One of the most confusing water issues in Costa Rica real estate comes up when a single property consists of multiple planos, but only some of those planos have water letters. This post is Part 2 of a previous one on the issue of Costa Rica water rights. This situation is far more common than many buyers realize, especially with large farms, legacy properties, and older subdiv...
Two taxes tend to cause the most confusion for foreign buyers of real estate in Costa Rica: the capital gains tax and the luxury home tax. Neither is especially complicated, but both are often misunderstood, particularly by buyers coming from countries with very different tax systems. This overview focuses on the points that matter most in real-world transactions, without getti...
One of the most misunderstood aspects of real estate in Costa Rica is the Maritime Zone Law. To understand both the opportunity and the risk, it’s important to understand how the maritime zone was created, how concessions work, and why these properties are generally better suited to commercial projects than private residential homes.Costa Rica’s Maritime Zone, known...
For many expats considering a move to Costa Rica, permaculture has become more than a farming method. It represents a lifestyle choice rooted in self-sufficiency, ecological responsibility, food security, and a closer relationship with the land. As a result, a growing number of buyers are now asking not just “Where should I live?” but “Where can I best practic...
If you’ve bought or sold property in Costa Rica, especially in rural, mountain, or coastal areas, you’ve probably heard an attorney or escrow agent ask for a “water letter” from the local ASADA or AyA. At first glance, this often feels unnecessary. The house already has a water meter. Water is flowing. Bills are being paid. So why would anyone need a le...
If you’ve spent any time looking at property down here in Costa Rica, you’ve probably noticed that awhole lot of folks buy real estate through a corporation — an SA or SRL. It’s practically a national pastime. And honestly, it's often a smart idea for liability, inheritance, and ease of transfer. But sooner or later, buyers start asking me the same que...
Costa Rica’s real estate market is exciting, dynamic, and full of opportunity—but it’s also unregulated in ways that surprise most foreigners. There’s no licensing requirement, no enforcement board, and no real barrier to entry. Anyone with a WhatsApp number, a car, and a Facebook page can call themselves an “agent.” That means you must do a...
As Costa Rica heads into high season, the market gets busy, emotions run high, and buyers pour in with big dreams of a new lifestyle, investment, or retirement plan. Most are wonderful to work with. But every year, there’s a consistent handful who unintentionally sabotage their own success by acting… well… a bit sketchy. Not malicious. Not dishonest crimina...
When purchasing real estate in Costa Rica, one of the most surprising differences for U.S. and Canadian buyers is the unique legal authority of the notary public (notario público). In the United States, a notary merely verifies identities and witnesses signatures. In Costa Rica, a notary is a state-appointed attorney with judicial powers. This distinction is so fundament...
Even though I've been living in Latin America for going on 25 years now, I'm still very much a "gringo."I get reminded of that quite often, especially by my wife!I first arrived to Costa Rica in 2001. Before then I'd hardly ever even been out of the U.S.Costa Rica was different in those days. Actually it was more authentic Latin American than it has evolved into over the ensuin...
Members of Facebook groups related to Costa Rica real estate will often make the claim that "anyone" can be a Costa Rica real estate agent...And that's partially true in so far as licensing is concerned, since in Costa Rica there is no legal licensing regime.However, there are specific and important ways to tell whether or not you're dealing with a "legitimate" agent. That's be...
Most of my posts focus on Costa Rica real estate buyers. This one is for the sellers.Sellers tend to think there is some "magic bullet" they need to sell their properties. For that reason they'll jump from agent to agent trying to find the one possessing "the bullet."Truth be told, there really isn't one!Selling real estate in Costa Rica is just plain hard. Most of the time it'...
How best to sum up the Costa Rica real estate market in the first half of 2025?Too much supply and way too little demand.Now, admittedly, that's not the way I thought this year would shake out...But it hasn't altogether "shaken out" yet. We've got a good six months to go.Nevertheless, the slow-down that really started in late 2023 and continued throughout 2024 has not subsided....
I guess because I had my fill of tourist traps having grown up in one - Myrtle Beach, S. C. - I've always lived in Costa Rica locations where local culture predominates.My first decade was spent in the Central Valley area, where the capitol city of San Jose is located. I ran a tourism company for many years, offering packages that included diverse locations. I thought I s...
If you're considering an investment in Costa Rica real estate, the most important decision you have to confront is "where."This post breaks down key investment zones with pros and cons of each, according to the "humble" opinions of yours truly... Central Valley This is the area of the GAM (gran area metropolitana), which is where around half the country's entire population li...
