Your purpose in buying Costa Rican real estate – investment versus second home versus vacation home - will play a large role in the location you finally choose. Your capital, the amount of time you are prepared to wait to make a return on your investment, the amount of experience you have investing in real estate, and your planned permanence in Costa Rica will all influence your decision.

The following list of options will help you decide, generally, what you’re in the market to buy and give guidance to your real estate broker.

How much capital do you have?

a) Up to $50,000

b) Up to $100,000

c) Up to $300,000

d) Up to $500,000

e) Up to $1 million

f) More than $1 million

What kind of investment are you interested in?

a) I want to buy a piece of land and sit on it until it’s significantly appreciated in value. I’m in no rush.

b) I want to buy a piece of land and flip it.

c) I want to buy pre-construction condos and flip them within a year.

d) I want to invest in a land-banking scheme.

e) I want to buy a farm and subdivide it and sell lots.

f) I want to buy a farm and make a gated community.

g) I want to build a small condominium.

h) I want to buy a house or condominium, use it for my vacations and rent it out the rest of the year.

i) I want to buy a piece of land build a house and sell it for a profit.

j) I want to buy a piece of land, build a house, and live in it.