It’s a question that’s addressed in more detail in Chapter 5, “Rent, Buy, or Build?” but it’s worth revisiting here because in some respects, it’s the most important question you’ll have to answer as you consider investing in Costa Rica. The answer also has an effect on how you’ll proceed with the construction.

Most people buy a lot, rather than a finished home, for one of three reasons:

1) There aren’t any decent finished homes in the place where you wish to live, so you’ll have to build your own. This can be true in quite a few of the more remote areas of the country, including parts of the south Pacific and the Caribbean.

2) It’s cheaper. This is especially the case in certain fast-developing areas like Jaco and Guanacaste, where the area is attractive, but the cost of finished homes has gone through the roof.

3) Design is important to you. This can be true if you’re seeking the house of your dreams, or if you’re simply extremely picky about the kind of home you live in. Building a house on a lot will give you ultimate control.

These are the basic reasons you might want to build your own home. There are, of course, some significant obstacles as well that you will want to think about before you take the plunge. Do you have the time to supervise a construction project that may last two years? Are you financially flexible enough to cover increases in materials costs? Do you speak Spanish well enough to keep track of important details and worker relationships? This and many other questions will come up in the course of making this decision. Be honest with yourself as you answer them. Once you’ve broken ground, there’s no going back.