CdnMorganGal

This year will be our 10th year since we bought our place. If we could do it over again, I'd choose another country - it's getting too expensive here.

We used http://www.EmeraldForestProperties.com

What I object to is one year paying $50/month, then the next year it was jacked up to $240/month. Then there are a bunch of other and new taxes - Who can budget for such increases? If we were to do it over, we'd be checking out other countries.

My husband and I love living here in Costa Rica, but if we were still in Canada and looking to move we would definitely look for somewhere cheaper than CR - the govt keeps increasing prices here but our income doesn't...

If you phone, and they have to check something before they can give you an answer, but they promise to phone you back - you might not ever get the return phone call.

At my farm in Canada the septic didn't need any attention for over 10 years, and here in CR its been 5yrs . . . (fingers crossed) - but I do wipe my greasy pans with paper towels before washing.

We are extremely pleased with our thermosiphon solar hot water system from Enertiva http://www.enertiva.com . We previously used on-demand tankless water heating units but the poor quality of electricity in our area kept burning them out. Our payback for the solar system was 2 years. Best investment we ever made. The main 'problem' we have is we have to check the water temp before showering - oftentimes it will almost reach boiling point and we won't be able to get the shower to a cool enough temperature - so we have to let the hot water run a while to bring the water temp in the tank down. And it does have a back-up electrical system - which we rarely need to use but has come in handy when we haven't had any sun for a couple of weeks.

Our solar hot water system cost us $1300 installed, no problems to date (1.5yrs) and will have paid for itself within 2 years.

On Wed & Thursday, Sept 11 & 12, have phoned ARCR over 20 times, during regular business hours and not once has the phone been answered. What is going on?

We bought a farm with a one year old house - didnt spend 6-12months looking around - came, bought, moved in . . . and havent regretted it - but we knew what we wanted and never figured CR to be paradise - each place has its own pro's and con's. But one definite advantage of renting for a year would be the locals would get to know you, and start giving you the 'goods' on what is a good price or not, what is for sale and not listed anywhere, who is a shoddy builder and who can be trusted, etc etc etc

Whereabouts do you intend to buy? Referring a lawyer living at the other end of the country won't be of much use . . .

Check out Rentista status again - the rules have changed - $60,000 is needed, covers the family - dont know the $ requirements after the first 2 years . . .

Just an FYI - the previous 2 days I couldnt get the forums to load AT ALL - I just assumed the website was down for some reason. This evening its working as well as usual. . .

The 15% isn't right - the institution will withhold a percentage based on the amount withdrawn. The %ages are laddered - the more you withdraw, the higher the tax rate. If you withdraw more than 15k, 30% is withheld. And remember, the collapsed RRSP amounts are considered part of your income for that year - depending on amounts of other income you have, you could end up paying an even higher tax rate. I'm looking into eventually only withdrawing 10-20k/year and paying minimal, if any taxes.

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