Investing in Costa Rica real estate right now is one of the best moves you can make, since property is low in price to encourage tourism development, but is high in eventual return. Due to the fact that the Costa Rican government is promoting the tourism aspect of the country, and that one trip will convince you that the beach will continue to be an international hotspot, there has never been a better time to invest in Costa Rica real estate.
Of course, before you start investing in Costa Rica real estate there are 3 things you will want to know since as a foreign investor you are probably not informed about the Costa Rica real estate process. First of all, to protect yourself from getting scammed and from the complicated Costa Rica real estate laws, make sure you hire a lawyer and real estate agent from a reputable local firm before investing in Costa Rica real estate.
Second, if you want Costa Rica oceanfront real estate, you are going to have to learn the intricacies of residency and Maritime law. You cannot purchase beachfront land that is within the first 55 feet of the shoreline unless you purchase it from someone who has family claim to the land, and even then you can only own 49% of the land as a non-resident. Therefore, you will need to have a partner when investing in Costa Rica real estate that is located on the beachfront.
Finally, once you finish closing the deal on your Costa Rica real estate, you will have to deal with Squatter’s law which can cause you to lose some of your investment in Costa Rica real estate due to the fact that the courts take the squatter’s side. Therefore, before investing in Costa Rica real estate make sure you are familiar with and able to clear your land of all squatter’s.