“I am sorry that I’m late, I got stuck in a traffic jam” is a lame excuse in Costa Rica. Renting a house in Cariari is a much better idea. We all know how bad traffic can be in certain areas of the Central Valley. While getting stuck in traffic is now pretty customary, no…
Is a HOA in Costa Rican gated communities legal or not? Last week, Steve emailed us “Please check your advertisement because you are falsely advertising a home owner’s association. The community doesn’t have one. All they have is a maintenance corporation.” You are probably aware that we always take the bull by the horns in our…
Is there any reason for not listing a Costa Rica property? “I will tell everyone I know not to work with your agency, I don’t get you guys”. That is the text of an email we received from Erika, the angry luxury home seller from Santa Ana. “If you don’t list my house at the…
Caribbean living in Costa Rica is so different from living on the Pacific coast. It is like living in another country, and that’s exactly what you are looking for, right? A white sandy beach at your feet while watching a turquoise ocean, the lush jungle in your back, while listening to “no woman, no cry”,…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Questions like “we were wondering if it is possible to obtain financing as I am looking to finance a home purchase in Costa Rica” and “I am interested in this property, but need to know about financing first” are very common. So in this article, I will cover the issue of being…
You should pay special attention to the parking when buying a condo in Costa Rica. That is because the parking space might or might not be included in the condo you’re buying. Does what you think is your parking spot indeed belong to you, or maybe someone else? I know, we all assume there is…
We have an amazing choice of luxury beach real estate for sale that no other real estate office in Costa Rica can match. Why is that? Beachfront or ocean view? No order is too tall for us and we are taking your order right now! A few weeks ago, a photo of Levante Beach was published…
What has been a major obstacle for foreigners moving to Costa Rica? The inability to open a bank account in Costa Rica. The reason was that a residency card or Dimex was needed for such a service. When you move to another country, it is important to be able to wire money to a bank…
The advertisement on Craigslist carries the title “Take over an existing mortgage on this property, cheap financing”. The first one to answer on the ad is a foreigner, Jim Luckydeal, who plans to move to Costa Rica and has been planning to buy a Costa Rican property for quite a while. The problem has been…
Have you ever heard of a Costa Rica homebuyer checklist for emergencies? You’ll be surprised how important it can be when you purchase real estate in Costa Rica. When you purchase a Costa Rica home for sale, there are always a lot of things forgotten by all parties. The closing went smoothly and the day…
When you purchase a house in Costa Rica, what stays with the house for sale is mostly common sense. During a property showing there are always questions about what stays with the house for sale and what goes. Honestly, I don’t really care what goes, I only care about what stays. The buyers and I…
Why is overpricing your home a bad idea? Most home sellers in Costa Rica don’t have any experience in selling a home in Costa Rica. Overpricing your home has a lot of dangers you might not realize. How often in a lifetime do you sell a home, unless you buy and sell homes as a…
When you own a Costa Rican vacation rental, you will want to find the best way to rent and promote it. When you purchase a Costa Rican vacation home, which you might be able to do by using your retirement fund, you might not only decide to enjoy the home during your vacations but also…
When you purchase a property from a Costa Rica real estate developer, do you think you’d need to find out more about the developer’s record and building history? I bet you don’t.
Did you know that the winter weather in Costa Rica is extraordinary? Looking for a sun-drenched getaway this winter? With stunning beaches, natural wonders and the best winter weather on the north side of the equator, Costa Rica might just serve as your personal paradise. Wikipedia explains “Because Costa Rica is located between 8 and…
Home sellers often have a misconception about what realtors do to earn a real estate commission. Let me clear that misconception up, so sellers understand what they really pay real estate commission for. Last week, The Tico Times published my article titled “8 reasons why your property in Costa Rica has not sold in 7 years”.…