The final part of the Caja Saga, a real story about a Canadian getting her Caja carnet. I recommend you read my other blogs about the Caja saga, as you will understand better what is involved for a Canadian to get your Caja carnet for your Costa Rican social security up to date nowadays. In the…
Want to join the Caja del Seguro Social? I did, so I decided to tell you about it. When a foreigner wants to become a resident in Costa Rica, it is mandatory to join the Caja del Seguro Social. In the last two weeks, I have been telling you all about my adventure of getting…
How important are roofing membranes to a Costa Rican home? Costa Rica home builder Thomas Rosenberger, in two former blogs, has explained all about Costa Rica roofing and roof repairs as well as how to stop your roof from leaking. In this blog, Tom covers the use of impermeable membrane product on the roof surface…
Ever tried to get an authenticated marriage certificate from your home country? Well, I had to, and here is the story. Last week, I told you about the renovation of my Caja carnet in Costa Rica and the need for delivering an authenticated marriage certificate from my home country, Canada. I have found a way of obtaining…
See how Paula gets a new Caja carnet. Paula is a Canadian who moved to Costa Rica with her husband quite a few years ago. The Easy Times has had numerous requests from readers to help find a solution to the problem of getting or renewing the Caja carnet. The Caja carnet is necessary to…
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Time for leaking roof maintenance tips. Roofs of Costa Rican homes suffer a lot because there is lots of rainfall. Rains start in September and don’t stop until December. Last week, the # 1 home inspector in Costa Rica, Thomas Rosenberger, explained how necessary it is to use quality materials…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Once you purchase a home in Costa Rica roofing and roof repairs become an important part of your life. You should know that once the rainy season begins, your leaky roofs and flashing installations need repairs. During the rainy season, there is a lot more rain than receive back home.…
A Costa Rica home structure needs to be strong enough to withstand the earthquakes. Nonetheless, it is possible to eliminate steel and to use a green solution. Laminated Wood or Bamboo beams for rafters and joists. These are a far superior solution for structural needs when building a Costa Rica home, that although be it…
When living abroad as a US expat, you’re supposed to know what FBAR is. Do you? Filing a US expat tax return is a daunting task for many American expatriates. Although US citizens and green card holders are aware of foreign earned income exclusion, foreign housing exclusion, and foreign tax credit, many American expats do not…
Should you trust the electrical installations of the home you’re planning to purchase? When buying a home in Costa Rica, you can expect a different electrical system in the home than you are used to. We install electric outlets to enable our appliances, lamps, computer equipment, etc to work for our convenience. In most new…
Construction safety is not taken very seriously in Costa Rica. The word ‘pitfall’ is particularly appropriate in the construction industry, where falling into an open pit is one of the genuine risks faced by some contractors. While many people might associate the word itself with the risk of a collapsing mine shaft, it actually dates…
Retirement always evolves, does yours too? About a year ago, I wrote an article about planning your Costa Rica retirement. It centered around the use of a ‘Bucket List’ or ‘Painting a Picture’. Tools designed to help organize your thinking about what retirement will involve. I’m still amazed how many people still think only in…
Learn all about the first Atenas Heritage Festival. On Saturday, 23 March, an event was held on the Campo Ferial fairground at the retirement home – Hogar de Ancianos to honor and display the first Atenas heritage festival with proceeds benefiting the Hogar de Ancianos. Would you like to cooperate with their local community? Going to…
Is moving to Costa Rica while being pregnant a good idea? The best thing to do when you are the mother of a 2-year-old and you are 6 months pregnant is to move to Costa Rica! I know it sounds absurd but it was the best decision my husband and I have ever made. When…
Learning Spanish, or at least the basics, is a must before you arrive in Costa Rica. Traveling to another country is always an exciting adventure full of new sights, sounds, and experiences. However, this experience can be challenging due to the sometimes subtle, and sometimes obvious differences in culture. Add in an unfamiliar language, and…
Therefore, Our Costa Rica Home Specialist Rudy Matthews follows up on San Jose East Side specialist Patrick Mulheren’s last month For Sale by owner Costa Rica articles. These articles look at FSBO or not FSBO from a sellers’ perspective and from a buyers’ perspective. Rudy writes: I share with you comments that I hope will be informational and…