Many businesses and investment property in Costa Rica have a double accounting system. One is for the tax authorities and another for the business owner. Naturally, there is a significant difference between the official records and the reality. Investors who find an interesting investment property online, first send an email to the listing agent. That…
Is having to pay Gringo prices for Costa Rica property a myth or are they real? Often, foreign buyers ask “What’s the difference between Gringo prices and Tico real estate prices”? It is quite common to hear ridiculous statements like “real estate agents sell more expensive”. You’ll pay Gringo prices for Tico properties. We can…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Trying to sell an empty luxury home? Virtual staging is your solution! Now you can show a luxury home that everyone will want. Doesn’t the photo on the left look absolutely gorgeous? Well, that room was empty when the photo was taken. In Costa Rica, as you all know, it can take many years to…
Last week’s article about the requirement for inactive corporations to file Form D-140 has generated lots of emails and comments on our social media. NOTE: When I wrote this blog, I had published Form D-140 from 2011 that was replaced by a new form in 2016. A reader on the social media said there were two…
Now, a Costa Rican corporation filing is also required, if your corporation is inactive. Just paying the 2017 corporation tax is not enough. In another blog, I already explained what and how you can make the 2017 corporation tax payments. The Finance Ministry of Costa Rica has decided that the new corporation tax also requires…
Usually, it is not so difficult to drive realtors absolutely insane; it just takes a little effort. Sellers are good at that. I always try to keep my blogs a bit educational. But once in a while, a good laugh for a change is also necessary. Property owners can get very desperate to sell. It…
Do you own and have you been trying to rent an outdated home in Costa Rica and it’s been empty for a long time? Does your income depend on being able to rent an outdated home? You are probably in trouble then, because you can’t find a tenant. That home/investment property has generated during 40…
“Can I rent to own in Costa Rica” is a question we get quite often. Some potential buyers, who have never lived in Costa Rica, first want to try first before they purchase. Moving to a new country is quite a step. Buying a home outright, before you even know if you can adjust to…
A reader who did not receive title documents at closing is now unsure about the title of her property. She commented on an article in the Tico Times: I purchased land in Costa Rica about 4 years ago I only have “la carta catastrada” and a letter from the notary public. I have to pay…
Pocket listings are not very common in Costa Rica, but seasoned real estate agents do have them. It’s not that the agents are too lazy to promote pocket listings. The owners just don’t want them advertised. What are pocket listings, also called a hip pocket listings? Wikipedia explains what a pocket listing is in the…
Would you believe a real estate company telling you that they can sell a home in Costa Rica in seconds? To my opinion, if anyone would advertise that they can sell a home in Costa Rica in seconds, they’re either crooks or the next miracle makers. Does anything like that exist in Costa Rica? Creating…
There can be many reasons that you would want to do a title search by property number of your Costa Rica real estate. You want to make sure you own a clear title. Or you want to look for a property that you inherited. Or you are looking for that condo you think your husband…
Why do money laundering and buying property in Costa Rica often go hand in hand? Should you be afraid to be seen as a money launderer when buying property in Costa Rica? The answers are simple: In Costa Rica, real estate is still a means of money laundering. Yes, you should be afraid, but only…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Did you know buying preconstruction in Costa Rica is quite a bit different than it is elsewhere? You’re looking for a change in your life, aren’t you? Buying preconstruction can definitely do that for you. Why can it be a bad idea? Well, if you don’t do the right thing…
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutos Looking at houses online and don’t know where to get started? At the American-European real estate group, we’ll hold your hand all the way through the house hunting process. I enjoy sharing my knowledge even with those who do not want to take advantage of our services, which is why…
Did you know that Costa Rica is an ideal place for preppers? Costa Rica has been quoted as having the best climate in the world. Because our weather is spring-like year round. Are you a survivalist or a prepper looking for options in the near future? I want to share 7 reasons that Costa Rica…