Tips for Buying Propery in Costa Rica

By annieburman

Popular Areas in Costa Rica for Expats

Sarchí, Grecia, San Ramon, Atenas, Santa Ana, Escazu

What Your Budget Will Buy You in Costa Rica

$150,000 2-3 beds detached and some land. $200,000 ditto with better construction and some land. $300,000 ditto. $1,000,000 3-5 beds detached with good construction, furnished, double garage and land... probably with mountain views.

Before You Buy a Property in Costa Rica

ONLY hire a commonly recommended Attorney Notary who has been recommended by a few Expats. DON'T take risks with any Attorney. DON'T take risks or trust ANYONE! Ensure the Attorney fully checks the property has ZERO issues with it (unless it has 1 or 2 that are negligible). Don't trust anyone with your money. Do your Due Diligence on the Realtor.

Legal Assistance

You MUST hire a Notary Attorney. You can go to ARCR for one as they use Attorneys who have been checked thoroughly (apparently) and provide services to ARCR. ONLY hire a reputable Attorney Notary who has been recommended by a few Expats. DON'T take risks with any Attorney.

Costs Involved in Buying a Property

Google this AND check with a couple of Attorney Notaries. There are fixed Attorney prices for carrying out the work and depending on the value of the property including what the Registro require. Also ensure it is Lien free! Ensure all interested parties of a Corporation, or the owner/s of the property, are agreed to the sale. Also ensure the Municipality Tax and Corporation Tax (if it's owned by a Corporation) is paid up as well as all utilities (or the bills and any fines will go to you with the property).

Foreign Property Ownership

No I don't think so. If any, I may presume it is if you haven't yet applied for Temporary Residency (Rentista) though I don't know if that's necessary; check with a reputable Attorney.

5 Best Places to Buy Real Estate in Costa Rica

Sarchí is peaceful and one of the safest places in Costa Rica. It is the famous Artisan town and has the world's biggest ox cart in the central park. The style of painting is unique to Costa Rica and beautifully bright. Mountain homes and a small hospital. Grecia is known as the cleanest town in Costa Rica. It has a mile of cars for sale as you enter or leave Grecia to the Highway 1 (La Pista). It also has a very good Farmer's Market (Fería) on Fridays and Saturdays. Mountain homes and a good, general hospital. San Ramon is known as the City of Poets and Ex Presidents. Downtown is relatively flat with wider roads than Sarchí and Grecia. Town and country homes plus a general hospital. Escazu is more North American influenced. Atenas has a small downtown and mountain homes.

Steps in Buying Property in Costa Rica

Google and communicate with Realtors. Make arrangements to see properties but make sure you are VERY CLEAR with the type of property and area/s you intend to see. Otherwise you will see properties of no interest to you in the wrong areas. Listen hard. Don't be taken in with too-good-to-be-true stories. Don't let the Realtor recommend your Attorney... there are plenty of scams between them. ONLY get recommendations from other Expats or/and ARCR.