Purchasing Costa Rica Real Estate

Many people from the U.S. move to Costa Rica to purchase their dream home in paradise. Most people successfully purchase their dream home but some experience challenges during the buying process. Costa Rica has a climate and area to suit every taste so you are sure to fin the perfect real estate for your needs. If you want to own real estate in Costa Rica consider these important considerations when buying property in Costa Rica.

When purchasing real estate in Costa Rica you should make sure the real estate is properly registered with the with the appropriate offices. If an individual has a deed to a property it does not mean that the deed is legal or that the person is the property’s legal owner. There are scams where people will attempt to sell the same property to different buyers or will attempt to sell fictitious property. Always investigate the real estate you are interested in with the appropriate offices and get the help of a qualified attorney.

In Costa Rica there are two documents that legally define a piece of real estate that you need to verify before you purchase a property. The catastro is the plat map of a property and the escritura is a document that describes how the property is recorded in the Registro. If these legal documents do not coincide complications can arise but this happens frequently when a piece of property has not been sold or registered in many years.

You will need a competent attorney to help you with the title transfer and buying process, but no matter how competent your attorney is you should know what is happening throughout the buying process and make sure everything is completed accurately. You will need other documents and have to pay taxes and notary fees at closing so it is best to learn about the process before you begin.