Real Estate in Costa Rica

"I was basically told in what area to live. Most expats live in Escazu, Santa Ana or Rohrmoser. Then I went with several agents to look at possible apartments. After that you start haggling!!! (Hagglig is essential. I have seen houses come down from 4500 USD a month to 2500.)," said one expat in San Jose.

"It's cheaper to live a little ways outside the city so location was influenced by that. There is also less crime outside the city. I found my apartment by asking around and doing some walking. There won't always be a sign up so, if it looks available, ask," remarked one member in San Marcos, Tarrazú.

"Most expats live in condos or houses with small gardens and enormous fences with barbered wire," explained one expat living in San Jose, Costa Rica.

"A typical expat home or apartment in Costa Rica is usually quite modern with modern amenities such as air conditioning, cable or satellite television and fast internet access. Costa Rica also offers a wide range of accommodation to suit a range of budgets – from luxury condos and villas to more affordable apartments and family homes. Many properties come with terraces or balconies that provide sweeping views of nature, and most are surrounded by lush tropical vegetation like banana trees, mango trees and palms. Depending on the location, some expats also benefit from on-site amenities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums and patios," said one person in Costa Rica.

"I live in a luxury home minutes from the beach, ferry, and a multitude of activities and shopping and dining. This is a typical expat home and lifestyle on an upper scale," said one expat who made the move to Paquera.

"Housing costs are about the same as The States however, the taxes and expenses related are less except luxury taxes. VAT taxes are high but you can easily avoid them if you choose to manage your lifestyle," explained one expat living in Paquera, Costa Rica.

"Lower, the average costs varies according to your lifestyle, so between $1500 to $3500 a month," said one person in San Jose.

"Costa Rica is an expensive country. You will in any case be fleeced as a foreigner, but if you haggle (use as much as 2-3 weeks if necessary) you might reach an almost fair level. There are far too many houses for rent, so be patient," said one expat who made the move to San Jose.

"It depends on how close you want to be to the water. Are you willing to live in the surrounding area like Huacus or Villareal? It can be anywhere from $600 to thousands," explained one foreigner living in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

"Totally depends on many factors. Are you looking to rent or buy? How many bedrooms? City or country? Altitude, I.e., beach or mountains? Seasonal only, or long term? Hot water or not? Window screens or not? With Ticos or Gringoes? AC or not? Furnished or not? Close to hospitals and good medical or remote? Want views? What kind? Utilities included or not? Finished or under construction? Will you have a vehicle, and will it have 4WD? Are you ok with public transport (it’s excellent). Pets? You can see there are many possible answers to your question! We chose mountains with Nicoya Peninsula views, good infrastructure, home built to American specs with quality materials by reputable builder, hot water, screens, electric gate, and all in a Tico community of great diversity. City is only 3 kms away over the mountain. Pulperia up the street where we all hang out to watch futball! And we drive a 21 yr old SUV. Love Costa Rica," said one in Costa Rica.

"Buying a home in Costa Rica can be a great investment. It can provide you with a steady source of income through renting or reselling, while at the same time providing you with a beautiful tropical paradise to call your own. Renting, on the other hand, gives you the flexibility to move after a few months or years without having to worry about reselling or waiting for the real estate market to improve. Ultimately, it all depends on what your individual needs and preferences are. If you want the security of owning a home, then purchasing may be the best option for you. However, if you prefer the freedom to move around, then renting might be a better solution," explained one person living in Costa Rica.

"I rent because I do not want to be tied down to a piece of property. Also property is expensive. My rental agreement was easy to understand, only about 4 pages (2 of them inventory of furnishings). I negotiated the terms from 12 months to 6 and the rent amount. It was not difficult at all," said one expat in San Jose.

"Know the neighborhoods and price ranges is key! Spend as much time as possible in your desired area or neighborhood. Go at night especially. Is the neighborhood safe, noisy, close to a nightclub? If you want to live in a condominium complex, observe the type of clientele it attracts in their rental pool. And in this case, find out how much turnover there is (daily, weekly, monthly) As Jaco is a tourist town, make sure your visit your desired neighborhood during "high season" and especially Easter and Christmas holidays as the busiest two weeks of the year," said one in Playa Jaco.

"No, foreigners can own property with the same rights as locals. However, I personally wouldn't buy until I had legal residency. Many nonresidents do buy and don't have any problems, but I'd personally want the right to live in the country before I invested money in it. Related is that absentee-ownership is asking for problems. Unless it's a condo at the beach with a rental program, I wouldn't recommend buying without living here, and I wouldn't count on living here without legal residency," said one foreigner living in San Jose, Costa Rica.

"The only restrictions on foreigners purchasing property in Costa Rica are in the Maritime zone within 200 meters of the ocean. This area is not for sale though you can get a concession to build things like tourism projects on a leasehold type basis. Expats typically can't get concessions although some grandfathered properties are still privately owned. Expats otherwise have the same rights to property ownership in Costa Rica as a Costa Rican would have. Property ownership is deeded and fee simple and over 95% of the entire country's properties are registered in a national property registry," explained one expat living in Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.

"Absolutely not. Foreigners can purchase property in Costa Rica. You do not need to be a citizen or resident. If you have the money, look and purchase to your content," said one person in Playa Jaco.

"Yes, foreigners are allowed to own property in Costa Rica. The country has a long-standing tradition of welcoming foreign investment and has a legal framework in place to protect foreign property owners. Foreigners can purchase property in their own name, or through a corporation, and can also obtain long-term leases. In addition, Costa Rica has a number of incentives in place to encourage foreign investment, such as tax exemptions and other benefits," explained one expat living in Costa Rica.

"No I don't think so. If any, I may presume it is if you haven't yet applied for Temporary Residency (Rentista) though I don't know if that's necessary; check with a reputable Attorney," said one expat who moved to Costa Rica.

"In Costa Rica, the typical appliances found in a rental property include a fridge, stove, washing machine, and air conditioning. In some cases, additional items such as a dishwasher, clothes dryer, and microwave may also be provided. Utilities such as electricity and water will also generally be included in the cost of rent," said one expat in Costa Rica.

"Generally rental properties are fully applianced. Lower scale rental units will have the basics, no dishwasher, possibly only a stove top and not an oven. A washer may be included but generally not a dryer. On the higher end scale, these will be fully appliances with American style refrigerator, stove/oven, dishwasher, microwave and washer/dryer. Be especially observant if the condo complex has a community área with tables, chairs, sink/wáter availability, bathrooms and BBQ grill. This is especially attractive for entertaining friends and family," said one foreigner living in Playa Jaco (Jaco Beach), Costa Rica.

"There is no multiple listing service in Costa Rica, but it is emerging now. There are a number of US real estate companies that have licensed offices in Costa Rica, for example REMAX and Century21. The best way to find property is to use the internet, take tours, visit communities, talk to other expats, read the online English forums and beware," said one foreigner living in Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.

"Many would advise going through a realtor and that's probably wisest if you don't know your way around. The native way to look though is to just walk the neighborhoods you're interested in and look for "for sale" signs. Related is to check grocery store bulletin boards. A lot of housing is still found in these traditional ways. Now the online site encuentra 24 is probably the best classified ad system and you're certain to see dozens if not 100s of listings that meet your search parameters by using it. It's like Craigslist but without the scams and a lot more people use it," explained one expat living in San Jose, Costa Rica.