Our Green, Mortgage-Free Home in Costa Rica

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Nita (the author) and Marty Kemsley hired out the labor on their home, and supervise its construction to ensure that each detail suits their desires.
Nita (the author) and Marty Kemsley hired out the labor on their home, and supervise its construction to ensure that each detail suits their desires.
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This “hacienda” is one of two debt-free shelters the Kemsleys have designed and had built.
This “hacienda” is one of two debt-free shelters the Kemsleys have designed and had built.
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Upon completing their primary residence, the Kemsleys plan to open part of it as a bed-and-breakfast.
Upon completing their primary residence, the Kemsleys plan to open part of it as a bed-and-breakfast.
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The rainforest surrounding the Kemsley residence is home to monkeys, toucans, birds and other wildlife.
The rainforest surrounding the Kemsley residence is home to monkeys, toucans, birds and other wildlife.
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The hacienda is a Spanish Colonial-style structure that uses hydroelectric power and is completely off-grid.
The hacienda is a Spanish Colonial-style structure that uses hydroelectric power and is completely off-grid.
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Stunning views surround the Kemsley residence, including a view of the Arenal Volcano.
Stunning views surround the Kemsley residence, including a view of the Arenal Volcano.

We built our first green home (our “casita”) in Costa Rica in 2008 and 2009 and are in the process of building another home on our property now that will become our primary residence and a bed-and-breakfast upon completion (our “hacienda”). We’re doing this project piecemeal, on a pay-as-we-go basis. No standing debt, no mortgage. We are very proud of our efforts to build and sustain a totally green home in a tropical rainforest environment. We strive to be carbon neutral, we employ hydroelectric power, and we have a source of pure fresh spring water, as well. Many baby boomers are looking for alternatives to living in the United States in their golden years.

We have been planning to move to Costa Rica permanently in 2015, but are currently living in Park City, Utah, while we build our dream home. When we aren’t in Costa Rica, we rent out our home as a vacation rental and luxury hostel, which helps us maintain the project and contributes to our building fund.

Initially we used the equity in our home in Park City, Utah. From there, we refinanced and pulled the money for the Costa Rican property purchase and casita construction. That way, the property in Costa Rica would always be free and clear. When we sold our Park City home, we no longer had the debt. When we started the hacienda project, we took a small loan on our 401(k) balance and are paying ourselves back the amount over three years at 10 percent interest. But the rest of our construction is strictly pay-as-we-go. It took us only nine months to build the casita, and it will take us about four years to complete the hacienda B&B. Our target move-in date is late 2015. After we have made the move, we will continue to work on finishing the hacienda and then the rental units and the swimming pool.

The casita is a simple two-bedroom cottage, about 900 square feet. It is made of concrete block and natural woods. The hacienda will be about 3,500 square feet, and is Spanish Colonial style. We purchased 2 acres of farmland that had spectacular views of Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano, a stream, and a corridor of primary and secondary rainforest. We wanted to protect that corridor and its myriad monkeys, toucans, birds and other wildlife. The water rights to the stream, the spring water and the hydroelectric power were part of the deal. We are completely off-grid.

Labor costs are relatively cheap — the most important thing is having a crew you can communicate with. Material costs and availability can be a challenge, as material costs fluctuate with the exchange rate. When we built the casita, the final building cost was about $40,000. Materials and excavation were about three-fourths of that.

  • Published on May 14, 2014
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