Estimated Reading Time 7 Minutes Let’s give you some ideas on what to do with a tiny townhouse backyard. Property in Costa Rica is becoming more expensive now, and developers leave less and less space for a private backyard. With a small budget, it is possible to turn the tiny Costa Rican townhouse backyard into…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Today, I’m going to give you a rainy season ToDo list. It is now April, and the rainy season in Costa Rica starts soon. As usual in Costa Rica, we are having a beautiful summer. I’m sure you know all about our famous microclimates. But the weather in Costa Rica…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Clients often ask if they should rent short-term before buying a property in Costa Rica. That depends largely on your plans for moving to our beautiful country. Some people have rented long-term their whole life, so that’s not going to change. This question is meant for those who sold their property…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Has anyone ever told you not to throw away your old passport? Probably not. Well, you can throw them all away, except the one(s) that you used to purchase a property in Costa Rica. Crazy eh! It sounds like a pretty stupid request, doesn’t it! Who wants to keep an…
Estimated Reading Time: 8 Minutes When you purchase a house in Costa Rica, you want to know what inventory stays with the house. During a property showing, there are always questions about what stays with the house for sale and what goes. Often, agents don’t even know what stays and whatnot, but will say anything…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Quite a few communities in Costa Rica are not condominiums but agricultural communities. Therefore, they have no registered bylaws in the National Register, as condominiums do. Most have rules of cohabitation or similar, but there is no legal enforcement. Readers often ask if this type of community can be changed…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Is it a good idea for a buyer to make repairs before closing? In Costa Rica real estate, homes are offered for sale “as is”, but should you negotiate any repairs to be made or not? And when can the repairs be made? You’ll find that every real estate agency…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes Today is a big day; it’s the closing day on the property you are buying in Costa Rica. Local real estate agents do not give additional relocation services. They’ll show up at the closing to make sure the seller pays them the real estate commission, but don’t expect them to…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes A reader who did not receive the title documents at closing is now unsure of the title to her property. She commented on an article I wrote years ago for the Tico Times: I purchased land in Costa Rica about 4 years ago and I only have “la carta catastrada”…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes Listing is easier than to sell your home in Costa Rica, believe me. In 35 years of selling property all over the country, I’ve seen hundreds of properties just sit on the market for year. Often, the reason is that the property is priced too high. Many sellers do not…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes I encounter unprepared property sellers quite often, but they’re only a few minutes away. That’s because I don’t list properties more than 10 minutes away from my office anymore. Lazy? No, not really, I’ve never been lazy. I’m just tired of so many unprepared property sellers who are an hour’s…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes There is nothing better than a property showing in the rain. Why? When it rains in Costa Rica, it generally pours! We have never had so many floods as we have now, in the 45 years that I’ve lived in this beautiful country. Who says climate change doesn’t exist? Well,…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Luxury home buyers today are more interested in a lifestyle than just a place to live. Are you a luxury vacation home buyer? Then, you may have discovered that Costa Rica is a fantastic option if you live in a city with direct flights to San Jose or Liberia. And…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes If you are looking for real estate comps in Costa Rica or comparable sales data, you’re in for a wild ride. That’s because we don’t have any real estate comps here. Are you a buyer or seller looking for comps? In this article, I’ll explain why we don’t have any…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes How do you know if your lawyer will check the most important details before you purchase a Condominium? The only way to know is to learn as much as you can about it first. I have seen lawyers only check the title, and others even request the construction plans and…
Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes Do you need to organize your kitchen because it’s cramped and lacks a pantry? Are you getting older and having a hard time getting on your belly to find something you need in your kitchen? Then it’s time for you to explore these 11 clever ways to organize your kitchen.…