Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Costa Rica Expat Forum

House hunting

New Topic Newest First
Costaboulay
  8/17/2019 19:26 EST

Hi,

We are looking to buy a house that is close to some restaurants, fairly easy to go on tours but yet gives us some privacy. Anyone have areas they can suggest. Was thinking heemosa but really no idea...

lindyluvsCR
  8/17/2019 21:27 EST

Assuming you mean Hermosa Beach?

Also assuming you live here or have visited? If not, wait until you have.

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica
Connect

Costa Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica

Costa Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

ppbritton
  8/17/2019 23:03 EST

absolutely DO NOT buy any house,condo,apartment in costa rica - it is extremely easy to buy, but at this time - almost impossible to sell - also due to graft/corrruption in the national registry, coupled with unscrupulous individuals in the real estate industry of costa rica, you are open to losing everything you have worked a lifetime to accumulate...........

peter2017
  8/17/2019 23:53 EST

Wait a bit.

Get your residency, open a bank account, buy a car, use CAJA medical services, get your CR DL, live in your area of interest for a year.

It is easy to buy but very hard to sell.

When you buy something (anything, anywhere) think how hard would it be to sell it.

I would rent if I were you. Why do you need to buy a house? How are you going to protect it?

Costaboulay
  8/18/2019 02:46 EST

Ohh yes have been there! We love it! We stayed in guanacaste when we went. Going back in November to purchase a condo/ house. Trying to get ideas on location since we want it to be a rental property as well :)
Thank you!

Mentor
  8/18/2019 10:48 EST

We have over 50 homes under $150K for sale and and over 40 for rent. Just call me 8400-1929 toll free from USA 415-506-1347 . I will be happy to help you if your area included Grecia , Sarchi, san Ramon area. John

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica
Connect

Costa Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica

Costa Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

princzz
  8/19/2019 06:52 EST

Treks montealegre escazu!! Meets ALL your qualifications

PombinhaCoco7
  8/19/2019 09:56 EST

Mentor,
Didn't they mention that they stayed in Guanacaste and loved it?

PombinhaCoco7
  8/19/2019 10:12 EST

Peter 2017
I understand why people tell others to rent but I have a very different opinion.
First of all, you know me and you know where I live.
Fortunately the condos here have been selling very well. I don't know if you know that someone bought 8 condos here last year and there are people I know trying to buy here as well.
The reason why I don't agree that people should not buy has to do with a friend of ours who used to rent 2 condos after ours (when you face the pool).
She moved to Las Palmas and 3 months later the owner wanted to increase the rent.
Then she moved to another condo which is now for sale. So soon she will need to move again.
This is someone with health issues and it is sad to see people in similar situations being asked to move all the time.
As long as you are sure that you buy your house/condo in the place where you are sure that's where you want to live, you don't need to be moving around all the time especially in your old age and with heath issues.
This is one of the reasons I won't consider to move back to Portugal.
The cost of living is better but not the real estate. In my husband's hometown you can rent "long term" from September to June but then the owners want to rent to tourists in July and August. In Algarve we see that a lot as well.
Unless you go to the interior but my husband was born few feet away from the ocean and he can't live without a beach.
We couldn't afford buying there.
Even if you get a good deal long term you'll never know when you will have to move again. The older people get the harder it is to move.

PombinhaCoco7
  8/19/2019 11:43 EST

I just want to add that sometimes there are certain events out of our control that may cause people to leave their chosen place. Political unrest, natural disasters, health issues, someone's death, etc...

Kohl
  8/19/2019 11:58 EST

Personally, I would advise anyone "don't buy until you have lived in the immediate area for a extended time" while making sure that it is, what you really want or need. Not just a past vacation, that you may never have noticed the 'night noise' be it traffic that you can only hear when you are trying to sleep, the folk in the pool are being extremely noisy or the karaoke that you never noticed during the day, is VERY loud...

Take time.

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica
Connect

Costa Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica

Costa Rica Legal Residency is an articulately bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience and exclusive focus on Costa Rica Temporary and Permanent Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship. Located minutes from the Department of Immigration.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Justagirl8815
  8/19/2019 13:40 EST

Do your research! I agree that there is so much to buy and hard to sell. Renting out can be very very expensive if you get hooked up with the wrong management team. The best, very best thing to do when moving to Costa Rica is CLEARLY define “why”. Then, if any place -rent or buy- fits that definition clearly , go for it, with an attorney at your side. If you chose to just go at it like an adventure, it will be an adventure all right. Make sure you are prepared for the u know. And willing to risk it all because there are people who have gone before you and learned how to take advantage and profit from your pie in the sky thinking.
Here are a lot of great opportunities and life can be so bliss but not if you don’t do your research and planning. Then it can be your worse nightmare.

Drneuro100
  8/19/2019 17:45 EST

Torres de Country condo development in San Rafael/Escuzu. We bought and now get a decent easy income from renting it until we move permanently.

Kohl
  8/19/2019 17:59 EST

"Staying in Guanacaste" covers a huge area, with ultra luxurious homes to VERY basic accommodations...and many times they are even next door to each other.

princzz
  8/19/2019 20:49 EST

Yes very good!

princzz
  8/19/2019 21:53 EST

Guanacaste is very geriatric and boring, far away from best nightlife. theaters, health care, main government offices, specialty shops and services, etc.

PombinhaCoco7
  8/20/2019 10:55 EST

princzz
Guanacaste is boring?
Only old people?
No health care?
No Government offices?
No night life?
This time I think you went too far.
Come to Playas del Coco or Tamarindo and see how boring it is.

Kohl
  8/20/2019 15:18 EST

Suggest you read this article today, where the numbers of rental properties will surprise you.

https://qcostarica.com/airbnb-fears-blow-to-costa-rican-hosts-for-permit-charges/

Changes are coming...

Immigration Help Costa Rica
Immigration Help Costa Rica

Costa Rica Legal Residency is a bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience on Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship.
Learn More

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica

Costa Rica Legal Residency is a bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience on Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship.
Learn More

Living in Costa Rica GuideLiving in Costa Rica Guide

Our Living in Costa Rica Guide is a primer on everything about living in Costa Rica: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, and more.

Costa Rica Forum Costa Rica Forum
Join our Costa Rica forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Costa Rica.

Contribute to Costa Rica Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Best Places to Live in Costa Rica Best Places to Live in Costa Rica

If you're dreaming about living in Costa Rica, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica in 2023.

Healthcare in Costa RicaHealthcare in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has both public and private healthcare systems. When you become a resident, you must enroll in the public healthcare system (CAJA). Many expats use the public system for routine healthcare and have private expat health insurance for specialists, surgeries and emergencies.

Cost of Living in Costa RicaCost of Living in Costa Rica

If you're moving to Costa Rica, you'll want to understand the cost of living in Costa Rica. Lifestyle, location and health insurance are part of the formula.

Moving to Costa RicaMoving to Costa Rica Guide

Moving to Costa Rica has become more popular among expats. Making this choice requires a lot of research to ensure the expat experience you hope for will be realized.

Real Estate in Costa RicaReal Estate in Costa Rica

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Costa Rica.

Pros Cons of Living in Costa RicaPros & Cons of Living in Costa Rica

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Costa Rica.

Retiring in Costa RicaRetiring in Costa Rica

Advice for people retiring in Costa Rica.

Visa and Residency Costa RicaCosta Rica Visa & Residency Guide

Applying for residency in Costa Rica can be a daunting process. Which type of residency is right for me? Do I need an attorney? Do I have to leave the country every 90 days? What is a cedula? This article answers these and many other questions.

10 Tips for Living in Costa Rica10 Tips for Living in Costa Rica

If you've recently arrived in Costa Rica, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Costa Rica.

Immigration Help Costa Rica
Immigration Help Costa Rica

Costa Rica Legal Residency is a bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience on Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship.
Learn More

Immigration Help Costa RicaImmigration Help Costa Rica

Costa Rica Legal Residency is a bi-lingual boutique firm with 15 + years of successful experience on Residency, Renewals, Digital Nomad, and Citizenship.
Learn More

Contribute to Costa Rica Network Contribute
Help others in Costa Rica by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Costa Rica.

Universal Tax Professionals
Universal Tax Professionals

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal