Archive for February, 2008
Real estate at a fraction of the price
Thursday, February 28th, 2008“Nicaragua is next in line for fractional real estate offerings after Costa Rica and Mexico” according to Scott A. Preston of law firm Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, speaking at a recent event hosted by the Association of Nicaraguan Investors and Developers (ANID).
Fractional real estate is broadly defined as vacation real estate sold in intervals of more than one week and less than whole ownership. It sits alongside destination clubs, condo hotels, timeshare and private residence clubs on the spectrum of real estate models being used in the second home and vacation market.
Despite being new to the market here, Nicaragua has an advantage over Mexico (where fractionals are booming) when it comes to the legal basis of fractional ownership. With a simpler legal system and an environment where foreigners can own land with fee simple title, fractional offerings are set to flourish.
Hassle free absentee landownership
For investors not equipped or not willing to be absentee landlords, fractionals offer a compelling proposition. It is often not a matter of being unable to afford a vacation home, but a case of not wanting the hassle and expense of maintaining a home 52 weeks of the year when they are likely to occupy it only for two or three weeks each year.
We know of a number of developers in Nicaragua planning fractional products. All part of a wider trend towards mixed use offerings in the vacation real estate world.
Nicaragua real estate scores with swimsuits
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2008 is on the newsstands. And Nicaragua is one of the locations for the photo shoot.
With over 230 million page views already at SI.com, since the edition launch on February 12th, Nicaragua is gaining widespread exposure. Eric Ames over at NuWire Investor notices that some of the photos are taken near San Juan del Sur on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast.
The shoot locations are stunning and showcase some of Nicaragua’s best beaches which, slowly but surely, are finding their place on the worldwide tourism map.
And the Nicaragua real estate cycle starts again. It all starts with a vacation, then turns into a compelling reason to buy.
A fleet of the best Earthship posts from around the world
Saturday, February 16th, 2008The Earthship concept may be new to Nicaragua real estate but, search around a bit, and you’ll find Earthships all over the world. They work in all climates, on most terrains, gradients or exposures, within cities as well as in remote areas, completely off-the-grid.
And people are blogging about Earthships and the logic of green building. Here are some of the best blogs and posts citing Earthships in Canada, throughout Europe, Australia and of course Taos, New Mexico where it all started.
- The first Earthship to be built in England was Earthship Brighton, on the south coast. The Guardian covered the story and it looks like more Earthships are to follow on a prime development site overlooking the Brighton Marina.
- We hear from treehugger how the Earthship concept crossed the English channel to Normandy, France.
- In September last year the CNN described Earthships as future-proof buildings in an article covering the Earthships of New Mexico.
- True to their strap-line “inspired people creating positive change,” EcoSpace Conscious Community are helping spread the word about these houses made out of tires.
- Over at off-grid-net we hear news of Earthships in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Ireland.
- Another plug about the logic of recycling what is normally garbage and making it into a home courtesy of fudgeforbreakfast in the spirit of making a difference.
- Hat tip to Our Earthship for charting a journey towards sustainable living.
- Windmill power and Earthships just might be “the wave of the future” according to Windmills To Power your Home.
- And Paradoxes of Whole Living talks about the New Mexico Earthship work and links to photos of a Canadian example.
- A list like this wouldn’t be complete without a link out to Earthship Biotecture, the group who started it all and a resource for all things Earthship.
What about back here in Nicaragua?
Nicaragua real estate. Going green?
The logic of Earthships and green building is also catching on here in Nicaragua.
With the building of the first Nicaraguan Earthship well underway, we think we are witnessing the start of a green movement in Nicaragua real estate.
Green building in Nicaragua – 29th day of the construction of an Earthship.
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
The waiting game for the wood has begun. We’re not talking about that much lumber, but the complications of material acquisition in Nicaragua are becoming clearer everyday. This is all good ground work for the Earthships that will follow. And the nice thing about this green building project is that there is always plenty to be done.
Today we poured the footings for the wing walls and made an aggressive hit on the adobe interior of the two larger rooms. We have decided that the doors for the end walls and bathrooms should reach the same height as the arched doors to the bedroom and living area. The doors will be seven feet by three feet and three inches. We’re starting to see a nice symmetry emerging in the design.
Beautiful tiles hand made in Granada arrive on Day 28
Monday, February 4th, 2008
The bond beams on the greenhouse have been poured and are ready to receive trusses. Leaving the site in the very capable hands of Phil Basehart and Seth Larsen (Earthship Biotecture), project manager Dave Kniffin headed off on a supply run.
Check out the Granada Tiles! (Granada is a beautiful historic colonial city located on the shores of Lake Nicaragua around 90 minutes drive away.) The tiles are hand made in Nicaragua and normally exported to the US and Spain. But they were virtually given to us by a neighboring land owner who likes our project and happens to own the company that makes them.
Nicaragua real estate – “A work of art” emerges on Day 27 of the Earthship construction
Saturday, February 2nd, 2008
The building is beginning its transformation from a solid structure, to a work of art…
Thanks to Jo, Tim, and Lauren for their extra help at the site today.
Nicaragua real estate: Day 26 in the life of a Nicaraguan Earthship
Friday, February 1st, 2008
As our road is under construction, there are very small windows of opportunity to receive materials. And everyday is an opportunity to learn.
Yesterday I was promised by one fellow based out of Rivas that the sand would arrive before 7:00am, an hour and a half before the road crew arrives. I was also promised by a more local building supply store that the 60 cement bags I had ordered would also arrive before 8:00am and that we were first on the priority list for the day.
As we pulled into the site at 6:55am, the truck full of 9 cubic meters of sand was already being unloaded.
The day began with more concrete work on the water catchment system, making sure all drains were slopped at the proper angle. There is also a significant amount of mud/adobe plasterwork underway and it is drying very well. This is the time of year for making mud since it has plenty of time to cure during this dry season.
But all work slowed to a crawl as the last bag of cement was consumed at about 8:30am… We were able to keep busy, but the efficiency of work was clearly lacking for about an hour. The nice thing about building Earthships, is that there will always be dirt to move or sift and tires to pound.
At about 9:45am, the cement arrived.
Of course by this time the road was impassable. As we have done before, we hiked it to the site much like ants marching up a hill.
The day continued and progress was made. Just another good Nica-story…
