How to see your property without leaving your chair

February 2, 2009
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Here is a great tip for expats to see their property online: Google Earth finds it using the catastro (plat map) of the parcel provided by the real estate agent. Google Earth has come a long way since it started. Back in 2005, there was very little high-definition photography available for Costa Rica, but today [...]

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A positive report on seeking a U.S. visitor’s visa

January 19, 2009
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A long-time friend asked for a recommendation letter last week so she could apply for her U. S. visa. Reluctantly, this author agreed to provide the letter. She picked it up and nervously went off to her appointment that she scheduled months ago. Expats complain all the time about not being able to take their [...]

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Lawyers love making simple things complicated

January 5, 2009
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Meeting with a Costa Rican lawyer can be similar to taking a physics lesson. Sometimes lawyers tend to make any discussions about law or legal matters more complex than they actually are. They also love writing out lengthy descriptions of legal procedures on white or blackboards. There are times when making things complex is important. [...]

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Positive and negative changes to report

December 22, 2008
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This past year has been very interesting and full of changes for Costa Rica. Most notably, it looks like property fraud and crime are on the increase. The government has attempted to make some changes to the corresponding legislation, but crime is noticeably worse than last year and the year before. Sometime around mid-year, while [...]

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Tax tips for expats who want an enjoyable holiday

December 8, 2008
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Here is the information everybody needs to know about this year’s tax season. Most expats hold their Costa Rican assets in a company. Whether it be a Sociedad Anónima (Corporation) or a Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (Limited Resposibility Corporation) — also known as an S.R.L. or, in Gringo slang, an L.L.C. — all expats have [...]

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The Caja throws a few curves for expat employers

November 24, 2008
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How to handle employees and their paperwork represents a continuous problem for expats. An article on house employees produced a great deal of interest. Many people wrote and said they were not legally registering their employees in Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social — referred to in Costa Rica as the Caja — or paying all [...]

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Get a raw deal from the government? Sue’em

November 10, 2008
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People are tired of losing money in Costa Rica. They are fed up with flushing it down the toilet due to the mistakes made by the Registro Nacional and other government entities. They are also disgusted with the bulling around they get from administrative offices. Expats and Ticos alike are fighting to get their money [...]

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