Estimated Reading Time: 13 Minutes There have been considerable changes in our taxes in Costa Rica and the legal obligations for property owners during 2025. If you own a property in Costa Rica, or are considering buying one, especially if it’s held in a corporation, you should pay close attention. In this article, I will…
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: 6 Minutes There are thousands of people wanting to relocate to Costa Rica every year. Why does that happen? Relocating to another country is a life-changing decision that must be weighed with care. For some reason(s), Costa Rica stands out as a top choice. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean…
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.…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes When you rent in Costa Rica, you always have to make a security deposit. Do you want to learn more about the security deposit? This article focuses exclusively on security deposits for long-term renting. Information about short-term and vacation rentals is not included here. Among the various aspects of the…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Does the property you are purchasing have a water easement? When you buy a property in Costa Rica, you will want to verify if the property has access to water and if the water is legally connected. Do you know why? In many countries, the water connection on a property…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Foreign buyers often assume we have lockboxes in Costa Rican real estate. Well, we don’t! Potential buyers assume real estate agents can make a showing appointment on the spur of the moment. Unfortunately, it takes more than just finding space on the realtor’s agenda. We don’t have lockboxes in Costa…