Rain, Rain and more Rain!

The mountains are green and the waterfall's are flowing - the Tambor area is vibrant and fresh with all this rain.

We're experiencing an unseasonal amount of rain in Costa Rica now. Normally this season is much dryer and we wouldn't really expect any heavy rain until late Sept. or Oct.
As we're continuing to cut roads and develop infrastructure the abundant water is putting every cut to the test. It's slows us down for road construction but also allows us to see trouble areas as we're working. Work continues in VDL Phase 1.

The Results Are In!

In October 2009 Monterra Developers met with Latinamerica Title Co., exclusive representative of CHICAGO TITLE and one of the most a acclaimed title insurance/appraisal companies in the world.

Our primary goal was for them to initiate a 5 year historical assessment on Costa Rica Real Estate which would include competitors and comparable projects located throughout the country. This information (never been done in CR) would be extremely valuable for any company in our business as it would help to give clear insight to the realities of these RE markets.

We also discussed the same type of assessment just for the Southern Nicoya Peninsula which could help get us as close to a 'crystal ball' view as anyone could get regarding the RE markets in our area. With these past and present assessments Latinamerica Title would then initiate individual appraisals for each our VDL and RDS Phase 1 properties.

After months of tight-lipped research Monterra was presented with these official assessments and appraisal information. Monterra Developers now have the most comprehensive Real Estate research assessment done in this country. This information provides us with the reality of CR's Real Estate past and what we can anticipate for the future. It also gives us solid insight for pricing of lot's, homes and farms - not to mention infrastructure costs and what our competitors are spending for their roads, water and electricity.

The best part of this study is for our property owners, pertaining to the individual appraisals done for Monterra properties. In most cases Monterra's property appraisals came in double then that of our selling prices. We can't say that we were surprised as we've done many of our own studies in this area - but it's nice to know that Chicago Title agrees with us. Please call our office to ask about your appraisal value.

For More info:

Monterra Developers / OCR Properties Group (905) 750-0010

Latinamerica Title Co. Exclusive Representative of CHICAGO TITLE CO.
San José: (506) 2256-9697
Fax: (506) 2258-2175

Why Follow Our BLOG?

At the top right of this page is a place to enter you email address and then 'SUBSCRIBE'. No other personal info is required, just your email and that's never shared with anyone or used for anything else.

Every time we create a new post an email is sent to you - that happens about 3 times per month. Every once in a while we post a skill testing question about Costa Rica and if you answer correctly we ship out a Monterra Developer's shirt & hat to the winner.

We like to keep everyone visiting our BLOG informed with the latest info as it happens. Our next skill testing question is Coming Very Soon!

Thank you,
Monterra Developers,

Our last question was: What is the only true way to tell the difference between a male and female Scarlett Macaw? HINT - not the eye color.

The Barcelo Resort located in Playa Tambor has one of the world's most successful Scarlet Macaw breeding programs. It's for this reason that the Tambor area has the largest population of Macaws in Costa Rica.

(This photo was taken on April 5th, 2010 in Playa Tambor)

New Video! "Coming to Playa Tambor".

Monterra's 'Rios del Sol' road construction progress.

RDS's Phase 1 road construction is going as planned. The process is quite extensive with our current focus being on mitigation (protection of soil) and terracing. Most of the water registers are now installed with large underground pipes and drainage systems.

In this image you can see our use of rock and concrete that surface areas with steep inclines. This is an important process and is only found in quality mountain developments in Costa Rica - this process is necessary for safe traction and proper drainage.

Shortly we will be starting the electrical service.

They even made time for Surfing!

This week Monterra's West Coast sales team made their quarterly visit to the developments.

It was a face-paced, whirl-wind trip that included visits to Costa Rica's National Registry and the Ministry offices to gather further information about Costa Rica's development processes.

The trip was not all business though and our sales team also spent some well deserved time on Isla Tortuga and found some cool waves just off the famous surfing beach of Santa Teresa.

Thanks for the great trip girls!!

Monterra's Details! The biggest difference in Quality, Value and Appreciation.

This is one of Valle de Luz's wells that will be supplying homes and the commercial area of the project. Please notice the attention to detail that we put into a simple well house.
These details are important for the overall value of the project and is an early demonstration of VDL's quality.

Valle de Luz Progress.

Costa Rica's New HWY is now Open! Driving time to our properties is now much, much faster.

The new Costa Rica highway from San Jose to Caldera on the central Pacific Coast opened, after 34 years of planning. This 77 kilometer highway cuts the time for the trip from San Jose to Caldera from 90 minutes to 45 minutes, a major time saver. Various sections are two lane, three lane and four lane, with shoulder lanes. This opening is long awaited good news for the area. We’ve driven on some sections of the new road and the positive difference is amazing! Excellent driving conditions and offering great views of the Costa Rican countryside.

Entrance for 'Valle de Luz' Palms have been planted! Roads have Begun.

Monterra Developers, Meet The Staff Video!

'Valle de Luz' Approved Commercial Centre Design.

As our front entrance for VDL is almost complete our focus is turing to the commercial/retail centre. We have approved this design for the right side of the property's entrance.

Jan. 27th - Monterra's Valle de Luz's entrance photos.

Monterra's 'Valle de Luz' resolution is in! The National Technical Secretariat of the Environment (SETENA)

'Valle de Luz' is officially underway as Monterra's now been granted final permission to proceed with our development plans in the Tambor region of Florida.

There is no way to properly explain the difficult processes, costs and time needed to achieve approvals for a development of this size and prestige. Only that it requires experience/knowledge from the best development planners and engineers in the industry.

Our team worked very hard to make certain there would not be any delays by submitting a very thorough and complete study (D1) that took more then 2 years to compile.

In addition to home sites, VDL will include a commercial centre. This landmark centre will be built by Monterra and will include a international school, wellness/medical facility, police station, 24 security offices, professional and leasable space, banking, restaurants and more.

'Valle de Luz', well drilling permits are in!

Monterra is now able to start drilling more wells for VDL's potable water distribution through the development. The procedure is to drill, determine flow rate measured in 'liters per second' and water quality. Our hydrological studies determined that there is an abundance of water under this property - VDL already has a current registered well that we are dedicating to the commercial centre. The water quality from this well is excellent and has a great flow rate of 2.9 liters per second. Our Geologist, Ms. Catalina Varges determined that we need need a total of 10.28 l/s for the entire project.

Our new company video will be released this January!

For the last 4 days we have been busy shooting video footage of our properties, staff and the Tambor area. We've timed the production of this video to be developed this December with a estimated release date of January 14th 2010.
We hope to create a 7-8 minute corporate video that will give our purchasers a look into our operations, focus, future and our dedication to our developments.

Special thanks to Peter Olmstead who is the hardest working videographer we've ever met.

'Valle de Luz' Progress Video

Monterra's 'Valle de Luz' Entrance Starts to Take Shape!

Well into the rainy season the work continues on the impressive, grand front entrance of Monterra's largest project named 'Valle De Luz'. This year the rains continue to be lighter then usual allowing construction to continue into October.

Monterra Developer's Home Builders.

Time to start thinking about building.
Listed below are our recommended builders and their contact information. There are many builders available in Costa Rica but just like anywhere else you have to make certain who you are hiring. These individuals have worked with us in the past and we trust their knowledge and expertise. Their pricing is fair and their quality is exceptional. Feel free to contact them at your convenience.

Name: Jon Armstrong
Business Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Nationality: Canadian
Language: English & Spanish
Phone Number: (506) 8320-5282
Email: marmdesco@gmail.com
Years in Costa Rica: 20

Description: Jon is a very accomplished builder who has built most of his homes in the San Jose and Santa Ana areas. His homes are traditional and very beautiful. Jon has lived in Costa Rica for more then 20 years and he brings his living experiences to his home designs and interiors.


Name: Mike Quinn
Business Location: Tambor, Costa Rica
Nationality: Canadian
Language: English
Phone Number: (506) 8856-3847
Email: mike@owncostarica.com
Years in Costa Rica: 2

Description: Mike is new on the scene for home building (He is also employed by Monterra) but his partners have more then 20 years in the industry. Mike is interested in bringing new ideas and technologies to our developments and we like they way he thinks. He has shown us that he can successfully manage building projects like our RE/MAX building and The Costa Coral Hotel. Mike is also preparing to start building model homes in Valle de Luz.

Name: German Tautiva
Business Location: Tambor, Costa Rica
Nationality: Columbian
Language: Spanish
Phone Number: (506) 8856-2381
Email: mgrupoandinosa@gmail.com
Years in Costa Rica: 15

Description: Large, spacious and considered Spanish modern, German's homes are considered some of the best in Costa Rica. He has built many homes in the Central Valley and some are available for viewing. His workmanship is exemplary and his finishes precise.
German is currently building our entrance for Valle de Luz.

More Progress as Monterra Continues Roads in Rios del Sol.

Now most of the planned areas of road work in Phase 1 have been cut. We are now in the process of widening the roads and installing concrete water drainage pipes.

Mitigation (protection of soil from erosion) has started. By using these green, perforated blanket-type cloths and by planting grass seed, the soil beneath has very little chance (in the near future) of eroding and will not once the grass really takes hold. The roads are looking great and we can drive our vehicles over most of the Phase.