Once upon a time, the neighborhoods off Houstons northwest FM1960 were a luxury homebuilders dream. Large wooded and level lots surrounded upscale country clubs such as Champions Golf Course, Raveneaux, and North Gate Country Club.

Affluent families were attracted to these homes because of great neighborhood schools, beautiful parks, challenging golf courses, and nearby fine dining and shopping areas. It was an area where I once lived, as did my sister Gayle Butler and our parents.

We never dreamed that dense apartment housing projects and a compatible WalMart Super Store would invade quiet lifestyles.

In fact, I received a distressed phone call last Tuesday evening from Gayle because the biodiverse preserve behind her home has reportedly been sold by WalMart to a low income housing developer. Behind her lovely residence sits a meadow with a large pond that is home to enormous colonies and species of frogs.

For almost 30 years, the entire neighborhood has been serenaded by thousands of singing frogs and hooting owls. They are a diverse natural treasure, residing at the back fence of the Super WalMart on FM 1960 at Walters Road.

(Im no biologist, but you might call me a frog and owl lover and Ill take no offense especially since we are inundated with reports of mysterious declining frog populations)

Gayle and her neighbors mourn the potential loss of these frogs, owls and other rare gifts of nature to asphalt, concrete and greed. In fact, they are starting to mumble about the Walmortification of neighborhood, flora and fauna.

They are also understandably concerned about:

1. Declining property values over which they have no control.
2. Increased crime.
3. Deterioration and overcrowding of schools.
4. The loss of peaceful sleep.
5. Flood control: The pond and surrounding grounds contain and absorb water during heavy rainfall (which already floods at the northern end of the property).
6. Impassible traffic on FM1960 that is already overly congested.

WalMart touts that it œSells for Less, but at what cost to the people, animals and the environment around their neighborhood stores? From my zoning-secured and and bio-protected community in North San Diego County, I cant help but question why WalMart didnt take steps to secure this 40-plus acre preserve from Radler Enterprises for all to enjoy? This would have been an opportunity for WalMart to truly create an atmosphere of saving.

Is it any wonder that empowered cities like San Marcos, California voted to keep WalMart out? Or that their super centers are resisted by so many?

WalMart: This is your challenge to save a biodiverse treasure pleading for life at your back door.

Harris County: Are you really going to allow this destruction?

The post The WalMart Effect appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Azulera Resort Village on Costa Ricas breathtaking Guanacaste coast promises to be the luxury resort destination within the next two years.

By then, it is projected, Greg Normans challenging beach-to-mountain golf course will be completed as will the five- star Hyatt Regency Hotel and the 64 ultra-luxury condos that will be contained within this gated Brasilito complex.

The bio-sensitive Hyatt Regency Azulera Resort and Spa will coexist within a pristine tropical forest that stretches from mountain peaks to the white Pacific beaches below.

Following this first phase of development will be a large shopping and medical plaza and another projected 1000 condos, town homes and ocean view luxury estates.

We just returned from visiting the site and watched as Azulera owner-developer Anil Kothari (CEO Global Financial Group), golf legend Greg Norman, Hyatt executives, and Costa Rican Ministers of Transportation, Environment and Energy, and Tourism gathered for the formal groundbreaking ceremony that was finalized with the planting of a native Guanacaste tree near the beach.

We joined about 30 other real estate brokers from the US and Canada for the ceremony, and would spend the next few days learning more about the province of Guanacaste and this precious paradise. The spectacular natural beauty of the area struck us all, as did the gentle warmth of the Costa Ricans and, of course, the balmy climate. We learned that there is more biodiversity in Costa Rica than along the Amazon. This is because the climate is both sub tropical and tropical, and a varied terrain that ranges from plains to beach to jungle to mountains.

We all appreciated that Costa Rica is both a highly-educated country and one that fiercely protects its flora and fauna. Hunting is not allowed, and children are taught from an early age to treasure their natural environment, which includes magnificent foliage, various breeds of wild monkeys, parrots, macaws, and other exotic birds, along with reptiles of all sorts including iguanas and red-eyed lizards.

The Guanacaste coast is being developed with great care. The Four Seasons has developed a private resort to the north, Marriott is building a golf resort in nearby Pinellas and the Ritz Carlton is planning a luxury hotel with golf course and a 200-slip marina to the north of Azulera.

And just last month, Steve Case, founder of America Online (AOL) announced plans to open an $800 milllion beach resort with two boutique hotels just south of Playa Hermosa. At around the same time, two Minnesota developers announced that they would also be building a 150-room Regent Hotel on Guanacastes Papagayo Peninsula.

Guanacaste is a Costa Rican province abuzz with carefully-planned and eco-sensitive luxury development and we are honored to be among those representing the developer in the sale of the 64 Azulera luxury condos.

Additional articles about Azulera Resort Village, Guanacaste and Costa Rica will be forthcoming.

In the meantime, if you would like additional information about Azulera condo availabilities and pricing, please feel free to email me (roberta@sandiegopreviews.com) or call 877-818-8197 or 760-402-9101.

Read also:

Dreaming of Luxury Costa Rica Real Estate

The post Azulera: Costa Rica Luxury appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

by Roberta Murphy

More and more people from around the world are choosing to spend at least part of their lives in coastal Costa Rica–and more than a few decide there just might be no better place to spend the rest of their lives.

Why?

1. A warm climate, beaches, mountains, jungles–and breathtaking biodiversity. The people and government of Costa Rica are committed to preserving Costa Rica’s clean air, beautiful beaches and precious flora and fauna.

2. Costa Rica has one of the oldest and most stable democratic governments in the Americas. In fact, this peace loving nation has twice won the Nobel Prize for its peacekeeping efforts.

3. Costa Rica is a peaceful nation and has no standing army; it was disbanded in 1949.

4. The people are generally fond of foreigners and welcome them to Costa Rica. American’s included.

5. The cost of living is very reasonable–especially once one owns a home in Costa Rica. Taxes on a $500,000 home, for example, may run only $500 per year.

6. Good medical and dental care is not only widely available, but are also very reasonable. Many travel here for cosmetic procedures that cost a fraction of what might be charged in Europe or the U.S. And what a lovely place in which to recover!

7. Costa Rica has a highly educated population. The government currently spends around 27 percent of its budget on education. The literacy rate in Costa Rica is at 93 percent.

8. Costa Rica is only about the size of West Virginia, but has wonderful coastlines with 132 miles along the Atlantic, and 631 miles of prime Pacific beaches (especially in Guanacaste) and coastline. The interior is graced with farmland, mountains and jungles.

The reason for my recent keen interest in Costa Rica is that we will have been selected to help represent the Azulera developers in the sale of the long-awaited and luxurious Hyatt condos and resort village that are being developed along the breathtaking Guanacaste coast.

But details of that venture will come–sooner rather than later. Say tuned!

The post Dreaming of Costa Rica Luxury Real Estate…. appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.