buying process: Costa Rica real-estate guides

Concrete block house mid-construction with exposed rebar next to a finished red-roofed home on a green hillside near Atenas, Costa Rica, rain clouds building over the valley

Build New or Buy Resale in Costa Rica? My Build Ran 22 Months and 28% Over Budget

After twelve years here, one build, and several resales bought and sold, here is the honest math on new construction versus resale in Costa Rica.

Jul 28, 2026

A Costa Rican notary signing a property transfer deed in a bound protocolo book at a San José law office, with passport copies and a folio real printout on the desk

Buying Costa Rica Property Without Flying Down: The $260 Document That Makes It Legal

A consultant who has closed remote Costa Rica deals since 2014 explains the poder especial, apostilles, escrow rules, and the mistakes that stall closings for weeks.

Jul 25, 2026

Concrete condo tower under construction with a yellow crane against overcast sky near the Jacó shoreline, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Pre-Construction Condos in Costa Rica: 8 Risks the Sales Office Won't Mention

I've watched towers stall, titles arrive a year late, and deposits vanish into developer accounts, so here is the pre-construction risk list I actually use with clients.

Jul 22, 2026

Concrete block house under construction on a hillside near Playa Potrero, Guanacaste, with exposed rebar columns, wooden formwork, and dry-season scrub in the background

New Build vs Resale in Costa Rica: What 12 Years and Two Builds Taught Me

A relocation consultant who has built twice and bought resale three times breaks down the real costs, timelines, and the water-letter trap that stalls new construction.

Jul 10, 2026