Once again, retirees are advised to use the services of a real estate broker to buy or sell their retirement or any property in Costa Rica. REMEMBER: Real estate agents normally collect a five or six percent commission on the sale of a home and up to 10 percent commission on the sale of raw land. This commission is paid by the seller of the property to the realtor. Below are more tips to help retirees and others on find a good real estate broker: (1) Ask for references: Satisfied customers are a good sign that a broker is doing his or her job. Request contacts for a few and ring them up. Be sure to ask what the customer didn’t like about the broker as well. Google the agent’s name and see what comes up. (2) Demand residency: Ask that agent to show you their Costa Rican cédula (ID) or work permit. Ask how long the agent has lived in Costa Rica (5-7 years minimum). Costa Rica has a history of so-called “tail-gate realtors,” or foreigners that parachute in, sell a few properties while here on a tourist visa, and leave whenever they want. (3) Today, the market is mature enough that most regions have at least one broker who’s been here for years and has Costa Rican residency. This is a sign of commitment to reputation and to the country, and it should figure importantly in your final decision. If your real estate agent is actually a waiter, waitress, or another profession, then you are probably not going to be happy with where their priorities are. (4) Go bicultural: Most brokers can spit out a few words of Spanish, and some speak fairly well. The ideal broker, however, understands both the language and the culture, or has teamed up with another broker who does. (5) Shop around: You wouldn’t buy the first car you test drive, and you shouldn’t go with the first broker you lay eyes on. Talk to at least two or three. They can be found on the Internet, in local offices, in real estate guides, recommendations and in the resource section of this book. Personality is very important, and if you don’t get along with your broker, the buying experience will be a miserable one. (6) Even homeowners who have been through several real estate transactions can benefit from a little advice from their agent. But if an agent doesn’t offer any advice, it could be an indication that he or she is not fully engaged in the process. (7) Communication: Just as in a marriage, communication is a key component of the relationship between a homeowner and an agent. If the communication isn’t there, the relationship won’t work. So if your agent doesn’t return your phone calls in a timely fashion or disappears without warning for weeks at a time, you should probably find someone else. (8) Stay local: Pick a broker who specializes in the area where you want to buy. Since there is no MLS in Costa Rica, local connections are very important, especially if you’re looking for raw land. (9) It seems that everyone is selling property in Costa Rica: cab drivers, waiters in restaurants, your friendly gringo neighbor, hotel employees and others. Even fugitives have gotten into act. AM Costa Rica, the on-line newspaper, reported on September 3, 2008 that a U.S. citizen on the lam was arrested while working as real estate broker in an office on the Pacific Coast. Many U.S. Citizens are work illegally in the real estate business just because of their English-language abilities. Avoid them. (10) Brand isn’t everything: All the big U.S. real estate brands are in Costa Rica: Century 21, ReMAX, ERA, Coldwell Banker. Remember, though, that just because brokers have offices with fancy signs doesn’t mean they know what they’re doing. On the upside, branded brokerages often communicate with their other franchises in the country and offer you a bigger pool of product. On the downside, many of them are newbies in the country who simply bought a franchise. Some branded brokers are good and some are bad, just like everyone else in the country. Experience in the market and good referrals should be more important to you than brand. If you follow this advise when selecting a real estate agent you will increase the chances of investing safely and most likely profitably in your retirement dream home or property.