WHAT YOU CAN LEARN BY LIVING IN COSTA RICA

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Life is an endless lesson, and if you pay attention, you will learn something new every day. By living in Costa Rica, you will be given opportunities to learn some pretty unique skillsets. Below you will find five unique things you can learn while living in Costa Rica. The list, however, is endless!

TO SPEAK SPANISH

One of the best ways to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it. While you’ll have to make an effort to do this in Costa Rica since English is widely spoken, learning Spanish is an invaluable skill set both in-country and as you travel to other Spanish-speaking countries. There are multiple Spanish schools and plenty of opportunities to learn, study, and practice Spanish in Costa Rica.

TO SURF

Costa Rica and surfing go hand and hand, as you’ve probably noticed looking at the line-ups here. But with year-round warm waves, it’s understandable why everyone wants to surf here. Learning the very basics of surfing can be accomplished by most after a few surf lessons. However, transiting from beginner to intermediate surfer is challenging and requires a lot of dedication and practice. If you live in Costa Rica, though, this feat is very possible since you have access to consistent waves.

TO SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE

Did you know that drowning is second only to car accidents in Costa Rica in the number of untimely deaths a year? With consistent surf also comes rip currents and powerful swells. Most of Costa Rica’s beaches are void of lifeguards and filled with people who aren’t familiar with the real dangers the ocean can present.

Fortunately, an amazing organization, Vamos Youth, runs clinics and courses throughout the year to teach valuable lifesaving skills to anyone interested in learning. You can find information about courses and dates on their website. Learning to save someone’s life or even your own life if you find yourself in a dangerous situation in the water is life-changing.

TO FREE DIVE

Did you know that over the course of a few days, you could learn how to hold your breath comfortably for several minutes and dive without tanks to a depth of up to 90 feet? The freedom of diving without heavy equipment is absolutely liberating. The realization that you can exist in the depths of the ocean in quiet harmony with all sorts of beautiful marine species is dream-like.

It’s a good idea to push yourself every once and a while and step out of your comfort bubble. Learning to free dive is definitely a way to do just that.

FreeDive Costa Rica is based in Tamarindo and offers several different levels of freediving courses and accreditations.

TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT

Between its extraordinary beauty, vibrant landscapes, abundant wildlife, magnificent sunsets, piercing blue seas, mystical rivers, powerful waterfalls, and collective pura vida energy, it is hard to be anywhere else when you are in Costa Rica. The spirit and spark of this incredible country is sure to light up your soul. To live in the present is what it means to really live. And, you can certainly learn how to do this when you live in Costa Rica.

What will you learn this year?

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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.