Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes The role of the closing attorney should be clear before every real estate closing in Costa Rica. Each real estate agent works differently, and usually many details are left to the closing attorney. The role of the closing attorney is central to ensuring that a real estate transaction is legally…
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: 4 minutes The Costa Rica closing costs when purchasing or selling a property is just under 4% of the purchase price. When you research, you will find blogs that say 3.5% and others even less. Learn in this article about closing costs, how to calculate them, and who pays for them. It…
The safest way to buy real estate in Costa Rica is through escrow services.
These services are a secure way to transfer funds between a seller and a property buyer. The escrow company is a third party that handles these funds in return for a fee. This fee is usually 0.25% of the funds to be wired, with a minimum of $900.
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Do you know who is responsible for the condition of the house is in on the closing day? You probably think that’s an easy question to answer. But it really is not, because it depends on the circumstances. This time, the circumstances were quite common: a house that has been…
When you purchase or rent Costa Rica real estate, you might inherit Costa Rica utilities such as a water and power meter from someone who isn’t even alive anymore. Costa Ricans, when they purchase a property, they will leave the utility services like power and water in the former owner’s name (or several owners ago). The power…
Can someone purchase (or sell) in my name in Costa Rica? I am not able to be there in time for the closing. This is a pretty common question we receive from clients. You are ready for your retirement in Costa Rica. Probably you have found the Costa Rica real estate you would like to…
The proceeds of a property closing in Costa Rica need to appear correctly in a deed. Why is that? I had what looked like a simple closing and it almost turned into a nightmare. That happened because the rules are changing. After closing, the seller deposited the proceeds of the sale in her local bank…