Does the property you purchase have a water easement? When you purchase a property in Costa Rica, for sure you want to check if the property has water or access to water and if the water is legally connected. You know why? In many countries, the water connection on a property is a very simple…
Is it a good idea for a buyer to make repairs prior to closing or not? In Costa Rica real estate, it is customary to buy a home for sale “as is”, but should you negotiate this or not? It is easy to include a home inspection contingency into your offer, which is not always…
Did you know that the sleepy surf town of Nosara is now a most desirable spot? Recently the Costa Rican grapevine has been awash with stories regarding renewable energy. The country has been powered solely by renewable energy for the past 75 days. This represents yet another victory in a long line of accolades bestowed…
Most sellers in Costa Rica want to set their own listing price. Even if every real estate agent in town tells them they’re wrong about setting the listing price. Should your realtor appraise your property before listing it or the other way around? It’s like the dilemma of the chicken and the egg. When going…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Johnny P. emailed the following question “We are planning a small remodel. We want to update our kitchen, bathroom, floor tiles, and windows in our 20-year-old condo. We are not planning any structural changes. Do we need a permit from the municipality for such a small remodel?” Don’t we all…
Why hire a surveyor before your property purchase? Maybe the fence was moved by a neighbor? Maybe the seller never made the effort to check the property boundaries by hiring a surveyor? Should you hire a surveyor before making a Costa Rica property purchase? A great example of why you should hire one is the…
While doing your due diligence before retiring in Costa Rica, you might read that you should rent before you buy a home. Though this might be a great option for some, I will show why this is not always true. Moving to Costa Rica, no matter if you doing so as a business person or…
Is it easy to get comps in Costa Rica? Visitors to our website often ask, “What is the price per acre on property in Costa Rica?” Or, better yet, “Will you send me some comps on that house so I can see what similar homes are going for in the South Pacific?” Yea, right. The…
Planning on searching for home sites in Heredia? Wait a sec, you might not want to. Starting August 2015, there are water restrictions on some home sites in Heredia. We all need water to be able to live and global warming has changed the ground rules. The water supply in some areas of Costa Rica…
Not every property buyer is interested in using the services of professional Costa Rica real estate agents for one of the most difficult investments most ever make: the purchase of your retirement home. Some have an aversion to all sales people which includes real estate agents. Reliable and knowledgeable real estate agents have a Costa Rica…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes A reader asks how what the options are to have property ownership for couples. Thanks to our readership for suggesting a great topic that is so important when you are buying property in Costa Rica as a couple. How can you divide the ownership between couples and what is prudent…
What qualities should a residential real estate agent possess to do a good job? The residential real estate world has many people like home inspectors, bankers, appraisers, property managers, prospective buyers, and sellers. However, if you wish to sell or buy a property, real estate agents and brokers are the ones to look out for. Good…
A realtor.com® survey in 2014 found that 17 percent of luxury home buyers say they entered the market because they’re newly retired. The survey shows that 19 percent of luxury home shoppers say a recent success in their career has prompted their home search. If you belong to the first group of luxury home buyers, there…
Quite often, we receive an email from a potential Costa Rica real estate buyer, asking us to send the listing location on Google maps. Real estate agents in Costa Rica, who have a property listed on their website, will never give the exact location of a property for sale. Unless they have a signed exclusive…
ThePlanning to buy a condo? Do you have any idea about Costa Rica condo owner rights? Before you purchase a condo in Costa Rica, from a developer or a re-sale, you should first request a copy of the bylaws. As a condo owner, you have rights and responsibilities that are described in the bylaws. You…
Are you dreaming about Costa Rica property? Sunshine and white sand beaches? Mountains and ocean views? It keeps you awake at night and you can’t get it out of your system. Do you have the guts to make it happen? If you are going through that experience and you would like to make it happen,…