Archive for March 31st, 2010
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Under the new immigration law, there is an option for you. Beginning March 1, you can submit a petition at the Immigration Administration in La Uruca, which is to the west of San José, pay $100 and you can remain another 90 days.
Renewing status at the Immigration Administration is permitted only two times, at which point you must leave Costa Rica.
What if I miss this 90 day deadline?
If you miss the 90 day deadline, you have two options. You can pay $100 for every month you’ve remained in Costa Rica “irregularly” or you can leave the country.
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The national weather service is calling for extremely hot sun conditions for the rest of the week, with temperatures hitting 39 Celsius in areas like Puntarenas and Guanacaste.
Rebeca Morera of the Instituto Meteriologico Nacional (IMN) Thursday and Friday will be the hottest days of the week.
Morera explains that in March and April the sun is directly overhead of Costa Rica and temperatures, as well ultraviolet rays increase.
Normally Guanacaste has high of 35 Celsius during the season, but this week it will be hotter than usual.
Others areas affected by the heat will also be the Central Valley where it could reach 35 Celcius in some areas, but drop down to 19 or 20 Celsius at night.
The IMN expects little in the way of rain, although the mountainous areas of the Central and South Pacific may see more precipitation than the lower lying areas.
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Yesterday morning, the Internet was flooded with the Press Release FROM the developer of a Jacó condo and hotel project suing its lenders, seeking arbitration on $120 million that has caused what it claims was a successful project on the verge of falling apart. No doubt the $120 million was an eye-opener of what is at stake.
The developer, Desarrollos Naturales de Costa Rica S.A., named Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economica and Banco Improsa S.A., as the defendant. It was pretty clear the developer wanted to make everyone aware of whom the “Bad Guy” was and sought public support. Banks have always been the portrayed as the Snidely Whiplashes.’
Just about every Social Media website (Twitter mostly) had the story copied from every major website like Yahoo, PRWeb and CNBC. Type in Desarrollos Naturales de Costa Rica S.A in Google and the first three pages are filled with the story.
Without getting into the legal grit, lawsuits of this nature have two things in common, money and most important, time, which they are trying to buy. Obviously, it appears to be some type of investment tactic for the developer, in a wishful wish the Costa Rica economy turns around, which it is.
Was it a surprise? Not really. The problem has plagued other Costa Rica developers, where banks have pulled their promises of financing and continuing to provide money for construction. In some cases, banks are now seeking to foreclose on the loans when developers have breached their promises to buyers. See Investing and Real Estate Tips and Real Estate Retirement.
For those that have been watching the Jaco project it represents either an icon or eye sore (depending on your political view) of development with a bit of controversy. The project is the last development that had no height limitation. Currently, the new Master Development Plan restricts height and density in and around Jaco, so real estate of this value and nature with breathtaking views of the coastline will be a hot item and one where an investment would be valuable.
On a fishing trip to Jaco last November, it was evident the project was running into problems, rust was developing on rebar and the place looked like a graveyard of workers for the contractor, ICON. A developer friend pointed out, they (the developers) were having problems getting people to commit to buy even if the lawsuit claims that over 75% of the project has been sold. Personally, for a massive project of this nature, I would think that the break even point would be around 50%. And as for the $120 million, God-knows what the true amount really is, it may only be half that.
Back in 2000, Jaco Beach started to become of the top real estate buys in Costa Rica that ranged from luxury ocean view and beach front villas and condos to smaller more affordable properties in and around the town. A few minutes north, Los Suenos Marina and Resort is one of the top places in Costa Rica.
It has become the largest and most developed beach town in Costa Rica because of its proximity to the capital city of San Jose. With the new highway almost completed, making it an hour’s drive from San Jose, investors and developers gambled on the overall property values in Jaco would soar. Back in 2007, Costa Rica surpassed Hawaii as the number one destination, with over one million tourists visiting.
Story by TT
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Did you know that skin cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in the world? The good news is that it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer.
Over 1 million cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that does not include cases of melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. Recently, skin cancer has been diagnosed in more young people, proving that people are not taking the proper precautions. Learn how to prevent skin cancer and you’ll learn how to save your life.
1. Reduce Sun Exposure
* Especially between 11 am and 4 pm, when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.
2. Shade your Skin
* Seek shade under trees, or create your own shade with a hat, shirt, or umbrella.
* Wear clothing to cover your arms and legs. Make sure the fabric has a tight weave. Fabric that is wet or has a loose weave will allow more light to penetrate through to the skin.
* Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection.
3. Beware of clouds
* Up to 80% of the sun’s rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and fog. You can still get a sunburn on a cloudy day.
4. Remember about Reflection
* Water, sand, snow and concrete can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s damaging rays.
5. Slop on the Sunscreen
* Use sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or more that contain both UVA and UVB protection.
* Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every 2 hours (more often when working, playing, or swimming).
6. Avoid tanning salons and sunlamps
* These lights emit mostly UVA radiation – up to 2 – 5 times as much as natural sunlight. UVA radiation causes sunburn, premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.
* The UVB radiation from tanning lights is the main cause of sunburn and skin cancer and also contributes to premature skin aging.
7. Protect Children
* The most harmful effects of sun exposure occur during early childhood. Keep babies under 1 year out of direct sunlight. Once infants turn 6 months of age, begin using a sunscreen for added protection.
8. Spot Check Your Moles
Examine your moles and freckles every month to check for any changes. See your health care provider immediately if you notice:
* any new growth
* a mole or discoloration that appears suddenly or begins to change
* a sore that does not heal
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