FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1.  Where is Hermosa Hills located? 
In the Hills above the Hermosa Valley on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, about ten minutes from Jaco, five minutes from Hermosa Beach, 15 minutes to Herradura / Los Suenos Marina and one hour from Manuel Antonio National Park.

2.  What is the travel time from San Jose to Hermosa Hills?
Hermosa / Jaco are the closest beach towns to San Jose on the Pacific Coast. Travel time from the Juan Santa Maria International Airport is approximatley 90 minutes, however there is a new highway under construction. When complete, the travel time will be approximately 45 minutes. Further, you can bypass the traffic and fly either in a small airplane or helicopter. Prices vary.

3. Are there medical facilities nearby? Yes. In Jaco, there is a public health clinic and a two private medical centers. In Parrita (approximately 15 miles south) there is a hospital. In Puntarenas (approximately 30 miles north) there is a hospital. In San Jose (approximately 90 minutes now – 45 minutes after the highway is complete) are several hospitals. Helicopter airlift is approximately 15 minutes to San Jose. Note - a new public hospital is being constructed in Jaco and Clinica Biblica, one of Costa Rica's best private hospitals is also coming to the area.

4. What is your climate in the Central Pacific as compared to the Northern or Southern Pacific areas? The climate in the Central Pacific is green and tropical, year around. Although the Central Pacific receives most of its rainfall during the winter months (May through November) via late afternoon showers, it stays green all year. The climate is very different in Guanacaste (to the north) where it is very dry, brown and dusty during the summer months (December through June). The climate in the Southern Zone is the opposite of the that in the Northern Zone with much more rainshowers year around and a very wet rainy season. In addition, the climate at Hermosa Hills is even more exciting. Due to its location at the top of the mountain, it enjoys cool breezes from two merging weather patterns. There is almost always a breeze which is cool, mountain air or cool ocean breezes making a very comfortable environment.

5. Is it true that Costa Rica has a water shortage? It is true that many of the developments in the north (Guanacaste Region), where the climate is dry are experiencing water shortages and the Costa Rican government have instituted moratoriums on new construction in many areas. In the Central Pacific however, we have plenty of water and receive normal rainfalls year around. It rains almost every day in the upper elevations of the rainforest even while it is dry at the lower elevations and the beach.  The rain water is also used to generate the regions electricity (90% of Costa Rica’s electricity is generated by hydro-electric turbines). Hermosa Hills has its own water district with an abundance of water to supply all present and future phases.

6. What are the seasons in the Central Pacific? Why would anyone want to visit during the rainy season? Costa Rica has two seasons, winter (green) and summer (dry). The dry season is from December through April and the Green season is April through November. July is a dry month. Even in the dry season, there is an occasional rainfall, but very rare except in the very high mountain elevations (above Hermosa Hills) which keeps the vegetation green year around. In the green or rainy season, a typical day begins with blue sky and sunshine with clouds and afternoon showers typically lasting two hours before a clear night sky peppered with stars. October is the wettest month and when we receive most of our rain. It may rain at some point, almost every day during this month. Locals love the green season due to cool temperatures, the smells of tropical rain and the lush, green vegetation.

7. Why is eco-tourism so popular in this area? The Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is very special when it comes to its biodiversity. Costa Rica, in general, occupies only .3% of the worlds surface, yet is home to approximately 6% of the world’s biodiversity. It is the area in which the biodiversity of North America intersects with the Biodiversity of South America, making it very unique to scientist and tourists alike.

8. What type of wildlife can I expect to see on the property at Hermosa Hills? You can expect to see white faced monkeys, two and three toed sloths, toucans, scarlet macaws, green parrots, pavas, hawks, parakeets, kotamundis, ant eaters, hundreds of species of butterflies including the beautiful blue morpho and many more... Also, don’t forget the primary and secondary forest with its own biodiversity and the many fruit trees on the property.

What’s Happening in the Area?
1. What are some of the local attractions? Local attractions include zip line canopy tours, rainforest adventures, white water rafting, surfing (surf lessons), swimming in the ocean (warm year around), Manuel Antonio National Park, Carara National park, crocodile tours, monkey tours, waterfall tours, botanical gardens, Rain Maker tours, volcano tours, some of the best fishing in the world (marlin, sail fish, tuna, rooster, mahi mahi, etc.) and much more. Other area attractions include a numerous excellent restaurants, several casinos, a marina (three more being built), a golf course, (two more being built) and plenty of nightlife. Jaco is up and coming and recently had its first annual art fair with local and internation artists feature a variety of works. Hermosa is famous for its great surf, natural beaches and its protected turtle reserve. You can volunteer to help gather eggs and also help the hatchlings make it back to the pacific waters.

2. What is happening in the near future? Lot’s of great things are happening in and around Hermosa. First, a master plan is being designed for the area with the assistance of a paid, outside consulting firm allowing for positive, planned growth. Next, the new highway is being constructed which will make the drive to the airport a convenient 45 minutes. Also, the municipality recently received a donation of beach maintenance equipment, which along with the municipality’s work crew is cleaning area beaches. Further, the Red Cross is working on hiring lifeguards and accepting private donations to fund the project.  In addition, The National Government has provided approximately 30 new tourist police to the area to assist tourists and make them feel safe and the new Municipal Police force is now operating with an additional 40 police officers. Safety for tourists, clean beaches and good infrastructure are the foremost concerns. Also, the roads in and out of Jaco have new pavement making a trip to the grocery store an enjoyable experience. Further, there are new golf courses, marina projects and casinos in the planning stages. In all, there is an abundance of exciting things being planned for this area.

Development/Construction:
1.  Describe the construction stages of the Hermosa Hills Development Project. Hermosa Hills Development has already acquired the land and is almost completely through the permitting stage for phase I condominiums and excavation and site prep is currently underway. At Vista Al Mar, the first bungalows are being constructed. In La Reserva, multi-million dollar homes are being built, with Villa Alta Vista already complete.

2.  Who are the developers and architects?  How can we trust them? Hermosa Hills Developers have experience partly in Costa Rica and partly in San Francisco, USA. Part of the group has experience  building many of the mulit-million dollar homes and condos in the 4 star Los Suenos Marriott and Marina project. A partner in the project is a well respected architect from Carmel, California with experience designing projects that are eco-friendly, built to fit the dramatic terrain of northern California and are seismic compatible. Another partner is a civil engineer with a lifetime of impressive experience with one of the world’s largest construction companies. Progress payments are made as construction as each phase of construction is completed. No progress – no payment.

3.  What is the general plan for the acreage? The land for the greater project is approximately 230 acres. 60% of this land is set aside for a biological reserve which will be shared with the property owners as common areas. Other parts of the property will be high end, multi-million dollar homes, phase II luxury condominiums and a five star boutique hotel.

4.  Is Hermosa Hills a secure, gated community?  How is it secured? Due to the size of the property it will not be completely fenced, however most of the property is secured with natural barriers (the condo site is located on top of the mountain with one road that passes by the property). It is monitored and patrolled by a private security force and will have gates at entry / exit points within the project. The security force has radio contact with local authorities.

5.  When will the entire development be completed? Development for the entire project is estimated to be completed in approximately five years.

6.  Will the neighbouring lands be developed?  Are we guaranteed of the current view? Some of the neighbouring land may be developed. Hermosa Hills is at the highest elevation (on top of the mountain) and has amazing panoramic views of the entire horizon, so that even if neighbouring lands are developed with high-rise type buildings they will not hinder the view. Further, the biological reserve within the project will stay green and its walking paths and nature area will be accessible to residents.

7.  Do you have a security staff?  How is it secured when we are not there? There is a full service (highly trained) and armed security staff on site at each entrance to the project and others conducting regular patrols of the grounds. Each vehicle that drives past the project is monitored and license plate numbers recorded.  If a car stops near the project, the security guards investigate. The safety of our guests and the security of our owners is one of our top objectives.

8.  Is there enough water for all the units? Yes, the water at Hermosa Hills will be fed through a community well located on the property. There is plenty of water in this region. The water will be filtered before being pumped to the individual units with good flow and water pressure.

9.  Is there Internet access there? Is it dial-up or broadband?  Is it included in the HOA fees? Internet access is presently onsite and provided broadband via satellite. It will be included in the HOA fees.

10.  How do you guarantee the quality of the construction?  Is the developer at the site? First, the developer is the contractor. The value and success of the entire project depends upon unparalleled high quality construction. The developer has experience in designing and also building high quality projects. Also, Hermosa has strict building codes, for which the municipality strictly enforces – especially for condominiums and master planned projects. The builder is also responsible for guaranteeing their work for 5 years.

11.  Can it be wheelchair accessible? Yes. Some of the units will be handicapped friendly. For example, buildings one and two of Las Brisas Condominiums will be served by a tram to assist those who are handicapped or wheelchair bound. Further, the developer will work with each buyer to satisfy their individual requirements.

12.  If we purchased a golf cart or other vehicle, where would we keep it safely? Most of the units within the project will be provided with garages or carports. The project is patrolled and secure and the vehicles can be stored on site.

13.  We can buy other properties in Costa Rica for less money.  What is special about this place?  Tell me why we should buy Hermosa Hills over other developments? None will have even half of the view enjoyed at Hermosa Hills. None will have this view with the proximity to the beach, the biological reserve and walking and cart paths, the amenities (restaurants, bars, marina, etc.) with the stunning, panoramic views from each condominium. The values at Hermosa Hills are second to none.

Renting and Recurring Costs:

1.  When will units available for renting it (Phase 1 units)? The first two condominium buildings are schedule to be ready to rent approximately eight months after the start of construction which is scheduled for March of 2008, the first bungalow is now complete and ready to rent. Villa Alta Vista is also ready to rent.

2.  How much is the estimated HOA fee, and what does it cover? The proposed budget has been made and is estimating HOA fees at approximately $375 per month for the condos (and $250 per month for the bungalows). This is a conservative estimate and is based on only twenty condominium units as is proposed in phase I. It includes exterior maintenance on each unit, building (structural insurance) including fire, hurricane, earthquake and other natural disasters, maintenance to the grounds (pool, landscaping, road, driveway, security building, common areas), water, sewer, internet and common areas electric.

3.  What are some other expected additional costs for the owner? Owners will be responsible to pay for their electric bill, interior maintenance and property taxes (.25% of declared value).

4.  How much of the year (%) can we expect to rent it? By law we are not allowed to give rental projections. Buyers can research comparable properties in the area.

5.  How much is the expected rental income per week? Rental rates may vary by season and may change based upon demand, but should average around $1,500 to $3,000 per week depending on the unit per comparable projects in the area.

6.  When will you have a management group selected, and what would their fees be? A rental management company will be selected by the developer prior to the units being complete. Members of the association can vote to change the management company if they are unhappy with its performance. The association may also form a rental pool program.

7.  Who would maintain the Las Brisas unit’s hot tub, and what are their fees? The hot tub / jacuzzi will be maintained under the maid service agreement from the rental management company.

8.  How would we pay our bills, i.e., telephone, electricity, maintenance? You can either set up a Costa Rican bank account and transfer funds electronically or the rental management company will offer a service for bill pay.

9.  Should we get separate liability insurance if we are going to rent the unit? Each condominium unit will be owned by its own corporation (formed and assigned at closing). The buyer will purchase (and then own) 100% of the shares of the corporation that owns the particular unit that they are purchasing. There is some liability protection implied with ownership of the corporation and in general Costa Rica laws are that of personal responsibility, however, we recommend each buyer consults with an attorney prior to purchasing to evaluate their individual liability requirements.

Pricing and Purchasing:
1.  How are the payments divided? For most projects, Buyers will pay five equal progress payments (when construction begins, footings, roof, walls, closing / ready to occupy).

2.  What is the Stage One pricing in Las Brisas Condominiums?  How much does it go up after the first 8 units are sold? The amount of the price increase will be $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the unit and is expected to rise again after 15 units are sold.

3.  How much do you expect the price to appreciate when the development is completed? We believe that this project is being sold at a discounted rate as compared to other properties in the area of similar construction, quality, amenities, etc. Assuming continuing market conditions, it should appreciate similar or better than other comparable projects and buyers should see significant growth in value because of the outstanding views and locatation. We are not allowed, by law, to give estimates of appreciation but encourage buyers to investigate growth of comparable projects in the area.

4.  How much are closing costs? Closing costs for cash buyers will be approximately $500. Should bank financing be required, buyers can expect to pay approximately 3 percent of the purchase price.

5.  When and where should we purchase furniture for the unit? Furniture packages are available through the developer at wholesale prices or owners can furnish the units themselves. There are numerous furniture and interior design companies in the area. Furniture packages should be purchased up to 180 days before expected occupancy to assure product availability.

6. Will I or my guests need a vehicle when I am staying in my unit? No. Hermosa Hills will be providing transportation daily to / from area beaches, tours, grocery stores and restaurants. Rental cars are readily available from major agencies such as National in Jaco should you choose to take a day trip. Airport transfers will be available for a nominal fee.

7. Will I have access to local beaches if I purchase in Hermosa Hills? Yes, all of the local beaches are public beaches and are accessible for you and your guests. Further, the beaches in Jaco are served by many amenities of restaurants, etc. There are also public restrooms being planned in Jaco as well as showers and a boardwalk. Food and drink are readily available from Jaco Beach.