Buying property
15 guides on this topic
Costa Rica Has No Universal MLS. One Property Site Is Not the Market.
Costa Rica’s scattered property listings make buyers miss homes, compare conflicting prices, and mistake asking prices for evidence, but you can build a much fuller market picture.
No MLS, No Full Picture: Why One Costa Rica Property Site Can Leave You Blind
Costa Rica’s fragmented property market makes buyers miss homes, misread prices, and mistake repeated listings for real choice, but you can build a much fuller picture before spending a dollar.
The Maritime Zone (Ley 6043): what you can and cannot own on a Costa Rican beach, and how to check a parcel
*General information, not legal advice. The law, its regulations and the official coastline delimitation change and vary by parcel. Have a Costa Rican attorney or notary check any coastal purchase before you sign.*
Buying property through a Costa Rican corporation (S.A. or S.R.L.): what it is, what it costs each year, and what to check first
*General information, not legal advice. Costa Rican company and tax rules change, and the right structure depends on your situation. Have a Costa Rican attorney check any purchase, and any structure, before you sign.*
Guanacaste vs the Central Pacific vs the Central Valley: where to buy in Costa Rica (2026)
Most foreign buyers narrow Costa Rica down to one of three regions before they ever look at a listing. Guanacaste is the north Pacific coast with its own international airport. The Central Pacific is the coast closest to San José, from Jacó down to Manuel Antonio. The Central Valley is the capital's west side, Escazú and Santa Ana, where the airport is minutes away and the beach is not.
Buying a Costa Rica Home Without Spanish? The Deed Reading Is Not Enough
I moved to Costa Rica in 2014, have bought and sold here, and would never treat a Spanish deed reading as proof that an English-speaking buyer understands the closing.
Costa Rica Has No Single MLS. One Property Site Is Not Enough.
A fragmented property market makes it easy to miss homes, misread prices, and mistake three advertisements for three different opportunities.
Costa Rica Has No MLS. That Can Hide 90% of the Homes You Think You’re Seeing
Costa Rica property buyers often learn the hard way that one portal, one agent, or one Facebook group is not the market.
5 Reasons Your Costa Rica Property Needs a Plano Catastrado
Overlooking the plano catastrado can cost you thousands. Here’s why it matters.
Can Foreigners Own Land in Costa Rica? Yes, With Two Real Exceptions
A consultant who has bought and sold here since 2014 on what foreign buyers actually own, where the maritime zone bites, and the water problem nobody mentions.
New Build or Resale in Costa Rica? I've Done Both and One Cost Me 19 Months
After a decade of buying, building, and selling houses here, here is the honest math on new construction versus resale in Costa Rica.
Tamarindo Is Priced Like a San Diego Suburb. Here's Where Buyers Went in 2026
Twelve years of watching Guanacaste prices taught me one thing: the smart money left Tamarindo two years ago, and it went to five specific places.