This architectural style, the most popular in Costa Rica today, appeals to Costa Ricans and foreigners alike. It’s characterized by a terra-cotta roof, tiled floors (either of clay or ornately pattered), arched windows and door frames that are often very wide, and wrought iron door handles and other fixtures. A range of warm, burnt-clay hues

The casual visitor to San Jose will fail to observe a set of architectural features that might define a uniquely Costa Rican architecture. (Indeed, other than the handful of colonial-style buildings that linger from bygone days—and several modern architectural gems—there are in fact few buildings to arrest the attention of those who are interested in

Whatever happens to the market for real estate in Costa Rica as a whole, there will always of course be variations between regions, even within a country as small as Costa Rica. The fortunes of a given area, including the development of its real estate market, are affected by a number of factors, including the

Some twenty years ago or so, few people could have predicted the real estate boom in Costa Rica. Those lucky enough—or prescient enough—to have bought large parcels of land back then were, as often as not, motivated by the desire to own land in a beautiful country. Some of these parcels of land (a famous

Sellers of land use four ways to state the size of their parcels. For smaller parcels, the size is expressed in terms of square meters; the size of larger parcels of land is expressed either in terms of hectares, manzanas (increasingly less common), and acres. So that you can better compare between multiple properties, it’s best to

Due in part to the lack of regulations governing real estate transactions, most home buyers and sellers rely on the advice and professional services of lawyers, more so, indeed, than is probably the case in North America or Europe. Lawyers often play a number of roles during the transaction process, including helping with negotiations, checking

So what does the lack of regulations mean for you, the home buyer or seller? Although there are no regulations specifically geared toward defining how the real estate business should be practiced and although there are no regulations that restrict who can work as a real estate broker, this does not mean that Costa Rican