International Living Magazine has chosen Costa Rica as one of the most attractive places in the world for Americans to retire, calling the country one of the “world’s best retirement havens.” For those who wish to retire in Costa Rica, make a real estate investment in Costa Rica or simply plan ahead and own  property now for retirement later, this is great news!

Each year more than a quarter million Americans leave the U.S. for good, according to Money Magazine. Millions more are seriously considering it. Why? To be blunt, many people can no longer afford to retire in the U.S. and keep their lifestyle. Real estate prices, insurance and taxes, the cost of living, health care costs, gas and utility bills are all going through the roof.
 
Today millions of people are realizing their goals of living in tropical luxury and all at a fraction of the U.S. cost. There are places in the world where you can live a better and more care free life for less and still enjoy appreciation of 10%, 20%, 30% and more per year. Costa Rica ranks at the top of one of those places today according to International Living Magazine.

Costa Rica is one of the most attractive overseas retirement locations today, not only because of its very high quality of life, but also its extremely low property taxes, much lower cost of living and very affordable top-notch health care.  Owning Costa Rica property before retiring can add to your retirement nest egg. If you buy a vacation home in Costa Rica you can use it as an income producing vacation rental when you are not using it.

Here is what International Living Magazine had to say recently about Costa Rica property and Costa Rica real estate for retirement and investment purposes.

“For almost 30 years International Living has scoured the globe to identify real estate markets that offer investors the opportunity for strong returns and higher quality of life retirement dreams.
 
“Every real estate market has a trend. Identify it, commit to it, ride it upward…and that’s money in the bank. Here at International Living, our track record speaks for itself…  

• In 1984, International Living first recommended the southern coast of Spain...in 1987, Acapulco...in 1992, Roatan, Honduras. The value of properties in these locations rose more than 800%.

• In 1991, International Living recommended the Caribbean island of Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize. Back then you could have picked up a quarter-acre beachfront lot for $35,000 or less. A decade later, the same lot would have cost you at least $150,000.

• We called prime ocean view city condos in Panama City a good buy at $120 per square foot in late 2004. Now they sell for $350 per square foot.

“As you can see, we know what we are doing when we focus on a trend. Which brings me to the point of this report and probably your next question…what countries are we endorsing right now?”
 
“We’re betting on Costa Rica right now. And yes, we know this is like telling someone that beachfront property in Southern California is suddenly affordable again.
 
“Everyone, including International Living, once thought Costa Rica was thoroughly discovered…over-priced…yesterday’s news. That’s why we were astonished to see this country turn things around and get back onto our real estate radar.
 
“When the U.S. economy took its recent nosedive, property markets suffered in several Latin American countries. In Costa Rica, however, real estate prices generally remained strong.
 
“In March 1997 we took Costa Rica off our recommended list. Twelve years later, in June 2009, Costa Rica back on our list of Top Retirement Havens. Yes, after 12 years off our list of affordable opportunities for profit, International Living has discovered that there is an unknown—and still affordable—side to one of the world’s most coveted overseas retirement destinations.”
 
For more information visit:

http://www.internationalliving.com/Countries/Costa-Rica/Retire

www.costarica.com