I found this, in my research. I am coming to Granada in December and decided to stay at a hotel. This one sounds very good - I will only be there for 3 weeks, and I know they are looking for a long term renter. gvpowell@hotmail.com Emma's Cottages in Granada EMMA'S GUEST COTTAGE (1 BR) NOW AVAILABLE FOR LONG TERM RENT! USA phone # 513-2233-7210 Nica. Cell - 8-895-0017 Thanks so much for the info. I will check into the facebook sites. We are not city folks, we love nature and nice open places, so we know where we don't want to live. However in saying that we don't want to be too far from amenities. We are taking Spanish lessons and having a ball with it, not so sure we will be totally fluent in the language lol When we arrive in Nica we would like to travel as much through and around the country as we can and feel things out as we go. Is that possible with nica buses to travel all around the country? I have read that there is a car rental in Managua..........any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

http://managua.craigslist.org/cto/4432980555.html car rent in Granada$30 a day Yes, there is at least one, maybe two.

I haven't been asked for a vaccination certificate for years anywhere in Latin America. No one checks. I think most are available thru a private doctor. It is not a worry here. The big health worry right now is dengue and there is cholera in certain places.

What's your budget (& give it including electricity & internet if you need that)? Especially towards the end of August/Sept. is the BEST time to look for a rental as owners are more desperate which equals workable - it's a Renters Market then. Join: Expats in San Juan del Sur - http://facebook.com/groups/206311666199794 & Expats in Nicaragua - http://facebook.com/groups/373143946088926 & ask around. Someone on one of the boards shared these: Craigs List – Nicaragua http://managua.craigslist.org Air BnB – AirBnB.com/s/san-juan-del-sur Nicaragua Community Classified Ads A few local home rentals http://Nicaragua-Community.com/services/awpcp

I JUST got back from spending 5 weeks in Matagalpa - in the NorthWestern mountains of Ni - 2 hours from Managua. 1] A cooler [higher elevation?] location. Matagalpa, Estili are GREAT for cooler weather! 2] reliable infrastructure. Internet, electricity, clean water, minimal environmental pollution. Internet was ok (it's a 3rd world country so it's probably better if you pay for more). The BIG problem I found in my traveling around was not good water pressure/if at all some days. 3] Expat friendly immigration and officials and locals. You don't say where you're from but I find the PEOPLE in Nicaragua REALLY NICE. Now, the "president" isn't real keen on Americans so . . . 4] Low cost of living. Rents are CHEAP, Medical is CHEAP - heck - most things are MUCH cheaper than Costa Rica (where I live mainly) - BUT - as in most of the rest of the non-U.S. world - gas is HIGH but worse - ELECTRICITY & CELL PHONES shockingly (though there are great plans if you're a legal resident for cells)! 5] some expat shopping ops That's more in Managua but you just get a few people together & go once a month. La Colonia grocery store has the most more "gringo" products but it's NOT as great as teh AutoMercado we have in Costa Rica that even carries Ben & Jerry's ice cream (at $8-$9 a PINT!!!). 6] quiet, mellow locals or a fringe location away from the main stream. Matagalpa & Estili are GREAT for that. I didn't make it to Estili - but I do know that Matagalpa is the BEST area for Nature Lovers & Outdoorsy people (& Coffee Lovers as it's on the Ruta de Cafe!!) 7] decent affordable medical services INCREDIBLY CHEAPER than Costa Rica!! Metropolitano Hospital in Managua is quite good & AMAZING prices!!! I had a friend get the standard blood test/panel - cholesterol, diabetes, etc. & it was UNDER $50!! Ability to speak a fair amount of Spanish seems pretty crucial in this area as I found that many people weren't used to dealing much with foreigners so they're not savvy in how to do it (using simple/basic words/hand signals, etc.). That´s what happens when people don´t know where to go or are led in the wrong way. In Nindiri, where I live the temperature in the evenings is in the low 50´s and there are berautiful $250K-$300K dollar homes, with swimming pools, etc. close to everything. Mombacho is a jungle, I don´t like living in the jungle, I like to go to restaurants, go to a movie, have the best of both worlds, country living with all of the modern comforts. Come to Nindiri, it is 5 minutes from Masaya, 15 minutes from Managua and 15 minutes from Granada. It is the best spot in the country. Come and see for yourself. Call me and we will have lunch at El Bucanero, my old house and see the most spectacular view. Call me when you get here 8817 3319

gvpowell@hotmail.com email for a person - Gregory - has a house to rent in Granada. I was going to rent it but decided to stay at a hotel (my first time in Nicaragua) Sounded very promising. Rentals – Property Management Granada, Nicaragua Rentals-Prop Mgmt The most common request I get is for home, apartment and room rentals. I suggest you come to Granada and stay at a hotel then you can go see the rental options. While there are rental agencies and property management companies, many of the rentals you can only find out by networking. Here is a list to get you going: GPS (Granada Property Service) - Janice Gallagher Phone 505-2552-7954 / 505-8877-0350 www.gpsnicaragua.com www.nicaraguahomerentals.com/ Colonial Villas Associated with ReMax of Granada Phone 505-2552-3199 /505-2552-8629 http://www.colonial-villas.com/ Granada Home/ Apartment Rentals Vista Mombacho Apartments and Home Rentals Glenn and Jeannie Koons Phone USA 512-782-2326 Local 8862-7008 7853-8525 http://granadahomerental.net/ Casa Granada Properties and Rentals casagranada1@yahoo.com Phone USA 415-259-4838 Local 505-2552-0313 505-8380-4703 https://www.facebook.com/CasaGranadaProperties https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casa-Granada-Rentals/702267189795016 FlipKey by Trip Advisor http://www.flipkey.com/granada-vacation-rentals/g580113/ Trip Advisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentals-g580113-Reviews-Granada_Granada_Department-Vacation_Rentals.html HomeAway Rentals http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rentals/nicaragua/granada/r8046 Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO) http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/central-america/nicaragua/granada Craigs List – Granada, Nicaragua http://managua.craigslist.org/search/apa?zoomToPosting=&catAbb=apa&query=+granada&minAsk=&maxAsk=&bedrooms=&housing_&excats= Air BnB – Granada, Nicaragua https://www.airbnb.com/s/Granada–Nicaragua?source=bb Nicaragua Community Classified Ads A few local home rentals http://www.nicaragua-community.com/services/awpcp/

Where in California? Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Mill Valley, etc. California is a huge state. For myself, I am from Los Angeles, Palos Verdes Estates to be specific. I need more Californians to move to Nicaragua and do things the California way. All others are welcome also. LOL jpatrick, Just to qualify myself as I am not a full time expat by any means. I am from CA (lived and went to college in SoCal) and also live in Northern CA (Sac region). While I won't be retired, officially for another 12 years [I'm in my early 40's], we do travel to Nica quite a bit (4-5 times a year) and we built a house there [100 %completed in July 2013]. With that said, Nica is 1000% different that CA, but IMHO it is a lot better in a lot of ways. I will start with safety. It depends on the area and the attitude you have. Most of Nica is really safe. There are some areas that you should stay out of (just like in CA...COMPTON or OAKLAND for example. You have to take it upon your self to be street smart but also polite. Nica's are some of the most gentle, loving people you will meet IF you have the right attitude and treat them with respect. Remember, it is their country. Basically, I feel safer in Nicaragua than I do in CA and I carry a concealed firearm at all times! Another test is that my 5 year old has been going their since he was 1 1/2 years old and I would NEVER put him in harms way. The people, as I mentioned are nice, polite and warm / welcoming of strangers as long as you are kind in return. If you act like an ass, you will get treated like one. I find people in CA to be fake and back stabbing with no sense of loyalty (mainly in SoCA). That is not the case in Nica, that I have found. I know more of my neighbors (all expats) and more locals in Nica than I do in my neighborhood in Sacramento. People seem to care more about you in Nica. The weather is tropical. It depends on where you live in Nica. If you are by the ocean, it is hot and humid and if you are in the highlands, you might need a sweater at night. You will have to figure that out. The culture, like the people, is wonderful. I am bless that we can raise our son in CA and Nica. Nica shows him the importance of enjoying life and for taking people for whom they are, not by the series of BMW they drive. Family plays a huge part of Nica life and it is wonderful. The USA should take note on this end. The things I miss when I am there are few. The internet is slow to US standards, but you can still Skype and get your e-mails. If you want to be on Netflix all day, stay in the US. The tap water at our house is potable but rather mineral heavy (not used to that, but oh well). When you go shopping for food, there may be 2-3 choices of items, rather than a whole aisle of choices as in the US. Things can be harder to find, but I see that as a good thing. It MAKES you be social and get out and meet the shopkeepers. It helps me with my Spanish and helps me slow my pace of life. Oh, if you surf, you will be in heaven. An average day in my area beats the best day in Huntington Beach or San Clemente. If you want more details or more information on where we are in Nica, ping me off line. Hope this helps. Joseph