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Features:
Location: Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, Type: Lots, Lots Size: 7,000 to 12,000 square meters.Price: $175.000 (average 2-3 acres)

Description:
Nestled in a valley filled with natural forests and wide open spaces, yet close enough to the coast to smell and feel the fresh, cool ocean breezes, is a charming ranch community called Cerro Grande Estates. With its exclusive atmosphere and rustic charm, it is easy to understand why so many people are seriously considering making this community a part of their lifestyle. The feeling of privacy surrounds you at Cerro Grande Estates. Within your residential realm you will be immersed in the lush tropical sounds of the Guanacaste dry forest. Low-density construction and abundant green zones assure a continued parade of wildlife including pumas, armadillos, coatis, raccoons, deer, opossums, monkeys, birds and butterflies. Ample lot sizes stir the soul, and because this is a gated community, there is no need for you to build walls or fences separating you from the beautiful natural surroundings. All this gives you abundant opportunities to enrich your life, relax, reconnect with family and friends and reflect. Although the feeling is of seclusion, the project’s community center and the bustling beach town of Tamarindo are within easy reach. When you have the time, read through our website and see if this amazing Costa Rican community could be a part of your lifestyle

LOCATION
Situated on Costa Rica's northwest Pacific side, the dry climate is similar to Southern California's climate nine months out of the year. Cerro Grande Estates is well positioned on hilltops and rolling meadows overlooking a pictures valley and giving you ocean views and breezes on the majority of the properties. Cerro Grande Estates sits less than a half mile from Hacienda Pinilla, which features an upscale development, a golf course, and a five-star JW Marriot currently under construction. Surrounding Cerro Grande Estates to the north, east and south are a number of other luxury residential developments in various stages of development, promising to make this valley the preeminent residential enclave.

It is easy to find us. Within an hour's drive is a major international airport in Liberia with direct flights from many U.S. and international cities, often costing less than $500 round trip. Or you may choose to fly into San Jose and either take a 40 minute commuter flight into Tamarindo or drive four scenic hours through the Costa Rican jungles. Either way, this property is conveniently located and easy for you to reach, and you are within a half-a-day traveling time from your North American doorstep to our doorstep. Cerro Grande Estates’ location puts you within a short 15 minute drive to the best areas in Guanacaste for restaurants, shopping, business services, recreational activities, beaches and entertainment. Lastly, Cerro Grande Estates is within an easy 300-yard walk to the Pinilla Academy Pre-kinder to 12th grade international school currently under construction and scheduled to open the first phase on September 2007.

CERRO GRANDE ESTATES
Each lot design is meticulously set to work in harmony with the natural topography, and each home site location takes advantage of the best the land has to offer, whether it is ocean or valley views, forested canopy, wide open rolling equestrian fields or an exclusive sanctuary. Roads, other construction and infrastructure recede into the landscape. Softly toned structures blend into the forest and hillsides. Living spaces invite nature inside. Renowned Costa Rican architectural firms of Zurcher Arquitectos and Green Plan designed the master plan and all the community’s common structures. Cerro Grande Estates beckons you to enjoy the abundant jogging and walking paths, horse riding trails, parks, green zones and other amenities blended perfectly with nature. Enjoy socializing with your guests and neighbors in the large community center including a restaurant and bar, administration office, kids and teen play areas and barbeque. Savor your daily delivery of fruits from the orchard owned and maintained by the community. Take comfort in knowing the quality infrastructure including the paved roads, underground utilities, rain water drainage system and native irrigated landscaping will work perfectly for many years to come.

Cerro Grande Estates is gated and guarded, providing a security system network to give you extended “lock and go” peace of mind that your property will be there, perfect and just as you left it. If you have children, they will surely enjoy the playgrounds, activity center, walking and biking trails, friends and all the amenities of the nearby school. Your investment is protected by our CC&Rs which assures your home will only be surrounded by other quality, low density single family homes. Our premiere legal structure further protects your investment by providing a way to maintain all the development’s shared areas including roads, trails, community center, front gate, power system, water system, drainage, parks and orchard, as well as the management of the employees, administrators and guards. The development is also horse friendly with a planned equestrian center, and on designated lots your horse may be turned out and stabled on your own property.

PROPERTY FOR SALE
Phase I has now been released for sales with 16 lots ranging in size from 7,000 to 12,000 square meters. Phase I at Cerro Grande Estates is well positioned to give their homeowners outstanding value compared to other area developments. Our Phase I lots are 2-3 acres priced at an average of $175,000. The majority of other developments are similar to our price but most do not approach the location or amenities of Cerro Grande Estates. They are also typically based on Costa Rica’s agricultural land laws which do not provide solid protection of your investment with on going road and infrastructure maintenance, enforceable CC&Rs, or the means to gate the project and thus guard your home. When completed, the Cerro Grande Estates project will have approximately 80 premier lots over three phases. Every site will have enough room for you to design your dream lifestyle. Your custom home with tennis courts, horse stables, swimming pool, guest casita ... whatever you desire.

ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS
Walking into a beautiful home, one is immersed in an atmosphere of relaxation, spaciousness and value that treats the eye as well as the spirit, and to share the pleasures of comfort and luxury with your family and friends only heightens the experience. Costa Rica homes are well designed and built in the fashion of craftsman standards except for price. Typical price per square foot is around $110, which includes high-end appliances, granite counters and other luxuries found in upper-income communities throughout the world. There is a growing list of highly qualified architects and builders in the area ready to build your estate home. Contact us and we would gladly help you to select a professional which meets your individual goals.

LEGAL LAND OWNERSHIP
Costa Rican law recognizes the absolute right to ownership of real property. Foreigners have equal constitutional rights to the Costa Ricans in regards to buying and owning real estate. A foreigner is not required to have legal residency in Costa Rica to purchase property. A foreigner is able to enter the country on a 90 day tourist visa which may be renewed. However residency is required to live here long-term. All properties are recorded in the National Registry. The property section acts as a depositary of documents which have been filed and executed. The Civil code requires all documents related to the title of real property be recorded in the registry. Stewart Title is available for title guarantee services.
• Annual taxes are accessed at 0.25% of the registered value of the property
• Transfer tax is approximately 1.5% of the registered value.
• Notary fees are approximately 1.5%

FINANCING
Several Costa Rican and a few U.S. banks offer raw land, home construction and finished home loans designed for the foreign buyer. Loan to appraisal amounts are typically in the range of 70 – 90%. Residency is not required at many of these banks. Loan amounts depend on collateral and the ability to repay. Some banks do not require a wage income to qualify. Costa Rican banks offering mortgages include Banco National, Banco Popular, Banco de Costa Rica, Bancredito, Improsa, Lafise, Banca Promerica, Banco Interfin and BAC. Four popular banks for Costa Rica real estate loans are:

•HSBC
(506)287-1111
http://www.hsbc.fi.cr/a/bp/non_resident.asp
•Scotiabank
(506)287-8751
www.scotiabankcr.com
•Banco Cuscatlan
(506)299-0200
www.bancocuscatlan.com
• Costa Rican Lending Network
(602)628-8439
http://www.thecostaricalendingnetwork.com/

AREA DEVELOPMENT
The surrounding area is currently experiencing phenomenal growth in homes, condominiums, businesses, and services. An example of activities within a 15 minute drive include: Fine dining, shopping, horseback riding, hiking, sport fishing, surfing, diving/snorkeling/spear fishing, golfing, concerts in the outdoor amphitheater, tennis, kayaking, music/bars/entertainment, poker and backgammon. Classes include yoga, karate, Pilates, conditioning, soccer, scuba and art. There is also a rapidly expanding list of businesses and services within 15 minutes which includes grocery stores, banks, hardware stores, medical clinics, pharmacies, schools, law offices, office supplies, rental cars, mail offices, airport, airline offices, accountants, computer repair, appliance and electronics stores and gymnasiums, so that you can conduct whatever business you need.

Services and shopping are continuing to improve with a new, large, high-end grocery store and a gas station in construction. Even a new private hospital is in the preliminary planning stages. Road access is also being further improved. There are now new bridges on the road to Avellana beach, and a paved beach front road is planned along the entire Costa Rica west coast as well as the road inland to Santa Cruz. All totaled, Cerro Grande Estates provides you with peace and tranquility and easy access to all the activities and services you have come to expect.

Click here to request additional information. Please refer to CERRO GRANDE ESTATES