Cortez Estates is named after the Cortez tree, with its beautiful yellow flowers that bloom towards the end of the dry season of the year. The Cortez tree grows throughout Cortez Estates and we are working to ensure that any Cortez saplings can thrive to become big trees as well. Cortez Estates is also home to other desired tree species. Guanacaste. The Guanacaste tree grows to massive size, spreading dappled sun to peek through its overstory Tamarindo. Like the Guanacaste, the Tamarindo grows to massive size and provides dappled shade.

Cortez Estates is situated approximately 15 minutes south of San Juan del Sur, in Southern Nicaragua and only 20 km north of the Costa Rica border [as the crow flies] San Juan del Sur is a historic fishing town, set on the edge of an amazing semi-circular cove. The cove is best viewed from the Cristo which sits on a mountain on the north side of town. San Juan del Sur is still home to many fishers, but has also become a destination for surfers from all over the world. The bars and restaurants speak to this surfing culture. The Government of Nicaragua is in the midst of building the brand new Carretera Costanera, which runs from the Costa Rican border at the very SW corner of Nicaragua, up through San Juan del Sur and then onward to the north. Portions of this beautiful new highway are already built. The Costanera is designed to be a tourist highway, connecting the beaches along the coast. Highway trucks are not allowed on this road, except to make deliveries. Directions From Managua Managua to San Juan del Sur: You can rent a car or hire a car and driver. We recommend that you use Google Maps, taking the road from Managua through Masaya to Nandaime, then to Rivas and La Virgen to San Juan del Sur. One can do it more quickly, but a careful leisurely drive is about three hours. From San Juan del Sur to Cortez Estates: take the Costa Nera south to the NN-224 (3 min), turn left and continue to Cortez Estates (about 10 min) From Liberia, Costa Rica It is about one hour from Liberia to Penas Blancas, the place of the current CR-Nica border crossing on the Carretera Panamericana. Currently, one cannot take taxis and rental cars across the border, so one must walk across the border and rent a car or taxi on the other side. Crossing the border is fairly effortless, but depending on traffic, may take between 10 and 60 minutes. From the Nicaraguan side of the border, one must travel north to La Virgen (just south of Rivas), turning west toward San Juan del Sur. From the border to San Juan del Sur is approx. 45 min. In the hopefully near future, a new border crossing, west of Penas Blancas, on the western edge of Costa Rica and Nicaragua will connect us more directly with Costa Rica. At that time, one will be able take the Costanera north from the Costa Rican border to just before Escamequita, turn right, pass by Big Sky Ranch, proceed through the village of Escamequita, and continue about 5 minutes to Cortez Estates. That trip from the Costa Rican border to Cortez Estates should be less than 30 minutes.

At Cortez Estates, we have decided to include most of the costs up front so that you are not surprised by hidden costs as you progress in your Nicaraguan land ownership. When you buy an estate property at Cortez Estates, you will pay a basic lot price, a closing fee, a utility service fee and an initial HPR contribution. This total package gives you the peace of mind that all costs are covered, all services brought to your personal estate and that your fellow estate owners welcome you to the HPR. Closing costs Most sellers of lots and houses in coastal Nicaragua require the buyer to register the property and pay all fees. Some of these costs, especially the land transfer tax, an amount that is not assessed until after the sale, can become a very substantial negative surprise for purchasers. Stories of extremely disappointed buyers abound. We want to prevent that from happening to you, so at Cortez Estates, we cover all of those costs ourselves. We will register the property in your name. We will pay the fees associated with such registration. We will pay the land transfer tax. In fact, we will pay all closing costs except for your own legal counsel. Utility service fee When you purchase a Cortez Estates property, we will deliver water and electricity to your estate via an underground line within 60 days of closing. When you are building your house, we will also supply a water meter and electricity meter so your tradespeople can make the final connection.

Yes, there is an HOA, locally known as a Horizontal Property Regime (HPR). The HPR is owned and managed by all of the estate owners and by Buena Vista S.A., the developer of Cortez Estates. Each lot owner, and Buena Vista SA is required to pay annual fees into the HPR. The HPR is responsible for, among other matters, establishing community norms for common enjoyment of the property, such as noise abatement expectations, preservation of nature, property upkeep and cleanliness, etc. establishing norms and expectations related to building styles managing and paying for the upkeep of the common assets, such as roads, water systems, electrical power systems, security and boundary fencing

Once you have purchased your estate, you will be responsible for annual property taxes, annual HPR fees and, of course, your electricity usage and water usage. Property taxes are payable to the local municipality (the Alcaldia) and are expected to be approximately $_________ Annual HPR dues will be assessed by the HPR Board, which comprises the representatives of the property/homeowners. Your initial purchase price will include your initial contribution to the HPR. We expect that annual HPR contributions may be approximately $___________

No, there is no legal requirement to build within a certain timeframe. However, to encourage growth in the community, HOA fees are the same for both built and unbuilt lots. This ensures a consistent contribution to maintaining the shared infrastructure and amenities.

The HPR has established certain building standards, which are laid out in the HPR appendices LINK HERE