Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes 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…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes As most of you know, I’m not into politics at all, and I’m even less into U.S. politics. Politics is usually not good for business, especially if you choose sides. But I do take clients’ happiness seriously; the reason why I make my living in real estate. And it seems…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes Now and then, you will read that an expat or a local property owner lost their Costa Rica 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…
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 Most articles are outdated, and few have the correct information.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…
Let the buyer beware or “caveat emptor” when building or buying a house in Costa Rica. It’s incredible how so many buyers do not hire an expert to make what could be the most significant investment of their life. Would you hire a cardiologist to see if your teeth need repair? Would you hire a…
Estimated Reading Time: 11 Minutes Do you want to know everything about taxes in Costa Rica? We’re now in 2024, and the information below is updated. In this article, I will cover what type of taxes the local government charges and when they must be paid. You must pay taxes when you work, own a…
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…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Be well-informed about the free trade zone and its locations before renting or purchasing a warehouse or office space in Costa Rica. In this article, you will find the advantages and disadvantages of being in a Free Trade Zone or “Zona Franca” in Costa Rica. Let’s first tell you what…
Costa Rica beachfront property and maritime zoning are regulated by Law N° 6043 and its Regulations. If you want to buy Costa Rica beachfront property, first read this article. 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…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Who’d guess Costa Rica offers you a lot if you want active retirement? Rudy Johnston is a very active person, and one of his reasons for moving here was that he could stay active until he got really old. You guessed it right: Rudy is still in great shape. He…
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.…
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…