Central Pacific
How to Become a Costa Rican Land Baron (or Baroness)
By Barry Strudwich
Jan 10, 2007, 09:42

Explore Costa Rica.com is Costa Rica's online English language daily newspaper, featuring Costa Rica News, Costa Rica Events, Central America News, Costa Rica Weather, Costa Rica Travel, Costa Rica Business, Costa Rica Real Estate, Costa Rica Hotels, Surfing, Fishing, Golf Tournaments, for all those traveling or living in Costa Rica. Costa Rica Real Estate: Costa Rica Investments: Costa Rica General Info: Costa Rica Area Info: Central Pacific Costa Rica: Living & Retiring in Costa Rica

How to Become a Costa Rican Land Baron (or Baroness)

The first way is also the easiest because you don't even have to leave the country. You do this by purchasing shares in a “private land bank”. Similar to a mutual fund, this is a professionally managed diversified portfolio of undeveloped land and investments in resort developments. Owning shares in a land bank allows you to participate in locking up large tracts of cheap land today to sell in a few years when the North American "gringo" developers start showing up in force. Look for a 5 to 7 year investment horizon and a minimum investment of only $50,000 with a well structured partnership. Your shares can also be purchased with your IRA account. Private land partnerships are only available to “accredited investors” and of course you’ll want to check out the track record of the general partner.

Or you can buy your property outright and use it as you see fit. In fact, investing can be almost as easy as purchasing a mutual fund or a stock. Here’s why: When you purchase a condo or even a beach front lot, the title for the real estate is usually registered in the name of a private company which actually owns the real estate. By purchasing 100% of the private company shares, you acquire the real estate while avoiding paying real estate transfer taxes twice.

The IRA option is especially powerful here. When you purchase real estate structured as stock transactions, you can purchase the shares inside your IRA account with pre-tax dollars. This also means, when the time comes to cash out at a profit, you can sell tax free as well.

Del Pacifico has been pre-approved by specialty IRA custodians. Current IRA approved investment opportunities include ocean view and golf course condominiums at “pre-construction” prices as well as some spectacular “ocean view” single family lots. Currently, comparable condos at the nearby Marriott Los Suenos resort command rental rates of $700/day, not to mention a resale price of over $1.3 million. Condo prices have been escalating rapidly and will continue to do so as the baby boomers march to retirement.

 Costa Rica Retirement Vacation Properties toll free 1-888-581-1786, e-mail or see www.primecostaricaproperty.com

Barry Strudwick is the developer of The Del Pacifico Surf & Golf Resort and several land banking partnerships holding over 2,000 acres of land in Costa Rica. He serves an international client base from his offices in Maryland and Costa Rica.Barry Strudwick is the developer of The Del Pacifico Surf & Golf Resort and several land banking partnerships holding over 2,000 acres of land in Costa Rica. He serves an international client base from his offices in Maryland and Costa Rica.