Bermudians are snapping up cheap homes in Costa Rica, says an expert on foreign property who is running a workshop on buying abroad.

And locals priced out of this Island?s soaring property prices are also getting on the housing ladder in North America says Karen Schellinck-Hills.

She said a beautiful three-bed, two-bathroom home on the northern pacific coast of Costa Rica could be snapped up for $150,000 while a couple could live very comfortably on $2,000 a month.

She said: ?I have heard an awful lot of discussions and been asked an awful lot about Costa Rica. It seems pretty popular.?

The central American democratic state has a reputation for being safe and politically stable.

?There are more teachers than policemen,? said Karen Schellinck-Hills, who added that Costa Rica was the first country to come out with legislation encouraging people to retire there.

But despite the headlines last year about pensioners being forced to swap Bermuda?s high cost of living for cheaper countries, she said most of the 200 inquiries she has dealt with since last autumn were from people weighing their choices rather than being forced out.

?People are in a planning mode, looking ahead five, ten or 15 years.?

She said most people buying retirement homes wanted to get more out of their fixed income and enjoy amenities not available here such as skiing.

Around 70 percent of inquiries were about North America.

Novia Scotia, Canada is popular as many Bermudians built a bond with the area through university ties and Canadian partners, said Mrs. Schellinck-Hills, who is a Canadian married to a Bermudian.

Another trend is Bermudians who can?t afford to buy here when returning from college to work who instead buy in Canada with the plan of going back there later.

Three-bed, two bathroom waterfront homes can be had for around $250,000 in Canada, says Mrs. Schellinck-Hills who owns such a property herself.

The further south people go, the more they pay for waterfront homes.

Even so, Florida condos are proving tempting for investors who are able to find tenants while watching the price go up.

?I think that is popular, particularly for younger Bermudians. They can buy a really nice condo for $200,000.

?That doesn?t even get them in the game in Bermuda so they can at least put their real estate dollars to work overseas,? said Mrs. Schellinck-Hills who does not believe Bermuda?s prices are about to decline any time soon.

Only about ten percent of clients expressed interest in European property with most looking at the UK and Portuguese market, with some asking about Spain.

Mrs. Schellinck-Hills, who is head of overseas property information agency After Work Destinations, will be exhibiting at the 2005 Travel Mart at Number One Shed on Saturday for people to learn about real estate investments abroad.

Representatives from Costa Rica, Canada, the US and other countries will be at the session to showcase properties.

However, Mrs. Schellinck-Hills, who is not a realtor, said people should get advice from a good property lawyer to find out the local laws which are subject to change and they should also view the property several times before taking the plunge.

?Its every important for anyone looking to buy a second home to do their research, talk to people who have done it and lived their for a significant amount of time. ?Visit for a long time or live there if you can.?