Real Estate in Costa Rica

"I traveled all over Costa Rica after purchasing a home in Ostional and not being happy. I stayed in San Jose, Arenal, and along the beach towns of the Pacific coast. I then went to an area that was not revealed in all of the social media and publications to see what it was like and stayed at an all inclusive in Tambor. This area was like a diamond in the rough to me. So, I "stumbled" upon it, just traveling around and getting to know Costa Rica," said one expat who made the move to Paquera.

"On one visit, we took a side trip to Costa Rica to explore the beaches of Guanacaste. When we drove into Tamarindo, it felt a California beach town with a nice vibe. Over the next couple of years, we took a few trips to Playa Flamingo and Tamarindo to further explore the area and to look at condos for sale. We bought an ocean view condo in Tamarindo a couple of years before we retired, and then moved there full time after retiring in May 2013 (age 61-62). We liked the beach and the availability of a variety of restaurants and stores in Tamarindo, and easy walking access in town," explained one foreigner living in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

"Yes, finding the right location to live in, can be more important that finding the right home. Many expats want to live at the beach...especially from the snowy north...until they find that the heat just doesn't work for them. So, if they have purchased a home there, they could be stuck with it. So, suggest you rent for an extended time period so that you truly check out the different neighbourhoods, learn where the bus routes are, where the roosters start the earliest and the karaoke bars are located... It is said by many, that it is very easy to buy, but often very hard to sell. Many say that between 50-60% of the expats, return home within 3-4 years. Often broke. Costa Rica is no longer a cheap place to live. However, it can be a great place to live, if you can afford it," said one in Costa Rica.

"It's cheaper to live a little ways outside the city so location was influenced by that. There is also less crime outside the city. I found my apartment by asking around and doing some walking. There won't always be a sign up so, if it looks available, ask," explained one expat in San Marcos, Tarrazú.

"We live in Samara on the Nicoya Peninsula. It’s a really wonderful little beach town. Lots of good restaurants. Mostly CR population but also quite a lot of expats. Super nice beach. Near large town of Nicoya for convenience. Good roads - important! Our landlord has a new construction house available 2 BR/ 1 BA for $1,000/month. We are three miles from town and the beach. We seriously love the area and our landlord is wonderful," explained one person living in Costa Rica.

"Most expats live in condos or houses with small gardens and enormous fences with barbered wire," explained one person living in San Jose, Costa Rica.

"A typical expat home or apartment in Costa Rica is usually quite modern with modern amenities such as air conditioning, cable or satellite television and fast internet access. Costa Rica also offers a wide range of accommodation to suit a range of budgets – from luxury condos and villas to more affordable apartments and family homes. Many properties come with terraces or balconies that provide sweeping views of nature, and most are surrounded by lush tropical vegetation like banana trees, mango trees and palms. Depending on the location, some expats also benefit from on-site amenities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums and patios," said one expat in Costa Rica.

"Condo with high security. However we never feel fearful walking at night to our favorite restaurants or store as their are guards everywhere. This is true pretty much everywhere we have been in CR. We have always felt very safe (unlike dealing we the herds of homeless drug addicts in CA)," remarked one member in Escazu.

"Totally depends on many factors. Are you looking to rent or buy? How many bedrooms? City or country? Altitude, I.e., beach or mountains? Seasonal only, or long term? Hot water or not? Window screens or not? With Ticos or Gringoes? AC or not? Furnished or not? Close to hospitals and good medical or remote? Want views? What kind? Utilities included or not? Finished or under construction? Will you have a vehicle, and will it have 4WD? Are you ok with public transport (it’s excellent). Pets? You can see there are many possible answers to your question! We chose mountains with Nicoya Peninsula views, good infrastructure, home built to American specs with quality materials by reputable builder, hot water, screens, electric gate, and all in a Tico community of great diversity. City is only 3 kms away over the mountain. Pulperia up the street where we all hang out to watch futball! And we drive a 21 yr old SUV. Love Costa Rica," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Costa Rica.

"It depends on how close you want to be to the water. Are you willing to live in the surrounding area like Huacus or Villareal? It can be anywhere from $600 to thousands," explained one person living in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

"The cost of housing in Costa Rica can vary significantly depending on the size and location of the property. Generally, the average cost of a single-family home in Costa Rica can range from around $100,000 to well over $1 million for luxury homes, with smaller homes and apartments located in desirable areas costing approximately between $50,000 and $150,000. Living costs and rental prices tend to be higher in major cities such as San Jose, while the coastal areas and smaller towns offer more affordable opportunities," said one expat in Costa Rica.

"Buying a home in Costa Rica can be a great investment. It can provide you with a steady source of income through renting or reselling, while at the same time providing you with a beautiful tropical paradise to call your own. Renting, on the other hand, gives you the flexibility to move after a few months or years without having to worry about reselling or waiting for the real estate market to improve. Ultimately, it all depends on what your individual needs and preferences are. If you want the security of owning a home, then purchasing may be the best option for you. However, if you prefer the freedom to move around, then renting might be a better solution," said one expat who made the move to Costa Rica.

"I rent because I do not want to be tied down to a piece of property. Also property is expensive. My rental agreement was easy to understand, only about 4 pages (2 of them inventory of furnishings). I negotiated the terms from 12 months to 6 and the rent amount. It was not difficult at all," explained one foreigner living in San Jose, Costa Rica.

"Travel around and find the area you want first. Use tools like www.vrbo.com to see what the rental rates are in the area you are interested in -- and be sure to look at the calendars of availability to see how well they are booking. Visit the forums like Expat Exchange or Costa Rica Living and ask plenty of questions. Compare listings from a variety of sources and use tools like Google Translate to look at listings in Spanish as well. Seek the advice of folks like me -- make sure they have bought and sold for themselves and don't just have a good imagination," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica.

"Know the neighborhoods and price ranges is key! Spend as much time as possible in your desired area or neighborhood. Go at night especially. Is the neighborhood safe, noisy, close to a nightclub? If you want to live in a condominium complex, observe the type of clientele it attracts in their rental pool. And in this case, find out how much turnover there is (daily, weekly, monthly) As Jaco is a tourist town, make sure your visit your desired neighborhood during "high season" and especially Easter and Christmas holidays as the busiest two weeks of the year," explained one person living in Playa Jaco, Costa Rica.

"Don't buy. For some reason that I suspect is emotional expats almost always want to buy property, but it doesn't make a lot of sense. It's much easier and cheaper to rent. There's also the widely reported statistic that some half of the expats leave the country within the first year of arriving--and stories abound of those who bought homes taking a huge loss when they sell. There are also a fair number of problems with property theft--your house is sold out from under you without your awareness. Give yourself a few years in the country to become acquainted with the customs and the neighborhoods before you plunk down money you may regret," said one expat in San Jose.

"1. Buying property in Costa Rica requires a local lawyer, who can help you understand the local laws and regulations regarding ownership, transferal of ownership, local taxes, and property rights. 2. It is wise to hire a Costa Rican lawyer and real estate professional to advise you on the purchase of property and to ensure the transfer and registration of property are done correctly. 3. Consider due diligence, which involves researching the property’s title, surveying the land, and verifying the seller’s legal right to transfer property. 4. Make sure you understand the foreign ownership limits in the country, which are designed to protect the rights of local people in land ownership. 5. It is important to familiarize yourself with the local customs and laws regarding property ownership, including Costa Rica’s Title Guarantee Law, which requires all property to be registered with the government to ensure legal proof of ownership. 6. Property taxes in Costa Rica are typically paid annually and are based on the assessed value of the property. 7. Make sure you understand the process of obtaining residency and work permits, if needed, as the process can be complicated. 8. Make sure you understand the potential liabilities and responsibilities should any problems arise after you purchase the property," said one foreigner living in Costa Rica.

"Absolutely not. Foreigners can purchase property in Costa Rica. You do not need to be a citizen or resident. If you have the money, look and purchase to your content," wrote one expat who made the move to Playa Jaco.

"Yes, foreigners are allowed to own property in Costa Rica. The country has a long-standing tradition of welcoming foreign investment and has a legal framework in place to protect foreign property owners. Foreigners can purchase property in their own name, or through a corporation, and can also obtain long-term leases. In addition, Costa Rica has a number of incentives in place to encourage foreign investment, such as tax exemptions and other benefits," explained one foreigner living in Costa Rica.

"No, foreigners can own property with the same rights as locals. However, I personally wouldn't buy until I had legal residency. Many nonresidents do buy and don't have any problems, but I'd personally want the right to live in the country before I invested money in it. Related is that absentee-ownership is asking for problems. Unless it's a condo at the beach with a rental program, I wouldn't recommend buying without living here, and I wouldn't count on living here without legal residency," said one in San Jose.

"The only restrictions on foreigners purchasing property in Costa Rica are in the Maritime zone within 200 meters of the ocean. This area is not for sale though you can get a concession to build things like tourism projects on a leasehold type basis. Expats typically can't get concessions although some grandfathered properties are still privately owned. Expats otherwise have the same rights to property ownership in Costa Rica as a Costa Rican would have. Property ownership is deeded and fee simple and over 95% of the entire country's properties are registered in a national property registry," explained one expat in Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica.

"In Costa Rica, the typical appliances found in a rental property include a fridge, stove, washing machine, and air conditioning. In some cases, additional items such as a dishwasher, clothes dryer, and microwave may also be provided. Utilities such as electricity and water will also generally be included in the cost of rent," wrote one expat who made the move to Costa Rica.

"Generally rental properties are fully applianced. Lower scale rental units will have the basics, no dishwasher, possibly only a stove top and not an oven. A washer may be included but generally not a dryer. On the higher end scale, these will be fully appliances with American style refrigerator, stove/oven, dishwasher, microwave and washer/dryer. Be especially observant if the condo complex has a community área with tables, chairs, sink/wáter availability, bathrooms and BBQ grill. This is especially attractive for entertaining friends and family," explained one foreigner living in Playa Jaco (Jaco Beach), Costa Rica.

"Many would advise going through a realtor and that's probably wisest if you don't know your way around. The native way to look though is to just walk the neighborhoods you're interested in and look for "for sale" signs. Related is to check grocery store bulletin boards. A lot of housing is still found in these traditional ways. Now the online site encuentra 24 is probably the best classified ad system and you're certain to see dozens if not 100s of listings that meet your search parameters by using it. It's like Craigslist but without the scams and a lot more people use it," explained one person living in San Jose, Costa Rica.