Posts tagged Real Estate Agents
Costa Rica Real Estate – 8 Tips For Finding Your Dream Home
Sep 18th
As we continue to hear all the excitement and see the overwhelming attraction to Costa Rica grow, not only as a wonderful vacation and tourist spot, but also as it races up many lists to become the number one real estate investment location in the world, one can’t help but be intrigued and want to know more. More and more people are seeking vacation homes, retirement homes, rental homes, and even full time homes in beautiful, exotic Costa Rica. It’s a tropical country – What’s not to love?!
Shopping for real estate in Costa Rica can be challenging from your current location, so here are a few tips that will help you select the perfect Costa Rican dream home for you!
1. The most important thing is to make sure you get to see up-to-date photos of what the interior and exterior of the home currently looks like. If there are no photos available, then you should keep looking. Also, don’t go strictly by brochures and guide books-they could be very outdated. There’s no saying when those photos were taken. Luckily, most Real Estate agents are very accommodating in producing current photos of houses.
2. Make a list for yourself of the amenities that are absolutely necessary, and those that you would simply enjoy, but aren’t really deal-breakers. Keep that list handy while evaluating possible real estate. This will help you easily eliminate the homes that do not fit your needs.
3. Once you’ve selected a few prospect homes, call the owners personally. This will give you the opportunity to speak with them directly, which may impact your final decision. You might learn that they have nearby amenities you didn’t know about before and would very much enjoy. Or you may find out that the nearest town with restaurants and shopping is an hour away… all things you’d want to learn about before making a final choice.
4. Go check it out for yourself! Costa Rica is a short plane ride from the States. One visit will be all it takes before you and your family will want to have a piece of land for yourselves. Find a nice hotel near the area you are considering and spend a few days personally visiting each location. There are so many factors at play- unless you go see it for yourself you may end up with an unpleasant surprise! Visiting Costa Rica to view the piece of real estate is very important and will give you a chance to learn the language while building trust between you and your realtor and lawyer.
5. While you’re there, make friends with your neighbors! They may be able to fill you in on some less commonly known secrets of the area- like an amazing restaurant most people don’t know about, or the best place to go dancing!
6. When purchasing real estate in Costa Rica, it is pertinent to find a licensed broker to help negotiate prices while educating you about available financing options. You will also want to make sure that your beautiful piece of Costa Rica real estate has the legitimate title for liens, the status and ownership documents, and surveys to confirm the property’s full size. It is worth your time and patience to visit Costa Rica’s Land Title Office in Zapote, near San Jose; to confirm your purchase of Costa Rican real estate.
7. As in the States, you will need to hire a lawyer to draft a transfer deed of the Costa Rica real estate to confirm the transfer of ownership from seller to buyer. Additional fees are to be expected.
8. There are a few books that focus on real estate in Costa Rica. Bill Baker’s wrote “The Rules of the Game: Buying Real Estate in Costa Rica.” Also, Alvaro Carballo wrote “Purchasing Real Estate in Costa Rica.”
Cost Rica Rentals – Great Bargains
Dec 27th
Did you ever wonder why so many tourists are drawn to Costa Rica every year? The close association with Nature and the warmth of the people are what bring people here, and if that’s not enough, the low cost of living and cheap rental properties definitely seals the deal!
Whether you are a tourist or a native you can find a rental property that will place you in the very lap of nature. It doesn’t take too much time for people to fall in love with this country. So it’s easy to understand why the rental real estate market in Costa Rica is growing by leaps and bounds each year.
Large Variety Of Rentals
There’s a large variety of properties for rent in CR, from lavish vacation rentals that include facilities like a spa, workout rooms, saunas and more to private lodges in the midst of isolated mountains. If you love the rainforest you can find neat lodges there. You can also find bungalows overlooking the beautiful beaches or the serene lakes.
On the other hand if you prefer an urban style of living you could easily opt for all those apartments and lodges in the main cities of the country. Basically, any type of rental you need is available somewhere in Costa Rica. From magnificent bungalows to humble cabins, from long term accommodation to short term ones and from accommodation in developed and oft frequented places to those in secluded regions.
Rental companies
As already mentioned, there are numerous options at your disposal when it comes to rental properties. However, you may not be in a position to locate the best rental option for yourself. This is when the rental companies can be helpful.
These companies are not the actual real estate agents, but individuals that can help find the perfect property for you in a very systematic way. Whether you are opting for a short stay or the long-term relocation you can find the most appropriate accommodation with their help.
They have researched resources and can therefore save a lot of your time, energy and money. These companies coordinate with real estate firms and owners and always keep an updated stock of properties. However, you need to verify the authenticity of information before venturing out seriously, as with everything in a high demand market, there’s likely to be some fraud.
Vacation rentals
Vacation rental properties are a great choice if you’re here on an extended stay and would like the creature comforts of home. This will give you the kind of freedom and privacy that you cannot get at even the best hotels and resorts.
Your choice of the vacation rental will depend on the way you would like to spend your time. For instance, if you are an ardent surfer you could opt for a rental close to the good surf breaks like Playa Tamarindo and Playa Grande.
Or you could enjoy the conveniences of the city and opt for a rental near the capital, San Jose. Besides all the urban amenities, you can enjoy the cultural aspect like the Jade Museum, Gold Museum and the National Center of Art and Culture.
Beach rentals
The coastal area is a major attraction for tourists as well as natives of Costa Rica, so there’s no shortage of rental choices near the beaches.
At the beaches you can enjoy a few days of solace and tranquility. The comforting sound of the waves breaking on the coast and a secluded walk along the coast can indeed fill you with a relaxing feeling.
Or, if you’re a bit more adventurous, there’s a ton of activities available at your fingertips, like snorkeling, diving, surfing, fishing and other fun water stuff.
Costa Rica rentals – A few types
There are various prominent areas in Costa Rica where you can find good rentals. The areas like the Northern plains, the Central Valley or San Jose, the Northern Pacific Guanacaste region and the Central Pacific Puntarenas region are some of the most popular destinations.
There are several types of rentals that you can find from simple family homes to villas, condos, estates, bungalows, beach houses, cottages, cabins, budget houses and many more.
The rental prices vary tremendously from one region to another and even from one neighborhood to the next. It’s easy to find a studio apartment, nicely furnished near a beach or in the city from only $300 per month and at the other end of the spectrum, you can easily find a luxury home with several bedrooms, bathrooms, pool and other amenities for upwards of $6,000 per week!
Your best bet is to find the rental property once you are here, the choice is much greater than what you will find online and the prices will also be easier to negotiate. The money you spend on a hotel for a couple of days will be worth it.
