The real estate market in Costa Rica is booming. A stable government, a balanced economy, great benefits, amazing landscapes, and friendly and welcoming people all help make the country one of the most popular destinations for retirees and investors. This is a guide to some of the most treasured real estate.

Tips for sharing property in Costa Rica

A good legal advisor

Buyers should use a reputable real estate company or their own attorney. Costa Rica has a different legal system than most, so buyers should go to a reputable agency to investigate charges of any kind on the property, property boundaries, the owner’s name, and other things that could affect title or future construction. It is important that the buyer’s attorney do their own search and title search, in addition to providing the seller.

Familiarize yourself with Costa Rica before you buy

Avoid the paradise syndrome. Many tourists quickly fall in love with the stunning scenery and charming people of Costa Rica. But real life is not a permanent vacation. There are bills, chores, work, and cultural adjustments.

Research location

Focus on your needs. Want modern conveniences like the Internet, cable TV, commercial and public electrical grids? Or do you prefer to live in the jungle with monkeys only as neighbors?

Costa Rica has a wide variety of climates, from the dry plains of Guanacaste, through the Alpine mountains of Heredia to the tropical jungles of the Caribbean coast. Once you’ve found the weather, make sure you’re close to what’s important to you, whether it’s a great beach for surfing or first-class shopping.

Be sure to see everything that surrounds the property, “”. How close are people? Are schools and banks closed? Does the property have water and electricity? These are all questions you should ask yourself before buying, ”emphasizes the agent.

Finally, take a good look at the type of community you would be living in. Places like Manuel Antonio, Escazú, for example, have large expat communities, who could still feel at home. You can also choose an area with few foreigners for a full cultural immersion.

Compare and contrast

Once you’ve looked at several properties, make a list of the pros and cons of each. Carefully consider market conditions, construction quality, surrounding neighborhood, and amenities. After a detailed analysis it will be easier to make a decision.

Once the purchase is made, introduce yourself to the culture

Moving to a new country is not easy, but it can be exciting and worthwhile. Take the time to learn conversational Spanish. Your experience will be infinitely richer if you can communicate with your neighbors. Also try a Latin dance or cooking class. Venture out to the farmers market. Live like an attic. The more effort is made to learn about the local culture, the faster the process of cultural assimilation.

Make sure the beachfront paradise before you buy

Sounds ideal: find a beautiful beachfront property in a quiet country, where you hope to spend your days watching the sunsets and ocean waves.

Unlike many countries, foreigners in Costa Rica have the same rights as residents’ properties, which means that if you buy a property title, you become the sole owner of this property. However, many properties have title issues and buyers should exercise caution before making an expensive investment.

In addition, many investors do not have full knowledge of the problems that buying a beachfront property can pose.

Since the law came into force in 1977, the maritime zone, all land within the first 200 meters from the high water mark is considered public property and cannot be subject to any private transaction. These 200 square meters of “untouchable” land are divided into two sections. The first 50 meters of the high water mark cannot be owned or developed in any way and remain public property. It is possible to build in the next 150 meters, but only rent the land to the municipality for the long term (usually 99 years).

Many homeowners face serious challenges building on their waterfront land, even with government grants. The law establishes that both the high tide mark and 50 meters after it must be indicated with markers. Although this responsibility belongs to the National Geographic Institute, many beaches have not yet measured and marked the place.

Another obstacle to building the beach house of your dreams is the Regulatory Plan, a zoning plan that defines what type of construction is allowed in each area, be it residential, industrial, recreational or commercial. If a district has not completed a plan, investors can afford to complete it. However, this is a process that can take anywhere from six months to two years and is subject to public debate before being approved.

The only exceptions to the Maritime Terrestrial Zone Law are the old port cities such as Limón and Puntarenas, and the marinas, which are subject to other legislation. If a marina meets strict environmental requirements, it can be built within the 50-meter mark. As a sailor, now the Los Sueños Marina is the only one legally approved in Costa Rica.

However, investors should remember that the land within the 200 meter mark can only be rented with a government grant. “The concessions still belong to the government,” said one real estate expert. “If at some point the government wants to regain land, it can restart it. The owners can’t do anything.”