Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Real estate at a fraction of the price

“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. 

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The great turtle race

We were invited by Steve Jackson, Our Man in Granada, to pick a turtle in the Great Turtle Race.  We have chosen Champiro and will be cheering her on as she swims from Costa Rica to the Galapagos Islands.

The race starts on Monday and we’ll link to updates on her progress.  What a great initiative to raise awareness for the plight of leatherback turtles. Here is a CNN article with more background - Great race is on for endangered turtles.

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Surfing in Nicaragua: Gaining International Recognition as the First National Circuit of Surfing Takes Place in Nicaragua

Nicaragua has been hosting surf contests for several years. Begun by Tom Eberley of Eberley surfboards, continued by local surfer Javier Baldovines, and now organized by Ricardo Morales, of Sands Surf Shop, the surf contests in Nicaragua are being taken to a whole new level. In 2006, I had the pleasure of representing Nicaragua womens surfing in an international event held in Esterillos, Costa Rica. Following the event, Ricardo Morales began organizing the first National Circuit for surf contests in Nicaragua, with the goal to compete internationally after this year’s first circuit. This years International Central American event is schedule to be help in Guatemala and will follow the same format as last year’s tournament in Costa Rica.

In each event there have been numerous advertisers/sponsors who help out with the event to make each contest possible. News of this last event in La Boquita was on the front page of La Prensa, El Nuevo Diaro sports page, and on the local and national radio stations as well. The event brochures and posters are distributed throughout Managua, San Juan del Sur, Rivas and all along the Coast. Surfing is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the country… this year my picture even made it into the press. Click here to view the article

The first event of the National Circuit was held at Playa Maderas, quite possibly Nicaragua’s most popular surfing beach. The second event was held in La Boquita. The next event is scheduled for March 10 and 11th and is located in Las Penitas, just outside of Leon. After that we take the games to Playa Santana, and the final event is scheduled to occur in Popoyo. We are very excited to see this sport gain national recognition in Nicaragua. For information on sponsoring any of the events, please contact me.  For property opportunites near a surf break, follow this link for surf real estate available in Nicaragua.

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Posted in Events, Tola and Popoyo, Surfing in Nicaragua, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua in the news | 4 Comments »

Poets flock to Granada to celebrate Nicaragua’s most popular art

Poetry is perhaps Nicaragua’s greatest passion and every year an International Poetry Festival is held in Granada.  This year’s celebration, currently taking place and running to February 11th, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jose Colonel Utecho a famous national poet.

Over 40 poets from Latin America, US and Europe have arrived in Granada to perform poetry readings, lectures and musical performances from the steps of the San Francisco church (left).  The festival will not pass without numerous fond references to Ruben Dario (1867-1916), one of the most famous poets with writings in Spanish, widely considered the nation’s greatest son.

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