Nicaragua through the eyes of a Real Estate Gringa

The Nicaraguan Fisherman and the Gringo with the Harvard MBA

2011-01-22T20:57:00.004-06:00

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A vacationing American businessman was standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua.

A small boat with just one young fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Nicaraguan on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.

"Oh, a few hours," the Nicaraguan replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.

The Nicaraguan warmly replied, "With this I have plenty to support my family's needs."

The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Responding with a smile, the Nicaraguan fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch soccer games, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch.

With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, you can then buy a second boat, a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats.

"Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery.

Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Managua, or San José, or possibly even Miami or LA or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."

Having never thought of such things, the Nicaraguan fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"

After a rapid mental calculation, the businessman pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."

"And then what, señor?" asked the fisherman.

"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions? Really? What would I do with all that money?" asked the fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch soccer games, take siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."

The moral of the story is: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think.

Survivor Nicaragua Update

2010-07-28T21:09:00.002-06:00

Adapted from TV Squad

This fall, a new set of masochists will descend upon the jungle to compete on the 21st season of CBS's 'Survivor.' This year, however, it won't just be a match of wits that will weed them out. CBS announced Wednesday that the show will divide the contestants by age, creating one tribe of competitors over age 40, and another tribe of those under age 30 for a face-off called 'Young vs. Old.'

"The Espada Tribe, made up of individuals over the age of 40, must prove they have the life experience and knowledge that will ultimately help them outwit and outlast their younger competitors," the network said in a statement. "The La Flor Tribe, consisting of individuals 30 years of age and younger, will have to use their youth and vitality to outplay and ultimately outlast their elders."

'Survivor: Nicaragua' won't be first the time that the series has split its cast along age lines. In season 12, 'Survivor: Panama' divided its cast into four tribes, but split them by both gender and age.

While the sheer physical demands of 'Survivor' would suggest that the young'uns will easily best their elders, some of the old-timers in Nicaragua might just have a fighting chance - and they can look to previous seasons for inspiration. In season 10, it was then-40-year-old Tom Westman who took home the top honor, beating out his nubile jungle-mates on 'Survivor: Palau.' It looks like Nicaragua will feature some similarly tough cast members who were born long before 1980.

The cast of 'Survivor: Nicaragua' has yet to be officially announced, but casting newly leaked casting rumors include hearty elders such as former NFL coach Jimmy Johnson, 67, who was previously suggested to be joining the show, former Massachusetts fisherman Jimmy Tarantino, 48, amateur cycling champ Dr. Jillian Halmi Behm, 43, and former army nurse Wendy Jo Kohlhoff, 48. Other potential members of the Espada tribe include Brooklynite Dan Lembo, 63, rancher and pageant director Holly Hoffman, 44, and dog breeder Jane Bright, 56.

As for the rumored under-30 crew? So far, Team La Flor is all pecs and bikinis, and include model-actor-drummer Jud Birza, 21, ex-cheerleader and paddle board enthusiast Brenda Lowe, 27, hunky club promoter Ben Henry, 24, swimsuit model Alina Wilson, 23, and track athlete Ma Onka Mixon, 27. Of course, there are also a few serious athletes rumored to be in the younger tribe, too, including ex-NCAA linebacker Chase Rice, 24, and marathoner/real estate broker Matt Lenahan, 30, among others. Still, with a potential elder cast this rugged, the nubile flowers better watch their over-tanned, wrinkle-free backs if they want a shot at winning season 21.

'Survivor: Nicaragua' premieres Sept. 15 on CBS (8 pm/ET).

Survivor Comes to Nicaragua

2010-06-28T09:22:00.004-06:00

There has been a lot of talk lately about the popular TV Show, Survivor, currently filming 2 seasons near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. The 21st season is already highly acclaimed by Survivor's creator, Jeff Probst. He describes Nicaragua as "...a land of impenetrable terrain, smoking volcanoes and savage wildlife." While I have personally have never run into any "savage wildlife" in my daily life, I do agree with Probst that the series will "star a brand new set of survivors" - Nicaragua being one of them.

Speculation about Nicaragua being thrust into the limelight during the 21st and 22nd seasons is probably quite accurate, as previous promotion in countries like Belize and Honduras resulted in an influx in real estate investors and higher prices, due to the countries' increased international profiles and increased demand for property.

"Pre-Survivor" prices are still here today, but that will likely change as soon as the hit show broadcasts simultaneously in many countries world wide. Survivor is franchised in over 50 countries.

I personally am very excited for Survivor Nicaragua not because of any direct impact on real estate, but because of the positive exposure of a largely misunderstood nation. Hopefully Survivor will show an accurate portrayal of the beauty and friendliness of Nicaragua.

For anyone interested in checking out Nicaragua prior to the Survivor Season airing later this year, please please be wary of real estate offices or property sellers pressuring too much or artificially increasing prices today. There are still many great deals out there in Nicaragua, and organic appreciation in the values of land prices will come slowly and steadily as the truth about the optimal conditions in Nicaragua reach more mainstream markets.

SURVIVOR NICARAGUA PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE

US Demand for Costa Rican & Nicaraguan Produce Increases 28%

2010-06-17T09:59:00.002-06:00

Costa Rican and Nicaraguan producers of vegetable, pineapple and different types of melon are preparing for the increased horticulture demand in the USA expected for 2010-2019. US demand will grow 28% over the next 10 years, according to a USDA Report - Agricultural Projections for 2019. This is equivalent to over 6.5 million pounds in additional produce.

This is just another one of the results of CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Costa Rica was the last of the Central American countries to approve the agreement in 2007.

Pineapple is the product most exported to the USA after bananas. The National Consortium of Pineapple Producers and Exporters (Canapep in Spanish) also expects 10% increase in export growth to Europe, their second largest market. Nearly 5,000 containers of melon (cantaloupe) alone were exported to the US in 2009 while 2,500 were sent to Europe, excluding watermelon exports.

The only complaints from the local agricultural voice is that they could take better advantage of the USDA's predictions if there were better lines of credit and infrastructure in the country.

What does this mean to foreign investors? --- That expansion from traditional real estate investment into alternative investment like energy and agriculture can be fruitful (no pun intended) for local and international interests alike. Costa Rican farmers need credit and international investment support to keep up with demand from those same countries. Credit is tight in banks everywhere, but international investors can also benefit from granting angel investor loans to established Costa Rican farmers. In turn, production and profit will flourish for all parties involved, not to mention helping to meet global demand for fresh produce and fruit.

So thank Costa Rica and Nicaragua for the fresh cantaloupe, watermelon and bananas you enjoy all summer long!

Yoga Community, Lots & Yoga Retreats in Nicaragua - El Camino del Sol San Juan del Sur

2010-06-16T13:44:00.000-06:00

Everyone who knows me knows I rarely align myself personally with any developer or development project in Nicaragua or Costa Rica. I am a buyer's agent who scouts the best properties for my clients, regardless of who owns the property or what the price point is. I do like to find the outliers, however, and tend to specialize in finding properties that are priced well below market comps in Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

In any sense, I am genuinely impressed with the development, infrastructure, amenities and property management at El Camino del Sol in south west Nicaragua, just outside San Juan del Sur. The owner has really transformed a common finca into a community center and upscale development for people interested in quality of life, health, wellness, surfing and yoga. This community, though humble in its marketing, actually boasts the highest lots owned to houses built ratio in all of San Juan del Sur. Most developers sell a bunch of lots without anyone building anything, or in some cases, without any infrastructure at all. El Camino is quite the opposite. Not only are there 8 houses built in the small community, but there are also indoor/outdoor yoga spaces, a gourmet restaurant and coffee/tea spot with wireless internet, an impressive lap pool and swimming pool, lush gardens and landscaping, water, electricity, well-maintained roads and ambitious drainage and finishing touches to all construction.

Every day, young, lively local residents, expats and tourists frequent the development to drop in on a Nica Yoga class, eat at the restaurant, check their email or converse with friends and travelers. The short term and long term residents alike in the rental houses all feel at home and like a part of the greater San Juan del Sur community and coastal lifestyle.

Here are the specs on owning a coveted lot in El Camino del Sol by Mark Sullivan of Pro Nica Development.

ON SURFING: Great waves are basically as close to surf as the town of San Juan del Sur. Remanso is 10 min down the road to the south and Maderas is 15 min away to the north. After those there's several breaks within 25 min of here.

ON BUILDING: There is no building timeline requirement; however will consider granting a lot credit if someone builds right away.

ON CLOSING COSTS: Utilities are already installed and ready to go to each lot. Closing costs are usually less than 3k.

ON BUILDING REQUIREMENTS: There are no specific restrictions but there are CCRs for the community. Basically, the developers have the right to disapprove of any design that is structurally unsound or absolutely hideous. Other than building correctly and aesthetically, there are no restrictions on what folks can do. Building costs depend greatly on the materials used and finishings that go in eventually. We're looking at building methods that have us spending $35-40/ft2 with structurally sound natural building materials, as well as sustainable options.

ON OCEAN VIEWS: El Camino isn't best known for it's ocean views, while there are a few left with affordable price points.

ON LOT PRICES: Lot prices for 1/4 to 1 acre lots are average from $25-225k but at a much lower price per meter than San Juan del Sur just a click down the road.

ON HOA's: Association fees are $95/month and cover 24 hr security, maintenance of the common areas, internet, full time gardener, road maintenance, etc.

ON FINANCING: On a case by case basis, we would consider seller financing.

Here is another link to the amenities of El Camino del Sol.

For anyone who wants an affordable lot in a secure community close to the beach in San Juan del Sur, El Camino del Sol is for you!

They offer:

Lots

Homes and Construction Services

Vacation Rentals

Contact me for questions on buying or check out their website at Elcaminodelsol.com and tell them Nica Chica sent you!

Popoyo, Nicaragua Surf Vacation Rental Properties

2010-06-14T13:22:00.001-06:00

Surfari Charters' Jeff Soderlind starts a new property management company in Popoyo, Nicaragua.

Karina Noguera, the Vacation Rentals Manager of Horizon Group, recently reported a new website, www.horizonnicaragua.com, which will display all of their real estate listings, home construction projects and vacation rentals here in Nicaragua. Be sure to keep your eyes open for our first Horizon Newsletter which we will send out once the site is live.

They now have a large selection of beautiful and diverse vacation rentals all along the Pacific coastline - including San Juan del Sur, Guacalito de la Isla, Hacienda Iguana, Rancho Santana and the Popoyo area.

Contact them for the inside scoop on Popoyo, Nicaragua house rentals and real estate properties and tell them the Nica Chica sent you!

Wall Street Journal Great Reviews of Granada, Nicaragua

2010-06-11T08:36:00.003-06:00

Nicaragua for years has been on top of various travel agencies' Top Destination lists, but you know you've made it when the acclaimed Wall Street Journal offers accolades to Nicaragua as an enjoyable tourist destination.

Reporter Nicholas Casey recently spent some time down in Granada, Nicaragua, the oldest European city in North America, and had a lot of good things to say about the colonial city, Lake Nicaragua's isletas, ecotourism in the area and the gastronomy of Nicaragua.

Read the full article here.

Cheap Flights to Central America, Costa Rica, Nicaragua on Continental.com

2010-06-09T17:43:00.003-06:00

Continental.com is running a special right now from the USA to Central America.

Sample fares:

Baltimore, MD (BWI) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $335
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $308
Cleveland, OH (CLE) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $516
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $458
Detroit, MI (DTW) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $324
Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) $458
Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $458
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $304
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) $549
New Orleans, LA (MSY) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $538
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $432
Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) $646
San Antonio, TX (SAT) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $439
San Antonio, TX (SAT) Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) $538
San Francisco, CA (SFO) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $439

These fares are valid as of 7:00 a.m. Central, Wed., June 9, 2010 and are subject to change and availability.

See the full list of fares here.

Safe travels!

Nicaragua Ranked in Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Destinations

2010-06-07T11:52:00.004-06:00

Congratulations Nicaragua on making the Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Destinations, even ahead of Costa Rica!

NuWire Investor recently published its rankings of the Top 5 locations for real estate investment in Latin America. In its analysis, NuWire considered a combination of geographic, economic and political factors; real estate values and rental rates; possibility of natural disasters; cost of living; growth in tourism and other industries; job markets and crime.

The governing parties of many Latin American countries have been historically considered volatile and corrupt, which has discouraged foreign investment in certain areas. As a result, many markets are still in their infancy and NuWire has carefully examined which governments have put forth a sincere effort to change this and attract foreign capital through legitimate means. Peru has, for example, increased its protective measures for private investors and eliminated all restrictions on money transfers in or out of the country. Brazil has a wealth of natural resources and has initiated several programs over the last decade to attract investors to the Northeastern coastal areas. Each country's market has its own unique strengths and every investor can find something of interest in these vibrant markets.

The Top 5 Latin American Real Estate Markets are:

1. Chile

2. Brazil

3. Uruguay

4. Peru

5. Nicaragua

To view the full article, click here.

NuWire Investor provides investment news on a range of alternative investment topics, such as U.S. and international real estate, tax liens and deeds, lending, franchising and others. For more information, and to access additional analysis, research, commentary and expert interviews, see www.NuWireInvestor.com.

Here is the text from the Article:

5. Nicaragua

Although Nicaragua is known for its history of political instability and conflict, the previously war-torn nation is desperately trying to attract foreign investment. Government incentives have made Nicaragua real estate appealing to investors, as Nicaragua’s attractions continue to draw more tourists and expatriates.

Nicaragua could become an ideal retirement and vacation destination for millions“Because Nicaragua has historically been overlooked by travelers and real estate investors [in comparison] to Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico, prices have remained extremely affordable,” Henkel Smith, president of Water’s Edge International Realty, said. “Nicaragua's real estate market is definitely still in its infancy, but we see things changing as the number of foreign visitors and investors continue to buy up properties.”
The country has an abundance of natural resources , beautiful landscapes and a government that claims to be welcoming towards foreign investment and tourism. Assuming the government’s expressed attitude towards foreign investment is genuine, Nicaragua appears to be an investor's dream, offering an ideal retirement and vacation destination for millions of people, especially Americans and Europeans.

On the other hand, some investors might find Nicaragua’s political structure to be intimidating; those who perceive President Daniel Ortega ’s position of power as threatening have been discouraged from entering the market. Nevertheless, optimistic investors believe that Ortega’s personal investment in business and tourism projects around the country are a sign that he plans to take a different path this time in office, and that the President is now trying to make amends for his violent past as a young Sandinista revolutionary.

Nicaragua’s investment hotspots are Granada, a colonial town on the bank of Lake Nicaragua, and San Juan Del Sur, a booming fishing village located on the Pacific Ocean just north of Costa Rica. Although a profusion of new developments are happening along the Pacific coast, most of the country awaits significant advancements in Nicaragua infrastructure, providing investors with opportunities to buy property in almost any price range.

Author Information

Marie Langhout
NuWire, Inc.

Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua Top List of Latin American Real Estate Investment Destinations

2010-06-03T17:55:00.004-06:00

RealtyGuide.com ranks Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama as the top purchasing destinations for property in Central America.

I specialize in selling and finding property in these specific areas, in addition to Costa Rica's Central Valley for commercial real estate investors and the north west coast of Nicaragua.

2) San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua - This small fishing town is firmly on the radar for real estate investors. San Juan sits in a beautiful horseshoe bay with a perfect sunset orientation.San Juan del Sur is developed considerable over the past years. From a sleepy little fishing village to the most important tourism destination on the coast. Infrastucture improvements including road resurfacing, a port upgrade and a new pedestrian walkway have followed.

4) Guancacaste, Costa Rica - This area took off with the building of the Liberia international airport. Some of the worlds biggest hospitality brand names have set up shop including the Four Seasons. The area did experience a slowdown during 2008 following the global economic collapse but has since come back strongly.

5) Central Coast, Nicaragua - This area of Nicaragua’s coastline is under 1hr from the capital city, Managua and is emerging as the country’s most important golfing area.Golfing greats Jack Nicklaus and Mike Young are designing golf courses in the area and the first 9 holes of a third championship course are complete.Blue waters, crashing surf and secluded coves are the attractions here.

First Visit to Isla Ometepe

2010-06-03T11:42:00.011-06:00

With nearly 5 years of working and living in Nicaragua, I was finally blessed with the opportunity to visit the twin volcanoes (Maderas and Concepción) of the Island of Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua. I am now a "believer" in a beauty of Ometepe and a huge fan. My opinion is that everyone who is planning a trip to Nicaragua should make sure to stop here for at least 2 days en route to their next destination.

On Ometepe there are many activities if you have the energy to do anything besides lay in a hammock and gaze out over the green jungle canopy and infinite lake, or "fresh water sea" as the Spanish conquistadors called it. Ometepe is such a serene and magical place, it is easy to see how it remained peaceful and basically neutral during the Sandinista Revolution.

I traveled with some clients and a real estate developer and consultant named Mark Sullivan from Pro Nicaragua Development and El Camino del Sol development and yoga retreat center just outside of San Juan del Sur. We only had 2 days to spend on the island and decided to climb Volcán Maderas - a 5 kilometer vertical hike up and down, but well worth it. Since we went in rainy season, the hike took about 8 hours total due to mud and rain, but it was still fun and exhilarating. The view from different spots in the ascent is better than from the top, which is typically cloudy, but there is also the opportunity to descend into the crater and swim in this volcanic lake. Quite a surreal experience.

After all the hiking and exploring, visitors work up quite an appetite and there are a few authentic, local restaurants to choose from selling fresh, locally sourced food. My personal favorite was a place called "Natural" - a vegetarian restaurant right on the beach in Santo Domingo on the road to Balgue. The charismatic owner is from Managua but has been living on Ometepe for years. My clients and I enjoyed veggie stir fry, curry and pineapple-watermelon rum drinks - all homemade and with a fantastic ambiance and view of the beach and lake.

Real Estate on Ometepe: This island is so paradisiacal, anyone would wonder how to own a piece of this green gold. I may sell real estate, but I also like to buy as much as possible! There are no real estate offices on Ometepe that I have seen, but there are a lot of national brokers on the internet selling property. I would advise that anyone looking for property contact a trusted, referred real estate broker in Nicaragua to assist in an Ometepe property search and confirm that the titles and deeds of any potential properties are clean and clear. Even if you want to buy directly from a property owner and without buyer representation (although I do not recommend this for multiple reasons), make sure you use a trusted lawyer (oxymoron?) for reliable guidance and candidness throughout every step of the transaction. The secret is out, however, as hotel developers have quickly started to stake their claims throughout the island's coastline and the new pavered roads will help to catapult ecotourism over the upcoming years.

In my opinion, Ometepe is the perfect place for any sort of sustainable development project, retirement home, health and wellness retreat center location or farm. Despite relying a bit on deliveries from the main land, almost anything grows on Ometepe and residents rarely like to leave the island.

For those on a budget or interested in mid-long term volunteer work opportunities, there are quite a few organic farms looking for any sort of help:

Ometepe Zopilote: http://www.ometepezopilote.com/

Project Bonafide http://projectbonafide.blogspot.com/
Finca Magdalena: http://www.fincamagdalena.com/

Casa Campestre: http://ometepe.moonfruit.com/
Hotel Finca del Sol: http://www.vianica.com/hotels/306/hotel-finca-del-sol

Getting There and Away - Island of Ometepe:

Ferries leave regularly from a port east of Rivas to the main port on Ometepe called Moyogalpa. There is food and lodging here and it is a good place to stay the night before you leave on a morning ferry for the mainland. It is also a good base if you want to climb Concepción (1,610 meters alt).

Ferry passage is only 60 cordobas each way (about $3) for pedestrians while cars have to pay up to $30+ each way in taxes. There are gas stations on the island as well. I brought my car and it made the journey quite relaxing without having to worry about transportation. Enjoy a cold Toña or Victoria on the pleasurable 1 hour ride across the lake!

Nicaragua Primed for Renewable, Sustainable Energy Projects

2010-06-02T17:36:00.005-06:00

There is a saying in Nicaragua, "The country is rich but the people are poor." Basically, Nicaragua is a country full of potential and natural resources despite being one of the most economically poor countries in Latin America. But for any individual, company or government looking to invest in wind, water or solar energy projects while helping philanthropically at the same time, Nicaragua is the perfect place.

A company owned by Centrans and AEI has recently constructed $90 million in windmills in south west Nicaragua, one of the windiest regions in the world. The project is said to be operating at 80% capacity, 60% higher than originally expected. With the first 19 windmills, over 6% of the country's energy needs were met.

The following is an excerpt from Commodity Online, proving Nicaragua's commitment to clean energy and wind power:

Nicaragua secured its commitment to green energy technology by awarding a 30-year license for wind farms in the country, advocates said.

The Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and Mines granted Nicaragua's Blue Power & Energy a 30-year license for a 22-turbine wind farm that could produce 39.6 megawatts of electricity.

PRO Nicaragua, a non-profit economic advocacy group which has offices in Washington, notes that Nicaragua has the potential to generate 800 megawatts of power from wind energy, which represents about 17 percent of the current renewable energy potential for the country.

The Nicaraguan government in 2008 and 2009 awarded several wind energy licenses to bring to the total installed capacity to 100 MW. "This demonstrates the government of Nicaragua's commitment in working actively to promote renewable energy projects in the country in pursuit of transforming the current oil-based energy generation matrix," said the advocacy group.

Nicaragua also has an advantage when it comes to geothermal power, with an active chain of 25 volcanoes in the country. Geothermal power is one of the most reliable, cost effective, sustainable forms of renewable energy available and is limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.

This just in from a US-based news source:

Reno-based Ram Power Corp. and Nicaraguan natural gas company Disnorte-Dissur are negotiating a power purchase agreement for energy produced by a new geothermal power plant in Nicaragua. Disnorte-Dissur will purchase up to 157 megawatts of power to be developed from Ram Power's Casita San Cristobal geothermal concession.

Both final capacity and power rate figures are subject to approval by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Energy and the electricity regulator. The agreement is expected to be signed this year.

Announcing New Website for Real Estate in Costa Rica-Nicaragua

2010-04-11T22:15:00.005-06:00

Well everyone knows I love Nicaragua, but Costa Rica was my first introduction to Central America (besides Mexico & the Caribbean) back in 2002. Living and working in Costa Rica also became my eventual gateway to traveling and working and living in Nicaragua beginning in 2006.

Living centrally in Costa Rica also led me to travel in Panama, so I have a lot to thank Costa Rica for!

With that in mind, I have decided to expand my services throughout Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Even a few times on this blog I may weave through topics that have to do with not only Nicaragua, but Costa Rica and Panama as well.

I hope you all enjoy and can use this info to decide where you might be most inclined to live or invest in the future!

The website is WWW.REALESTATECOSTARICA-NICARAGUA.COM

Check out more about me, stats and properties on each country and the Costa Rica - Nicaragua - Panama Photo Gallery, as well as lots of fun information and downloadable documents.

Tell your friends!

Northern Nicaragua at Sunrise

Where to Spend the Holidays in Nicaragua?

2009-12-22T15:10:00.004-06:00

Wow ~ Gran Pacifica is really raising the bar for Nicaragua luxury and lifestyle operators. Their new website, La Vida Nica, showcases their professionalism in the vacation rental and concierge area. Check it out when planning your next trip to Nica.

In case you are still trying to come up with a New Year's plan, the crew at GP is also offering a holiday feast for "Año Viejo" on December 31st on the grounds of Gran Pacifica. With Waldorf Salad, Roast Lamb and plenty of champagne on the menu, this party is bound to become a welcome tradition for expats and locals alike in future years.

The party will take place at beachfront restaurant Tasca: http://www.tascaontheocean.com/

Buen provecho!

Golf Membership Special at Gran Pacifica

2009-12-18T12:34:00.010-06:00

For all you golf aficionados out there, Gran Pacifica just announced an offer for lifetime golf memberships starting at only $12,000. Anyone can own a right to play golf at the new Pacifica Golf Club - sans greens fees and even if you don't own a property within Gran Pacifica. However, you can incorporate investment with a golf membership by contacting them directly.

This is the LAST CHANCE to buy a membership at these prices, as the course will open very soon and when it does the golf memberships will increase.

For further info contact Lennette@granpacifica.com and tell her Kristin sent you!

About Gran Pacifica: Gran Pacifica is located less than 1 hour due west of Managua on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua.

The sweeping mission of Gran Pacifica Beach and Golf Resort is to create value through socially responsible development of real estate that promotes a higher quality of living for their partners and communities.

Their vision is to create high quality lifestyle environments in Nicaragua that appeal to the 100 million baby boomers who will retire over the next 15 years, who seek to live actively and well outside of the United States and North America. They strive to be the destination of choice for the 4.5 million North Americans considering living or owning property in Latin America, among them 500,000 U.S. retirees who currently receive their Social Security checks abroad.

Cheyne Cottrell enjoys one of many barrels in front of Gran Pacifica

New Surf Shop Hits Popoyo Area

2009-12-16T14:59:00.006-06:00

Nicaragua expats vets Jeff Soderlind and friends at Surfari Charters Surf Camp in Las Salinas announced this week the opening of their new surf shop.

Says Jeff, "It's called the NICA SURF SHOP and we carry almost everything you could need - wax, leashes, tail pads, sunscreen, ding repair kits, fins, rash guards, spring suits, etc. We also have all the new Surfari gear in stock, including the new women's and children's line. If you're looking to rent, buy or sell boards this is the place to come. A list of our current boards for sale is attached so check it out if you're in the market for a new board. We have a large selection and the prices are great!"

To all of us who are familiar with the Popoyo area, any new surf shop is great news to our ears! There are so many waves in such a short radius, which can mean broken boards and leashes for the locals, travellers and guests at the many surf camps and vacation rentals in the area.

Thanks to Jeff and Surfari Charters for paving the way for future generations of surfers to enjoy the area of SW Nicaragua!

In case you thought it couldn't get any better, The shop also features high-speed wireless internet and they serve cold beers and fresh fish tacos....a perfect reason to swing in sometime and check it out.

Fish Tacos... Yum!

France Cuisine, Cabinas and Babies Conquer Nicaragua

2009-12-01T21:48:00.007-06:00

My good friends and clients, William and Xavier, are having a great year. Not only do they live in Nicaragua and own 7 sprawling acres of green, ocean view property, but they have nearly finished building the first phase of their new home, restaurant, cabins for rent, pool, pétanque pit and garden. IN ADDITION, William and girlfriend Julie from NYC, owner of Grande Voce real estate in Northern Nicaragua, just welcomed their new baby, Madeleine.

William and Xa are professional French chefs with a local reputations for learning how to surf in record time, infusing Flor de Caña rum with everything from vanilla to jalapeños and for having crafted possibly the best pizza recipe and cooking technique known to man. As soon as they are open for business I'll be sure to let everyone know!

Below are a few photos of their property under construction...

BEFORE:

Traditional-style Floor of the Rancho

The first seedling of the garden!

Home for the first few months

Guard Shack

Construction Zone and a Heavy Duty Vehicle, there

AFTER:

...and a couple photos of the newest member of the expat family. Bienvenida Madeleine!

With the "happiest dad" William!

Uncle Xavier and friend Kevin

Sector 9 Surf Team Visits Nicaragua

2009-11-23T15:14:00.009-06:00

I am a Sector 9 skateboards fanatic/loyalist/enthusiast/team rider for 10 years now. I have traveled with company team riders, execs and sales reps throughout Costa Rica and Nicaragua throughout the years and we always have a great time. I was really excited when some of them came down for a visit to surf and shoot photos last year.

Click here for the story documenting their experience on Surfline.com

Below is the link to a video from their trip to Central America in mid-2008, with footage taken from just down the street from my house. Enjoy!

Sector 9 in North Nicaragua http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-T-ynPtqUE

Nicaragua's Coastal Law

2009-09-26T15:59:00.007-06:00

One of the most common questions I get as a real estate consultant in Nicaragua is, "is it safe to buy property in Nicaragua?" That answer is a resounding "yes", in the case that a proper due diligence has been successfully performed on the property in question. I also like to compare buying property in Nicaragua to buying fee simple titled property anywhere in the world:

Would you buy a property in the US or Canada without checking the title first?
Would you buy a car without transferring the title in your name?
...Of course not.

The same goes for buying property in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, or any other exotic country that extends equal property rights to foreigners.

That being said, there are stark differences to researching property ownership in Nicaragua compared to, say, Costa Rica, for example. Costa Rica boasts a central, digitized property registry, while Nicaragua has a separate, hard-copy registry office for each of the country's 15 main provinces. However, any property duly registered with a clean title and history can be deemed a safe buy. Of course, always check with your lawyer or real estate agent before giving a cash deposit to a Seller.

So what's the deal with beachfront property? Why is it so hard to find property one can actually buy out-right on the beaches of Central America? This is basically because most countries on the isthmus have installed measures to protect their coastal sovereignty and environmental balance. If the Central Governments of the "Big 3" (Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) allowed 100% ownership to foreigners, things could get out of hand fast. Rapid development mimicking Miami Beach's coastline have created quite the challenge for the governmental agencies of these 3rd world nations. In order to retain some control, "Concession Law" has been put in place on all properties that did not already have prior registered title. This means between 3-5% of beachfront properties boast fee simple title (and a hefty price tag), while the rest of the land can be obtained for a lower land value and ownership is portrayed through paying an annual leasing fee to the local municipal government. Maybe this isn't the perfect scenario for a foreign investor, but as long as taxes are paid on-time, there should be no reason to worry about anyone encroaching on your property line. Besides, paying 1/16 of the price for the same product isn't such a bad deal, especially when the product at hand comes with white sand and a sunset.

The confusion in Nicaragua's Coastal Law was based on generations without communicating a specific beach setback for concession/title property. Some courts interpreted the law as being 20 meters from the beach, others 50 meters, and others claimed the law intended for all property within 2 kilometers to be considered beachfront concession zone. This hindered the country's real estate development for nearly 4 years while the legislation was slowly and heatedly debated, because no one knew if properties in the process of being titled would turn out as concession or title parcels.

Much to the relief of the international and local parties with interest in Nicaragua's economic future, the final version of the Coastal Law was presented to pass just days ago to the legislature, after the gesture being approved unanimously on June 4. Economic consultants, advisors, ambassadors, developers, international organizations and institutional and individual investors alike breathed a sigh of relief that their years of lobbying and planning were not in vain. The government made the right decision to support investment and interpret the law correctly, recognizing the first 50 meters from the mid high tide line as public domain, just like neighbor Costa Rica. All existing titles on property within this zone will be recognized and the hold on pending beachfront property registrations will be lifted.

Surfers Enjoying the Benefits of Nicaragua's Coastal Law

This is very promising news to the future of tourism and investment in Nicaragua, as the Tico Times/Nica Times recently reported over $1 billion in coastal development projects pending approval of the bill.

Specific text from Article 19: “The coastal zone of public domain is the area contained between the 50 meters counted from the high tide line. It is hereby established, however, that within this area all ownership rights legally acquired will be respected…”.

Peace, Love and the Economic Crisis: NiCaribbean Style

2009-04-06T21:02:00.014-06:00

When most people think of "Nicaragua", visions of volcanos, wide open spaces, a tumultuous history and lots of farm animals probably come to mind. Perhaps travelers are also starting to become aware of historical sites such as Granada and León, and Pacific beach resort towns such as San Juan del Sur and Popoyo.

Despite Nicaragua's burst onto the scene as one of the top global travel destinations, the most well known locales are not always the most authentic. Although Nicaragua boasts a rich national history, there is one aspect of the country's geography that has been consistently separated from traditional Nicaragua and its Spanish influence. And with good reason. East of Managua, roads quickly become scarce and unmaintained. The over 500 kilometers of Caribbean Coastline which make up Nicaragua's Mosquito Indian Province are separated by the largest rainforest in the New World after the Amazon Basin. Sadly, the indigenous residents of these formerly Dutch and British colonies suffered the brunt of brutality during the country's civil war, but are a peaceful people who, while still struggling economically, have colorful customs and a unique culture compared to the rest of Nicaragua.

Regardless of the fact that we are in 2009, Caribbean Nicaragua is still largely unexplored and greatly inaccessible. The thick jungles and rivers of this area can only be accessed by foot or boat in many places. To reach the most populated provincial town of Bluefields in the southwest, the only way by land is through tedious hours on buses and boats... Luckily, today there are regional flights from Managua that convert this formerly 12 hour journey into a semi-luxurious 50 minutes of viewing Amazonian-like terrain below while sipping on Rojito soda, compliments of La Costeña operated by Taca Airlines.

Upon arrival to Bluefields, the next logical step is to connect through to Big Corn Island, just another puddle jump east into the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Big and Little Corn Islands are the center of Caribbean Nicaragua tourism, although the footprint of the Gringo is still not so obvious. This is reflected in the low crime rate, low prices for food and hotels and low technology in getting from Big Corn to Little Corn (at least the boats have life jackets).

LOW VOLUME OF WESTERN TOURISTS + 2ND POOREST COUNTRY IN LATIN AMERICA = CHEAP TROPICAL VACATION

So let's say you make it from the US to Managua to a rogue Caribbean island all in one day, which is quite possible with the frequent flight table. What is there to do in the middle of nowhere, you might be wondering? Plenty, if world class fishing, diving, snorkeling, relaxing and feasting on fresh lobster appeals to you. Sound expensive? It's not, unless you're looking to actually BUY an island. In fact, Little Corn was recently ranked one of the best global travel destinations during the current economic crisis on MarkerMap.com.

I have traveled to Little Corn Island a few times now since living in Nicaragua, for work and play and I can never wait to go back. This past trip I stayed at a place called Farm, Peace & Love on the less traveled North side of the island. When I say "less traveled", I mean that most of the accommodations are located on the West side, although you can walk around the island in a matter of a couple hours. There are no cars on Little Corn. Although there are roads on Big Corn, I prefer to get from point A to point B in a golf cart. It's all a matter of personal preference. Anyway, if you like B&Bs, organic food, privacy and friendly hosts, FarmPeaceLove may be for you. (Disclaimer: Power is from a generator on Little Corn, so it is not reliable and cold water showers are the norm).

A few things I love about Little Corn Island:

~Crystal Clear and Calm Water

~Amazing Sunsets

~White Sand Beaches

~Huge Variety of Dive Spots
~Perfect for Snorkeling, or Fishing, or Reading, or doing Nothing...
~Hiking Around w/o Seeing Another Person

~Coconut Bread

~Cacao Bread
~Organic Coconut Oil

~Lobster for $12/plate
~No Cars (there is a sidewalk around the Town side)
~Nice People

~No Crime
~No Phone Reception (unless you really look hard for a signal)
~Perfect Place to Relax
~Ridiculously Perfect for a Honeymoon or Romantic Getaway
~Everyone Speaks English (for those of you still working on your Spanish)
~Huge Variety of Tropical Plants, Birds and Flowers

During my first trip to Little Corn I tried to do some sort of activity every day and dive multiple times, but on my last trip I felt content simply strolling around the coquina sand beaches, reading and swimming in the clear, blue water. The Corn Islands are not for surfers, but I think surfers can still appreciate the beauty of this place and it's great to recuperate from a long surf trip on the Pacific side. They are also not really a place for night life and partying, although Big Corn offers substantially more ambiance (Arenas Beach is a good pick for this with a more lively and all-inclusive feel, complete with shipwreck beach bar). Despite the Hostel subculture on Little Corn and Big Corn's annual Carnaval, life on the islands is quiet and relaxed. Hopefully visitors in the future will respect that as much as people do now.

REAL ESTATE IN THE CORN ISLANDS

Land is still quite undervalued in the Corn Islands, and free, clean and clear property is available through the right contacts. In contrast to the rest of the country, this market is still fairly under-explored and has untapped potential, but some sustainable development is currently in planning phases on Big Corn. It's actually quite amazing to be able to buy ocean view or beach front property here that is at a fraction of a fraction of the cost of The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands and even Roatan in Honduras, which has undergone triple digit price increases in the past few years.Please contact me with any specific questions on buying property in this province.

While the Corn Islands are only a very small speck in the Atlantic Province of Nicaragua, they are a must-visit for anyone who wants to see a different side of the country's culture.

For more info on travel and accommodations to the Corn Islands, please see this helpful website: http://www.bigcornisland.com/.

Philanthropy 101 in Nicaragua

2008-11-08T12:10:00.007-06:00

Most of us come to countries like Nicaragua because we are looking to share in the simple way of life, fresh air, fresh food and outdoor eco-tourism activities or sports that Central America is famous for. We love and respect this country so much, that we want to buy a property of our own to enjoy it to the max, or better yet invest on a variety of levels.

After a couple times visiting or investing, however, human compassion kicks in and we tend to feel the need to "give back" and contribute to the economic or overall well being of these third world developing countries that have offered us so much to enhance our own quality of life. But HOW?? As foreigners, we are sometimes conditioned to think that one has to either have money or a specific philanthropic organization in order to "make a difference". This couldn't be farther from the truth. Whether it's selecting an independent organization or governmental agency that you believe in or identify with, or something as simple as bringing down old clothing or sporting equipment for locals, we can all do something to improve conditions in the countries we travel to.

At Century 21, Barry Oliver (owner of the franchise) and other partner owners sponsor local children to attend school. We also sponsor a local baseball team with uniforms and equipment, donate money for road improvements and church activities and emergency funding for projects.. I personally encourage all my clients to contribute an extra $10 or $20 when investing and making escrow transfers, that can be donated to Century 21's local sponsorship and volunteer efforts.

My first year living in Costa Rica in 2002, I became involved in an event called the Pura Vida No Pro for orphans in San José. I am still involved today. Click here for a current interview on the event in Drift Magazine, or if you are in the St. Augustine area, pick one up!

My first year living in Nicaragua, I joined the Day of Light Love Light and Melody event at La Chureca land fill in Managua. Click here for that story as well.

No matter how small your contribution, I encourage all of you thinking of living in, investing in or visiting Nicaragua to get involved in an annual charity event or contact an ex-pat organization or think about a way you can help make life better for the nice people of this country, like our friend and client Archie Newell.

Click HERE to help and get involved!

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So is the market down now in Nicaragua?...

2008-10-21T15:44:00.004-06:00

...No, it's not. As the mass economic hysteria continues in the US of A (you would think this was our country's 1st period in history of slow market growth!?), life as usual continues in tranquilo countries like Nicaragua.

In what may seem like and ironical twist, we have seen business actually increase noticeably in recent weeks. Why-you might ask?

The answer is simple (here it is from an ethnocentric perspective): When the market is good, people have extra cash and confidence to "take risk" and invest overseas. When the market is bad, smart investors continue to invest overseas and people who are now scared to invest domestically look for more tangible investment opportunities in growing markets.

The bonus: Now you can do the same, even if you're cash strapped. Marketwatch.com today overviews a few new programs to encourage lending in Central American, developing countries.

I'm a very patriotic person, but I also can't help but find some amusement in the fact that it may be easier for one of us "gringos" to get a loan in Latin America than it is in the US right now.

Instead of expending negative energy complaining about your fund manager who just flew the coop making off with the last 10 years of your bond earnings, maybe look south of the border to make up some of that lost ROI?

You could be staring at a palm tree instead of a red balance sheet...

Nicaragua Top 5 Real Estate Markets in Latin America

2008-10-16T11:45:00.005-06:00

Well, well, well. And where is Costa Rica on this list? ;)

"Nicaragua appears to be an investor's dream, offering an ideal retirement and vacation destination for millions of people, especially Americans and Europeans."

Click here for the low down!- http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/articles/top-five-latin-american-real-estate-markets-51342.aspx

Is Nicaragua Dangerous???

2008-10-13T08:07:00.007-06:00

GEEZ. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me that question....

How did a country oozing with friendly, peaceful people develop such an incredibly devastating reputation for violence?

State's NBC's TODAY Show Travel Analyst Peter Greenberg: "[Although the TODAY Show feature on NIca reached 12 Million viewers], there are an incredible percent of people who are still misinformed about Nicaragua."

I'm going to clear some things up right here, right now:

To be honest, foreigners and their families are more safe in Nicaragua than any other country in Latin America. Global authorities also agree. Below I am going to go into detail on the crime factor in Nica. Unfortunately, sometimes it is not represented correctly and Costa Rica takes the limelight of being the “safe haven” when that can’t be farther from the truth. For example, I only know one person who has been the victim of an assault/robbery in Nicaragua, while I could quickly make a list of over 100 close friends in Costa Rica who have been assaulted in the last year alone. Most murders in Costa Rica, on the other hand, never hit the press due to covering up and censorship by local authorities.

Click HERE and HERE for some recent press about crime in Costa Rica, a country flaunted by the US government for its safety in order to protect diplomatic relations.

The OIJ international police is actually instructed to cover up violent stories and prevent them from hitting the news!

Here are more stats regarding crime:

Costa Rica is #19 highest murder rate in the world, with .06 per 1,000 people.
The US, with its nearly 50 murders per day is ranked safer at #24. Another "safe" country, Australia< is #43.

Nicaragua doesn’t even break the top 75. They are somewhere down the line at .00034 murders per 1,000 people.

Q. How safe are you in Nicaragua?
A. According to INCAE, the Harvard Business school affiliate in Latin America, Nicaragua is the safest country, and Granada is one of the safest cities, in all of Central America.

A popular way to measure a country’s level of violent crime is using the murder rate.

"Nicaragua suffers only 3.4 per 100,000, making it the least violent country in Central America and one of the safest in all the hemisphere."

The world’s homicide rate is currently 8.86 per 100,000.
The U.S. murder rate is 7.1 per 100,000
14.8 per 100,000 for Los Angeles,
21.9 per 100,000 for Chicago, and
41.8 per 100,000 for Washington, D.C.

Costa Rican homicide rate is 7.2 per 100,000.
El Salvador at 117 per 100,000,
Guatemala at 45 per 100,000 and
Honduras at 41 per 100,000.
Latin America as a whole has a rate of 22.9 per 100,000.

Hopefully this has given my readers more insight into the safety of Nicaragua. The point I would like to make is that, in reality, Nicaragua is the safest country in Latin America and safer than the US, UK, Australia, Poland, Finland, Portugal, Hungary, France, Canada, Iceland, Chile, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, Japan, Hong Kong and many other countries that the world may perceive as “safe”.

I recommend that all of you come to Nicaragua and see for yourself. It couldn't be farther from the unfortunate picture painted by the biased US media during the 1970's.

Finally, a Surfing Breakthrough

2008-08-24T11:09:00.007-06:00

“Dunphee! – I’m so sorry I was in your way! Did I ruin that barrel for you or did you make it out?”

“Huh, what? Ahh, no, I didn’t even see you; all I could see was, like, barrel.”

Up-and-coming pro Michael Dunphee used hand motions to show me just how much tunnel vision he had focused on that barrel. The kind of tunnel vision where whilst getting so shacked, one doesn’t realize he trimmed casually over the head of a blonde wahine, whose life was spared by a mere millimeter of God’s good grace. I’m a realist, and my take is that this can usually only be attributed to being… a guy, a male an XY’er. When it comes to “pulling in”, we chicks tend to over-analyze the situation in a split second and almost decide how we’re bailing before the peak even swings our way. Straighten out, pull through the back, pray… there are a handful of survival strategies for barrel dodging and fleeing from a ravaging lip. Surfing Booms doesn’t make it any easier. Ana from New Zealand put it best after popping up from a failed duck dive yesterday morning (alas, board-ditching is common here), exclaiming, “This wave is brutal!!!” I don’t think anyone who has surfed here would disagree.

After 7 months, 3 weeks and 2 days of living within a 5-minute drive from this wave, one would think I would have it wired by now. I’m pretty competent in the water, have about 10 years of competitive and travel experience under my belt. I even spent a 3-month stint living right in front of it at Hotel Chancletas! But this is no ordinary wave. Unless you are a high-ranking WCT surfer, the wave at Chancletas will humble you. I say this after nearly a year of having witnessed pros on photo trips and Average Joes fly or drive in from around the world to a perfect looking, seemingly innocent line-up at The Boom, only to come in from their first session with head hanging, a broken board, or worse. The most agile athletes start to “hold their own” after a few sessions or sometimes a week, but let’s face it, we females are either much smarter or much safer about our surfing, given that most guys break more boards in a week than I have broken all year.

The elusive barrel~ I would pull in here and there; a calculated tread amongst dodging the obstacle course of closeout walls. On every wave I would have one eye on potential surfers (accidents waiting to happen) floundering in my bottom turn vicinity and one eye on the lip, making for some frustratingly interrupted and mediocre surfing. Focus! Obviously, living here I’ve had my fare share of perfect waves and tubes, but had never really shaken the anxious flutter in my chest of navigating a 12-inch thick pitching lip while trying to avoid a poor soul in the impact zone. Until yesterday, that is.

Yesterday, everything just clicked. Energy seemed to surge out of my arms as I paddled. Each wave I mentally knew I was going to make it no matter what. Despite the very large, very perfect bombs pulsing through consecutively, I was unfazed. Wave after wave: push over the ledge, bottom turn, set, locked in, spit out. Or the other strategy: drop and stall, hand lightly trailing across the face of the wave as if it hadn’t crossed your mind that you skirted absolute disaster by a split second; the aftermath of the wave would have provided you a quick lesson on the physics of what I like to call the Black Hole (aka face slammed into volcanic sand).

Sure, after about 15 perfect waves I took about just as many on the head. And yes, I’ll admit the absolutely flawless surf helped make this breakthrough possible. But nothing could ruin the feeling of realizing that today I too had tunnel vision. Sitting sola in the still pumping line-up after while everyone, exhausted, was on their second breakfast, I couldn’t have been any more content. Today, it was more of the same.

Fruit glorious Fruit

2008-08-19T15:06:00.005-06:00

Tropical fruit is bountiful to say the least, here in Northern Nicaragua where the soil is some of the most fertile in the world. Papayas can be 3 feet long, watermelon redder than thought possible (and as sweet as it looks), avocados the size of your head (I'm only slightly exaggerating). http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Most people might not know that although we're in the midst of a global food crisis, Nicaragua still has the cheapest food in all of Central America. Especially produce.

Some of the fruit you can find here in abundance is:
-Watermelon
-Grapefruit
-Grapes
-Pineapple (gold and white varieties)
-Avocado
-Star Fruit
-Cantaloupe
-Papaya
-The best tomatoes in the world
-Huge variety of Bananas
-Huge variety of Mangoes
-Passion Fruit
-Much more!

The most expensive fruit on this list is a watermelon for $2. I can't get enough!

¿Where does the time go?

2008-08-18T10:56:00.009-06:00

People frequently ask , “What do you do all day, living in Central America? Don’t you ever get bored?!” These queries are understandable from newcomers; it is common for most people to have a travel experience in Central America that consists of an all-inclusive resort or a trip from the vacation rental to the local pulperia to refill the stock of margarita mix in the fridge. Fortunately, when one decides to make the transition from tourist to ex-pat in Central America, s/he can expect to develop new interests, meet new people and even revisit old hobbies. In essence, create a new life experience in a foreign country.

In an effort to bring insight to a potential future ex-pat’s lifestyle ideal, the following is an example of how his/her day might go:

5:15am-Why am I awake at 5:15am? Is my clock right? Does it always get light this early? Note to self, drink more Chilean Malbec tonight.
5:30am-Cup or organic coffee (or green smoothie), perhaps and select one of the following options:
• Check surf
• Bust out fishing rod
• Yoga on ocean view patio
• Run on beachhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
• Horseback riding on beach (if low-mid tide)
• Collect seashells
• Make business phone call to Japan
• Go back to sleep

8am-By this time unless the waves are epic or the fishing is good, you will probably be making your way back home for breakfast. Say, a fresh tropical fruit plate or scrambled eggs with gallo pinto and toast (fresh baked bread, of course).

9am-Unless the waves are going off, at this time you will be getting into your main activity of the day. This can be any of the following options (including but not limited to):
• Go to work (that would be me)
o Put out fires, make phohttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifne calls, check e-mail, run to nearest civilized town for some sort of meeting or errands
• Check on construction, like my friend Holly Beck
• If you have a house, do some gardening or planting
• Hang out in pool at the Marina
• Read a book
• Test out machete technique on unsuspecting tropical plants
• Head to nearest civilized town for grocery shopping, bank, yadda yadda yadda and maybe pizza or Subway

Noon-Even if the waves are still firing, by this time people are starting to drop like flies. The rest of us are still out and about but thinking about lunch, at least by 1pm.

2pm-It’s hot at 2pm. Hopefully you’re somewhere with a/c (doubtful) or an ocean breeze and a beer (probable). Also a good time for a dip in the ocean or nap in the hammock. For me, if it’s a day at the office I usually have an appointment with clients from

3-6pm. If not, I could be anywhere from the border of Honduras to the border of Costa Rica to an island in the Caribbean, you know, scouting out property.

5:30-Sunset. What, sunset already? Yes, sunset. Daylight savings time is an invention of the US. Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is to have beer in hand and be strategically positioned with view of and breeze off the ocean. Only not for the heat this time… mosquitoes…

7pm-After some good conversation with whomever you were watching the sunset with, it’s dinnertime! A possible menu could be the following:
• Fish you caught in the morning (snook, mahi, snapper or corvina, likely)
• Fish that the guy who took you surfing in the boat caught (see above)
• Ceviche or cocktail of shrimp or clams
• The chicken that either a) you almost hit driving this morning or b) woke you up with its squawking
• BBQ Peliguey, a cross between a sheep and a goat (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it)
• Any of the above accompanied by rice, beans, salad, vegetables, fried plantains and some salsa picante. And beer.
• If you’re a veg, replace the fauna with a soup, salad or stir-fry prepared with any selection of the plethora of fresh veggies available in the area. Buen provecho!

After dinner-When you live in Central America, it takes longer than 30 minutes to eat dinner, because we are not rushed and enjoy our meals here. By now it’s probably close to 9pm. Or if you are my French neighbors, you start eating after 9pm. The following are some standard options:
• Switch from beer to Flor de Caña, chilled, with lime (get ready for karaoke of Red Red Wine later)
• Continue chatting with friends and/or listening to music
• Leisurely read a book or magazine
• Call it a night and sleep (or other)

See!? Time flies when you’re having fun. Of course, other life responsibilities will get in the way of having a perfect day every day, but just by rotating the above activities you will wish the days were longer.

What's in a Name?

2008-07-09T10:34:00.001-06:00

So many Anglo-Saxon names are difficult to pronounce to people’s native tongue in Español. Let’s face it, not as many first world tourists have problems pronouncing cerveza as locals here have saying the name Jimmy, for example; it comes out yim-nee.

Another case in point: Kristin (me) and Shannon (my sister).

Kristin:is commonly but butchered in the following way:
Kree
Christian
Christina
Christi

And Shannon…
Channa
Cha- know
Sha- whoa + many other variations we haven’t yet figured out how to put in writing. Thus, we’ve decided to alter our names: Kristin has become Kristina and Shannon converted to Shakira.

The results have been encouraging and deemed success as of yet, especially Shakira. Who doesn’t like this peppy, blonde, spiral curl head super star? Facers light up immediately when we introduce the former Shannon as Shakira. A glimpse of recognition flashes across their faces of if to say, “Hey, I know who Shakira is. I know you already!” Then, they get suddenly timid as they begin to ponder whether or not she really is the real thing. It’s a win-win, as they’re as happy they can pronounce our names as we are.

Organic Farms & the Nica Interior

2008-07-09T10:20:00.001-06:00

Going 3 years traveling in, about or around Nicaragua, most of my time has been spent surfing, walking coastal farms or searching for beach side property. I’ve scoured out practically every surfable wave between Gran Pacifica + Jiquilillo over the past 6 months. I also love my beachfront rancho-style hideaway. But living in Nica, part of the job and responsibility of being a foreigner here is learning about the different people, culture + attributes of other regions of the country besides San Juan del Sur, Popoyo + the Northern Coastline. So over the weekend, on a whim at 4am, Shan and I decided to visit the more temperate climate of the mountainous agricultural dept of Estelí.

The fresh air, green valleys and mountains were reminiscent of Costa Rica. All types of produce and coffee is grown here. The trip from Chinandega/ Acerradores was a solid 5 hours, with each roadway an education into a different etapa of Nicaragua history. But, the destination well worth it. So what if the tobacco factory where Cuban puros are hard rolled was closed, and we had to switch hotels after checking into a place with not-so-hospitable hospitality. We now know where to go/where not to go, and were at least able to buy 3 lunches for ourselves + trusty driver for $4 including fresh pineapple juice, plus purchase hand carved marble earrings for $1/ each.

The highlight of our night in Estelí were the delectable margaritas at Café Vuela Vuela dowtown. I was also super excited to visit an organic farm and do some Swiss goat cheese tasting (Who knew!) in the farming cooperative and protected land of La Garnacha. Shannon made fun of me because organic celery and bok choy excite me. There was also a beautiful “mirador” where you can see lake Managua, Volcán Mombacho, Cerro Negro + San Cristobal all from one look-out.

We were a little bummed that with all the fertile land sprawling the countryside, the 22 people on 140 manzanas at La Garnacha are the only ones we have heard of besides hear near Ometepe who take advantage of the ability to farm organically. We bought a few plant to add to the ever–growing garden at our new Century 21 Marina office on 5 acres of land, while the coop also gave seeds for veggies and pine trees to my driver. His family has always been agricultural but hopefully now Osmar will bring back some of the education he got at the farm to the locals in his own community of Acerradores “Poco a Poco”, hopefully we foreigners can make a different here and share new, more advanced ways of doing old tasks.

Day in the Life

2008-06-24T11:44:00.001-06:00

It was hot. Sweltering even. Hot in the way that that thin layer of sand kicked up by your flip flops as you walk over the dunes sears the sales of you feet as it sifts between the rubbery plastic and your skin. Hot in the way that as you gaze down the coast, you notice the heat rising off the ground before noticing the dark green barrels with light offshores spilling empty along the coastline. Every time, it makes me ponder the strange extremes of my occupation.

If you asked we who I was, I probably wouldn’t say “real estate agent”, but I do specialize in structuring investment opportunities and finding properties for foreigners relocating to Nicaragua or at least establishing some sort of a presence here. Because I am the only foreigner myself (that I know of) performing these actions in the Chinandega area and one of the few in the developing coastal areas of Northern Nica, my job is loosely structured. Responsibilities can span an array of activities. There is no exact formula for efficiency and success, but years of experience, fluency in Spanish + respect for local culture can help support making successful connections between buyers and sellers.

Most everyone asks me if I moved here specifically to surf, but that’s not quite accurate. I regularly go consecutive days and sometime even weeks without getting in the water. Occasionally, work and pleasure can mix and I’ll surf with clients or discover a new wave while searching for property. A perfect example is the other day when I happened to be able to enjoy the best of both these parallel worlds: surfing perfect barrels with my friend and Nica co-patriot Holly Beck and her boyfriend Ryan, the same day as discovering really fun looking beach break with no one out at Salinas Grandes. One of those better days on the job that I wish happened more often!

The First Post

2008-06-20T21:56:00.000-06:00

So blogging... sounds like fun; sounds like either a release from day-to-day life or a good way to connect with the world... especially if you have been living "off the grid" in Central America for the past 3 years.

That's what I've been doing myself, coincidentally, and I receive constant pleas to start a blog of my own to document the beauty of this place I call home and detail the random adventures that could only occur when you are a Gringa living in Nicaragua.

Bienvenidos~

Kristin Wilson