Did you know that there is an amazing amount of towns and cities with religious names in Costa Rica? I’d like to take advantage of being in a religious month to tell you more about towns and cities with religious names in Costa Rica. Very often, I get calls and emails from expats looking to…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes We’ve had a great 2017 and want to thank our readership for following our Costa Rica real estate blogs 2017. I see readers come and go, some keep visiting our blogs after they’ve left Costa Rica to live elsewhere years ago. Others start doing their homework years before they decide…
Some home sellers have several reasons why they sell their home on their own. They’re under the impression that an FSBO (for sale by owner) list will benefit them financially because when using a real estate agent they don’t have to pay a commission. On the other hand, some of them feel that it’s not…
Before renting a home, there are quite a few details you should cover. Not only are the agreed upon price and the lease agreement important. There are a few other things to look at before you can move in. There might be damages or not well-functioning plumbing and electrical systems that you do not notice…
Did you know that you can buy a waterfall property in Costa Rica? The amazing news is that you can do so at very affordable prices. Imagine looking at a waterfall from your own terrace, while having a piña colada in the company of your best friends. How can you successfully achieve this goal? If…
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…