on +353 1 272 4184, e mail us or have a look at our website http://www.costaricainvest.ie/

Why is now a great time to invest?

The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 2%, their lowest since 1951.

The inflation-adverse European Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 75 basis points, the largest cut in the monetary authority's 10-year history. That means the key lending cost in the 15 countries for which the ECB is the central bank now stands at 2.5 per cent.

The Swedish Riksbank also cut its key interest rate — by even more that the others — a record 1.75 percentage points to two per cent. This reduction is the bank's biggest cut since June 1994.

The Federal Reserve cut their rates to 1% at the end of Ocotber 2008.

Intrest rates are running at historical lows. If you have savings you are earning less in interest on your savings now than ever before.

The cost of borrowings has dropped.

Now is a great time to invest.

Teak prices are rising at 8.5%per year over the past 10 years. Land in Puntrenas rose by 31% in 2007. Will this combination outperform the rates you are getting on your deposits?

Contact us and we would be delighted to show you how an investment in teak and land in Costa Rica, the hottest real estate market on the face of the planet" (CNBC Europe) - see the clip here.

"We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful"Warren Buffett

We can be contacted by phone on +353 1 272 4184, by e mail on info@costaricainvest.ie or apply for a FREE brochure here

15 Good Reasons To Invest In Costa Rica Now

Costa Rica Real Estate Investments
15 Good Reasons to Invest in Paradise Now!

1. Foreigners are encouraged to invest and own real estate in Costa Rica.
2. Private property in Costa Rica is inviolable and guaranteed by the constitution even for foreigner nonresidents in the country.
3. Costa Rica is a booming tourist destination (more than 400 weekly flights; a Mecca of sport fishing and surfing; championship golf courses; fine-dining; eco-tourism and world class surfing).
4. Costa Rica is a true eco-paradise (26 National Parks, 13 live volcanoes, endless mileage of coastline, primary forests, and much more).
5. Costa Rica has a very good medical infrastructure (public and private hospitals and clinics) excellent doctors and surgeons (all trained in the US and /or Europe) and medical insurance is available for foreigners (individuals, families, retirees) at very low cost when compared to the U.S.
6. Located just a few hours away from your doorstep with daily flights serving all major U.S. and Canadian cities.
7. Real Estate in Costa Rica is very affordable compared to the U.S. and international second home markets.
8. Costa Rica is located out of the hurricane belt, therefore no hurricanes, storms or other natural hazards in the country.
9. Costa Rica is a tax-friendly destination when it comes to real estate investments (extremely low property taxes and no tax on capital gains or inheritance).
10. Very affordable and manageable lifestyle. Services and labor cost (maids, gardeners, nurses, assistants,...) is very low when compared to the U.S. or European standards.
11. High-quality construction standards (anti-seismic buildings, high-end finishes, exotic local and foreign materials).
12. Safe and controlled legal environment (National land register, title insurance and escrow services available throughout the country).
13. Local financing available for foreigners investing in Costa Rica.
14. According to recent studies and surveys, Costa Rica has been ranked as the most stable and reputable country in all of Central America.
15. Costa Ricans are very friendly and educated people, always ready to help or to share their culture with local visitors and residents.

You can see Eric Carvajal's top 7 resons to invest in Costa Rica on Christopher M. Knight's website here

You can See Coldwell Bankers views on investing in Real Estate in Costa Rica here

Arenal Volcano

The Arenal Volcano is one of the the ten most active volcanoes in the world.

It is a fascinating natural wonder and must visit destination for many travelers to Costa Rica.

On almost a daily basis, red-hot rocks crash down its steep slopes and volcanic grumbles produce huge ash columns above the crater.

Located in north-western Costa Rica (10.5N, 84.7W), around 90 km north-west of San José, in the province of Alajuela, canton of San Carlos, and district of La Fortuna, it is the most active volcano in Costa Rica. Recognized as a volcano since the 19th century, it was known by foreign investigators as Volcan Costa Rica, Rio Frio, Canastos Volcano and Cerro de los Guatusos. Arenal is the youngest and most active of all the mountains in Costa Rica. Scientists have been able to date it back to more than 4000 years ago. The area remained largely unexplored until 1937, when a documented expedition took place to reach the summit.

Once locally known as Cerro Arenal (i.e. Mount Arenal) it was presumed extinct until July 29, 1968 when an earthquake caused it to erupt after approximately 400 years of dormancy. The eruption wiped out the town of Arenal and killed 87 people [1]. It lasted for several days, and during that time destroyed crops, property, livestock, and forests. 15 square kilometers were buried and the explosion affected over 232 square kilometers. The eruption caused three new and active craters to form. Before the eruption, there was a wide variety of plant and wildlife on the mountain. It has been active since the explosion and can be reported to have minor eruptions every 5-10 minutes.

Arenal rises 1657 metres above sea level and overlooks Lake Arenal; both are part of Arenal Volcano National Park. The volcano heats several hot springs nearby, including Tabacon, a popular tourist destination.

This is one of seven historically active Costa Rican volcanoes: Poás, Irazú, Miravalles, Orosí, Rincón de la Vieja [complex], and Turrialba.

To see more amazing pictures of the Arenal volcano just click here.

To organise a trip to the Arenal volcano or one of the many other interesting and exciting activities in the area such as rafting or visits to the hot springs have a look at http://www.arenal.net/

Additional pictures courtesy of http://www.costaricaphotos.com/

Costa Rica continues to spend on Education and health

CostaRica has continued its policy to invest in education. Oscar Arias administration has approved a 24.3% increase in the education budget for 2009.

This increase brings the budget for education to $2 billion (more than a quarter of the entire budget of $7.45 billion.

The other big winners in the 2009 budget are Health with an increase of 23.4% and Culture with an increase of 37.5%.

To read more about Costa Rica's 2009 budget click here.