One of the first dilemmas facing retirees and other expats in Costa Rica is how to handle paying bills from back home.

The easiest way to handle paying bills from back home such as a mortgage or insurance is by learning how to bank on the Internet.

Many banks offer a service where they will create and mail a check to whomever you owe, or directly transfer the funds to those accounts. Paying bills and dealing with your bank online is easy and safe, however I recommend getting comfortable with it before coming to Costa Rica. Also, be careful when using Internet banking; never log on from an Internet café or public place on a public computer. Read more

As the US economy continues to decline Americans are being forced to change the way they handle their dollars as they slide in value against the British pound and the Euro. As businesses buckle down to face the brunt of a world recession many are left wondering how the US is going to weather the storm and if, when the dark clouds of decline finally rise, the economy will be able to recover.

Many businesses have already taken steps to recession-proof themselves by trying to draw in foreign sales. In recent article from Business Week it was stated that “the strongest U.S. companies may be the ones with the biggest footprint abroad.” By having their fingers in multiple Read more

Let’s face it: Costa Rica has been and will continue to be one of the hottest markets for real estate in Central and South America for a long time. And why not? People are attracted to Costa Rica for various reasons, including its fantastic warm climate, beautiful sandy beaches and lush tropical rain forest.

In addition, when it comes to property, foreigners have the same rights as locals and enjoy the same protection from the stable Costa Rican government. The locals and the foreigners mix, sharing cultures and land. The Costa Ricans, called Ticos, enjoy the “pura vida” or pure life, and help the foreigners to do the same.

Many real estate companies focus on a specific Read more