Costa Rica? Si, Muy Rica.

It would probably take most people quite some time to guess which country recently finished top of the pile when Happy Planet decided to list the happiest countries in the world. Admittedly amid a recession it may not be easy for anyone to guess, because the impression we are generally led to have is that everyone in every country is walking around under a massive dark cloud. It appears, however, that one place in which people are smiling their broadest smiles and talking about the future with optimism is a country with a name that – at least presently – seems perfectly appropriate. Costa Rica – “the rich coast” – is being touted as the place to be. It is green, it is thriving and it seems that nothing can wipe the smile off its face.

To buy real estate property in Costa Rica currently is to join in with an increasing number of American citizens who are drawn by the promise of Paradise on Earth. It would be easy to point fingers and laugh at the hubris, the cliché, but unless there is something in the water in San José then it would appear that this is a country with an awful lot going for it. Certainly it appeals to more and more people as time goes on, and business investment as well as real estate are both seeing money being pumped into the country. The fact that there are tax breaks for foreign investors surely doesn’t hurt, but you don’t need to come from elsewhere to see the benefits of Costa Rica – when surveyed, Costa Ricans themselves revealed the highest life satisfaction in all the world.

Property prices for a condo are, in general, slightly lower than you would pay for one further north, with the added advantage that property taxes are low in Costa Rica as a means of attracting external investment, but it is in the housing market that you will really see your dollar go further, with houses of real beauty and luxury in splendid locations costing on average half of what you might expect to pay for similar in the United States. The cost of living in Costa Rica is reassuringly affordable, too. This may have something to do with the fact that the country long ago disbanded its military and puts every penny that would have gone into it towards social programs. As a result healthcare and public services are extremely good.

If you have the patience to live in a country that seems to be a lot more relaxed than most, yet doesn’t fall down on getting things done efficiently and effectively, and can speak Spanish (English is spoken here and spoken well, but it would be a shame to come to somewhere so welcoming and not assimilate at least a little), then Costa Rica is a place worth investing in. The work/life balance is pitched just about perfectly for anyone who likes to enjoy themselves but knows that this is only possible through earning the money to do it

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Panama Real Estate Investment

The first thing anyone will say if you ask them to mention something about Panama will undoubtedly be the canal. Some will even work in the famous palindromic pronouncement by Leigh Mercer: “A man, a plan, a canal. Panama!”. And when a nation of such limited size is dominated by a large – and very famous – canal, then it is no surprise that that will be the case. The Panama canal plays a major part for the country’s importing and exporting, for its transport and tourism. Although there is clearly much more to Panama than the canal, it would equally be pig-headed to deny its importance.

One element of Panama’s wider importance, however, is its real estate market. Investors from all around are looking at picking up property in Panama – and with good reasons, too. It is an investment opportunity that is worth investigation at the very least. Panama, being as it is the southernmost country in North/Central America, is therefore something of a frontier before one crosses from one part of America into another, quite radically different part. This makes it a crucially important spot in the Americas, frequently passed through by people traveling from the North to the South or vice versa. It has thus become the fastest-growing economy in Central America and the largest per capita consumer.

A country of such economic importance in the region will therefore need to be attractive to visitors. With the location a dual benefit – both in terms of people planning to travel through and, thanks to the scenery and the climate, also ready to stop here for a holiday – Panama will bring people in, almost without effort. It is keeping them around for long enough that needs to be addressed – something which is happening currently and is manifesting itself in, among other things, an improved real estate sector. This is where much of the external investment in Panama is coming from.

Oceanside apartments in Panama are cheap. This is one major reason why investors are interested, and it does not come at the expense of quality. There are many new builds as the Panamanian government aims to take greater advantage of the tiny nation’s geographic good fortune. Developments like those in Bocas del Toro are liable to catch the attention of any potential real estate investor, whatever the price. When one discovers that luxury apartments can be had for less than a quarter of a million dollars – and that prices will rise as demand does the same – it makes total sense that investment is a consideration for many.

For anyone looking to purchase real estate in Panama, there is good news in the fact that laws allow outside real estate investment to run very smoothly, with almost no restrictions on the process. If you are looking for an investment in an area with geographical importance, which attracts tourism and business, and will not cost you the Earth, then Panama is a very worthwhile place to look. There is every chance to turn a profit or just find a retirement or holiday property here. It’s really up to you.

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