property and real estate for sale in Nicaragua, Nicaraguan real estate in Managua, Granada, Leon, and San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Just two hours south of Miami by plane lies a stretch of virgin paradise under a warm quatorial sun - a land that is virtually unknown, a diamond in the rough whose gentle green slopes taper down to beautiful white beaches and breath-taking views.Nicaragua is also a beautiful country, full of nature with plenty of sunshine, oceans, mountains, rivers, farms, tropics, lakes, and quaint cities. Last but not least, the people of Nicaragua, commonly referred to as Nicas, are friendly, helpful, and have a zest for life.

"Nicaragua is the Bahamas before it went upscale. It's St. Barts without the attitude," according to MSNBC's travel editor.

And, for now, Nicaragua has some of the lowest real estate prices when compared with other property hotspots in Central and South America.

A half acre lot with close ocean views near San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua's premier Pacific coast tourism town) can be found for $60-95,000. You would need $200-500,000 for an ocean view lot similarly close to amenities elsewhere in the region.

Mountain properties in Nicaragua's highland area of Matagalpa are a fraction of the cost of property in Panama's Boquete and Volcan and Managua, the capital, attracts some of the highest rental yields in the region.

What's more, you are not sacrificing beauty, culture, biodivisity or history for these prices.

Nicaragua has some of the most spectacular beaches in Central America. It is also home to the colonial city of Granada - purportedly the oldest in the Americas, and the remarkable crater lake Apoyo - recommended for accreditation as a World Heritage site.

It's a buyer's market

Right now, those prepared to invest the time researching opportunities, will be able to lock in great prices. Yes, Daniel Ortega is back in power, but with a new vision. He continues to receive promises of financial aid from all sides of the political spectrum and trade with the US continues to grow on the back of CAFTA.

Location: Nicaragua is bordered by: Honduras to the north; Costa Rica to the south; the Caribbean to the east; and the Pacific to the west.

Climate: Nicaragua is hot with an average temperature of 82º F year round. Humidity averages around 75% and there are two seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season is from May to mid-November and dry in the months in between. Almost all year round begin sunny on the Pacific with rains coming in the afternoon and night which are of short duration. The hottest time of year is from February to May, when temperature often reach towards 100°F and days can be windy. The Pacific region experiences the longest dry season and the dry season becomes progressively shorter as you head east towards the Caribbean.

Economy: Nicaragua's economy is one of the most dynamic aspects about the nation. In the last ten years, inflation has gone from more than 10,000% to 7% and foreign investment is now in the billions of dollars. Based on agriculture, principal export items being coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, beef, tobacco, sesame seed, rice, corn, beans, and sorghum.

Official Language: Spanish, however you will encounter English and indigenous languages on the Atlantic or Carribean coast.
Time: Standard Time is 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-6). Nicaragua does not observe Daylight-Saving Time.

Currency: Nicaraguan Gold Córdoba (C$) = 100 centavos. Notes are in denominations of C$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 centavos. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the airport, at banks and at official bureaux de change in major cities. The exchange rate will vary so check before visiting Nicaragua at http://www.fms.treas.gov/intn.html .

Managua flights summary: There are no direct flights to the Nicaraguan capital from anywhere in Europe. Regular connecting flights to Managua can be taken from various cities in the United States, including Atlanta, Houston and Miami. Flights from Gatwick or Heathrow via Miami are typically £400+ return

Why Invest and Live In Nicaragua?
Nicaragua is becoming one of the hottest countries in the world for foreign investment in real estate. Nicaragua has had a stable Democratic Government in place and President in office for over 15 years. Due to the fact that many people believe Nicaragua is a country with political instability, local real estate property is still undervalued. Signs are this period is over as real estate prices in Nicaragua have started to climb steadily. The situation now in Nicaragua is similar to that of Costa Rica and Belize in the late 1980s. However, it is too late for many to invest in those countries as real estate prices have increased many times over since then.

Nicaragua is a growing country and has seen billions of dollars spent in infrastructure, new construction, and building improvements in the last few years. The Wall Street Journal recently reported the following: The country's tourism business is increasing too. Cruise ships are regularly docking at San Juan del Sur, a picturesque town off the southwestern coast. And the airport in Managua has recently gone through a major expansion. This development is all good news for Nicaraguan investors.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Nicaragua as one of the ten best places to retire in a recent survey.
Nicaragua offers many advantages that few other countries can match. The cost of living is a fraction of the cost of living in the United States or the UK.

Property Tax: Property transfers in Nicaragua are subject to a 4% transfer tax. Generally the buyer pays 3%, and the seller pays 1%. Property taxes are 1.5%, paid on the assessed value of the property. Most assessments, however, lag behind the actual current values. You can freely repatriate your profits

Title Insurance in Nicaragua
You can buy title insurance in Nicaragua through First American Title Insurance Company, one of the biggest and most well known title insurance companies in the world. Title insuarnce will protect your real estate investment in Nicaragua. You can buy the title insurance policy in the United States, Canada, or in the U.K., and the coverage will interpreted under the laws of Nicaragua.

According to Turalu Brady Murdock, who manages the Caribbean and Central American operations for First American, the policies are comprehensive and cover ownership issues, liens, mortgages, contracts, options, or other encumbrances on titles as well as fraud and forgery matters and rights of access to and from the land. These policies on foreign property also provide you a legal defense if your title is challenged in the country in which your property is located.

For more information on obtaining title insurance in Nicaragua, contact Turalu Brady Murdock, First American Title Insurance Company, Caribbean - Central American Operations, 268 Ponce de Leon Ave., Suite 1406, San Juan, PR 00918; tel. (787)641-6767, tel. toll free from the U.S. (877)641-6767,
fax (787)641-6768, e-mail: tmurdock@firstam.com.