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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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Costa Rica began attracting expatriates earlier than some of its Central American neighbors. This small country (slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia in the USA, 2/3's the size of Panama), situated on both the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean is considered to be a good place to live by many Americans and Europeans. The moderate climate in some parts of the country, called "Eternal Spring" sounds great for wealthy retirees, wishing to escape the extreme weather conditions in many areas of North America. If you're looking for a place of retirement, Costa Rica should be among your options. Nevertheless, before making the final decision you should collect as much as possible information not only on the country in general, but also on the exact area in which you wish to settle.

The Central American country of Costa Rica doesn't often make the international headlines. Seasonal hurricanes and floods, occasional earthquakes, or volcanoes erupting from time to time, these are the topics that usually make the international newspapers. Costa Rica was named by Christopher Columbus in 1502. The name means "a rich coast". It has one of the more stable democratic systems in the region. This is partly due to the fact that since 1949 the country hasn't had a regular armed force, and also to generous US financial assistance.

The country's government has worked for years to build the image of Costa Rica as a tourist paradise. This image, used so successfully in the past, has twice the importance for the country's economic prosperity now, as the geopolitical importance of Costa Rica for the United States somehow diminished after the withdrawal from the Panama Canal. One important element of this image of peace and tranquility is the low crime rate in the country. Like every country, there can be some problems. Carefully check out the areas in which you are interested.

The economic prosperity of Costa Rica is built upon connections with its major trade partners. Being the second largest banana producing country in the world, Costa Rica relies heavily on the foreign market environment. In this respect, the US decision to open trade talks with Costa Rica for the creation of NAFTA-like free trade zone would encourage the foreign investors, big and small. Among the sensitive topics during the talks will be the calls for opening the telecommunications sector in Costa Rica and the US farm subsidies and textile quotas. The negotiators are expected to reach an agreement by the end of 2003.

Costa Rica began decades ago offering expatriates special conditions for settling in the country. This is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, this makes the country much more predictable than some of its northern neighbors. On the other hand, American and European retirees have populated this country since the 1970's so it's more difficult to find a real bargain. There are complaints about the high prices in some areas, especially when the sellers know that the buyers come from the United States. According to some experts' suggestions, real estate in Costa Rica should cost 20-30% of its same-size same-quality equivalent in middle-priced state in the USA. If the property goes above this level, then the buyer should try to negotiate a better deal. The prices in Costa Rica have skyrocketed in the last decade, thus making the real bargains in some areas more and more unavailable. A good alternative for the investors is to look not for a house but for land parcels ready for development. Far from the cities, a piece of land can be bought in the mountains and highlands from $1,000 to $5,000 per acre. The lots with ocean views go for $10,000 to $30,000 per acre and the beachfronts begin from $50,000 per acre. If the investor decides to buy in volume, some 40-50 acre parcels or a bigger lot, the prices could even drop by half.

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** - The new trade zone would include also El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Country profile:

• Area: 51,100 sq. km;
• Population: 3.8 million;
• Life expectancy: 76 years;
• Infant mortality rate: 10,87 deaths/1,000 live births;
• Languages: Spanish, Creole English and Indian dialects;
• Religion: 85% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant;
• GDP per capita: $4,300;
• Major industries: Tourism, electronics, coffee, bananas, sugar, and food processing;
• Major trading partners: USA, Germany, Italy, and Japan;
• Internet users: 250,000 (2001).

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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Costa Rica.