Ocean View Property vs. Mountain and Jungle View Property

Author: Chris Schauer. REMAX – We Sell Paradise

Many clients I work with automatically assume they want a property with an expansive ocean view. Many ex-pats who have lived here a while aren’t quite so sure. My wife and I had the default ocean view/beach property assumption ourselves on our first visit to Costa Rica. Once we got here, we quickly found that beach proximity and ocean views weren’t the only choices. All it took was one visit to the Arenal Volcano area to open our eyes. I find that many potential home buyers, particularly retirees, start to consider more options once they see the area’s incredible natural beauty.

Ocean views are great, don’t get me wrong! I love them myself, and some of my favorite houses have them. I encourage you to keep an open mind and consider alternatives. All other things being equal, an ocean view home will typically garner a higher value than a non-ocean view property. Of course, this means they will typically cost more, and you will usually also get a higher resale value when you sell.

Reasons to Consider Non-Ocean View Properties in Costa Rica
· Lower price – Typically, all other things being equal, a home with a mountain, valley, and jungle view will cost less than an ocean view property.
· Interesting scenery – Staring off at the ocean is one of my favorite pastimes, but watching the ever- changing jungle can keep me entertained for hours.
· Wildlife – Have you ever sat and watched a monkey, bird, sloth, or other wildlife community members for hours? I have, and it is awesome.

· Protection from elements – Depending on the layout, some homes will find some protection measures from the elements when located among the trees.
Examples of Other-than-Ocean-View Properties

· A friend of mine has a mini river valley in the jungle behind his house.
· I viewed a property near Lagunas that had a river valley view that rivaled national parks in the US, and the 2+ acre property was around $70k.
· A home in my neighborhood backs up to a “monkey trail” with howler monkeys waking me up nearly every morning.
· Many of the homes in the middle of Ojochal have a view of a jungled mountain that sprouts dozens of waterfalls overnight in the green season.
· The location of a friend’s house is on a medium-size hill that is right at the level of the treetops around him. When the breeze blows through the trees, they sway at a leisurely rate, and the effect is truly unique and inspiring.