I am so glad to be part of this forum, because I am surrounded by so many like-mided individuals. Being part of a team is a winning formula for success in life. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources, knowledge, and skill sets that are available in this forum.
/s/ John C. Robinson
Our goal with our eco-villages will be to create ecological and aesthetic harmony between the buildings and their surrounding natural environment. Going with more sustainable systems and materials has both aesthetic and practical value. The finishes we will be using will be beautiful to the eye and touch. The homes will look and feel wonderful.
So many times we've seen developers in Costa Rica take their bull dozers and clear the jungles only to build these huge concrete structures. These developments totally destroy what makes Costa Rica so unique and beautiful. We are planning to maintain as much of the natural jungle as possible in our villages by conserving the enviornment with minimal earth excavation. The roads will be packed gravel instead of concrete or asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water.
Some of the ecological and energy conserving practices we will be using are:
- passive heating and cooling
- green roof systems
- water reclamation and use
- sustainable materials
- solar energy
Below is a rendering of one of our model homes called The Breeze. We recently got building permits with the local municipality in Costa Rica. We will be starting construction on the model homes in the next 30-60 days in Ruby Sky, Emerald Woods and Black Beauty. You can click on the image of the model home below to see the floor plan.
Many people who have been investing in the US real estate market ask, "Why invest internationally?" Since this blog is all about investing in international markets, I thought it might be helpful to share an article I thought was of paticular interest.
The cover for Fortune magazine’s October 2005 issue reads “The World’s Greatest Real Estate Investor (and what you can learn from him)”. The four-page cover story begins with the headline, “I’m Tom Barrack* and I’m getting out. *The world’s best real estate investor has made billions in the U.S. market. Now he’s cashing out and buying overseas. Should you cash out too?” The article details Barrack’s illustrious real estate career, and his amazing ability to predict market conditions. Barrack believes the 30% rise in construction costs will contribute to the deflation of the real estate bubble in the US, and that the bigger opportunity in real estate investment currently lies overseas. The article is posted on the CNN Money site.
It seems clear to me that as the US real estate market makes it more difficult to realize strong cash flow and appreciation, investors are looking at international markets for new opportunities. I know I am. I think for some investors, more education about what is available in international markets and what is involved regarding taxes, financing and legal issues will be the key to jumping in and joining the trend towards offshore investing. We hope that through this blog, you'lll get some of the information you need to consider taking the leap.
Today we moved into our new offices in Sherman Oaks, 
Here is a picture of some of the team setting up our new conference room. On the left is Noam Halpert, one of our design architects and sustainability specialists, giving instructions to Ami Dahan, CEO (middle) and Mati Timor, Marketing and Relations (right). Can you tell who the boss is?
If you are living in
I actually took this video of some howler monkeys while I was at Hotel Luna Azul with Mati, one of my partners, and some of our phase 1 investors and buyers. It was actually taken on Sunday, December 10th but I just now was able to upload it and post it on my blog. Luna Azul is the hotel in San Juanillo that I usually stay at when I go down to Costa Rica. It's a small boutique hotel with separate, private casitas located about 5 minutes from our Ruby Sky and Emerald Woods villages. The service and food is five star. I highly recomend it if you ever are in this part of Costa Rica.
The video shows a monkey giving her baby a ride on her back as she climbed the trees above me. It's experiences like these that make me feel that I am in a very special and magical place. You truly experience "pura vida", or pure life when in Costa Rica.
We just opened up our sales office in this new building in Marbella, Costa Rica approximately 10km north of two of our villages; Ruby Sky and Emerald Woods. We are located on the second floor. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello!
