Retirees and others who is thinking of buying or selling property in Costa Rica should use the services of a real estate broker. 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

The most common question that first time visitors to the country have is: “Can I legally own property in Costa Rica even though I’m not a citizen of the country?” This is a perfectly reasonable question since in many countries (if not the majority of countries) ownership of property by foreigners is restricted. In some

Although Costa Rica has become one of the world’s emerging real estate locations, it’s still very much a developing market. Retirees should keep this in mind as they begin their hunt for a house, a condo, or a piece of property. The current lack of a multiple listing service may make it difficult for buyers

About four months I published an article entitled “Demonizing Real Estate Agents.” You can read it on my blog at www.liveincostarica.com. In it I talk about the good and bad real estate brokers in Costa Rica and how to find one who is a buyer’s agent and who will look out for a client’s interest

In a couple of previous articles I talked about renting versus buying in Costa Rica. The is another alternative to these two options. Many foreigners who move to or retire in Costa Rica end up building a home. There are several advantages to advantages of owning a home: (1) The money you put into your

When considering purchasing the retirement home of your dreams, the first thing you should ask yourself is how long you will stay in Costa Rica. Five years? Ten? Twenty? Maybe just a month out of the year? Or the rest of your life? The answer to these questions will make a big difference in buying

When retirees move to Costa Rica they basically have two choices when it comes to living situations. They can rent or buy. On my monthly relocation retirement tours and when I lecture at conferences I always explain the pros and cons of both situations to help potential residents make the most practical and intelligent choice