I had the opportunity to a mortgage refinance on different properties in Costa Rica in December last year. So I’d end up with a mortgage on just my house. That way, I’d have the other properties free and clear. With the mortgage refinance I would pay no mortgage administration fees and make a much lower…
Did you realize that finding an address in Costa Rica is not so easy? My mom sent me this joke that makes a lot of sense if you are living in Costa Rica: While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because he explained, he didn’t want the sun…
The Gay flag was hoisted together with the national flag of Costa Rica. Last Friday, May 16, 2014, was possibly a big day for many locals and expats living in Costa Rica. Especially for the gay community. The Catholic and Christian communities might not agree but the recently elected President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo…
Can someone purchase (or sell) in my name in Costa Rica? I am not able to be there in time for the closing. This is a pretty common question we receive from clients. You are ready for your retirement in Costa Rica. Probably you have found the Costa Rica real estate you would like to…
Will foreign industries leave the country? Just before the Costa Rica elections 2014, the rumor of INTEL leaving the country to move operations to Asia has hit the newspapers. Will other foreign industries follow? Opinions are all over the news. These opinions are not real estate related. As an expert on Costa Rica real estate, I…
I have my real estate license in Michigan, so I know what I’m doing”. I’m sorry but you don’t, at least not in Costa Rica. The US doesn’t have a nationwide real estate license either. Costa Rica is another country with a different language and very different rules than the US. Real estate licensing is…
Are there any special requirements for international buyers of property in Costa Rica? One out of every 20 emails I receive from international buyers carries a question somewhere along the line of “Could you please send me the requirements for international buyers please”? Ownership of private property is regulated by the constitution of Costa Rica.…
A strip mall is a great investment, as long as there is a convenience store. Even Costa Rica is now catching up with the rat race up north. Although mostly in the high-density areas of the Central Valley. Small rural towns from yesteryear like Escazu, Curridabat, and Liberia turned into busy suburbia. Bad city planning…
If you are asking yourself if you can buy or rent with a pet in Costa Rica Condos, the answer is “depends”. If you are in the market to purchase or rent a Costa Rica condo and you have a pet, you should tell the realtor what kind of pet you have before looking at…
So you already know about Pavones Costa Rica, and it is ranked as the #2 longest “left” wave in the world. But what if you are not a surfer – why would you care? I mean, many of you most likely heard that Pavones is at the “end of the road”. Well… it is time for…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes When searching for Costa Rica rentals, you might assume the home appliances will be included. They probably are not, unless you rent a furnished and equipped home. Are you interested in knowing more about renting with and without home appliances in Costa Rica rentals? Then you can ask a knowledgeable…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Have all homes in Costa Rica hot water? Would you think of checking for it? When looking to purchase a home in Costa Rica, you might assume that all homes have hot water. Well, you’re wrong. Hot water is one of those cultural customs that make buying a home…
Moving to Costa Rica and trying to meet new people? Here at InterNations, we welcome expats in Costa Rica from all over the world to join together. Our events and activities are organized by both the members and the events team. InterNations is a fantastic way to meet new people in Costa Rica, and in…
Our real estate agent said we could make an offer contingent on the sale of our own property. Can you explain in detail how that works and is there any cost to us? Also, what if our property doesn’t sell in the time given? Thanks Quite a few of our Costa Rica real estate buyers,…
It is evident in the Manuel Antonio Eco Friendly Architecture that Costa Rica hedged their bets on the country’s natural resources long before it became popular. Have a good look at Manuel Antonio real estate and you’ll be sold on it. Dating back to the 1930s, lawmakers in Costa Rica recognized that the country’s true…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Should real estate agents bother with an open house in Costa Rica, or not? We do not have a real MLS in Costa Rica, such as you will find in other countries. For that reason, you will find very few real estate agents organizing an open house in Costa Rica…