Timing is everything and that applies to when we re-built Sabalo Eco Lodge. Here in Costa Rica the prices of things have gone way up from a few years ago. Developing countries are often the first to feel any economic hardship that originates from the states. The old saying is still true today “when the U.S. sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold”.
That said, if you tried to build something similar today to the structures here at Sabalo Eco Lodge you would soon realize the good value that this property is. Labor and wood have almost doubled in price since we rebuilt the lodge three years ago. We are starting to see prices on materials and labor come down a little as commerce has slowed globally but they still have quite a ways to go to get to 2006 levels. Unfortunately, many people are still hanging onto price levels during the good times from 2003 through 2006. This is true with labor, materials and real estate prices.
You would be hard pressed to find a piece of real estate to build your own lodge where the grounds are all grown in with exotic fruit trees, expanses of lawn, and don’t forget the private stream. Many properties sold here in the Osa Peninsula are cleared lots or open pasture. The cost, time and effort to landscape your barren lot, turning it into a lush environment will only add to your bottom line.
The main grounds of Sabalo Eco Lodge are surrounded by and filled with old growth trees as well as mature fruit and palm trees. If you have time on your hands once you’ve planted everything on a bare lot or pasture, your property should be filled in with lush trees and plants within 5 or so years.
Lastly, there is the extreme challenge of coming to a developing country where very little English is spoken then building something like this in an area that’s remote and off-the-grid, with only a generator as your source of electricity. Unscrupulous contractors (we fired our first one), workers needing constant supervision, price fluctuations in materials, transporting everything in by boat such as: materials, workers, food and gas, etc. The list goes on and we have some very funny stories we could share (they weren’t that funny at the time however) but I think you get the idea.
We witnessed the real estate crash in the United States and we have no illusions about the value of real estate both in the U.S. and here in Costa Rica. Sabalo Eco Lodge is a beautiful property almost magical and definitely paradise as described by many of our guests. We priced the lodge at what we feel is a very fair value all things considered and even threw in the cool stuff just to sweeten the pot. We hope you agree.
Sincerely,
Dan & Holly Pesta
Owners Sabalo Eco Lodge – Costa Rica
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