Let me explain why you should relocate to Atenas to escape the rat race. You have spent countless hours searching the internet for the ideal location for your retirement, second home, or investment. You have narrowed your list and have decided Costa Rica is the country for you. This decision is probably based on its…
What is included in Costa Rica condo fees or HOA fees? Buyers often get scared when they see they must pay a condo fee but don’t realize what is included. Costa Rica’s lifestyle is changing, and people travel more than ever. Security is more critical than ever when looking for a vacation home, a retirement…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes Now and then, you will read that an expat or a local property owner lost their property rights to squatters or thieves. Unfortunately, the Costa Rican judicial system is a bit slow in resolving property rights issues. The system has loopholes allowing the bad guys to get away with squatting…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes There are hundreds of articles online about financing property in Costa Rica. Most articles are outdated, and few have the correct information. That’s why you should do your own homework by calling around if you’re looking for a mortgage to purchase property in Costa Rica. Financing property is very easy…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes We found a new place to live – expats will love it. Property is much cheaper than many other locations in the Central Valley. Santiago de Puriscal (most Ticos call it Puriscal – but the locals call it Puris) is a small town of about 13,000 people, and businesses fulfill…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes The first offer syndrome can create huge havoc during the buy-sell process. Often, a listing stays on the market way too long and unnecessarily. Again and again, our affiliate agents see sellers reject the first offer they receive and not even come back with a counteroffer. Some take low offers…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Did you know that every Costa Rica property owner must present a property value declaration every 5 years? Probably not, eh… In most countries worldwide, property owners receive notice from the tax authorities that they have to pay their property taxes. Not in Costa Rica, though! Like many other things…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Do you know where and how to pay the Costa Rica corporation tax, or “Impuesto a las Personas Jurídicas“? The Costa Rica corporation tax was approved in January 2012 and went into effect on April 1st, 2012. Many foreign buyers own property in a corporation, which is a practice that…
Costa Rica beachfront property and maritime zoning are regulated by Law N° 6043 and its Regulations. First, read this article if you want to buy Costa Rica beachfront property. Then, if you still have questions, contact a real estate lawyer specializing in concessions. Maritime zoning In a nutshell, this is how maritime zoning functions: The…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Yes, you can invest your Self-directed IRA in property in Costa Rica, but IRA limitations can be a downside. Before using your retirement funds to invest in property, you must do some due diligence. Often, custodians of self-directed IRAs will tell you it’s impossible to invest your funds in a…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Sellers, and sometimes buyers, often ask how long it takes to sell a home in Costa Rica. There are two short answers to this real estate FAQ: If you’re a buyer, we don’t have any data on that here, so we don’t know how long it takes. We don’t have…
Did you know that your due diligence when buying from a developer completely differs from buying a house or apartment already built? Have you ever put money down on a real estate project that did not happen? I did, and I’m a seasoned real estate broker in Costa Rica and have lived here since 1980.…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Our Heredia affiliate, Xinia Salazar, wrote this handy property checklist a few years ago. It needed updating, and I would like to share it with you. When you buy a property, there are details you won’t find out until you hit on a problem or when it’s too late. For…
Have you fallen in love with a house in Costa Rica, and you can’t sell your house? Some want to make an offer on the house here before they have even put their own house back home on the market. Others have tried to sell their house for a while, but nobody bites. If you’re…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes The Costa Rica closing costs when purchasing or selling a property is just under 4% of the purchase price. When you research, you will find blogs that say 3.5% and others even less. Learn in this article about closing costs, how to calculate them, and who pays for them. It…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 MInutes The other day, a client was looking for a recreational farm. All our agents are bi-lingual; some of us are even polyglots. But sometimes, they miss the nuances of a language. The agent asked: “I would like to know what you mean by a recreational farm so I know what to…