Environment Paramount to Costa Rica Property’s Development

With all the environmental issues that have been brought to the forefront in Costa Rica recently, Hacienda Matapalo, the most sought after gated community on the country’s South Pacific Coast, remains committed to ensuring the ecological impact it will have will be minimal.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) December 4, 2010

With all the environmental issues that have been brought to the forefront in Costa Rica recently, at least one gated community there is committed to ensuring the ecological impact it will have will be minimal.

Hacienda Matapalo, the most sought after gated community on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast, has remained in complete compliance with all of the environmental laws and regulations that are designed to protect the environment from any semblance of abuse.

“The recent news out of Costa Rica puts an exclamation mark on everything we have done from the very beginning,” explained Hacienda Matapalo’s Executive Vice President Brian Albury. “Our goal from day one was to support sustainable development that guarantees that the South and Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica remain pristine and free from any man-made harm.”

In recent weeks news has been flowing out of Costa Rica concerning a variety of environmental issues. On November 9th the country’s legislative assembly voted unanimously to ban all new open pit metal mining projects in the country. There has been a major crack down on illegal shark finning as the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) and the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute closed private docks in Puntarenas on December 1st to foreign fishing vessels. And Randall Arauz, a key Costa Rican environmentalist, won Sweden’s prestigious Göteborg Award for 2010 for sustainable development.

“We needed to lead by example,” Albury said, explaining how Hacienda Matapalo tasked key members of its development team with the sole purpose of implementing and maintaining extensive environmental stewardship before, during and after construction.

“It was and IS our goal to utilize the latest ‘green’ technology wherever possible without jeopardizing our commitment to deliver the highest standards to our homeowners. We believe that a balance and harmony with nature and our immediate environment will make Hacienda Matapalo a truly unique place to live.”

As the property ramps up to resume its infrastructure construction with key strategic partner Su Casa Desarrollos de Vivienda S.A., the leading company of the Tu Hogar S.A. Real Estate Group, the management team at Hacienda Matapalo has made every effort to illustrate their ongoing commitment to the planet from sponsoring sea turtle protection programs to leading beach cleanup efforts to helping to replant the all important Costa Rica rainforests.

“One of the factors that has helped drive our efforts from the beginning to be a ‘green,’ low-impact development, is that our development is surrounded by a natural, lush rainforest,” said Albury, adding, “not to mention a 125-plus acre dedicated nature preserve and 90 acre nature conservancy parcel.”

The environmentally-conscious development will include an equestrian center, nature trails for hiking and horseback riding and even announced it will add a 500-plus foot treetop suspension bridge to its development that will stretch across a ravine along the property’s nature preserve.

Some of Hacienda Matapalo’s ongoing efforts include:

• Minimized clearing of the present land (dense forest to remain throughout constructed areas)
• A percentage ratio of 70:30 natural land to developed land (based on a total area of 665 acres)
• For every tree that must be removed, up to three trees will be planted as replacement
• There will be an onsite nursery
• There will be an onsite wastewater treatment plant
• Landscaping will consist of native species (reducing the need for water and fertilizer)
• Subterranean power and electrical lines will be used where feasible and strict safeguards will be in place to ensure above ground lines pose no threat to wildlife
• Recycling receptacles will be in place throughout the property, including an intensive recycling program
• Energy saving air-conditioning systems will be used
• A water agreement has been put into place to supply the nearby town of Hatillo with fresh drinking water
• Onsite lakes will serve as recession ponds, natural habitats and home for many native fish
• A biologist/naturalist with extensive knowledge of local flora and fauna will be on staff
• There will be ongoing communication and involvement with the homeowners and community (i.e. community awareness and social responsibility)
• Exploratory use of cutting-edge “green” technology will constantly be considered throughout development and construction

Albury pointed out that Hacienda Matapalo will utilize environmentally friendly goods for many of its external building materials including: use of concrete which contains post-consumer materials, siding and external finishes that contain post-consumer materials, low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC) finishes/paints/adhesives, sustainable and locally farmed woods and materials, pervious or permeable pavers/materials for walkways and parking, recycled materials for roofing and materials that drain well and do not hold moisture or heat.

In a relatively short period of time, Hacienda Matapalo has become Costa Rica's premier planned gated community thanks to both the knowledge of its executive team and due diligence as performed by its strategic legal, engineering and ecological partners. Unlike their competition, this extraordinary attention to detail has enabled the Hacienda Matapalo team to protect both its investment and investors and rewrite the standards by which successful communities in Costa Rica are planned.

“Our CEO David Matluck chalks up a lot of our success to long-term planning, extensive due diligence and proper engineering,” Albury said of an upcoming article Matluck wrote for the development’s latest community newsletter. “And when you have a commitment to the environment like we do, you can expect nothing less.”

To learn more about Hacienda Matapalo, visit their Web site at http://haciendamatapalo.com

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Contact Information Howard Brody Hacienda Matapalo http://www.haciendamatapalo.com 654-548-3000

Environment Paramount to Costa Rica Property’s Development

GlobeSt.com - Webinars - Why Costa Rica is booming

GlobeSt.com - Webinars - Why Costa Rica is booming

Expats on the move: Establishing residency in Costa Rica

Expats on the move: Establishing residency in Costa Rica

While health care debates, social security reform and higher taxes take center stage in Washington, D.C., more and more Americans seem to be seeking residency elsewhere in the world and the number one destination appears to be Costa Rica.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) November 23, 2010

While health care debates, social security reform and higher taxes take center stage in Washington, D.C., more and more Americans seem to be seeking residency elsewhere in the world and the number one destination appears to be Costa Rica.

“We’ve seen a lot of passive inquiries about moving to Costa Rica and establishing residency there since starting our project,” commented Hacienda Matapalo Executive Vice President Brian Albury, whose company is building a 665-acre master planned gated community on the country’s South Pacific Coast. “But lately we’ve seen a dramatic upswing in serious interest – more so than any other time during this phase of our development.”

According to Christopher Howard, an authoritarian on Costa Rica and author of the recently released book "The New Golden Door To Retirement and Living in Costa Rica," there are more Americans living in Costa Rica per capita than any other country in the world. In an article on the Web site Costa Rica Outdoors, Howard wrote that Americans tend to feel more at home in Costa Rica than other Latin American country citing several reasons including health care, business opportunities, high yielding investments, tax breaks, real estate costs and security concerns.

Because of the increased interest in establishing residence in the land of Pura Vida, on Tuesday, December 14th, Albury will host an in depth Web-based seminar on what it's actually like to live in Costa Rica and establish residency there. Scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET, but also available On-Demand, not only will Albury go over all the nuances of living in the Central American country from housing, transportation, communications and medical, but he will provide a real sense of what expats can expect when they choose to make the move there – something thousands of Americans and Canadians have already done.

“There is so much to know about establishing residency it can boggle the mind,” said Albury. “For example, just like in the U.S. where there are several types of residency statuses, the same holds true for Costa Rica and whether we’re talking about a pensionado (retiree), rentista (legal resident), inversionista (investor), vinculo (relation to citizen) or any other classification, each has its own set of criteria.”

To register for the December 14th eSeminar click here or visit http://haciendamatapalo.com for more details.

Hacineda Matapalo is Costa Rica’s most sought after project with more than $63 million in pre-construction sales. It is located between the cities of Quepos and Dominical and adjacent to the new Costanera Highway. In October they announced they had awarded their infrastructure construction contract as well as a strategic partnership with Su Casa Desarrollos de Vivienda S.A, the leading company of the Tu Hogar S.A. Real Estate Group.Expats on the move: Establishing residency in Costa Rica

New On-Demand Seminar kicks off with focus on Costa Rica Health Care

New On-Demand Seminar kicks off with focus on Costa Rica Health Care

New On-Demand Seminar kicks off with focus on Costa Rica Health Care

Hacienda Matapalo, the most sought after gated community on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast with more than $60 million in pre-construction sales, is launching its new On-Demand Web Seminar service, which enables those who register for their eSeminars to watch them at any time, with an inaugural presentation on Costa Rican health care.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) November 5, 2010

The issue of health care in Costa Rica continues to spark interest from diverse groups across the U.S. and on Tuesday, November 9, Hacienda Matapalo Executive Vice President Brian Albury, will host a comprehensive online presentation that focuses on that country’s health care system and details about how it works.

However, even though the presentation will be held live at 9 p.m. Eastern, those interested in viewing this online seminar will be able to watch it at any time they desire.

Hacienda Matapalo (https://http://www.haciendamatapalo.com), the most sought after gated community on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast with more than $60 million in pre-construction sales (http://www.prweb.com/releases/costaricarealestate/bestsellingproperty/prweb4018844.htm), is launching its new On-Demand Web Seminar service, which enables those who register for their eSeminars to watch them at any time.

“This will give users the flexibility of participating in our Web-based seminars when they are able to without the constraints of having to abide by a clock,” said Albury. “Whether they join us live or at four in the morning, the result is going to be the same – they will get the same useful information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”

Those who register for the eSeminars will not only get an access link to the live presentation, but the next morning they will be emailed a special link that will enable them to view the presentation at any time.

“It’s great that health care was chosen for our inaugural On-Demand Seminar,” said Albury as he pointed out this will be the most wide-ranging presentation to date since the company started providing this complimentary service two years ago.

“Historically, the number of people interested in health care as a topic tells us that it is one of the most important subjects for those who are looking at Costa Rica from both a lifestyle and investment opportunity perspective.”

Albury’s comments seem to be echoing a national trend.

Several months ago when radio personality Rush Limbaugh told his listeners that if U.S. President Barack Obama’s health care bill passed the House and Senate, he would move to Costa Rica, not only did it further the debate between Democrats and Republicans, drew attention to Costa Rica’s universal health care system and both sides of the political aisle agreed it was the best health care system in all of the Americas.

The results of this past Tuesday’s elections across the U.S. reinforced that notion as many of the candidates voted in, campaigned on the platform of overturning “Obamacare.”

But while the debate in the U.S. rages on, what can one actually expect when living in Costa Rica?

As with any nationalized program, one can anticipate red tape and long waiting periods, but despite that, the quality of Costa Rica's health care is excellent. Private high quality health care is available throughout the country and very affordable. Most doctors speak English and are U.S., Canadian and/or European trained. There are several large private hospitals in Costa Rica which cater to expatriates who live in the country and the 85,000 square foot state-of-the-art public Hospital de Osa (http://www.haciendamatapalo.com/downloads/HospitalDeOsa.pdf), located in the town of Cortez, just a short drive from Hacienda Matapalo.

The World Health Organization frequently ranks Costa Rica among the top countries for long life expectancy, ahead of the U.S., Canada and Great Britain (even though the per-capita income of Costa Ricans is about one-tenth that of the U.S.). Arguably, one of the reasons for this is the slower pace of life in Costa Rica and of course, the healthy, fresh, non-preservative foods found there and the tropical climate doesn’t hurt either. Costa Rica is just a healthy place to live.

To ensure everybody has the opportunity to watch and hear about this important topic, interested participants may register here (https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/882741818) or visit http://haciendamatapalo.com (http://haciendamatapalo.com) for more details.

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COSTA RICA MIX & MATCH When you are in the market for a new home and you want to have a variety of choices so everything is just perfect, Hacienda Matapalo makes it easy for you! Simply browse through our beautiful selection of homes and then pick one of the many breathtaking views that is just perfect for you! It's as easy as 1-2-3! Step 1: Pick a Homesite! Our single family estate homes are a tropical dream come true- especially when combined with Hacienda Matapalo's inviting amenities. Starting at $250,000 2 Bedroom / 2.5 Bathrooms Step 2: Pick a View! All of the views at Hacienda Matapalo are spectacular in their own right. You have the option of building your dream home with an Ocean View or a Tropical Rainforest View! Step 3: Schedule a Virtual Tour! In order to browse the homes and select the views that are available, simply click on the link to schedule your virtual tour now! Be sure to attend the next eSeminar 'Comparing Costa Rica with other Latin American Locations' Wednesday, October 13 6PM ET Join Hacienda Matapalo Executive Vice President Brian Albury, as he compares Costa Rica with other Latin American hotspots like Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua and more. Some of the topics Brian will discuss are: government and politics; quality of life; real estate opportunities and tax advantages; biodiversity and more. Register Now! Click to view this email in a browser / Forward this message to a friend All offers and promotions are subject to availability and valid for new purchases only. This offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion and may not be applied to previous sales. Offers or promotions that carry a cash or credit value or identify any discounts shall be subject to the specific terms of the offer or promotion. Pricing, promotions, and availability may vary. Descriptive, typographic and photographic errors are subject to correction and Hacienda Matapalo shall have no liability for such errors. All offers or promotions may be canceled or suspended at any time at the sole discretion of Hacienda Matapalo. This offer is valid through November 8, 2010. Void where prohibited.

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Investment Confidence Sparks Renewed Interest in Costa Rica Property

Investment Confidence Sparks Renewed Interest in Costa Rica Property

Investment Confidence Sparks Renewed Interest in Costa Rica Property Following the recent announcements that indicated consumer confidence in Costa Rica as an investment option has strengthened, Hacienda Matapalo, the most sought after property on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast, has seen a dramatic increase in inquiries. Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) October 4, 2010 Following the recent announcements that indicated consumer confidence in Costa Rica as an investment option has strengthened, Hacienda Matapalo (http://www.haciendamatapalo.com), the most sought after property on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast, has seen a dramatic increase in inquiries. Last month, when Moody’s Investors Service announced that Costa Rica’s credit rating had been upgraded from speculative to stable, Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla said the country would take advantage of the investment-grade credit rating to sell bonds, citing economic growth as companies make investments in the country. However, Hacienda Matapalo Executive Vice President Brian Albury said that news of the upgrade has had a near immediate impact on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast, as investors who had previously been skeptical about buying into the market are no longer hesitating to make the commitment. “We’ve seen an unusual jump in the number of investment inquiries (http://haciendamatapalo.com/investments.htm) about our property,” said Albury. “And that has resulted in additional sales.” But the big surprise is, according to Albury, that in addition to the traditional inquiries (http://haciendamatapalo.com/living.htm) about buying for the purpose of owning a primary home, secondary home, or home after retirement, a lot of people are asking about availabilities from an investment perspective. “We’ve always had people wanting to invest,” he said, “but lately it seems that the vast majority of those interested in buying a home or a condo want to go the non-traditional route, meaning they want to purchase the property as an investment in their future.” Hacienda Matapalo, which is still in its pre-construction phase, has surpassed more than $60 million in sales (http://www.prweb.com/releases/costaricarealestate/bestsellingproperty/prweb4018844.htm) and had previously been selected by the popular Web site Top Ten Real Estate Deals as one of the best real estate deals on the market. “While we’d like to take all the credit for this newfound excitement, we can’t,” said Albury. “But part of the allure to invest with us in addition to our property’s configuration and unique architectural designs and our amenities, is how Costa Rica compares to its neighbors.” On Wednesday, October 13, Albury will present a no-holds-barred look at Costa Rica, comparing it to neighbors Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico and other locations in order to see if it is really the best place for purchasing and investing in real estate. The Web-based seminar, which is free and open to the public, will examine various locations throughout Latin America on a variety of topics ranging from political and financial structures to the quality of life and the people who live there. Albury said the goal of the eSeminar will be to correct the misconceptions about the region and to provide people with information on the various countries that is both accurate and unbiased. “People need the correct information so they can make intelligent decisions that are in their own best interests,” he explained. The free eSeminar is scheduled for a 6 p.m. Eastern Time start and may be registered for here (https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/226357210). To learn more about Costa Rica and Hacienda Matapalo, visit haciendamatapalo.com (http://haciendamatapalo.com) # # #

How to Buy Costa Rica Property with IRA/401k