How the U.S. is affecting my life in Nosara
by Andrew Saxton
I recently returned from a trip back home to the U.S. When I set foot back on the Guiones sand, I heaved a big breath of relief. Here's why....
Being a Florida native, I always love going home, visiting friends, family, and all of the pretty places. The local food is great, if you know where to look, there are many things to look at, and the change of pace does me some good from time-to-time. The biggest difference in this last trip, however, was the mental attitude of everyone I came into contact with. I’m not merely speaking of random people in the street, or disgruntled government employees. All of the family and friends I'd returned to visit all had one thing on their mind: the U.S. economy and the direction of the country for the future.
Of course, this is on everyone's mind. Every economy in the world is connected to that of the U.S., and everyone has their right to be concerned. I'm concerned. I have investments back home, including real estate, that are all taking a dive. No matter who I was with at the time, the conversation inevitably turned towards these topics. Friends in construction, friends who are fire fighters, friends who are bankers, even friends who are teachers, are all concerned with what they'll be doing in the next five years and where they'll be doing it. I won't bother going into unemployment statistics or the record numbers the stock market has been plummeting, because unless you've been living in a cave, you already know.
One of the most frequently asked questions I seemed to get from everyone back home, since the market has changed so much over the past three years there, was how is the real estate market doing in Nosara and Guiones. I can't speak for all of Costa Rica, as I’m not claiming to be an expert on properties outside our area. I have no idea if condominiums in San Jose are selling quickly, if there's too much inventory in Tamarindo for golf course property, or if commercial leases are being defaulted on in Liberia. What I can speak for, is the fact that properties that are priced correctly here in Guiones continue to move. In fact, the recent economic upheaval in the U.S. is actually one of the main driving factors to many of the most recent purchases. With more and more uncertainty on the horizon, many people are purchasing inexpensive properties as "contingency plans". In a country with relatively zero property taxes, inexpensive living (even in more expensive areas, one can still live on $800/mo. or less), and a stable government when compared to similar areas, it makes the idea of having something else outside of the U.S. border quite attractive. Of course the idea of being able to ride out a tough time while surfing, doing yoga, or lounging on the beach while working remotely for a company back home, makes our specific area even that much more appealing.
So that brings me to my last point, which relates to all of the above, but hit me while walking out for my first session since arriving back from my trip to Florida. I have my uncertainty about where things will go with the whole world in general for the near future. Will the Yen continue to climb on the dollar? Will the Euro fall with the dollar? If the stock market ceases to function, will another bail out plan appear if it hasn’t already by the time this article gets published? Will interest rates continue to be cut like crazy? I don't know, and I don't think anybody else does either. But one thing felt really, really great about walking down my street and onto the sand: I live in Nosara. I don't have to worry about the cost of heating oil this winter. I can eat a healthy diet for a good price while getting all the exercise (both physically and mentally) that I need. I get to see my family and friends all I want either from them visiting here or me heading back from time to time. I live in one of the most sought after places in all of Costa Rica. I live in a "blue zone", which is a spot on the globe designated for producing people with the longest life expectancy on the planet. I believe there's a reason for that, and I believe are plenty of good reasons that people will continue to visit, retire, and live in my town.
