Realestate in Nicaragua

Happy Canada Day in San Juan del Sur

2009-07-04T09:43:00.006-05:00

Given the number of Canadians that called San Juan del Sur home, it's not surprising that July 1st is a big deal here!

For the second year in a row, Canada Day was celebrated with a massive road hockey game. The Canadians that didn't play cheered from the sidelines.

One notable change in the Canada Day Road Hockey game was the number of local Nicaraguan kids that joined the game. Last year the kids had never seen any type of hockey. Over the course of the last 12 months, while watching our 6 or 7 pick up games, the kids have developed an interest in the game and are keen to join the fun. I suppose games of all sorts are universal!

For pictures of the game check out Dan and Cesar's website:
http://www.pbase.com/danpolley/roadhockeyjuly2009

Nicaragua Real Estate

2009-05-31T14:17:00.003-05:00

Things have changed so much in respect to Nicaragua real estate since last year. The first and most obvious change is a significant decrease in demand. The second and slightly less obvious change is that there are so many great deals to choose from. I am in the middle of preparing to take some clients out tomorrow and I'm having to skip some places because there is just so much to choose from. I am able to show them a half dozen properties that suit their needs and all are 30-40% less expensive than what they are willing to pay. I know they will be very pleased.

The rains have started and now San Juan del Sur is becoming a vibrant collage of different shades and textures of green. The air is still generally hot and heavy but there is often an evening breeze to keep things cooler and bearable. The wet season is a beautiful time to be here. Actually the rainy season or wet season in Nicaragua is a bit of a misnomer. When it rains, it generally only rains for an hour or two and often the rains come at night. October is the exception to this rule. In October it can rain a lot.

In a few short weeks we will be heading back to Canada for a few months. Although we are visiting Canada in the heat of the summer it will still be cooler than May in Nicaragua. We will return to Nicaragua later in the year when the Nicaragua real estate season picks up some steam.

Real Estate Deals in San Juan del Sur

2009-05-13T17:23:00.005-05:00

There are a number of excellent Nicaraguan real estate deals presenting themselves these days. The American and world-wide recession has been very punishing to people who bought who use too much leverage in their purchases, There more than a few house of cards that are set to tumble in the San Juan del Sur area. As sad as it is for those who got in over their heads, it now presnets as an excellent buying opportunity to the cautious investors.

I have recently listed 2 homes in San Juan del Sur that are up to 100K less than they were 18 months ago. Last year it was tough to find any finished homes under $200,000.00 and now I can easily fill a few days showing prospective clients a number of great options under $200,000.00.

The cost of building materials has also started to drop making the real estate market in the San Juan del Sur area even more compelling.

There are a few signs in the US and Europe that the markets are firming but I don't expect to see any appreciation in the cost of homes in Nicaragua until at least 2010.
rea
Check out Nicaragua Real Estate for more information or to contact me directly.

NHL in Nicaragua

2009-05-13T00:17:00.002-05:00

Last night, without making any prior arrangements, a group of Canadian ex-pats gradually began to congragate at Smokeys Sports Bar. Smokeys is located directly on the beach in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and has a massive projection screen for watching sports. Generally, the fare is limted to baseball, football, and basketball but last night was different. We Canadians knew that it might be the last time we could see a Canadian team play hockey this season. Sadly, the Vancouver Canucks were the only Canadian team left in the play offs and they were behind in the series 3-2. If the Canucks failed to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks they would be eliminated.

A good representation of Canadians gathered to cross their fingers and cheer for the Canucks. The Canadian guy who runs the hostel belonging to another Canadian guy was there. Another of my real estate collegues was there. The Canadian bartender from the Maritimes was there. And the young Canadian guy who promotes a real estate development on the way to Costa Rica was also there. We were joined by a handful of Canadian travellers.

What a game it was! We joined at the start of the second period and the score was 2-1 for the Hawks. The lead changed hands multiple times before the Hawks ended things with a 7-5 win. The game was great except for the ending and it was fun to think a group of Canadian, far from home, could watch NHL play-off hockey on a beach in Nicaragua while listening to the surf break.

Road Hockey in San Juan del Sur

2009-01-30T10:42:00.002-06:00

With the number of Canadians living in San Juan del Sur, it was only a matter of time before road hockey blasted on to the scene.

The NHL (Nicaraguan Hockey League) inaugural game was played on Canada Day 2008. The Canadian bar flies that frequent Big Wave Dave's had arranged for some Canadian ex-pats to bring down enough plastic hockey blades to field two teams: Canada vs The World. The rest of the equipment could have been taken from an episode of Gilligan's Island. The nets were constructed from bamboo and the netting from vegetable bags. One goalie wore a motorcycle helmet while the other wore shin guards crafted out of baking pans. Team World (primarily Americans) showed their lack of experience by showing up in flip-flops (big no no), army boots (again no), and jeans! Team Canada looked jaunty and sporty in sneakers and shorts. Team Canada won handily and was awarded a large and very heavy marble Stanley cup replica with a duck on top (the Stanley Duck) which apparently was made for a Canadian ex-pat the year the Mighty Ducks won!

Since the first game, games have been held approximately once every 6 weeks. Canada (and once when the World couldn't come up with 5 players, Team BC) has confidently defended the Stanley Duck. I noticed the "Duck" in Repubika the other day which is appropriate as the owner, Canadian Chris, regularly shows games from the other NHL.

The equipment has also evolved as Canadians on trips back home collect "real" goalie equipment, more blades, hockey tape, etc.

If you are traveling through San Juan del Sur, please feel free to join the game. Notice of the games is generally posted at Big Wave Daves or pop in to ask Chris at Republika.

(Go Sens Go)

The Bands Have Arrived

2008-12-30T12:51:00.003-06:00

An unexpected perk to buying real estate in Nicaragua is the omnipresent music. In Nicaragua music enhances everything and loud music REALLY enhances everything.

Purisma is the celebration of Mary in December. Each day the statue of the Virgin Mary to carried from the church to a different barrio accompanied by a marching band. Each evening Mary is carried back to church, accompanied by a marching band.

The week before Christmas a "rumored to be tipsy" marching band travels through the village at 5AM calling parishioners to a 6AM mass. After every funeral, friends and family make a slow procession through the village following a horse pulled wagon carrying the casket of their loved one, accompanied by.....you guessed it....a marching band.

A child's birthday party is not complete without a pinata and a marching band, which in this case is mostly a standing band.

The other day a followed the sounds of a marching band only to discover an entire marching band sitting in the front sala of a very small house. It was crazy loud on the street and I couldn't imagine the sound levels in the sweltering home.

I have been in San Juan del Sur on and off for just more than 2 years and I haven't lost the child-like excitement of hearing a marching band. I regularly hear the strains of a trumpet a few blocks away and follow the sound until I find the raison d'etre of the marching band.

The bands that arrived last night aren't really bands at all. They are 15 foot speakers which line the beach, pumping out pop music accompanied by a massive drum track that just might re-set a pacemaker. And in Nicaragua, if it ain't loud, it ain't good! I could hear the thumping until 4AM and I expect I will hear it every night until January 1st. I live 2 blocks back from the beach so it isn't very disturbing for me. Beach front denizens must be going insane or perhaps they are visiting their friends who bought real estate in the foothills overlooking San Juan del Sur.

For some cool pictures of some of the celebrations that take place in Nicaragua in December check out: http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/8-december-celebrations-nicaragua.html

New Years Eve in Nicaragua

2008-12-26T23:59:00.003-06:00

With New Years Eve just around the corner, I thought I would write a little about the holiday and traditions as celebrated in Nicaragua. I am a Canadian ex-pat living in Nicaragua for the past 2 years, and I never cease to be charmed by the festivities that happen with every major national holiday.

El Ano Viejo (the past year) is a colourful and unique celebration in Nicaragua. Every household will put together a life-sized figure, made of old clothes, with socks for feet and hands, stuffed with dried grass or paper. All over town you will see these figures sitting in front of houses. At midnight on New Years Eve, every household will set their figure on fire in the middle of the street (or dirt road) in front of their house. Burning the figure represents all of the negative things you want to leave behind in order to start the new year fresh with happiness and hope.

Along with the newspaper or straw stuffing, sometimes the Nicaraguans will include some fire crackers - they do love their fire crackers. People will also write down or include a symbolic item of what they wish to be rid of before the new year. The figures are often seen with an empty rum bottle in hand.

New Years Eve in Nicaragua is a very fun (and loud) celebration ... for some other Central American New Years traditions check out this article I've found on this christmas holiday traditions blog.

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2008-10-05T22:56:00.001-05:00

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