4 REASONS WHY PLAYA GRANDE, COSTA RICA IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE A KID

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Oh, to be a kid again! How simple life was before the reign of social media and technology addictions. For many who are reading this, your childhood probably included a lot of time playing with friends and staying outdoors until the street lights came on. No cellphones or violent video games, just wholesome and healthy playing. As technology continues its rapid advancement, too many children today are spending more time on their devices and staring at screens than actually interacting with other kids. Too many kids and adults are leading very sedentary lives where walls and screens keep them indoors for the majority of the day. Not in Playa Grande, though!

It is easy to be a kid who plays outdoors and with other kids when you live in a place that is conducive to that way of life. Many families choose Playa Grande because they want their kids to grow up active, healthy, social, and well-rounded, and this particular community really supports that way of living.

4 REASONS PLAYA GRANDE IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE A KID

SO MANY PLACES TO PLAY

Between the sand, the sea, the skate park, the maze of paved roads, and plenty of green space, there are so many places to play in Playa Grande! Many of the kids who live or frequently visit Playa Grande with their families enjoy surfing, swimming, biking around the neighborhood, playing games on the beach, and skating at the skate park in Las Ventanas.

TONS OF OTHER KIDS

Playa Grande has evolved into a unique utopia for families, especially those with children. In part because of the variety of excellent private schools that are all within an easy drive from Playa Grande, this community and those nearby are full of kids of all ages. Families from North America, South America, Europe, and other reaches of the globe gravitate to this part of Costa Rica for a lot of different reasons. Your kids will likely have friends here from all around the world!

WIDE VARIETY OF KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN AND AROUND PLAYA GRANDE

Nearly every imaginable activity or sport that your kids might be interested in is available if you are living in Playa Grande. Basketball, soccer, swimming, water polo, dance, horseback riding, surfing, tennis, theater, art classes, and a variety of other clubs and teams are accessible to kids living in and around Playa Grande. There are also community events and fundraisers throughout the year that families and children from around this part of Guanacaste participate in and enjoy. There is definitely no lack of entertainment, activities, and community engagements for you and your kids.

SAFE AND FAMILY-ORIENTED COMMUNITY

Playa Grande is a very safe place to be a kid. Because it is small, everyone knows everyone, and everyone looks out for one another. It is a community where kids actually get to be kids! Remember when you were young, and you’d ride around on your bike with your friends or play made-up games in the park, at the beach, or in the forest? Remember staying outside playing until it started to get dark, and you knew you had to be home for dinner? This reality seems to be getting rarer as technology strengthens its hold of the youths of today and many places just aren’t as safe as they used to be. Playa Grande is one of those rare places where a wholesome, active, and safe childhood is still very possible.

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About the Author
GRE_TEAM-Dave

A dynamic leader with a proven track record of success in real estate, hotel, restaurant, and sales businesses. Effective leadership style that inspires trust and confidence in team members and clients. Relationship-based sales approach that yields many repeat clients and referrals. Experience in sales for over 20 years. Well over $100,000,000 in career real estate sales. Proud husband of Annie Corredor and father of Maggie Corredor.

COSTA RICA EXPERIENCE

Grande Real Estate
CO-FOUNDER and CO-OWNER
2016 - Now

After years of experience in the Playa Grande market, Dave and Annie started this small real estate brokerage and consultancy with the intent of using their best skills in sales and capitalizing on the plethora of qualified prospects generated by both RipJack Inn and their plentiful relationships in the area.

  • With Dave acting as lead agent/broker and Annie as GM, Grande Real Estate has grown to a level of over 50 transactions and $15,000,000 per year in sales volume.
  • Dave and GRE have been the exclusive agent for several gated communities/major developments in the area. In this role, Dave is counted on to help guide the decisions about what and when to build for the current market conditions. With this expert guidance, Dave has led multiple projects to their best performance in a variety of market conditions.
  • Grande Real Estate has had the majority of transactions and significant listings in the Playa Grande market during since inception. The vast majority of Dave’s clientele comes from existing relationships, repeat clients, and referrals. Dave’s greatest strength has always been developing and maintaining relationships through a commitment to the highest level of service.

Local Real Estate Investments/Projects
INVESTOR/MANAGING PARTNER
2004 - Now

As opportunities arise, we invest in and develop real estate projects in the local area. We currently own several properties in various stages of development, including the construction of fine custom and spec homes. We intend to emphasize this more as we move forward and do multiple projects per year beginning in 2021. As always, our focus will be on high quality end products and true, long-lasting value for our partners and clients, our most important relationships.

Premier American Escrow, LLC
ESCROW SERVICES FOR COSTA RICA REAL ESTATE
2017 - Now

In response to a clear need for streamlined escrow services in Costa Rica, Dave, Annie and 2 partners opened a Florida LLC to do escrow services for transactions, mostly involving Grande Real Estate. To-date, Premier American Escrow has done over 10 escrows very successfully. Customer satisfaction has been high and we expect the company to expand in the coming year.

RipJack Inn, Playa Grande
CO-FOUNDER and PRESIDENT
2004 - Now

Re-developed an older hotel property in a great location into the largest and most successful business in town. RipJack Inn has become the leading hotel and restaurant/bar in town and generates an average of $1,100,000 per year in sales. RipJack Inn is also the original and most successful yoga studio and retreat location in Playa Grande. Revenue streams also include group events/weddings, catering, tours/activities, and some retail. Also acquired expansion land permitted and executed new construction in the most difficult place to build in Costa Rica. The hotel has grown from 8 to 21 rooms over the last 17 years.

RipJack Inn currently provides solid employment to over 30 Costa Ricans and has employed over 150 people in its history. Dave and Annie have become experts in the navigation of the legal systems, employment, accounting, taxation, and culture of Costa Rica. RipJack Inn is an employer, taxpayer, and corporate entity in good standing in both the United States and Costa Rica.

UNITED STATES EXPERIENCE
Cornish and Carey Commercial, Palo Alto, California
LEASING AGENT
1998 - 2002

  • Primary focus was tenant and landlord representation in lease transactions for the dominant brokerage house in Silicon Valley. Client list included PayPal/Ebay, Advocco, TellMe Networks (acquired by Microsoft), Adecco, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Held State of California Real Estate Salesperson’s License.
  • Won prestigious Rookie of the Year Award in 1999, first full year. Set record for most commissions earned in an agent’s rookie year.
  • Year 2000, reached elite Super Bonus level with over $600,000 in earnings. Set standard for any agent in second year in history of company. Over $20,000,000 in total consideration in transactions for year.
  • Discovered and worked from start to finish on two office-building/redevelopment projects in Mountain View, California as agent and investor. Created two Class A office building in the heart of the Silicon Valley from scratch and saw them through lease-up and sell-out. Project included the first world headquarters for PayPal (then acquired by Ebay) and over $75MM in total consideration to the investment group.

PERSONAL

Married for 18 years and helping my wife Annie raise our daughter Maggie, my #1 focus. Interests include surfing, cycling, reading, personal growth, dogs, and travel. Fully fluent in Spanish, inclusive of speaking, reading, and writing to contract level. Permanent legal resident of Costa Rica.

Additional Leadership Activities

Vice-president, Board of Directors, Association AyA, Playa Grande, Santa Cruz, Guanacaste. My primary community service role is to help guide the board in the management of the town’s water system. We focus on sustainable practices to ensure the long-term health of the town’s water supply and system. A crucial role in a place where development and water usage are highly politicized and controversial. Over 10 years on this board to-date.