7 REASONS WHY GUANACASTE IS SUCH A DESIRABLE PROVINCE IN COSTA RICA FOR FAMILIES

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Costa Rica is divided into seven provinces. The seven provinces are Guanacaste, Puntarenas, San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, and Limón. Guanacaste is located in Costa Rica’s northwest region and includes part of the Nicoya Peninsula. This part of Costa Rica draws in families from all around the world who are seeking a tropical vacation or a new lease on life. Guanacaste has a lot to offer all different walks of life. Families, in particular though, are drawn to Costa Rica’s Gold Coast for many good reasons.

EDUCATION

Families from all around the world and within Costa Rica are drawn to Guanacaste in part because of the variety of school options. There is a diverse selection of private schools in Guanacaste for all different budgets. There is essentially a school for nearly every type of student, as well. Some of the private schools are U.S. accredited.

In Northern Guanacaste alone, La Paz Community School, Costa Rica International AcademyEducarteGuanacaste Waldorf School, and TIDE are all easily accessible for families living in and around Playa Grande, Playa Flamingo, Potrero, Tamarindo, and Avellenas.

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WHOLESOME FAMILY LIFE

HEALTHCARE

The private healthcare system in Costa Rica is exceptional and affordable. There are dozens of small private clinics and several private hospitals. Most of the private clinics, as well as the hospitals, have doctors, nurses, and assistants who are bilingual. For most families, especially ones with children, access to top-of-the-line healthcare is a top priority.

Even if you don’t have insurance, a trip to the emergency room won’t cost you an arm and a leg either. There are ambulance services, med-evac services, and 24-hour clinics in Guanacaste.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia is easily accessible from everywhere in Guanacaste. Being relatively close to an international airport makes it easy for friends and family to visit you, as well as for you and your family to be able to travel outside of Costa Rica easily.

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HOME SWEET HOME

AMENITIES

Guanacaste is a well-developed province in Costa Rica. You can find everything from banks, hardware stores, mechanics, car rentals and dealerships to clothing boutiques, home goods stores, organic markets, and yoga and fitness studios. While you might not be able to find all the brands of the things that you find in your home country, you can pretty find anything you are looking for somewhere in Guanacaste.

ACTIVITIES

There are so many different things to do in Guanacaste that boredom is out of the question! Within all the different communities in Guanacaste, there is always something going on. It seems there is always a fundraiser, a marathon, a parade, a fiesta, a surf contest, or a concert taking place. There are so many activities that are great for the entire family and then also activities that are perfect for just the kids.

The private schools offer a wide selection of team sports and clubs for students to join. There are endless ways to stay entertained and engaged in the community in Guanacaste.

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FAMILY UNITED

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Guanacaste attracts a colorful diversity of people from around the globe. You will often find a mix of Costa Ricans, North Americans, South Americans, Europeans, and Australians living in the coastal towns of Guanacaste. Raising your family in such a culturally diverse environment is an exceptional opportunity to expose your children to all different cultures and languages.

SENSE OF COMMUNITY  

Quaint communities both on the coast and inland dot Guanacaste. Communities like Playa Grande and Playa Guiones are tight-knit, open-minded, and very family-friendly. There is something extraordinary about knowing everyone, either personally or by face, in your community.

To feel part of a community is something that many families don’t have the opportunity to experience for one reason or another before relocating to Guanacaste. There is something special about being in Guanacaste that brings families closer to one another and closer to their neighbors.

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HAPPY KIDS, HAPPY FAMILY

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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.