"After a lot of research, we focused on Nicaragua and scheduled a real estate tour through Serenity Real Estate in the mountains of northern Nicaragua. This will probably turn out to be one of the best decisions we’ve made... “Serenity” is not just a word to these folks, it’s a mission."
From: Gerry & Debi H.
Former City Chief of Police & Veterans Hospital Administrator
Arkansas, USA
Sunday, December 2, 2007
As retirement approaches, one primary concern has been where to retire. We were looking for a place with more temperate weather, a slower pace and a more affordable cost of living among other things. After a lot of research, we focused on Nicaragua and scheduled a real estate tour through Serenity Real Estate in the mountains of northern Nicaragua. This will probably turn out to be one of the best decisions we’ve made.
While I hesitate to praise the experience too highly (part of the charm of the area is that it isn’t ‘touristy’), we had a wonderful time there. All of the staff of Serenity Real Estate went out of their way to take care of us. I wish I could remember the name of every member of the Serenity staff so I could thank them individually, memory may not be the first thing to go as we age but its close to the top of the list. Everything was taken care of, from transportation to lodging to meals. Arrangements were made for us to meet with one of the doctors in the area to learn about the healthcare facilities available as well as with one to the top law enforcement officials regarding security and public services. Since we don’t speak Spanish, Serenity staff were always with us to translate. They made sure that we saw a wide range of potential retirement properties. Whether a person is looking for a place in the center of town or a house in a suburban subdivision, a small farm or a larger property to build a rural retreat, Serenity Real Estate can find it. They drove us from Managua to Matagalpa. They made reservations for us at Hotel St. Thomas, and it is a truly first class hotel with spacious rooms, friendly staff, a very nice restaurant and beautiful grounds. We looked at a variety of property in and around Matagalpa, then went on to Jinotega and Apanas Lake resort. We spent our last day in Nicaragua in Leon where Serenity staff there took us on a walking tour of the city and showed us several more places.
We found our little retirement haven just outside of Matagalpa. The services of Serenity Real Estate don’t stop with the purchase of the property. We have been in regular contact with them via e-mail and phone to get all the proper documentation and legal work done to make sure that there are no problems. I have read that purchasing property in a foreign country can be a risky and arduous undertaking. The staff of Serenity have made the process much less stressful.
“Serenity” is not just a word to these folks, it’s a mission.
For more on Gerry and Debi's Excellent Adventure click here
"Don’t even think about buying property in Nicaragua without a group like Serenity working with you! Even if you live in Nicaragua already and speak fluent Spanish (which I don’t), their tenacity, honesty and various skills make them invaluable allies."
From: Adam B.
Audio Effects Specialist
on Major Hollywood Films (including "Iron Man")
California, USA
April 14, 2008
Serenity's staff is incredibly patient, and I want to do business with no one but them. I give them the highest marks. I certainly will recomend them to anyone in the future who does show any interest. They've been as patient and honest as Mother Theresa, and I thank them for it.
To all those people looking for a good opportunity for real estate investment, Nicaragua can’t be beat. I missed the chance to buy in Costa Rica in 1987 and had been kicking myself for the last 20 years. After my experience buying three acres in Nicaragua, I have some advice.
The first thing I have to say is, don’t even think about buying property in Nicaragua without a group like Serenity working with you! Even if you live in Nicaragua already and speak fluent Spanish (which I don’t), their tenacity, honesty and various skills make them invaluable allies. I ran into a number of beaurocratic and legal hurdles that would have made it impossible without their help. Those same hurdles made it incredible that they would have stuck with my case for my relatively modest piece of property. This is important when you are trying to transact business from another country.
Again, I will recommend them to any one interested. If you are looking into buying and have additional questions about my experience contact Serenity to be put in touch with me. But, more than likely, it is Serenity that will have the answers you need.
"You seem to handle the problems with good grace, and I always felt like the process was in good hands...Serenity's staff was so friendly and easy going...(with) locals on staff who seem to know everybody on the street as well as the history of just about any house you point at"
From: Chris D.
former Art Center Director
Toronto, Canada
April 1 - May 9, 2008
I have found your support and services invaluable. There were a few bumps in the process, but you seem to handle the problems with good grace, and I always felt like the process was in good hands. As I mentioned to you when we met, I've bought and sold properties without a realtor, but in the case of Nicaragua, your work seems like an essential service. Thanks again to you for all your hard work on my behalf. You have certainly made it easy for me. I'll look forward to adding my voice to your testimonial page, and I hope this is just the first of many projects between us.
May 11, 2008
Serenity helped me buy a ranch near Las Penitas in the spring of 2008. In Canada, I had bought and sold many properties on my own and had never felt the need for the services of a realtor.
In Nicaragua, the property investment environment is very different and I came to appreciate Serenity's services as more than just a convenience for ex-patriot buyers. For me, they were essential to the successful completion of the purchase. They offered me friendly turnkey service from my first visit to the ranch, through the sales process and beyond with connections to local contractors and services including market analysis as I now consider how to develop my new property.
I speak Spanish and have spent a good deal of time in Latin countries, so I was quite comfortable wandering around Nicaragua on my own looking at properties. I dropped into the Serenity office one morning and spoke with local representatives about what I was looking for. It was a serendipitous decision... I liked the color of the sign and I thought I would investigate long enough to cool off in the air-conditioned office. Serenity's staff was so friendly and easy going that I found myself settling into a rocking chair while we planned a property tour for the following day.
Serenity has locals on staff who seem to know everybody on the street as well as the history of just about any house you point at.
We had a great day looking a properties and hiking into the back hills of the ranch I ended up buying. We returned several days later and toured the perimeter of the property on horses. It was just what I was looking for, so I made an offer and, after a respectable amount of negotiating, the seller accepted a couple of days later. Serenity's staff then coached me through the purchase process... finding a good local lawyer, arranging for a title insurance assessment, arranging for a property survey, getting a hydrological assessment, estimating road and electricity development costs, finding an inexpensive way to transfer money to Nicaragua... the list of things to do was long and I was out of time. I looked my Serenity representative in the eye and decided he was a man to be trusted, so I signed a power of attorney giving him authority to complete the purchase process on my behalf and returned to Canada. He kept me updated through e-mail and documents to my online personal account on the Serenity website. I never had a moment's doubt, and the process went as planned. Now I'm packing up for my move to Nicaragua.
Personally, I think its a good time for Canadians to invest in Nicaragua. Our dollar has a higher foreign exchange value than it has had for 40 years and World Bank reports say that Nicaragua is among the least bureaucratic and most secure countries in Latin America in which to invest. Statistically, Leon is one of the safest communities in the country. Property prices are reasonable, as are living costs, and the very serious problem of uncertainty of property ownership caused by the war and political upheavals of the 80s can now be mitigated by using the services of credible real estate companies like Serenity. So, my thanks to the team at Serenty in Leon.
From: C. L.
California
June 9, 2008
"For some reason your site is very obscure to the web surfer. You might ask around to find out how to show up in Google searches. You deserve to be at the top of those web searches based on the service you provide!"
Testimonials about our business region
Leon
If I were making the move, I'd go to Leon
Submitted by bluecayuga on www.nicaliving.com 16 June, 2006 - 18:09.
It has the charm of the old colonial cities but it's small enough to feel quaint. While San Juan del Sur has the advantage of being on the ocean.... but it also has the disadvantage of being in the middle of no where. Living in Leon you would be living only 20 minutes from the ocean, the best of both worlds! One could play on the beach all day but in 20 minutes you have all the advantages of living in the city...good restaurants, great hotels, clubs, mass transit, close to Managua, Leon is also a college town, with a new graduate school scheduled to open in the future, so the real estate will not only be gaining value as more and more people migrate south but it will have the great advantage of incoming crops of new students every year ready to spend their parents money.
Leon as a place to live
Submitted by markwayne on www.nicaliving.com
16 December, 2004 - 07:59. Concerns
Hello,
I am curious as to thoughts and comments about living in or near Leon . I notice at present an absence of Gringos living in Leon and am curious as to the reasons.
Personally I see Leon as possiblly having some advantages over other areas in Nicaragua for retirement/relocation. In and around Leon you are only 20 minutes from the beach (This is important to me as beach is a desirable part of my daily life) you have hospitals,universities, markets,ect.'civilization" and only an hour to Managua .
Yes, I might agree that it is not as beautifull as Grenada but real estate is cheaper and you can go to the beach for a swim in the afternoon if you want. No it is not San Juan Del Sur yet perhaps in other ways there is more "going on" just do to the size of Leon and its university amenities.
Just curious as to why gringos to date have not really settled much there. The way I see it Leon has more amenities than Rivas and you can incorporate " Pacific beach" into your daily life much easyer than in Granada .
There are people that being close to the beach is important to them. I am one of those people. Spent a lot of time years ago in Costa Rica looking around at beach areas for relocation and always felt isolated as almost all beach areas are far from city amenities (San Jose 4 hour drive away).beach areas can get boring.It seems to me Leon may have the right "Balance"
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