The word is is out: “Nicaragua is the new Costa Rica” but with prices 35-55% lower than its southern neighbour. Nicaragua is well and truly bouncing back from its troubled and often misunderstood past and beginning to transform into a sought after investment and tourism destination. Misconceptions still persist, but in many ways that only increases the opportunity that Nicaragua offers. Nicaragua's democratically elected government is showing a great capacity to reform in line with its commitment to a free-market economy. The country is booming and tourism is now the number-one industry, increasing by over 19% in 2005 even considering a record-breaking year in 2004. There is a real buzz in the air for this land of opportunity. Whether you are looking for a retirement or vacation destination, a place to start a business or a place to invest for the future, Nicaragua is definitely worth considering. How much is good real estate information worth? Market knowledge based on fact and base trends, rather than exaggeration and hype (in both directions) can make the difference between a good investment and a great one.  The aim of this article is to capture the essence of the successful real estate investor in Nicaragua.  - Insider secrets to investing in real estate in Nicaragua By Claudia Gonella

Map Of Nicaragua  Nicaragua State Maps

Real Estate In Nicaragua EscapeArtist.com Real Estate Marketplace Real Estate In Nicaragua  - Current Listings - Nicaragua offers great investment and life style opportunities. Nicaragua is a country of many different landscapes, the city of Grenada provides colonial living at its finest, Nicaragua offers a wide range of ground floor investment opportunities and good value abound - beaches glimmer with waterfalls and clear mountain rivers. Real Estate In Nicaragua By Province - Real Estate In Granada - Real Estate In Managua - Real Estate In Leon - Real Estate In Rivas - List You Property - Advertise Your Property - Real Estate In Central America - Also see Real Estate By Type - Islands, B&B's, Plantations - Offshore Real Estate Library - Vineyards For Sale Worldwide - Offshore Yacht Broker - International Real Estate Index

Articles on Living & Investing in Nicaragua San Juan del Sur: Ex-pat Life In A Sleepy Nicaraguan Fishing Village - San Juan del Sur is a sleepy fishing village on the Pacific coast near the border of Costa Rica.  It is small enough that you would never need a car.  All of the hotels, restaurants, stores and homes are mixed together in this tiny fishing village.  The entire town consists of four streets back from the beach and four streets along the beach. A larger grocery store called Pali is just on the outskirts of town.  Visitors can stay in Hotels such as the Colonial or the Gran Oceana for around $50 per night or spend $350 per night for the best room at Pelican Eyes resort up on the hill with a spectacular view of the cove.  You can eat at the five star restaurant or out by the infinity pool.  Then go visit the monkeys on-site in their sanctuary. But we aren’t travelers.  We prefer living internationally.  Outside of town, you can rent a four bedroom three bath house up on the hill with a full time guard and a swimming pool for $2,500 per month. Expat Living in Central America: A Primer - I love Central America! - Many people choose a Central American country for their final ex-pat destination.  But there are several basics you really need to know before you take the plunge and move to Central America to join the hundreds of thousands of other American ex-pats already living here. Central America is the region between Mexico and Panama and includes Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. All six countries have large ex-pat populations.  Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages.  In general, the further South you go, the more services exist, but also the higher the cost of living. All of the Central American countries speak Spanish as their primary language, but you will find English speakers very easily.  Many people (myself included) settle down in a Central American country without knowing any Spanish at first.  If language is a concern though and you would prefer to not learn Spanish, then I would recommend any of the following three destinations: Sight Seeing in Nicaragua – Top Ten Volcanoes - Nicaragua is known as the land of lakes and volcanoes and when you look at a map it is easy to understand why.  Lake Nicaragua is one of the largest in the America’s and there is a long chain of volcanoes running the length of the pacific coast From Honduras to Costa Rica. One the most enjoyable and rewarding things you can do while traveling in Nicaragua is to climb a volcano.   There are many volcanoes to choose from and it can be a daunting task. Here are the Top Ten: Volcan San Cristobal – 1745 meters - This is the tallest volcano in Nicaragua and that is only one reason it has earned the number one spot.     San Cristobal is still active and a smoke plume can be seen puffing from the top most days.  How many people can say the climbed an active volcano? The climb is arduous, and  after you get above the tree line it feels like your climbing a post-nuclear moonscape.   For every two steps up, you slide a step back in the volcanic sand.    If the noxious gases clear you can see easily to the Gulf of Fonseca and Honduras and El Salvador.   If you leave from the coffee plantation in the saddle before first light you can be back down to eat your gallo pinto lunch before 11am. Cultural Dimensions of Living and Working in Nicaragua - “Cultural Dimensions – Nicaragua” is written for the expatriate or seasoned traveler who wants to understand the interface between their own culture and the culture of Nicaraguans, gaining insights that will make their adjustment to living in the country, or their time spent in country as a traveler, more productive and rewarding. Here are just a a few samples of the kinds of insights and perspectives that the reader will gain from browsing and studying “Cultural Dimensions – Nicaragua”  “Many expats have had the frustrating experience of going down to a Nicaraguan shop or office to get some object which was promised to be done, only to find that the work was not done or even started. After the second or third fruitless trip they have been even more exasperated. They often label this characteristic as Nicaraguan “unreliability”, or the “manana attitude”, or more negatively as insincerity or even lying. It is often seen as simply an extreme case of the lateness phenomenon, but it is actually based on something else: a difference of values. Granada - Nicaragua’s Grandest City - Why Granada? -  One more thing: If the old Spanish colonial structures in Granada appeal to you as much as they appeal to me…you can buy one for $80,000 to $100,000 (it’ll need a lot of work)…or you can spend as much as $200,000. A few years ago, these places sold for $40,000 or $50,000, or less. The trouble is there aren’t many of them. The city burned in 1856 and was rebuilt according to the same plan. Most of the colonial-style houses are 150 years old. You can count on your fingers those that date back more than 400 years. A city with little streets for meandering, neighborhoods for exploring, and style. The people dress better here than in Managua or elsewhere. The buildings are painted bright blues and greens and reds. The women walk proudly to and from the market balancing baskets on their heads, smiling, and holding hands with each other. The children ride bicycles in the main square. Nicaragua - Central America’s Hidden Treasure - When I first visited Nicaragua two years ago, there were placards at Sandino Airport boasting of its future development. I must say that upon arrival I was pleasantly surprised by the new terminal’s modernity and brightness. Half of the airport is complete, while the other half is under renovation/construction. There are several car rental agencies to choose from just outside the Customs area (I can say from experience that Hertz, although pricier, offered better quality vehicles and had better customer service than the others). Although the roads in Nicaragua are improving, you may want to seriously consider an SUV if you plan to explore the countryside. Most roads in Nicaragua are riddled with potholes, and dirt roads are common, even in some parts of the city. And speaking of SUV’s, you definitely want to make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance to secure one of these hot commodities. If you prefer to use a taxi, play it safe and use the “radio” taxis and make sure their license is posted inside the vehicle. Nicaragua: Dramatic Like Big Sur, Relaxed Like Baja... and the Best Real Estate Potential in Central America - If you fantasize about a private retreat that sits perched on a rocky cliff overlooking a roiling ocean… a place where you can stand on your deck with a cocktail in hand and watch the sun set pink and orange beyond a watery horizon…  …then you should know that two hours from Houston, Atlanta, or Miami -- along an unspoiled coast -- that dream can be yours… for less than you'd pay for a run-of-the-mill ranch in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And you should know, too, that your piece of Pacific Coast paradise would be poised to skyrocket in value… because right now in Nicaragua, you'd be getting a foothold at the cusp of a boom… The New York Times recently described the atmosphere of excitement in Nicaragua, saying, “…most pervasive is the sensation that the place is changing at a head-spinning pace.” Earlier this year, the Miami Herald wrote, "…the stream of American and European citizens who are moving here and turning Nicaragua into the latest retirement and investment hot spot in Central America.” The Working Geezer's Guide To Nicaragua - In Ometepe - I discovered as much after a week subbing at a friend’s real estate agency in Nicaragua, in the colonial city of Granada, a favored tourist hangout on the gigantic Lake Nicaragua and gateway to the country's finest beaches: My proprietor friend Gerry hung out his shingle on the main square there three years ago when he began to anticipate, correctly as it turned out, that the region was primed for a real estate boom. By the time I arrived, however, Garry and his Nicaraguan wife had been swindled, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced by a criminal court – all in absentia and ex parte – and without actually having committed a crime or appeared before a judge. Unthinkable? Perhaps in Canada – but down here it’s downright commonplace. It all stems back to the revolution (doesn’t it always?) Shortly after winning it, the Sandaninistas began dismantling the fincas, those vast ranchlands belonging to the former landbarons. Thanks to revolutionary zeal and good old common greed a lot more land got confiscated than could be properly accounted for. Subsequently, some of it is now in the process of being given back to its rightful owners. Exploring The Undiscovered In Nicaragua  - “Nicaragua? Why Nicaragua?” The question’s been asked over and over by everyone I’ve come in contact with since I returned from vacationing and investigating investment opportunities at a new development called Rancho Santana in this economically down-trodden Central American country. A year earlier, I’d have asked myself the same question. Now, my response would read something like this: “Because I see a good opportunity there, and a country abundant with untapped natural resources and beautiful coastline that’s been compared to the likes of California in its infancy or more recently, an up and coming Costa Rica.” And still they would ask, “But what is it about Nicaragua? Isn’t it dangerous?”  The worst appears over; there’s a conscientious new government in place determined to rebuild and restructure; there’s an economic upswing on the horizon; there is neighboring country support; there’s a great potential for a boost in tourism; and above all, Nicaragua still offers one of the few commercially unspoiled locations that’s reasonably affordable for new people interested in buying or living overseas.  Road Trip: From North Carolina to Nicaragua - Mexico and Central America - There are many people who say they want to drive through Mexico to Central America, but few people ever make the trip. If you've talked about doing it, but never have, then this is your chance to read about what you have been missing out on. Police, driving habits, hotel billing and road condtions are important things to know on this journey south. Those behind the steering wheel beware: the further South of the border one gets, the more freestyle driving becomes. However, whether you believe it or not, you’ll quickly adjust to the rhythms of driving in Latin America. With a month to spare, my husband and I set out in our 1992 Toyota Tercel for Nicaragua, where we planned to relocate and live. As a social worker, I was used to working out of my car, and so moving there by means of our vehicle seemed like a logical choice for us. Although, I had traveled extensively by land throughout South America, I had never so much as set foot in either Mexico or Central America; that made me all the more curious to see what was out there. My husband, however, had driven the same trip a couple of times, starting when his family moved from California to Nicaragua when he was twelve, and he, too, was eager for me to experience the adventure. Memories Of Cuapa Passing Through The Interior Of Nicaragua!  - Some experiences are hard to explain. I remember, shortly after my first trip to Cuapa, I tried discussing it with some friends at Lario’s. It occurs to me that Lario’s itself might need an introduction to a few of my readers. In certain towns, for no particular reason, a certain place will become a meeting point for intellectuals. Just as no history of Paris, France, in the 1950’s and 60’s would be complete without a description of the cafes of the Left Bank, no history of San Marcos, Nicaragua at the dawn of the 21st Century would be complete without a discussion of Lario’s restaurant. When the intellectual history of San Marcos is written, I’m sure there will be at least one chapter on Lario’s. Come to think of it, that might constitute about half of the book. In the rainy season, the roof would leak, to the point where it wasn’t worth taking your umbrella down, and one time, the sewers overflowed on the street outside. Progress Backwards - On the sun-kissed shores of Nicaragua, your editor enjoys the view...but cannot help but contemplate its cost - The invention of corrugated tin roofing changed the look of the place. Where once the traveler only saw graceful old houses with their clay tiled roofs...or hovels covered with palm fronds...he now sees cinder blocks and rusty tin. Everywhere he looks, he sees tin in various stages of decomposition. The tin is meant to be galvanized, of course, resistant to rain and weather. But in this climate, Galvan's process seems to do little good. Rarely do you see a piece of tin in good condition; it is almost always brown from rust. Perhaps some day, rusty tin will be regarded as quaint or picturesque. But for now, like leprosy in a Siamese brothel, it corrupts the beauty of the tropics all over the world. Another friend has taken it upon himself to become the Freddie Mac of one little corner of Nicaragua. "You ought to require tile roofs," we suggested. "I put $5,000 into a building fund," he had explained. "I told the staff that it was available to anyone who wanted to build a house. I just did it to try to help these people. I don't really care if I get paid back or not." Talking about Nicaragua - Investing in Nicaragua - What he has created on the site is his dream house.  It is appealingly designed and substantially complete. There is a large dining room and inside living area, small kitchen, and a central courtyard which feeds into the large master bedroom.  The master bedroom opens up onto a round patio overlooking the ocean featuring a 20' high conical thatch roof.  Sitting at one of the six cane chairs assembled around the substantial  6' diameter stone pedestal table, the view is 180 degrees to the ocean and all you see is water. Or maybe a visitor would prefer the hammock?  There is a breeze blowing every day of the year.  Screens and glass in windows are unnecessary.  The owners are approximately 90% completed with two additional bedrooms (good sizes) and another bathroom.  There is an adjoining office which is also complete.  The entire property is walled and secure. How To Bank Offshore - Banking Offshore - Forming Offshore Corporations - Anonymous Banking Secrets  - Why Bank Offshore? - The Governments of the world are out of control . . . and broke.  They need your assets to make themselves solvent.  That they squander those assets is forgone. We live in a world where personal sovereignty, privacy and individuality are under attack. The right to privacy is more than an abstract necessity, it is also a psychological necessity. If we do not have the right to privacy, we do not own the rights to our own lives. Individuality entails making value judgments independent of political, religious or social dogmas.  In making value judgments we make choices.  In today's world, if the choices we make differ from the status quo then we come under pressure to 'toe the line'. There is no line to toe.  We live in an intellectual vacuum, where short of the logical choices we make in our own behalf, there are no other values. Our Magazine & Websites stress privacy and living our life by our own standards,  protecting what is ours from those who have not earned it. - In today’s technological world, millions of individuals are subject to privacy threats. Companies are hired not only to watch what you visit online, but to infiltrate the information and send advertising based on your browsing history. People set up accounts for Facebook; enter bank and credit card information to various websites. Those concerned about Internet privacy often cite a number of privacy risks — events that can compromise privacy — which may be encountered through Internet use. Fears About My Children Returning From a US Vacation as Bitter Expat Kids  -  I’m nervous and scared.  Okay, I said it out loud.  I’m feeling pretty vulnerable, second-guessing my decisions, which definitely is not a natural state for me. My in-laws have recently, very generously bought tickets to fly my kids, ages 10, 8 and 6, back to the US on a direct flight for a six week vacation.  In the two years since I have moved my family down to Argentina, we have never been back to the states for a visit.  So, for a lot of obvious reasons, this is an amazing opportunity for my kiddos and all of the extended family which I should be completely grateful for, and in many ways I am.  I get 6 weeks without kids, (which has never, ever happened in my ten years of being a mom!!).  Six weeks of space, six weeks of quiet, yummy me-time.  I have the chance to do some solo traveling through Bolivia that I have wanted to do for a long time, channeling my inner gypsy that has been screaming to get out for a while now.  My kids get 6 weeks hanging out with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, great-grandparents, getting completely spoiled and loved on beyond belief…and this is where I begin to think maybe way too much… Privacy Is A Psychological Necessity - We live in a world where privacy and individuality are under attack. The right to privacy is more than an abstract necessity, it is also a psychological necessity. If we do not have the right to privacy, we do not own the rights to our own lives. Individuality entails making value judgments independent of political, religious or social dogmas.  In making value judgments we make choices.  In today's world, if the choices we make differ from the status quo then we come under pressure to 'toe the line'. There is no line to toe. We live in an intellectual vacuum, where short of the logical choices we make in our own behalf, there are no other values. Our Magazine & Websites stress privacy and living our life by our own standards,  protecting what is ours from those who have not earned it. - In today’s technological world, millions of individuals are subject to privacy threats. Companies are hired not only to watch what you visit online, but to infiltrate the information and send advertising based on your browsing history.  People set up accounts for Facebook; enter bank and credit card information to various websites. Those concerned about Internet privacy often cite a number of privacy risks — events that can compromise privacy — which may be encountered through Internet use.These methods of compromise can range from the gathering of statistics on users, to more malicious acts such as the spreading of spyware and various forms of bugs (software errors) exploitation. More Articles On Living & Investing In Nicaragua Recent Articles On Living & Investing In Nicaragua  - Expat Daily News Recent Articles On Living & Investing In Nicaragua  - Escape From America Magazine

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