Properties in Costa Rica Blog

Costa Rica has become the ultimate destination for many Americans, Canadians and Europeans that want to avoid cold weather but still wish to enjoy the perks of living in a country that’s politically stable with a growing economy. Many come to find peacefulness in a beach-like environment and many others come to retire somewhere around the Central Valley to enjoy life in the city.

Today, I would like to suggest a few things to take into consideration when pursuing your dream of buying a property in Costa Rica.

Once you have decided you want to buy a property, the first and most important thing you should do is find a real estate company that’s well known and has a good reputation. The realtor plays a key part in all this process: It is most likely that he/she will have a better knowledge about locations, paperwork, contracts, questions on legal or financing you might have. Also, keep in mind that it is very likely that an agent could get you a better deal on the property you want.

Don’t worry, if you are reading this, it means you are in the right place. Properties in Costa Rica is an established company, that has 18 years on the market and there are many agents, myself included, willing to go the extra mile for you and eager to help you on your adventure of buying a home in Costa Rica.

Another key point to take into consideration is the location: It is very important that you let the agent know what locations you’d like best. If you don’t know your way around Costa Rica yet, just let the agent know specific details of what do you expect of the area where you’d like to purchase your property. Tiny details do help on finding you the perfect place. The real estate agent can also give you a better understanding of property’s value around the area you are interested in.

Once you’ve found a right property for you, it is important that you get in contact with a home inspector, so that if there’s something that needs repairing or isn’t safe you’ll be aware of it. Any remodeling or drastic change will affect your pocket; so financially speaking I think hiring a home inspector is the best way to go. Don’t be shy to ask as many questions as possible about the property you want to buy.

If you are buying a property in a Condo or a gated community be sure to ask about the maintenance fees or what are the costs of the municipality taxes. These municipal taxes are not as high as in the States, so for many Americans this might seem great, specially because automatically they make the comparison with taxes paid back home, It is truly a humongous difference.

When you finally find a right property for you and decide to purchase, remember to read carefully the contract before signing anything. If there’s something that you don’t understand very well, ask the seller, or you can even find support in professional help, find yourself a lawyer, maybe asked about the clauses on the contract so that everything is crystal clear for you before signing. Your lawyer can also help you afterwards on registering the property.

Either way, your real estate agent here in Properties in Costa Rica will guide you through all of the process and clear any doubt you may have.

I’m most certain that looking forward to moving to Costa Rica might sound like one of the greatest adventures in one’s life, and it actually is. However, be smart when it comes to renting a property so that you get to enjoy first, instead of having trouble with the place you choose.

The first thing you should consider when moving to Costa Rica, is the area you want to live in: for someone who has never been to the country, this could be tough but hey! Cheer up! That’s why we are here for.

Make sure you find real estate agent you can trust and once you do, talk about what your expectations are. Tiny things such as “waking up to a mountain view”, “being in touch with nature”, “proximity to grocery stores”, “having a nice garden do matter”, so be sure to mention this kind of details.

Another thing to consider is San Jose’s ever-lasting traffic: People in Costa Rica live life very stress free and this perhaps will be one of the things you first notice BUT, and this is a big but, when it comes to traffic things might get a little tense. The driving is a bit rough and there is really no way to sugar coat it, there is always a traffic jam so be smart on the location you pick to move in. Ask the agent who is helping you if there are alternative routes to get to what you will soon be calling home. Maybe being close to work or school could save you hours stuck in traffic.

Even though Costa Rica is really safe, it is still really important to check if the neighborhood you are moving into has 24/7 security or if it is considered a good area by locals. There are a few areas, as in any other country, that’s best to keep away from. Most expats search for areas such as Escazu , Santa Ana , Heredia , Grecia. So maybe try and look for options around these neighborhoods.

Make sure you mention if you are looking for a long term rental or a short term rental. Furnished or unfurnished . Do know that if you are committed to a long term rental and you don’t stay the full year you lose the fully security deposit.

Once you have found the perfect place to call home for a while, the process of renting isn’t complicated at all. Make sure you read the leasing contract very well, in it you will find your obligations as tenant and the obligations of the landlord. Also, if you are not fluent in Spanish, ask your real estate agent for a contract in English, they should provide it for you.

It is important for you to check the condition in which they are giving you the property: it should be flawless but if it’s not, be sure to let the owner know so that he can fix it or so that he can keep in mind the state in which things are. Dirty walls, for instance, is something you should notify to the owner or the agent before you sign the contract, so that you get a response before you move, maybe the owner isn’t willing to paint the property but can lower the rental price a bit. In addition, if once you already moved in something inside the apartments stops working, let’s say it’s a broken sink, notify to the owner the issue, he is in charge of fixing it.

Some people jump at once to the idea of purchasing a property, which is OK when you know the area and neighborhood you want to live in, but if you have never been to the country, it may be best to take it slow and rent first to see how you like living in the area. Don’t forget that at Properties in Costa Rica , we are really eager and happy to help you on your new adventure and on finding a place that is right for you!

If you are planning to visit Costa Rica and you are not into the crowded very touristy places, you have got to read this.

I’m a firm believer that every place holds hidden treasures that are special because not many people can be found in them. That secrecy gives tourists a sense of freedom and a chance to discover a place entirely, no rules apply, no tourist guides, no time restrictions.

1. Playa Zancudo: this beach is located at Puntarena’s province. What’s so cool about thisplace is that you get to enjoy at the North side of the beach a calm, wave-free water, perfect to do some snorkeling or to just relax and take-in all your surroundings. You also get waves on the Southern side of the beach , great for those looking forward to doing some water activities, such as surfing, water skiing, boogie boarding, you name it. Get to experience tranquility and enjoy this isolated beach town. There’s also a chance you might see some monkeys and even crocodiles near this place.
2. Barra Honda National Park: if you are into exploring, this would be an ideal place tospend your afternoon. This often forgotten National Park has a large amount of caves for you to visit. There are 42 caves in this place but only 19 have been explored. You can also appreciate a diversity of rock formations, such as stalactites and stalagmites. The Park is located at the Nicoya Peninsula . There are some caving and bats tours available, so if you are concerned with getting lost, don’t be.
3. Mal Pais – Santa Teresa: Mal Pais used to be a well kept secret destination butnowadays, many young tourists visit this place because it is considered one of the best Pacific Coast beaches. It’s starting to attract many surfers. However, it makes the cut on this countdown due to the fact that it is a beautiful and relaxed place you must visit. Santa Teresa gives you the opportunity to get to enjoy some international cuisine and maybe do a little yoga or my ULTIMATE FAVORITE, horse back riding at the beach . Oh! And if you are not into surfing don’t worry, the town services are available and close by. If you are not quite into surfing but interested in trying it out, there are also lessons offered. Take into consideration that you can reach Nicoya Peninsula by taking the ferry at Puntarenas. If you are planning on taking a road trip from the Central Pacific to Mal Pais, this would be the easiest way to go.
4. San Gerardo de Dota: is a small town located next to the Savegre river, a quiet, relaxedoption if you want to get away from all the chaos, just two hours away from San Jose. Around the town, there is a wide variety of options to stay from hotels to villas, that allow you to enjoy mountain and forest views. The main attraction in the forest I think would be the variety of birds around the area, including hummingbirds and woodpeckers. There is also a chance to fish some trouts within the Savegre river. Nature enthusiasts really would love this place. There are one-day tours available for this outing.

Whatever place of these top 4 you decide to visit, make sure you take lots of pictures and remember to relax and have a great time. Don’t forget to share with us your special memories by using the hashtag #propertiesincostarica . Dare to discover Costa Rica!