Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Costa Rica REALTORS® Announce Credentials Project to Inform Public of Proper and Improper Representations by Agents/Brokers


Costa Rica Global Association of REALTORS® to offer website and referral service identifying valid memberships and credentials of Costa Rica's real estate professionals.

First Such Effort in Costa Rica!


Costa Rica Realtor Credentials Project

CRGAR intends to take the responsibility to confirm of the accuracy of public postings that involve the credentials of real estate practitioners in Costa Rica. The first focus will be on portrayals of membership in CRGAR and NAR, and the public/online use of their logos and trademarks, like the word “REALTOR®”. The project will support realtors who portray their credentials accurately, and work to pressure those who do not, to comply or remove their misrepresentations.


    
                                                                    Event Weekend to Support Project

To be clear, only 2013 paid members of CRGAR are authorized to use any imagery or wording that even implies an association or training with our organization. Further, NAR membership in Costa Rica is only available through CRGAR or CCCBR, so membership in one, plus paid NAR membership is mandatory before displaying NAR credentials. Past memberships do not carry forward beyond the paid term.



CRGAR has already begun the Credentials Project project by:

1) Identifying the legal steps to be taken as the foundation for the project

2) Beginning the coordination process with NAR Global staff in Chicago

3) Reserving the URL, www.CostaRicaRealtorCredentials.com, to be launched as the CRGAR-supported platform offering project information to the online public

4) Scanning the internet to create a list of current realtor representations that may not be accurate and require confirmation

5) Offering the ability to link to this project, to other Costa Rica-focused websites, blogs, and media outlets that support CRGAR’s goals

CRGAR intends to use a portion of the net proceeds of its 12th Annual “Fun and Fundraising”event weekend (Aug 9-10) to fund the Credentials Project. The event weekend is open to the public and CRGAR encourages real estate professionals, property owners, clients, consultants, and visitors, who support the project's goals, to participate.

Please send questions about the Credentials Project, or the event weekend to crresinfo@gmail.com.

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Monday, June 24, 2013

Costa Rica REALTOR® Association Offers August Golf, Sunset Party, Beach Club Luncheon, and Seminar!

The Costa Rica Global Association of REALTORS® (CRGAR) Will Hold Its 12th Annual "FUN and FUNDraising" Weekend, August 9-10, 2013

The Costa Rica Global Association of REALTORS® (CRGAR) offers the details of its 12th Annual Golf Tournament and Fundraising Weekend, August 9-10, 2013. They invite you to join them for Sunset Cocktails at Pangas Beach Club (Aug 9), 18 holes of Golf at ReservaConchal (Aug 10), the Awards Luncheon at Conchal Beach Club (Aug 10), and a new event (Aug 9) at the Diria Conference Center, preceding sunset cocktails.

New this year, BLP Abogados will lead a REALTOR® Tax Seminar, with special attention to the seller's role in paying the professional services tax on real estate commissions and each agent/broker's role in acting as tax collector. Each attendee will receive a copy of BLP's overview and credit for taking the CRGAR Tax Course.

CRGAR invites everyone to participate as an Attendee, Sponsor, Golfer, and/or Raffle Prize Donor...........! 

Email to CRGAR AUGUST EVENTS to receive a detailed overview of the weekend, the documents to register your participation, and easy methods of payment. There are advance purchase options for everything from sponsorships to raffle tickets, and legal receipts for tax purposes will be available for supporters to download shortly after the events.

This year’s community beneficiaries are the CEN facility (Centro de Educacion y Nutricion) in Portegolpe, which helps local women and children with meals, pre-school activities, and day care, and Colegio Academico Playas del Coco, the public high school in Coco needing books and supplies. 

Why Is This Year’s, 12th Annual Fundraising Weekend Important?

Each year, in addition to helping the community, CRGAR retains a portion of the net proceeds to invest in professional programs. This year, CRGAR will fund the Costa Rica REALTOR® Credentials Project, which will involve confirming the accuracy of online postings of Costa Rica's real estate professionals, as they pertain to memberships in, and use of trademarks belonging to CRGAR and NAR.

More information on the Credentials Project will be coming in the next blogpost.

We look forward to your support and attendance in August!


Friday, June 7, 2013

Costa Rica Ocean View Homes - Invest for Rental Income, Retirement, or Relocation

Guanacaste's Pacific Heights Mountain - Emerging Success Story!

If your dream is to enjoy spectacular ocean views, tropical sunsets, evening stars, and the privacy of your own "spot" on one of Costa Rica's mountains, then consider Pacific Heights Mountain near Flamingo in the Guanacaste Province. 

Sunset View to Flamingo, Playa Conchal

















It offers view lots and homes at some of the highest available area elevations, while being just minutes from some of Costa Rica's most beautiful Pacific beaches below. For example, Playa Penca, a white-sand "Best Kept Secret Beach" in Potrero is less than a 10 minute walk from homes at lower elevations, and a 10 minute drive from others near the peak. 

Since the top of this mountain was purchased by American investors in the 1970's, it has evolved into a development of over 125 residential lots (minimum size 5000sm/1.25 acres, many larger) with a private water system, roads (paved near the peak), electricity, and most recently - high-speed (fiberoptic) internet access. It is also clear that Pacific Heights Mountain is an ocean view development that has "made it". There is a growing critical mass of completed homes, assuring the ongoing value of an investment here, along with a diverse community of neighbors drawn to the beauty, peace, and amazing views. Near the peak, the width of the view of the Earth's Pacific Ocean horizon is estimated to be 100 miles!

Morning View to Flamingo, Playa Conchal - Only 1/3 of Full Ocean Panorama Near Peak












The 5 properties profiled here represent the available homes and townhomes, under $600,000 USD (one exception), on or near Pacific Heights Mountain. Follow the included links to explore them in greater detail. For more general information about each, or background on this mountain or others, email Costa Rica Ocean View Investment Info.


Casa del Suenos - $569,000
3Bed+Office, 2Bath, 2200SF, Furnished, Infinity Pool

















Casa Isla en el Cielo - $579,000
2Bed, 1.5bath, 1Bed/1Bath Caretaker Apt, 2900SF, Furnished, Infinity Pool, 2nd Gated Entrance and Large Pad for 2nd Home






























Villa Linda Vista - $495,000
3Bed, 3.5Bath, 2200SF, Unfurnished, Complex with Resort Pool





























Casa Altos del Pacifico - $595,000
3Bed, 3Bath, 3900SF, Partially Furnished, Infinity Pool




















Villa D'Oro - $699,000
4Bed, 4Bath, 3400SF, Furnished, infinity Pool