| How to Locate a Property
To find a house or land to purchase, look for a well-recommended
realtor who can identify true market value like the real
estate agencies we list in this section. You may also
want to see the listings in the back of the The Tico Times.
If you want to save money, look in the daily Spanish-language
newspapers La Nación or La República,
because prices are more realistic. Also, look around; go door-to-door
in areas you like, and talk to other expats. If you drive
around an area you like, you are bound to see a number of
for-sale signs for properties not listed in the newspaper.
Keep in mind that housing costs are much higher in gringo
enclaves such as Escazú and Rohrmoser. Be sure
to remember that the farther away you live from San Jose and other cities the more you get for your money.
The pricing of land in Costa Rica can be relative. One way
to find out is to hang out with the locals and see what land
is really going for in an area. By cross-referencing one
can usually arrive at the real value of property
in a specific area. Another method of pricing is to put
a value on it according to what they need. A property may
be worth only $10,000, but the owner needs $15,000. So he
puts an arbitrary asking price of $15,000 on the property.
The best way to find the true value is to compare the price
of similar properties in the area, look for a motivated seller
and work with a competent broker who knows the area. Many
established brokers have sold properties in the area and keep
a list of their previous sales. Some foreigners, including
North Americans, charge outrageous prices to make a quick
buck. So, be careful with whom you deal.
To find a good buy, you should study the market. It is also
a good idea to negotiate in colones since you will come out
ahead in the long run as the colón continues
to devaluate. This will make your home appreciate over time.
Don't depend too much on the newspaper. Talk to as many people
as you can. Nothing works better than word of mouth for finding
good deals. Practice your negotiating skills. Ticos love
to haggle. You may be better off having a trustworthy, bilingual
Costa Rican search for you and do your negotiating. Your realtor
or lawyer should also be able to assist you.
Stewart Title (Tel: 258-5600, Fax: 222-7936, see http://www.stewarttitle.
com) can assist you with title searches and full title guarantee.
American Title also has a representative in Costa Rica.
Recently the Costa Rica Realtors'Chamber opened the country's
first out-of-court conflict resolution center specializing
in property disputes. It specializes in solving property disputes
for both sellers and buyers within six months. The same process
in the courts can often take up to 10 years or more to get
to trial. Anyone in need of such services may contact them
at Tel: 283-2891, Fax: 283-0347, or Email: caccbr@racsa.co.cr.
If you want more information contact Costa Rica real estate and retirement properties or
call toll free 1 888 581 1786.
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